Aftab Ali wipes the sweat on his forehead and raises his hands to make dua before opening his fast. Dates and a few slices of peach, his iftari, that are lying on an old newspaper are precariously balanced on the bonnet of his sahib’s car. He is not allowed inside the Defence R Block Club where his sahib and his family are having ‘assorted sandwiches’ and ‘Chinese tea’ for iftari.
In a move that has brought “all Islamic principles of justice, fair play, equality and brotherhood to shame”, Defence J Block Club administration has barred the helpers of the families that come to the club from eating with the ‘rich’ at iftari time. So much so that the leaflets issued by the club state ‘Maids/servants/drivers are not allowed.’
NO PLACE TO SIT, NO FOOD TO EAT:
The helpers that accompany the families are expected to wait outside in the heat or in the grounds at iftari time and no arrangements have been made for their iftar either.
Helpers were seen huddled in groups sitting on the ground and eating from the food that they had brought with them. They even shared their pakoras and fruits with each other.
“I forgot to bring something along but there are other servants here who shared their food with me,” said Shaukat Bibi, adding “Baji is inside and I take care of her newborn. She comes outside and hands him over to me when he cries because I can’t go inside.”
“I hope that one day my children can enter places like these,” a driver, Asif, smiles and adds.
‘MEMBERS DO NOT WANT TO EAT WITH THEIR SERVANTS’:
Talking to Pakistan Today, Defence Club Assistant Secretary Major Shahid said “The club members form the executive committee and the committee decides the rules. The members don’t want to eat with their servants so the club has nothing to do with it.”
When asked why an arrangement for iftari had not been made for the helpers, he said, “The committee did not place any funds under this head. Nobody suggested that we make arrangements of iftari for the helpers.”
As strange as it seems, the members of the club are allowed to bring guests with them if they pay for them but that does not hold for the helpers. Even if the members pay for them, the helpers are not allowed inside the hall and if a member takes their helper inside, they are fined for ‘violating the rules’.
RESIDENTS, MEMBERS THINK THIS IS ‘A DISGRACE’:
“This is horrible generally too, but when it comes to matters related to our religion, this is just a disgrace,” said Anum Afzal, a member and a resident.
“Yes there might be some people who suffer from strange complexes and would not want to eat with their helpers, but a separate arrangement should be made for them and there was no need to single this out on the leaflet. This is just very shameful,” she added.
“It might be uncomfortable to have the helpers eating with us but yes, there is a need to make alternate arrangement for them,” said Yasir Hameed, a member.
“I am a member and I do not approve of this decision, whosoever made it. This elitist mindset is present in our society like a cancer and there is a need to take measures to curb it,” said Rizwan Yaqoob.
“Who are we imitating? Long ago there were clubs in the US that barred African-Americans and dogs from entering clubs. They don’t exist anymore. Why are we in a reverse gear?” said Aima Khosa.
“This is a twisted version of the holier than thou attitude. These people aren’t pets. If the helpers are not allowed inside why hasn’t an alternate arrangement been made for them?” said Rehman Umar.
“Clubs are all about exclusivity. They offer members lower prices but in exchange they are blunt about keeping a certain crowd out. Got a problem with elitism? Boycott the club,” Zoon Ahmed, another member, said.
“I, or my family, have no issues with the helpers eating with us. We often share food with them. For once, I am glad my helper does not know how to read or I would have been very ashamed of myself,” said Aeesha Sheikh, another member.
I think you are so naive to ask such a simple question in the era of these so called civilized and educated people. They are not human beings in the eyes of these Elites. This is a fact. My dear! the world has become so hypocrite, believe me or not!!!!
Islamabad Club also has the same rule: Read this: http://www.uroojzia.com/?p=1479
shameful.. its more painful that they are actually the ruling class .. they have separate schools for their kids, separate medical facilities and now even separate iftaris.. so sad
Its ok to not allow these people in. They are all jiayalas and they are used to it. f you give them an inch, they'll take a yard. Just look at Pervaiz Ashraf. He's gone from being a BATA foreman to becoming the prime minister. This is what you get for being nice to them. They'll try to take over. All jiayals need to kept in their place.
very much like when the brits ruled. thought Pakistan was founded to be better than that.
Yet I have heard from my elders who can remember the Raj, that things were better under the British.
No freedom but they had security, low inflation and a system that worked without corruption but with great efficiency.
Wait a minute… we STILL have no freedom but we have high inflation, zero security, a system that stopped working decades ago and Zadari plus the corruption that flows from the political class he represents.
very painful
I think you are so naive to ask such a simple question in the era of these so called civilized and educated people. They are not human beings in the eyes of these Elites. This is a fact. My dear! the world has become so hypocrite, believe me or not!!!!
sad, sad .. this vip culture is the bone of corruption in our society. it has to end if we are to prosper
If they won't listen to the call of the time, then very soon Elites will be deleted.
Its not a new thing it happens every where. Not only in pakistan. Presedent house main be yehi hota hai
link in not oppening
Are we never to be free of the Brahman mentality?
Where is human decency and brotherly compassion in our Pak Zar zahmin? More importantly, where is the shame of those who stuff their faces a few feet from hungry men and women?
The stage is being set for a revolution. Change course before it is too late my elite friends.
what a pity for our society !!!!
what a stupid article by Tajwar. Is she blind to our class based society? Has she ever attended a wedding where drivers and maids are taking part in celebrations. I'm sorry if you take this the wrong way, but I never never read such a poorly written piece about such a poorly understood issue by the writer. When was the last time your driver or maid went and took a meal with you at zouk….any reason why? Stop these senseless articles.
You are a moron of your own kind
It is now fashionable to pick on topics that may give this poor emerging columnist a kick into better future.It is a poorly written piece and is being followed by the friends of the writer on request.Club is not a public place but a Privet place.Tell me how many of you eat with your servants and drivers at home?Stop this hypocrisy which has become the national trademark.
I suppose mr pakistani, you don't seem to think that those people who you are outcasting are working for you and are Allah's creation just like you. the only difference is that the Lord gave you wealth and not them. it's not about eating with them but you should atleast have the decency to provide them with arrangements and a proper sitting are in a shade. but i guess its useless to say anything to u because you just don't have humanity left in you. Really sad !!!! May Allah swt guide you with the straight path.
Who are we trying to compare ourselves too???? Who are we to outcast those people who work hard to make our lives easier????
This is just plain arrogance and pride on which they outcast other humans who are not rich as they are.
Allah says in the Quran al karim..
"Those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right them― will I turn away from My signs even if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them; and if they see the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the way; but if they see the way of error, that is the way they will adopt; For they have rejected Our signs, and failed to take warning from them." (7:146)
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