Posts tagged People
Parachinar weeps again
Jun 28th
As the Pakistan military strengthens its position in Swat and Waziristan, the Kurram agency is in the spotlight once again. Fighting has erupted and reportedly, the Taliban fleeing from Waziristan and Swat are wrecking havoc in Parachinar. They are fuelling sectarian tensions and finding refuge as locals from different sectarian groups, particularly the Shi’ites, are targeted.
Amidst fierce clashes that left 33 dead and over 65 injured in a single day, the residents of Parachinar have renewed their call for a military operation. A call they have been issuing for almost 28 months now. The government, the previous and the present, seem to pay no heed to this despearate appeal. More >
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Loading ...The PEACE Act 2009 (Kerry-Lugar Bill)
Jun 27th
The PPP government celebrates the passing of the “Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act” by the USA Congress which would provide an estimated $1.5 billion per year in financial assistance to Pakistan for the next 5 years. The conditions that have been set for the provision of this assistance are, to say the least, humiliating for any patriotic Pakistani.
The conditions associated with this bill constitute most text of the text this bill contains which I took the time to read through in detail.
Let me highlight only a few of the absolutely disappointing clauses that are included as “conditions” for this aid:
to ensure access of United States investigators to individuals suspected of engaging in worldwide proliferation of nuclear materials, as necessary, and restrict such individuals from travel or any other activity that could result in further proliferation;
This is a clear indication that the PPP led government is ready to risk a National Security issue of such importance for a small amount of money. By accepting this assistance, the government intends to agree to give the United States access to nuclear scientist, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, which is absolutely NOT acceptable to the people of Pakistan. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Report: Humanitarian Crisis in Pakistan
May 22nd
I’ve compiled a report on the humanitarian crisis that Pakistan faces today. The report has been published at “Global Voices Online“, a community of more than 200 bloggers around the world who work together to bring you translations and reports from blogs and citizen media everywhere, with emphasis on voices that are not ordinarily heard in international mainstream media.
The report highlights how the Pakistani Blogosphere has reacted to the crisis and gives you an in-sight to cyber activism in Pakistan.
Pakistan has been hit by a severe humanitarian crisis as a result of the military onslaught against the Taliban insurgency. The valley of Swat is in Pakistan’s Malakand division, a beautiful valley often dubbed as another heaven on planet earth. It used to be a prominent tourist resort before it was struck by militancy and extremism of the local Taliban.
It is being reported that over one million (some reports even suggest that figure stands at near 2 million) people have fled their homes from various areas in the Malakand division and FATA including Buner, Dir and Swat. These “Internally Displaced People” (IDPs) are seeking refuge in other areas of Pakistan. Temporary camps have been established in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) where registered IDPs are provided food and shelter.
The crisis is huge. The problems seem impossible to overcome. But Pakistan as a nation has always proved its resilience and unity in testing times. In this regard, a massive relief effort has been launched by many organizations and individuals. The Pakistani Blogosphere is also taking a leading role to provide relief to our Pakistani brothers and sisters in distress.
Read the Full Report at: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/05/21/pakistan-a-humanitarian-crisis/
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...How we support Israel every hour, every day!
Jan 9th
We, Muslims, are estimated at around 1.84 billion in number on the face of this planet. Yet, we are undoubtedly the most oppressed and persecuted of people. Not because we are helpless – but because we refuse to help ourselves. We forgot our religion and its values a long long time back – we limited religion to the mosque and to the mullah! We pray 5 times a day, yet we feel no shame in bribing petty officers.
We, the Muslims, are the largest producers of oil in the world. Yet our fuel is what drives the West and its sophisticated weaponry. The jets that have bombed Afghanistan, Iraq and are now bombing Palestine – yes – it is our fuel they use to blast their heavy jet engines. Shameless, as a word, fails to describe our leadership. We are so strong yet so weak that we can not even ‘threaten’ to suspend oil supplies to the world. We shamelessly continue to provide them with our oil so that they may fly their sophisticated fighter jets over our land, so that they may bomb our women and children, our sisters and brothers.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Is the ‘PP’ Pakistani anymore?
Dec 15th
The People’s Party government in Islamabad has either done or tried to do almost everything that the Indians have been demanding. With Musharraf in power, Pakistan had the courage to tell the United States and India of their involvement in the Balochistan and the Frontier province unrest. What use is a democracy that cannot uphold our dignity, sovereignty and self-respect? Where has one of the three P’s in the PPP gone? The Pakistan?
Amend Foster
Sunday, December 14 – 2008
Ever since it came to power, the People’s Party government in Islamabad has either done or tried to do almost everything that the Indians have been demanding Pakistan to do for them over the past several decades.
While Musharraf was in power, the government was labelled ‘cowardly’ and one that strictly followed American directives. We dived into the ‘War on terror’ for the United States at a heavy cost. We handed over Pakistani citizens who were ’suspected’ of being involved in terrorism.
But with Musharraf in power, Pakistan had the courage to tell the United States and India of their involvement in the Balochistan and the Frontier province unrest. It had the power to tell the United States ‘Sorry, we will not support you to attack Iran from our territory’. It had the guts to say ‘No, Gawadar port shall be built and completed’ much to the United States anguish.
Let me come to where I wanted to take you. What use is a democracy that cannot uphold our dignity, sovereignty and self-respect? I am not opposed to democracy, I am talking about this specific form of democracy that is in place in Pakistan. A democracy so fragile and insecure that if Mumbai is attacked, the President of this country (sitting happily over the 17th ammendment) comes out to say that it is an attack on the democratic establishment in Pakistan. Absurd right? Absolutely! More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Ten lessons every Pakistani MUST learn
Dec 12th
By Hassan baig
Thursday, 11th December 2008
Extremism always overcomes moderation. Micro-analysis never gives the complete picture. Moral relativism is a conduit to absolute corruption. Morality is a myth in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Don’t believe everything you see in the media. Don’t become too paranoid. Our destinies are tied to Pakistan, to our ethnicity, and to our religion. The onus for reforming the system is on the middle classes. Incremental change is not a bad option.And Pakistan CAN SHINE.
“Mulk khud hi chalta rehay ga” (approximate translation: the country doesn’t need our contribution to thrive) is a sentence many Pakistanis are prone to saying. I confess that till a few years ago, I myself was confident of this misleading notion. Misleading and dangerous – especially in today’s volatile climate. As Pakistanis, it is imperative that we come to terms with the fact that no heavenly Manna will alleviate our country’s plight. The job rests squarely on our own shoulders; with the destiny of a whole nation tethered to our will and to the execution of that will. And so as the clock ticks and the prophets of doom raise a foreboding murmur from East to West, it is high time for us to learn some crucial lessons. Lessons without which our collective slumber will only deepen:
1) Extremism always overcomes moderation.
History is fraught with examples of moderate majorities ruled and controlled by extremist minorities. Therefore unless we are extreme in our moderation, our endeavor – any endeavor – is doomed to be highjacked by powers which know more meticulous passion. From the radicalized Islamic cleric who preaches bigotry and hatred to the Neoconservative-backed Christian televangelist who sermonizes the urgency of preparing for an ethnic genocide pithily called Armageddon, we today live in an increasingly polarized world. And since Pakistan exists on the very fault-lines of this burgeoning conflict, our problems are exacerbated. Regardless of what stance we take or which side we pick, our country will remain on the receiving end for the foreseeable future. And regardless of how hastily we disregard conspiracy theories, the extreme forces on all sides will continue to augment their belief systems with hybrid religiopolitical prophecies. Prophecies which have a way of snowballing into self-fulfilment. Therefore it is critical that we take our moderate stance to be more of a proactive doctrine rather than apolitical aloofness. Our very existence depends on it. More >
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