yup... an elite hypocrite he is 4rm a hypocrite country!
What does that make you, coming to a mainly pakistani forum, and of all the places on this forum, posting in a sub-forum called Pakistan Affairs?
waits for a tangent reply
What does that make you, coming to a mainly pakistani forum, and of all the places on this forum, posting in a sub-forum called Pakistan Affairs?
waits for a tangent reply
1 of the refreshing exceptions ;)
What happened to his Harvard place? Is he still studying there on scholarship or he abandoned Harvard and returned the scholarship? Any news?
Anyhow, regardless of he still studying at Harvard University and regardless of he keeps the scholarship, whatever he has done is commendable and is strong message to USA and world regarding sentiments of Pakistanis towards any action against Pakistan. His action was not only courageous but I am sure that it would leave an impact on how world sees Pakistan as society and Country.
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
As far as I know, Samad Khurram is in Pakistan right now. Not sure about his enrollment.
One thing is for sure. I have never seen many courageous from India. Indians mostly behave like Ghandi. They try to show themselves starving to death, prefer to beg peanuts and love to get banged. As for Pakistanis, they always try to take stand like Quaid-e-Azam, regardless of the consequence.
Though it does not mean Pakistanis are foolhardy, as we also have President Musharraf who would make sure that with strong stand he takes into account Pakistani interest and gets best for Pakistan. On the other hand we also have people like Nawaz who when confronts angry Clinton on Kargil issue, start pis*ing in his pants.
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
^ Musharraf is a spineless coward when it comes to India, lately all hes done is bend over and pardon some convicted terrorists/spies, and also in case you didnt know Samad Khurram heads a good portion of the anti-Musharraf drive, please commend him for that too 
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
Interesting comment from a student of Roots present there;
http://dawn.com/2008/06/24/letted.htm#1
The wrong place for protest
A ceremony was held by Roots College International on the 18th of June to honour high achievers. Students who had shown academic brilliance had been awarded scholarships and admissions by the most prestigious universities in the world, (including US Ivy league universities such as Stanford, Princeton, Harvard etc).
Being a Roots student, I was also present in the hall. In the Principal’s own words, it was a day dedicated to the students.
Who could have thought that the spotlight would be snatched from the 188 achievers, and taken by one student, who chose this platform to make a statement, by refusing to accept his award from the American Ambassador, and making a political statement on the mike?
I also collected an award that day from the US ambassador and Samad’s response made me think about whether I had been wrong, and after this guilt trip, I came to the conclusion that in fact it was him who was wrong. The ceremony was held to celebrate educational progress, the main theme being ‘crossing boundaries, integration, and not just national, but global success’.
This was also demonstrated by appreciating the way educational opportunities around the world have become more open to students in Pakistan. The underlying statement is that whatever the political situation may be, and no matter how differentiated the world may become on this account, the fact that a good education still acts as an international passport, and has to be appreciated. The US ambassador was invited as a guest by the administration to acknowledge and reflect this fact.
The US strike was a tragedy and aroused anger and frustration amongst Pakistanis. The hatred towards the USA gets fuelled by incidents such as these. However the audience of more than 400 present in the hall did not take Samad’s stance. Does this make them less patriotic? No. The audience in the hall mainly consisted of proud parents who had come to see their children shine in their success, and not to make any statements. The American Ambassador being the chief guest was thus overlooked by the parents.
Many parents were upset after Samad’s response, as they felt that their children had not been given their fair share of time on stage due to tightened security arrangements and a cut down on the time. Samad’s achievement was the award he had been given three years ago by the US, but he surely spoiled the day for the other 187 students who missed their moments of glory.
If a protest was indeed called for, this was not the forum to make it. All students were aware of whom the chief guest was days before the event, why was there no protest to the administration on inviting the Ambassador in the first place? There were other ways to decline the award, and being heard at the same time, but such a protest would have perhaps not made headlines.
Calling the President of the country unconstitutional on an educational forum is not right, as many may disagree with this stance (including me). If everyone starts making their own political statements, the purpose of these ceremonies will be killed. If we can’t distinguish between forums meant to make political statements, and ones to encourage educational progress, then we do not deserve these events to be held in the first place.
While I am in agreement that Pakistan needs to take a more aggressive stance against its so called ally, this was not the platform.
The Ambassador was a guest and not a government representative at the ceremony, and the cost of her embarrassment was the staunch image of Pakistani students that went across. Any grievances with the administration should have been put forward before hand. As for the US, we disagree with their policies but we do realize that their education is amongst the best in the world, and that is why we still go to that country to get it. We should not forget that Mohammad Ali Jinnah himself got his education in the very Britain against which he later fought for independence. Our hostility is towards their policies, not their education, and if we want to give ourselves half a chance against them, we need to embrace this education, and not construct walls which will hinder future prospective students from going abroad.
LAILA SOHAIL
Rawalpindi
:k:
Obviously an MQM member from Pindi. How dare she support education over political dramabazi?
No doubt Samad’s behaviour was appalling and could be harmful for future prospects of many Pakistani students as well an hindrance in development of Pakistan. I do not think that anyone in their right mind could commend his actions.
But nevertheless, even though his action could cause harm to Pakistan, Samad did sent a strong message. A message that however strong a country be, to take action against another weaker country can create grievance in population of weaker country, and on occasions this grievance can burst out as protest, that could be harmful for stronger country. I think that his action was due to spur of emotional outburst and I hope that USA ambassador, World as well as other Pakistanis would take it that way, though if people would start seeing his action as intentional then certainly that could cause irreparable harm.
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
^ what message he sent? only that Harvard must be more selective in future than admitting such unstable people
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
http://dawn.com/2008/06/25/letted.htm#5
**
Misinterpretation of facts**
THIS is with reference to report in your newspaper regarding Samad Khurram rejecting a certain award by US senator (June 19). For clarification purposes, please note the following:
-
Khurram has never declined Harvard scholarship. Rather he is pursuing degree at Harvard and his full fees, including tuition, board and lodging are being paid by the Harvard University. Harvard is paying this amount through alumni sponsorship which happens to be American citizens. Khurram’s scholarship runs in millions of rupees and he been able to study at Harvard for the last three years due to the courtesy of US citizens.
-
The award that Khurram has refused to accept was being given to him for his performance in 2005 A level examinations, on the basis of which he was able to get admission in Harvard in 2005. He does not stand in any way to lose anything rejecting this award since he has already reaped the full benefits of his A level performance, admission in Harvard, Roots scholarships, British Council awards, Harvard scholarships, etc.
Please note that when he accepted all these honours and benefits in 2005, Britain and the US were still at war with Afghanistan and Iraq, but he went on to reap the full benefits of that achievement, by securing admission in Harvard as well as Harvard financial aid/scholarship.
I pray that the Americans would not quit funding brilliant and deserving Pakistani students at their top institutions because of people like Khurram. Khurram should grow up.
Please stop maligning all Americans for the deeds of their governments. US citizens and their top institutions spend millions of dollars each year so that needy students like Khurram can reach their best institutions and serve their respective communities.
A PAKISTANI STUDENT
Via email
(II)
THIS is apropos of your report, ‘Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack’ (June 19).
This and similar headlines were continuously flashed across the media through the night while this was not exactly what took place that night.
I happened to be a student of Roots College International and was present at the high achiever’s ceremony where this incident occurred.
The student, Samad Khurram, an ex-Rootsian, was invited with other students who got admitted or are pursuing education in foreign universities to the occasion designed to honour high achievers of the institution.
Although Khurram did register a protest regarding the US bombing in Mohmand Agency, contrary to what is widely propagated, it wasn’t the Harvard scholarship that he refused.
Khurram is already studying in Harvard on a scholarship, so instead it was merely a college memento that was given likewise to every high achiever which he actually declined to accept.
Such misinterpretation of facts is unfortunate. Whatever the case may be, the incident was certainly blown out of proportion and received the ‘media coverage’ that was uncalled-for.
SAIF ULLAH KHAN
Via email
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
Haha, another anti-Mush activist is found to be a complete fraud and hypocrite. His groupies will be disappointed.
This paper-tiger jihadism is almost as bad as the real deal.
I was looking for a more solid proof regarding my claim but in good faith , I hope that will do for ya .. spock ….
I don’t think it he is “fraud” himself, rather media used him and propagated false message.
I was looking for a more solid proof regarding my claim but in good faith , I hope that will do for ya .. spock ….
Did you really read what you highlighted?
Re: Student refuses Harvard scholarship to protest Mohmand attack
Aliyish is right, just because Harvard is a private institution does not mean this fake student does not owe his education to the US and it's generosity.
I don't think it he is "fraud" himself, rather media used him and propagated false message.
Having read his articles, he is at the very least a hypocrite. And this has nothing to do with his little drama here.
I was looking for a more solid proof regarding my claim but in good faith , I hope that will do for ya .. spock ….
That is not 'tax money' chanda, the Govt has nothing to do with it, its a harvard scholarship. His beef is with the American Govt, not the American people, learn to distinguish btw the two.