John R. Houk
© July 27, 2013
Shamim Masih writes a praise essay on Samson Simon Sharaf (Below My Thoughts) a retired Brigadier General from the Pakistan army. The impressive rarity about Sharaf is that he is a Pakistani Christian. This means Sharaf has achieved a high level in Islamic Supremacist Pakistan.
I Googled the Brigadier General to read some info that Shamim may not have provided. Sharaf is a prolific writer. He is a promoter of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which is a political party that showed strength outside of two other political parties that have dominated Pakistan politics - Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N). Here is another blog with an odd name that has some pro-PTI information.
I have found that Pakistani Christians are typically intensely loyal patriots of Pakistan. Even after all the persecution they have received in matters of Pakistan patriotism Pakistani Christians will bristle up their back at perceived foreign enemies. The PTI is a centrist political party that seems to combine the promotion of an Islamic democracy mingled with a bit of socialism. Their appeal is based on the plank of uniting all aspects of Pakistan society under fairness rather than exploitation and corruption. The party’s leader is Imran Khan. Sharaf seems to have a close relationship with Khan. Under Khan’s leadership which has the support of the retired Brigadier General, PTI wants to dump the USA as a partner and make peace with the AFPAK Taliban. Khan feels that being embroiled with America’s war on terror has brought dysfunction to Pakistan society.
A number of Sharaf’s journalism brings out the anti-American sentiment of the PTI:
· Samson Simon Sharaf’s blog: Insight and Foresight
Shamim Masih identifies Sharaf as a Christian, yet Sharaf’s Facebook about page under Basic Information lists his religious views as “My own”. I am not so convinced that Samson Simon Sharaf is a committed Christian. I sense his Christianity is of a secular nature at best or of a dhimmi to Islam at worst. Or like a lot of Pakistanis Sharaf is Pakistan patriot like many Pakistani Christians. That is a mystery to me.
JRH 7/27/13
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Brigadier (R) Samson Simon Sharaf –living legend
A mentor for Christian community
By Shamim Masih
Sent: 7/26/2013 12:15 PM
ISLAMABAD: Z A Bhutto is seen as a visionary leader with an enduring mark on Pakistan’s policy. Amongst his accomplishments are China, Afghan Policy, Nationalisation, Nuclear Program and convening of the Islamic Summit in Lahore. To co-opt the religious right in his global and domestic agenda, he nationalized minorities’ institutions depriving them of the oasis in which they thrived. According to one account, he remarked on the Christian protests against nationalization ‘If they do not behave, I will force them to wear black cloths’. Some Pakistani Christian leaders still believe him and follow him as great leader. Amazing!
The 1973 constitution institutionalized political isolation of religious minorities, taken a step further by the military dictator Zia ul Haq. He added discriminatory laws and introduced religious and sectarian divides that nation seems helpless to undo.
Though another military dictator Gen. Musharaf reintroduced the Joint Electorate, through an inconclusive selection system, he handed over charge of minority parliamentarians to party leaders in violation of Article 226 of the constitution. Successive constitutional amendments under the Zardri government have deprived religious minorities of whatever little voice they had in the federal government. As expediency with the opposition, he snatched the only representation “Ministry for Minority Affairs”.
Pakistani Christians have played a vital role in the development of the country. Since independence, we have given talented people to the country through the education institutions. This apart, we have Christian role models in every field of national life. A few meriting mention are Samuel Martin Burke, Justice (R) A. R. Cornelius, Group Captain (R) Cecil Chaudhry and Wing Commander Mervyns Middle cote (Shaheed). Pakistani Christians are proud of them and many more whose names I have not mentioned.
Unfortunately most emerging Christian leaders have fallen victims to their ambitions and prefer to be around party leaders than their people. Yet there has been one who works for the cause of his country and community with no personal ambitions.
Last week, I chanced to represent Christians in a local TV Channel talk show. I tried my best to highlight the plight of the Christians but a Christian politician in the show disappointed me. His demeanor and manner were negative and appeasing; avoiding burning issues and takes the bull by the horns. I was left wondering that if he with his unique style of politics cannot straight talk, what about others who are made of a lesser mettle than him. The fact is that Pakistani Christian politicians are a disappointment at large seeking seats and appeasing their parties at the cost of their people. In this absconding and unpredictable pitch I recently met a man who can play to win for his people selflessly.
Brigadier (R) Samson Simon Sharaf is a retired one-star general officer of Pakistan Army and a ground combater. He heads St. Mary’s College Rawalpindi, a Roman Catholic Institution of Higher Education providing world class professional education as also catering to Christian Boys and Girls, fallen through cracks due to socio-economic disadvantages.
He appears unassuming at a first glance and only an objective discourse can bring the best out of him. His eyes brighten and arguments become passionate. He quotes from history, literature and current affairs to discuss issues faced by the country and its minority communities. He is apt, straight and minces no words to call spade a spade.
He is perhaps the only Christian officer who has served in the Military Operations Directorate at GHQ in the post 1971 era. This is an organization that needs the highest levels of security clearance. He has handled one of Pakistan’s most prestigious and guarded Nuclear Policy. Later, he volunteered to reform the Army Public Education System and raised the prestigious Army Public College of Management and Sciences. As recognition of his services in Human Resource Development, the government of Pakistan rewarded him with a commendation and Sitata e Imtiaz. He trained both in Pakistan and abroad and is seen as a role model by officers of Pakistan Army.
He is pedigree stuff. His father Lal Din Sharaf Sargodhavi worked with Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah whose pictures he proudly hangs in his office, and this is where his inspiration and character come from. Despite being qualified in security and nuclear strategy, he prefers to call himself a Political Economist, the robe of a modern strategist. This is an area in which he has been writing for the past six years with remarkable accuracy, insight and foresight. Had the military heard his cries in the wild, Pakistan would have been a different country today. Rather than exhibit an elastic conscience, he chose to suffer for his convictions and fade away as a soldier.
His humility and candour dispels the impression of a military officers used to ordering. He displays humility and firmness crucial to win hearts and minds. As I sat in his simple and workmanlike Rector’s office laden with latest books and where visitors kept coming and going, I realized that I was encountering a person par excellence. He had a human angle to every issue and displayed the ability to be a good listener. In between, he was in touch with his military colleagues, dishing out wisdom. I was surprised that he has not drawn his salary for four years and diverted the finances for the development of the institution he heads. To cover his expenses, his daughter runs his water treatment and telecom business while he devotes his time to his passion for community service and Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf. He is the elected Central Secretary Defence of his party. This is where he sees a bright future for Pakistan and its non-Muslims.
I have read over a hundred of his recent articles from politics to international affairs, WOT, political economy and nuclear issues. Having met him in his office and home, I could humbly affirm him a “living legend”.
His personal study at his house is a room with books lying all around with his trophies and mementos hanging on walls. There is a wall size poster of Pakistan’s 3rd Highest Mountain with his ice axe and snow boots hanging by the side. It is then I learnt that he was also a high altitude mountaineer, climbed Gashebrum1 (8068M) and enjoys desert rallies. He is the first Pakistani to have cross country traversed Pakistan’s most inhospitable Nara Desert in summer heat. He has also climbed Mont Blanc in France and made free fall jumps with a parachute. He still hikes and plays golf and tennis.
I was surprised to know that since 2005, he has been personally present at every trouble spot of Christians and worked unobserved to resolve issues. He does not claim credit and attributes his accomplishments to the work of God.
He hates to call himself a politician and claims to be a reformer. Within PTI, he has an impressive following particularly overseas Pakistan’s who keep calling him with their ideas. As a political leader, he prefers to work in the mainstream rather than take the easy and exclusive option of minorities. Yet, he has made enduring contributions to the party constitution on minority rights and Balochistan.
Samson Simon Sharaf is both a dreamer and a doer and a befitting person to become the voice of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Be Blessed,
Shamim Masih
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Samson Simon Sharaf and Pakistani Christian Patriotism
John R. Houk
© July 27, 2013
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Brigadier (R) Samson Simon Sharaf –living legend
Shamim Masih
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