Hugh Sykes will report for PM from Pakistan tonight. He writes:
"Hiya!
In case you heard the report from Pakistan on The World at One on Wednesday, here are some photographs to illustrate it - and the story in a nutshell.
In Mianwali, in far west Punjab. the police believe they have broken up a Taleban cell. On Tuesday night they confronted seven suspects - 'miscreants', as they're called here; there was an exchange of fire, and five of the men escaped - but two were arrested. No one was hurt on either side. Two AK47 rifles, an RPG launcher and a signifiant quantity of explosives were seized.
The police chief - the DPO (District Police Officer) thinks the men were part of a cell planning to kidnap Chinese engineers working at a hydroelectric project on the Indus river near Mianwali - and receiving orders and advice from the Taleban high command in the frontier area.
The DPO, Lt. Col Akbar Nasir Khan, with Naji Habibullah, who was born in 1921. "We do not like the Taleban," said Mr.Habibullah, "Islam is a religion of peace".
The DPO with a group of aid co-ordinators, discussing a contingency plan for a camp near Mianwali for families displaced by the military operation against the Taleban in the Swat valley.
The DPO's official residence. Col Akbar is married to an English lawyer, Victoria. They are expecting their first child in about a month.
DVD and CD shop in Mianwali. Titles on sale include Slumdog Millionaire, Conan the Barbarian, Spiderman 3, Titanic, Hotel Rwanda and an Angelina Jolie video. The most popular western music choice in Mianwali is....Michael Jackson. Cure the World.
CD shop owner Mohammed Afidullah with his son Bilal. He says the Taleban would not sruvive if they dared come to Mianwali.
Fast food.
Mianwali Barbers' shop. The barber, Shafiulah, told me: "The Taleban are not true Muslims. There is no association between beards and Islam".
Police escort for the BBC out of the district.
On the road back to Islamabad.
Paint your wagon
Donkey work
Ah, that's better.
The end of a long hot day. Sunset over north-west Punjab, Pakistan.
I asked everyone named in these pictures if they were happy for the photographs to appear online - they all, defiantly, said yes."
Listen to PM
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~19~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Hi Hugh, brilliant pictures as usual, thanks.
I love the 'Fast Food', but are those not our camels from the PM 'Beach' on the road back to Islamabad?
DiY ;-)
Complain about this comment
Liked the Tubby Police! That wasn't a Pashley bike was it? - Good to see the Bedford trucks still going strong too!
Complain about this comment
Thank you, Hugh. Your photos always help to make the reports stand out in my mind, as I can associate the images with what I heard/will hear.
Complain about this comment
Hugh, such lovely pictures again - Thank you!
I heard your report yesterday, and my SO happened to be here. Now, he normally doesn't listen to the radio, but I gradually noticed that he had also tuned and was quite enrapt. That is the power you have: it's the finest radio can produce.
I'm particularly glad to see the picture of the barber and his client. (Incidentally, Hugh, you do seem to have a 'thing' about barbers!) I was moved when you translated his words about beards and Islam.
These are such fine people. And so are you. Thank you!
Complain about this comment
What absolutely wonderful photographs Hugh, thank you. I echo Fred and Big Sister's comments above.
Complain about this comment
PS: I meant to comment on the poor little donkey. You must see similar scenes on a regular basis. Tell me, Hugh, do their owners generally treat them well? Oh, and if you're able to buy them some treats in the market, would you buy some on my behalf and spread a little joy in the donkey world? I've a very soft spot for these plucky, hardworking animals as I grew up very close to a field where the beach donkeys lived. :o)
Complain about this comment
I heard your report yesterday too, Hugh. It was fascinating. I like the way you seem to be able to get people to speak to you about very normal, mundane things, that often bring out the everyday realities of their lives, and emphasise universal human concerns.
The photos are wonderful!
Complain about this comment
Hugh,
I wonder, do you ever get feed-back from the peoples you photograph, about how many of them, if any, are able to listen to the "appropriate" PM broadcast via the internet?
Which begs another question, which I've not thought about before; are any of the PM "slots" devoted to your work broadcast on the Beeb's World Service to the countries involved..?
Complain about this comment
Thank you for all those appreciative comments.
And Big Sister: The donkeys I have seen appear to be well fed and well treated. I guess it would be foolish not to treat them well - they wouldn't be any use if they were weak or abused.
I am very fond of donkeys, and probably photograph too many - but I can't really imagine going to a Pakistan market and saying, "er, hello, er, could I buy a treat for the donkeys please?"
and, Charlie: Some of the people I meet have acces to internet audio, and I give them the website address. But they're nearly always more interested in seeing the photographs, so that's easier to access online - and, when I revisit some places, I often take copies of the photographs with me - which, as you can imagine, gives great pleaseure.
Complain about this comment
Hugh, thank you for your reply - and of course I didn't expect you to say that in the market! Made me laugh, though!
I'm sure if you bought a few root vegetables they'd be much appreciated? - Ah well, it was just a thought!
I'm glad to hear they are well looked after. It does make sense for their owners to look after such an important asset, but I know that it isn't always the case. My cousin is involved with a donkey sanctuary in Egypt in which country, from what she tells me, there's quite a bit of abuse. I could never imagine mistreating any animal, least of all a donkey.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS