Inqilaab Zaroori - Revolution is must now

Choose one for Saturday Night.... best sms to laugh

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 5 Apr 2013 04:23:00 -0700

Doctor : tabiyat kaisi hai???

Patient : pehle se zyada kharab hai.........

Doctor : dawai khali thi kya????????

Patient : nahi dawa ki sisi to bhari hui thi.....

Doctor : i mean dawa le li thi......... ......... .

Patient : ji apne di thi to maine le li thi......... .......

Doctor : bewkuf dawai pi li thi......... ......

Patient : ji dawa to lal thi......... ..

Doctor : abe gadhe dawai ko pi liya tha......... .

Patient : nahi sahab piliya to mujhe tha......... .

Doctor : sale dawa ko muh se laga k pet me dala tha......... ...

Patient : nahi........ .....

Doctor : kyun ............ .......

Patient : apne hi to kaha tha k dhakan laga k rakhna ........

mai thik to ho jayunga na doctor sahab....... .????????

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:16:00 -0800

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

Accept invitation

Twitter helps you stay connected with what's happening right now and with the people and organizations you care about.

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 4 Jan 2013 12:22:00 -0800

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

Accept invitation

Twitter helps you stay connected with what's happening right now and with the people and organizations you care about.

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:23:00 -0800

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

Accept invitation

Twitter helps you stay connected with what's happening right now and with the people and organizations you care about.

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان has invited you to join Twitter!

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:34:00 -0800

منظر نامہ ِ پاکستان has invited you to join Twitter!

Accept invitation

Twitter helps you stay connected with what's happening right now and with the people and organizations you care about.

ہماری عدالتیں

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:37:00 -0700

خوفزدہ پاکستانی صحافی، عالمی اداروں کی طرف دیکھ رہے ہیں

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:48:00 -0700

پاکستان میں مبینہ طور پر سرکاری ایجنسیوں کے ہاتھوں مارے جانے والے صحافی سلیم شہزاد کے قتل کے بعد حساس موضوعات پر لکھنے اور بولنے والے صحافیوں کو آج کل شدید خوف کا سامنا ہے۔

پاکستان میں سیلم شہزاد کے قتل کے بعد کئی مقبول ٹاک شوز کو بند کرنے، بعض اینکر پرسنز کو ہٹانے اور کچھ صحافتی اداروں کی ادارتی پالیسی میں تبدیلیاں لانے کے لیے دباؤ ڈالنے اور صحافیوں کو دھمکانے کا سلسلہ اب بھی جاری ہے۔ طاقتور اداروں کے سامنے کمزور جمہوری حکومت کی بے بسی کی وجہ سے پاکستانی صحافی شدید مشکلات کا شکار ہو چکے ہیں۔ ایک طرف انہیں دہشت گرد تنظیموں سے خطرہ ہے تو دوسری طرف انہیں خفیہ اداروں کے منفی ہتھکنڈوں کا سامنا ہے۔

پاکستان میں کچھ صحافتی اداروں پر دباؤ ڈالنے اور صحافیوں کو دھمکانے کا سلسلہ اب بھی جاری ہےمبینہ طور پر سرکاری اداروں کی تحویل میں چند ہفتے پہلے ہلاک کر دیے جانے والے صحافی سلیم شہزاد کے قتل کی تحقیقات کے لیے سپریم کورٹ کے جج کی سربراہی میں تحقیقاتی کمیشن بنانے کا حکومتی دعویٰ کئی روز گزر جانے کے باوجود ابھی تک پورا نہیں ہو سکا ہے۔ ذرائع کے مطابق اسلام آباد پولیس کا کہنا ہے کہ سلیم شہزاد کی لاش منڈی بہاوالدین کے علاقے سے ملی تھی، اسی لیے تحقیقات بھی اسی علاقے کی پولیس کرے۔ منڈی بہاالدین کے پولیس حکام کا اصرار ہے کہ چونکہ سلیم شہزاد کو اسلام آباد سے اغوا کیا گیا تھا، اس لیے اس کیس کی تحقیقات کرنا اسلام آباد پولیس کا کام ہے۔ ایسی اطلاعات بھی مل رہی ہیں کہ سلیم شہزاد کے موبائل فون کا ریکارڈ ضائع کرنے کی کوششیں کی جا رہی ہیں۔ اس صورتحال نے پاکستانی صحافیوں کو مایوسی سے دو چار کر دیا ہے۔

مبینہ طور پر ایک خفیہ ادارے کے تشدد کا نشانہ بننے والے دی نیوز کے رپورٹرعمر چیمہ کہتے ہیں کہ ملک میں پاکستانی صحافی کی کوئی وقعت نہیں ہے، اسے بہت ہی آسانی سے قتل کر دیا جاتا ہے اور ظالموں کو سزا تک نہیں ملتی۔ عمر چیمہ کے بقول آج تک پاکستان میں مارے جانے والے کسی بھی صحافی کے قاتلوں کو قانون کے کٹہرے میں نہیں لایا جا سکا صرف ایک صحافی کے قاتل اپنے انجام کو پہنچے وہ امریکی صحافی ڈینیل پرل تھا۔ ان کے بقول اگر ڈینیل پرل پاکستانی ہوتا تو آج تک اس کے قاتلوں کی کسی کو خبر تک نہ ہوتی۔ عمر چیمہ کہتے ہیں کہ دوران حراست مارے جانے والے سلیم شہزاد کا سب سے بڑا قصور یہ تھا کہ وہ ایک پاکستانی صحافی تھا اگر اس کے پاس امریکہ ، جرمنی یا برطانیہ کا پاسپورٹ ہوتا تو اس کے ساتھ یہ سلوک کبھی نہ ہوتا۔کہ ملک میں پاکستانی صحافی کی کوئی وقعت نہیں ہے، عامر چیمہ

سینئر صحافی امتیاز عالم کا خیال ہے کہ اگلے دس سالوں میں بھی سلیم شہزاد کے قاتلوں کو سزا ملنے کا کوئی امکان نہیں ہے۔ ان کا کہنا ہے کہ صحافیوں کو موت کے گھاٹ اتارنے کا سلسلہ جنگی علاقوں سے اب وفاقی دارالحکومت تک آن پہنچا ہے۔ ان کے بقول صحافیوں کے لیے اپنے فرائض کی انجام دہی بہت مشکل ہوتی جا رہی ہے۔ آزادی صحافت افسانہ بن کر رہ گئی ہے۔ پاکستان میں سول حکومت کے خلاف لکھنے کی تو پوری آزادی ہے لیکن کسی اور ادارے کے خلاف لکھنے والے قومی سلامتی کو نقصان پہنچانے کے مجرم قرار پاتے ہیں۔ ان کے مطابق کوئی نہیں بتا رہا کہ قومی سلامتی کی حد کہاں سے شروع ہوتی ہے اور کہاں ختم ہوتی ہے۔

پاکستان میں جیو ٹی وی کی انتظامیہ نے اسلام آباد پولیس کو باضابطہ طور پر مطلع کیا ہے کہ ان کے ایک سینئر صحافی حامد میر کی گاڑی کا پچھلے کئی دنوں سے تعاقب کیا جا رہا ہے۔ کچھ اور ایسے ہی واقعات لاہور، کراچی اور دیگر شہروں کے صحافیوں کی طرف سے بھی رپورٹ ہو رہے ہیں۔ صحافی حامد میر نے ڈوئچے ویلے کو بتایا کہ انہیں ایک با اثر سیاستدان کی طرف سے ایک دھمکی آمیز پیغام بھجوایا گیا ہے اور مشورہ دیا گیا ہےکہ وہ زیادہ بہادر صحافی بننے کی کوشش نہ کریں۔ حامد میر کے بقول پاکستان میں ایف آئی اے، پولیس، خفیہ ادارے اور عدالتیں صحافیوں کو تحفظ دینے میں مکمل طور پر ناکام ہو چکے ہیں۔ اب پاکستان کے دو درجن سے زائد صحافیوں نے ایک اجتماعی ای میل کے ذریعے اپنے اوپر ہونے والی زیادتیوں کی اطلاع عالمی اداروں تک پہنچانے کا فیصلہ کیا ہے۔

حمید ہارون، نجم سیٹھی، حامد میر، عمر چیمہ ، نصرت جاوید، مشتاق منہاس، ضیا الدین احمد، احمد رشید، عامر احمد خان، نسیم زہرا، عامر میر اور کاشف عباسی سمیت پاکستان کے درجنوں صحافی اپنے آپ کو درپیش خطرات کے حوالے سے پیشگی طور پر ایمنسٹی انٹرنیشنل، انٹرنیشنل پریس انسٹی ٹیوٹ، کمیٹی ٹو پروٹیکٹ جنرنلسٹس، انٹرنیشنل فیڈریشن آف جنرنلسٹس اور اقوام متحدہ کے متعلقہ اداروں کے علاوہ انسانی حقوق کی عالمی تنظیموں کو آگاہ کرنے جا رہے ہیں۔

صحافیوں کے لیے اپنے فرائض کی انجام دہی بہت مشکل ہوتی جا رہی ہے، امتیاز عالمبد قسمتی کی بات یہ ہے کہ مقتول صحافی سلیم شہزاد کی طرف سے عالمی اداروں کو بھیجی جانے والی ای میل تو اس کا تحفظ نہیں کر سکی تھی۔ لیکن بعض مبصرین کے مطابق پھر بھی ہو سکتا ہے کہ پاکستانی صحافیوں کے اس اقدام کے بعد حرکت میں آنے والا تھوڑا بہت عالمی دباؤ صورتحال میں کچھ بہتری کا باعث بن سکے۔ ادھر جنوبی ایشیا کے صحافیوں کی تنظیم سیفما نے بھی پاکستان صحافت کو درپیش خطرات سے آگاہی کے لیے کئی واچ ڈاگ اداروں اور عالمی صحافتی تنظیموں کو پاکستان آنے کی دعوت دی ہے تا کہ وہ اپنے طور پر پاکستان میں آزادی صحافت کے حوالے سے تازہ صورتحال کا جائزہ لے سکیں۔

یاد رہے پاکستان صحافیوں کے لیے خطرناک ترین ممالک میں سے ایک ہے۔ یہاں 2010 ء سے لے کر اب تک 15 صحافی موت کے گھاٹ اتارے جا چکے ہیں۔ حال ہی میں پاکستان کے وزیر داخلہ رحمان ملک نے صحافیوں کو اسلحہ ساتھ لے کر چلنے کا مشورہ دیا ہے۔

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15141509,00.html

US cuts troop numbers in Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Thu, 26 May 2011 05:01:00 -0700

The US is reducing its military force in Pakistan at the request of Islamabad after US special forces killed Osama bin Laden, the Pentagon has said.

More than 200 American troops are in the country helping to train the army in counter-insurgency, but there are also said to be intelligence and special forces there.
No details have been given on the size of the reduction, the type of troops involved, nor whether Pakistan has set a new limit on US numbers.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said: "We were recently (within the past two weeks) notified in writing the government of Pakistan wished for the US to reduce its footprint in Pakistan. Accordingly we have begun those reductions."

The request will be taken as a sign of Islamabad's annoyance that the raid on Bin Laden's compound at Abbottabad was carried out without its knowledge. There have been suspicions in Washington that some in Pakistan knew the al-Qaida leader's hideout.

But Pervez Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan, denied that the country's ISI intelligence service knew, at any level, of the presence of the world's most wanted man in the garrison city. However, in an interview with BBC's Newsnight on Wednesday, he admitted that it was "very difficult to prove non-complicity".

Musharraf said he had been surprised and shocked to discover where Bin Laden had been hiding. He added that neither he nor senior government officials had colluded in providing refuge for the fugitive while he was in power between 1999 and 2007. "I can't imagine in my wildest dreams that the intelligence agency was doing something without telling me, so therefore there was no complicity at the strategic level."

However, the intelligence service had demonstrated "negligence, ineptitude and failure" in its failure to detect Bin Laden, he said.

Divided PML-Q seeks guarantees from PPP

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:27:00 -0700

He thinks that cases against a son of the former Punjab chief minister had made the Chaudhrys more vulnerable and they may have to go to any extent to save his political career. In case Moonis Elahi is convicted on corruption charges, there will be nobody left in the family of Chaudhrys to take their dynastic politics forward, he argued. “They have to save him at all costs”. He recalled that the first effort to make a PPP-PML (Q) coalition was made by former president Pervez Musharraf. He said the then president had expressed his desire for cooperation between the two parties as the PPP was not feeling comfortable with the PML-N which had joined the setup at the time. Gen Musharraf had also claimed that Mr Asif Ali Zardari, who was only the co-chairperson of the PPP, “is in my pocket”. At a subsequent meeting with the PML-Q leadership, Gen Musharraf had advised Chaudhry Shujaat and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to step down from their respective party offices to facilitate cooperation between the two parties. This created a gulf between the Chaudhrys and Gen Musharraf.

When Zardari became the president, he and the Chaudhrys treated Gen Musharraf as their common enemy. “Zardari and the Chaudhrys have been in contact with each other for long and the cooperation offer is the logical outcome of these contacts”, said a party leader privy to all developments.

Whether the PML-Q joins the coalition or not, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s move to unite all opposition parties has been effectively thwarted for the time being. The Maulana, who is in Brussels at present to highlight the Kashmir issue, will have to review the situation before working out his party’s future course of action.

The PML-Q and the MQM were among the parties that he assured the Maulana their support when he hosted a dinner for various political leaders at his Islamabad residence.

It may be recalled that earlier the PML-Q had linked its support to the government to a five-point agenda. It included immediate steps to cut prices of essential items; steps to minimize power and gas load shedding; maintaining law and order; bringing back the money of politicians and bureaucrats in foreign banks; and publication of lists of written off loans since 1985.

Nisar Mehdi from Karachi adds: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is unwilling to become the part of federal cabinet despite claim by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that MQM and JUI-F may re-join the federal government.

As per sources, President Asif Zardari has tasked the newly-elected senator Dr Asim Hussain, who is known for his close ties with MQM, to meet MQM Chief Altaf Hussain in London and convince him in this regard.

“There is consensus in the MQM coordination committee and party legislators not to re-join the federal cabinet and this decision has been conveyed to the MQM’s chief Altaf Hussain for approval”, the sources informed.

The sources said that MQM will continue its support the ruling PPP in the Federal and Provincial Governments but would not rejoin the Federal Cabinet. The party will continue its policy to support every positive step of the government and would oppose all those decisions which are against the interest of the public.

Pak Navy bus attacked again, 5 dead

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:21:00 -0700

KARACHI: A roadside bomb hit a bus carrying Pakistani Navy officials on Thursday, killing five people and wounding eighteen others, officials said, the third attack on the navy in less than a week.

Pakistan navy spokesman said four navy officials aboard the bus were killed. A hospital official said a passerby was also killed.

"The bus was taking navy officers to a dockyard when a planted bomb exploded nearby," senior police official said. A civilian car and motorcycle were also damaged.

The bomb was placed in a gutter near the petrol pump on Shahra-e-Faisal near Karsaz Bridge and exploded when the bus arrived around 08:15 am.

About three kilograms of explosives were packed into the bomb which was detonated remotely, senior police official Iftikhar Tarar said.

He said the blast appeared to be the work of the same group behind twin bombings on Tuesday that killed four navy officials and wounded nearly 60 people in the worst attack on military officials in Karachi in years.

On Tuesday morning, two buses of the Pakistan Navy were also targeted when two bombs exploded near them. Four personnel of the Pakistan Navy, including a lady doctor and a junior officer, were killed while around 56 others sustained injuries.

Death toll reaches to 25 in US drone attack امریکی ڈرون حملے میں مرنے والوں کی تعداد 25 تک پہنچ گئی

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:14:00 -0700

MIRANSHAH: Three women and five children among 25 people were killed while several others injured in a US drone attack on a compound in North Waziristan, Geo News reported.

US drones fired five missiles on a compound in Spinwam, 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of Miranshah.
It was the first missile strike to hit the North Waziristan since March 17 when a drone attack killed 39 people, including many civilians, causing a diplomatic furor over the unpopular US campaign.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=14514

Imran gives ultimatum to stop drone attacks

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:07:00 -0700

PESHAWAR Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) has given a five point demand to the government to bring an end to the murderous drone attacks and protect the life and liberty of its citizens, otherwise it must tender resignation.

The five point “Peshawar Declaration” adopted at the conclusion of two day sit in(Dharna) in Peshawar on Sunday demanded of the government to immediately implement the joint resolution of Parliament on the War on terror, end the Hippocratic double faced policy and bring before the Parliament all past and present agreements/understands with the US government on the war on terror.

The PTI also demanded of the Supreme Court to urgently hear the drone attacks petition filed by it and hold a judicial inquiry under the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to ascertain the legitimacy of the drone attacks under Pakistani constitution and also determine the scale of human loss and establish scope of compensatin to the victims and their families.

It also called for immediate access of media and human rights organizations to FATA to independently assess the human and material losses suffered by the people due to the drone attacks.

The Peshawar Declaration said that in case drone attacks continue and these demands are not accepted, then the Government which has failed to protect the life and liberty of its citizens must resign.

The PTI declared that with the support of the people, it would block all supply routes of NATO trucks to Afghanistan, if the drone attacks were not stopped.

The Party congratulated the people of Pakistan for their massive participation in the Dharna which it said is a reflection of the nation’s consensus that demands an end to the drone attacks resulting in loss of innocent lives characterized by the UN as extra judicial killings.

Tehrik-i- Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan has given one month deadline to the Government to get the drone attacks stopped otherwise they would forcibly bring an end to NATO supplies through Pakistan.

Addressing a big gathering of people Saturday at the end of two day Dharna against drone attacks, Imran Khan warned that if the drone attack continued, his party would start a long march towards Islamabad.

He said the joint resolution of the Parliament against drone attacks must be implemented and media and human rights organizations be allowed to visit tribal areas for fact finding.

Imran Khan said Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was the last hope and appealed that Tehrik-i-Insaaf petition against drone attacks should be heard to save the country.

He said Tehrik-i-Insaaf believes that if the country has to survive, it will have to remain independent and take its own decision. He said he wanted to give a message to the politicians that the policies being followed are not of an independent country.

The PTI Chief hit hard at corruption and theftof national wealth and said all the previous records have been broken. He said he would appeal the workers of all political parties to think about the future of their children and force their leaders to reform themselves . If they are unable to put their leaders on the right path, they should join PTI.

Imran Khan said they would make the country free of foreign dictation and decide its destiny themselves. He said his party would neither get its people bombarded nor sell the blood of its people for dollars. He said the purpose of Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan is that all people including Punjabis, Pathans, Sindhis,Balochs and Saraiki were ready to due for each other. He said the whole purpose of his party is to make Pakistan strong and prosperous where every one is equal before law.

He said Tehrik i Insaaf would ensure protection of every one and bring an end to Shia-Sunni divide. He said there is no shortage of anything in Pakistan as there are huge oil,gas and coal resources and enough electricity could be generated. He said the biggest asset of Pakistan is overseas Pakistanis whose annual income is $ 200 billionn. He said Pakistan does not need Kerry-Lugar assistance of mere $ 1.5 billion.

He said when the system of the country was set right, rule of law was established and corru7ption brought to an end, there would be huge resources.

He praised the participation of Javed Hashmi, Marvi Meon and Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti in the Dharna and invited Marvi and Hoti to join his party. He said Javed Hashmi is a brave man and his presence at Dharna was enough for him.

http://dailymailnews.com/0411/25/FrontPage/index.php?id=7

What if everyone starts seeking review, asks CJ

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:41:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday asked Babar Awan, appearing as counsel in a presidential reference, to assist the court on the relevant question of law leading to the reopening of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s murder case.

“To appreciate your reference, we would have to appreciate the evidence of the ZAB case. Would it be possible to do so in the present reference, and would it mean revisiting the question of law — you need to assist the court on this issue,” the chief justice asked.

A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, was hearing the presidential reference under Article 186 of the Constitution to revisit the ZAB case (reported as PLD 1979 SC 38).

The chief justice asked the former law minister if the evidence recorded in the ZAB case could be revisited; or rather, whether Article 186 of the Constitution allowed the court to revisit evidences in any case. “Since every citizen is the same in the eye of law, wouldn’t it [reopening ZAB case] create a problem in the future if everyone sentenced by the courts would like to revisit evidence against himself?” the CJ asked.
Earlier, Babar Awan told the court that in the light of Wednesday’s court orders that he resign as Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and revive his license by the Pakistan Bar Council, he had tendered his resignation, which was dully accepted. He also said his licence had been revised, after which he was now appearing as a law officer of the court.
The chief justice observed that the court was calling Hafeez Pirzada, the living history of the case, who had represented Bhutto. The chief justice observed that after the preliminary arguments, he would constitute a larger bench since this was a very important case and no one could deny its importance.
Chief Justice asked Awan whether any specific questions were discussed with the prime minister. Awan replied that a cabinet meeting was held on March 28, 2011, where it was decided that the ZAB reference would be filed “A summary was approved by the coalition government and the prime minister and president were advised to send this reference to the Supreme Court,” Awan added.
Justice Sair Ali asked Awan about the scheme of his arguments and Awan submitted that he had done his preparation in this regard. He submitted that Bhutto was sentenced while there was no Constitution in place. He also pointed out that Justice (retd) Nasim Hassan Shah, had written in his book that he was an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court at the time of Bhutto’s sentencing, and Sharifuddin Pirzada had asked him to sit on the bench, which was against the rules. Awan submitted that Justice (retd) Shah had publicly admitted that Bhutto was hanged under the influence of Gen Ziaul Haq, which was a negation of his oath.

Awan pointed out that November 3 was very important in the history of Pakistan: ZAB was arrested on November 3, the same date that then General Musharraf imposed emergency on the country. He also pointed to the significance of July, which is the month in which Bhutto was hanged and also when Musharraf read a similar verdict on the fate of the superior judiciary of the country.
Awan read a paragraph from the book ‘If I am Assasinated’ that Bhutto had written in the Adiala Jail. He also read from the book of Col (retd) Rafi, Bhutto’s then security chief and submitted that in his book Rafi had stated that even if the Supreme Court had acquitted Bhutto, he would not have been released by the government of General Ziaul Haq. He also pointed out that Bhutto received the maximum punishment even though he was not the principal accused and had not committed any crime. He was sentenced when three members of the bench were missing from the bench and was hanged even though it was the duty of the court to complete the bench. He also submitted that three members of the Supreme Court bench had not agreed to the death penalty to Mr Bhutto.

Awan compared Bhutto’s case with the case of Bhagat Singh since both were decided by the High Court. He termed Bhutto’s sentence a judicial murder and stated that the PPP government did not believe in the politics of revenge but only wanted to correct the record. He submitted that ‘justice rushed is justice crushed’ and this was evident in the Bhutto case. Awan also said that because of the verdict in the ZAB case, the international community has always shown mistrust in the judgments of the High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The court observed that Awan has a very important duty and had to assist the court under Article 186. The court then adjourned the hearing till Monday.

Ijaz recalls Babar Awan’s love for his dad - abar demanded hanging of Bhutto in public protests and distributed sweets in Rawalpindi courts on the day of his execution,” Ijazul Haq,

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:39:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD: “Babar Awan was General Ziaul Haq’s energetic activist during his lifetime and even after his death. When PPP chief Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was in jail, Babar demanded hanging of Bhutto in public protests and distributed sweets in Rawalpindi courts on the day of his execution,” Ijazul Haq, the son of the third military ruler, confirmed to The News.

Babar Awan, however, declined to comment on the issue. Ijazul Haq also released to the media four pictures of a rally in Rawalpindi on Gen Zia’s anniversary in which Ijazul Haq and Babar Awan both made speeches.

Though different contemporaries of Awan used to narrate these stories and show extreme astonishment over Awan’s statements in praise of Bhutto, as during more than two and a half decades and till mid-90s, he always blasted ZAB and even abused him at times in different public rallies.
He also ran continuous protest campaigns demanding capital punishment for the revolutionary founding chairman of PPP when the latter was in jail in a murder case. But, now the relevant man, the son of Ziaul Haq and head of Zia-followers in Pakistan, has come on record and has confirmed Babar Awan’s heartiest affiliation with his father and enmity and hatred Awan always had in his heart for Bhutto. Ijazul Haq made many revelations during his exclusive interview with The News.
Ijazul Haq disclosed that Awan remained attached with him during the entire rule of his father and remained an activist against Bhutto. He said that Awan demanded public hanging of Bhutto and when ZAB was hanged, Babar was very happy and went to Rawalpindi courts where he distributed sweets among the lawyers.
He said that later he remained a sympathiser of his father. “Babar remained very active after my father’s death and used to conduct the proceedings of the anniversary of Shaheed Ziaul Haq as stage secretary,” said Ijazul Haq. He said that Babar Awan was given the honour to conduct the proceedings of the first death anniversary of his father as stage secretary on August 17, 1989.

Ijaz said that Awan’s love for his father further increased after his (Ziaul Haq) death as Babar became politically active. He said that Babar accompanied him to different processions and played ka ey role in success of Lal Kurti procession in the early 90s. Ijazul Haq disclosed that Babar Awan also invited him to his native village Matore (near Kahuta) to address a big public gathering to glorify the role of his father.

Ijaz said that Awan often used to visit the grave of his father to offer Fateha. Senior political leaders say that Babar remains with those who are in power and when they lose power and glory, he would look for the next party.

Babar Awan was repeatedly contacted for his version but he did not come on line on his cell and residence numbers. But when media persons asked Awan outside the Supreme Court building on Wednesday about distributing sweets on Bhutto’s hanging, he did not deny and simply said: ‘No comments’.

SC takes FIA to task for inaction against PSM scam accused

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:32:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that despite evidences against certain accused of M/s Abbas Steel Mills and others, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was not taking appropriate steps.

A three-member bench of the supreme court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice
Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani while hearing a suo moto case pertaining to corruption in Pakistan Steel Mills, in its order noted that FIA had not taken steps against such people who had been declared proclaimed offenders.

The court noted that M/s Abbas and others who had been shareholders of Pakistan Steel Mills were also running their business as private limited company and this aspect was not given due attention by the investigation officers.

It said that the composition of the proprietaries and owners of such companies kept changing to escape criminal prosecution, who were also equally responsible for losses to the Pakistan Steel Mills. The SC bench also directed FIA officials not to harass about 80 dealers and proceed against them strictly in accordance with the law.

Moazzam Jah Ansari, Director FIA Karachi, submitted a report with the bench saying that shareholders/owners of M/s Abbas and Lalji had caused losses to PSM due to their criminal conduct.

Fakahruddin G Ebrahim, counsel for PSM, apprised the bench that forensic audit report of the mills was in the process which was likely to be completed in June. He said notices had also been served on those who were liable to pay to PSM and among them some had deposited the amount while others were contesting the matter.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry while expressing his displeasure over FIA progress said that one year had passed but it appeared that either the accused were favoured or the officials concerned did not know the law. When Ansari told that some of the shareholders of the companies were foreign nationals, the Chief Justice said, “We will presume that you are responsible for letting the people escape.”

The FIA director said the consignment meant for PSM was purchased on high rates, besides payment for transportation was also made on high price.

Secretary Ministry of Industries Abdul Ghaffar Soomro said by the year 2011 end, the PSM would have no recurring losses. He said 43 companies had responded to their notices over the issue of recovery of the amount.

To a bench’s query, the secretary replied that its losses had been decreased from Rs26 billion recorded in 2008-09 to Rs11 billion in the year 2010-11.

Umar Raza Kasuri, counsel for 80 dealers, complained that FIA officials were harassing his clients. He said the PSM administration was asking them to pay Rs16.6 million against a commission of Rs12.8 million to show recovery.

The court adjourned hearing for 15 days and hinted that hearing date for audit report would be fixed later.

KitchenAid FGA Food Grinder Attachment for Stand Mixers

Bijli he nahi aur >>>>>Nepra allows KESC to increase per unit price

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:23:00 -0700

KARACHI (Dawn): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), under the fuel price adjustment, has allowed KESC to increase the per unit price by 53 paisas, DawnNews reported on Friday.

KESC had requested Nepra to increase the power tariff due to the hike in the price of fuel and gas.

The Muslim Next Door: The Qur'an, the Media, and That Veil Thing

Security guard, bandits rob bank of Rs9m

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:21:00 -0700

KARACHI, April 14: A guard of a private security company posting at a bank branch in Jodia Bazaar with the help of his five armed accomplices held the staff hostage, tied them up and ran away with more than Rs9 million in the city`s biggest heist this year on Thursday, police said.

The armed bandits took more than two hours to complete their operation and surprisingly received no resistance in one of the city`s most congested commercial neighbourhoods that houses the country`s biggest wholesale market of grocery and confectionery items.

The police said the armed guard, associated with a private security company, planned the robbery in a way that the bank staff could not realise the situation and offer any resistance.

Investigators said the key suspect, Anwar Khan, who was employed by the private security company some three months ago, turned up for duty at the MCB Jodia Bazaar branch at around 6am.

“As a matter of routine, he replaced the guard on the night shift at the branch,” said Kharadar SHO Inspector Ghulam Nabi Afridi. “Within an hour, he was joined by five armed men one by one inside the branch. Together they waited for the bank staff to come.”

The inspector said that the staff started arriving at around 8:30am and by 9:15am the entire 22-member bank staff was inside the facility and had been taken hostage by the armed men.

“The bandits tied up the staff and also thrashed a few of them. They took the key of the safe and collected more than Rs9 million before speeding away on two motorbikes of the staff members. The armed men also took away four cellphones of staff members,” the inspector said.

The fresh incident comes as a fifth such strike by robbers in the city this year alone, though the investigators claimed they had solved three previous cases after tracking down and arresting the suspects.

However, they said, they had found some important clues and surprising facts while probing the Jodia Bazaar bank robbery.

“Apart from the security guard, one of the robbery suspects has been identified as the younger brother of a police constable posted at the Gizri police station,” said SP Raja Umer Khattab of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), tasked with the probe of bank heists.

“We have acquired the CCTV footage and examined the scenes in and outside the branch. Going through such facts, we suspect that the members of the gang were also involved in the DHA bank robbery a few months ago. The suspects, including Anwar Khan, mainly hailed from Chakwal.”

He said the personal data of the private security guard acquired from his company had been verified, which showed that he did not use any fake documents for employment.

“Under the defined rules of the private security companies, they seek guarantees from respectable individuals while hiring any unknown candidate. The same procedure was followed for the appointment of Anwar Khan and we will also question those individuals just to trace his whereabouts,” said SP Khattab.

Karachi witnessed some 22 bank robberies last year, while the police authorities claimed to have solved 16 such cases arresting more than a dozen suspects. Police have found involvement of a few banned militant outfits, apparently to generate funds for their activities, and other armed groups in bank robberies.

Meanwhile, a case (FIR 168/2011) was registered on a complaint of the branch manager at the Kharadar police station under Sections 392 (punishment for robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code against the security guard and his accomplices.

Summit Zillions Deluxe ATM - Colors May Vary

US keeps up missile strikes despite Pakistan request to limit program; 6 die

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 02:17:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD — Two U.S. missile strikes killed six reputed Afghan Taliban fighters in a Pakistani tribal region Wednesday, drawing sharp condemnation from Pakistan's government just days after it asked Washington to limit such attacks.

The U.S. relies heavily on the covert, CIA-run missile program to kill al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in Pakistan's northwest — a program Pakistan publicly denounces but has secretly helped. The Obama administration said Tuesday it is negotiating a possible reduction in U.S. intelligence operatives and special operations officers in Pakistan as the two countries try to mend relations badly strained by the detention of a CIA contractor for killing two Pakistanis.

On Wednesday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry called drone attacks "a core irritant in the counter-terror campaign" and said it had lodged a "strong protest" with U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter over the new strikes. A U.S. Embassy spokesman confirmed the Foreign Ministry had called the ambassador.

The latest drone-fired strikes came minutes apart, hitting the South Waziristan tribal area near the Afghan border, Pakistani intelligence officials said. They were the first missile attacks since a mid-March strike that Pakistan's army chief said killed dozens of peaceful tribesmen.

On Monday, Pakistan's spy chief, Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, met with CIA head Leon Panetta in Washington amid lingering tensions over the January shooting deaths of two Pakistanis by CIA security contractor Raymond Davis.

Davis was freed on March 16 after nearly two months in detention. The U.S. insisted he acted in self-defense against robbers and that he had diplomatic immunity. He was freed after relatives of his victims agreed to accept financial compensation.

Afterward, U.S. officials said the Pakistanis had requested advance notice of missile strikes and fewer strikes overall. The U.S. is considering the request for more information but sees other demands as nonstarters, as American officials suspect factions in Pakistan's spy community support the Taliban. The U.S. tends to keep up drone strikes even when relations with Pakistan are more strained than usual.

"When bad guys are spotted doing bad things, that could lead to loss of life. The Pakistanis understand that they have to take action or we will," an American official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the U.S. doesn't comment publicly on drone strikes.

Wednesday's strikes used a total of seven missiles to hit a vehicle and a motorcycle in the forested Bhangar area of South Waziristan, said two Pakistani intelligence officials, who are based in the northwest and rely on information from field agents and informants.

They said the dead were Afghan Taliban fighters who sneaked across the border. But the information is nearly impossible to verify independently — the area is remote, dangerous and access to it is legally restricted.

A senior Pakistani intelligence official also criticized the strike, saying the timing was inappropriate coming so soon after the meeting in Washington. Like the other intelligence officials, he spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the record to media.

The U.S. rarely discusses the missile program publicly, but American officials have in the past described it as successful in taking out top militants. Pakistanis generally hold a low opinion of the program, however, alleging numerous civilians are killed or maimed by the attacks. The government publicly insists the strikes gain militants more sympathy.

Most of the strikes land in the North Waziristan tribal area, home to several militant groups who focus on fighting Western troops in Afghanistan.

On March 17, a drone strike killed roughly three dozen people in North Waziristan. Pakistani intelligence officials initially described the dead as militants, but later said at least 24 civilians from tribes asking the Taliban to mediate a dispute also died.

Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, issued a rare public statement in which he condemned the attack. Pakistan also summoned the U.S. ambassador Munter to protest. A U.S. official denied innocent people had been targeted.

Earlier this week, Munter gave a speech in which he urged the two countries to move beyond the recent tensions.

___

Associated Press reporters Ishtiaq Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan and Adam Goldman in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.

Time to save the Higher Education Commission - By Attaur Rahman

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:44:00 -0700

There is an impending disaster looming in front of us (something also mentioned in a recent editorial in this newspaper on the matter of devolving the functions of the Higher Education Commission [HEC] to the provinces). What has been decided by the cabinet (on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee on devolution headed by Raza Rabbani) is to tear higher education to shreds and hand over the pieces to the provinces.
What has not been realised by our policymakers is that the process of socio-economic development takes place through central strategic planning, which is intimately connected to a country’s higher education and science and technology programmes. The minimum quality requirements and the numbers of engineers, scientists, doctors, economists and social scientists needed for nation-building have to be determined through careful central planning regarding human resource requirements in various sectors. A multiplicity of standards and regulations would be disastrous. That is why the world over, including in India, higher education planning and funding is done centrally, even though universities are located in the provinces.

All the vice-chancellors of public sector universities, on November 27, 2010, therefore, unanimously resolved that the status quo of the HEC should be maintained since it has performed exceptionally well and is completely protected under the 18th Amendment. Pakistan’s highest level science body, the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (whose members have included such luminaries as the late professors Abdus Salam and Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, and whose present members include Dr A Q Khan, Dr Ishfaq Ahmed and Dr Samar Mubarak Mand, and of which I am now the president) held a press conference in Islamabad recently, protesting in the strongest possible terms, the fragmentation of HEC. A strongly worded article protesting the dismantling of the HEC, by Dr AQ Khan, was published in The News of March 29, 2009. All this fell on deaf ears. The motivation behind the shredding is “to teach the HEC a lesson”. This, he wrote, was for upholding the principles of merit, not bowing to political pressures and, particularly, for refusing to verify forged degrees of a large number of parliamentarians as being legal.

Pakistan made remarkable progress during 2001-2008 in higher education. There was a 600 per cent increase in scientific publications in international journals and a 1,000 per cent increase in citations in this period. Today, several of our universities are ranked among the top 500. The University of Karachi was ranked at 223 in the world, NUST at 260 in the world and Quaid-i-Azam University at 270 in the world, in the field of natural sciences. This is no ordinary achievement after decades of stagnation. The World Bank, USAID and the British Council published comprehensive reports on the higher education sector, applauding it and calling it “a silent revolution”.

Pakistan won several prestigious international awards for the revolutionary changes in the higher education sector brought about by the Higher Education Commission. These include the TWAS (Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, Italy) Award for Institutional Development in October 2009 and the Austrian high civil award “Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande” (2007), conferred on me as chairman of the Higher Education Commission.

An eminent educational expert, Professor Wolfgang Voelter of Tubingen University, paid glowing tributes to the Higher Education Commission in an article in a Pakistani newspaper on November 28, 2008 under the heading “The Golden Period”. I quote: “A miracle happened. The scenario of education, science and technology in Pakistan changed dramatically as never before in the history of Pakistan. The chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Education recently announced it as ‘Pakistan’s golden period in higher education’.” Professor Michael Rode, former chairman of the United Nations Commission on Science, Technology and Development wrote, and I quote: “The progress made was breathtaking and has put Pakistan ahead of comparable countries in numerous aspects.” The world’s leading and oldest scientific society, Royal Society (London) recently published a booklet entitled “A New Golden Age”, considering Pakistan to be the best practice model to be followed by other developing countries.

India became deeply concerned at these developments. In an article entitled “Pak Threat to Indian Science” published in the leading daily newspaper Hindustan Times, India, on July 23, 2006, Neha Mehta reported that Professor C N R Rao, (Chairman of the Indian prime minister’s scientific advisory council) made a presentation to his boss and expressed serious concerns at the remarkable progress made by Pakistan in the higher education and science sectors. The article wrote that “Pakistan may soon join China in giving India serious competition in science”. The Indian leadership need not be concerned since we are ourselves hell-bent on destroying our nation by undermining the development and progress of higher education, science and technology and then being doomed to perpetual slavery.

The HEC was created as an autonomous federal regulatory institution with the prime minister of Pakistan as its controlling authority. The composition of the commission reflects a balanced federal structure with representation from each province, as well as the secretary education and secretary science and technology, together with eminent academic and research experts. All powers and functions of the HEC defined under its legislation are covered and protected in the provisions of the 18th Amendment. But, alas, who cares about what is legal and what is not.

Lower level education has been a complete mess, because of half-witted plans and lack of a national commitment towards education. Some of our leaders have now come up with this strategy to destroy the higher education sector as well. My plea to the government is: Please stop this suicidal madness. Something good happened in Pakistan after some 55 years of neglect. Let us not destroy this wonderful initiative.

I hope that the president, prime minister and the army chief will intervene to stop this madness before it is too late. If ever there was a case for the chief justice of the Supreme Court to take suo motu action on, this is it.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2011.

Good News: SC rejects petitions against HEC devolution

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:40:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday dismissed all petitions against the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The apex court added that the regulatory body will function till the government amends the presidential ordinance upon which HEC was formed.
A petition was filed earlier by Professor GA Miana through the ministry of law and parliamentary affairs.

The Attorney General (AG) informed the apex court that the government was still undecided on the issue of the dissolution of HEC. He also assured the court that all stake holders will be taken into consideration before taking any such decisions.

According to the AG, a legal draft has been prepared regarding HEC and will be tabled in the parliament soon.

میرٹ کے چور جعل ساز ڈگری خور ا: اٹھو جاگو پاکستان بلاگ سے دفرحان دانش

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:59:00 -0700

قوم کے لئے کتنی شرمندگی کی بات ہے کہ آجکل پاکستان میں جعلی ڈگریوں کا میلہ لگا ہوا ہے۔ اوران پڑھ لوگ پڑھے لکھے لوگوں پر حکومت کر رہے ہیں۔ سیاستدانوں نے جعلی ڈگریاں حاصل کیں اور انہیں اپنے مقصد کے لئے استعمال بھی کیا ۔مزے کی بات یہ ہے کہ ان جعلی ڈگریوں والے اراکین میں مرد حضرات ہی نہیں خواتین کی بھی خاصی تعداد ہے۔

جعلی ڈگریاں والی خواتین اراکین تو مردوں سے چار ہاتھ آگے نکلیں ۔ ایک خاتون نے جن کا تعلق مسلم لیگ ق سے تھا۔ انہوں نے ایک ایسی یونیورسٹی کی جعلی ڈگری لے رکھی ہے جس کی عمارت ہی ابھی پوری طرح تیار نہیں ہوئی۔ اور بلوچستان کی ایک ایسی خاتون رکن اسمبلی نے اس ادارے سے ڈگری حاصل کی ہے جہاں صرف مرد پڑھتے ہیں۔
ہمارےملک میں صرف سیاستدانوں ہی جعلی ڈگریاں حاصل نہیں کرتے بلکہ مختلف شعبہ ہائے زندگی سے تعلق رکھنے والے لوگ بھی جعلی ڈگریوں حاصل کرتے ہیں۔ اوران جعلی ڈگریوں کے سہارے بڑے بڑی پوسٹوں پر پرفائز ہو کر ہزاروں لوگوں کا حق مارتے ہیں ۔ اس کی واضح مثال قومی ائیر لائن پی آئی اے کا دو سو ملازمین کو جعلی ڈگریوں کے باعث ملازمت سے فارغ کردینا ہے۔ پی آئی اے کے ترجمان کے مطابق دو سو ملازمین کی ڈگریوں کی متعلقہ تعلیمی اداروں سے تصدیق نہ ہونے کی بعد دو سو ملازمین کو فارغ کردیا گیا ۔ لہذا ضرورت اس امر کی ہے کہ فورا تمام سرکاری ملازمین کی ڈگریوں کی متعلقہ بورڈز اور یونیورسٹیز سے ویریفیکیشن کروائی جائے۔ اور جس کی جعلی ڈگری نکلے اس کو فورا ملازمت سے کک آؤٹ کیا جائے۔
اگرکوئی غریب جعلی ڈگری پیش کرتا تو اسے چار سو بیسی کے کیس میں جیل میں ڈال دیا جاتا۔ مگرجعلی ڈگریوں والے سیاستدانوں کو صرف اپنی سیٹ سے ہاتھ دھونا پڑتے ہیں۔ جعلی ڈگریاں رکھنے والےعوام کی رہنمائی کے اہل نہیں، جعلی ڈگریاں رکھنے والوں پر ضمنی انتخابات میں حصہ لینے پر بھی پابندی ہونا چاہیئے۔

بشکریہ

اٹھو جاگو پاکستان بلاگ: دفرحان دانش

37 mn bogus votes casted in 2008 election

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:25:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD (ARY News): A staggering 37 million questionable entries have been detected in Pakistan's electoral rolls, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) disclosed Wednesday.

An exercise undertaken by the NADRA showed there were 37 million questionable entries in the electoral rolls used for the last general elections in 2008.
An official said NADRA had received data of 81.2 million people, who were eligible to vote, for verification so that it could shift to computerised electoral rolls.

The verification process revealed that 44.02 million of the entries were valid and it left a void of 37.18 million entries that were considered bogus.

As many as 15.02 million voters had been registered even though there was no identification. The official said the Election Commission has been informed about the findings.

Pakistan has a population of over 160 million.

Govt formed on bogus votes: PTI

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:16:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has filed a constitutional petition seeking revision of electoral rolls and reforms in the electoral proc-ess.

Disclosing the details of the Constitutional petition filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, PTI Chairman Imran Khan stated in a press conference that the recent revelation by the Election Commission that almost 44 per cent of the registered votes were bogus had made the status of the present assemblies and the government dubious.

He further added that a government formed on bogus votes can neither represent the people of Pakistan nor can it be expected to protect the vital interests of Pakistanis. He said a political mafia was ruling Pakistan that gets elected through bogus votes. He said the only hope for a democratic change in Pakistan rests around an independent election commission and new electoral lists.
The PTI Chairman Imran Khan stated that the purpose of filing the election petition was to force the government and the Election Commission under the directives of the Supreme Court to prepare fresh electoral rolls eliminating all bogus votes and introducing and incorporating the new eligible votes that can be verified from the database and record of NADRA.

And that to prepare the electoral roll in a manner that should include the name of a voter in such electoral area wherein his address mentioned on the CNIC of the voter exists.

Along with to introduce electronic voting machine for the use of voters in the future general elections and inclusion of the photographs of the voters in its electoral rolls in the future elections.

Imran Khan said that to save Pakistan from a bloody revolution or complete chaos, it is essential that the right of franchise be ensured to the people of Pakistan so that the change that the people of Pakistan are yearning for can be achieved peacefully and through the ballot box.

Karachi’s bloody March: 158 target killings in 22 days - کراچی کے خونی مارچ : 22 دنوں میں158 ٹارگٹ کلنگ

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:12:00 -0700

ISLAMABAD: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a total of 158 people in target killings in just 22 days of March in Karachi, averaging over seven persons murdered every day, a consolidated figure compiled by an intelligence report reveals.

The data covers the period between March 4 and April 1, both days included. According to the report, there were no target killings on seven days -- March 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 29, it says.
While in most cases, the statistics distinguish the slain people with their names and affiliations, it is silent on the identity of the killers. For them, it repeatedly used the terms ‘unknown or unidentified’.

Those killed belong to the police, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement, former MQM workers, MQM-Haqqiqi, Awami National Party, Pakhtoon Action Committee, People’s Students Federation, Baloch, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan-Noorani Group, Jeay Sindh Mahaz, Lyari gangs, Pakistan People’s Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and sectarian outfits.

It appears from a reading of the comprehensive data that the intelligence agency collects the statistics about target killings from police stations of Karachi every day and reports it to the federal government and other concerned quarters.

These specific figures are also available with the Punjab government, which, in the words of an official, is weighing the security situation, especially after the MQM has practically started its activities in the province.

The statistics did not say how many target killers were arrested or shot dead by the police in encounters, perhaps because the agency is not assigned to compile such kind of data. It also didn’t show anywhere that the police followed the assassins. However, an official said that intelligence agencies not only have perfect data about the target killings and operations of mafias in Karachi, they also have information about the influential people behind these heinous crimes. He said it was for the political government to take a decision to act decisively.

The data shows that six persons, including a police constable, were shot dead on March 4; on March 6 four lives were claimed including that those of Maulana Ahmed Madani (administrator of Madrissa Mehmoodia), who was a stepbrother of slain Azam Tariq, the chief of the defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, and his son, and on March 8 six persons lost their lives in target killings.

Similarly, on March 9, five persons were gunned down; on March 12 eight people; March 13 was one of the bloodiest days as 10 persons were shot dead; on March 15 eight persons; on March 17 nine people; on March 18 three persons; on March 19 six people; March 20 was another bloody day as 12 persons lost their lives in the senseless killings; on March 21 nine people; there was also much bloodshed on March 22 as 10 persons were killed; on March 23 six people; there was also too many killings on March 24 and March 25 as 12 persons each; on March 26 five people; on March 27 6 persons; on March 28 four people; on March 30 eight persons; on March 31 four people; and on April 1 five persons were killed. The data shows that on March 30, one Imran alias Jangi, the private chief security officer of a Sindh minister, was shot and killed by unknown armed motorcyclists.

Pakistan's inflation outlook disheartening - c.bank

noreply@blogger.com (Poetry/Quotes) — Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:44:00 -0700

(Reuters) - Pakistan's inflation outlook is a cause for concern while increasing the tax base is the toughest structural reform to implement, the country's central bank said in its quarterly report on Friday.

The State Bank of Pakistan forecasts average inflation for fiscal year 2010/12 to be between 14.5 and 15.5 percent.

"The outlook for inflation is not heartening ... We fear that inflationary expectations are being ingrained," the report said.

The bank on Saturday left its key policy rate unchanged at 14 percent for the next two months, citing a smaller current account deficit and lower government borrowing in saying that immediate risks to macroeconomic stability had subsided.

The report said local fuel prices would have to rise to reflect international oil prices, due to a lack of fiscal space available, which would add to inflation.

On the fiscal side, the central bank forecasts the budget deficit for the year ending June 30 to be between 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent of GDP, compared with the government's target to keep it under 5.5 percent of GDP.

"We still think government's revenue targets are ambitious," the SBP said adding that broadening the tax base was the toughest structural reform to implement and "one that needs the greatest political will."

The central bank maintained its growth forecast of 2 to 3 percent for fiscal year 2010/11.