Welcome to Rights4Citizens

I still remember and cherish the year 1961, my first year in Forman Christian College (now an accredited University) in Lahore, Punjab (Pakistan), when I started writing letters to the editors of the top-rated English dailies, mostly 'The Pakistan Times', and 'DAWN', on major national and international issues including the rights of the citizens of Pakistan. Later, I added 'The Sun' and 'The Morning News' and "The News International" after I shifted to Karachi in 1968.

Today, I am still writing, though sparingly in Pakistan and frequently abroad, after a successful letter-writing spree of more than 40 years which caused many an upheavel and led to many an investigations. It was not only the newspapers that I wrote to, I also took the courage to write to the then chief executives of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan including Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Gen M. Zia-ul-Haq, Mian Nawaz Sharif, and Gen Pervez Musharraf from time to time. I firmly believe that it was Almighty Allah who helped me a lot in having my voice echoed in the corridors of power and getting done what was badly needed. I often had miracles when work apparently impossible became a reality.

The confidence that I have developed over the last four decades has proved it, beyond a shadow of doubt, that everything is possible: it is a just of matter of time and effort. That, of course, demands sincerity of purpose, unwavering dedication and relentless perseverance. Where there is Allah, there is a way. And Allah is always with you when you are sincere in your heart and mind.

I have also learned to believe that there are hundreds and thousands of people around us who are sincere, dedicated, and supportive of genuine causes. I have dealt with people from almost every segment of society, every echelon of hierarchy in the government and every occupation and I must admit I found many, many good people who listened to me and acted to get things done. I have learned to believe that Pakistanis are not all that bad as many of us might think. Many socially responsible individuals set up organizations which made their own significant mark on society such as Edhi Foundation, Ansar Burney Trust, Concerned Citizens Association, Consumer Protection Council, Human Rights Association of Pakistan, The Reformers and so on.

The more I interact with the government agencies for the citizens' rights, the more I tend to believe that it is the environment rather than the people in positions of power, from the peon to the president of Pakistan, which is largely responsible for the tasks undone or badly done. What is badly needed today, to the best of my knowledge and understanding of issues, is an overhaul of the environment, be it political, social, economic, cultural, religious and so on. Who is going to overhaul the system? That is probably the multi-billion-dollar question.

In my humble opinion, it is the people of Pakistan particularly those who are educated, who are aware of the issues, and who are blessed with the resources to bring about reforms in our country.

Let us forget about what is gone. We achieved a lot, we could'nt achieve a lot. So, that is history. Living humans live in the present and plan for the future. Past is history and history has dead souls in it. History is good for reference, reflection and lessons but you cannot live in history.

Let us take a start. Let us make a commitment to ourselves that we are here to do what is to be done for ourselves, our families, our relatives, our friends, our neighbours, and our fellow citizens. We just cannot and must not forget that our priorities may be different from one another but our commitment to our people and our land must always be there in our hearts and minds. And commitment demands action to the best of everybody's abilities, resources and convictions.

The Rights4Citizens forum is open for comments, suggestions, issues, solutions, and support from everybody and anybody who lives in Pakistan or in any part of the world and who is conscious of the human rights and who is determined to uphold the dignity of mankind, no matter what religion, what country, what race, colour, sex, and what occupation he or she belongs to. All are welcome, wholeheartedly.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, once said: "one man with courage is a majority". Let us prove it in the 21st century.

Have a wonderful life!

Mumtaz A. Piracha
Chairman
Good Governance Forum
Pakistan
Website: www.goodgovernanceforum.com
Email: good.governance@gmail.com

My Blogroll

http://sayno2corruption.blogspot.com

http://goodgovernanceforum.blogspot.com

http://pakistanjustice.blogspot.com
http://judicialpetitionspakistan.blogspot.com
http://civilservicespakistan.blogspot.com
http://districtmanagementgroup.blogspot.com

http://world-formanites-forum.blogspot.com

http://pakistanpolicereforms.blogspot.com

http://changingtimespakistan.blogspot.com

http://pakistanelectricity.blogspot.com/

http://missingpersonspakistan.blogspot.com