Let me tell you a true story told by a good friend....

As M (my friend) was riding on the local bus with F (his friend), they encountered a man who had first gotten off the bus but jumped back on when he realized his cell phone was missing (a common occurrence in Pakistan). That man yelled (in Urdu, of course) to everyone on the bus, "No one is getting out of this bus until I find my cell phone! Who has it?!" So M and F suggested to this man that he should try calling the cell phone and wait for it to ring. That man used one of their cell phones and sure enough, his phone started to ring! As everyone on the bus started to look around as to where the 'ring' was coming from, someone noticed a man scrambling to turn of a cell phone. That man was called out right away. Soon enough, that man was getting a beating for the crime he had committed. F had joined in as he too wanted to teach this man a lesson but M never joined in.

Apparently, when someone commits a crime (esp. stealing), local people come together to teach that person a lesson through public violence. They call this, "Haath saaf karne ka" which means to "clean your hands" of something. As my friend was telling me his story, I was reminded of a book I am currently reading by Alice C Hunsberger's The Ruby of Badakshan. Nasir Khusraw mentions that during Fatimid Cairo, the punishment for those caught cheating anyone was to mount on a camel and ride around the city with a bell in his hands while crying out, "I have committed a misdemeanour and am suffering reproach. Whosoever tells a lie is rewarded with public disgrace." This method proved to be successful at that time. I guess what happened on that bus was a form of "public disgrace" to teach that man a lesson about morals. I do not completely agree with this as violence is never the answer. It never "teaches" anyone a lesson and it never gets to the grass root of the problem. But I am assuming this form of public disgrace evolved from culture and how things have always been done.

Anyways, back to the story. After that man was beaten up and the bus ride continued, a couple more men got on that bus. These men approached M and F and asked, "whose idea was it to tell that guy to ring his own cell phone." He sounded as if he himself thought it was a great idea. So F admitted that it was his idea, as he was smiling. Brace yourself as what happened next will shock you. Both M and F received a beating from these guys as they were the friends of the man who had stolen the phone. These guys were upset that because of M and F, their friend was caught and was beaten. Oh and here is something else that you should know...when someone steals anything of yours keep in mind that there is an army full of people behind this one act. No act is performed solo.

As he was telling me this I was shocked because M and F did a good thing by helping this man find his stolen phone. F's involvement in the beating is a different story. So why did they have to pay for it? There is a saying, "Kar Bala, Pakar Ghala" (Do good and they grab your throat-i.e do good and you pay for it). I asked M if he would continue to help others in spite of this incidence and he said YES because that's his "responsibility" as a human being, to help others. I haven't told him this but I was really proud of him at that moment. In fact, he is a source of inspiration for me....


I have seen random acts of kindness being performed here all the time. While we were on the road, an old man's car stopped working so young men came from all over to help this man out. When any one's car gets stalled, random people come over to help push that car. Sure a few people give the rest a bad name but rest assured that most people in Karachi are extremely helpful and are there for you when you need them. I have been a recipient of this kindness every day since I have been here. Yes I have met some individuals who are not the most helpful but you will find this anywhere you go in the world. The message I am trying to get across is that do not be influenced by what the media or what a few people tell you. Listen to the whole story and listen to both sides of that story. Only then will you really be able to understand and appreciate the situation.