IQRA - Voice From the Heart

Truce, Troops & Rice

2006-06-29T16:51:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Truce accord announced last week between the battling tribals and Pakistan security forces has evaporated in to thin air and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visit in Pakistan and Afghanistan has given it totally new dimension.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri in a joint Press conference with US official Condoleezza Rice announced positioning of 10,000 more troops in the region. Pakistan has 90,000 troops in the area, which were non-existent before September 11, 2001 and since, and then has handed over 700 Muslims on various charges to US.

Condoleezza Rice visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan after the truce accord announced by the tribals earlier this week has been termed as a sabotaging tactics employed by the US government who wants a continued presence in the war torn region.

Maulana Fazalur Rehman leader of opposition in Pakistan National Assembly and member of Mutahidda Majlise Amal (alliance of religious parties) has said the US official visit is undertaken as US doesn’t want peace in the region and Condoleezza Rice visit at this time depicts that US government wants to pressurize Pakistan government for keeping its presence in the region which is under constant war after the October 7, 2001 attack of the US forces.

“Pakistan has accepted the pressure and stationing of 10,000 troops is an evidence that truce by the local tribesmen in good faith is not accepted.”

The politician warned that this disregard to the accord can lead to more blood shed which US wants added with heightening of friction between Pakistan and Afghanistan governments. The accord between the local tribesmen and the North West Frontier Province Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai was viewed by masses in Pakistan as a relief as there will be respite for the people who faced shelling and gunfire each day.

The tribals in North Waziristan asked for the removal for the troops and the pickets that have erected in the area added with release of the prisoners and opening up of the shops so that life can come back to normalcy during the month.

The NWFP Governor Aurakzai also appreciated the truce but never give details as what government will do in maintaining that.

The accord that was announced Sunday took a twisted turn on Monday when seven troop were killed when a driver rammed his pickup in to the picket also killing himself. The local tribesman branded as Pakistan Taleban who are against the Pakistan troops presence claimed no responsibility of the incident but later a person claiming to be Abdullah Farhad representing Taleban took the responsibility.

The incident is an eye opener as local masses facing the barrage of gunfire from armed forces announced the truce and it stands nowhere with Condoleezza Rice visit positioning of 10,000 more troops and ongoing war of words between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The solution everyone says is calling the Grand Tribal Council ‘Jirga’ but fact of the matter is that those who want to be a part of it are reluctant to hold it as divide and rule is the name of the game and with it there are benefits attached for all the power brokers controlling the scenario. The ongoing friction between two key US allies Pakistan and Afghanistan is viewed to be part of a great plan for which is aimed at continued US presence in the region for the gains.

Amir Cheema – Son of the Soil or Extremist?

2006-06-06T10:10:00.000+05:00

MYSTERY REMAINS UNANSWERED

By Asem Mustafa

Amir Cheema a student in Germany was found dead in his cell in Moabit Prison, Berlin on May 4, by the German Police authorities who later gave a note scribbled by him that he committed suicide.

The details are very sketchy as the extremes of opinion concerning his mysterious death leaves a lot to be desired from the two governments who are probing the case.

The family of the deceased and people in Pakistan have completely acted otherwise to the details given by the authorities and have asked that there should be a fresh probe to determine the cause of Amir Cheema’s death. Amir’s father Nazir Ahmed Cheema has alleged that his son was killed in police custody and he couldn’t have committed suicide.

The ambassador of Germany Dr. Gunter Mulack in Islamabad at a press conference before the arrival of Amir Cheema’s body said no sign of torture was found on his body and that he had committed suicide.

The police officials sent by Government of Pakistan to investigate the death of Amir Cheema have asked 20 queries from the German authorities about the deceased and were not satisfied from the answers and the cooperation extended. Amir was found with hands tied behind his back and hanging from the ceiling.

Amir Cheema, 28, was arrested in Berlin on March 20 after he reportedly tried to enter the offices of the German newspaper Die Welt, which had published blasphemous cartoon of Prophet Muhammad SAW . He was accused of trying to kill the German newspaper's editor-in-chief Roger Koeppel and later was announced dead on May 4 in police custody.

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral Amir Cheema, who was buried at Saroki village, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Lahore, provincial metropolis of Punjab, on May 13. His wish to be buried in Rawalpindi where he studied was not granted and Government of Pakistan acted otherwise taking away the body and created a doubt in the timings of the funeral.

The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights have also raised objections on handling of the entire case and have raised the issue of an autopsy to be conducted by Pakistani doctors. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, Senator S.M. Zafar, said the committee has not reached a final conclusion on the issue and would give its judgment after analyzing all the aspects and available evidence.

Tariq Khosa, additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), told the Senate Committee in Islamabad that Amir Cheema was found with his hands tied behind his back. His findings were contrary to the stand made earlier by the Government of Pakistan as in endorsing the German police authority views that it was a suicide.

Tariq Khosa went to Germany last month and gave the details as student could have been murdered with his hands tied behind his back and also the letter written by Amir Cheema was not handed to the Pakistan investigation team.

He briefed the Senate Standing committee there were marks on Amir’s wrist as they were tied and his life line was ruptured. Senator SM Zafar has asked Tariq Khosa and Foreign Office to inform the committee if they failed to receive a reply to the questionnaire from Germany within ten days. The official also informed that the FIA hadn’t finalised its report on the death and could examine the body again.

He told that the German prison officials had supplied a ‘translated version’ of a letter reportedly written by Cheema in which he confessed planning an attack on the newspaper editor. However, he said, the German authorities had refused to give the original letter.

Condemning the incident and the government’s “criminal silence over this sensitive issue” Mutahidda Majlise Amal leader Prof Ghafoor said this proved that there was a US-Europe puppet government in Islamabad.

“Cheema’s death in custody of German police is a clear case of extra judicial killing, but our government, instead of lodging even a formal protest with the German government, has reaffirmed its intention to maintain normal relations with that country. This is condemnable.”

The common public gave a heroes welcome to the deceased body and honoured his love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW and termed him a hero and son of the soil who made no compromise when it came to Prophet Muhammad SAW's honour. His funeral was attended by over 200,000 people and despite the killing heat people from all over Pakistan came to the remote village to show their respect for the deceased.

Aruna, Moazzam & Islam

2006-05-07T15:44:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Aruna and Moazzam exercised their freedom and got married but their actions exposed all that happens in land of the pure Pakistan where corrupt practices brings a bad name to none other then the religion Islam.

The couple was arrested and released and the entire happening exposed the society and the mindset of the people who used and abused the power of their offices.

Aruna 24 year old medical student ran away from home and married Moazzam an engineer by profession in Hyderabad. Hailing from feudal background Aruna’s father a retired judge in Okara objected to the marriage and used the coercive methods to declare the social contract null and void.

The couple was booked and arrested under Hadood Laws in Hyderabad. Aruna case got attention as she had the media taking the interest in the events and higher court offices got involved to resolve the issue on sou moto grounds.

It must be mentioned here that the case also exposed the corrupt legal system in the land of the pure where anything can happen to anyone having the right connections.The strong-arm tactics employed by the law enforcing authority, the police showed that anything is possible under the sun.

The corrupt practice was done under the cover of Islamic law (Hadood Ordinance), which has been in the constitution of Pakistan and has raised enough concern from liberals and west while the religious leaders not changing their stand on it. The law is very clear but it’s the application as when applied in the circumstances makes it always controversial.

The case in actual is nothing but marriage against parents wish and a girl who after failing to convince her parents ran away from home and stayed with his life partner to be. The case got the twist when they were booked under Islamic law ‘Hadood Ordinance” in which her husband was accused of abduction besides other family members and she under coercion was asked to seek ‘Khula’ separation.

The fact needs special mentioning as cases under Hadood Laws are always contested and heated debates are there as not all facts are presented before court and the sentences carried out on the crooked and fabricated details always left a lot to be desired.The details are very brief as why this case made headlines but it left a big question mark on the mind set of society, which has divided opinions.

Some are of the opinion that what she did was right and others are of the view that what she did was wrong as whom did she fight against, her own parents.

The extremes of differences has the parents from both sides fighting in court and Aruna in particular showed resistance against her father who objected to the marriage very strongly. The two have asked for only one thing and that is to flee from Pakistan as they fear for their lives in Pakistan and are afraid that they will be harmed.

Aruna has said that if any harm comes to her husband Moazzam or herself the only person responsible for that would be her father.

Aruna has won but whom did she defeat her own parents who brought her up and when they ask her to leave Moazzam she left them instead. The media role and law need special mentioning as how the facts were twisted and how in the end the Islam came under criticism.

There is no harm in love marriage but there are ways to do that and Aruna lost the love of her family to gain Moazzam. Moazzam stayed quiet when she was in parental custody for months and all the show was created when she made a dramatic escape last month to reach Moazzam.

Who got the attention this scribe leaves it to readers Aruna, Moazzam or Islam?

Nishtar Park Tragedy ---Another Mystery

2006-04-30T19:47:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Over 60 people were dead and 100 injured when an explosive device went off at Maghrib prayers in a Sunni Tehrik gathering celebrating the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW on April 11, held at Nishtar Park Karachi (KARCHI MAP) the provincial metropolis of Sindh, a province in Pakistan.

The religious scholars killed in the explosion included chief Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti, Akram Qadri, Maulana Abdul Qadir, Hafiz Mohammad Taqi, Pir Yaqoob Shah, Maulana Waheed Bandhiani, Hafiz Yameen, Hafiz Noor Mohammad, Maulana Kashif, Zakir Hussain, Hafiz Mohammad Yaseen, Haji Hanif Billo and Shah Faridul Hassan Kazmi of the JAS.

There were conflicting reports as it was a suicide bomber or an explosive device placed under the stage.

Eyewitnesses from the scene said there was an explosion under the stage when the religious scholars were offering Maghrib Salat and were in Raku (bowing) in the third Raka.

The Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, is reported to have said there was no crater under the stage and it is not an explosive device.

The police issued the statement that it was suicide bomber who exploded himself wearing 10 to 15 kilograms of explosives under his garments. A claim that has been questioned by many as how it is possible.

The government has formed three teams and apart from a head, which is presumed to be of the suicide bomber, there is no further clue about tragic happening.

Three investigation committees are looking in to the incident to find the men behind the blast. Sindh Inspector General heads one committee, the second by the DIG (Investigation) and a high court judge heads the third.

An established norm the report was recorded with a delay and like many other unsolved mysteries it will stay as such and the findings will never be placed before public and the list of the mysteries continues.

The government officials currently are trying to establish an image of the person who is believed to be on the stage and is presumed to be a suicide bomber.

Details are withheld and will be released later for establishing the identity of the presumed suicide bomber.

The ST has demanded the removal of the Sindh government and its Governor Ishratul Ibad who has pending court cases against him while same opinion has been voiced by the Jamaat Islami Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed who has vociferously blamed Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) for the atrocious act. MQM is the party in power at the provincial level.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed has rejected the governments’ claim of suicide bomber and said it was a remote controlled device, which was placed under the stage.

The incident showed in the incompetency of the government that registered the First Investigation Report (FIR) after 72 hours and as usual came at the crime scene very late.
Needless to say that the news flash after the incident said it was a suicide bomber, which was said by the police officials for the media.

The Sunni Tehrik condemned the attitude of the government and had demanded immediate arrest of the killers.

The new leadership of Sunni Tehrik has now Shahid Ghauri, Engineer Abdul Rehman and Qari Khalilur Rehman Chisti.

The three in their first press conference on Wednesday a day after the tragic incident have said the central cabinet of the ST was the target, and it seemed that the terrorists had succeeded in their plan.

“The tragic incident has made ST even more strong,” the ST new leadership said, “ Tuesday’s incident, the killing of ST Chief Saleem Qadri and bombing are interconnected and same forces are behind the acts.”

They however never named any person or group. They demanded immediate removal of Governor Ishrat Ibad and asked Military Intelligence or Inter Services Intelligence should conduct the investigations.

They put the blame on Sindh Government and accused the government of shifting the responsibilities and have made it clear that they will nominate the Sindh Government in the First Investigation Report (FIR).

In the last one year a number of ST activists have been killed or arrested in the provincial capital and the leadership has been receiving threats since long. Complaints were lodged with the government but no measures were taken for the protection of the religious scholars. It may be mentioned here that the organization was accepted by the masses in Karachi for its moderate views as compared to other parties, which have different political agendas.

Karachi has been a center of the target killings since long and few days earlier there was another tragic incident in which 30 women and children were crushed under a stampede and how it happened no word has been put forward by the government officials.

A prominent Shia leader and Shia Ulema Council, Illama Hassan Turrabi car was also attacked by a remote control device and no details have been put forward by the officials concerned. The Shia leader Illama Hassan Turrabi has also condemned the bomb blast at the Nishtar Mosque.
These incidents happened during the same month of Rabbiul Awaal.

The eyewitnesses have said that security arrangement was very poor and all mobile phones were jammed after the incident and it was chaos.

The ST activists rushed to the hospitals where the injured and the dead were taken and the three big hospitals had to place the injured and the dead in the corridors, as there was no space.
Emergency was declared in Jinnah Hospital, Civil Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital and Abbassi Shaheed Hospital and activists in all the hospitals showed their resentment due to grief and anger.

The Mutahidda Majlise Amal (MMA) the alliance of religious parties in Pakistan have also issued a white paper in which there has been 676 target killings in 2005 only and in them 37 of them were prominent figures including many religious scholars.

Deputy secretary general (MMA) Liaqat Baloch pointed that in the past the government had made deals with MQM (Mutahidda Qaumi Movement) and made it a major political power in the country, which has violent history in the past.

The government ministers have also issued conflicting statements, which have backfired as masses demanded immediate arrest of the people responsible for the killings.

Different opinions were voiced by different people the former Inter Services Intelligence Chief Lt Gen Hamid Gul has put the finger on Indian organization RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) terming it as key factor responsible for the secretarian violence as it has the means and resources to do it and has been operational in Pakistan since long and similar views were voiced by the police officials who have not ruled out the possibility of RAW involvement.

Needless to say the current political setup in Pakistan which has taken drastic steps which includes changing of the Islamic Studies course in educational curriculum, removal of Quranic Verses from different text books, a poem in praise of President Bush in the syllabus and an overall subservience to USA has filled masses with great resentment.

It maybe mentioned here the pro government rallies have never had such incidents it is always in the rallies of the parties, which share a difference of opinion with the government and are critical of government steps, which are always pleasing the western interests and undermining the masses opinion.

The VIP entourage in Karachi in two months has taken over 300 lives as the roads were blocked and most people who died in the blocked roads were patients besides pregnant women.

Pakistan where more than 70 per cent of the total population has no access to clean drinking water and over 50 per cent live below poverty line leaves a big question mark for the government as where it stands in providing much trumpeted relief and social justice to its subjects which can be termed slaves an appropriate word.

Quran verses

And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets) 21:107]

"And hold fast , all of you together , to the cable of Allah , and do not separate . And remember Allah ' s favor unto you : how ye were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His grace ; and ( how ) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire , and He did save you from it . Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations unto you , that haply ye may be guided." Aal-e-Imran:103

SECRETARIAN VIOLENCE

The secretarian violence in Pakistan between Shias and Sunnis is always given a twisted angle by the government and western media. The two sects for decades have been living peacefully and the alliance of religious parties the Mutahidda Majlise Amal (MMA) has both Sunni and Shia leadership in its ranks. The leadership of the two sects have always called for public harmony and have always denied any of its supporters involved in secretarian violence.

However there have been many splinters groups with in these religious parties who were blamed time and again for the assassination of the prominent leadership.

The Nishtar Park incident has put the two sects together and the religious leadership from the two sects is of firm belief that its not the people within but an outside hand which is doing all this to create chaos in the country.

They pointed out that look at the events in the past the Iran-Iraq war why it happened and now the chaos in Iraq where failed attempts are made to make a sectarian rift.

For Danish Queen with Love

2006-03-12T16:50:00.000+05:00

A M Awan

To answer the question why a tiny European country like Denmark has resorted to taking such a sacrilegious initiative against the Islamic civilization requires a background to be discussed in detail. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, who has reigned since 1972 and celebrated her 65th birthday on February 11, is very popular among the Danes. She is heading the Lutheran-Evangelical Church, of which 85 per cent of Denmark’s 5.4 million inhabitants are members. Unlike other monarchies in Europe, she enjoys tremendous influence in the society, particularly among the fast growing conservative Christian believers. The Queen, who does support the now stepped-up anti-integration campaign with special emphasis on anti-Islam ideology, since she professes knowledge of Islam due to her interest in archaeology, has authored a number of research papers on the subject.

In her recently authorized biography, she has warned against the rise of Islam and Islamic fundamentalism in the world. She has particularly warned the Danish government sooner it expels the Muslim immigrants from the country, the better. “People must show their opposition to Islam” is the main theme of her book, dictated to journalist Annelise Bistrup. “The rising Islam is a challenge we have to take seriously. We have let this issue float about for too long because we are tolerant and very lazy”, she further warned. The campaign to rid Europe of Muslim immigrants from the third world countries also gained momentum because of the London bombings in which the British youth of Pakistani origin were found involved. Muslims in Denmark make up about three per cent of the 5.4 million population.

The trend, however, has triggered a debate among the heterogeneous races integrated into the societies and Europe and America, playing actively a constructive role in their economies and societies. As a matter of fact the growing threat of comparatively fast spreading Islam amongst the inhabitants of Europe, America and Australia has sent waves of warning to the policy makers there. The backlash, often harder and swifter, is always considered a psychological reaction, equally swifter and harder, to the surreptitious emergence of a new faith. Senior politicians in Italy’s government have launched a policy manifesto vowing to protect Western civilization from what they say were twin threats of Islamic fundamentalism and moral vacuum. The onus is often put on some notable immigrants from Muslim countries who have succeeded in demonstrating their excellence of character and proved to be as only comforters to many of the sore-sole locals, one way or the other. But this may not be the effective way of disintegrating them from the areas where they have pooled years of life and contributed into those societies.

Pope benedict, in a clear reference to the controversy over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) called upon the Christian world on February 20 that the world’s religions and the symbols had to be respected by all means. “In order to promote peace and understanding between peoples and mankind, it is both vital and urgent that religions and their symbols are respected and the believers are not the object of provocations that wound their religious feelings,” he warned in a speech to the new Moroccan ambassador to the Holy Sea, over the publishing of blasphemous sketches a Danish newspaper, causing protests worldwide.

Not only newspapers in 50 countries including Denmark, Holland, Norway, Germany, France UK and US have reprinted the sketches, but also an American clothing outlet has begun selling T-shirts bearing the blasphemous caricatures showing the Prophet (PBUH) as a ‘terrorist’ carrying a bomb in his turban. T-shirts by MetroSpy Company in the US went on sale last week priced at $19.99. The Holland newspapers have threatened to publish these sketches every week. A Californian company in US has uploaded the sketches on a website. It has invited cartoonists from all over the world to send in blasphemous sketches. Same sketches are being e-mailed to millions of internet users across the globe. The governments in US, UK and EU countries are defending the caricatures as right of _expression. The Danish Prime Minister and Chairman of European Commission have supported publication of the sketches on the basis of freedom of speech. As a reward the Jyllands-Posten has been honored with the Victor Prize for “having opened everyone’s eyes by showing how easy it is to introduce cracks in freedom of expression and how so-called political correctness in infiltrating what we believe to be inalienable rights.”

There has been crude resistance from the West, despite the ongoing wave of protests across the world. Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf raised the issue with the visiting President Bush and called for interfaith harmony. He also vowed to take it up with the United Nations, but there was no public response from the US President. The Queen of Denmark is being asked to issue comments to the media but there seems a deliberate silence. A number of countries have called for inter-faith dialogue and the efforts are aimed at tactfully shift the blame on the other side, rather than gracefully taking the responsibility.

Efforts to bridge the gaps between the two civilizations must be aimed at creating harmony, not confusion. Frequent inter-faith dialogues through impartial conduits should be conducted for tangible results. After a thorough homework, moderates from the East need to be appointed by OIC with a message of rapprochement and accommodativeness. Most of the critics do not have enough knowledge of Islam and comparative studies of other religions. The Queen of Denmark is said to be having an influence from the Christian clergy in a limited scenario.

Europe and America have been considered the home of trans-national cultures, thanks to the influx of immigrants from all over the third world. These countries, particularly the Scandinavians, have been, otherwise, a replica of inter-faith harmony and religious tolerance. Even an ordinary follower of Jesus Christ (PBUH) does not resort to religious provocations. The question is how come attempts are now being made to desecrate the sanctity of Holy Quran and the beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Obviously one seems a well-calculated conspiracy behind the move aimed at provoking Muslims. The question is whether the Muslims should get trapped into the cobweb, or react to these provocations as per the enemy’s choosing?

Amidst the wave of ‘Muslim-dubbed’ terrorism, a question is being frequently asked today whether Islam is a failure or a story of success. How Islam (a sanctuary of peace) has been turned into a problem? At the outset Muslims rose high, reached the far ends of the then known world with a speed unknown to history. But equally steep was their fall, too steep for a recovery. Hard facts lead to the conclusion that while Islam undoubtedly infused a new spirit among the Arabs, enabling them to overthrow the Persian and the Roman empires and become master of the world, it did not have the capacity to keep pace with the times, Islam lagged behind and the steep rise of the Muslims took a precipitous downward trend for good. The experiment has failed and it would, according to Abul Kalam Azad, be stupid to give it another trial (India Wins Freedom - page 227). They also ask if Islam sponsors eternal truth and is capable of keeping abreast of the times, why it should have come to a dead stop. The question is important and deserves to be seriously considered and satisfactorily answered.

The Prophet (PBUH) presented to his listeners the Holy Quran, pure and simple, without allowing any mingling with it of man’s own thoughts, concepts, theories or beliefs. He offered them pure what he received by Revelation. His appeal was based on reason. “I call to God with sure knowledge. I and whoever follows me” (12/108). The presentation of the Quranic message was rational and based on true knowledge; there was no compulsion there, neither mental through miracles, nor physical by the, sword. Secondly, those who accepted the message after due thought and conviction and without mental reservation were initiated into mastering it as best as they could. Rasoolullah (PBUH) explained to them the provisions of divine laws together with the purpose underlying them. He taught them how they should, in the light of the inviolable principles of Islam, think out a solution of the problems which might confront them. Thirdly, all atmosphere of true freedom was created in which personality could grow and man’s inborn capacities of head and heart could develop. The shackles of man-made restrictions and conventions gripping them broke one by one and they felt that they were neither another man’s dependent nor his slave. True freedom prevailing n the Quranic Social Order provides the base for the development of human personality. The Holy Quran says about them, “God will be well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him.” (9/100)

This was the simple and straight-forward program which enabled the Prophet (PBUH) to create a community of people whose healthy deeds gave a miraculous acceleration to the pace of divine laws and established a social order in no time to bear witness to, the glorious achievements of Islam. Do we exist with that form of the community today? Shouldn’t we follow that code of life for a tolerant and peaceful society?

Just Promises for Pakistan

2006-03-05T14:30:00.000+05:00

TIME TO WAKE UP

By Asem Mustafa

The United States and India have dramatically sealed a nuclear deal, naming the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, that would enable India to shake off its status as a nuclear pariah and gain access to the international civil nuclear energy market and American nuclear technology, would legitimize India as a global nuclear power. The presentation was made at a meeting between U.S. Under-Secretary of Energy David Garman, and Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran while Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the deal.

The Times of India describes the signing of the nuclear agreement a ‘‘defining moment for Mr Singh it means recognition of India as a de facto nuclear weapons state’’. According to Indian Express “The deal will bring India out of its 40-year cold into the spring of a new nuclear order”. George W Bush‘s policies have been constantly facing fierce criticism all over the world. The onus is now on the US Congress which is authorized any change to the US Atomic Energy Act 1954. Now Bush has a desire to amend the American laws on the book. So US winking at Pakistan’s nuclear program reveals its total hypocrisy.

The deal will exacerbate the threat of nuclear arms proliferation. Islamabad will feel insecure with an advanced Indian nuclear program. The Indo-US nuclear pact has exposed inconsistencies in Washington’s approach to attaining its objectives of non-proliferation. Definitely it sets a precedent that will encourage other countries to develop weapons of mass destruction programs. The U.N. head of the International Atomic Energy Authority Mohammed El-Baradei and nuclear watchdog welcomed and supported the nuclear pact between India and the United States.

India also has an ambition of participation in Generation IV Forum, an 11-country consortium that focuses on building next-generation nuclear power plants including the United States, France, Canada and South Korea among others, and Washington is keen to bring in India. Under the signed assignments, agreed as US President George W Bush visited New Delhi, Washington has offered India nuclear fuel and technology.

In fact Bush unveiled the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership last month in an effort to deal with the thousands of tons of used reactor fuel piling up at US commercial power plants. This fuel is a mixture of plutonium and neptunium that would make the separated elements more difficult to handle. The United States halted all reprocessing in the late 1970s because it produces pure plutonium that could be used in nuclear weapons. The agreement envisions that US companies eventually will sell reactors and nuclear fuel to India. Both China and Pakistan have reacted sharply to the Indo-US nuclear deal and feel it may give India an extra advantage in the field of dual-use high-technology which could ultimately change the balance of power in Asia.

World fears that if India uses the agreement as a license to expand its weapons program, Pakistan would be compelled to do the same. However the Indo-US nuclear deal may destroy non-proliferation efforts. The reason is that although Indian and the US officials describe that this deal would end New Delhi’s nuclear isolation and spur global non-proliferation efforts and that it separates its civil and military nuclear facilities and places the former under international inspections but it is also a fact that India will enrich uranium to produce pure plutonium in reprocessing. Moreover it won’t remain a spectator if there is a threat to its preeminence. Notwithstanding, it would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology, including fuel and reactors, that was denied for 30 years, India’s military facilities would not be subject to inspections under the deal.

The 1998 Security Council resolution called on India and Pakistan to stop all nuclear development programs immediately and urged other states to stop selling either country equipment that could be used in atomic arms.

According to US- based non-proliferation experts, India has an estimated 50 nuclear weapons now and a goal of 300-400 weapons in a decade. Under the agreement, 14 out of 22 Indian reactors would be placed under international scrutiny and India would own decide the status of all future reactors, whether civilian or military.

It has offered to put 60 per cent of its nuclear reactors on the civilian list, which will keep them completely out of the country's weapons-making program.

Since the July 18, 2005 agreement, when the two countries started negotiating over the nuclear deal, the US side believed that India needed only four to six plants outside the civilian list to carry on with its nuclear weapons program. But now, seems insisting that it needs eight plants outside the civilian list. India was an early beneficiary of the US-sponsored ‘‘Atom For Peace’’ program launched in 1953. The program was intended to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons by offering access to civil uses of nuclear technology in exchange for pledges that the technology would not be applied for weapons purposes. In 1955 Canada supplied the CIRUS heavy-water research reactor, from which India later derived the plutonium for the 1974 nuclear device. It had been failed to honor its commitments to Canada on the CIRUS nuclear reactor and non-proliferation of WMD.

Moreover, after this pact the insecurity sense may lead to matching actions by Pakistan to invest more in developing its atomic program, which may fan a nuclear race in an already impoverished South Asian region. Beijing will obviously feel uncomfortable with American efforts to prop up a regional hegemony that may challenge Chinese superiority. In addition to its regional repercussions, the deal will be seen as Washington’s bias towards Islamic states acquiring nuclear technology.

Considering the long-term implications of the deal in terms of disturbing the delicate balance of regional and global power, Washington needs to rethink and re-evaluate the nature of its cooperation with India, a country that already harbours hegemonic ambitions. That is to say, India is no exception to have a clean non-proliferation record . It received peaceful nuclear technology in the past, which it misused and exploded a nuclear device. The Indian ambition to compete with other nuclear-weapons states thus produced a domino effect.

On the other hand just a day before the arrival of the US President Mr. George W. Bush, the Indian Government made a huge jump in increasing its defence budget by 7.2 per cent. So now the India's total defence budget has exceeded the figure of $19.8 billion. A big share of this amount (almost 42 percent) has been allocated for the purchase of new weapons and equipment. In his annual budget speech in Parliament a few days ago, the Indian Finance Minister justified thisp increase by referring to the "enhanced expenditure" required for the modernization of the Indian armed forces.

A major portion of the recently approved Indian defence budget (Rs 323 billion) has been allocated for the army, followed by the Air Force with Rs 98.6 billion and the Navy with Rs 67.1 billion. Perhaps the most significant allocation in the new budget (42 percent of the total) is for the purchase of weapons. This allocation would enable the Indian defence ministry to go ahead with its arms acquisition program. It plans to buy hunter-killer-Scorpène submarines from France, the long range Smerch multiple launcher rocket system from Russia and low-level transportable radars. These items have been pending for a long time with the Cabinet Committee on Security. The Indian defence ministry is going to issue international tenders for the purchase of 126 combat aircraft and the 1.2 million strong army would like to acquire upgraded 155mm artillery guns. Its 137-ship navy that inducted three Talwar-class ‘stealth’ frigates from Russia in 2003-4 has been so impressed by their performance that it desires to have three more such frigates. These are some of the dangerous weapon systems India is going to buy.

Facts and figures prove that India is the leading buyer of arms and weapons in the developing world. During 1997-2004, it acquired from the international market weapons worth $15.7 billion. A huge amount has also been allocated for the Defence Research and Development Organization. It shows how sincere India is in establishing peace in the region. On one hand the Indian government is continuously making propaganda against Pakistan against its peaceful strategic assets and Pak Army, and on the other hand, India itself has been increasing its defence budget rapidly almost every year. Even a child knows who will be the target of these newly bought weapons, of course, we, the Pakistani people. And then where will be the Peace process and composite dialogue.

During the very recent visit of Mr. Bush, India has inked an accord of nuclear cooperation with the US. Who will be the target of this accord? Again the peaceful Pakistani people will become the victim of this accord. Pakistan has strong reservations on such an agreement. The enhancement of India's relationship with the United States to the level of military and nuclear cooperation itself makes for greater military expenditure. Most of the new weapons and equipment India is going to purchase will be from the United States. The recent US-India agreement can be termed as an incentive for India to buy huge defence equipments from the US.

This development has occurred in a time when there is a vastly improved political atmosphere between India and Pakistan, with a solution of the Kashmir dispute for the first time looking like a realistic possibility, and the upturn in Pak-Indian relations last year after four decades of intense hostility. It is worth pointing out that India never fails to express its concern at even modest increases in military spending by Pakistan in its own annual budgets. However, what's equally to be expected is for Pakistan to feel under greater threat now, and divert more of its resources to defence.

Although Indo-Pakistan relations have apparently been on the mend during the past two years, India refuses to come to grip with issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute, that create hostility between them to pave the way for durable peace to prevail in the Subcontinent. Apart from Kashmir, water-related issues are also important because for an agricultural country like Pakistan have assumed dangerous dimensions. In all disputes, the Indian attitude has been completely uncompromising. India’s alarmingly high defence budget, therefore, raises concerns for Pakistan especially as the Indian Army chief has pointedly remarked recently that Pakistan remained a primary threat to India.

Would it not be better for New Delhi to pay more attention to alleviate the poverty of hundreds of millions of its people and cut down its defence budget. The recent rise in the Indian defence budget represents unprecedented incline towards militarism rather than social welfare of millions of the Indian population. It has totally ignored millions of people, who are compelled to sleep on pavements in major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chinai etc or those millions who die without medical treatment.

The latest increase in the Indian defence budget represents its ambition not only to maintain its hegemonic designs in South Asia, but also unveils its plans to stretch its influence throughout Asia. It has acquired military equipments worth billion of dollars in recent years from Britain, Israel, France, South Africa and Russia in pursuit of its expansionist designs. The Indian Navy plans to build an aircraft carrier and is working on a nuclear reactor for submarine project. Yet the Indian military officials see the budget increase as ‘too little’ to cater to the Indian military’s ambitious modernization program.

It’s evident that India is going on the path that has the potential of sucking the region into arms race. Although Pakistan is not interested in arms race, yet it cannot obviously remain ignorant to its security concerns. That peace can be ensured through strength alone is the unchallengeable truth for Pakistan in view of India’s cunningness. Pakistan, having lost its eastern wing as a result of Indian military aggression, cannot, therefore, afford to be unworried on this count. It is hoped that the Government of Pakistan will take note of the raise in India’s defence budget and will respond duly to prevent the negative effects on the military balance in South Asia. At the same time, this is the moral duty of the international community especially the US that they should intervene in the Arms race in the South Asia if they really desire to establish peace in the region.

If the Indian government will continue to increase its defence budget, then there will be no outcome of the bilateral dialogue to resolve the disputes. The dual face of India has become very much apparent to the world. International community cannot be deceived any more. If India really wants to establish peace and harmony in the region, then it should withdraw its recent increase in its defence budget. Otherwise no body will believe the so-called claims of India to establish peace in the region. It will also be a great kindness of the Indian government on its own million of poor people who sleep on pavements.

Lahore Marathon and Issues Coming Out of It

2006-02-05T07:41:00.001+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

There is not a single week in the country when an issue doesnt grip the nation, last week it was the marathon where entire Lahore faced the misery of spending hours and curse enlightened moderates.

The Mutahidda Majlise Amal (MMA) who opposed the marathon had many of its workers in jail but marathon happened and all state machinery was involved in making the event a big success.

Armed policemen blocked all roads crossing the marathon route and no one was allowed to cross from morning till late evening.

The event had a political backlash and was made a big issue from religious parties. From public point of view it left a lot to be desired from the policy makers, as masses inconvenience never mattered.

The event was held but did they consider the problems that came out of it as entire city was held hostage on the route with armed state officials.

Pakistan record in the last decade as in athletics are not that bright and they are at the lowest ebb with the bickering that goes on at the national sports scene how many athletes were near to Asian record from Pakistan side, and the answer is not a single one.

When you have athletes that clock time poor than the international women standard that requires some serious thinking, which is missing. Having the event as in for the image of the country and not hearing the masses that were directly affected by the event is a very wrong policy. How many women actually run in the event and how many women athletes are there in Pakistan side that qualify the heats of international events.

If government wished they could have made them athletes run around Jalo Park they could have breathed fresh air or on motor way which has so little of traffic but alternatives were not considered as it was a muscle match and government won without a resistance.

The masses and opposition have simply no say as they are only asked to adhere and that’s about all.

The iron hand tactics did a fair damage to the government ‘people friendly approach’ as with all the blockades for the people going to their daily work, as an ordinary Pakistani works seven days a week just to make ends meet which still doesn’t fulfill all his needs and he wishes for more hours in the day, a wish that can not be granted.

Relief is a word written and read only in papers but never actually seen or implemented, one doesn’t have to look far pick any government department and tales of unheard corruption details will be from every department not a single exception the answer to these why will never be answered. Public accounts committee reports are eye openers but who is reading them and who will punish the looters.

Yes this word ‘relief’ is repeated maximum by the government officials as they have linked development with this word, which somehow is only seen by them and not by the masses.

Pakistan agriculture based country has development in full swing as instead of growing wheat and vegetables the ‘voracious eaters’ in land of the pure are now eating the wheat and vegetables that come from Indian state of Punjab and that also includes Hindu goats.

This development indicator is very strong as it tells that people have the purchasing power and have a lot of money to spend on things that are imported.

Water issue has Pakistan having world maximum of water born diseases Hepatitis and one out of 10 suffers from that disease and magical wand from state wizards will make the clean drinking water possible for the people of land of pure in no time.

Justice well it’s an unheard phenomenon and quest for justice requires decades and never less as in speedy justice a favourite slogan of government is but heard and never implemented.

Taking any sector that deals with masses has tales that depict, revolutionary steps are needed to correct the system, which goes corrupt every passing day. Education system has many a parallel systems running where only elite schools have government patronage and none else while the government schools are in deplorable state where teachers are on low salaries and have varying commitment levels towards education.

Ghost schools, absent teachers, embezzlement and every crime under the sun happens in the educational institutes but what never happens is bringing the criminals to justice.

Health sector has medicines which have lost their efficacy and are adulterated and not a single person is punished as in for life sentence and how many people died due to these adulterated drugs no count is available as masses at the mercy of these killers and those who die they die without a word as once six feet under the law also stops.

The land of the pure has people that are still in the dark ages and one doesn’t have to look far just outside federal capital where Pakistan actually starts, donkeys are seen carrying water cans as water a scarce source is depleting with every passing day and people with their need for water, walk for miles to find it. Islamabad the beautiful has many sites on the very wide roads where people carry sticks on head for burning fire to cook and yes they are citizens of Pakistan and no development or relief has ever touched their lives. The very basic of amenities of education, health and water is a distant dream which is a 100 years later if they survive to live that long.

The week also witnessed the Royal Saudi visit and it was feather in government of Pakistan a VIP protocol and yes all roads leading to airport and Islamabad were closed.

The news generated beside the regular blockades was about the children who were made to stay and wave at the delegation. It was just seven hours and nothing was done for the children who are made ‘forced prisoners’ when a dignitary visits Pakistan. How long this practice has been in the government ranks no one can tell but since children can be forced to asked from their educational institutes that presence that day is mandatory or else face the consequences.

What is always missed is that they need food and water and need to go back home and it was cold and they were hostage on the name of protocol.

This scribe spoke to a few parents and they were angry as their children were late and they were worried and they simply said, “We will pay the fine this doesn’t come in their educational curriculum to wave at these people who have nothing to do with them.”

We pay money to school for studies and they should do what they are supposed to do and that’s teaching not taking our children for these dignitaries who come late and in the process the innocent children suffer.”

The report of no water points for the marathon athletes have also been in the newspapers as the state machinery in order to make a befitting ‘Run Lahore Run’ made arrangement air tight and many runners fell down due to dehydration as there was simply no water for athletes who made a run or participated in the run or if there was it finished before real runners could drink it.

Needless to say Lahore after the marathon will have the spring festival in February this month and like all spring festivals in the past it will leave a score of dead and thousands injured with multiple fractures but kite flying must go on.

The Supreme Court has given a decision against the kite flying terming it a hazardous sport and a life threatening one and all roads in Lahore have been soaked in blood gushing from neck of innocent people, as they were victims of kite flying over the years.

The kite flying festival starts this month and how many people will die no count can be given but a rough estimate is the figure will be more than the last year as state policy makers considers the sport as economic activity which is banned by supreme court of Pakistan.

Two more incidents of train mishaps which cost human lives is also in the newspapers and the details coming from criminals gave a shocking statement that the train track was stolen to be sold as scrape in the junk market.

This state of mind depicts how overall moral standards have decayed that human life is of no value at all and for means people kill people to make ends meet as in the case of kite industry that makes the killer thread for enthusiasts who fly their kites in skies and people on road die as in from the thread.

No one is caught or apprehended as for one its need and for the other its sports.

2006 Starts and Number Game Continues

2006-01-29T13:06:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Just a figure stating over 80,000 women are expecting child birth from the 4 million displaced in the devastating earthquake on October 8, 2005 and 7,000 children are born each month.

This is from United Nations and not from the ‘land of the pure’ state wizards who with eyes closed see everything bright.

No one can answer as how these 7000 infants and more are surviving in extreme cold as word of mouth says extreme weather and inadequate food and medicine takes away the innocent life and is buried quietly by bereaved families taking it as fate without a complain.

This is not all the checks given to them are also not getting cashed as they have nothing to prove as who are they and this ‘worthless’ piece of paper as announced to change lives promises a better life in distant times not present state of affairs.

Statistics show otherwise as it is a number game and numbers have fooled masses for way to long and continues to keep them high.

Land of the pure has many a things happening at the same time and so many issues that instead of bringing people together are taking them to take up extreme directions and opinions.

Divide and rule phrase is seen at its best in land of the pure and this golden rule has been the best trump card for all the ruling elites of the world who instead of taking up ‘united we stand’ have used the former to strengthen their hold on their subjects which are denied the very basic of rights as of food, shelter and safety.

The earthquake brought everyone close and the issue of Kala Bagh Dam a ‘diversion’ did all that was expected it divided the opinion and quake affectees who needed maximum attention are left at the mercy of nature to make it on their own.

Water the lifeline, has people taking to extreme opinions of political leadership not knowing that every house whether big or small has need for water and it is stored in water tanks and in cans. One can see men, women and children in long lines for clean water at the filtration plants that doesn’t even cater to 10 per cent of population of Rawalpindi city.

It may be mentioned here Pakistan tops the world in water born diseases and they are all on the rise 10 million and more suffering from Hepatitis is a figure given by the national organization.

The answer to why is with policy makers who have the genie with magic wand that has solved all issues on papers.

The much trumpeted slogans have all been an eyewash as none of the governments in last three decades could convince the masses as why Kala Bagh is needed and what will it serve. Kala Bagh dam myth continues and the quest for ‘Kala Bag’ (black bag) ever increases as dam or no dam the black bag could change all.

The devastating earthquake in October 2005 during Ramadan is an issue that is low at the priority list as 4 millions like rest of 165 millions stand nowhere. It is a fact that out of 165 millions over 80 millions are confirmed living below poverty line that’s is defined at two dollars a day by the United Nations yes skilled labor gets two dollars a day or sometimes less but skills are required to qualify to live above poverty line and what happens next if he is above the line is still a mystery.

It is on the record that finance minister and his associates all ‘stats wizards’ were unable to answer a simple query in front of TV viewers as how a common man that’s their peon or gardner lives in Rs 3000 a month which makes 50 dollars. Though with statistics they have raised the standard of living of the poor man which is somehow not seen as the promised living standards are for the times to comes when Pakistan becomes an Asian Tiger at present people term it as Asian mouse with tremendous potential.

The bombing in Bajur agency in Peshawar, North West Frontier Province, claiming 19 lives on January 13 has put the entire country in anger and every one raises a finger where is the sovereignty of the land of the pure. How could it happen on Pakistan soil and why and those who died were they less than humans. People ask questions and get their answers as yes it can happen as human life has no value in the land of the pure and it could be any one at any place at any time, no questions asked.

It may be mentioned here the high level delegation led by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz last week and the treatment the delegates received was considered a routine matter.

It was a sight for the sore eyes said a youth adding with a smirk, “look at the way the people are humiliated everyday in the offices and these big wigs facing the same treatment at the hands of the US authorities is a pay back as what they did to the poor commoners of the land of the pure who will never have the money or chance to even board the airplane in their lives.”

As a Pakistani I am ashamed as why such a disgrace but since the government considers this humiliation as ‘routine matter’ so I say they deserved it as this they had it coming every time as this is what they do to their country men here.”

The angry youth went on to say, “This treatment to them gods who are never ever in public and are inaccessible to a common man a taste of what its is felt like to be humiliated but lesson learned is an unheard phenomenon and continues to be as such.”

It may be mentioned here that as many as 10 million youth are jobless as regards industry as where it exist to utilize these youth is being planned but doesn’t exist what ever existed has over 75 per cent closed and more closing as the taxes and official rigmaroles have made things so difficult that people don’t invest money in it.

The agony is Pakistan an agriculture based country has its vegetables being imported from neighbouring India and more as the livestock that includes Indian goats and sheep are also crossing the border to meet the needs of meat eaters in land of the pure.

“ What is happening,” asked an old man, “We are doing business with people who are killing our brothers and sisters and its not long ago that millions died in making this country Pakistan.”

“What is that we don’t have and India has or we have gone shameless and reduced to the level of beggars both home and abroad that we can not work without it.”

The policy makers must give it a thought as why Pakistan that despite having so much of land is not meeting the basic food requirements of its very own population where does the wrong lies or which law prohibits the farmers to leave farming.”

In the list of the very basic needs of masses that is water and food is the safety need the latest that has happened is the ban on kite flying from Supreme Court of Pakistan which has taken the sport as dangerous and a threat to life.

The spring festival or ‘Jashne Baharan’ has left scores of people dead and ban is welcomed by people from all walks of life except the ruling elites who take the activity as ‘enlightened’ cultural extravaganza.

The efforts are underway to side step from the Supreme Court decision which banned the sport after detailed deliberations which has many hundreds getting killed all over country and thousands getting injured with fractured limbs.

In February the killer thread that runs on people neck just cutting the main life line vein will be on the lose and how many will die in 2006 no account can be given as last year it was just a little less than 20 though many died as in ones and two over the month but who was counting.

They died as it happened and they had their lives unaccounted for who was flying that kite no one can tell as it happened and no law can pursue the killers as it’s a festival so it happens.

Many a families in Lahore has woeful tales as how they lost their children in front of their eyes as before they could reach hospital the child died in their arms with loss of blood and all roads in Lahore are blood stained with the commoners life dying to killer thread.

How the morals have decayed can be gauged that Basant a Hindu festival is patronized by the government which is celebrated in the memory of a Hindu Haqeqat Rai who was hanged on charges of Blasphemy and is a proven fact in history and ashes site is also in Lahore and is visited by Hindus every year.Lahore is also the burial place of Ghazi Ilmuddin who gladly accepted the gallows when he killed the Hindu who used blasphemous words for Prophet Muhammad SAW--- who is honoured more we leave this for the readers to decide.

Good Times Around the Corner, 2005 Ends Amid Tears

2006-01-21T12:52:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

The year 2005 has past with a tearful ending leaving 4 million people displaced in their own homes, quake measuring 7.6 at Richer Scale on October 8 in the holy month of Ramadan shook the entire country.

The death toll to date remains a mystery as officially its 80,000 approximately while independent figures from the area suggest its five times more but the dead don’t speak like the people of the ‘land of the pure’ Pakistan, so no count is ever made and figures are not authenticated.

The most notable act of unity in 2005 was emotionally charged nation helping their quake stricken brothers and sisters with relief goods sent from all parts of the country. The efforts were commendable but the only thing that lacked was the direction as how and where and how much.

Law was desperately missed and crimes an established phenomenon in any group of people left at the mercy of nature left big question marks for the government and its policy makers. The government claims for eliminating poverty at grassroots level with figures to substantiate failed miserably as poor and magician ministers never came to an understanding with the ground realities.

The gross details of suicides were reported in media almost everyday where economic growth as claimed by government made only to the selected few pockets but never reaching the grassroots and as usual ‘the number game’.

The law and order situation a key in all the civilized societies has failed miserably in land of the pure all over needless to say the reports from quake affected region showed the impotency of the acclaimed Asian Tiger ‘in papers’ to be a lowly mouse.

The high profiled rape cases of Dr Shazia, Mukhtaran Mai and Sonia Naz and the way justice was delivered is only one side of the picture but in quake region every crime punishable in the black book of law leaves a question mark as where is government that rules the subjects ‘insects’ with the slogan that all lawlessness will be dealt with, with an iron hand.

A few incidents that put the year ender to shame and show the overall law and order situation of the country can give the trends as how people were subjected to lawlessness in the absence of much trumpeted good governance at the grassroots level.

The details of the lawlessness observed during the quake leaves many queries for the policy makers as these social indicators depict the mindset of the people.

There were rape cases, abductions of children both boys and girls especially teenage ones, shops with valuables as in jewelry were prime targets, banks, national saving centers, petrol pumps and houses that had wealthy residents.

The opportunists made the loots and there were no exception the plunderers of national exchequer were exposed and caught red handed but no punishment to date appeared as what happened to them with their lawless actions and it included government officials and politicians as big fish and small times thugs under their patronization.

The relief trucks were looted at gun points and dumped in the places though at some places recovery was made but the damage was already done, as with no coordination people were left at the mercy of people who made millions befooling people on the name of the quake affectees.

The NGOs (No Good Organizations) need special mentioning as their mushroom growth in all over the country in the month of October without proper credentials harmed the relief efforts a lot.

People charged with love of their countrymen in distress gave a lot, which remains unaccounted for, and as these NGOs appeared in every nook and corner of land of pure they made their disappearing act equally very fast.

The relief money for building up shelters has gross discrepancies and people complain that all undeserving ones made the maximum of loot with their connections and nothing was fair.

The amount paid also varied from areas to areas some were paid Rs 25,000 that was to build a shelter while some were paid Rs 175,000 to reconstruct their homes and no criteria was established and who gets what amount.

Life in the camps is another sorry tale and might is right was witnessed in all over the quake region which is established norm in the land of the pure as who has power takes it all.

People are still complaining as the cheques of Rs 25000 which was the first relief money given are not even getting cashed as an established norm the government announces money for the dead as compensation and these very cheques on many occasions don’t result in the promised cash.

There are many people who over the years have kept these cheques as evidence. Their evidence doesn’t matter as the dead don’t talk and the worthless piece of paper has a long checklist that one who tries cashing in the dead is half dead with humiliation and insult which comes with these pieces of papers.

Also these cheques can only be cashed if one pays 25 per cent of the amount to the person who can get it cashed which is also an established graft strategy and is considered legit. Many people who cashed their government cheques paid this percentage to make the piece of paper as in ‘money talks’.

The exact number of casualties which is a secret as it is not in the national ‘interest’ will remain a secret, the roads in the region currently are blocked and inaccessible by the snow and landslides at many points though efforts are made to clear the slides but its not known as how long will it take.

Its not known as how the people are surviving without food and shelter in the region but as floods erased all traces in plains of land of the pure in middle of 2005 the snow will camouflage all life forms, as such unprecedented cold and snow was only recorded 39 years ago which left scores of frozen bodies.

Like all the unfortunate ones who looked at the year 2006 holding new promise the very first month saw the four provinces which were united in relief for the quake getting disintegrated.

The provinces shared an extreme opinion on the vital Kala Bagh Dam issue, which has been made a political gimmick by all the ruling regimes in the last 30 years and is likely to continue for another 30 years.

The military operation in Baluchistan and American air strike in Waziristan are added issues in the current month, which has another 10 days to go. There were dead bodies in both the strikes and it’s not known what they did to end up like that.

The government has refuted the allegation of its involvement in both the incidents with a claim that it was self defense in Baluchistan and in Waziristan the place had foreign nationals. The photos in Waziristan had women and children and locals denied any foreign national in that bombed house.

This scribe overheard a middle aged man at the bus stop saying to his colleague both modestly attired that, “I thought like rest of my unfortunate countrymen the year will hold promise and there will be a change in the existing system with more facilities to people as announced by government but it appears that whatever left is taken away.”

His colleague’s reply was equally interesting, “It’s a hoax, stop living in dreams, you step outside, are you sure that you will reach home safe and will not be in jail for the unknown crimes.”

“Clean drinking water, education and health are the very prime responsibilities of the state and these three don’t even cater to 80 per cent of the total population despite billions of worth of aid poured in from international financial institutions, you talk of days that will be coming in next 100 years.”

The two just exchanged looks and with a laugh one said, “Well that time will come in time but not now not for the next few generations.”

A thought of every person in the land of the pure as when will that good time come which is harped endlessly by the ruling elites who have never tasted the contaminated water which has over 10 million of country’s’ population suffering from Hepatitis C.

Five million children don’t ever get a chance to see school and an equal number employed in child labour as the schools with commercialism aspect has left no choice for the parents to send their children to school and workshops and hotels are places where they learn skills and survive.

Those who could afford they sell their lands and jewelry in the end to have their child educated which also ends up a member of 8 million jobless youth, which roams in all the major cities of the country.

This is almost happening in all the homes of land of the pure where the very basic of needs have been made unapproachable for the common man as the policies are not aimed at poverty reduction but they are made to eliminate the very poor.

One doesn’t have to look far, land of the pure has many a places not far off from Islamabad the beautiful, the federal capital of Pakistan where people still live in stone age and have the oldest of invention ‘the hand pump’ serving their water needs and further down in any direction where this magical invention never reached, the water is taken out by an ox moving in circles around the well and it’s a very common site.

A rocky start in 2006 as 12 issues in the year 2005 have ended and 12 issues for 2006 are being contemplated and planned as how the public can be involved as in not to raise voice against the unprecedented price hike, joblessness, ever increasing crime rate and lawlessness and overall collapse of system which has caused more ills then goodwill.

Its still not late, steps taken can always be retracted and thought over again but the poor, pauper third world Pakistani needs a break and its high time that he should be given a chance to see that country holds some promise for him and the good time harped in the last 58 years is just round the corner.

Cold Amid Widespread Death and Destruction

2006-01-10T17:11:00.000+05:00

Asem Mustafa

They are spread all over and the cold has put a white blanket, camouflaging the human life in tents which is sapped away with every passing hour in the quake affected region where life has lost all its meanings.

Over 90 per cent of the tents are razed to the ground and are wet and entire country is gripped in severe cold wave with temperature dropping to minus 25 Celsius in Northern Areas.

Reports from the areas inaccessible due to snow has over 30 children under the age of 5 losing their lives last week due to cold and that’s in Skardu village Gul Tari while in quake affected regions of Kashmir and North West Frontier Province the situation is far worse as all affectees in tents have no adequate heating as its strictly prohibited in the tents.

Desperate people who tried to warm themselves paid it with their lives and were burned alive and those who didn’t they froze to death.

New year brings promise and hope but not in the land of the pure the quake is forgotten a thing of the past and 4 million, which has two million of women and children, are left at the mercy of nature.

Those who died, they are in rubble and are dead but those who are alive are near dead as delayed efforts in clearing the snow covered roads with inadequate equipment is in a way serving the purpose to ensure as why they are alive, since they exist and somehow don’t disappear when camera clicks or shoots their plight its known that a certain area has few survivors and these survivors are alive and expect the much trumpeted relief which has its own tale of getting embezzled.

The ruling elite has no doubt a magic wand that all commoners in the land of the pure is kept behind barricades and all roads are empty except the entourage that whiz past the onlookers from a distance. This magic wand is needed to help solve the shivering, near dead bodies to safety as all claims for relief have raised eyebrows, as what’s done is not enough amid reports where corruption reigned supreme.

The relief trucks getting looted and latest the UN helicopters invaded by people as in flying them out, relief goods getting stolen and goods recovered from politicians and government officials are all news reported time and again and are proven records.

The destitute women had to sell their honour and children for tents and food and its rampant and reported. Four million and not one percent in the camps tells a clear picture that all that is glittering on the name of relief is not gold.

The fear and relief appeals, which gained momentum and served for once in the 58-year history of the country a unifying factor has ended deep down in the drain while national interest has arisen out.

Divide and rule is an old phrase but it applies truly in the land of the pure as a month ago in December 2005 the entire nation was unified and was working collectively for the quake affected region but January 2006 the country federating units the four provinces are at daggers drawn with public equally divided in opinion as what to do.

The provincial godfathers are quarrelling over water and so many opinions are aired that the very water the lifeline of Pakistan is threatened within Pakistan.

Kalabagh Dam the issue for nearly three decades in history of country is termed a diversion by all the leaders at a crucial point when the quake affectees needed maximum attention as they are feared to die in cold in thousands and the deaths due to cold have already started taking away children first followed by women and old next.

“Its 12 months in a year and 12 issues for the lowly masses where more than 80 per cent don’t have the proper means of food and shelter but who cares they live in abject poverty and will die poor,” said a youth on the street, “They think we are stupid and we are not, we just don’t have the means to bring the change and those who brought change what happened to them and in times the very traitors and their generations will be exposed.

Zulifiqar Bhutto brought back 90,000 troops when the country was divided and was hanged in jail and he was a Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, twice elected at Prime Minister, did the nuclear explosions and is ousted, Dr. AQ Khan nuclear scientist the father of nuclear programme is in confinement as he was termed as rogue scientist while the Indian President Dr Kalam is also a nuclear scientist and they make nuclear bombs for their countries, one ends in jail and one is made president.”

“These things are happening and if one thinks that the state media is telling truth then it’s a big mistake as the other sources of getting the other side of the story is there too and people are not brainless to know what is true and false. It’s just the fate of the poor country which gets darker with every passing day and people follow mirages on slogans that there is a good time coming.”

He said, “The people are hero worshippers ask Imran Khan a sports star turned politician, his dream of cancer hospital materialized with youth and school children and the cancer hospital exists in real, same goes for nuclear scientist Dr. AQ Khan as he did it too. Whether the two have their personal repute tarnished beyond repair, they will still remain a hero as they did it for the country and not for personal gains.”

It may be mentioned here that not long ago many a politicians in government switched sided from their original parties fearing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) charges on corruption. The masses in turn with nothing to oust these turncoat politicians have give them the name ‘lotas’ (toiletry item).

Their corrupt cases were hushed up as an established norm since long and NAB was accused of using pressure of changing politicians loyalties an allegation which NAB denies but the sitting ministers and their backgrounds of corrupt practices speak louder then words.

The start of the year has seen a truck getting plundered in government office premises that had warm clothing for shivering quake victims and it happened in Islamabad the beautiful.

The most glaring example of neglect came from United Nations which have their helicopters crowed with frozen and hungry people who despite pushing and abuse failed to leave the choppers which dropped supplies for few amid thousands hungry.

The incident has made UN to stop its helicopters flight as the untamed men who have lost their loved ones besides food and shelter failed to be ‘rational’ in their approach and boarded the helicopters to get to safety to bring means for whatever remains of their surviving loved ones.

There are many pictures in which the affectees are baton charged and tear gassed as they were asked to behave and not act as ‘pack of dogs’ in their hunger and thirst after days of staying without it.

They behave now in long queues in camp that takes hours in serving food and those who are not in camp use means by sacrificing their honour to get to little safety of camps.

The affectees were discouraged to go to lower down warm places as the haphazard unequal distribution of money has made people angrier than grateful.

These four million people paid money to government as in indirect tax to breathe and live in the land of the pure and were free humans before October 8 but now they have been reduced to beggars and are treated very harshly, which has filled them with resentment.

The camps have only one or two percent of the affectees to date while the remaining are sitting out as the camps are filled to capacity and these 98 per cent tell a different story which has more pain then relief.

The quake has thousand and one tales in its folds and in times they will come out as time changes everything and is never the same.

The role of opposition also needed a mentioning as it also contributed a lot in relief efforts with Al Rasheed Trust, Jamaat Dawah and Jamaat Islami as front-runners catering to many thousands in their camps. Had it not been them, there would have been far more casualties then expected as governments started with five helicopters only and since it was not floods that cleaned everything with water it was but quake and human life form existed.

Needless to say these organizations are all watched and to counter them as in getting popular among masses, which they are their efforts were curbed in one way or the other with official rigmarole and they have complaints in media about that.

The earthquake that unified the nation in days failed to break ice between government and opposition as the two did the relief separate, as both wanted political mileage that is more popular only people could tell if they are asked.

The government faced embarrassment at international level when the ongoing relief actions were asked for accountability from donors and opposition alike and measures from government as in giving NOC’s on select conditions also left a lot to be desired.

The October 8, 2005 united the entire country and January 2006 has put the country and its federating units in disharmony as ‘divide and rule phenomenon’ since inception of Pakistan is seen at work again.

Waziristan in Frontier Province is boiling and the people there a few days ago attacked a check post killing army personnel, the loss of lives is from the both the sides and tension surmount.

Baluchistan the biggest province in area with oil and gas reserves is also facing a military action with aerial strike and loss of lives is reported daily from both the sides.

The better sense as in diffusing the ongoing government military maneuvers in the two provinces added with volatile political situation in Sindh province appears to have taken unprecedented heights and everyone seems worried as what happen next.

Land of the pure as in name is a beautiful country but has very unfortunate people who are governed by people who break the law and break the country in the personal desires to score points against people who don’t matter much and are born to die in misery.

Survivor Naqsha Bibi Raises Many Queries

2005-12-30T14:59:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

She has survived the earthquake on October 8 that displaced over 4 millions and her survival has been termed as a miracle as for 63 days she was cramped in a position that has frozen her limbs.

The people who found her in Muzaffarabad, were looking in the rubble to construct a make shift shelter and she was spotted and taken to hospital of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association.

How will she survive now with doubts that have been aired by none other than people who despite seeing her starved body say that it’s a hoax and fake. She weighed 25 kilograms when found and is in intensive care now in Islamabad hospital and is recovering slow.

The race against time is a phrase that remains but a phrase the efforts done at snail paced and people's reluctance to come to shelters clearly shows that life in the camps is more of a prison than of relief.

The lines moves with the speed of snail and thousands in camps take the food that is served only two times and that too with insults that add misery to the people who were once owners and not beggars.

So much has been written and the complaints shadow the relief work that is catering not even to 10 per cent of the people that are affected and are in the open.

The makeshift tents are not winterized, the people are frozen and have died too. The common cold has the children affected most and none is allowed to warm the tent as in fear of burning oneself and people did burn and died too with unbearable cold.

Death, disease and hunger have gripped the affectees who pass their days amid slogans for a better tomorrow.

The relief and money from people of Pakistan if divided on every person, man woman and child then every one is richer by a million and more and can start a fresh all over again in a very short time.

Sadly all these millions given by people of Pakistan are not reaching the people of Pakistan and the answer to the ‘big why’ is in the queries raised by international donors, opposition parties and aid workers added with the suffering affectees.

Naqsha Bibi found in rubble in cramped state also depicted the callous attitude of the society, media and relief as the doubt was created on the woman who lost her family and all that she had in the October 8 devastating quake and hardly survived.

Her coming out alive is a miracle by majority but a scientific explanation was sought and doubt were made and picture worth a thousand word she was a genuine case but for reasons unknown she was painted as a liar and fake like rest of the woman who made 2005 a flash point for policy makers.

Her recovery from rubble leaves many questions as rescue was not properly done and many a people died as they could not be taken out from the buildings as the equipment as in picks and shovels were not there besides hammers that could break the roofs.

The agonizing details of people giving all their remaining belongings to get the loved ones out have trickled down in media, a child narrating what is happening to her in quake as she is buried alive in her school. She survived for few days along with her friend and amid hunger and thirst she wrote her ordeal. Her call for help remain unanswered like screams of millions that are still unheard as there are too many a hungry mouth and too little a bread.

The dead are in the rubble and they can’t speak but details can be asked from survivors who have a lot to say and have nothing to gain.

Naqsha Bibi is one lucky woman who has survived but many thousands trapped in their homes were not that lucky and have nothing to say. One single building in Islamabad (Margalla Towers) had its rubble removed in two weeks and Kashmir and Frontier Province start a 100 miles from Islamabad in different directions and it took time to notice the other parts of Pakistan which are far flung.

So much has been said and written on various aspects that in the end when it adds up the right direction is still not there.

People have made countless runs for every helicopter that hovered over their villages and thousands say that not a single landing was done and in the end they have stopped running and have accepted that it will be survival on their own.

Government and highest offices have asked people to come down to camps and people have refused as if they leave their land their property will be claimed by looters and why they chose to be in the cold as the trust has not been built by government or any of its offices.

The people say we will die of cold and starvation but we wont come down and if they have the much-trumpeted care announced for us they can come up and help us.

In some cases it was done but majority living on the hills and valleys outside city center stayed the way they are as despite the devastation they feel safe that the corrupt government officials namely police and land officials are not disturbing their peace and they hold on to their small pieces of land.

Those who went to the camp in some cases have come back to their broken places, as there was more complains of treatment below dignity and those who stayed had no option and they had lost all family.

Still nothing could be said as how the quake victims will be given money the distribution has left many people complaining as its not fair. How the identities will be established, how check will be made, as the payment are made but how, what about the shelter will it be build or locals will construct themselves, millions of questions but few repeated answers that say all will be ok.

The pledge from government and feedback on ground to international donors include priority to the basic needs of the quake victims (less than 10 per cent of 4 millions are in camps), fast and speedy law enforcement that solves and minimizes complications (more complaints then praise), involvement of locals in rehabilitation process (locals injured and in need of assistance complain of unfair distribution of claims), fair and impartial settlement of claims (how its done its not known), feedback on the relief efforts (there is a lot of improvement needed in the area) and audit of money spent from Auditor General of Pakistan with verification from third party (this point is still hotly debated).

The incompetence levels which are established benchmarks in the land of the pure has more people complaining of being cheated then praising the government despite the efforts.

The figures speak for it as how many are in the relief camps, they do not even make 10 percent of the total survivors who are affected by the earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.6 at Richter Scale.

Doctors say there is no question that many people will die here, and children are most vulnerable thousands have been treated with pneumonia and other acute respiratory infections like bronchitis. The figures will grow extreme as December ends.

The harsh winter last year in late December had approximately 10 feet of snow and it increased with passing days not less and 2006 offers little hope for the survivors.

World Health Organization fears that bronchial infections and hypothermia will be killing thousands and there are reports coming from different areas where women and children are dying of cold.

Cholera and bubonic plague are rumoured as 4 million people in the open and with little or no water and sanitation plan the situation will go from bad to worse.

UN relief official Darren Boisvert is on the record in early December to say that 90 per cent of the 420,000 tents handed out in Pakistani Kashmir were no good for winter use.

Jan Vandemoortele, UN co-coordinator for Pakistan, has described the situation as critical and is appealing for more assistance and it’s the human lives at stake.

The much trumpeted international donors conference had resulted in 5.8 billion dollars with 1.9 billion as grant and remaining 3.9 billions as loans and negotiations are still taking place as how the returns will be made.

Two acts of government that has resulted in criticism as the relief helicopters will be paid the fee in dollars so far its not known how much but its colossal as they will be paid per hour as they did the relief for the good of humanity where all others failed and second is the luxury high speed jets which will be bought in the 2006 for the fast to and fro movements of the government high officials.

Common man sits and waits in cold for the promised relief and prays to survive that long, so it reaches him so far slogans have kept him alive but he will not live that long he needs food and shelter the very basic of needs.

The government is right in saying that the country has a booming economy but that booming economic growth leaves out the 120 millions out of 160 millions who live at one dollar or two dollars a day and country progresses as poor is near eliminated and has no say and his presence doesn’t matter.

A small comparison as in ground reality the pine nut cost Rs 1000 approximately a kilogram and government has fixed Rs 3000 as minimum pay. A common man can purchase those three kilograms of pine nuts and spend the winters munching on pine nuts with his children.

Almonds which have established their value for nourishing the brains cost nearly the same and poor is advised to eat them so that poor can use it (brain) wisely and should not be a poor as all wise guys in government use almonds frequently and have unmatched wisdom because of that seed.

Another Tremor Jolts Victims and Government Both

2005-12-11T08:50:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

There were news of abductions and crimes all punishable by court in the land of the pure but the case of a teenage quake victim getting raped by a doctor in Mayo Hospital Lahore has again put Pakistan back as flash point for human rights abuse.

The earthquake on October 8 in Kashmir and North West Frontier Province killed 80,000 and left 100,000 injured with over 4 million in the open with out proper shelter.

The 18-year-old girl was in the Lahore Mayo Hospital for treatment of multiple fractures in legs and in course of treatment the surgeon Dr Maqsood raped her. The usual practices followed as the incident was hushed up the doctor left from the scene different people giving different statements and law taking its course.

Pakistan in this year has taken a lot of coverage on human right abuse especially the high profile rape cases that involved officials of government departments.

Dr Shazia Khalid case earlier this year and the circumstances in which she was forced to leave the country and the death trail she left with over 60 Baluch tribals dying for her honour is still not forgotten and the memory is very clear in Baluch tribals who lost their loved ones in the conflict.

The statements from different officials can be traced and the differences in them can be checked as all of them spoke on record and very few of them matched as what is happening. She has left the country so case is closed.

Mukhtaran Mai case where the judiciary was questioned as in imparting justice needless to say that it was taken up by media and image of Pakistan was tarnished beyond repair.

Mukhtarn Mai was followed by Sonia Naz who was also a rape victim and her tale depicted the society and the decaying culture, which never resulted in justice, and she is still seeking it and has now her sisters that faced the brunt of her fate as she dared to challenge the corrupt system. Any one can guess what happens next.

How far she has gone in her quest for justice and what she has faced is another story.

The year ending case of the teenage girl involving a surgeon has taken many a twists as in reports with varying statements. The quake that has over 4 million people displaced includes an easy 2 million women and children and the injured are double the capacity of the hospital beds available in the entire country.

The news of children getting abducted for various criminal reasons had forced the government earlier, to say in plain words that none will be allowed to adopt the quake affectees. How far this check has gone no one can answer as reports appeared otherwise.

The government has vowed as in ever increasing list of vows that it will look after all of them and will rehabilitate them so far the exact count is not known as how many displaced people have been rehabilitated. How many have been paid as more people complain the way the rehabilitation and distribution of money is being done and in the list of government displeasure is the opposition parties who have shown great resentment on the issue of distribution of funds, which have also been an audit concern for international donors.

Pakistan has pledged total fairness from the highest office a multiple times and amid few praises comes the big question mark as will it ever happen as there are so many pending aggrieved parties of same year that met the same fate as in loss of lives and property in flood and prior to that snowy winter early this year.

The catastrophes have made it a route as in ‘Disaster Pakistan Visit’ and they come one after the other and expose the rapid response from the government, which despite claims, of being people friendly and caring falls flat one event after the other.

The events that surrounded government with media backlash were the rape cases in law and order, followed by the embroiling political scenario that is still simmering with new dimensions as in forward blocs added with the general public that in want of basic amenities of life paid the price in the form of their ‘worthless and unaccounted for lives’.

The responsibility is not yet fixed on people who were responsible for the deaths of men, women and children who died of contaminated water in all cities of the country as water samples taken are not even fit for animal consumption. Sometimes they die in great numbers and some times just a few that create a small stir and as usual the statements are followed from every official that promises clean drinking water and takes a swig from mineral water bottle and move away from the scene.

There are numerous occasions but taking the three prime sectors education, health and clean drinking water all failed miserably and have a score of dead people who leave a question mark for authorities as who is responsible.

The judiciary that caters to fair play itself is questioned as where it stands at the end of the year.

A man in a teashop taking a sip, reading newspaper mumbled 12 months 12 issues and life goes on in the land of the pure.

He said, “The right to earn bread with honour is taken way with the rampant corruption and government says all will be well. Nothing works when the judiciary is not doing the job and it is not doing. The newspapers carry more stories of heinous crimes then justice being delivered.”

“Its not changing faces that will bring the change, its the change in the system which is repressive, corrupt and inhuman in which rights of an ordinary human don’t exist at all.”

A person in city court said it openly if we don’t do corruption how will we survive, do you really think its possible give me an option, I will leave this job this hour and will not be tout giving false evidence.” Like a face in a crowd he vanished from city courts with sneer.

There are committees and sub committees for probes and investigations and there are so many ongoing probes that these probe committees further need probe committees to assist them added with orders from high offices that report should be submitted to them during the week.

There are so many reports if they at all reach their desks, only reading them will take next 10 days. Detailed reports are asked every time for ensuring ‘justice’ and with orders as in report immediate comes everyday by dozens so the reports just pile up on high official desks and in the end of the day they are pending as in pending decisions.

“Nothing happens,” said a middle age man with a beaming smile outside a bank adding, “ There are reports and but reports, the actions come way after and justice delayed is justice denied but one must add the orders come in flurry minus bringing the culprit to justice.”

“Look at me I have pending inquiries but they are ongoing so it doesn’t matter,” and word of advise Mr Writer (this scribe), “Money makes the mare go and I suggest you keep this in mind as when society accepts norms that are unethical so everything works from the backdoor and like rest of the country I use backdoors to get things done and they just get done.”

The earthquake, which saw government to its very limits with less praise and more criticism, has now more tremors as what happens next.

The girl in Mayo Hospital getting treatment has created a big ripple that quake victims are left without any account and the her rape right under the nose of the government.

Needless to say the government has reiterated her resolve that there is no compromise on image of Pakistan many times and every time these incidents happen and tarnish the image of Pakistan as an enlightened and moderate state in community of nations.

Count Down Continues More Complaints than Praises

2005-12-04T23:12:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

It has rained, it has snowed and they are sick and exposed and are dying in the open in the camps with and without shelter as October 8 earthquake exposed everything that is harped for the people in ‘land of the pure’.

The promised relief and shelter to date has not crossed the figure of 30,000 the one room shelter that is guaranteed to give cover against snow and wind.

The people are not allowed to burn stoves in their tents as they may burn themselves and its discouraged and the quake victims that include children and women most are getting sick each day.

So far the tents are on the go as they have been paid for in advance or the bulk production is sanctioned the details cannot be confirmed a how many. The devastating earthquake on October 8 has left people looking for the promised help in skies as where is that and the tents in the region have been considered ineffective as it can not hold of the cold air or rain or even snow which has started.

The catastrophe which has official count of less than 100,000 will be five times as the winter sets in and it will rise but who is counting the dead the living are promised fortunes as they will be rehabilitated how that questions remains unanswered.

Pakistan that hosted millions of refuges has so far failed miserably as not even 10 per cent of the affectees are rehabilitated, the statistics of the few who made it to the camps are in the count and are projected again and again. The problems in the camps have also arisen many questions, as whatever promised is not delivered.

“We are reduced to beggars and we had all and we cant complain as there are evictions too and people with such high headedness in camps have left it in disgust that they are better off dying in the cold then to beg and left at the mercy of others who had lost nothing,” said a man shivering with cold in a tattered blanket.

I am leaving this place the first chance I get and like me there are many as what are we doing here, we have been insulted, baton charged, abused and treated as if we have caused a national loss.”

The social norms as in veiled women are also one reason that survivors don’t move to the shelter and try to make it what little they have and they are not leaving their property as the gold rush in Kashmir has made all beggars leave for that place to make a loot and they are quite successful as real deserving ones are all but a mile up and down the road and they just wait and see the melee that goes on in the lines.

The local bodies representatives who could have made a difference failed miserably as they were responsible and representatives of 20,000 people and they could have streamlined the affairs which to date is haphazard and no one knows what is happening.

To begin with tents were needed in the first month and now its but a wooden and tin roof shelter. Why the delay as the count states less than 30,000 and the average time in making a one-room shelter takes 3 hours and if with skilled workers it could even be less. Was the aspect deliberately ignored so that first the kick back and commissions could be consumed and later in the wood and tin, which is now sought for.

Some how great communication gaps were seen and a lot of figures given show a general apathy as why the figures are so twisted and why with so much delay. The delayed rescue followed by chaos and most glaring example the Margalla Tower it took over two weeks to clear the rubble and the news that generated from it as in lack of equipment and all left a lot to be desired by the ‘people friendly government’.

The promised relief in the donors conference has money pouring in but it was all in loans as in long term soft loans with interest rates that were not low and all the situation handled by the policy makers came under great criticism as in the end it was the generations to come were sold which are already under debt as it’s the fate of every newborn that open the eyes in the land of the pure minus the children of the elite who suck the nations blood.

The political scenario is also embroiling with dissent everywhere and major one is the audit of the relief money, which is asked by all parties.

The donors have also risen their objections times and again and assurance from the highest office were issued to curtail the doubts and raised eyebrows which demanded explanation at every penny spent.

The Public Accounts Committee that comes up with the embezzlement reports involving at national scale are all eye openers and since they are given out regularly but the execution on these reports is never heard as no criminals are pointed out and with the state of affairs as in ‘justice delayed’ the cycle goes on.

Needless to say it has become an established norm and abuse of power in public offices is at rampant with no check and nothing to date has brought these criminals to justice and there are countless examples of corruption made by the big wigs and if investigations are made most of elite class have cases or two pending against them on different charges which in case of ordinary citizen can result in jail but not a finger is pointed when it involves the politicians.

In any of the quake affected regions there are more complaints then praise and people are angry as losing all and no promised help, how the identities will be established and how the relief money will get to them is a question that every one is asking and so far nothing concrete is given as how will it work as local bodies representatives must have some survivors if they are just put and placed back in their dwelling unlike the elite Kashmiri leadership which went missing for days the relief efforts can and will speedup amid the frozen bodies which will continue to make an increasing count with every passing hour.

All the quake victims have a horrifying tales to share and their tears have dried out as there was no one to wipe it for them and still nothing is done.

How people begged people to help assist in taking out their loved ones from rubble and having no pick and shovel they died in front of them with a slow death without food and water, how people offered all their cattle just to get past the wall falling on the family and couldn’t do and later dying in anguish as when all the loved ones are gone what is the reason for getting down.

Cold and sickness got them as now its not quake it’s the weather that is wiping out the people which are at its mercy as they were lucky to survive one obstacle which lasted less than a minute while weather offers round the clock cold which takes no less than a life in a slow manner by sapping all the energy reserves.

The social norms as in women needing space and people living as a family unit are also a barrier. Majority of people who come down to the shelters form less than 10 per cent of the total affected and with such a grim scenario a revival of media campaign is needed to have people participate more with food and medicine.

The government funds established give such a meager amount that any crooked criminal in National Accountability Bureau list of loan defaulters and plunderers of national wealth can be squeezed to meet the paucity of funds. People ask when will these corrupts will be put to use as the recovery from them in selling their assets and belongings.

A number of parliament members have offshore accounts and NAB seeks them as well and this department can be utilized for masses that are left at the mercy of fate, which can be changed if there is a will and serious effort, and not ‘talks’.

The newspapers are filled with criminals activities that include various criminal groups making best of the situation by kidnapping children and women who are left with no where to turn to, the efforts as in how it is curbed are also not known as what are the checks made to stop that.

The incidents continue to happen and helpless people continue to be punished as not all care can be offered. The national volunteer corps in absence of established Civil Defense and Scouts which only existed in papers is yet to make a mark and since the two failed miserably there is criticism on the volunteers corps as with the existing set up which is ignored totally the new set up is created to fill in more papers like the 5 years plans which are master pieces in papers but never in actual.

“A person in a teasing tone said, “Look at the people they are 4 millions, the exiled former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto announce Rs 5 million each and besides there are many donations coming from different people but not a single Rupee will reach them, they are made richer in papers and in papers they will be paid.”

“Look at their lives and their complaints and tell me what is there feeding one hungry mouth and 99 looking at it is not fair.”

He said, “We leave it to Allah and pray that may there be a relief as all that is harped is not true at all and there are more complaints then praise and it’s a fact for saving human lives a lot needs to be done and what is done is but so little.”

“Its done fairly everyone says that,” said the man with an agonizing smile, “ I have only one thing to say Supreme Court bans kite flying as it had killed many innocent lives and the same day when the ban is announced few more are dead and kites stay in air as law is made and is acted upon.”

“When its implemented for once in actual the day I will say the quake victims will get the promised relief, before that its all talks shows, photo opportunities and media gimmickry and nothing much is happening.”

“I say it as I put over 20 of my close family members in grave and I have no interest in money or relief or anything I am a walking corpse and I have nothing more to say.”

Angry voices amid fear of freezing death

2005-11-27T00:25:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

The winter has started and there is snow and rain for the earthquake victims who outnumber the displaced people in the new millennium.

The loss of life and property is beyond statistics as human life is too precious and priceless but in the land of the pure it’s valued in few thousands, which is not even guaranteed to reach the living and deceased.

Only one camp can give details of what happens on the name of the relief. Sector H-II is in Islamabad it has over 10,000 earthquake affectees and has a score of complaints, which depict how things are beyond capacity.

How they make out is another story as not all is surfaced and not all angels are shown to the masses.

“Those who died on October 8 were lucky,” the very words were said from a relief doctor in Azad Kashmir to a TV a channel.

The ones who have survived are now praying for another earthquake to end their miseries which none is interested to hear or address.

They say as they please to the media said a woman who wrapped her child in her shawl, which was even inadequate to cover her from the cold.

She said, “I have lost my child in school and another one to cold and I am losing this one as I have nothing to cover her up with, who is to be blamed for that.

I was living in a house and I had a family and I gave alms to the poor and I am reduced to the level of a beggar here and I pray to Allah to end my miseries soon.”

I have survived quake but my child wont survive the cold and neither would I and I say may it (death) be soon as instead of dying everyday from the hands of relief authorities who don’t care much I would rather die as dying of shame and begging them for things they don’t have. It is a trauma and I pray no one should ever experience.”

“I have nothing more to say I will ask the big wigs politicians who speak on our behalf to spend a couple of nights in the open and stay hungry with us and I ask them all and then they will experience what it is like to be cold and hungry.

I dare say their loved one should be dead beside them and then I ask how does it feel, they can only talk and have their photos taken none has experienced it in their lives as none has in land of pure and they just come to seek votes.”

It may be noted here that a strong note of dissent was sent from the highest offices for the politicians who left no opportunity in having their pictures taken for media gimmickry at the expense of the dead and dying.

Charity begins at home and somehow from top down nothing concrete was seen as millions were left to chance the figures are so disputed that nothing can be termed authentic.

It is said 8000 educational institutions were razed with children inside even if these educational institutions have 10 school going ones inside it easily surpasses the official figure presented by the government of the total dead but who is counting the dead.

Another report suggested that 8000 institutions are the one that were registered with government and another 8000 were not listed, making an easy 16000 institutes, which were communal graves for the future.

It is said 30,000 square kilometer in Pakistan is totally devastated and 5.7 million which included a close 3 million women and children left at the mercy of cold weather.

The helicopter flights have been reduced to minimum and last but not the least the upper parts of Northern Pakistan the relief is paused because of snow and rains.

The millions are complaining and few thousands that are in shelter camps complain equally but less vocally.

“They will die early and we will take a little longer to die,” said an angry man adding, “We are baton charged, threatened, abused and cursed by authorities who claim to help but are not helping at all.”

The tents are not winter proof yes they serve as an excellent coffin for us as when we are frozen stiff they can just lower us down in the mass pit which I don’t believe they will bother as they will just focus on relief else where.”

I will not mention as what I have lost but look around and see how people are acting if you find them with smiles which will be very rare ask them not a single one is without trauma and we have been reduced to beggars in our own home.”

The relief that is being promised is reaching Allah knows where I have yet to see a single rupee. I only say that there is a lot left that needs checking who is taking relief and why is not reaching the affectees.”

He pointed out the new political system that has democracy at grass roots should have solved the issue but it failed miserably as it was based on divide and rule policy so the relief money goes to clans and tribes of the select few and there are a lot of embezzlements in it and nothing is transparent.”

I say all this as I have been there and a resident and millions are complaining as they say by the time the promised money if it at all reaches they will be dead and gone by that time.”

I have one question Pakistan has kept Afghan refugees for decades why the current situation seems out of control they had the spaces and tents and all organized staff or with the Afghans gone all infrastructure was wrapped up for good. Surely there must be people who have brains then and have it even now to help assist authorities as what they are doing is wrong.”

I am critical as I tried to reason and get the promised relief to start over again and like me there are many hundred thousands I say hundred of thousands not one or two food and shelter are basic of needs they are not even met what to talk about others promised goods which will take months to reach the survivors who will have to prove as they are really deserving which in current circumstances is beyond reason.

I beg, borrow and steal if there is a chance as its survival and if I survived the cold I will for sure see the good days coming back but in camps and in cold there is majority who suffers from cold and with every passing day the energies are sapped out from their veins with lack of food and medicine.”

“Not many will survive but what could one do we are at the mercy of others who despite efforts don’t feel the pain and misery of the survivors and the insults are beyond human dignity as what is hurled at us for want of simple needs.”

The camp at Islamabad that house over 10,000 of survivors lacks water, adequate shelter, food, medicine to name a few, small children ask people who come and help whatever possible in means for clothing complaining of cold. This is happening in heart of federal capital right under the nose of relief authorities the rest of the picture in remote areas is far more bleak as the relief is taken over there and not all is reaching the people who are stuck up in the cold.

There are complaints against the repressive state forces that are called in for relief efforts from all over the country as they abuse, beat besides keep the survivors staying out from their makeshift tents which are called ‘shelters’ asking them vacate the place as the place is needed for other people.

The most recent example is the NATO Forces camp which is placed the same area where the survivors were thrashed, tear gassed and abused to vacate the place without replacement.
This all had appeared in the papers the questions that remained unanswered as despite all the money that is being given as relief where is it going as why so many of complaints. How the identities are established of those who have lost all what is happening to them how are they being helped.

News of abductions of children and women getting smuggled and looting are all there and it continues despite the checks announced but its happening in the camps and people in the open in millions are more vulnerable.

There have been reports of people selling their kidneys for food and shelter and crooks maneuvering their way in to claim the lands of the people buying it on cheap rates for immediate gain. How will it be checked is a query worth billions of rupees if it at all gets answered.

The news appearing in the Press states billions have already been given to quake victims but no details is given as how. How many shelters are provided or built, how many camps are established, how many are housed, are the meals given three times, what about the snow the people stranded up in the mountains making easy few hundred thousands.

Is the wait and see policy will have snow covering the frozen corpses which will be all covered as it happened in the floods during summers as floods erased everything from thousands of villages and couple of millions that were displaced nothing is for sure as how they managed.

Land of the pure seems to be punished from one after the other natural calamity and an old man a religious scholar just quoted a single verse from Chapter Al-Qasas in Quran (28.58),

"And how many a community have We destroyed that was thankless for its means of livelihood! And yonder are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them save a little. And We, even We, were the inheritors" .

Death, Disease, Hunger and Batons What Next?

2005-11-20T11:31:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

They are hungry with no shelter and nowhere to go they crowd in the make shift camps by thousands each day as the temperatures go down at night to freezing point.

The devastating earthquake on October 8 displaced four million and more in Pakistan in Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province. The affectees are all in the open and have very inadequate food and shelter facilities. Their only hope is to come down to a camp where at least basic of the need as in food and shelter will be met to some extent.

Women and children are worst affected and the crippling quake has left thousands who have fractures and are unable to get to the safety of camps.

Another catastrophe if efforts are not made fast for their rescue people will be seen dying of cold, gangrene, respiratory infections and many other ailments that are bound to hit if planning is not done fast for the rehabilitation to safe and warm climate.

Staying in the open and the delayed relief and rescue efforts in the end will only be spent on dead and frozen stiff bodies which will have mostly children and women as in couple of weeks the cold will get to them as after surviving the quake they have to survive the cold and with nothing much as in keeping warm they freeze out in the chilling temperatures.

The people have made a rush for the relief camps that are crowded to the capacity as the place offers food or at least the death by the hands of cold will get a proper burial in a white coffin sheet which was denied to thousands who were buried under their adobes in tons of debris.

The coffin sheet (latha) was found short as a few days ago the local body elections were concluded in the effort to take ‘democracy’ at the grass root level. The local bodies representatives who had alluring slogans and coloured pictures to tell their tales for continuing befooling of the masses consumed the white sheets in entire country.

The elected representatives gone and missing and the local leadership which was absent from mitigating the problems of the masses except for amassing the relief goods with their henchmen left nation aghast that it could happen in the land of the pure.

There were many complaints as in photo opportunities from the big wigs and all concentration on the multi story building in Islamabad that also exposed the contingency plans of the government that had money to spare for the elite and posh bullet proofs vehicles but had nothing to offer for the commoner that was buried and later found dead in the rubble which couldn’t be move for hours as there was no equipment at all in the federal capital, Islamabad the beautiful.

The hungry and injured affectees in quest for food and shelter also get their share of batons as a contingent of Punjab Police was specially sent on directives to maintain law and order in the area and they have made very ‘good scenes’ in ensuring that ordinary masses doesn’t effect the ongoing relief operation.

The camp in Muzaffarabad which hosted thousands of affectees was forcibly evacuated amid baton charging policemen as the people protested and refused to vacate the place as they had no place to go and they lost to the authorities who evacuated the place and stationed the NATO troops besides cordoning off the place to ordinary public on pretext of security measures.

The total quake victims as in being catered in all the tents that are not winter proof doesn’t even come to 10 per cent of the total affectees. The winter will cut the number of these affectees where children alone will surpass the official figures, which are presented to the media with great assurance for being factual.

The relief agencies and locals say it otherwise as its them who are keeping a count of the dead, as it was their near and dear ones whom they couldn’t lift from the rubble, as they had nothing to move the rubble with.

People have crawled, dug holes and inched their way out and with ordinary hammer and chisels they dug up their loved ones hoping that they were alive.

The quake has left 4 million affected and there are as many stories of trauma and if these affectees survive the cold winter, they will be short of many more as its evident and fate as they are there.

The most cruel aspect is that the camps run by relief agencies in lower down areas catering to these displaced and injured have been asked to roll back as the people who are inhabitants of the razed cities will only be given the aid who can prove that they were the actual residents of that place. How will it be proved is another story which has raised many eye brows as how will this fact will be established.

The pledges made by the international donors as the quake happened resulted in a mere pittance and the paucity of funds were covered up by the common man in the country added with the organizations on the watch list who moved first and helped the suffering masses and their efforts won accolade from both home and abroad.

Sad reports featuring many politicians who tried to have the tragedy as an image building and photo opportunity exercise also surfaced and highest offices in the country had to send a strong massage as to shun away from gaining political mileage from the tragedy. The friends and foes were also exposed and many a political leaders were exposed for their love of the poor.

The fact remains as what happen next the task ahead is to rehabilitate the millions who have lost their lives, families, livelihoods and shelters.

On ground the tents that are considered the most precious commodity has no weather shield for snow and rain what happens if the cold grips the region in couple of weeks.

Reports appearing the Press are horrifying where gangs of criminals are operating abducting young girls, crippled children and infants for ulterior motives.

The government has repeatedly said they will look after all the orphans and women who run in an easy 2 million. The question of how will it be done is not answered.

People have been complaining the promised relief never reached them and even the promises that were there as in money never get to them. The distribution of Rs 25000 to the people to buy tin sheets also managed to reach select few and this money somehow can get a good tent but not the tin sheets to erect a shelter.

The experience of the past as in snow early this year also keep people reluctant of the promises that are being aired repeatedly for the relief and they are not leaving their adobes as they want what ever is being promised should reach them at their door step as moving from the demolished adobe may and will result in someone else claiming the relief money. The donor agencies have also asked for transparency of funds which have been assured from the highest office but its wait and see and only pledges that have come forward so far.

There have been many complaints where the patients under treatment were forcibly evacuated from the hospitals with a signature on paper and some money that was the fare back to the devastated land as with them removed the empty corridors were to serve as space for the fresh patients who make to the place of the former patients.

It is important to note that for days the accessibility in the region was impossible and the call for Berlin Airlift operation fell on deaf ears as a classification was made in humans in terms of priorities. People point fingers as when it was Tsunami thousands of helicopters did the rescue and when it came to Pakistan the front line ally not even half of them helicopters could be engaged and they never exceeded over 100, what ever relief that was done catered to only a few per cent not even 10 per cent as per flights and evacuations made.

The dead are in graves the survivors are the ones that are a big question mark as what happens to them and how long will it take for the life to be normal for them.

The urgency of the matters require concrete efforts at all levels and the embroiling political scenario has given it a very different twist.

The baton charging Punjab Police has created enough ripples in relief and aid agencies who after seeing the appalling display of brutality on affectees with a norm of tear gas and sticks on the injured and traumatized people concentrated their relief operations on higher elevations where this brutal and repressive force was not present or had minimum of presence.

The tales are countless but all kudos for people who do the relief work as in making a difference in the lives of people who have no where to turn to. The complaints are more but those who are saved have it balanced to some extent as in with gratitude for all those who were there to provide them with food and shelter. They are the blessed few thousands out of millions who have made it.

No data can be considered accurate and futile exercises made in the past have ranked Pakistan as the graveyard of developmental projects. The figures presented leave a lot to be desired. Simple statistics in population can show how wrong the figures are but one can only pray that the slogans and relief as aired and harped by the policy makers make a change and is spent on the people unlike the unaccounted for millions that have made their way to foreign accounts and were never spent on the people. The unprecedented snow earlier this year, followed by floods and now earthquake all have tales and relief operations in all three have faced criticism as majority complained and is still complaining.

“May Allah save them all who are faced with very harsh winter and make things easier for them, Ameen,” said an amputee in the corridor of the hospital with a blank expression, “I have lost all and I don’t know what will happen to millions.”

“I just pray they survive the winter,” said the man who walked away in pain on crutches.

And There Were No More Screams

2005-11-13T14:15:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

The catastrophic earthquake in Pakistan on October 8 has thousands of wailing parents staring at the debris of the schools that were the architectural masterpieces of corrupt contractors and served as communal graves of the generation that was future.

They have their children school bags, shoes and clothes close to their hearts and they spend hours in the vicinity with transfixed eyes at the entrance that their loved ones will come running to their arms.

No amount of words can explain the pain, which this scribe shares with the bereaved families who once were free and respectable people and now have been reduced to the level of beggars.
The traumatized families and scores of mothers are found wailing and running from one end to the other in mental frenzy hoping that their child will come running out from the rubble, which never happened.

The count is never there as what exactly is the number of schools alone in the two regions of Azad Kashmir and Frontier Province that were communal graves of the future of the nation but they run in easy thousands and with hundreds of children in each school the figure crosses 100,000.

The official figure is different as in the aid that was pledged and never given as all aid is as promised requires transparency which despite efforts can not be guaranteed. The donor’s conference next week will decide the fate of these affectees who are in millions and are without food and shelter.

It was as expected a trail lead to the corrupt practices where women arms were cut for gold ornaments, people selling the relief goods in the market and unaccounted for money reaching few who thrived on the dead besides doing politics.

The Saturday quake exposed many things but the most painful ones was the negligence witnessed in the case of school children and there have been scores of documents in which the dying kids under the rubble wrote the trauma they went through while surviving under tones of rubble.

Nine-year-old Taj story under the rubble tells as how she survived for days trapped inside the classroom. She narrated all as what she observed in her pauses of consciousness when she witnessed the death of her class mates and her teacher and later accompanied by a friend Nazia who also lost her life while the two huddled together praying for the darkness to leave them.
She wrote all in her homework notebook with date and all her accounts after October 8 are mixed as in where ever she find the page she put a line there, when there was light reaching from some corner.

She has asked her father and mother many times for food and water and complained of cold and demanding them to give her blanket and then there is just a line which marked the end of her life.

A group of Japanese rescuers found their way in to the school hoping to find some survivors but there were none as it was after two weeks they were able to be there and in them were over two dozen starved children who screamed their hearts out for help which was not there.

Taj along with Nazia was found holding on to her homework copy and she had a pencil gripped in her fingers and her last sentences on her notebook were “Mama Papa am hungry, am cold, give me blanket. Where are you mama, where are you mama.”

There was line in the end as till end she held that notebook and was found with it, there has been few other pieces from these dying children reaching to the media that made thousands tearful but fact remains that efforts needed with a lot of haphazard rescue work left a lot to be desired.

The last but not the least were the baton charging policemen from Punjab Police who leave no stone unturned in giving a befitting thrashing to the affectees who dared to protest as they refused leave the refugee camps.

So much is written and said about the relief operation that a common man is now reluctant after a month that the money and material he is sending will reach the deserving or not.

The thousands who are in the hospital are complaining that there is nothing as promised reaching them.

The much promised iron sheets for the affectees have not reached and are not there as the money that is announced is not even reaching them. A little and few people who are seen on TV taking cheques are not even one per cent of the total affected.

In all this the thousands of orphans and nearly 20 million of women and children are shelter less and are vulnerable. The government has announced that it will look after them but the question remains how it will be done.

The complaints from relief agencies are mounting and hungry and angry people sitting in the cold with inadequate supplies are beginning to show resentment since long.

The self-esteem all gone and reduced there are scores of children in school dress are found running after the big wig politicians who visit the areas for photo opportunities and they only beg for food and not money.

The extreme differences in all top hierarchy are visible and common man is left aghast as where to turn to. In the entire scenario the common man deserves kudos that came forward and so far a concrete plan is still awaited from government side.

A few suggestions also surfaced as the royal and palace like accommodations of the governors who have staff of hundreds running here and there to cater to one man can be declared sanctuaries for the orphan children and women as they will be well protected but so far nothing has been done in this regard. These palaces were to show the grandeur of the British Raj and currently symbolize repressive regime as commonly referred by the masses.

“They ask us to sacrifice why don’t they start from their own place,” said an angry Kashmiri who lost all his family members in the earthquake.

“It’s a bunch of thieves I have to beg them to get food and I was a rich man had means and all and I use to feed the poor but the way humanity is treated here I wished I had died in that quake as why I have survived to see this day.”

There have been reports women with kids surviving the quake are losing their children to disease and hunger as cholera and pneumonia are reported maximum in children who have no adequate shelter.

The tents provided in emergency are not waterproof and rains and snow is reported in upper parts of the mountains.

Where should we go,” said a woman crying, “Its our fate that instead of instant death we die each day. I have lost a child in school, I have one lost to the cold and one is dying what should I do.”

These stories are in thousands and everywhere there are complaints and very few words as in praise as losing all people have lost the sense of belonging and in trauma they complain and act violent.

The reason given are different but the bottom line is that they complain of neglect and callousness and all self-esteem gone they react different.

No such catastrophe struck Pakistan before it was visible so action was taken floods a few months ago in southern Pakistan in three provinces devastated an easy million and more but it was hushed up as the water cleared all traces.

“We are here and we wait and we have nothing and we are neglected and we can’t complain as we leave this to Allah and pray it will pass we have been punished severely,” said a woman crying.

There are millions but they only care for few thousands, what about the remaining ones,” she asked, “Who will care about us.”

Quake and the tales of the unexpected

2005-11-01T17:43:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Lies have gripped everything and for Grand National Interest all must not be told to the masses as the catastrophic earthquake of 7.6 magnitude exposed many faces of the ruling elite and their love of the commoner of the land of the pure.

The photo opportunities and looting of relief goods and the frequent helicopter visits of the ruling elite made the relief workers complain as their photo opportunities distract and hamper the efforts for mitigating the problems of the masses who are in shocked state of having lost all their loved ones besides their property.

The elite as usual came with a great security cordon that halts all that is happening and the ruling elite comprising of all who are the ‘chosen lot’ have not been asked to host a family which they can easily do for the perks which they don’t deserve. They can be asked and their promised perks can be channelised for the surviving affectees who are facing extreme weather now but none is setting an example and everything that appears very good is harped only for the space in the papers.

But fact of the matter is that Pakistan land of the pure has some more millions in the ever-increasing millions joining the poverty line, which hovers at 80 per cent unofficially, and 50 per cent officially.

The latest is the official death toll of 57,000 given from a government representative while there has been a report confirming over 8000 schools which crashed in the quake taking all the children with them as prepared with criminal negligence and no check on impaired constructional materials the contractors made communal grave for the future and generation breathed its last in the rubble that could never be lifted.

State statistics and independents statistics are extreme in terms of figures of how many lost their lives but who is verifying as only one per cent out of the total affected have been evacuated from the region and great number sit out in cold facing hunger and death.

Desperation is a small word to encompass the traumatic millions as left with nothing they have nowhere to turn too.

The millions came from people who wanted to care and share but with all chaos around, millions were wasted. The three R’s Rescue, Rehabilitate and Reconstruct has not even the first R going past 20 per cent or so and remaining R are way after.

It is also accused of being selective and latest being the foreign troops landing in Pakistan the roads leading to the base in Kashmir are off limits to the commoner affectees.

A number of comments by angry people in other circumstances could result in a jail sentence or treason as those who have lost all are now reduced to the level of beggars and the scenes of hungry people reaching and rushing out for food are still very fresh as its everyday with every relief trucks that inch their way to the affected cities.

The dead are in their communal grave as their adobes served the purpose and no exact count is given as how many houses collapsed a rough estimate by government is 200,000 houses were razed while unofficially its double and more.

Similarly the question of National Database Registration Authority is also challenged as it has record of all individuals in Pakistan why such a hush up on giving exact account of the inhabitants in the region.

The incidents of people cutting women arms in the rubble for gold ornaments, killing and looting the relief goods have been reported in the Press. The kidnappers, human smugglers and criminals all have made very strong impressions during the quake and millions of affectees looked in the skies for the promised scattered relief that was there but catered only to thousands.

The world pledged a lot but Government of Pakistan failed miserably to control as how relief efforts should be streamlined. The inability of government offices were also exposed on day one when a multi story building in Islamabad showed all as how human life is accounted for in the land of the pure. The rubble was removed in two weeks areas in the line of quake have resulted in wiping out of cities with hundreds of villages in rubble.

The colossal loss of life is gauged to 300,000 and more with double the number injured while an easy 4 millions are in the open and facing the cold.

The appeals made to them to come down from the highest offices are not heard, why as what ever compensation if at all it reaches them will be taken by the mighty and the rich who as usual made their way with the relief supplies.

The inefficiency can be gauged that with millions of jobless youth if motivated and mobilized earlier in the relief would have resulted in quick recovery of the injured in the rubble which over the time somehow came out on personal effort added with locals who with no respite joined hands as in the end it was their place and their land and they had to do it all by themselves and they did.

It may be mentioned here the entire country has less than 50,000 beds in the hospitals and injured alone are 10 times the amount all faced with bruises and broken bones.

The relief doctors have lost count of the amputations they made on the injured as the simple wounds that could have been treated and cured were infected and doctors had no choice but to cut the limb.

Horrifying statements also appeared in the press where people asked for death rather than to survive supported by relief workers who complained that there is nothing for them to carry out the relief, people begged for pick and shovels to dig out and burry the dead who were under the rubble.

The loss of lives also resulted in the profiteering from the heartless marketers who sold the blankets and tents on exorbitant prices for fast cash. Equally sad episodes were witnessed when the relief goods were found making their way to the market as it happened in the case for the flood affectees earlier this year which also number an easy million and examples from the past that included draught relief and Afghan aid.

The government has many a time reassured that full transparency will be done in distribution of the aid which has been a sore point for all as despite all the relief that is coming is not reaching the deserving that are sitting in the open.

Simple statistics shows that of the four million population not 40,000 have been evacuated and hospitals are filled to the capacity with quake victims staying in the corridors.

Few questions arise as what happens next when these injured leave the hospital, what happens to them, who are going to look after them. The orphans and the women and the old who have nowhere to turn too, the report in the paper says that government will look after them.

The trust of the people on Baitual Maal can be gauged from the fact that before the start of Ramadan people make queues outside banks and draw large amount of sums as to give Zakat from their own hands. The banks all run on interest based economy face this scenario every Ramadan and they have simple answer that people don’t trust bank for the deduction of their money for the purpose of Zakat. Similar trend was witnessed the private donations were far more then the government collection except the aid that came from foreign governments added with the controversy that involved criticism from public when government said it see no problem in accepting aid from Israel and India.

The subservient masses in millions who face death, disease and hunger leave a big question mark as what will happen to them. The three natural calamities during the year and steps taken in relief left a lot to be desired as in January this year was the unprecedented snow in the mountains and many were trapped, in summers came the rains added with floods which wiped out thousands of villages displacing easy a million and two and now earth quake in Ramadan in October has 4 million suffering.

Fingers are pointed at the unaccounted for money which is sent for the people from the world over as the delayed relief and rescue tarnished and shattered many a hopes of the people who scream for help which is not reaching.

There are many reasons given for why it is happening and everyone says that it is a sign from Allah and people must seek forgiveness for their sins and make amends in their attitudes which are governed only by greed and lies which stand justified in the world of today.

Everyone in mosques have prayed for forgiveness and for the lives of the people who died in horrifying earthquake of October 8 which came exactly after four years as four years ago Pakistan made a turn in its policy and assisted coalition troops who conducted 57000 air strikes on Afghanistan and there too people were seen rushing for the food supplies as it was bombing by night and food by day.

“Its our punishment,” said an old man while looking in the sky adding, “We still don’t understand that we are wrong and we are cheating with ourselves and Allah.”

Allah help us all. Ameen

A Generation Lost in Rubble

2005-10-17T14:16:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

The count is conflicting as always but one thing is for sure that the catastrophe has affected millions who are looking up to the skies for the divine ‘Allah’ to have mercy, a generation is lost in the rubble and not even half the dead are taken out from the structures especially schools built with inferior construction material, serving as communal graves for the future.

The earthquake measuring 7.6 on Richter scale left a devastating impact on Pakistan and it was felt by the entire nation and all were exposed in standing up to the hour of need except the common man that rushed and do as required and is beacon for the policy makers who safe in their shock proof adobes gave a deaf ear to the cries of millions.

The politicians in particular were found missing and reports have also appeared in Press where a state minister held relief goods for over a day with a photo shoot with the Prime Minister. Also seen is the Sunday picture eight days after the quake in a leading national daily which shows minister all giggles while coming to attend the Relief Measures Meeting called by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The pictures are worth a thousand words and seeing is believing with no remorse on their faces common man is left shocked. Not long ago a similar picture made its way in the national press and left a lot to be desired by the ‘so called’ champions of common man interest from the opposition that called a nation wide strike in September.

The Opposition members staged a protest from the National Assembly and were also found laughing outside as if all that goes on in the country is a big joke and people dying for want of clean drinking water, education, job and justice never mattered.

All the offices where commoner can make a voice have been out of reach, those representing the common man has made it an all family affair and one doesn’t have to look far as politicians have their siblings and prodigies filling in their shoes to make a loot that they failed in filling their vaults.

Pakistan political scene is an ample proof of hereditary politicians and one sees a series of generation following their ancestor’s footprints.

The political mileage, which every political party thought to gain in quake, in return exposed their own faces. Hats off a common man that came forward and did what he could from his meager resources to stand beside the affectees that number equal to that of Afghan refugees. Its is said out of 4 million population over 2.5 million people are in the open and without shelter what happened to the remaining.

No exact figure is there as how many are in camps, how many are rescued and how many are injured and how many are evacuated. No figure at all. The death toll also leaves a very sad state of affairs where ministers on record lie while the most noted social worker Edhi in the first few days of the quake in Kashmir said, “My workers have buried over 50,000 dead in Kashmir.”

The ministers all the time harped conflicting details lying in front of TV in ‘larger national interest’ saying the dead are less than 30,000 and not a single politician was found in the quake affected region of Azad Kashmir as all of them were in their adobes here in Islamabad.

North West Frontier Province that also suffered a lot has one official saying the death toll is 1000 as if 1000 is no figure at all and its has entire city and villages quashed with residents inside with the intensity of quake.

The school in a radius of one mile has twice that figure and all these innocent children in early grades are buried deep under tons of faulty construction rubble whose contractors like all the mighty in the land of the pure will never be punished.

The callous attitude by the state hierarchy on the first day only revolved around a multi story structure in Islamabad that like the communal school graves of the children had poor construction material and collapsed burying the residents inside.

It was made overlooking the rules from the capital development authority as quick cash made its way and everything was quiet and like an established norm the big fish ran away from the scene.

The Islamabad building had no less then seven ministers and more visiting the debris besides the visit of president and prime minister and reports that day on that one collapsed building showed the level of preparedness from the state when it made an appeal to the world we have no equipment to get the people out.

Pakistan not long ago purchased 70 costly bullet proof vehicles obviously to protect some very precious people that are indispensable for the country it had no money to buy a single Crain or equipment that could remove rubble or serve the common man that dies from drinking contaminated water, drowns in flood and is dead because of contaminated drugs.

Shame on policy makers and politicians who for their vested and nefarious interests join hands for the collective perks for them and leave the common man dying of hunger.

All the politicians be it government and opposition passed a resolution unanimously about their privileges and nation witnessed that and wring its hands in repentance as the two were sides of the same coin and none representing them.

Death be it anywhere leaves an imprint on all but it failed to effect champions here who profited from it as photo shoot opportunity and were criticized for their actions in the national press.

The colossal amount of loss and lies by state representative showed their interest in human welfare too. The delayed relief added with the fearful observations from the international rescue teams state that if efforts are done fast by land and air the count that is stated to be 50,000 dead (official) can double as people are dying of injuries, hunger and cold. The unofficial figure states 10 per cent of the total 4 million is dead that makes 400,000. Statistics can be horrifying but they are true.

Hungry people have been reported and viewed on TV as they swarm the relief goods as the delayed relief caravans were not stopping to give them food and were moving onward for other towns.

Its is said efforts are underway to control the situation but it to date is out of hands and everyday people die for want of medicine and food as it is not reaching them for 36 hours no one reached the affectees out of Islamabad and whatever efforts are done are haphazard as there is no expertise to contain the situation as the delays added with anger is changing the situation everyday.

Few quotes that were very disturbing show the state of mind of the people who have faced the trauma.

A relief doctor on a TV channel said, “Those who died in the quake are lucky and the remaining will die as there is no relief reaching here.”

A young boy said, “I am happy my mother is dead and inside the rubble if she had been alive she would been starved to death.”

This has been admitted by many officials as not all areas are accessible but the question arise how long will this continue.

The civil defense and crisis management cell the two name exist in the papers but where were they sad but true the two departments existed but nothing was done to mobilize or train the staff and as white elephants they just continue to sit and watch the death drama.

A generation is lost in the rubble and what are left faces a fate that will be in the same faulty schools that are built by corrupt contractors. The question is will it be checked as one generation of the region is gone or will it be left to chance as well.

The owner of Islamabad building has left the country and the real story as how it was build show the net the corruption that expose many big wigs will they ever be arrested only time will tell but like so many corrupt are left to roam the country free the matter will also hush up.
The need of the hour is to help save what is left without delay as enough delay has been done and it’s a question of human life.

It must be mentioned here Ramadan the holiest of month has unprecedented price hike because of the fuel price that was raised days before the start of Ramadan and it changed like usual all the prices of the goods as living became expensive.

There are people who are profiteering from the dead too. The fares for transportation of trucks have increased, the ordinary vehicles with the rush of people going to the Kashmir region is charging exorbitantly to make gains and corrupt officials with un accounted money are also making a loot with both hands. The prices of blankets have gone three times that is to name a few.

The question remains will it be checked as common man did what it can giving a pillow and a blanket and clothes now is the time for the precious and indispensable individuals for whom those costly bullet proof cars came as they were simply precious to do the remaining act to prove their worth.

Commoner who are dead and dying and helpless continue to die as they can only see these precious people and cars in pictures only.

Contingency plan an unheard phenomenon

2005-10-09T06:01:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

They are all buried under tons of rubble and screaming for help for more than a day now, their voices are getting feeble and feeble, as there are no tools to get them out.

No contingency plan was there as what if, it has been an ongoing dilemma for people who are heavily taxed on the name of 'Grand National Interest' and they pay it in the form of their lives and when they don’t have anything to pay they take their lives, as they are no longer useful tool for tax collection.

It was over five hours that nothing could be done for the people stranded in the heart of Islamabad the federal capital of Pakistan and it was but a multistory building and other areas have entire cities and villages wiped out under land slides and debris.

The earthquake 7.6 Richter Scale jolted Pakistan and was felt worse in Azad Kashmir devastating it five districts.

The death toll till filing of this report is not confirmed 40,000 are said to have perished and injured alone are nearing 100,000 and it is expected to rise as the time passes. The areas are inaccessible as nothing could be done, roads are swept and there is no other passage that can take the relief or rescue workers except wings.

The lessons since January this year have been tremendous and every time the incompetency, callousness, lack of equipment and relief goods was pointed and a general apathy was observed, as it was not Islamabad. Like all times these points were brushed under the carpet as it was a temporary and there is a lot of man power and Pakistan is an over populated country and masses will pull through.

The incident in Islamabad showed all that has scores of department and no one come on the scene with proper tools. They all came unprepared and ill equipped and the attitude can be observed that the crane to lift the debris came after five hours and the injured inside who had a chance to get out alive just succumbed to death and still many are trapped inside and have their life line diminishing by the minutes as the rubble is removed slowly.

Hats off to the rescue teams, Britons made it first who are selfless and have equipment and with them came hope which was lost hours ago, local administration can do well in keeping the local rescuers at distance as they did baton charge and abused the people who did rescue work on Margalla Towers. The local admin can stay and watch as watchdogs, as there are trained dogs, which are finding people in debris and deserve praise in service to humanity.

Needless to say that all the chaos left a lot to be desired as eye witness account of people cracking concrete with stone as an endeavour to break past the slab to get to the trapped loved one inside pushing tons of rubble with hands which is not moving an inch to squeeze past to get to the sound that said help.

This is an account gathered from different reports and eyewitnesses in Islamabad other cities are far off and have road network that is far worse and just 40 kilometers from Islamabad the road leading to Murree is swept by the landslide.

Mansehra less than 100 miles (140 kilometers) from Islamabad is devastated beyond recognition and in its villages there has been small children who in quest for education were buried alive as their school roofs cave in and that is reported at many schools in the area and locals are digging their dead from the rubble. The children alone are numbered in thousand dead as they all gathered in their classes and had no chance to get out.

The disasters sweeping the length and breadth of country not touching Islamabad but near and around witnessed unprecedented snow and 50 kilometers away from the heart of Islamabad the hill station Murree give a lesson to the government in January that harped tunes for the providing amenities to the masses every hour. The road blocked never allowed teams to pass the area for a week.

The snow took its toll and death toll was never known added with the loss of property as it was cold and the count couldn’t be held and its an established norm that it happens every year so its of no consequence.

The flood in summers were unprecedented, the overflow of water gutted thousands of villages across Pakistan in all the provinces and hundred of thousands of people were displaced and were homeless who were announced compensation and its not known whether they were awarded or not.

The earthquake having center just 95 kilometers from Islamabad played havoc in Azad Kashmir and the five districts are devastated with thousands buried alive in debris and they have no chance of getting out alive as the entire area is inaccessible because of land slides. The air drops with food and blankets are made but who will take it as majority is under rubble.

The three natural disasters with snow, floods and now earthquake and no contingency plans show a general apathy of the government towards its subjects which can be referred as slaves or more so as insects as its them who die so far its is not heard any big wig facing the same fate of the commoner.

All the tall claims of improving the life in the past have been washed, people were left at the mercy of circumstances in case of snow and in floods and now earthquake.

The building in Islamabad showed what is happening in the heart of Islamabad and the level of preparedness from government side if any such incidents happen.

The appeal made by the police chief who controlled baton charging gun slinging force was of earth moving equipment from the private construction companies and nothing was insight till sun set on the first day of the earthquake.

People used bare hands to remove the debris and were successful in getting the survivors out but it left a lot to be desired from the power brokers in Islamabad.

The labourers and locals in vicinity deserves kudos as they worked and did the rescue as everyone in land of the pure knows that in the end it will be only him to do as he must and its not the government job. It is known and established norm in land of the pure that government is busy raising the life style of the masses and has records to show that it has done a lot for the poor commoner of the country.

The poor commoner takes it as fate as he is a collateral damage as he come in the way of eventuality be it snow, flood or earthquake.

The government just makes the announcements of giving compensation which hardly reaches people, what is witnessed is so few and thousands of hungry stay back as they were not lucky to be in the compensation list as it’s a task that is done with great care and has its own tale of corruption.

The enough manpower in Pakistan is in the form of jobless youth in millions that to date is never utilized. This youth could have been used as rescue workers in all these devastated areas if there was a contingency plan which unfortunately is never considered as what ever happens in land of the pure comes to the poor the big wigs are always unharmed.

A quake affectee said, “The politicians were having a meeting in senate I wish their wall should have caved in but that building was made with quake hazard in mind it just left a crack and they run to safety outside if they had faced the same fate as us they would be more considerate.
I say all these politicians who are in posh areas of Islamabad should be sent to their constituencies and I bet on my life they will be lynched before they say a word to console people and that’s a risk no politician in his right mind will take.”

Land of the pure has been faced with such dilemmas every time and every time there are lessons but every time they are forgotten as it in the not humans who perish but ordinary commoners and poor who have no say and will never have any say and no wonder people say the slogan its not Pakistan Zindabad but Pakistan Say Zinda Bhag.

“When I have my rights as a human and I am not living in perpetual fear I will say I am human but till that time I call myself insect in the land of the pure and insect I remain,” as with all the education as in making me a better human is a waste as it never guarantees even my very basic of rights,” said a jobless youth at the scene of Margalla Tower.

Miracles do happen in Pakistan

2005-10-02T07:10:00.000+05:00

Asem Mustafa

The entrance test for medical colleges was scheduled last Sunday (September 25). The students came from all over North West Frontier Province and were disappointed as the paper was already in the market with rich students having an access to buy it at Rs 200,000 (3300 dollars approximately) and then selling it for an amount of Rs 500 (8 dollars) before the start of the test to other students.

The entrance examination paper was rumoured to be out three days prior to the test and it was known among medical students who felt they were cheated and it would be a same old story, which is repeated over and over again.

The element of surprise as that of examination was taken away as few having money purchased it before time and some how for the first time a big raid was conducted by the provincial administration and the scam was exposed as it was thought that these students with corrupt practice will play havoc with the lives of the people if they get admission in the professional medical colleges.

The newspapers on time and again come up with the stories of these medical practitioners who are involved in organ trade and can be rated as next to butchers and inhuman callous doctors who don’t treat a patient till their fee is placed up front as they are professionals. The exceptions are there as in good doctors but they are too few as if they have been more the nation wouldn’t be suffering from ills that are all poor man diseases.

The short cut to professional college is only done as to secure a future which no one can predict a professional degree promises a chance as a professional wont die of hunger which is the fate of so many who are not having professional degrees and are nothing but road masters.

The medical test scam also unearthed a vicious circle and 40 arrests were done as in getting to the real culprit, which is still reported to be at large.

The story in the Press with the official version appeared to be a very insubstantial one as a peon and a driver were arrested who worked at Education Testing and Evaluation Authority (ETEA). The two were booked in exposing the examination paper and selling it students at price of Rs 200,000 approx 3300 dollars.

People believe that a peon and driver don’t have the mental IQ to conduct such a racquet while all other details are accurate but blaming the two is indigestible as main accused remained at large.

So many times it has happened and the cheating during the examinations of grade 8th, grade 10th, grade 12th (FA/ FSc), graduation (BA/ BSc) and masters is now a booming trade.

Examination centers are sold, invigilators are bribed, answer sheets are changed and what not under the broad daylight and mafias operate that are well connected and everything is possible under the sun.

The scam unearthed and reported at national media is first of a kind as somehow there was a pause in the hectic schedule for city godfathers who find time to listen to the masses who have their cries unheard most of the time, as they are unseen and unheard of creatures from the power brokers.

It is not the first time but it is of special significance as it was noticed and efforts were made to curtail a thing ‘cheating’ which is rampant in all segments of society from food adulteration to scams in stock markets.

The literacy rate as projected by officials figures and as portrayed by UNESCO and by the minister doesn’t match at all as land of the pure is considered a researchers nightmare as the figures are never the same and one can never be sure as which date to trust.

There is 50 per cent, 35 per cent and 18 per cent from different sources and readers are open to guess. A literate person is defined as a person who instead of thumbprint can write his name and can read letters.

Punjab University Lahore has its own tales of corruption while racquets are run in land of the pure that give fake educational transcripts and people buy it as everything is possible with money and connections in the land of the pure.

The most recent example is of a general who has been a member national assembly and his papers were disqualified as he submitted his papers to contest the election of District Nazim. His 10th grade transcript was adjudged fake by the returning officer. He contested that decision and Supreme Court decided the case and said the retired general transcript of Grade 10th was genuine.

How it all happened is a story that exposes the political system as well as the literate national assembly of the land of the pure.

The short cuts prevailing in the current scenario are the guess papers low cost and keenly purchased by students. How they make their way to the market and how they are so popular also needs investigation as in the end it’s the educational system that suffers.

The question remains who cares in all these ills, which have found their way in the society and are cancerous for the national growth.

There are ghost schools, ghost teachers and colossal wastage of funds in the advertisement campaigns that are projecting select political figures as motivation for masses but on ground masses are unmoved as what is harped never reaches them.

They come on TV and tell the hard pressed commoner that has no money for buying food to send his child to school as the school is what his child need. No doubt about that as education, health and clean drinking water is state responsibility.

Water borne deaths are every month and diseases well thousands are suffering and Hepatitis A to Z are the national diseases added with Tuberculosis. The other two sectors education and health well they are in papers and come down in the priority list of the booming Pakistan that has overcome all these small obstacles and masses life style has improved.

How many projects are there as in changing lives for the thousands, the government does so much and still people complain. It is an established norm that what ever is announced never makes it to the end users as corruption, kick backs and many other jump in to take their share in the pie. It happened in the case of many international donors agencies, which had programmes for the people and if they had been implemented things would have been different.

The saying is land of the pure is a graveyard of developmental projects and there are many projects which are buried here that amount up to millions of dollars.

A poor commoner that forms 80 per cent of population has 40 per cent established living below poverty line as in earning less than dollar a day and remaining 40 per cent earns less than two dollars a day.

A commoner has need for education at a far end as he buys flour for the hungry child and leave the book as its out of reach and unaffordable and a luxury item.

Not long ago there were scams involved in the printing of the books with students running here and there as the syllabus was changed and books were not printed in time as monopoly of the text book boards and the select printers.

The slogans by the government officials as free books in school added with a stipend is very alluring for the poor man but he is left with no means to send his child to school as he lives in a slum and slum dwellers in land of the pure are considered parasites who have acquired the prime land and are evicted from the place when ever there is a chance.

These forced evictions have resulted in many deaths and these slums have many a children under the age of 10 but the slogans for free books and stipend doesn’t encompass these children who spend their lives in dirt and end up in dirt.

The slum dwellers send their children to hotel, workshop and factories where they are earn and learn and are considered an earning member of the family as education with majority of masses is a waste of time as land of the pure has prime human resource of 8 million as in jobless literate youth.

The primary teacher that is the backbone of the country that builds the base of the child is paid only Rs 2500 that is less that 50 dollars a month. He is asked to do more than his share as to put his sweat and blood in grooming the children, the future of Pakistan while a labourer in a local market earns Rs 3000 and more and leaves a question mark for the primary school teacher as why is he teaching why doesn’t he take up the spade and do the same work and leave nation building for people who day dream of it.

The nation building process sure reaches new heights with the difference between the earning of a labourer and primary teacher as the government is keen on building a stronger and better Pakistan.

Jabir a low grade clerk justified his acceptance of bribe said its not the question of morals as morals don’t exist any more when the top is corrupt having criminals in the national assembly with loan defaulters and people wanted by National Accountability Bureau in various crimes. I am a very small fish and food does cost money.”

Jabir and his likes are in abundance in all government departments and that’s the reason Pakistan stand tall at 102 positions out of 104 in public institutions.

He declined to comment on bribery which is prohibited in Islam he said when people stop committing suicide with rat poison which is cheaper than the bread I will stop taking bribe.

Sonia Naz Quest for Justice Continues

2005-09-25T08:45:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

From pillar to post Sonia Naz quest for justice remains unanswered she has named people who are sacred goats and nothing can be done as despite identifying the culprits she is still far from getting justice.

Her cries have been heard in the highest offices the delay in handing out the sentence is leaving all in shocked state as why the delay.

She was raped on the orders of officer of the law and rapists were none other than the officers of the law.

Commissions have been formed tons of reports are piling each day but justice is at snail pace and still gathering the facts and ordeal for Sonia Naz continues as she dared to walk on the scared floor of National Assembly.

Sonia Naz mother of two sat with woman MNA Mehnaz Rafi and finding a stranger in the house she called in security and with equal callous attitude the Speaker National Assembly Ch Amir Hussain ordered for her arrest. Ill fated Sonia Naz was dragged out per force and was sent to jail and from their justice was imparted on her as how dare she tread on the scared grounds.

She came only to see the Prime Minister and married to a junior clerk in Excise office, which is a den of corruption she was met with a fate that no one can think off. The custodians of law helped the helpless.

The stranger in the house Sonia Naz was given a treatment that gives the mindset of the people who sit in the august National Assembly and decide the fate of Pakistan.

Veiled and petrified mother of two Sonia Naz sat quiet next to Mehnaz Rafi a woman parliamentarian who called security and speaker National Assembly gave a final verdict as why she is here and who is she.

She was sent to jail and later released as instead of hearing the unarmed and helpless mother who looked for her missing husband and sought justice she was thrown in prison.

Barely educated and unaware of the scared grounds Sonia was delivered justice in a package when she was abducted, held in illegal confinement, abused and raped at the hands of police that is the custodian of law.

Land of the pure has people resorting to strange means in seeking justice, they come under the wheels of zooming past monarchs, burn themselves in front of the palaces, commit suicide and self immolation in courts. Countless examples are there and a book can be written on the ‘good governance and justice’, which is always delayed and denied.

It may be mentioned here the annual report presented by Punjab Ombudsman to Governor states that public have maximum grievances against the Police Department, next is Education Department and next is District Administration.

These three form the key to good governance as in law and order, literacy and public welfare. Masses have shown their dissatisfaction on them as none has delivered despite getting funds worth billions of rupees. Where were they spent is another story as tales of corruption take time to expose and those who expose don’t live long enough to tell as system gets them first.

Not long ago a woman in order to get justice was crushed under the wheels of Punjab Chief Minister Escort in Sialkot. She was richer by some thousands as her sacrifice under the wheels made her family rich and her family needs were answered minus her.

A poor man commented that such is the level of sacrifice I will consult my wife to have one fast running child to do that same to come under some motorcade wheels as with one sacrifice may be the others will live as trying to get our needs heard in this place will take generations and our needs as in food and shelter are now.

An illiterate man who had no idea as how the system in land of the pure works as day dreaming he thought that the promised land of the pure will have his need met at the door step.

The Human Right Commission of Pakistan also came up with a report with three high profile cases with Mukhtarn Mai as first victim, Dr Shazia who was made to leave Pakistan under mysterious circumstance and now Sonia Naz.

The three cases have depicted the moral decay of the society that has gone down to the lowest ebb and in Mukhtaran Mai case it was but the commoners she is still awaiting justice while the other cases involved departments and had individuals who represented power and were not from the masses.

The areas that need immediate attention are the reforms and curtailing the powers of the so-called servants of law who are branded as the biggest criminals by masses in the land of the pure.

The judiciary also need to show some spine as the usual practices has the raped victims almost branded as women with doubtful character playing with the law they had cases after cases coming at them involving threat and abuse of power besides mental torture.

When will this end no one can answer as the parliament has individuals who have been involved in corrupt practices and majority has cases pending against them in different courts of law and in the accountability courts.

Who will uphold the law no one can answer as if ever existed Mukhtaran Mai, Dr Shazia Khalid and Sonia Naz would never have been raped and their cases would never have exposed the top hierarchy of the land of the pure.

Ramadan and Tales in the Offing

2005-09-18T07:20:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Ramadan is around the corner and the poor in the land of pure held hostage by mafia is bracing for the unprecedented loot that will be in the sacred month where people amass illegal gains that last them for the remaining 11 months of the year and papers mention suicide details of commoners who ended their lives as they couldn’t buy new clothes for their kids.

Hoarding is a criminal offence and has been explained in Hadeeth and in the law and is defined explicitly but sadly with decaying morals, it has only remained in the book of the law and never implemented. Pakistan boundaries that start outside Islamabad is left at the mercy of the hoarders who will do all to fleece the last drop of blood from the poor commoner and in Ramadan its at its peak with no cheap markets in sight.

The Pakistan in Islamabad has Price Control Committees while real Pakistan that starts outside Islamabad has no such thing and masses have been left at the mercy of retailers who make the loot with both hands.

The government which claims to deal with all issues with iron hands has failed miserably to provide relief to the commoner and the latest in the week is over 400 being treated for water contamination with 9 dead so far as of Sundays newspapers in Karachi.

The year 2008 is projected to give clean drinking water to 80 per cent of the population that has no access to that facility which is the lifeline for millions.

The situation is so gross that promised utility stores that are a little over 300 and are state owned will cater to the population a simple math can tell that if these promised 300 are divided over the total population will have half a million going in an out a day and they are buying and thinking too how much time will it take for the whole process or it simply caters to the people who have money to buy food and those who don’t well they can starve as its their fate in the land of the pure.

An agriculture based country with over 70 per cent population associated with it, the failure from the government side that the 60 per cent of the total irrigational land is not fit for plantation and nothing has been done from the experiences of the world that had taken advantage of the green revolution. Other countries in order to be self sufficient in at least food worked on it and had little pride as ‘no begging for food’.

The incapacity at home front can be gauged from the fact that as few miles from Pakistan in India the Punjab state in India is sending potatoes, tomatoes, onion, garlic and other common and daily use vegetables, while the Punjab at home in heart of Pakistan is not producing these common vegetables for its own consumer market. Something is wrong somewhere and where it happens nobody cares to address the issue.

The difference in prices is so much that Indian meat (halal and haram is not confirmed) is sold for Rs 80 in Karachi while local meat is sold for Rs 120 in Lahore.

Three per cent of elite control the land that is nearly 45 per cent of the land and these feudals are the ones who directly or indirectly control the commoners as its from their lands the produce goes to market as they are the people who control the wholesalers and they in turn control the price factor for the commoner.

The ordinary farmer has nothing much left after the crop and it has loans to pay and the crop most of the time doesn’t yield profit as its said people who cheat their land doesn’t bear crop and its evident from the fact that ordinary vegetables are being imported from India.

The budget this year was a record one with figures, it however, never mentioned what it did for the poor and newspapers carried reports of nearly two dozen committing suicides at the hands of hunger the same day.

That is one side of the story as what is actually happening in the entire length and breadth of the country, with masses that are suffering from growing price hike which is all due to fuel price that is raised after every two weeks.

Six years the fuel that was at Rs 26 is now standing at Rs 53 needless to say that the working class was never given the increase in pay with that and masses were left at the mercy of looters.
Corruption rampant in all segments of society especially in public institutions has made people to cut, coerce and all that is not allowed by the law to make their ends meets and they feed on their own as there is but no option.

Take any sector the tales of corruption added with the woeful tales of people suffering from it are countless as its has become a culture that no one can avoid as in to get things done.

The leaders as in representatives of the masses have tales that have put their constituency to shame, last month report in Press mentioned the ministers of the government who have acquired government property besides getting house rent of over 1000 dollars for their owned housing that’s amounts up to Rs 65000 and many a millions in Pakistan don’t even get Rs 65 during the day for their hard earned labour.

The masses have people committing suicides over utility bills that are of electricity and gas (they are raised after every few weeks) and are becoming unaffordable needless to say that hunger takes more lives then the bills and Eid in 45 days from now in early November will have stories of people committing suicides when they couldn’t get new clothes and even bangles for their children. People scoff at good governance and wait for the Eid in November as how many sad suicidal tales it has in its fold.

In education there were campaigns asking parents to send their kids to school and the millions of rupees spent on the advertisement could have helped thousands of children from the 5 million that work in hotels, workshops and factories as labour. They have no access to school as they are earning members of the starving family and they contribute in survival of the family that faces death, disease and hunger each day.

As of the other school going children, they can be seen of the roads with bags weighing half their body weight, hanging from buses and it’s a common sight as education in the land of the pure has always been a luxury and to date no step is taken to have a uniformed educational system that can give equal opportunity to all the children. The class difference is so much that there are schools for the elite and schools for the poor which have no facility at all and in rain there is holiday as school has no roof top and they study under the shade of a tree. How many complete education is a question which will have varying answers from all the social scientists who are unanimous in one opinion that Pakistan is a nightmare for researchers in social sector as there is very little of data.

The health sector has its own tales and any government hospital has scores of people running here and there in quest for doctors who are believed to be with healing touch but many complain that doctors 99 per cent of them in these public hospitals are next of kin to butchers and they rob people asking them to get specific drugs from specific stores and get private treatment in clinic.

The distrust from masses on all these sectors show that all is not well take water, people die of water contamination, education 5 million children working and not going to school, health well drugs have lost their efficacy and they are too expensive to be in common man's reach except wonder drug aspirin that too is not of good quality.

The nation is progressing leaps and bounds as all the top hierarchy trumpets the same old tunes and more and more fall down below the poverty line that increases with every passing day as of the price hike that grows with every hour no two shops have same rates in the same market as its as per shop owner please.

So much for good governance the masses brace for the third round of polls as what it has to offer and government has said selling of vote is criminal offence, a commoner commented,

"Government should give food and medicine for my hungry child I wont sell vote as I have no money for food or for doctor and this election is a chance for earning as I must sell it to get some food and medicine, my child dies I have no reason to live and it will be on the government that says don’t do but doesn’t tell what to do".

Price Hike and The Common Man

2005-09-11T08:35:00.000+05:00

Asem Mustafa

The fuel prices increased every two weeks will not affect the common man a repeated statement that gets as many curses from the common man that is affected as six years ago the fuel cost Rs 23 and now its at Rs 53 approximately.

The wise men from the government are not commoners so they cannot gauge a single minute as what goes on in the life of a commoner that joins the defined poverty line by thousands each day.

They say 50 per cent of the country population as per official record is below poverty line earning less than two dollars a day while researchers believe its over 80 per cent.

The nation of over 150 million has millions in jobless youth and figures show only 13 per cent is employed in public and private sector, remaining 87 per cent just kill the time in waiting for a better tomorrow and is found in the form of cheap labour.

The country is said to be agricultural based but the irony is that ordinary vegetables like onions and garlic are imported from the neighbouring country India as the home produce is insufficient to meet the hungry consumers. The latest is the imported ‘Indian Bakras’ goats that will satiate the hungry stomachs of the people here as the in house goats are all finished and consumed.

A common man is found asking this question from many a wise policy makers as what is happening the agricultural land has gone barren that vegetables are now coming from India and the local live stock is dead that we need goat and sheep from neighbours.

Something is very wrong as how it can happen or what is told to the masses is a lie that Pakistan is no longer an agricultural country and is dependent on everything like Afghanistan from its neigbours.

This all came with photographs with labourers and goats crossing the border and getting a fine display in newspapers as in relation to the tall claims of government that Pakistan is progressing leaps and bounds in agriculture and live stock sectors that are the lifeline of millions.

The government mouth pieces harp the tunes of poverty alleviation not knowing the ground realities that it’s the poor that is being eliminated everyday and almost everyday the newspaper carry reports of men and women ending their lives by taking rat poison, jumping in streams and with multiple killing of family members owing to poverty and hunger.

Any public office in land of the pure can make a common man a nervous wreck with the humiliation it goes through in getting the legitimate paper work done.

It in an international report that Pakistan stands at 102 position out of 104 countries in public institutions.

The failed offices have yet to deliver and corruption legalized and patronized has made life miserable for people.

The insult for a common man starts in the morning that draws Rs 3000 a month as its the minimum wage mark set by the government though it is less at many places and teacher the builder of the nation gets less than that. Daily wages is the norm and to date laws have never been implemented to give relief to a common worker that is the backbone of national economy as none works with empty stomach and here its called ‘sacrifice’ ones work for the elite as they serve the country better.

There have been countless reports and volumes written but they are literary works as how land of the pure should be with no time frame specified as the volumes are for good governance in future its never specifies the present.

The present is the elimination of poor at the hands of price hike to have a class that can afford to be in the land of the pure that is not affected by the constant rise in the fuel prices every two weeks. It may be mentioned here that there has been a change in fuel prices around 100 times and the fuel that cost Rs 23 six years ago is now at Rs 53 approximately and it has not affected the common man as common man has no need for the fuel and what he needs it for, his basic necessities are not met the fuel a luxury comes very late.

The common man after getting out of his one room adobe at sun rise starts the day with leftovers of the night and has an old bicycle that will take him miles and miles to the destination. This is a good habit appreciated by the ruling elite of the country who with sucked up blood of the poor and cant even fit a sofa what to talk of bicycle.

The poor pedals his way rain or shine and elite wish they could do the same but it’s the fate that the elite will stay elite and poor well he can circle around with his poverty as he please.

The policy makers should see the cycle stands of their respective departments which hosts the most precious possession of their poor staffers who serves them from morning till evening.

It is not all, huddled in the afternoon and avoiding the looks of others he takes up meager bread, as he can’t afford to buy the flat bread from the hotel that sells the bread beyond reach for most of the people. His lunch is home made with an onion or pickle and no more and a long day ahead of him.

The details of his day-to-day life are harrowing as how he begs, borrow and cheats to sustain his soul for the month.

His meager amount lasts hardly 10 days and remaining 20 days is a miracle that he survives and left with no option he gets to cut throat ways in which he takes money be it a mere pittance that can be a cup of tea and he justifies that by saying its impossible to live in this much amount.
It is also on record the finance wizards were asked on TV to make the budget for a common man who draws Rs 3000 a month and they never answered.

The grim scenario has had people shouting and going public that simple utility bills have exceeded their nominal wages and their shouts remained unheard as their utility bills even if wrong will not be rectified, the humane approach adopted by the erring department is that bill is divided in installments but its stays there.

The gross misappropriations have commoners shouting at the elite that they (common man) pay more bills then the elite who does fraudulent ways to evade the taxes. There are documents when commoners have gone public in details of the utility bills that were more than the politicians in the country who suck up the masses resources with all their political might.

The land of the pure as harped by wise men hold a great deal of promise for the ruling elite as its a boom that is witnessed in real estate, shares and other businesses with behind the scene wheeling and dealings, straight and honest business is a rarity and every major business concern has tales that are expect the unexpected.

The rates for the small public servants offices were Rs 10 lakh a few years has now doubled and its Rs 20 lakh and everyone knows that. Such is the audacity of the corrupt officials in low grades that after getting appointed on the lucrative posts which are den to corruption they make 100 times the amount they spend to come in that office and same goes for the politicians who strive hard and spend from pocket to make a 1000 times more.

Needless to say that there growing number of corruption cases speak volumes of inefficiency of check and balance prevailing in the land of the pure.

Last but not the least the Asia Pacific Bureau of Adult Education has placed Pakistan at number 14 out of 14 countries the educational statistics are horrifying and the government campaigns targeting the masses are going on deaf ears as now people send their kids to workshop as they learn a skill rather then to school which has no value, no teacher and nothing inspirational for the child that has a destination marked for him that he is born to die in misery and nothing will ever change for him.

The report on government schools is with the education department what has been done on that what happened to the existing schools, what happened to their short coming as in teachers, equipment and other facilities. Yes there are politicians who do make new buildings and have it inaugurated with pomp and show as they are doing a lot as in service to education and in their own constituency there are schools of the common man, children that stays ignored for decades.
Such is the level of hypocrisy that nothing comes out truthful from their tongues and common man just stays the way as it is with screams that have always remain unheard and have fall on deaf ears.

Quaid Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah father of the nation died on September 11, 1948 and he was trusted for his word that had the honour of true leader but now after 58 years none of the leader in land of the pure has gained the trust of the masses who pass the days of their lives praying to Allah to take them out of unending misery.

Pakistan Police The Custodian of Law & Sonia

2005-09-04T06:40:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

She came to seek justice and she was sent to jail as justice was administered on an unarmed woman who desecrated the august National Assembly by setting her foot inside. She was raped by police officials as in administering justice, was abducted held in illegal custody and is accused of being immoral a common defense taken by the police rapists involved.

She was sent to jail on the orders of none other than Speaker National Assembly as infuriated by the breach of security an unarmed and harmless mother of two failed to get her plea heard by the monarchs as all she sought was justice in finding her missing husband who is disappearing for over a year now and it also involves none other then the custodians of law ‘the police’.

Veiled and fearful she made her way inside the national assembly which host a number of politicians who have pending nab cases, looters of national exchequer, robbers of bank and every crime that can be listed in the book of law they have committed and are accused and since above the law they are never punished as they are the makers of the law.

She walked the august house and was not groveling as rest of the nation is made to do and she walked all the way up to the people who could help her in seeking justice.

Her audacity was too much to digest as the august house has people who are no less then the monarchs and this dare devil act by a 23 year old mother of two was unbecoming.

Sonia Naz went in the assembly to raise a voice for recovery of her missing husband who is accused in motor vehicle scam in Faisalabad that involves a number of government officials especially police officials who are the mighty rulers in the land of the pure as they are the law.

It is believed that the deal went sour in commissions and kickback and her husband (not a police official) was held by police and is missing to date.

What happened to him is another story as land of the pure Pakistan and its police hosts a number of torture cells that are never unearthed and police is a state with in a state of Pakistan that has its own culture where law of jungle appears humane as compared to the custodians of law that are called ‘Police Of Pakistan’.

People have committed suicides in court premises, self immolated themselves in front of Governor Houses and Khuli Kutcheris (open courts for public) all in quest for justice and they have died for nothing as justice despite these violent acts was never for them and they died for nothing as for common man in Pakistan, justice is simply out of reach.

It all happened in April and Sonia Naz mother of two was found wandering in National Assembly she was arrested on the order of Speaker National Assembly as she committed a breach of security unarmed and harmless the National Assembly Speaker orders resulted in an unbecoming heinous act for which he shares equal responsibility as it was but him who started it.

It was but Opposition benches that raised voice for Sonia as she was arrested and sent to Adiala Jail and the details of her rape by police officials in police custody came afterwards as her fate somehow was asked as what happened to her.

No one cared for mother of two Sonia Naz when she was sent to jail for entering in to National Assembly and she is like, rest of citizens of Pakistan who see the monarchs only in pictures.

She stayed in jail and was later bailed out by court in Islamabad and on her return to her home in Johar Town Lahore she was abducted and raped in police custody as her ordeal for desecrating the National Assembly started from May 3 onwards.

The gory details of the incident include a police official of SP rank in failing to rape her urinated on her face and on his orders a low rank official raped her and was identified by her in the court premises.

She was kept in police custody for 10 to 12 days and after getting raped by the custodians of law they threw her off road in Lahore threatening her of dire consequences if she tells anyone.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on the very floor of National Assembly during the proceeding this week said that strict action will be taken against those involved in Sonia Naz case.

The crime has been committed and investigations are underway and heaps of paperwork is being complied to administer justice while the victim has repeatedly pointed at the perpetrators of the crime.

Sonia Naz is cursed for life as seeking justice cost her, her honour and that too by the custodians of the law.

Sonia Naz is not the only one there are many cases featuring the police officials doing the image building of Pakistan all over the world for committing crimes against humanity.

All that has surfaced are probes and no actions as in mitigating the suffering of the 23-year-old mother. As expected lots of files have been filled tons of reports written and law well it has always been a ‘spectator’.

How many of these rapes have happened in police custody is question the custodians of law should ask themselves as any other probing the details can and would be booked under the law for exposing the national secrets and harming the ‘national interest’.

The speaker national assembly who ordered her arrest owes an apology to the mother of two and to the nation as a kind ear from his side would have ended the whole matter as it was but him who turned a deaf ear to her pleading, which resulted in her rape.

He is also a custodian of law but law if it ever existed Sonia Naz would not have met such fate.

Hats off to Speaker National Assembly who upheld the law and to the police officials who administered the law on a defenseless mother of two in the image building of Pakistan.

Divide & Rule, Democracy at Grassroots

2005-08-28T07:32:00.000+05:00

By Asem Mustafa

Thirty dead over 400 injured and over 3000 cases all over country added with the allegations of rigging, bogus voting, show of arms, riots in second phase of chaos filled local bodies polls in the 55 districts on August 25.

The deployment of thousands of soldiers, paramilitary troops and a large number of police at polling stations couldn’t stop the violence, which has become a norm in the national politics. In the first phase of the elections on August 18, 22 people were killed and more than 200 injured.

Conflicting reports have emerged from all the four provinces the dead cannot be brought back and similarly the cases will take some years to be decided in the speedy courts, which normally take a generation to give a decision.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar is on record saying that killings on the election day were not poll related as none of the incidents occurred on the premises of a polling station.

Four people were killed in Lahore, three in Sheikhupura, two in Narowal, one in Hafizabad, two in Jhang, one in Okara, two in Jhelum, three in Larkana, two in Kohistan, one in Lower Dir and one woman in Rawalpindi.

Political pundits believe that its divide and rule policy as the polls were held on non party basis but code of conduct was violated on most of the occasions in all over the country.

The chaos is deep rooted as the entire country was gripped in the local bodies elections and hate reigned supreme as these representatives are eyed as parallel to that of the elected representatives in the national assembly. Many members have grievances and have recorded it on numerous occasions as the devolution of powers added with the transference of public funds have made the post at the lower level very lucrative ones for quick cash.

Many members of national assembly also contested in the local body elections leaving their seats and besides themselves had their near and dear one namely sons, nephews and close relatives competing for the lower slots.

The situation in the second phases besides getting marred with the usual poll fever and brutal use of force had ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (Q) members contesting against each other added with the fact that opposition parties with their Alliance for Restoration of Democracy had no understanding as in making their presence felt.

The biggest setback happened in NWFP where Jamiat Ulmeai Islam (F) was contesting against many of Jammat Islami candidates. The difference in the religious parties, which are under the umbrella of Mutahidda Majlise Amal (MMA), was seen visible in the local bodies elections and ruling party with PML (Q) and Awami National Party (ANP) taking advantage from the situation.

The opposition parties with their leaders both former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party with Benazir Bhutto never had their party members coming to an understanding as in facing the ruling party candidates rather PML (N) suffered most as many of its members joined the ruling party PML (Q).

The four provinces had their taste of ruling party candidates against the opposition party candidates.

Interesting incidents were also reported when a murder accused was busy electioneering and won the seat of Nazim. The servant to the masses ‘Nazim’ was checked by the Supreme Court which give notice to Punjab Police why the murder accused is not behind bars whose bail plea was accepted earlier and was asked to report before the Supreme Court Bench on August 25 which he did not as he was winning the polls at that time.

The officials involved in conducting the polls also have many a tales added with the voters who couldn’t find their names in the polling lists, opposition candidates complaining that their allotted symbols are not on the ballot papers, inadequate facilities for the presiding officers and a general harassment from the authorities that were in an around facilities which were in the areas marked as red zones due to political sensitivity.

There was no code of conduct list issued for the election staff and the votes were cast on production of National Identity Cards both old and new, driving license, receipts of the new cards and everything that could identify a person.

The voters generally remain disinterested in the entire electoral process, as despite all slogans and announcement of Millennium Development Goals, they have lost their faith in the system that goes more corrupt each day.

The voters were influenced in many ways with the political stalwarts meeting them and with usual promises but all the glitter failed to get the maximum of masses out.

A man walking from a polling station said, “I am labourer and I live on day to day basis and I can barely make my ends meet as in decent meal, I cant vote as I have no national identity card and like me thousands don’t have it, I sleep on the pavement and under a tree and I look for work.

This election has nothing for me as I don’t belong here and I will die if not from work then may be from a stray bullet as it happened here an hour ago and if not from stray bullet then by a drunk rich car driver who will run me over and escape from the scene.”

“I am just leaving the place as for me its like entertainment as so many people acting as sheep dying to be the first one for the wolf jaws, I had my fun and I am moving to Data Darbar to get free food.”

The growing number of complaints from candidates across the country prompted the CEC Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has appointed 24 tribunals in the NWFP to dispose of election petitions besides 28 tribunals in Balochistan to dispose of election petitions arising out of the first two phases of local government elections.The tribunals have been appointed to receive, try and dispose of petitions related to local level elections in union councils of the province

The opposition is coordinating for a joint stance and is expected to meet early next month with Qazi Hussain Ahmed, president Jamaat Islami along with others giving details of pre poll rigging in the local bodies polls as how state machinery was used to get the desired results.