Afterwards, the Zia regime gave the region a culture of war and terror and sectarianism. He pushed this beautiful area through ongoing sectarian clashes. From the time of Zia’s regime till now, thousands of people from both sides have lost their lives, many becoming homeless and disabled while in past the people had been living there with love, peace, affection and mutual understanding and respect since centuries.

Such black days ended when the golden days of Benazir Bhutto came. She as prime minister visited Parachinar, had women colleges opened and promised that she would improve the living standard of the people of this area. The unemployed were given jobs, roads were paved and extended, and a broadcasting station was opened and many more things were done. The words of Z.A Bhutto had repeated by her daughter there “I will make Parachinar a piece of heaven”.

Z.A Bhutto had opened Degree College for Men there and Benazir Bhutto had opened Degree College for Women there. Z.A Bhutto had opened Agency HQ hospital and Benazir upgraded it. For the elevation of poverty the unemployed were given job, sent abroad and for the upgrading of society schools and colleges had opened.

Benazir Bhutto was a true leader who had loved the people of Pakistan in very true meaning. She was above vested interests and had never played the politics of any specific region, language or province. For her all were same and of equal importance. Today when Pakistan is surrounding by multi problems and enemies are trying to declare Pakistan as a terrorist country but the slain leader Benazir brought a good image to Pakistan when UN conferred its top award on Benazir posthumously in recognition of her courageous struggle for restoration of democracy in Pakistan and for promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. She was great messenger of democracy and peace. Benazir was determined regardless of the risks to her life to return as she believed Pakistan had a great future and she considered she had a major contribution to make in shaping a better future for her country. Today democracy is on its right track in Pakistan and a public government under the leadership of Asif Ali Zaradari is trying to its best to fulfill all the dreams of Z.A Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. These all are because of the sacrifices made by Benazir Bhutto for the restoration of democracy and for the well being of this country.
Benazir departed forever but she will live in our hearts forever.
May Allah rest her soul in piece..

When the British Raj was on its deathbed, its great champion Winston Churchill sneered that Indians would never be able to understand democracy. He thought that they would be a disaster and come running back to Mother England. I shall spare you the precise quotations; we don’t want you to get unnecessarily angry on a day when there is so much else to digest. He was not alone. In 1967, the Times of London, now the pipsqueak of a fading power rather than a thunderer of the Empire, wrote the obituary of Indian democracy. It survived.

However, there was a growing view that the 15th general election would leave behind just the kind of mess Churchill predicted.

The Indian voter has just proved once again that those who underestimate India do not understand India.

The most important result of this election is that the elimination of regional parties from national space has begun. This was the message in north, south, east and west where Congress expanded its space at the cost of both friends and foes. Chandrababu Naidu will survive to fight another election, but the votaries of Telangana have probably been marginalised out of reckoning. The Congress did better than Sharad Pawar, grew in Punjab, hammered the Left, aborted Mayawati’s national ambitions and checked Mulayam Singh Yadav. In fact, Mulayam Singh Yadav may face the humiliation of being the unwanted guest at the party for a second time, since the Congress can now afford to sniff at the support he offers. The two regional powers that triumphed, Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik, won because of their individual qualities rather than because of the parties they lead. The Congress and the BJP, between them, will occupy two thirds of the seats in the next Lok Sabha. This is the real game-changer because the next general elections will be a straight contest between these two parties in most of India.

This election was a successful base camp for a much higher ascent. The true Congress summit is the achievement of a single-party majority in the Lok Sabha after the next general election. When this peak was outlined against a still bleak horizon during the Panchmarhi resolution years ago, it seemed a thrust too high, but its moment has come. Just as it did in this election, it will seek to grow at the expense of either ally or enemy. The Congress already had candidates in 14 seats in Tamil Nadu; the next time, it might contest all 39. It will pressurise Sharad Pawar to merge into the parent party or perish. Mamata Banerjee in Bengal might be more resistant, because she knows that she cannot dominate the Congress as much as she can her own party, and total power can be very alluring. But the Congress can live with a variation or two, as long as Mamata does not through self-inflicted wounds revive the Left in Bengal. In any case, there are great pickings elsewhere for the Congress.

It will of course hope to exploit the anti-incumbency factor in the BJP States in the North, particularly if the BJP goes into disarray after its second collapse from high expectations. The last time the Congress had a majority on its own was under Rajiv Gandhi.

The restoration will be in the hands of the son, Rahul Gandhi, who has earned his political legitimacy in this election. Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s role as leader of the party will ebb as the pace of transition speeds up. It is highly likely that at some point there may even be a transition in Government, with Dr Manmohan Singh making way for Rahul Gandhi. Dr Singh has already done more than anyone expected for the party, and he might prefer the comfort of retirement since he has had a serious heart attack.

Will the BJP, suffering from a second unexpected defeat, be able to resurrect its fortunes and face an aggressive Congress? Some things are apparent. It will need to choose the person who can lead the party into the next general election without much delay.

The BJP realised that development and governance were the decisive issues. But although its venerable leader L.K. Advani tried to define the party around modern needs, he was tripped by the rhetoric of those who thought that the country still wanted to hear the war cry of social conflict. The swivel moment of the campaign came when Varun Gandhi, in a flurry of immaturity, revived every toxic memory that Advani wanted the electorate to forget. He compounded the mistake by glorying in its aftermath. BJP leaders realised the danger. The Madhya Pradesh party publicly asked Varun Gandhi to remain in UP, and not bother about the neighbouring State. But the leadership merely distanced itself from the young man, when it should have disowned him.

This is the major lesson for the next leader of the party: India wants peace with prosperity because Indians realise that prosperity cannot come without peace. Narendra Modi may be a powerful and effective leader in Gujarat, but the stamp of one defect will always mar his future. He can be a successful number two at the national level, but will remain a divisive number one.

We have also just witnessed the last election of the older generation. Youth is not just arithmetic; you have to be young in your outlook, and be able to identify with the aspirations of those seeking a profitable place in the international economy, as much as the poor who feel that they are being marginalised in the domestic economy. It is difficult to span both edges of this challenge, but no one said that public life was easy.

Defeat can be a moment of transition, unless you succumb to despair.

A system where a judge’s quality was to be measured from the length of his beard than his intellect a mental capacity to administer justice. And hence some who do not wish peace in the region and has the capacity to call shots, pushed those disillusioned to advance on Buner and Dir district portraying a fear that soon Islamabad will be under those thugs, and questions on security of Atomic weaponry. To me they achieved desired results as in fear both a ‘half hearted pact’ and ‘ prospect of peace’ blown away. I will say, its haste, and poor negotiations on all fronts.

Army operation in any part of current Pakistan must be used as a last resort, due to variety of international vested interests in the region. It is open secret that no one can work at that length and breadth against Pakistan on its soil unless foreign money, weapons and money is involved. In Swat and other districts Pakistan army is not facing common criminals, the enemy has paid personnel alien to the concept of sympathy for locals, have heavy guns, latest wireless systems, intel and locations of pak forces and foreign currency. Pakistan is being cornered to a weaker kneeling position to barter. Any negotiated settlement which could bring calm to the area is not acceptable to those who matters, if it is made without their ‘nod’ people will start seeing videos of ‘whip lashing’, open court decisions shooting on site punishments and media avalanche against the myth.

As long as US forces are working in Afghanistan it is unthinkable that peace may return in the region unless a solution is achieved. When Mr. Zardari says, Pakistan Army was a “big institution and does have influence in the affairs of the country’ and that, the Army had now realised that its job was to defend the frontiers of the country and keep away from politics’ I think he still lives in Cukoo’s land. The whole idea is to sabotage that control and influence which hinders the greater goal and either finish it or coercively manipulate it for its own advantage. This Govt failed to eliminate, control or decrease that influence single handedly or by joint collaboration amongst political forces, though it tried to woo its main intelligence agency. West is now working on the second option which ha a history. Pakistan is facing a greater menace of a calculated and targeted campaign to keep its forces busy in those terrains.

It is ironic that groups like Bait Ullah Masud are working freely inside Pakistan and have the highly sensitive intel and appliances to create havoc, and are untouchables. As long as West does not realise that Pakistan needs to be aided militarily and otherwise to bring normality in that part of the land and that border security must be the prime concern for NATO with heavy walls, and mining the Durand line with security cameras and check post and army is provided watchdog heli’s and night goggles to combat to and from infiltration effectively to halve the attacks on each other’s forces. Army must be provided equipments to fight this war with intelligence sharing and joint collaboration without compromising each other’s jurisdiction and sovereignty and if both fight this war with mind rather than pride of might, there is a possibility to come close to a solution. We must not forget that wars are often fought on tables, going to battlefield is but to achieve that consulted and calculated target. The way it is fought now, is a way wire strategy. On top of it, Pakistan’s one sided hugs and kisses for India under pressure are embarrassing when the response to their zealous courtship wishes are returned by capturing its water with demands of the returns of the culprits of ‘bombay attacks’.

If Pakistan carrying on this adhoc policy of running the state of affairs on day to day basis , I am afraid its running short of time and fuel, however a concerted effort to keep federating unit intact with due consultation may be the ultimate solution to bring about peace and stability in Pakistan, in return in Afghanistan and the region. Pakistan is a small but a nasty piece of this big jig saw puzzle having the capacity, and geo strategic location. It can only safeguard its territorial integrity if it survives as winning is not on card, and survival is not possible if civil and military do not work together. As long as they can be divided, they can be ruled.

NATO and Pakistan must realise that ‘trust deficit’ between each other will cost both. This region, in particular Afghanistan has become a pivotal point for international experiments. China, Russia, Iran, India, and USA along with KSA have vested interests in the region due to close proximity or future scene of the globe. At present, world needs to focus on the 1.5 million refugees coming to cities of Pakistan from Swat. Pakistan is not new to this mass people movement. It could never return the same amount who came from Afghanistan during Russian invasion, with courtesy of USA who told Muslims how to do ‘jihad’ against infidels. Millions are marching again leaving their homes and what will happen to them if operation continues is any body’s guess, and again thanks to USA for being there to tell Pakistan that its their war, and extremism is a threat to them.

Swat operation is opening a window of international experiments in Pakistan and intl forces are frightening the country to come and do the job, unless they do it themselves. They want Pakistan to ruin itself first, so that they can aid later on receipt of disbursements, and as beggars can not be choosy so aid is not replaced with the slogan of trade. If army achieves the objective under civil, its fine, otherwise, people must be ready for a long haul as we are trying to crush a ‘myth’ not a visible enemy. A little weaker, Pakistan is used to the change of the chain of command in the middle of the battlefield

The opposition has been urging the government to adopt a clear and transparent policy on war against terrorism without interference from any country in our internal affairs. The APC would be held at the Prime Minister’s House at 10am in which leaders of all political parties inside and outside the parliament have been invited. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani would preside over the conference.

The Government has dispatched invitation to 43 national parties. Five Former Premiers of the country would also participate in the conference.JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hussain, PTI Chief Imran Khan, Ameer JUI-S Maulana Sami-ul-Haq and head of other religious parties have also been invited.

Quaid PML-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif would arrive Islamabad today (Monday) for participation in APC.The APC is being convened in consultation with the entire political leadership and in-camera briefing to parliamentarian over swat operation was also given to Parliamentary leaders of different political parties by Chief of the Army Staff and DG MO on Friday.-ONLINE

Despite opposition, some important persons seem determined to allow foreigners to own an unlimited amount of land in any part of Pakistan. The development is bound to hurt environment, water resources, forests, wildlife and above all the farming community. Millions of farmers will become jobless while thousands of acres of fertile land will become barren because the corporate farms would be given preference in provision of canal water, seed, pesticides, fertilizers and other inputs, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

Political unrest may follow as rights of farmers are being neglected and nation is not being taken into confidence. Alternative arrangement for poor peasants seems not to be a consideration at all; rather a force would be raised to help foreigners carry out their activities in a smooth manner.

Industrial privatization was carried out to retire the debt. In the process we lost many profitable unite and the country was pushed to brink of bankruptcy. Now fertile lands are being privatized in the name of technological advancement and attracting foreign investment.

Foreigners have only one think in mind while investing outside their country, to gain maximum in minimum of time and leave. “Wealthy countries have controlled global trade, now they are eying over one trillion dollar agricultural output of underdeveloped countries,” said Dr. Murtaza Mughal.

Rich countries have already bought large farms in many countries like Congo, Sudan, Zambia, Myanmar, Laos, Uganda, Cambodia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania, Brazil and Central Asia. They are expanding attracting unrest and riots. It seems that now it is our turn.

Corporate farming will push some cultivators to commit suicide while others may prefer crimes. A good number may develop extremist tendencies that will have a heavy political price. -PEW

Expressing his views over the military operation in northwestern district of Swat, Syed Qandil Abbas said that there is a very complex situation in swat, the government had tried all peaceful methods to restore peace in the troubled area, however, the situation instead of improving started worsening.

He opined that military operation was carried out as a last option though it had displaced the people of the area. He was of the view that what actually US is doing in Pakistan is just to keep the government under pressure and wants to convey a message to the other countries of the region such as Iran and China that it can intervene in the internal affairs of any country to establish its unilateral system.

Commenting on the drone attacks led by US on Pakistani soil Qandil Abbas said that these attacks are against the sovereignty of Pakistan. He said the government of Pakistan has been opposing these attacks and the public opinion has also turned against them.

“These attacks have increased the anti American sentiments among the Pakistani people” he said. Syed Qandil Abbas, viewed that Iranian Islamic Revolution is a source of inspiration for Muslim Ummah and has triggered many Islamic movements around the world.

He said that the spread of Islam is unacceptable for the US and that is why it is trying to portray a dark image of Islam. “If you see closely you will come to know that US has been following only one agenda in Iraq, Iran, Palestine and Pakistan, they only want to establish unilateral system in the world”, added Syed Qandil Abbas. “However in my opinion US is not successful in accomplishing its designs and is in a difficult situation”, he opined. NNI

Elsewhere in the troubled region, an apparent US missile strike hit a Taliban training camp, killing 29 militants, while Pakistani troops killed dozens of Taliban in their bid to reconquer the Swat Valley, officials said.

Violence is engulfing Pakistani territory along the Afghan border as American and allied forces crank up the pressure on Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants entrenched in the forbidding and barely governed mountains and valleys.

Washington and other nations are pouring in billions of dollars in aid and military assistance to prop up the pro-Western government in Islamabad, which yesterday sought to allay concerns that its nuclear weapons could fall into extremist hands.

The car bomb devastated a street in the main northwestern city of Peshawar yesterday afternoon as it was busy with shoppers, traffic and worshippers heading to mosques to pray.

Television images showed several vehicles burning fiercely and a stricken white-and-green bus that had been dropping handicapped children at their homes around the city.

All eight students still on board were injured, one seriously, along the driver and an assistant, medics and police said. Four other children and seven adults were killed, and dozens more were injured, they said.

Safwat Ghayur, a senior police official, said one of a string of shops wrecked by the blast was an Internet cafe – a favorite target for violent extremists in Pakistan who consider the Web a source of moral corruption.

In the latest strike, Pakistani officials said several missiles hit a religious school and a nearby vehicle yesterday morning near Mir Ali, a town in the North Waziristan tribal region.

Two intelligence officials, citing reports from agents in the field, said 29 people were killed, including four foreign militants, and dozens more were wounded.

The identity of the victims was not immediately clear, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly to the media.

- With input from agencies

(Late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish)

As Palestinians mark Nakba, the catastrophe, signifying the 61st anniversary of occupation of Palestine by the Jewish state of Israel, a question needs to be asked: Is 61 years of Palestinian suffering akin to the holocaust suffered by Jews? In the above question lies the irony of Israel; a nation carved out by the oppressed has become a nation of oppressors.

Theodore Herzel, a journalist, is the father of modern Zionism who toured the world extensively to propagate the idea of a nation for Jews. He worked hard in a mission to explore the possibility of establishing a state for Jews in Palestine. He promoted Zionism through his writings on the international stage. In June 1896, he met the Abdul Hamed II, 34th Sultan of Ottoman Empire in Istanbul, to convince him that Palestine should be handed over to Zionists. But Sultan refused to cede Palestine to Zionists and said, “If one day the Islamic State falls apart then you can have Palestine for free, but as long as I am alive I would rather have my flesh be cut up than cut out Palestine from the Muslim land.”

In 1898, after meeting with German Kaiser Wilham II, Herzel wrote about Palestine, “a perfect beautiful woman, fulfill all our requirements but married.”

The words of Abdul Hamid II came true when Ottoman Empire crumbled in 1918, nine years after his death. Abdul Hamid was the last Ottoman Sultan to rule with absolute power. Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 is seen by many historians as a turning point in Western Arab relations. According to one of the terms of the agreement, Arabs were promised a “national homeland” through T.E. Lawrence for their support to the British forces against the Ottoman army. British never kept their word. In fact, they negated this promise by issuing Balfour Declaration in 1917 promising “a national home for the Jewish people.” The declaration read, “His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

The Arabs and Christians of Palestine together disapproved of any such move arguing that it could have serious political consequences.

The seed of Israel as planted by Theodore Herzel was watered by fervent Zionist Winston Churcill, who went on to become Prime Minister of United Kingdom in 1940. The seed took shape of a full-fledged tree on November 29, 1948 when United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish territories. Out of 56 members, 33 voted in favour, 13 against and 10 chose to abstain.

Thus was born the Jewish state of Israel in 1948; 44 years after the death of Theodore Herzel.

The tide of history turned against the Arabs and Muslims once again but Muslims all across the world should not be disheartened. Islamic concept of power can be summed up in three words: rise, fall and renewal. Muslims all across the world are undergoing the second phase of Islamic concept of power. Muslims have ruled Palestine from 630 CE to 1918 with a brief Christian rule lasting only 88 years (1099 to 1187).

With the creation of Israel in 1948, 7 lakh Palestinians became refugees. Dispossessed Palestinians were substituted with Jews who come from different parts of the world carrying knives, guns and explosives against the civilian population. A religious propaganda and allegations based on the myth and the falsification of history and heritage, to form that particular ideological falsehoods peddled by the Zionists provide energy to achieve the necessary human colonial project on the land of Palestine.

In the last 61 years Palestine-Israel conflict, Jewish state has annexed thousands of acres of cultivable land and now it almost holds 78% of Palestine.

It is in this context that Nakba must been seen. Commemorating the anniversary of Nakba, is not merely an occasion to remember those who experienced bleeding, homelessness and fear, killed, burned and jailed throughout the sixty one years, but to raise the voices of millions who refuse to accept the basis on which Israel was created as a state. It is a rejection of the project called a “Jewish state “and a determination for the right of return of the Palestinian people to their homeland.

The tragedy which started with the expulsion of 7 lakh Palestinians now affects the plight of at least 10.5 million Palestinians all across the globe. It is a catastrophe, the largest and the most heinous crime committed against a nation. It is against right and reason, human rights and freedom of people.

When Arabs took the initiative of peace in 2002 Arab Summit in Beirut, they demanded that Israel must go back to June 1967 line of control. There must be an establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem at its capital and right of return of Palestinian refugees as per United Nations Security Council resolution 194. All of this was rejected by Israel.

What more, all these years Israel has secretly continued “Judaization” of Al-Quds (Jerusalem). It is not only Palestinians Muslims who have no access to religious sites but also Palestinians Christians are not allowed to visit their holy shrines.

Everybody knows the role United States has played in Israel-Palestine conflict. Will there be a tilt in President Obama’s administration? Going by the recent news item, one thinks Obama is surely going to change US policy although it may not amount to radical change. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s first planned meeting with President Obama has been called off. Netanyahu was keen to capitalize on his attendance at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington to visit the White House but officials have ruled out any meeting because President will not be “in town.” Experts speculate that Obama would not like to continue the Bush legacy of hosting Israeli prime ministers sometimes with just a phone call’s notice!

Jews have always enjoyed special favour under Muslim rule. When Umar, second caliph of Islam entered Jerusalem on foot, he did an agreement stipulating the rights and obligations of all non-Muslims in the holy land of Palestine. Jews were permitted to return to Palestine for the first time since the 500-year ban enacted by the Romans and maintained by Byzantine rulers. The same tradition was followed by was followed by Harun al-Rashid (786-809) who established the Christian Pilgrims’ Inn in Jerusalem, fulfilling Umar’s pledge to Bishop Sophronious to allow freedom of religion and access to Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims.

Jews have forgotten the humane angle of the Muslim rule. How can a people who have witnessed holocaust in the hands of Adolf Hitler tolerate the same kind of madness being leashed by their own government on hapless Palestinians?

He said that the only legal body which exists is Thar Coal & Energy Board and all other matters and schemes, projects will be discussed and processed by the Board. It was informed that TCEB has full support of President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, and Thar Coal & Energy Board will deliver the good results under the objectives of the Board. Syed Qaim Ali Shah also maintained that Gorakh Hill Station, being developed as a tourist resort, will soon be completed and opened for tourists and people.

It was informed that work on Gorakh hill station is going on in speedy manners. He added that work on Keenjhar tourist spot will be finalized soon. He also said that work on Hyderabad – Mirpurkhas dual carriage road will also be started soon.

Earlier, in a briefing it was informed that the proposal for Thar Coal Mining Company was floated in October 2006 by placing it in CDWP and Government of Sindh objected before CDWP meeting through the then Minister, Mines and Mineral Development. Previously the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission made a presentation to the Prime Minister and President of Pakistan on “Energy Security Action Plan” on 15.2.2005, wherein the recommendations for the establishment of National Integrated Coal Mining and power generation authority like WAPDA (could a joint venture of Government of Pakistan, Government of Sindh and local/foreign private sector) was approved.

Earlier, it was proposed that a Pakistan Coal Development Company, with an investment of Rs.2 billion from the Government of Pakistan, be formed to establish the initial framework to attract foreign investment for coal which was initially attempt to take over the coal resources of Sindh. The establishment of Thar Coal Mining Co was approved by CDWP on 19.10.2006 at the estimated cost of Rs.241.790 million including FEC of Rs. 23.700 million.

The meeting was further informed that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural resources in its letter dated 10.6.2007, launched a company namely “Establishment of Thar Coal Mining Company” with 80% share holding for Federal Government i.e 20% share for Ministry of P&NR, 20% share for NLC and 40% share for private sector; and only 20% share for Sindh Government.

It was further informed that under the letter from Mines & Mineral Development Department; the Federal Government vide its Notification dated 8.7.2008, Thar Coal Authority was constituted, which abolished the Thar Coal Mining Company. Later another notification was issued on 11.10.2008 for withdrawal of Thar Coal Authority after constitution of “Thar Coal & Energy Board”. The meeting was further informed that CDWP approved two similar schemes of coal gasification and revived TCMC without any consultation from provincial government.

The meeting was also informed that the CDWP approved two similar schemes of coal gasification and also revived Thar Coal Mineral Company, without any consultation from the provincial government. It was further informed that the Sindh Government raised objection vide letter dated 8.5.2009 by conveying serious objections and reservations to the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, and the Chief Minister Sindh, who is also the Chairman of Thar Coal & Energy Board, had also talked the Prime Minister regarding the situation.

The meeting was attended among others by Sindh Minister for Irrigation & Power Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Revenue Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Sindh Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Chief Secretary Sindh Mr. Fazal-ur-Rehman, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Mr. Nazar Hussain Mahar, Secretary to C.M Syed Sohail Akbar Shah, Secretary Finance Mr. Fazalullah Pechuho, Secretary Mines & Minerals Mr. Aijaz Ahmed and others. NNI

Words of Miller and ideas of Harrison were tearing into my flesh when I was returning from Lahore and Islamabad after some interactive sessions with Imran Khan, founder-chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Much before visiting Pakistan, while I was in London, I had decided to taste the bud of heat and dust of Indian Parliamentary elections in its own backyard and the opportunity was knocking at my door due to one magnificent contender who had offered the chance to observe the rites and rituals of World largest democracy from his own backyard.

Here I was in the Indian Capital, hurtling to the city of Taj Mahal on the way to Firozabad and Kannauj, the two Parliamentary constituencies out of 543 across the country where its chief contender Akhilesh Yadav was expecting me. Both his constituencies, Firozabad, city of glass ware and bangles and Kannauj, were going to polls on 7th of May, the very day India only Nobel Laureate in Literature Rabindra Nath Tagore was born over 100 years ago.
The journey from New Delhi to Agra is less than 300 kilometers by train. The sweltering heat of May evaporated in smoggy evening of the city of Taj Mahal when Rajeev Yadav, maternal cousin of Akhilesh Yadav, received me with open arms. A six feet tall, lean, urbane and genial countenance, Rajeev has striking resemblance with a metrosexual or ubersexual Indian youth. Yet, he is different so much as his political consciousness is vastly mature in comparison with young freaks languishing in the cool confines of Coffee Café Day of urbane hot spots across the country. Over the years, he has carved his niche in construction business, and takes pride in saying, “Someone in the family should earn to support the political ambitions of other siblings”.

It was Rajeev who picked me up from Holiday Inn in Agra and escorted to dusty stretch of Firozabad Government Higher Secondary School where a huge crowd of people, from all walks of life, had assembled to receive Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh alias Tipu as he is hailed in affectionate band of swarming supporters, was about to land in his choppers from Kannauj. Just about as the chopper begun its descent on the landing pad amidst rising pillars of dust-storm, excitement amongst the crowd goes wild. A vast army of teen-age supporters of Samajwadi Party (Socialist) draped in red cap and green-red flag of the party with its symbol-Bicycle emblazoned on its heart—get into their acts, pushing and shoving for the glimpse of their youth icon. Nudging and pushing turns into wild screaming when Akhilesh gets off the chopper. He is mobbed by the crowd of supporters, more than half of them apparently would not be allowed to buy a cigarette as their countenance suggest.

Firozabad is just a 45-minute drive east of the city of Taj Mahal by car. Nearly half the population profess Islam in this glassware capital of India, which tempts with its striking hues of glass bangles and bracelets. Tipu chose the constituency after Kannauj more out of empathy than proximity to his native village of Saifai (It is further 30 kilometers west of Firozabad). Hundreds of thousands of workers in 300 glass factories polish and paint the glass bangles in a wretched circumstance. There was a challenge before him inasmuch as there was flood of entreaties from the huge mass of affected people to usher them in a new era. Akhilesh threw his hat in the ring, with solemn promise of bringing revolutionary change to lives of people who ‘don’t breathe air, but glass’, as the legend goes.

In the previous Assembly elections which Samajwadi Party lost to Maywati, the party lost all the seven Assembly seats in Firozabad. Taking the plunge also allows Akhilesh to exact a stifling revenge from his father’s principal rival in political battlefield of Uttar Pradesh.

There is shyness cloaking a determination in him, but he is up for the challenge.

He is of average height, Salman Khan height, swarthy in complexion, nose shrapnel-like beak redolent of his father! Getting into brisk strides, his khadi shalwar kameez soiled by thousands of embraces, yet he smiles radiating hope and reason. His pair of black shoes are covered in thick speck of dust, and he gives damn to them. From a close quarter he would appear blushing, but it can be misleading. There is no flush or pride or ego in his demeanour as he goes about the business of entertaining his audience.

Born a Scorpio, he shares his zodiac with two great Indian Prime Ministers of yore, Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, and quite a galaxy of achievers, such as Pablo Picasso, Charles de Gaulle, Robert Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn, Marie Antoinette and Richard Burton.

His father, once upon a time, was hailed as the Rafik-ul-Mulk for his unflinching defence of Muslim human rights in the face of relentless onslaught from fanatic Hindu hardliners. When Babri Mosque was demolished in the afternoon of 6 December 1992, Mulayam Singh Yadav had tears in his eyes, uncontrollable stream of tears. The secular press hurled upon him epithet of ‘Maulana Mulayam’.

Akhilesh is an environmental engineer by training. He learnt the green craft first at University of Mysore, and then at Sydney University, Australia. Ahead of entering the ramparts of university, he romanced with football and watermelon in orchards of Etawa, Saifai and green fields of Dholpur military school. In his political innings, he still has very green thumbs. He takes pride in producing some beautiful gardens, and loves to water with love and care in his white house at Saifai.

His father gave him a nickname—Tipu. Tipu hates to be rude, he loves people. Large crowds enthralls him as he breaks into his speech with all the gentle, easy manner of his father, working up the crowd in good-natured, pleasant accent of Awadhi. He doesn’t sulk. At times, he comes forth as incredibly naïve and gullible, but he talks his ear off. Like all love, beauty and sweetness and light, he throws the crowd in raptures when he roars in the Ferozabad town square meeting, “ A cycle can be found in every home of Firozabad and Kannauj, as much as in India, but an elephant will be luxury. Only a handful of privileged can afford them. In sizzling summer, all ponds are dry, so no lotus can bloom”.

His swinging of the metaphor drives the crowd crazy. Tipu is referring to election symbol of his party, Cycle, and then to his rivals, Elepahnt of Bahujan Samaj Party of Mayawati and Lotus- Kamal, of Bhartiyal Janta Party.

In the course of forty days of campaign trails, Akhilesh charmed the electorate by leading a cycle rally, with his young supporters of Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha (youth brigade) leading the charge. In Firozabad, he was exasperated to find quite a few supporters cheering him on motorbike. His patience ran roughshod over their political in-correctness, as he takes them to task for breach of discipline. His cycle is not an ordinary cycle like hero ranger, but an imported Swedish one, which is quite a sight atop his Pajero when he is still ahead of hitting the roads.

As his caravan of cycle painted in red and green snakes through the lanes and bylanes of crowded bazaars of Firozabad, pints of perspiration hanging down his soggy head and heart doesn’t deter him from stopping on the way to hold a motley gathering of party managers and workers in tight embrace. The cavalcade of motor vehicles and bicycles is on its way to Saifai, his native village. The festering heat of May is enough to pickle one’s brains. Heat and dust of the campaign loses its slither and somber as Akhilesh enters the green environs of Saifai. Nowhere does the village looks like a village, as metalled road and row of concrete building belies the impression of a dusty village.

Saifai tells the tale of Samajwadi Party ascent into corridors of power over the years. The White House, a marble-stone structure with a sprawling green lawn which houses Akhilesh in his moments of recess is an architectural delight as much as it is environmental paradise. Under the horizontal foyer, a row of white plastic chairs are in place to seat the young contender for an audience with select group of party managers and a handful of journalists.

Unlike any other Indian politicians who have had a presence in Assembly or Parliament, there are no trace of scroungers and free-loaders in search of sweets and buns around Akhilesh. His poll managers and assistants are English speaking young guns, with laptop in tow to rattle out figures of every single booth out of over 3,000 going to polls. He doesn’t have stomach for gossip and tittle-tattle. With evening crimson sky fading away, cries of twittering songbirds-nightingale and cuckoo pierce the ears. Tipu enjoys the symphony as he points out he waits to hear the music in the early hours of dusk and the dawn. He has great appetite for these birds, just as he has for fluttering feathers of cranes (saras), the tallest flier who are disappearing fast from the wetlands of Saifai and adjoining regions.

Once upon a time the wetlands of Saifai and Etawa hosted almost sixty percent of the world cranes population. Alas, this tallest flying bird is an extinct species. Tipu feels this is another challenge to save the ecology and the environment in his hamlet, which has acquired fresh halo from its once non-descript existence. Farmers of the area consider cranes auspicious for their loyalty-unto-death to their partners, as the bird is still worshipped by newly-married couples. Cranes are glorious for living in pairs and never split till their death, nor do they change their partners.

Their story is quite dramatic in heart of political headquarters of India’s powerful Samajwadi Party and its heir apparent Akhilesh Yadav realizes the punch of simple, straightforward no-theatrics.

Akhilesh represents the New Democrats in the fast evolving politics of India in the New Century. Ideologically he can be a centrist and identifies more with more moderate social and cultural positions with neo-liberal fiscal values. Critics and admirers alike liken him to a perfect foil to rising Gandhi scion, Rahul Gandhi for the future battle of highest seat of the land. There are growing belly of undercurrents in UP politics, which suggest he is a contender to the throne and Congress general secretary will have to catch a tartar in him tomorrow. The only glitch is national awakening to the reality bites of Akhilesh Yadav style of politics, which can only be ensured with blanket presence of his Socialist party.

He doesn’t want to keep himself out of touch. He keeps himself abreast and in constant agitation to make sense of shift in economic policy and ideas of governance. Technology is no teaser, as he toys with the idea of wiring the party cadre. It was Akhilesh penchant for the software which put Samajwadi Party ahead of all the existing political parties in India in launching the web portals of the party in mid ‘90s though he was just a little over the age of a major. His party could beat even the BJP in putting its net act together and brighter, though the credit couldn’t go much to the party for apparent reasons.

He is his father’s son in many ways. He learnt his political craft under his shadow. However, Akhilesh swears by ideology of his idol, Ram Manohar Lohia, who enjoys exalted status in socialist folklore of India for moving the first no-confidence motion against the Nehru government, which had by then been in office for 16 years!

“My father initiated me into socialist ideals of Lohia since early days. It was my good fortune to contest my inaugural elections for Indian Parliament from Kannauj where from Ram Manohar Lohia was twice elected to Parliament”.

Tipu talks about the lethal influence Lohia has had on Indian psyche, espcially in the aftermath of Sino-India war. “He astounded everyone by calling for India to produce the bomb, after the Chinese aggression of 1962. He was anti-English, saying that the British ruled India with bullet and language (bandhook ki goli aur angrezi ki boli). High-caste, wealth, and knowledge of English are the three requisites, with anyone possessing two of these belonging to the ruling class can dream of utopian life”, beams Akhilesh, saying the definition still holds tight in modern India.

Lohia dreamt of a caste-free India, Akhilesh only feels more passion to carry the legacy forward.

Unlike Lohia, he would not want to abolish private schools. However, he would want to establish upgraded municipal (government) schools which would give equal academic opportunity to students of all castes. There is earnest desire in him to eradicate the divisions created by the caste system.

There was quite an uproarious scene in national media when election manifesto of Socialist (Samajwadi Party) was unveiled. The manifesto turned heads for comedy of errors where it was mentioned that the party wants blanket ban on use of computer and English education. It was a rude awakening to Indian middle class. Akhilesh was baffled over the printer’s devil impact. It was completely chaotic and nonsensical to band of critics. “The party is never against English education. I have studied outside, in Sydney University, know the importance of English. The party was only trying to underline that English shouldn’t become compulsory medium of instructions. Computer education is unavoidable, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of skilled labourers. I want uniform education policy for all Indians. Let all of them study the same medium, whether English or Hindi”.

The young Prince of Saifai is enamoured of The Third Way, a political position attempting to look beyond or transcend left-wing and right-wing politics, and rather advocates a mix of some left-wing and right-wing policies. Third Way represents a centrist compromise between Capitalism and Socialism or between market liberalism and democratic socialism.

Akhilesh claims, “Third Way represents a synthesis of these competing viewpoints, distinct from and superior to both of its sources, rather than simply a compromise or mixture”. The ‘Third Way’ approach has been adopted by social liberals and some social democrats in many Western liberal democracies

Like a Utopian Socialists, the one including Robert Owen, Tipu tries to find socialist factories and other structures within a capitalist society. He says Henri de Saint Simon, the first individual to coin the term socialism, was the originator of technocracy and industrial planning. The first socialists predicted a world improved by harnessing technology and combining it with better social organization, and many contemporary socialists share this belief. Early socialist thinkers tended to favor more authentic meritocracy, while many modern socialists have a more egalitarian approach.

He wants to improve the condition of every member of society, even that of the most favored. Hence, he habitually appeals to society at large, without distinction of class; nay, by preference, to the ruling class. Moreover, he wants gender equality to be supreme, with both men and women enjoying equal benefits and chance to harness their potential.

His public addresses in twang of local lingo talks about turning work into play. He envisages units of people based on a theory of passions and of their combination. Though his voice over phone sound a little silken, his silver tongues rolls in deep baritone over public address system. He speaks in husky tone and tenor. He is so glibly persuasive in crowd he can talk people into buying things they couldn’t possibly even use. He believes in laying his own foundation and building his own empire, major or minor as he didn’t solicit the support of his heavyweight father for campaigning in Kannauj and Firozabad. He walked straight with pride of building over two dozen bridges (The Bridge on the River Koli) and a state-of-the-art hospital in Kannauj where he won with over three lakh votes last time, enough to bring him glory, so has he been hassle-free in his thought of pulling off in Firozabad on his own.

He is consistent in reminding his people about his roots. More than his roots, he is very absolute in adhering to ideologies of his Socialist father and idols. He wish to imagine a society for his people where there is no money, no want, no poverty, no crime, no disease or ignorance in human society; virtually everyone works for the advancement of all humanity as well as the rest of the Federation.

In recent times, his party, Socialist Party, has earned some flak for its indiscriminate tilt towards glamour icons. Furthermore, quite a great deal of corporate influence is attributed to dilution in socialist agenda of the party. Akhilesh feels these are vagaries of changing times. Not much should be read into glamour spread, as nearly all the political outfits in India are vulnerable to the phenomena.

As a matter of fact, the original Socialist Party had its roots in the Congress Socialist Party (CSP), the socialist caucus of the Indian National Congress, which fused in 1948 with the Bolshevik-Leninist Party of India, Ceylon and Burma (BLPI). Hector Abhayavardhana of the BLPI became General Secretary of the new party. The Socialist Party was founded not long after India’s independence when Jayprakash Narayan, Basawon Singh, Acharya Narendra Dev led the CSP out of Congress. At the time, Congress’s leader Jawaharlal Nehru was a democratic socialist whose sentiments were widely admired by the rank and file of the CSP, but they objected to his apparent unwillingness to act decisively in favour of democratic socialism or to renounce his dependence upon the conservative Hindu wing of the party represented by Sardar Vallabhai Patel or C. Rajagopalachari..

Akhilesh swears to preserve the socialist and secular character of his party intact against all odds.

He treasures his maiden rendezvous with former US President Bill Clinton. “Meetign with Clinton was quite an experience. The Congress party launched an offensive campaign in order to dissuade Bill Clinton from visiting Uttar Pradesh. So much so that the party wrote a letter urging Clinton to boycott the visit, saying Samajwadi Party members are not good people. Clinton Foundation carried out its own research and agreed to visit UP. The people in Congress party were jealous. When Clinton learnt that I am a member of Indian Parliament, he was quite amused and surprised. He emphasized socialist politics is need of the hour”.

Being a youth icon and scion of a powerful secular leader of Uttar Pradesh, which is home to nearly half the Muslim population of India, he realizes he has greater challenges on hands. As the dust over Mumbai attacks settles down, he doesn’t fall in the trap of vilifying the Muslim community. Muslim youths adore him for his gentle manner and expressive personality. With Indo-Pakistan bilateral relation in the bind, he would like to do the needful to create the positive vibes. At a time when the world is watching with bated breath the mass exodus of people in Swat, Mingora and Dir, Akhilesh is warning the situation shouldn’t resemble that of Darfur and Rawanda, as it might affect our own shores.

In his techno-savvy style, as he maintains lively link with strangers and acquaintances rocking on social networking sites like Facebook and Orkut, not to mention his E 71 Nokia and Blackberry, the Generation Next in Indian democracy is looking up to his persuasive talks and debating skills to force more reason and hope in Indian Parliament. Akhilesh may have inherited wealth and political position and levers of influence, but he has seldom rested on his family laurels. He has proven he has the ability to stack up gold pieces on his own.

He is valiant and charitable in his socio-political pursuits without being naïve about them. At end of the day, he is a family man, as he prances around with his twin son-daughter duo, born out of his better half, Dimple, whom he married out of his choice. He has soft heart, but not soft-head. He dotes on legacy and memorials of Abhrahm Lincoln, the 16th president of America, and dreams of emulating his feats for millions of downtrodden who are still doomed to live like slaves in his state, let alone rest of the country, and who are called dalits. Like Lincolin, he is determined to fight fiercely for the cause. For him, dalits living in deprivation are heart of darkness, and it is his moral duty to wipe out these heart of darkness from not only Uttar Pradesh, but from entire country. He doesn’t tolerate people of low intelligence and limited compassion. Little wonder he is doing everything to bring shine to health and education barometer in his capacity.

He said the in-camera meeting has been organized to take the political leadership of the country into confidence on the real situation and answer their questions on the necessity of army action in Swat and the issue of IDPs. The Prime Minister said the country is at the crossroads of its history as militants are trying to impose their will through coercive measures.

He said the government had tried to resolve all issues democratically and peacefully. We had evolved a new strategy of 3-Ds to deal with the situation and Swat peace agreement was endorsed in the same spirit. He, however, regretted that sincere efforts of the Government to bring peace in the area were taken as its weakness. He said instead of decommissioning themselves, as agreed, the militants started challenging the whole system of governance and started spreading their influence to other parts of the country as well.

The Prime Minister said having exhausted all political and peaceful means, the government was left with no other option but to call in the armed forces to take stern action against the miscreants. The armed forces are carrying on the operation with full commitment and high degree of operational professionalism.

He said the army operation is not the permanent solution to the problem and political dimensions need to be incorporated to reach out consensus for guaranteeing lasting peace in the disturbed areas. He assured that the input of the meeting along with the suggestions and observations from the forthcoming APC will be incorporated in the national security policy to deal with the situation.

The briefing is attended by PML (N) Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif; Parliamentary Leader JUI(F)Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman; Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif; Parliamentary Leader PML(Q) Ch. Pervaiz Elahi; Parliamentary Leader MQM Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar; Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan; Parliamentary Leader PPP-(S) Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao; Parliamentary Leader FATA Munir Khan Aurakzai; Parliamentary Leader BNP(Awami) in the Senate Mir Israr Ullah Zehri; Governor NWFP Owais Ahmad Ghani; Chief Minister NWFP Amir Haider Khan Hoti; Federal Ministers Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Babar Awan, Raja Parvez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira; ANP leader Muhammad Zahid Khan; Chairman Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani; Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar; PML(F) leader Pir Sadr Uddin Shah; Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani; Coordinator Special Support Group Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad; DG Coordination ISI Maj. Gen. Muhammad Zaheer ul Islam and DG Military Operations Maj. Gen. Javed Iqbal. NNI

Secretary Environment said that the Minister for Environment Hammed Ullah Jan Afridi has taken the initiative to help out our brethrens currently confronted with difficult situations. Developed on his direction the TAHAFUZ is an integrated approach encompassing access to safe drinking water, safe disposal of solid waste, safe defecation practices and improved hygiene conditions for the families to minimize the risk of water and sanitation related disease outbreak.

TAHAFUZ also seeks to create local employment opportunities through cash for work for IDPs. He said that the Minister for Environment has sent a team of senior officers to assess the need so as that more assistance for this programme may be sought the partner agencies for helping out the IDPs. He said that the Minister would be visiting the IDPs camps on Monday formally begin the programme in the IDPs camps.

Lashari said that TAHAFUZ model is designed to reach out to all IDPs and service providers by dissemination of basic minimal standards of water, sanitation and hygiene services as per international standards and national sanitation policy of Government of Pakistan. The launch of the first phase of the TAHAFUZ initiative will initially cater to the emergency needs of 5000 IDPs in the coming week, at an estimated cost of Pak Rs. 4 million. He said that we would extend this programme with the assistance of the partners including the development agencies and corporate sector. He said that Ministry of Environment has the mandate for provision of sanitation and hygiene facilities that is why this area has been selected.

He said that through development of further partnerships, TAHAFUZ can be replicated to reach out to all IDPs in Frontier Province . This initiative focuses both on the service provision and awareness raising amongst IDPs in water and sanitation.

Secretary Environment also announced that all officers/officials of the Ministry have donated one day salary to help out the IDPs. He said that the Ministry encourages individuals, organizations, corporate sector and others to join hands with TAHAFUZ through generous contributions in cash or kind. Contributions can be deposited in Ministry of Environment’s Account No. 6494-2, in National Bank of Pakistan, melody Branch, Islamabad.

Meanwhile Acting President, Mr. Farooq H. Naek has called upon the world community to extend its full support to Pakistan for rehabilitation of the IDPs from Swat, Buner, Malakand Division etc. to avoid a colossal human tragedy. ‘At present we are the biggest host of refugees in the world’, he observed.

He was talking to Mr. Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who called on him at the Parliament House this evening. The Minister for SAFRON was also present on the occasion.

The Acting President said wounds may be healed with the passage of time but the ’scars on mind and soul’ which cannot be seen, would take a pretty long time to disappear. The women and children, he said are especially vulnerable and need to be kept in safe houses to minimize the impact of the trauma. The spontaneous upsurge of sympathy and support being witnessed across the length and breadth of the country has to be translated in to concrete action, he added.

The two co-located exhibitions have brought together 335 companies from 32 countries, including Austria, Germany, Italy, Turkey, UAE, UK; at the same time, there will be dedicated Chinese and Iranian pavilions. The increased international participation is a clear indication of the confidence that the international community has in Pakistan as a lucrative business destination.

POGEE has achieved global acclaim among the leading players operating in the Oil, Gas & Energy industry. The show has also received tremendous support, particularly from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Mines and Minerals Development Department (Government of Sindh), Board of Investment, Engineering Development Board, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association and CNG Dealers Association of Pakistan. The exhibition also has the distinguished sponsorship of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

On the other hand, FIRE & SECURITY Pakistan has been actively supported by the China Security & Protection Industry Association (CSPIA), Fire Protection Association of Pakistan and the Organization of Safety Management. The exhibition will serve as an ideal forum for boosting economic activity in the related sectors of Pakistan as well as integrating the regional markets. NNI

It is mandatory for all banks having branches in affected areas to arrange their presence in each relief camp through all or any means as provided in the Branch Licensing Policy and ensure access of IDPs to their bank accounts through opening of booths, temporary shifting of Branch(es), installation of ATMs, temporary ATM facility/Mobile ATM and Mobile banking facility.

It may be mentioned here that a large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) displaced from Swat and other adjoining affected districts have been compelled to seek shelter mainly in the relief camps located in Districts of Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar. Many of them are account holders of various banks branches located in these areas and some of them are in possession of their cheque books/ATM Cards etc. but could not withdraw money or avail other banking facilities due to dislocation and non-availability of banking facilities in the relief camps.

In this backdrop, the State Bank has advised all banks to immediately arrange for provision of basic banking services which, interalia, include cash withdrawal facility to IDPs.

Commercial banks have also been advised to display banners/posters in the relief camps about the banking facilities arranged for IDPs, wide spread publicity of such arrangements should be made through Electronic and Print media for maximum awareness of IDPs enabling them to get full benefits from the banking facilities arranged for them.

The concerned banks have been advised to immediately take necessary steps and report compliance to the State Bank, says BPRD Circular No. 8 issued to the Presidents / Chief Executives of all banks / Islamic banks / microfinance banks today. (BPRD Circular No.8 of 15th May is available on our website: www.sbp.org.pk ) NNI

Chief of Army Staff briefed the national political leadership on the operational aspects of the ongoing operations and steps being taken to minimize collateral damage during the operations and the efforts being made to ensure the security and well being of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The National political leadership reiterated its resolve to preserve and protect the sovereignty of the state of Pakistan. It reinforced its will to establish the writ of the state, ensure the rule of law and carry forward the political process. It further recognized the role of the armed forces in the present situation and grieved the martyrdom of personnel of the armed and security forces.

The national political leadership also took note and emphasized that strategic questions regarding where, when and how many troops are deployed in each operation or sector is a Pakistani decision based on objective analysis and full understanding of threat spectrum. These decisions are undertaken in accordance with our national interest by our leadership, keeping in view the aspirations of people of Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by PML (N) Quaid, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif; Parliamentary Leader JUI(F), Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman; Chief Minister Punjab and President PML(N), Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif; Parliamentary Leader PML(Q), Ch. Pervaiz Elahi; Parliamentary Leader MQM, Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar; Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Ch. Nisar Ali Khan; Parliamentary Leader PPP-(S) Mr. Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao; Parliamentary Leader FATA, Haji Munir Khan Aurakzai; Parliamentary Leader BNP(Awami) in the Senate, Mir Israr Ullah Zehri; Governor NWFP, Mr. Owais Ahmad Ghani; Chief Minister NWFP, Mir Amir Haider Khan Hoti; Chief Whip National Assembly, Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah; ANP leader, Mr. Muhammad Zahid Khan; Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan; Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf; Chairman Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani; Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira; Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar; PML(F) leader, Pir Sadr Uddin Shah; Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani; Coordinator Special Support Group, Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmad; Maj. Gen. Muhammad Zaheer ul Islam, DG-C, ISI and DG Military Operations, Maj. Gen. Javed Iqbal. NNI

In the legal notice the ICC has been asked to rescind the decision of the Executive Board being ultra vires and void. The PCB has also informed the ICC that they would be shortly referring the matter for determination by an arbitrary tribunal appointed in accordance with the Rules of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland under the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee.

The PCB officials feel hard done by the ICC decision taken by its Executive Board on April 17. The PCB has contended that the views of the Sri Lankan captain, Mahela Jayawerdene, and ICC match referee, Chris Broad, were presented but the interview CD of the bus driver of Sri Lanka team that PCB had sent to ICC was never presented at the meeting and its transcript was circulated by e-mail to members after the meeting instead.

The PCB functionaries have complained that they were not provided with an opportunity to explain their position and in a slip shod manner, a decision was passed by at the Executive Board meeting whereby PCB was stripped off its right to co-host the 2011 World Cup with the safety and security concerns being the basis of this decision.

“It’s very surprising that this decision was passed in a meeting which was not even authorized to do so. As per procedure, it is the IDI Board and not the Executive Board that is only authorized to make recommendation to the Meeting of Members of ICC which is the Annual Conference and which is alone authorized to take decision on it. The ICC Executive Board in which this decision was made on April 17, has purposed to exercise a power which vests only in IDI,” the PCB Chairman claimed.

“The PCB has not yet received the minutes of the said meeting of Executive Board, therefore the exact tenure of the decision is not known. But in reality, the decision of ICC is actually being acted upon. We can see that the Central Organizing Committee (which originally comprised of representatives of all four co-hosts) convened its meeting in Mumbai wherein PCB was not invited,” he added.

The PCB chief did not mince words in stating that the ICC Executive Board, while taking this decision, completely failed to take into account that the law and order situation in the entire sub-continent is not exemplary;

He pointed out that Bangladesh recently faced mutiny by its armed forces and refused to host Pakistan on accounts of security concerns which resulted in cancellation of Pakistan Series in Bangladesh in March 2009.

“Sri Lanka is embroiled in a long standing civil war. India due to law and order situation had to relocate IPL Series to South Africa although the official reason given is IPL schedule clash with the national elections. Recently Australia refused to send its Tennis Team to India for Davis Cup which was due to be held in Chennai, India. If security and safety was the only reason, no security assessment of the other three co-hosts has been done,” he added.

Ijaz Butt reckoned that under the host agreement, prior to taking any decision on relocation of matches, the PCB should first have been given an option to remedy the situation which was never done.
Courtesy: SKM Sports

“Enemies of the country have established more than 50 centers to recruit terrorists on daily basis and then send them to different cities of the country”, he said. Hameed Gul said the US is providing weapons to Taliban to weaken the country but the world will see its fate like the former USSR who had done the same job by motivating anti-Pakistan elements in the tribal areas.

He said the nation will thwart the nefarious designs of the enemies by giving support to Pak Army. “Our nation is one of the brave nations in the world while armed forces are the best of the world. It is hard to fight with Pak Army”, he said. “Some people said that my life is in danger and I need to keep security for myself. I say that life and death is in the hand of Allah and death comes on time fixed by God”, Gul said.
He said that he was satisfied with his past and worked to please Allah as well as in the best interest of the country and nation. NNI

Federal Minister ordered Managing Director PTV Arshad Khan to make arrangements for the live coverage. The management of PTV signed the contract with Malaysian local TV channel for purchasing the rights of the final match. NNI

Further to this facility France also pledged to extend a 300 million Euro aid in economic assistance and another 12 million Euros for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons in Pakistan along with a pledge to hammer out a Framework for Cooperation Agreement within the next three months that will comprehensively cover cooperation in the fields of energy including civilian nuclear power plants for peaceful purposes, trade, civil aviation and defence.

France deeply admires the determination of the government of Pakistan to root out militancy from the country, the French President said adding, “France totally supports you Mr. President and it is our determination to see Pakistan succeed”. France will not only directly support Pakistan but also seek the support of the international community to the economic and political stability of Pakistan, the French President said.

The spokespersons said that the French President assured President Zardari that at the forthcoming summit of the EU in Brussels he will seek to persuade the grouping to allow Pakistan greater market access to enable it stabilize its economy and provide jobs to its people. President Sarkozy said that he looked forward to the interlocutors from Pakistan and France meeting soon to hammer out a comprehensive framework of cooperation agreement before the fall this year.

Earlier the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari explained to his French counterpart the steps taken by the government in rooting out militancy and the range of economic and political assistance it needed in this regard. Pakistan requires massive and immediate assistance in rehabilitating the internally displaced persons (IDPs) displaced from Swat and other areas as a result of the fight against militants. Poverty, lack of education and homelessness provided breeding grounds for extremism and the world must come forward in helping Pakistan, President Zardari said.

“We need trade and not aid, the President said adding”, We also need international assistance in broadening and strengthening our educational base, He said that the over 17,000 madrassahs in Pakistan provided free education, shelter and food to the children of poor families. Some of the political madrassah had also been imparting lessons in extremism and militancy. To counter it the President said that Pakistan needed to provide free education to its children. This alone, the President said, had been calculated to cost nearly two billion dollars a year.

President Zardari also emphasized the importance of strengthening the civilian law enforcing agencies by providing it with weapons, transport, bomb proof police stations and better pay scales to fight the militants who were better and far better paid by their masters. He said that the government envisaged recruiting another 20,000 special police for each province in addition to the existing police force which was not possible without international support. The President said that the government had information that that the militants paid to their fighters 60 dollars a day. The government planned to pay its special police force about 300 dollars a month which would require international support.

President Zardari said that the fight against militancy now had political ownership as well. He said that the Parliament had set up a national security committee which had also adopted a unanimous resolution. Under the dictatorship there was no political ownership but now there was a broad based consensus behind the fight against militancy.

Sharif said Iran and Pakistan enjoy great potential for expansion of mutual cooperation. He then touched on economic conditions in his country, saying extremism and economy are the main challenges facing the country. NNI