Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Obama Singh.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
EYE WITNESS
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH................
But where? In circles?
Fear and anxiety is growing among Pakistanis!. If you are interested in more , you might want to follow the link below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8306350.stm
No prizes for guessing that it originally appeared on the BBC World Website.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
DISCOURSE
The baby potatoes were nice, people who were either too engrosed in their conversations or too high to talk and so could only sing or laugh to the live guitar strings being plucked by a singer I really don't know about, were equally interesting.. you surely could make the most of Dubai's sultry evenings there.....
Normally its very easy for me not to overhear conversations going on around me. Either I donot have the ear or don't have the craft. But at times there is that compelling topic that wakes me up from my day dreaming in cafes.
"Did you do the Istikhaara( consulting GOD through Prayer before making a decision) before getting married?" asks one man to the other sitting across him.
Both nearly the same age around 35. Looking like boss and subordinate sitting across each other in a cafe here in Lahore that has tables placed very close to each other. People supposed to be elite frequent it.
The one being questioned hastily answers: "I didn't but the girl's side did it"....the look in his eyes saying "its too late now!".
But the man asking the question , who appeared to have mastered tackling marital affairs - his demeanour suggested that he had accepted to travel the rocky roads that many say wedlocks put one on. But he wouldn't budge and would continue to give others some strange food for thought.
I donot know why they created it? It has put us into so much trouble....believe me I haven't bought a Canali suit for two years now ...that's why I don't live here....This man , on the wrong side of 40, telling a woman who he addressed as madam frequently....and she was indifferent to the insults being hurled at her country ( Pakistan) munching on her battered fries....
Day dreaming is so much better than to over hear people say stuff that one would not want to hear.
Monday, November 16, 2009
BRAVO!!
As the luxury cab that I have rented, reaches the toll plaza to enter Islamabad, the police man covering his mouth with a scarf to protect against the chilli morning breeze of the city, directs us to halt on the side. He then questions the driver. Later its my turn. With great respect and politeness he asks me where I came from and where I was going. He then checks the boot of the car. And then we are clear to enter Islamabad. At least three other policemen watch from a distance. They are trying to check each and every vehicle in a similar way.
What if another car came from behind and blew up killing everyone there? Would it be a security lapse? Every one was there trying to do their job.
I saw a similar situation at another check point near blue area at night. Each and every car was being checked as far as possible. Of course its impractical to check the boot and bonnet of every vehicle.
But I did see many people behaving irritated at the police men. Actually some gratitude should be shown towards these brave men who literally are in the direct line of fire. Trying to protect the citizens, when they clearly know in their hearts the approaching vehicle they are asking to pull up could be a bomb!
No country in the world faces a law and order problem similar to what we face. Given the kind of funds, training and equipment available to our security personnel, the job they are doing is commendable.
Show some empathy .
Friday, November 13, 2009
M.I.A
By the way Sabi was also described as being M.I.A , as no trace of her could be found after the joint Afghan- Australian troop patrol was ambushed in Uruzgan back in the September of 2008. Since then there was no sign of her( Labrador female dog). She is excellent at sniffing but recently she was found in one piece in the country . That was a great morale booster for the Australian troops , who have sent her back.
Oh and yes.....Missing In Action! thats what M.I.A stands for!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Gilgit Baltistan- A Backgrounder
Gilgit – Baltistan was previously known as Northern Areas. Northern Areas were a part of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which is that part of the state of Kashmir which is under the administrative control of Pakistan. Gilgit –Baltistan (Northern Areas) are a legal and constitutional part of the State of Kashmir, which itself has been a source of major dispute between Pakistan and India.
Gilgit-Baltistan borders the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan to the northwest, China's Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast, the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to the south and southeast, the Pakistani-controlled state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the south, and Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province to the west.
Gilgit-Baltistan is administratively divided into two divisions which, in turn, are divided into seven districts, including the twoBaltistan districts of Skardu and Ghanche and the five Gilgit districts of Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, and Hunza-Nagar. The two main political centres are Gilgit and Skardu.
The High Court of Justice Abdul Majid Malik had declared that the legal and constitutional position of these areas had not changed and they were part of Jammu and Kashmir.
Government Decision
The Prime Minister announced earlier this year that the Northern Areas will have a province like status, will be given full autonomy and will have a Governor and Chief minister.
Federal Information Minister Kamar Zamaan Kaira was later appointed as the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan who after assuming this office, in his first press conference announced that election to the legislative assembly would be held on November 12, 2009.
In September this year, the President signed the Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009.
The Government decision invited lots of criticism from Azad Kashmir but appreciation from the PML-N, the opposition party in the National Assembly.
Controversy Surrounding the Decision
This decision of the Government that it claims is in line with the local people’s demands- created quite a controversy in Azad Kashmir. The top brass there maintains that this decision tantamounts to dividing the state of Kashmir ignoring UN Council resolutions. The Kashmiri leaders complained that they should have been taken into confidence.
Their fears on division of Kashmir were further strengthened when India following the foot steps of Pakistan Government, formulated a separate administrative set up for Laddakh on its side of Kashmir.
Some organizations held protests against the Government of Pakistan’s announcements. Others argued that this decision should have been reached after a thorough debate in the Parliament.
There is a strong sentiment that people of Azad Kashmir have a feeling of not only loosing their brothers and sisters but also natural resources as a result of this decision.
The People of Gilgit Baltistan
Majority of the people in Gilgit Baltistan are financially reasonable. This is mainly because of agricultural income and business activity with China. Some are also employed in the public and private sector. However there is no quota reserved for them for jobs but in the education sector, they have reserved seats.
Gulshan Bano, a university graduate living and working in Lahore, who still goes back to Gilgit to meet her family, tells me that tourism in the area is a major contributor towards the incomes of the locals. The area is picturesque. But she tells me that locals do not get many jobs because the literacy rate is low and people from other parts of the country come and get their jobs. There is no local broadcast media. Health care needs attention because for every 6000 people there is just 1 doctor available in the 25 hospitals operating in the area. She feels bad that there is no post graduate facility available in the entire Gilgit Baltistan.
She speaks fondly of Prince Karim Agha Khan’s developmental effort in the area. His foundation tries to serve everyone from top to bottom. He had the roads widened in Musharraf’s area. Also, the quality of work is way above government standards. She feels the Prince would have no objection neither to the entire decision regarding the fate of the area nor the election.
Political Parties and Their Promises
The 99 candidates of ten political parties are taking part in the elections among which 23 belong to PPP, MQM (18), PML-N (15), PML-Q(14), ANP(4), JUI-F (3), Tahreek-e-Insaaf (2), Jamaat-e-Islami (1) and 6 candidates of Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance. The number of independent candidates is 165. Three women are contesting polls on general seats. Two women belonged to PML-Q whereas one is independent candidate.
PPP has a strong chance because it has a Government in the centre. The Prime Minister himself made many promises such as giving international status to the airport in the area and fixing minimum salary for government employees at 6,500 rupees.
But MQM takes the cake when it comes to making promises. They have promised to give Gilgit Baltistan the status of a province, a promise that all other political parties have shied away from. MQM therefore has a strong chance of causing a major upset.
Marvi Memon of PML-Q, daughter of Nisar Memon and an ardent tourist of the Northern Areas could be a favourite by vurtue of being a woman and succeeding in winning sympathies of the simple people of Gilgit Baltistan.
Learning from the Past
Independent candidates, who indulge in local politics, win the most seats. This was seen in 2004. They then form an alliance with the political party that has a Government in the centre. The same trend is expected to be seen this time around as well.
Election 2009 Statistics
Registered Voters: 717,286
Constituencies: 23
Polling Stations: 1022
Sensitive Stations: 119
Voting time: 8 am-4 pm
Election in one constituency (LA-19 Ghazar) has been postponed because of the death of the candidate. Rangers and Scouts have also been deployed to provide security.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Marhaba!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Real Problem
If you look at the people on the roads they are all busy trying to make ends meet. They brave traffic jams, feel happy if they find flour at a cheaper rate and sugar , something we took for granted since the creation of Pakistan is now a luxury for them . We are also short of thousands of megawatts of energy.......schools in Lahore have been closed down again till November 8.
Theres another set of people too....who have a hardtime figuring out which caffe to eat at and if they should have coffe brewed with Brazilian coffee beans.
So, Is Black Water a problem or not being able to get your hands on cinema tickets to the latest Indian movie.
Monday, November 2, 2009
SACRIFICES
As three children waited impatiently with their mother in their car, two terrorists blew themselves up in the parking lot in the Shalimar plaza in the heart of Rawalpindi. The area is in the vicinity of GHQ which just weeks ago had come under a fierce militant attack. Later in the evening, Babu Sabu interchange came under suicide attack in which a constable gave his life to save the lives of many who live in Lahore that the west describes as the cultural hub of Pakistan.
Listen to any government high up and they would conveniently tell you these attacks indicate the frustration of militants as the army breaks their back in operations against them. But they do not realize how scared the citizens of the country feel out on the streets. Our brothers and sisters (IDPs) fled their homes to help authorities achieve their goal.
India never misses an opportunity to create unrest in Pakistan but according to many senior personnel India does not have the ability to cause terror in cities in Pakistan.
All of this relates to Pakistan’s own fight against militancy, something that one keeps on hearing about ever since the Path of Deliverance began.
But how can one ignore what the west thinks about Pakistan’s efforts to root out terrorism. After all we are assured and reassured time again that we are a very close friend of United States in the fight against terrorism. Richard Holbrook had right at the onset of the Operation Rah e Nijaat had said that United States did not have definitive answers as to how the Operation was progressing. But what he did know was that the target was not Al Qaeda because Al Qaeda was a shadowy group of people who were on the move. US indifference was further cemented by Hilary Clinton’s statements suggesting that Pakistani authorities knew where Al Qaeda was in Pakistan and if they didn’t that US couldn’t buy that!
The case of Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan should be brought to the fore in the international arena so that they realize the role Pakistan is playing not only in countering its conventional threat that now makes it self available on western borders but also continues to be an effective partner in the global hunt for Al Qaeda going on for eight years now!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
BIG MENU
It did come as a surprise to find out that Mc Donalds was bidding adieu to Iceland. The element of surprise was that the fast food chain was leaving a country that was ranked as the most developed country in the world by United Nations Human Development Index. Come the global economic meltdown, and the country could no longer afford to serve Big Macs to its citizens living in its capital Reykjavik. Importing ingredients from Germany was no longer possible for an economy with a failed banking system.
And I am sure that Iceland is at a better relation with the USA than Pakistan is with the super power. However US secretary of State coming to Pakistan and expressing her views on Pakistan knowing but not telling where Al Qaeda’s leaders are hiding in its territory , irks many. The Kerry Lugar assistance package also remains a matter of concern for majority of the people in the country and they continue to criticize those who present a realistic view that we do need US assistance in order to survive. Sections of the press in the country feel triumphant that a seasoned diplomat like Ms. Clinton was given a tough time by the journalists but I wonder if they also give a thought to the fact that many students in Lahore who got a life time opportunity to be in a session with Ms. Clinton were left spell bound when they were put a retaliatory question by the lady if they knew how much assistance had the US pledged for the IDPs of Malakand. No one wants to take a look within.
Icelanders will not miss the US fast food. They will continue to get fast food because the ex franchise owner of Mc Donalds in their country has decided to give them fast food that will have the locally produced Haddock in patty and local yoghurt as dressing to make it sumptuous.
And while you might remain confused and insecure about how US is going to treat Pakistan next, savour each and every bite of the Chicken or beef Big Mac at your nearest outlet.