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Allah Subhan o Talah , says in the Quran ” Insaan kay liye woh hi kuch hay, jis kay liye uss nay koshish ki “. What we see around us and in most tv political talkshows is exactly what we are striving for. Issue less lengthy debates with same questions and answers. I request you to watch 18th March Kashif Abbasi’s Off the Record and u will get the picture. We r getting of what we prior for.
ilyas Gujjar Nutfa-e-haram
Gandi Maan ki gandi aulad
must watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKdbEx6CAnU
@dmin
The main featured news you have today on your homepage about Indian movies should be replaced with the above news. Well done Mubashir Lucman, that’s what i want from anchor’s showing the true face of these Gunda.
@admin
Would your videos work on IPAD?
A Case For “Soft And Covert” Occupation Of Pakistan
Is it possible that in the near future Pakistan’s army will come to its own rescue, that of Pakistan as a nation and in the interest of the people of Pakistan? When I was last in Pakistan in the 3Q2009, I could sense that even the most illiterate Pakistani, the roadside hawker, the rickshaw driver or the ordinary labourer was aware of the American presence in Pakistan and that its not at all about fighting terrorism but creating difficulties in Pakistan. They are aware of the presence of Blackwater/Xe, drone attacks on civilians, the construction of an American fortress embassy in Islamabad, the sneaking of US agents and weapons from Afghanistan into Pakistan, reports of Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington issuing visas to private US agents and the assistance from an indigenous security called Inter-Risk that is representing American defence contractor DynCorp. Why is the USA engaging in these activities in Pakistan?
http://www.countercurrents.org/mitha190310.htm
Robert Fisk’s World: As things get worse in Pakistan, the optimism continues to soar
far more outrageous was Richard Holbrooke’s cocky, overconfident performance on CNN just three days later. Things are getting better on the “Af-Pak” scene, he told the world – how I hate these infantile expressions (“Af-Pak”, “strategic depth”, “spikes” and “surges”) and al-Qa’ida is “under great pressure after losing key members of its leadership”. Ten to 12 al-Qa’ida leaders had been “eliminated” over the past year – mostly in pilotless drone attacks on Pakistani territory, it should be added, which cost 667 lives in 2009 alone . Pakistan’s civilians have paid the price in revenge attacks that usually target the Pakistani army: 322 Pakistanis killed and more than 500 wounded in 15 suicide bombings in the first 70 days of this year.
I can recall sitting on the lawn one evening this week with Imran Khan – among the most honest of Pakistan’s politicians (there aren’t many, I promise you) – as dusk fell over the Margalla mountains. And Imran was raging. “My God, these people in Waziristan, they are wonderful, beautiful people and what are we doing to them? The army fire their artillery 20km from their target, and they’re told they are shooting at 11 Taliban people and then they fire and the army announce that 11 Taliban have been killed. We are killing our own people. This has to stop.” But there’s not much point in thinking that Obama and his dotty secretary of state care a damn. They are lost.
Why, only a few months ago, la Clinton was bitching about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to stop building settlements following Obama’s “reach-out” – another of those bloody phrases – to Muslims. She meant all settlements, she said. Illegal settlements, “legal” settlements, outposts, whatever the Israelis liked to call it. And when Netanyahu offered his ridiculous “freeze” on just West Bank Jewish colonies for a mere six months – not in Jerusalem, mark you – off la Clinton trotted to the Arab League to publicise this extraordinary and “unprecedented” offer by the land-grabbers of the Netanyahu government.
Now she is huffing and puffing again. Joe Biden turns up in the land to which the United States has donated almost £200bn over the past decade in the hope of getting the Israelis and Palestinians to talk to each other again – and Netanyahu’s government announces another 1,600 Jewish homes in East Jerusalem. Biden, of course, should have jumped back on his plane and flown back to America. Hasn’t the US, after all, registered 39 vetoes to protect its little Middle Eastern Prussia in the UN? No way. The timing of the statement – the timing, mark you – was “unhelpful”. Netanyahu said he didn’t know about the announcement in advance – which, if true, suggests we should all believe in Father Christmas and fairies at the bottom of the garden.
My guess is that it’s only a matter of time before Obama’s pitiful envoy George Mitchell will be replaced by a tougher man – and who better than Dickie Holbrooke, the tough guy who knows how to handle “Af-Pak” and will know how to handle Netanyahu? Why, it’s not so long ago that he produced “peace” in Bosnia at Dayton, Ohio – one S Milosevic being an honoured guest – while telling a pleading delegation of Kosovo Muslims to get lost. Nothing should get in the way of peace in Bosnia. So the Kosovars departed to endure their own ethnic cleansing when Nato went to war with Serbia. You may remember that we were fighting this war to get the Kosovo Albanians back into their homes – even though most of them were in their homes when our USAF and RAF warriors started their bombing campaign against Serbia.
But who cares? Things are getting better in Pakistan. It’s only the Americans who are upset about Netanyahu. One thing at a time. That’s what Holbrooke told the Kosovo Muslims. Al-Qa’ida are on the run. And they expect us to believe all this guff.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisks-world-as-things-get-worse-in-pakistan-the-optimism-continues-to-soar-1924375.html
Pakistan marches into Washington
Effectively, the Pakistani military has sidelined the civilian government. Former president and retired general, Pervez Musharraf (June 2001-August 2008), is on Tuesday due to launch a new political party – the All Pakistan Muslim League – but even he is not expected to be a challenge to the incumbent top brass.
Last week, for the first time, Kiani chaired a meeting of federal ministers at General Headquarters Rawalpindi. Zardari was not invited.
The secretaries were gathered to finalize the agenda for the US trip. Apart from security matters, topics to be covered include the economy, agriculture, water and power and the transfer of nuclear technology to Pakistan.
The president’s office was not pleased with the meeting in the garrison city of Rawalpindi and used a leading private television channel to denounce it.
At this point, Kiani is firmly in charge of Pakistan’s destiny, and he will press his case hard in Washington.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LC23Df02.html
Zardari and Co have lost all momentum and have been on the backfoot for a very long time but they only have themselves to blame for the poor governance and bad political decisions they have made.
Fazlur Rehman backs Afghan mujahideen
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the citizens must take benefits from government but should not vote them it will earn them ‘sawab’.
Those fighting against American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq are freedom fighters (mujahideen), he added and supported their cause.
He was addressing a rally in Fazalabad area of Dera Ismail Khan.
He criticized government for luring voters by announcing development schemes.
JUI-F chief termed PPP, PML, MQM and ANP secular parties and American agent.
http://www.geo.tv/3-22-2010/61586.htm
Ultimate Hypocrite
‘Strategic depth’ at heart of Taliban arrests
In a rare press briefing on February 1, Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani hinted at the contours of an updated policy. “We want strategic depth in Afghanistan but do not want to control it,” said the general, “A peaceful and friendly Afghanistan can provide Pakistan strategic depth.”
Talking against wanting a Talibanized Afghanistan, he added, “We can’t wish anything for Afghanistan that we don’t wish for ourselves.” The statements are unprecedented for a Pakistani leader, no less the chief of its hawkish army. The general also reiterated that he was ready to mediate between the Americans and the Taliban, an offer he had also made earlier on his visit to NATO headquarters in January.
The Taliban are still the main vehicle for Pakistan to exert influence in Afghanistan. But, according to Bokhari, “It doesn’t want them running the show.” Accordingly, for the first time Pakistan has opened channels to non-Pashtun groups in Afghanistan. It is also making an increasingly successful bid via Washington to become more involved in training the Tajik-dominated Afghan National Army (ANA). Combined with the fact that the Pashtun Taliban are the largest political and military force in the country, Pakistan would be in a commanding position in Afghanistan even if it did not attain the posture it sought in Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LC24Df03.html
Its quite a long article so if you want to read in its entirety link is available.
Pakistan Zindabad…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIoPEf9h4QY
@JI and PTI Fan Club
Please comment on this sad story ….
The incident in which the student was injured took place on March 14. The activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) and members of Bannu Students Society (BSS) had clashed on that occasion. Five students including two from IJT and three from BSS sustained injuries. Among them was Adnan Abdul Qadir, who suffered a head injury and was shifted to LRH in a serious condition. He breathed his last on Friday and his death triggered violent protests.
The BSS member said that they were playing music in their room in the tribal hostel of the UET, when some activists of the IJT attacked them. They claimed that the attackers beat them up. They demanded action against IJT and immediate arrest of the students nominated in the police report. The office-bearers of the IJT, on the other hand, demanded judicial inquiry into the incident. They claimed that they were not solely responsible for the grave incident.
@ Time
That is condemned to the fullest and action should be taken against these thugs but what does PTI have to do with this?
@aftab
Imran Khan condems all kind of terrorism except the one by IJT. He sees MQM’s ghunda gardi but is blind folded on IJT’s even though he himself was mann handled by IJT.
@ time
I didn’t see Zardari, NS , MQM or any other party condemning this, the point is that leaders will not condemn everything all the time as they are generally busy people. They is nothing sinister, anyone who does wrong should be condemned simple as that and i am sure Imran understands that but i know which angle you are coming from, old habits die hard.
I don’t know what Jamati’s did to you but Maaf kar do nah bhai whatever they did do, you will be a better person for it.
@aftab
There is a difference. Zardari, Nawaz Sharif etc do not condem MQM’s militancy but Imran does and I expect him to condem across the board.
Thank God I personally was never a victim of JI’s evil but as a country we all are. JI was among the promoters and still defends the Jihadi culture that we all are suffering from. The founder of Pakistan never wanted a theocratic state but JI is twisting his words and principles and wants religion to be at center stage of our political system.
The differences I have with Jammat’s ideology are too serious to ignore or over look.
Rangers beat, abduct cop for pointing out law violation
Thursday, March 25, 2010
By Salman Aslam
LAHORE: A police constable was allegedly thrashed and abducted by Rangers Jawans on Tuesday when he asked a man, reportedly the son of the DG Punjab Rangers, not to park his vehicle in the no-parking zone at the Liberty Market.
A spokesman for the Lahore Police has confirmed that the youth was identified as Imran, the son of the DG Punjab Rangers.It was reported that Imran, along with another youth, came to the Liberty Market and parked his vehicle bearing number (ADS-707) in the no-parking zone. Khalil, a Gulberg police constable deployed there, requested Imran to park his vehicle in the parking lot. Imran considered the constable’s request an insult. He abused the constable and also summoned Rangers Jawans. The youth told the constable that he was the son of the DG Punjab Rangers and that Jawans were on their way to teach him a lesson.
Later, no less than six to seven Rangers Jawans arrived at the scene in a vehicle (LZZ-5000), and started thrashing the constable. The Jawans tortured the constable up to the satisfaction of the youth, who stood close to his vehicle. The Jawans then bundled the constable into the vehicle and drove away.
A traffic warden standing a few yards away alerted the police. He informed the police that some armed men belonging to the Punjab Rangers had thrashed the constable and kidnapped him.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27966
War and peace: A Taliban view
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
The Taliban, too, have their viewpoint on these unfolding developments. A senior Taliban official contacted Asia Times Online to put their side of the story. The man cannot be identified because the Taliban, since the arrests, are very cautious. For the purposes of this report, the Talib will be called Abdullah.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LC26Df03.html
Pakistani jets kill over 60 in tribal region
Friday, 26 March 2010 07:59
Press TV
Pakistani fighter jets have pounded suspected militant positions in the country’s northwestern tribal region, killing more than 60 people.
The attacks targeted two schools, allegedly used by militants, in Orakzai agency.
While officials say most of those killed were militants, they have also confirmed that the attacks hit a nearby civilian center, killing at least 10 people.
The Pakistani army has stepped up airstrikes in the Orakzai and Kurram tribal Agencies in recent months.
The strikes are said to have targeted militants who fled last year’s military offensive in South Waziristan.
Smugglers in Parliament cannot appoint judges
Qazi continued the smugglers sitting at the Parliament could not be allowed the power to appoint judges, adding lawyers will correct themselves if all the institutions are back on the right path.
It is unthinkable under the Constitution to have a criminal as President of the state, as President needs to be free from all crimes including corruption under Article-248 of the Constitution, he maintained.
http://www.geo.tv/3-27-2010/61831.htm
Pakistan’s Chief Justice Takes on its Political Class
To his supporters, and there are many, Pakistan’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is a hero, a man of honor who stood up for an independent judiciary and defied the diktats of former President Pervez Musharraf — and who continues to hold the political establishment accountable. To his detractors, however, Chaudhry is an activist jurist with unbridled powers, a populist with grandiose political ambitions
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1975646,00.html
No Reason for Pakistan’s ‘Bigwigs’ to Go ‘Gung-Ho’
Official America and official Pakistan may have their own manifold reasons to be euphoric and whip up a noisy hype about their conclave in Washington, but this country’s elite have nothing to go gung-ho over.
America’s current prattle about a new chapter, a new start, a strategic dialogue or strategic partnership is nothing new. This is an all-too-familiar idiom for them. Pakistanis have heard it many times before. And we haven’t forgotten how horrendously things turned out every time before. Americans, without remorse, have no inhibitions about ditching Pakistan the instant they’ve finished with it, even after exuberantly extolling it as their “most cherished ally in Asia.” So it was when the Cold War was at its peak in the 1960s and they stood in need of Pakistan; and again in the 1980s when they badly needed it to fight their proxy war against the Soviet invaders of Afghanistan – and they eulogized Pakistan as a frontline state.
So bitter is our experience of persistent American betrayal, that it’s difficult to assuage us with the lilting sweet talk coming out of Washington. One wouldn’t want to recall that doleful past here, or it could leave a bad taste in the mouths of people like Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who came out crowing about what a satisfied man he was after the first round of the much-touted strategic dialogue. Qureshi may be satisfied, but Pakistan’s people certainly are not. American officialdom may have held this show of dialogue with much fanfare; they may have seated American and Pakistani delegates side by side; but such ostentation could hardly impress Pakistan’s hard-bitten people.
After all, wasn’t the dictator Pervez Musharraf a frequent houseguest at the Texas ranch of President George Bush? What came of it? The CIA colluded with India’s RAW [Research and Analysis Wing] and Afghanistan’s NDS [National Directorate of Security] and played a double game against Pakistan, cloning monstrosities like Nek Muhammad Wazir, Baitullah Mehsud and Maulana Fazlullah for the U.S. military to fight with. And yet, instead of confessing to these sins, even the people in the Obama Administration parade the bunk that a turnaround has taken place in the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] and the Pakistan military, whereas that is a shoe which fits squarely America’s foot.
If there has been a turnaround at all, it’s been on the American side and more specifically the CIA and its dirty shenanigans in Pakistan. In any case, what really matters to the people of Pakistan is substance – not symbolism. And in this regard, there is precious little about this dialogue to sing and dance over. American pledges are almost all in the future tense – without benefit of concrete plans or actions.
If the fate of the plan to establish reconstruction opportunity zones in our tribal areas announced by Bush in 2005 is any indicator, that future may take ages to become real. Five years later, the plan still gathers dust in some official Washington corridor, lacking even the required Congressional approval. Neither can anything definitive be said as to when the much-hyped U.S. aid under the Kerry-Lugar law will begin to flow to Pakistan. The $125 million that the Obama Administration has agreed to shell out for Pakistani energy development doesn’t even account for a fraction of the $39 billion in losses that Pakistan has suffered due to America’s spurious war on terror. That is to say nothing of the reimbursement of some $2 billion that Pakistan has spent from its own treasury to fight this war that remains unpaid, which is said to be stuck in the contrivance of U.S. “clearance.”
On another level, the Obama Administration has also demonstrated that it’s not forthcoming on a nuclear deal for Pakistan similar to India’s, or of playing a critical role in resolving core issues between India and Pakistan, such as Kashmir. Even on the vital issue of water, the U.S. is unlikely to persuade India not to steal or cheat Pakistan out of its requisite river water. Indeed, the Obama Administration has yet to deliver anything that would justify such squawking by Islamabad’s bigwigs.
The charm offensive that Washington’s current crowd has unleashed against Islamabad is arguably motivated to enlist Pakistan’s full and unstinted military cooperation so that the U.S. and its NATO allies can quickly pull out of Afghanistan and declare victory. If common sense is any guide, only after America’s November mid-term elections will it be known with certainty whether the Obama Administration really stands for a long-term strategic partnership – and means what it says about helping Pakistan with nation building and economic rejuvenation.
http://worldmeets.us/thefrontierpost000044.shtml
SC orders Malik Bari to present himself on April 20
The Supreme Court, taking strict notice of Malik Tabarak alias Malik Bari going abroad, on Friday ordered the police to produce Malik Bari on April 20 before the court and sought an explanation from him.
The Supreme Court also sought records of all registered cases against Malik Bari in Karachi. A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and consisting Justice Chaudhry Ijaz and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, started the suo moto hearing of arrest of Malik Bari and taking him to Karachi case on Friday.
Malik Bari’s counsel, Sardar Asmatullah and Islamabad SSP Tahir Alam were present before the court. The Supreme Court asked the defence lawyer why his client was not present in the court.
On this Sardar Asmatullah said that his client had gone abroad for medical treatment. On this the court, expressing its anger, said that we had taken his bail how can he leave without informing the court.
The counsel said that he was also kept in the dark about this and he himself found out this morning. The chief justice remarked than “we cancel his bail and ordered SSP Islamabad Tahir Alam to arrest Malik Bari from the airport when he comes and take him to Karachi and hand him over to the Karachi police”.
During the hearing, when the CJ remarked what happened to the guard who was killed, Deputy Attorney General Agha Tariq told the court that both the parties have reconciled. Defence counsel requested the court not to cancel Malik Bari’s bail and he would soon present his client before the court. The court accepted the defence plea and issued notice to Malik Bari to present himself before the court on April 20.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28010
Progress, for a price, in Pakistan
one Pakistani official, asked during the visit whether his government was truly willing to act against the havens that allow the Taliban to maintain bases in Pakistan, replied frankly: “Yes — but at a price.”
“Our fear is . . . that we get into a fight with these guys [the Taliban], and you walk away, and we’re still there,” a Pakistani official said.
Pakistan’s powerful army chief of staff, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, spent part of his time in Washington visiting Congress with PowerPoint slides to show that Pakistan has committed more troops to its fight against insurgents than the United States has on the ground in Afghanistan, and that it has suffered almost 30,000 killed and wounded in the process.
According to U.S. officials, Kayani made a strong case that Pakistan can do more if it gets more modern military equipment from the United States, especially helicopters to ferry troops into the rugged badlands where Al Qaeda and the Taliban hide.
But that thinking has slowly evolved. In the long run, with its population of 170 million people — not to mention its cache of nuclear weapons — Pakistan is more important than Afghanistan.
“We’re engaging with Pakistan because we’re afraid of it,” says Christine Fair, a Pakistan expert at Georgetown University. “It’s the scariest country in the region. Because of Afghanistan, it’s been treated as if it were a subsidiary issue. But Pakistan should be the primary issue.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-mcmanus28-2010mar28,0,3794236.column
For our leaders it all about $$$$$ and for the Yanks it is all about eventual denuclearizing of Pakistan, both sets of players don’t give 2 hoots about either democracy or civilians being killed in they SICK games, wolf’s don’t lose any sleep when they kill sheep.
Imran to approach ECP, SC against poll rigging
Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, Khan said that the voters’ turn over was very low in the by-election, while the numbers of votes cast was much higher than that of general elections.
He also called for installation of biometric system and handing over of polling process to National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA), which, he said, was in place in India also.
In addition, the PTI chief was surprised over Nawaz Sharif’s decision to link the 17th Amendment with the appointment of judges.
Khan further said that holders of FAKE degrees and MATRIC pass politicians should have NO say in judges’ appointment.
http://www.geo.tv/3-28-2010/61907.htm
Hameed sentenced 4 yrs in jail for illegal assets
A local Accountability court sentenced Superintendent Customs Hameed Ali Abbasi four-year term in prison and fined him Rs10.5 million for building up illegal assets, Geo News reported Monday.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a reference of Rs2.5 million against Hameed in 2007. Also, in 2008, it filed another reference of Rs8.255 million.
Accountability Court judge Irshad Qaiser heard the references and delivered the verdict, as the guilt was proved.
http://www.geo.tv/3-29-2010/61937.htm
SC issues contempt of court notice to Interior Secretary
The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued on Monday contempt of court notices to heads of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), interior ministry, and officials of establishment division against the non-implementation of apex court ruling on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
The court also opened various accountability references filed against former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and other figures on the appeal of NAB.
The seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case against FIA Additional Director General Ahmed Riaz Sheikh filed in connection with NAB’s graft references.
The court expressed its anger over non-opening of NAB reference against the said officer and against departmental promotion given to him.
Acting NAB Chairman Irfan Nadim, Interior Secretary Chaudhry Qamar uz Zaman and Additional Secretary Raja Hasan were present in the courtroom.
In his remark, Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday said that even Parliament had rejected the NRO.
The chief justice issued contempt of court notices to Acting NAB Chairman over non-implementation of NRO verdict and warned that he would be sent to jail if court’s order were not implemented by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the court ordered reopening of graft cases against Ahmed Riaz Sheikh besides seizing the property of his wife and daughters.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=101756
I believe Ahmed Riaz Sheikh was ex director of FIA and is a beneficiary of NRO.
Is Pakistan Ready for Water War?
In the face of worsening water shortages and ensuing serious crisis, I would caution the political leadership to pay its full attention and make the water issue its single top most priority whether it is dispute with India or building of storages at all the identified sites and allocate at least half of the PSDP under this head. That would also create tens of thousands of jobs for the skilled and unskilled workforce. Let us delay some non-essential projects for a few years for the sake of the country and future of the coming generations. If we just manage our present sources of water efficiently, I am confident that the vast barren lands could be brought under cultivation boosting our agricultural production and generating 25,000 MW of electricity through hydel means thus saving billions of dollars of foreign exchange being spent on import of furnace oil. That amount could then be diverted to other sectors for socio-economic development of the country.
The question is will we wake up now or left to cry when the water had already passed over our head. I pray the leadership would listen and act timely and decisively.
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=20374
Swiss record taken into custody: NAB
The National Accountability Board (NAB) has taken the record of Swiss cases into its custody, NAB spokesman said on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued contempt of court notices to chiefs of NAB, FIA, interior ministry and officials of establishment division against the non-implementation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
In a statement issued today (Monday), the spokesman said that two-member team was sent to London to get the record.
http://www.geo.tv/3-29-2010/61971.htm
A beautiful recitation of Ayat Al Kursi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuz1sjK5pok
and nice explanation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GRKfmB5O0U
The opium wars in Afghanistan
CIA covert warfare, spreading poppy fields
Once the Afghan guerrillas brought the opium across the border, they sold it to hundreds of Pakistani heroin labs operating under the ISI’s protection. Between 1981 and 1990, Afghanistan’s opium production grew 10-fold – from 250 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes. After just two years of covert CIA support for the Afghan guerrillas, the US attorney general announced in 1981 that Pakistan was already the source of 60% of the American heroin supply. Across Europe and Russia, Afghan-Pakistani heroin soon captured an even larger share of local markets, while inside Pakistan itself the number of addicts soared from zero in 1979 to 1.2 million just five years later.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD01Df02.html
Former AG Malik Qayum flees to Dubai
Former Attorney General Malik Qayum has fled to Dubai along with his wife following the order of Supreme Court action against him (Qayum).
According to sources, the former AG left for Dubai through a private airline early in the wee hour of Wednesday morning.
http://www.geo.tv/3-31-2010/62113.htm
Classical case of a crook, no moral standing to face the music. Of course what this also means is that PPP are hand in glove with former AG and have given him the nod NOW to abscond from Pakistan.
Suspended police officials over MNA checking restored
Lahore High court (LHC) on Thursday ordered to restore the police officials, suspended over checking of an MNA Malik Riaz, Aaj News reported.
http://www.aaj.tv/news/National/160991_detail.html
Well Done Azad Adliya.
The alienation of Hamid Karzai
Why have things come to this impasse? The plain truth is that Karzai distrusts Holbrooke. He shares the widespread opinion in the capitals of the region that Holbrooke is under a Pakistani spell. On the other hand, Holbrooke’s version is that Karzai is corrupt and presides over a morally decrepit and decadent regime that hangs around America’s neck like an albatross.
ISI’s fear of Karzai
Karzai believes that Holbrooke and his aides were heavily influenced by Pakistani advice. Unsurprisingly, Pakistan hates Karzai and knows that as long as a Popolzai chieftain remains in power in Kabul, it cannot have its way in Afghanistan.
Karzai represents exactly the sort of Pashtun nationalism that the Punjabi-dominated military establishment in Pakistan dreads. When the ISI murdered former Afghan president Mohammad Najibullah in 1996, its calculations were precisely the same; namely, that there should be no rival fountainhead outside of its orbit of control with the potential stature to claim leadership in the Pashtun constituency.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD02Df02.html
Law Minister creating hurdles in cases reopening
The Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan told the Supreme Court (SC) that he is facing problems from the Law Minister and his ministry in getting Swiss cases record for the implementation of NRO verdict.
The AG said in his statement to the court that he is faced with hardships in getting the documents relating the Swiss cases from the Law Ministry. The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry asked him as to who is responsible for these problems.
It is the Law Ministry, he replied.
The CJ asked if also the Law Minister is posing as stumbling block. The AG responded affirmatively.
The court told the AG, ‘Your account has been recorded; now, you may go and tell the law ministry.’
The court said if the Law Minister is posing as stumbling block in the process, then the court will call him to account for the same.
If the Law Secretary does not show up at the court, then the Law Minister would be called.
http://www.geo.tv/4-1-2010/62161.htm
@Mobile Users,
The mobile videos for today have been fixed.
AG resigns over non-cooperation of Law Minister
He pointed out that since he assumed the office of Attorney General, the Law Minister and Law Ministry did not cooperate with him and that he apprised President Asif Ali Zardari of this issue but the latter could not address his concerns.
He was of the view that Law Ministry was not providing him the relevant documents which he needed for the pursuance of the cases. “I have been insisting since day one that letters must be written to Swiss authorities for reopening of money laundering cases.”
He mentioned that President enjoys immunity and there is no need to go to court for interpretation, as it is very apparent in Article 248, which says: “No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or a Governor in any court during his term of office.”
http://www.geo.tv/4-2-2010/62235.htm
Law ministry hits back at outgoing AG
The federal law ministry has hit back at the outgoing Attorney General Mansoor Khan by describing his stated reasons for the resignation as unfrosseaional and irresponsible.
The attorney general had to resign due to his own behavior, says a statement issued by the law ministry here on Friday.
It said the law ministry is fully aware of its constitutional and legal obligations.
http://www.geo.tv/4-2-2010/62237.htm
Nawaz media team gets salary from Punjab govt
The Government of Punjab is giving salaries to the personal media team of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, sources have revealed today (Friday).
According to sources, Nawaz Sharif’s Public Relation Officer (PRO) Rai Riaz and personal cameraman are getting their salaries from the exchequer of Punjab government.
The said PRO is also working as a consultant at Public Relations department.
http://www.geo.tv/4-2-2010/62250.htm
Asooloh Ki Siyayast.
حیدرآباد دکن :شعیب کی ثانیہ کی رہائش گاہ پر آمد
حیدرآباد: پاکستان کرکٹ ٹیم کے سابق کپتان شعیب ملک حیدرا ٓبادکن میں ٹینس اسٹار ثانیہ مرزا کی رہائش گاہ پر پہنچ گئے ہیں ۔خبررساں ادارے کے مطابق پاکستان کرکٹ ٹیم کے سابق کپتان شعیب ملک حیدرا ٓبادکن اچانک پہنچ گئے ہیں،وہ اس وقت ٹینس اسٹار ثانیہ مرزا کی رہائش گاہ پر موجود ہیں
——————————————————————————-
اس کو کہتے ہیں جب پیار کیا تو ڈرنا کیا
$1 bn LNG scam: ISI was approached to intervene
Klasra briefs Supreme Court on the scam
The Supreme Court was told on Friday that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was also approached by the aggrieved parties after failing in getting the 3.5 million tonnes LNG contract to get help of the prime secret agency to investigate a billion dollar scam of awarding the contract to a French firm. This disclosure was made by The News correspondent Rauf Klasra before a six-member SC bench during hearing in the suo moto notice on the scam.
After getting satisfied with the statement, evidences and counter questions put to Klasra, the CJ directed the Ministry of Petroleum, former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, Fauji Foundation MD Lt Gen Rab Nawaz and the finance ministry bosses to submit their comments and fixed April 12 for next hearing. The chief justice also asked Klasra to appear on the next hearing.
After hearing the arguments of The News correspondent in his bid to establish the contents of his story, the chief justice praised his professional work and appreciated for exposing the scam. Earlier, the six-member bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken a suo moto of a news story published in The News on March 29.
Klasra was summoned by the SC to substantiate his story before the court. First, a three-member bench was formed to hear the case but afterwards CJ raised the numbers of judges from three to six. The members of the bench also included Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ejaz Chaudhry.
As the court proceedings started, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked Klasra whether he had credible evidence to produce before the court to substantiate his story. The CJ observed that this was a big scam as a billion dollar was not a small amount. “You know a billion dollar means 80 billion in Pak currency and this is something very big, so we want to know what sort of evidence you have to substantiate this scam,” the chief justice observed.
Klasra replied the court that he had filed his story after proper investigations and official documentary evidence available with him. He told the court he not only has got officials papers supporting this scam but he also contacted all the concerned – the minister and officials of the Ministry of Petroleum – to produce a balance report. He even contacted Shaukat Tarin to get his side of the story as he was actually contacted by the aggrieved party that the lowest bidder was ignored while the highest bidder, the French company, got the lucrative contract
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28141
Will the new king with unchecked powers deliver?
The otherwise historic constitutional package, presented before the Parliament on Friday, makes the prime minister a king of the parliamentary system having unfettered powers without any checks and balances or parliamentary oversight.
Although it reduces the president into a non-entity, the package left a major flaw in the 1973 Constitution unplugged, ignoring a parliamentary check on the all powerful prime minister to make key appointments in the civil and military bureaucracy, key state-owned corporations, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies and authorities.
Prime minister’s discretionary powers, which remained the main cause of corruption and bad governance in the country, stay unchecked and the constitutional package does not propose any recipe to keep a vigilant parliamentary check on federal and provincial executives.
Interestingly, one of the members of the constitutional committee recommended parliamentary oversight on executives (prime minister/provincial chief ministers) powers to make key appointments in civil and military set-up. However, the committee ignored the recommendation with all the ruling parties, whether in the centre or in the provinces including PPP, PML-N, ANP, MQM and JUI, opposing it.
We have seen almost in all the civilian governments in the past even during the governments of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, both of whom enjoyed two-third majority in their respective assemblies, that the prime ministers massively used their discretionary powers to make key civilian and military appointments, which not only resulted into bad governance but also led to corruption and misrule.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28134
A news of weapon export to Afghanistan from Iran has been emerging. This is something quite serious! Iran being neighbor of Afghanistan has been meddling there and i think they are supporting the Shia groups, interests and propaganda in Afghanistan and it needs to be made sure that they don’t reach out and misuse Taliban!
Taliban are not scholars of Islam rather they are mainly good at guerrilla fighting and they could be brainwashed and misused by Shias, and Shias are too clever and good at brainwashing and misusing simple people! Taliban could be very clever at fighting but they could be mislead by clever so called Islamic (Shia) scholars! The supply of weapons and other similar acts could be a way to reach out Taliban to win their hearts and to ally them. If something like that happens it would be very dangerous!
It seems that Iran is applying this similar trick on almost all Muslim guerrilla fighters in different parts of the world and this is not good news neither for Muslims nor for the world! Once these fighting machines fall into trap of Shias, they could become totally mad and uncontrollable! This matter needs to be taken and handled very seriously but intelligently!!!
Resigned AG meets CJ
Attorney General Anwar Mansoor who resigned on Friday met Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry today here at the Supreme Court registry and discussed various important matters, Geo News reported.
The meeting continued for 20 minutes.
Anwar Mansoor told Geo News that he received a call from SC office saying Chief Justice wanted to meet you.
He denied discussing anything new with the CJ.
http://www.geo.tv/4-3-2010/62301.htm
Fatima hails reduction in powers of MR 10%
Hailing moves in Pakistan that may lead to reduction in the power of President Asif Ali Zardari, Fatima Bhutto, niece of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said there should not be two different laws for the powerful and the common citizens.
“We are yet to see the law passed. It is important that now we are talking about it but in the first place I don’t think or believe that Presidents or those in power should be granted immunity.
“There should not be a law for the powerful and a law for the ordinary citizens. In fact those in power should be scrutinized even more closely and more severely than ordinary citizens,” Fatima, who is here for the launch of her book ‘Songs of Blood and Sword’ said.
http://www.geo.tv/4-4-2010/62317.htm
Imran’s stand on the Taliban
The terror situation in Pakistan is getting worse every year. If the number of killings and suicide bombings are any indicator, statements by many politicians and by government functionaries that the terrorism is the terrorists’ last stand is based more on optimism than reality. Mr Imran Khan offered to negotiate peace much before the Americans started to talk to the Taliban in Afghanistan, but our lobby supporting the ”War-on-Terror” accused him of being a Taliban sympathiser.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=232626
Can the CIA sabotage Iran’s nuclear project?
Iran remains a difficult target for US spies, as Washington has not had an embassy in Tehran for 30 years, cutting off opportunities to develop intelligence sources and contacts.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/04-cia-iran-nuclear-qs-09
We should NOT allow the yanks to roam our country freely.
A Muslim stands firm, faithful and fair in all conditions. May Allah(SWT) help us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEY_zDT7aR4&feature=related
Can someone bring this into notice of Chief justice and Chief election commissioner ?
What further evidence is needed for Suo moto?
Maj(R) Israr ul Haq stating how he was asked to pay Rs 1 cror for favourable election results
http://www.khabraingroup.com/column-corner-detail5.htm
If some one can dig out the name of returning officer ?
The famous Col Imam went missing after seeing Taliban leadership according to Dawn news ,
ماؤ نوازوں کے حملے میں چالیس اہلکار ہلاک
نکسل ترجمان کشن جی
بھارت کی ریاست چھتیس گڑھ کے دانتے واڑہ میں ماؤنواز باغیوں کے ساتھ ایک جھڑپ میں نیم فوجی دستے کے کم سے کم چالیس اہلکاروں کے ہلاک ہونے کی اطلاعات ہیں۔
اطلاعات کے مطابق منگل کو علاقے کےگھنے جنگل میں ابھی بھی جھڑپیں جاری ہیں اور اس میں ہلاک ہونے والوں کی تعداد میں اضافہ ہوسکتا ہے۔
ایک پولیس اہلکار کے مطابق کے علاقہ سے اب تک چالیس جوانوں کی لاشیں نکالی جا چکی ہیں۔
بھارت کے وزیرداخلہ پی چدامبرم نے ان ہلاکتوں پرگہرے صدمہ کا اظہار کیا ہے۔ دلی میں صحافیوں سے بات چیت میں انہوں نے کہا ’ ہلاکتیں بہت زیادہ ہوئی ہیں اور اس سے انھیں گہرا صدمہ پہنچا ہے۔‘
سی آر پی ایف کی مدد کے لیے فوج بھیجی گئی ہے اور ہیلی کاپٹر سے مدد لی جا رہی ہے۔
خبروں کے مطابق سینٹرل ریزرو فورسز کے جوان منگل کی صبح گشت پر نکلے تھے اور تقریباً صبح چھ بجے نکسلیوں نے ان کی ٹکڑی پر پہلا حملہ کیا۔
اس حملہ میں ایک سب انسپکٹر سمیت تین پولیس اہلکار ہلاک ہوئے اور جب اس عملے کی اطلاع ملی تو ان کے تحفظ کے لیے بڑی تعداد میں سی آر پی ایف کو بھیجا گیا۔
اطلاعات کے مطابق سی آر پی ایف کے اس دستے کے پاس بکتر بند گاڑیاں بھی تھیں لیکن ماؤ نوازوں نے راستے میں ہی اس پر حملہ کردیا۔ اس دوسرے حملے میں بھی زیادہ تر ہلاکتیں سی آر پی ایف کے جوانوں کی ہوئی ہیں۔
اس کی حفاظت کے لیے ایک تیسرا دستہ بھیجا گیا اور اس پر بھی ماؤ نوازوں نے حملہ کیا اور ان تینوں واقعات میں چالیس سے زائد اہلکاروں کے ہلاک ہونے کی اطلاع ہے۔
دانتے واڑہ نکسلیوں سے سب سے زیادہ متاثرہ علاقوں میں سے ایک ہے اور یہاں آئے دن نیم فوجی دستوں اور ماؤ نوازوں کے درمیان جھڑپیں ہوتی رہتی ہیں۔
ہندوستان میں حکومت نے ماؤنواز باغیوں کے خلاف بڑے پیمانے پر آپریشن ‘’گرین ہنٹ ‘ شروع کیا ہے۔ جب سے اس کی شروعات ہوئی ہے تب سے ماؤ نوازوں کے حملوں میں تیزی آئی ہے۔
ترکی:حکومت کیخلاف سازش،چھیاسی افسرگرفتار
استنبول: ترکی میں حکومت کے خلاف سازش کے الزام میں چار جنرلوں سمیت چھیاسی فوجی افسر گرفتار کرلئے گئے۔ پولیس حکام کے مطابق انیس سو ساٹھ کے بعد فوج میں کیا جانے والا یہ پہلا کریک ڈاون ہے۔گرفتارشدگان پر حکومت کے خلاف سازش کا الزام ہے۔
ایک کرنل کے علاوہ تمام حاضر سروس فوجی افسران ہیں۔ سرکاری نیوز ایجنسی اناطولیہ کے مطابق گرفتار افسران مبینہ طور پر مساجد پر حملے کرکے ملک میں عدم استحکام پیدا کرنا چاہتے تھے۔
http://www.aajtv.com/urdu/international/2010/04/06/80825_1_story.html
Ex-AG says judicial commission will be struck down
Former attorney general Anwar Mansoor believes that the proposed constitutional procedure for the judges’ appointment if approved by parliament was likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court for altering the basic structure of the Constitution.
Mansoor said the Supreme Court can declare a constitutional amendment void ab initio if it changes the basic structure of the Constitution. When asked if he did not forewarn the government about the consequences of such a constitutional amendment, he said that he was never consulted by the government in this matter.
They should have consulted me on this particular issue but it did not happen,” he said. The recommended procedure for the appointment of judges, in Mansoor’s view, would harm the independence of the judiciary. In the judges’ appointment, he said, the primacy should be of the judiciary but in the proposed constitutional package, the executive and the legislature are not only involved but given upper hand to make such appointments.
“Such an arrangement would further politicise the appointment of judges,” he warned and suggested that like India it would be better to empower a collegiums of judges to make appointments in the superior judiciary.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28194
@admin
you need to highlight this issue!!!
http://www.collateralmurder.com/
ٹیسٹنگ
ٹیسٹنگ
NA approves judicial commission
The National Assembly approved the seven-member commission for the appointment of judges in the SC and 11-member commission for the appointment of judges in the high courts.
New article 175A approved by the majority to provide for the constitution of a seven-member judicial commission – for naming judges for appointment to superior courts to be confirmed by a parliamentary committee – consisting of the chief justice (chairman) and two senior-most judges of the Supreme court, a former chief justice or judge of the same court to be nominated by the chief justice, federal minister for law and justice, the attorney-general and a senior advocate of the Supreme Court to be nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council for two year
http://www.geo.tv/4-8-2010/62594.htm
I don’t have a problem with Law Minister being in the commission but surely people like Gober Hewan should not be a Law Minister in the first place. For nomination of High Court Judges that should be left to the CJP to decide who should be nominated as High Court Judges.
Pakistan’s divides grow ever-deeper
In the past year, Pakistan has applied utmost strength against militants in the tribal areas that border Afghanistan and all operations have been fully coordinated and supervised by the Americans.
The militants have survived without major losses for the simple reason that they have refused to directly engage the security forces, preferring to disperse to remote areas to return another day once the heat had died down and once refugees have returned home to provide them cover.
Despite an understanding that Bhutto would not return before elections scheduled for January 2008 (which were later deferred a month due to Bhutto’s assassination in December 2007), Bhutto came back on September 17, 2007. Saudi Arabia then pressurized Musharraf to also allow the return of another former premier, Nawaz Sharif.
Kiani, by now chief of army staff, refused to take orders from Musharraf, and after Musharraf’s foiled bids to dislodge him from his position Kiani developed ties with Zardari. In a tacit understanding between Washington, the Pakistan military and Zardari, Musharraf was given an honorable exit after nine years in power.
What the military did not anticipate was that Zardari would pitch himself as president. All intelligence reports had indicated that he would choose to be elected as a member of parliament in a by-election and then run the government as a de facto prime minister. Despite deep resentment against Zardari over his tainted past, the military could not stop him from being elected president in September 2008.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD09Df02.html
and the Creator and Owner of everything is Allah(SWT) alone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-RKb2O38b8
DNA proves girl as Aafia’s daughter: Malik
Talking to media, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed that the DNA test proved that the child is the daughter of Dr Aafia.
Rehman Malik said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will hold negotiations over issue relating the repatriation of Dr Aafia.
On this occasion, Dr Aafia’s daughter Fatima was accompanied with her cousin Aalia and Dr Fauzia.#
http://www.geo.tv/4-10-2010/62704.htm
Dasti re-given PPP ticket for by-polls
Luckily, the former member national assembly Jamsheed Dasti is also among those who are given PPP tickets.
It may be mentioned, Jamsheed Dasti is the one who recently tendered his resignation in apex court after being caught with fake educational degree.
According to sources, the decision came during the parliamentary board meeting of PPP with co-Chairman of party and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari in chair.
http://www.aaj.tv/news/National/161335_detail.html
Dr Afia’s daughter recovered from Bagram Airbase: Senator Talha
Senate Committee for Interior Chairman Senator Talha Mehmood told media today that the daughter of Dr Afia Siddique was recovered from Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan.
She was with an American there named ‘John’. He was briefing media beside Dr Afia’s daughter.
He threatened to block Nato logistics if Dr Afia was not brought back to Pakistan.
http://www.geo.tv/4-10-2010/62712.htm
Senior joint secretary of Law Ministry resigns
Akbar Khan Achakzai has resigned as Senior Joint Secretary of Law Ministry, following the footsteps of former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan.
In his resignation, Akbar Khan Achakzai, who belonged to Balochistan, stated that hurdles were being created in the discharging of his professional responsibilities, making it impossible for him to continue on the post of senior joint secretary.
Talking to Geo News, he confirmed to have tendered his resignation on April 6 which was accepted today (Saturday).
He said it was the attitude of Law Minister Babar Awan which forced him resign.
http://www.geo.tv/4-10-2010/62735.htm
Another nail in the coffin of Gobar Hewan, the only problem being that many more are ready to take his place.
لگتا ہے آجکل میں ریاض بحریہ ٹاون والے کو میدان میں لانے کی تیاریاں ہو رہی ہیں
دو روز پہلے جناب نے کالم بھی لکھ ڈالا اور جس طرح سے خوشنود الی خان روزنامہ جناح میں اس کی مشہوری کر رہا ہے لگتا جیسے الیکشن مہم چل رہی ہے. صحافت کی سب سے
گھٹیا مثال
http://epaper.dailyjinnah.com/newspaper/2010/April/09/?pg=2
PPP suspends Afzal Sindhu’s CEC membership
Co-chairman Pakistan People’s Party Asif Ali Zardari has suspended State Minister for Railways Afzal Sindhu’s membership of the party’s Central Executive Committee.
Secretary General PPP Jehangir Badar confirmed the suspension of Afzal Sindhu’s membership but was reluctant to cite the reasons.
http://www.geo.tv/4-12-2010/62831.htm
Another PPP Jiyala who will appear in Meray Mutabiq.
The mirage of success
Apart from claiming success on the battlefield, Pakistan has trumpeted the arrest of several top Taliban commanders, claiming this as a major setback for the Taliban.
However, as revealed by Asia Times Online (War and peace: A Taliban view March 26, 2010), Kabir and Agha were not arrested. Nor was Mullah Mustasim Jan Agha, another top official who was said to have been apprehended.
The only one who was seized was Baradar, the Americans have been denied access to him. Baradar is now of little value anyway, as the Taliban have a strict policy of immediately dissociating themselves from anyone arrested, meaning that Baradar would be useless in any reconciliation efforts with the Taliban.
Army chief Kiani has meanwhile urged thousands of refugees to return to South Waziristan, saying that the TTP have been defeated.
Asia Times Online contacts on the ground paint a different picture in South Waziristan. They claim that the army has suffered heavy casualties and mutinies and that the militants, including Chechens, Uzbeks and the local Mehsud tribes, have returned in strength. The army has confirmed that fighting still continues in the area.
At the same time, according to militant sources, the al-Qaeda leadership has moved from North Waziristan – due to persistent drone strikes – to an undisclosed region. The sources claim that a message has been sent to Kiani via a tribal jirga (council), essentially saying that all forces should be pulled out or “there will be music to face in the entire Pakistan”.
Recently, 1,200 Frontier Corps personnel were sacked for defying orders to fight. The paramilitary force is made up largely of Pashtuns. It will be difficult to find sufficient numbers of non-Pashtuns and Shi’ites to confront the Sunni Pashtun insurgency.
The main battle ground is Orakzai Agency, a hub for militants who go from there to neighboring Khyber Agency to attack NATO’s supply lines. Unofficial estimates claim that hundreds of soldiers have been killed, along with scores of militants. Brigadier Khalid Khan and Colonel Anwar Abbas, sent to the area because of their good track record in operations in the Swat Valley last year, have been confirmed as killed. Militants also captured the paramilitary forces’ headquarters in Orakzai Agency for a few days before retreating.
In terms of unrest, the worst situation is in Khyber Agency, which was supposed to be the easiest operation for the army as al-Qaeda and the Taliban do not have local roots there – they depend on militants from neighboring tribal regions.
The agency was pacified last year, but operations included a crackdown on all Islamic groups, including those not aligned with al-Qaeda or the Taliban. One of these groups was commanded by Mangal Bagh, who has now sided fully with al-Qaeda-linked militants despite officials being convinced that he would never turn against Pakistan.
Over the past few months militants have re-established themselves in Khyber Agency, especially in the Tirah Valley, as confirmed in an official media release on April 11: “Militants have established their hideouts and training centers in different parts of Tirah Valley.” The people of the valley have traditional linkages with other agencies, as well as in Afghanistan. It is a stronghold of the Lashkar-i-Islam militant group.
The stark fact is that militants continue to operate in strength in the tribal areas, and importantly they continue to operate bases to serve fighters in Afghanistan – and prepare for the NATO attack on Kandahar – if indeed it materializes.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD14Df03.html
I hope our friend Kashif is OK, because he was a big advocate of fighting this Yanky War and last time i heard from him was when the South Waziristan operation started, i hope the military(mercenaries to me) pay him well.
Pakistan ‘army air strike kills dozens of civilians’
At least 73 civilians were killed when an army jet bombed a remote village in Pakistan’s tribal region of Khyber, a local official has told the BBC.
He said the incident took place on Saturday but news was slow in being reported because of the inaccessibility of the region.
The jet was involved in operations against Taliban militants in the nearby Orakzai tribal region.
Officials have reportedly already paid compensation to families of victims.
The military insists most of those killed were militants, but local sources say many civilians have also been killed.
Many people have died in air strikes in the area over the past 18 months.
Villagers say another strike – by a US drone missile – killed 13 people on Monday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8617843.stm
Khanzeer sellout napak army have sold its mother for few $ssssss
Stop crying for electricity; Ashraf to nation
Water and Power Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf has asked the nation to stop crying for electricity shortage and instead save it.
Speaking to media after attending a meeting of the cabinet’s power committee, he said ‘save electricity’ campaign has been launched, under which power usage at Aiwan-e-Sadr, PM House, President and PM Secretariats will be slashed.
http://www.geo.tv/4-13-2010/62928.htm
I thought they would have already slashed power usage at the above Secretariats 2 years ago, or are we just going round in circles.
Gods and monsters
In the last week, we’ve seen – literally viewed – a modern example of what it means in our day to act from the heights, and we’ve read about another striking example of the same. The website WikiLeaks released a decrypted July 2007 video of two US Apache helicopters attacking Iraqis on a street in Baghdad. At least 12 Iraqis, including two employees of the news agency Reuters, a photographer and his driver, were killed in the incident, and two children in the vehicle of a good Samaritan who stopped to pick up casualties and died in the process, were also wounded.
Without a doubt, that video is a remarkable 17-minute demo of how to efficiently slaughter tiny beings milling about below. There is no way American helicopter crews could know just who was walking down there – Sunni or Shi’ite, insurgent or shopper, Baghdadis with intent to harm Americans or Baghdadis paying little attention to two of the helicopters then so regularly buzzing the city. Were they killers, guards, bank clerks, unemployed idlers, Ba’athist Party members, religious fanatics, cafe owners? Who could tell from such a height? But the details mattered little.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/LD15Ak02.html
Terrorists Strike Again
Former ADG FIA Riaz Sheikh released
Former Additional Director General FIA Ahmed Riaz Sheikh was released from the jail, Deputy Superintendent Adiala Jail confirmed on Wednesday
Earlier, the Punjab government issued order for the release of Riaz Sheikh.
http://www.geo.tv/4-14-2010/62995.htm
So what’s the difference between PPP and PML-N?
Pakistan admits civilian deaths in air strike
A senior security source in Pakistan has told the BBC that civilians were killed in Saturday’s air strike on a village in the Khyber tribal region.
This contradicts the army’s initial denial that there were civilian deaths.
He said he could not be sure of the exact number who died in the attack on the village close to the Afghan border, but it could be more than 30.
According to the security source, the first strike was on militants gathered in a hilltop compound.
He said that more than 30 militants were killed in that strike, which was carried out by the air force.
A second round of bombing then followed.
Critically, this was after local people had rushed to the scene to remove the dead and assist the wounded.
‘No Taliban’
The source said there was no confirmed death toll in this strike, but more than 30 civilians may have died.
Map
A local official told the BBC on Tuesday that at least 73 civilians were killed, including women and children. He said the military had tried to gag him in an attempt at damage limitation.
Survivors speaking in hospital in Peshawar say there were no militants in the area, only civilians.
“When the first bombing took place we rescued some ladies,” said Dilla Bhaz Khan, a wounded resident. “After that when the second bombing started we were busy rescuing the other victims.
“There was no Taliban and no militants. All the people who were living there are government employees. One of them was an army man.”
Locals say the airstrike hit the house of a tribal elder, whose own sons fight against the Taliban, as part of the local paramilitary force.
They say that the village has always resisted the militants, building its own defences against them.
The military regularly claims to have killed large numbers of militants in airstrikes and ground operations.
These claims are often impossible to verify because the targets are in areas that are closed to the media.
It has taken several days for full details of Saturday’s strike to emerge, and for journalists to get access to survivors.
If the army now has to admit such a heavy loss of civilian life, its credibility will be damaged and awkward questions are bound to follow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8619716.stm
Pakistan halts $25bn GDF Suez contract
“I believe that there was a clear process lapse when the proposal of Fauji/Vitol was not shared with the ECC,” Tarin said in the statement, according to a report in the Dawn newspaper. “The same should be presented at the next ECC [meeting] with proper evaluation by the Price Negotiation Committee (PNC) and independent consultants. Only then the contract should be awarded to the most competitive proposal.”
Critics say that although an LNG pricing mechanism is yet to develop in the international market, the price offered by the French company was much higher than that at which India is importing LNG from Qatar.
ttp://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD16Df01.html
Taliban defiant following Marjah operation
“We will inflict heavy casualties on the foreigners this year,” Abu Hamza, who is well known in the region, said. “We have not been defeated in Helmand … The foreigners are now surrounded in Marjah. We have only withdrawn tactically from some areas.”
Abu Hamza’s remarks reflected Western media reports quoting United States military officials as saying the Taliban are again encroaching on Marjah from all sides, so far mainly scaring local people from participating in development projects.
Abu Hamza said Taliban casualties during the fighting were ten killed. The International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, put the number of confirmed enemy dead at six, compared to 21 troops killed mainly by improvised explosive devices, IEDs.
According to Abu Hamza, the low insurgent death tally resulted from avoidance of direct engagements with troops and widespread use of IEDs, which to April 4 this year accounted for 79 of 134 combat deaths of foreign soldiers across Afghanistan.
Concerning the location of insurgent forces after the seizure of Marjah, Hamza said, “You should put that question to the Americans because they have modern equipment and say that they can see everything from the air, so they should be able to say where we are.
“I will say only that the Taliban have tactically withdrawn and are active in their areas. We never flee.”
Reports from Marjah indicate that insurgent fighters have largely blended in with the local population, and in many cases are locals themselves, also benefiting from US cash payments for human and property damage incurred in the fighting.
Lack of cultural awareness, he went on, would also disastrously undermine foreign forces deployed in the country.
“They have no information about the Afghans’ history, culture and traditions. Our strength is [boosted] by their actions, such as breaking into people’s homes, bombarding them, disrespecting Islamic values, and so on, things which weaken them and strengthen us.”
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD16Df03.html
I congratulate all fellow bloggers on land mark achievement of 18th amendment. Despite viewing political and social problems from different angles we all share conerns on Pakistan otherwise we won’t be waisting time here. 18th amendment despite some iffs and buts unites us as a nation. I applaud the role of all stake holders here politicians for rising above their legitimate political differences, judicary and last but not the least military establishment for not interfering in the process of institution building. Senator Raza Rabbani and his committee deserves all the credit they are getting for their great work.
SCBA to challenge Judicial Commission
Seventeen out of 20 members present in the meeting supported the resolution to challenge the Judicial Commission. However, two members rejected the resolution and one abstained from making a decision.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-scba-to-challenge-judicial-commission-ss-06
Mr. Raja Pervez Ashraf says that his house also faces Load shedding! Well it might be true but he did not tell if he also does not have any alternative like generators etc!
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/apr2010-daily/16-04-2010/u27829.htm
They are planning to get 1000 mega watt from Iran and have prepared a feasibility report! By the way how feasible and reliable is it? it needs to be shared with nation! What is the total cost and do we not have any better alternative to that? Turkey and China have offered Pakistan help in context of electricity. We better concentrate on those two countries; China is very close neighbor and reliable and it can provide us quick and required response. China can solve our electricity problem quite quickly and we should not wait for the electricity from USA etc., it could be something like helping warship of 1965 that never came. Let the China solve electricity problem, this seems to be best, quick and most cost effective solution. It is time for rapid and solid action for electricity…
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/apr2010-daily/16-04-2010/u27851.htm
Why are they so much interested in rental power projects although many people have called it very costly and ineffective plan!
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/apr2010-daily/16-04-2010/u27827.htm
and it seems that they are having their own greed and vested interests! These people want to eat nation and country!
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/apr2010-daily/14-04-2010/u27642.htm
Rapid action time for electricity concentrating upon China, Turkey and similar reliable countries!!!
MNA Sardar Mehtab sends resignation to Sharif
A letter attached with the resignation, said, ‘I was elected on PML-N ticket; accordingly, he is sending his resignation to Nawaz Sharif.’
It should be pertinent to mention here that Sardar Mehtab demurred at change of the NWFP’s name and also he did not vote in the National Assembly in favour of Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw to be the new name of the NWFP.
http://www.geo.tv/4-17-2010/63192.htm
http://express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100915538&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20100418
The Plight of Aafia Siddiqui
Sunday, 18 April 2010 18:31 Abu Umair
By now the whole world is aware of the plight of Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist who was arrested in Ghazni province in Afghanistan. She was apparently found with documents describing US landmarks and a number of containers containing chemical substances. She now faces life imprisonment on false charges of attempted murder against her interrogators, but nothing on the terrorism charges she was originally suspected of.
Aafia Siddiqui was picked up in Karachi by Pakistani intelligence in March 2003 together with her 3 children, and remained in obscurity until July 2008 when she was arrested in Ghazni province. Both U.S and Pakistani govt officials deny any knowledge of her whereabouts for the previous 5 years, however during this time the FBI had her on a list of 7 most wanted Al Qaeda fugitives. It has since come to light that Aafia Siddiqui is the infamous prisoner 650 that was tortured and raped in Bagram jail.
It is clear that her disappearance was due to the demands put on Pakistan by America. In fact ever since Pakistan joined the US war on terror in 2001, there has been an ever increasing one-sided “cooperation” between the two countries, which has resulted in Pakistan effectively giving up its sovereignty. What else can describe the situation in a nation where one of its most valued and highly educated citizens like Aafia Siddiqui can simply be picked up off the street and go missing for years? And more indicative would be the complete silence by the Pakistani government, when such a kidnapped citizen ends up paraded in a foreign court of a supposed ally!
Aafia siddique is not the first case however of Pakistan capitulating when one of its citizens has faced accusations from America. There is the case of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program who was accused by America of nuclear proliferation. Rather than defending him, President Musharraf ended up humiliating him by making him give an apology on national television for his “crime” of selling nuclear secrets to North Korea, Libya and Iran. He was then held under house arrest from 2004 till 2009 when restrictions were lifted. In an interview with ABC news in 2008 he stated that he was “forced into confessing” by President Musharraf who used him as a scapegoat in the national interest. This is how the government of Pakistan treats someone who is a national icon and hero to millions, who has been awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian awards of “Hilal e Imtiaz” and “Nishan e Haider” and has helped the country develop weapons which have given it the status of most powerful Muslim country.
It must be noted that in order to please foreign masters, Pakistan has ended up handing over and humiliating those citizens who are amongst the intellectuals of the country, those who have a hand in its development and progression. If the Pakistani government is unable to defend its pride and glory without so much as an objection, then how can it protect the millions of other citizens it claims to represent? Currently there are 500 “reported” people that have gone missing in Pakistan, and probably many more who have never made it as a written statistic.
Could anyone ever imagine Britain or America giving up any of their own citizens, much less their politicians, doctors, scientists or soldiers? It is more likely that they would engage in extensive diplomatic or even military efforts in order to protect their citizens, nor would they humiliate those who have helped in the development of their countries as they are indispensable for them. And it is not just the protection they afford to their citizens whilst at home. How often is it reported that western tourists are caught foul of the law in so many nations, only to have their sentences commuted or pardoned due to the pressure applied by their governments?
Its not just the examples of Aafia Siddique and Abdul Qadeer Khan that prove just how bankrupt is the claim by the likes of Musharraf and Zardari to be sovereign leaders. Add to this the almost total freedom given to the US to conduct drone attacks within Pakistan, or by allowing thousands of Blackwater mercenary personnel to roam free in the country and do as they please. The government also accepted the Kerry-Lugar bill through which the US has bought access for its security agencies to operate inside of Pakistan, whilst the Pakistani government agrees to provide the US forces with ammunition being used against its own citizens.
Any true sovereign nation, or any leader with an ounce of dignity or self respect, would have stopped cooperating with America in order to bring Aafia Siddiqui back. They would have stopped providing them with fuel or supply routes, closed their embassy, expelled their staff and finally kicked them out of the region. Unfortunately this is too much to ask from Pakistan’s incompetent leaders or any other rulers in the Muslim world. It’s not even a new scenario, since Pakistan was used even before 911 with General Zia being used as a proxy in order to help America remove Russia from Afghanistan. Nawaz Sharif even pulled back the Pakistan army when they were on the verge of victory over India during the 1999 Kargil conflict on the orders of President Bill Clinton.
Sovereignty for Islam is as absent today in Pakistan as it is anywhere else in the Muslim world. How many of our rulers have competed with each other to please America by agreeing to trade Palestine to Israel? How many leaders have welcomed American bases in Muslim lands, enabling them to have a foothold there? How many of them allowed those same bases, airways and waterways to be used to attack the Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan? How many Muslim leaders rushed to the defence of Islam when our beloved Prophet (SAW) was being defamed in cartoons? How many of them have resisted western demands to alter curriculums to teach western concepts such as democracy, freedom, nationalism? It is the current Muslim rulers who have given up the Islamic sovereignty, leaving this Ummah like sheep at the mercy of hungry wolves.
What the Muslim Ummah needs is a leadership that will be unlike any of the weak states we have in the Muslim world today. One that will not capitulate before foreign nations or institutions like the U.N or the Security Council due to the saying of Allah (swt)
وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً
“And Allah will never give the disbelievers a way(authority) over the believers”(Sura An Nisa 141)
and the saying of the Prophet (SAW) “the Imam is a shield behind which you fight and protect yourselves”.
This Ummah needs a leadership that will stop all cooperation with America and remove their occupying forces from our lands as well as rescue Aafia Siddiqui and all our other brothers and sisters who have been humiliated at the hands of the kuffar in Kashmir, Palestine and Iraq. A leadership that will defend the honour, dignity and integrity of this Ummah, and protect its interests wherever they are.
Can anyone imagine that such a leadership will come from the existing political classes in the Muslim lands? They are bankrupt of any morality or integrity, they do not possess the political acumen to look after anything but their own financial interests, and are trained in nothing other than the diseased secular politics which keeps them subservient to western needs. Nothing will ever come of them, and they can be confined to the bin of history from an age this Ummah longs to forget.
The only viable solution for the Muslims now is the re-establishment of the Khilafah and the appointment of a sincere Khaleefah across all the Muslim lands. It is imperative that the Ummah throughout the world works towards this one cause, doing all they can to accelerate the inevitable demise of the tyrant rulers of today such as Zardari. This is the only way to restore the sovereignty to Islam as it truly should belong. It is only under the shade of the Khilafah that the Ummah was protected, When the Romans invaded Malatya, (part of Turkey today), in 840 many of its citizens were killed, whilst the women were taken as slaves, it included a Muslim women who was a descendent of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. On hearing about her cries Al-Mu’tasim Billah, the Khaleefah led a huge army to the ‘Amuriyyah fort, where she was imprisoned. Overrunning the fortresses and then conquering the territory, the Muslim woman was freed from her chains. The fort was destroyed and Al-Mu’tasim said to her ‘be a witness with your grandfather Al-Mustafa, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, that I came to rescue you’.
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ أَمَرَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
“Indeed, the Rule is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but him, this is the right deen but most people do not know:” [TMQ 12:40]
Abu Umair
From party leaders to party dictators
President Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif would on Monday shake hands after months of their tense relations to celebrate the 18th Amendment, which removes one set of constitutional distortions and replaces them by a new set of distortions that would begin a new era of political dictatorship.
PPP-head he can remove the prime minister, get unseated any number of ministers or the members belonging to his party.
What Nawaz Sharif is getting in bonus are the dictatorial powers that are being given to party heads.
There is no more room left for any member to vote according to his or her conscience except at the risk of getting unseated. Even otherwise, like Co-chairperson of the PPP Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, ANP leader Asfandyar Wali, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and their likes can now get any of their member of the National Assembly, the Senate or provincial assembly removed purely on their sweet will.
The 18th Amendment would also secure the future of these party chiefs and their families’ hold on their respective parties, as the mandatory condition of intra-party elections in the political parties would also become history from Monday.
A lot has been said against corruption and against the corrupt but the good news for such a rotten lot is that the 18th Amendment has removed the life time bar on the convicts, those dismissed from service or sentenced to jail for misuse of power or for crime involving moral turpitude.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28384
The system is not the problem it’s the people running the system that are the issue.
Militants want their leaders to be freed in exchange of Col. Imam and Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid Khawaja.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-militants-release-video-of-former-isi-officers-ss-05
Well why don’t they capture Hamid Gul and Aslam Beg as well and then submit their demands?
We love you PkPolitics.. Swabi
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