People in Pakistan prayed for New Zealand to win ICC World Cup 2019 - Here is Why

While the final of the recently concluded ICC World Cup Cricket was being played, I and many Pakistanis had all our support for the New Zealand team. Not that we had any enmity with the Englishmen, but while watching the match and specially Kane Williams, our memory of APS Peshawar massacre flashed back. 

In December 2014, when the terrorists attacked an army run school (APS) and massacred innocent students, at that time teams of Pakistan and New Zealand were playing a series of ODI cricket in the UAE. Naturally, the incident was extremely tragic and heartbreaking for everyone in Pakistan, and even for the onlookers or those who read the news of tragedy.

It was at that time that the support and love of New Zealand Team for the victims and survivors of the APS students came to forth which was an extremely moving gesture ever to be expressed by team of sportsmen unparalleled in the sports history.

In those trying times of grief, Kane Williamson and Adam Milne of New Zealand team donated thousands of dollars in match fees and their kits to the families of the Pakistan terror attack victims. The gesture really moved every Pakistani and there were silent prayers of thanks for the New Zealand team, specially Kane Williamson and Adam Milne. After the Pakistan team came back, Younis Khan on behalf of the team visited survivors in hospital and distributed the pieces of kits beside handing over donated money to the families.

Younis Khan presenting Williamson's shirt to one of the survivors of APS Massacre [Photo: AFP/ISPR]

So when New Zealand and England were embattled in the final of the ICC World Cup Cricket 2019 in England on Sunday, I along with many Pakistanis prayed for the Kiwis to win the cup. Our prayers were almost answered had the Umpire Kumar Dharmasena not given his wrong decision of awarding six runs instead of five at the crucial stage of the match.

In fact the ICC should have taken a notice of this great violation of cricket rules and had at least awarded the trophy jointly to both teams for technically the New Zealand would have won the match had this unlawful decision not give.

Now that the event is over, we thank Kane Williamson and his team for amusing us with a more than world class cricket match and just want to tell them that they will always remain in our hearts for their gesture of goodwill five years back after Peshawar massacre in December 2014.

Photo | Reference: New Zealand Cricket Team Donate Kits and Funds for Victims of Peshawar School Massacre

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A walk through historical Qissa Khawani Bazaar of Peshawar

Sometime back, I wrote a post about Raja Bazaar of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Now I take you to yet another famous bazaars of Pakistan: The Qissa Khawani Bazaar of Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtun Khwa province of Pakistan. 

Qissa Khawani Bazaar is a historic market place dating back to many centuries. No one really knows how old this part of Peshawar city is, but according to accounts by the locals, it was once the junction point of trade caravans coming to India from the northern Asian countries, resting and drinking the famous green tea of Peshawar.

The name Qissa (stories) Khawani (narration / telling) or simply the bazaar of story tellers originates from the fact that the people would listen to the stories and news from the incoming traders about other countries and lands beyond the mountain barriers or even the local stories by the professional stories. 

As per Wikipedia, Indian film actor Dilip Kumar was born in Qissa Khawani Bazaar on or about 11 December 1922, while actor Shah Rukh Khan's family still lives in the area. It was the site of the Qissa Khwani Bazaar massacre in 1930, when a large crowd of unarmed local protesters was crushed and fired upon by British armoured cars and soldiers. Four hundred locals were murdered in cold blood.

People or the story listeners would gather around the story tellers and sip famous aromatic green tea or 'qahwa' as it is called in the local language, taking small sips and listening to the stories. I wonder if the story tellers are still around, but the green tea is still served from the traditional brass brewers even today.

A few days back I was in Peshawar and decided to walk through the this historical bazaar of Peshawar and I was amazed to see the variety of commodities available in the main bazaar and countless small alleys inside. The bazaar is full of shoppers and buyers to buy anything from small household items to even spare parts of used cars.

Remains of old wooded balconies can still be seen from behind the newly made buildings 

Bank of Australasia was once a thriving bank which had its brancehs in many cities. Now only the plaque remains.

Gossiping while waiting for the customers or perhaps telling a story!!

Mobile SIMs for sale

Besides the traditional qahwa or the green tea, the bazaar is hub of all types of traditional foods of Peshawar. Since it was almost the lunch time, beef tikkas were being fried and fresh naans collected from the nearby tandoor or the bakery as can be seen in picture above and two below.

Freshly baked naans for the lunch

The long and narrow alleys where business thrives throughout the day

Donkey driven carts are still in use to carry goods

Traditional colourfull dresses for the woen and girls

The old building have taken a modern look - the front is all new but at the back the old buildings still hold on

It is not difficult to find the Qissa Khawani Bazaar as it is very close to many land marks of Peshawar like the famous Bala Hisar Fort, Mahabat Khan`s Mosque, Qasim Khan Mosque, Chritali Bazaar, Chowk Yadgar, Khyber Bazaar and Cunningham Clock Tower. Next time you visit Peshawar, do not miss to include Qissa Khawani Bazaar from your site sighting list - for it is the actual Peshawar!!

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The bleeding wounds of Peshawar school massacre

While I am writing this post, it was about time a year ago on 16 December 2014 when mothers were bidding farewell to their school going children all over Pakistan including Peshawar - oblivious of the bitter reality that was to take place a few hours from thence. 

And the bitter and heart lamenting tragedy occurred around 11 AM in the Army run Army Public School Peshawar, where nine terrorists barged into the school and killed almost 144 students at point blank ranges - most were killed instantly, while a few succumbed to their wounds when they were later evacuated to hospitals. 

Pakistan Army units responded with great speed and arrived at the school and bravely encountered the terrorists killing three while six blew themselves up wearing the suicide jackets - but by then the damage had been done. The school's auditorium was already bathed in blood of countless children whose lifeless bodies were lying all over. Innocent children of varying ages were gone forever in perhaps the most horrific and bloodiest terrorist attack by the subjects of a Taliban terrorists group.

Despite the bloody carnage, there were tales of bravery, selflessness and courage. The school principal chose to stay right inside the school and confronted the terrorists face to face and died while protecting her children. 

Faces of Courage and bravery

Beenis - Tahira Qazi (school principal) - Sofia - Mrs Tariq

Many teachers died while shielding their students while many children fell over the fellow students in order to save them and facing the bullets and perishing. Tahira Qazi - the APS principal (above second from left) who refused to leave the school till last of her students were evacuated. She rescued two children. When the troops arrived they told her to leave - but she refused, saying I will go with the last child. Hours after the attack, Tahira’s body was found in the bushes outside the school. She had a bullet wound to the front of her head, and an explosion may have tossed her into the bushes.

Beenish (left above) was shot while administering first aid to the wounded. Sofia (second from right above) was in the auditorium when the carnage started - but she stayed and pulling many injured and sending them to safety when she was spotted by terrorists and shot. Mrs Tariq (right), even having left the hall returned to look for survivors, was brutally torched by the terrorists as they were infuriated by her efforts to save her students.  Teacher Abu Bakar was shot three times when he threw himself in front of four students fleeing the gunmen. Three of them survived.

Uzair Ali (above) of eight class saw the attackers and leapt to shield his friends by lying on top of them. He was killed; shot 13 times, but he managed to save his companions. Fourteen-year-old Fahad Hussain opened a door so his friends could run out. He stayed by the door making sure everyone was evacuated. He was gunned down while doing so.

Khaula perished on her very first day in school - taking away her dreams to heavens

Then there was six-year-old Khaula who had happily gone to the school for the first day - probably aspiring to be a doctor or engineer. But all her dreams died with her as she was sprayed with bullets mercilessly.

Waleed - received eight bullets and survived

Most of the victims received bullets on their heads or jaws fired from point blank ranges. While many succumbed to the massacre, there were few who were lucky to be evacuated in time. Waleed (above) is one such survivor who received eight bullets on his mouth and body - and luckily survived. He has recovered and goes back to the same school - instead of running away and hiding in some foreign lands.

There were and are many tales of sorrow and sadness besides bravery and dedication, love for comrades and students. I remember having read an account of a 8th class student who said: I will go to my class ALONE as all my classmates have been martyred.

Watch the following video with eye witnesses account of the tragedy and victims (Beware of GRAPHIC CONTENT):

Peshawar School Massacre
Peshawar School Massacre !!!
Posted by Zayer Hassan Films on Monday, December 7, 2015

The merciless Taliban leader Fazlullah later claimed the responsibility and boastfully announced their achievement of killing the children of the army men - the same army that is hurting their nefarious designs and not allowing them to carry out their heinous agenda of spreading terror in the country.

Of all the countries in the world lamenting of terrorism, Pakistan is the worst hit. The number of people perished is to the tune of 60,000 plus while a large number of officers and men of Pakistan Army have laid down their lives fighting the terrorists. It is a shame for all those countries who are supporting the terrorists by providing them money and weapons to keep the world at war. The UN and all world forums have failed to address the issue while the funding to terrorists continues who are playing with world peace and lives of innocent people and children like that of APS Peshawar, Palestine and Syria.

While Pakistan continues to show the resolve to stand up and face the terrorists and its army continues to wipe out their safe havens, the bleeding wounds of Peshawar tragedy will take years and generations to heal.

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New Zealand Cricket Team Donate Kits and Funds for Victims of Peshawar School Massacre

In a rare and unteachable expression of grief the New Zealand cricket team has donated their kits and match earnings for the survivors of the Peshawar APS massacre. The announcement was made after the ODI series played between Pakistan and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates. 

The Army Public School (APS) located in Peshawar came under a terrorist attack on 16th December by six gunmen affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The militants, all of whom were foreign nationals, included one Chechen, three Arabs and two Afghans.They entered the school and opened fire on school staff and children,killing 149 people including 132 schoolchildren. Some say it was it was the world's fourth deadliest school massacre.

Moved by the suffering of the survivors and families, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Adam Milne have donated thousands of dollars in match fees to the families of the Pakistan terror attack victims. The gesture moved every Pakistani and thanked the selfless and unique gesture.

This was revealed by Pakistani teammate Younis Khan, who said that the New Zealand players and officials handed over some donations and kit bags to him, which would be delivered when he would go to Peshawar. He added that New Zealand skipper Williamson gave all five ODIs match fees, while fast bowler Milne gave away his income of one match.

{Photo AFP/ISPR]

Post Script: Later on 30th December, Younis Khan visited Peshawar and met the survivors in the hospital and met their families and delivered the kits and donations.

Photo | References | 1 | 2 | 

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