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Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts
Friday, December 27, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Watch Waar 2013 Full Free Online Download Waar (2013)
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Cast : Shaan as Mujtaba (as Shaan Shahid) , Aisha Khan as Javeria , Shamoon Abbasi as Ramal , Meesha Shafi as Zoya , Ali Azmat as Ejaz , Hamza Abbasi as Ehtasham
You can watch and download the movie in High-Definition on PC (desktop, laptop, tablet, handheld pc etc.) and Mac. Download it and watch it on your computer, your tablet, TV or mobile device. Waar is a new upcoming Pakistani Movie.The film is one of the few projects in the Pakistan to revive the cinema amongst other movies to be released in Pakistan in 2012.
The film is based around the Pakistani Army,Pakistani Police PSP officers intelligence,law and government’s fight against terrorism.It has been inspired by actual events occurred in the country.
Rehman Malik,Interior Minister of Pakistan has some scenes in the movie.
Star Cast:
Shaan Shahid,Shamoon Abbasi,Meesha Shafi,Ayesha Khan,Ali Azmat,Uzma Khan and Hamza Abbasi.
Directed By:
Bilal Lashari
Produced By:
Hassan Waqas Rana
Written By:
Hassan Waqas Rana
Music By:
Qayyas
Release Date:
Studio:
Mind Works Media
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Budget:
USD $8 million (PKR 72 Crores)
Language:
Most of the movie scenes are in English and some are in urdu.
Running Time:
140 minutes
Filming:
It is shot in various locations of Pakistan including Northern
Areas,Lahore and Islamabad.Most of the scenes are shot in
Islamabad and some are in Istanbul,Turkey.
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Pakistan Political leader Fauzia Wahab passes away
PPP leader and MNA Fauzia Wahab passed away at a local hospital on Sunday after being ill for three weeks.
Information Secretary PPP Sindh Waqar Mehdi told the media outside the hospital here that Fauzia had passed away.
She has left behind two sons Murtaza and Ali, two daughters and a grandchild to mourn her death.
Her funeral will be offered at Sultan Masjid, Defence after Zuhar prayers on Monday (today).
Fauzia went into a coma after remaining in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit(ICU).
Her condition deteriorated on Saturday night owing to the complications after her primary gall bladder surgery. Two more surgeries were performed in order to control her internal bleeding and other complications.
She had been admitted to the Orthopedic Medical Institute (OMI) for the past 23 days, Murtaza said.
She underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) also.
According to the physician, she was gaining and losing consciousness and was having serious breathing problems.
Her internal bleeding had worsened the situation. She has even had tracheostomy, an operation in which the neck is incised, making an opening in the windpipe in order to allow direct access to the breathing tube.
However, it was difficult to maintain her respiration as oxygen was not reaching her brain. The ‘smiling face’ as she was largely known, Fauzia Wahab was born in 1956 in an educated family. She did her BA Honour in International Relations at Karachi University in 1979 and got third position.
Since her student life, she was an active political worker and had contested Students Union elections in 1978-79 for the post of Joint Secretary from the platform of Liberal Group, and emerged victorious.
She married her university fellow Wahab Siddiqui, who later became a senior journalist and PTV anchor. He died in 1993. Fauzia herself worked for a PTV drama.
Fauzia held many key positions in the PPP and was a close aide of the slain leader of the party Benazir Bhutto.
President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed condolences on the PPP leader’s death.
The party has called off all its political activities for 10 days. The CEC meeting of the party scheduled for Monday (today) has also been cancelled.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah expressed their sorrow and grief over the death of Fauzia Wahab and offered their heartfelt condolences to the family members.
PPP Senator Saeed Ghani, Latif Mughal, Sindh ministers Sharjeel Memon, Ayaz Soomro, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Ms Shazia Marri and other also expressed grief over her death.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Central President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi also expressed their grief over her death.
Others who offered condolences included MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and members of the Coordination Committee, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawwar Hassan, Secretary General Liaquat Baloch and Karachi Ameer Muhammad Hussain Mahenti.
Pakistan power outages spark violent protests
The power-starved people braving sweltering heat staged violent protest demonstrations in many cities of the country against load shedding on Sunday.
Frustrated with the increasing hours of loadshedding, residents of almost all cities in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa took to the streets in protest. Some of the protestors turned violent and indulged in damaging public property and set vehicles on fire.
In Faisalabad, protestors blocked Faisalabad-Samanduri road against load shedding for several hours. Police resorted to firing of tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators who in return pelted stones at the police force. The demonstrators said that they were facing 20 to 22 hours of daily electricity load shedding and were without water to drink.
In Multan traders protested against the prolonged power outages, chanted slogans against the government, burnt tyres and blocked traffic.
In Chakwal, Jhelum and Attock, traders and ordinary people came on roads and raised slogans against power shortages. They burnt tyres on roads to block roads. They said they were not only forced to undergo long hours of power breakdowns but were unable to get water from tubewells and water supply schemes as there was no electricity.
In Pakpattan, people from different walks of life protested against unscheduled loadshedding in the city and its adjoining areas.
They blocked Multan-Kasur Road, jamming traffic for many hours. They said electricity supply to villages had been suspended for many days.
Water supply remained suspended due to loadshedding. The protesters said loadshedding was affecting their business badly.
A more violent protest took place in Chichawatni where the protestors attacked Saddar Police stations, set on fire seven motorcycles of police and broke the gate of its prison room. According to a private TV channel, seven accused in the police station prison room fled taking advantage of clash between the protestors and the police. Police registered case against 150 people for violent protest during which public properties were damaged and destroyed.
The protestors attacked the house and office of MNA Zahid Iqbal and caused damaged to them. The angry protestors pelted his office and homes. Police had to resort to aerial firing to disperse the protestors.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Future of US-Pakistan ties
Whatever may be the outcome of the promised US investigation into the attacks on Pakistani posts on Nov 27, certain facts are already known.
First, 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in their own territory which the Pakistani Army had cleared in September 2011, a fact known to all concerned. Second, US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopters with the support of fighter planes carried the attacks. Third, the attacks continued for more than 2 hours even after the establishment of contacts between the two authorities. And fourth, the ISAF helicopters returned to attack a second time.
Neither international laws nor the ISAF mandate nor the terms of engagements in Afghanistan nor the conventions of joint border operations between the US and Pakistan authorize such aggression.
In the normal course, after the attacks the international community should have condemned, in the strongest terms, the clear violation of international laws and loss of lives, and recognized the victim country's right to respond. Ironically, however, many world capitals and the international media were surprised with Pakistan's response and not the attacks.
Understandably, Pakistan's rather feeble response to the earlier violations of its territory - some 300 drone attacks accounting for up to 3,000 deaths, and six US-NATO incursions killing 72 and injuring 250 Pakistani soldiers - is one of the main reasons for today's sad situation. It seems the Americans misinterpreted Pakistan's response as a sign of its weakness and took the liberty of attacking Pakistan again.
To many analysts, the NATO attacks, just before the Bonn Conference (on Afghanistan's future) - organized in the backdrop of the US' failure in Afghanistan to get approval for future American presence there - were planned for two reasons. On one hand, it was to gauge Pakistan's reaction, which has been relatively strict in the recent past. On the other, it was to warn Pakistan of the dire consequences it faced if it was not prepared to continue cooperating on the terms and conditions of the US.
A pressured Pakistani leadership could have been easily swayed to endorse the American prescription without considering national interests. Or, Pakistan could have shown resistance and thus disrupted the whole process because of its well recognized and accepted key position in the war on terrorism.
Many observers believe that the Americans want to blame Pakistan for their failure in Afghanistan. Military and other attacks on, and the continued political and media campaigns against Pakistan are therefore aimed at provoking Islamabad to retaliate, so that its nuclear assets, already a target of an aggressive propaganda campaign, could also be targeted.
True, that in the context of the current equation in Afghanistan, these steps may not pose a major challenge to the US. But Pakistan's unparalleled information and intelligence network, together with its capacity to influence different groups in Afghanistan, makes it an inevitable player in a protracted stalemate which could multiply the US' difficulties. Given these facts, Pakistan's decision to boycott the Bonn conference on Afghanistan's future may have denied it the chance to present its case directly, but it has created more space for Pakistan.
How long can Islamabad maintain its pressure on Washington? And conversely, how long can it resist the political, diplomatic, economic and media pressures of the Americans. These two questions have now acquired added significance.
Indeed, the present impasse may turn out to be the most susceptible point in US-Pakistan relations since the beginning of 2011, a year that has seen CIA contractor Raymond Davis shoot down two Pakistanis in Lahore and the American raid on Abbottabad in which Osama bin Laden was killed.
US-Pakistani ties have been deteriorating for some time now because of Pakistanis' increasing anger against the Americans, creating space for the Pakistani military leadership to distance itself from the US and review the current terms of its engagement in the war on terrorism, which anyway are not in the genuine interest of Pakistan. An additional outcome of such an approach for Pakistan is the greater "harmony within", the source of real strength for any country.
By ensuring national solidarity and effective diplomatic and media campaign, Pakistan can sustain its position until such time that the cutting off of supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan starts making a real impact. Though alternative supply routes from Central Asia appear good, they are not practical for permanent dependence, because of the distances, additional costs, climatic conditions and security issues and most importantly the political equation in the region. The recent statement of Russian foreign minister about stopping supplies to NATO-US is a clear indication in this regard.
Pakistan's real challenge is to remove the gap between its people and the leadership that has been created by the government's cooperation, against the will of the people, in the US' war on terrorism . The emerging scenario may either widen the gap, which will be disastrous for Pakistan, or narrow it further, which has happened in the past few weeks, making the country and leadership stronger and capable of making bold decisions.
The US, too, faces a test: how to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan without Pakistan's support. The declining domestic support for the war, its international image and worsening economic conditions at home are some of the immediate and pressing needs that the US has to focus on.
Thus the Nov 27 attacks and Pakistan's response have laid the foundation for a new setting, a setting in which, unless something dramatic happens, an all out war between Pakistan and the US is an impossibility, because both need each other and cannot afford such an adventure at this point of time.
Nevertheless, in a war of nerves, a renegotiation on the nature, level and terms of cooperation will certainly take place, and the country that demonstrates stronger nerves and moves smartly will be the final gainer. The most likely scenario is a new beginning in US-Pakistan relationship with the focus on objectives and strategies, as well as tactics.
First, 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in their own territory which the Pakistani Army had cleared in September 2011, a fact known to all concerned. Second, US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopters with the support of fighter planes carried the attacks. Third, the attacks continued for more than 2 hours even after the establishment of contacts between the two authorities. And fourth, the ISAF helicopters returned to attack a second time.
Neither international laws nor the ISAF mandate nor the terms of engagements in Afghanistan nor the conventions of joint border operations between the US and Pakistan authorize such aggression.
In the normal course, after the attacks the international community should have condemned, in the strongest terms, the clear violation of international laws and loss of lives, and recognized the victim country's right to respond. Ironically, however, many world capitals and the international media were surprised with Pakistan's response and not the attacks.
Understandably, Pakistan's rather feeble response to the earlier violations of its territory - some 300 drone attacks accounting for up to 3,000 deaths, and six US-NATO incursions killing 72 and injuring 250 Pakistani soldiers - is one of the main reasons for today's sad situation. It seems the Americans misinterpreted Pakistan's response as a sign of its weakness and took the liberty of attacking Pakistan again.
To many analysts, the NATO attacks, just before the Bonn Conference (on Afghanistan's future) - organized in the backdrop of the US' failure in Afghanistan to get approval for future American presence there - were planned for two reasons. On one hand, it was to gauge Pakistan's reaction, which has been relatively strict in the recent past. On the other, it was to warn Pakistan of the dire consequences it faced if it was not prepared to continue cooperating on the terms and conditions of the US.
A pressured Pakistani leadership could have been easily swayed to endorse the American prescription without considering national interests. Or, Pakistan could have shown resistance and thus disrupted the whole process because of its well recognized and accepted key position in the war on terrorism.
Many observers believe that the Americans want to blame Pakistan for their failure in Afghanistan. Military and other attacks on, and the continued political and media campaigns against Pakistan are therefore aimed at provoking Islamabad to retaliate, so that its nuclear assets, already a target of an aggressive propaganda campaign, could also be targeted.
True, that in the context of the current equation in Afghanistan, these steps may not pose a major challenge to the US. But Pakistan's unparalleled information and intelligence network, together with its capacity to influence different groups in Afghanistan, makes it an inevitable player in a protracted stalemate which could multiply the US' difficulties. Given these facts, Pakistan's decision to boycott the Bonn conference on Afghanistan's future may have denied it the chance to present its case directly, but it has created more space for Pakistan.
How long can Islamabad maintain its pressure on Washington? And conversely, how long can it resist the political, diplomatic, economic and media pressures of the Americans. These two questions have now acquired added significance.
Indeed, the present impasse may turn out to be the most susceptible point in US-Pakistan relations since the beginning of 2011, a year that has seen CIA contractor Raymond Davis shoot down two Pakistanis in Lahore and the American raid on Abbottabad in which Osama bin Laden was killed.
US-Pakistani ties have been deteriorating for some time now because of Pakistanis' increasing anger against the Americans, creating space for the Pakistani military leadership to distance itself from the US and review the current terms of its engagement in the war on terrorism, which anyway are not in the genuine interest of Pakistan. An additional outcome of such an approach for Pakistan is the greater "harmony within", the source of real strength for any country.
By ensuring national solidarity and effective diplomatic and media campaign, Pakistan can sustain its position until such time that the cutting off of supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan starts making a real impact. Though alternative supply routes from Central Asia appear good, they are not practical for permanent dependence, because of the distances, additional costs, climatic conditions and security issues and most importantly the political equation in the region. The recent statement of Russian foreign minister about stopping supplies to NATO-US is a clear indication in this regard.
Pakistan's real challenge is to remove the gap between its people and the leadership that has been created by the government's cooperation, against the will of the people, in the US' war on terrorism . The emerging scenario may either widen the gap, which will be disastrous for Pakistan, or narrow it further, which has happened in the past few weeks, making the country and leadership stronger and capable of making bold decisions.
The US, too, faces a test: how to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan without Pakistan's support. The declining domestic support for the war, its international image and worsening economic conditions at home are some of the immediate and pressing needs that the US has to focus on.
Thus the Nov 27 attacks and Pakistan's response have laid the foundation for a new setting, a setting in which, unless something dramatic happens, an all out war between Pakistan and the US is an impossibility, because both need each other and cannot afford such an adventure at this point of time.
Nevertheless, in a war of nerves, a renegotiation on the nature, level and terms of cooperation will certainly take place, and the country that demonstrates stronger nerves and moves smartly will be the final gainer. The most likely scenario is a new beginning in US-Pakistan relationship with the focus on objectives and strategies, as well as tactics.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Pakistan Family Planning Statistics
Health workers are advocating the use of contraceptives in Pakistan, a highly conservative country where birth control use is low and the fertility rate is higher than other Muslim nations. Pakistan’s total population is projected to rise from 173 million today to 275 million by 2050.
Pakistan, India relations are complex and accident prone
The 20th century was the American century. The international trends in the first decade of the 21st highlight the decline of the United States. It is still the most prosperous and powerful country, but no longer the arbiter of the destiny of human kind.
President Obama like most of his predecessors has a somewhat limited understanding of the non-western world. He inherited a mess in Iraq and in Afghanistan/Pakistan. President Bush sowed the wind. Obama is reaping the whirl wind.
Does the US today have a well thought through Afghan policy, a Taliban policy or a Pakistan policy? For the USA, at the moment, it is impossible to live with Pakistan. Also impossible to live without Pakistan. These are complex geo-political nightmares.
My main focus is on Indo-Pak, relations. This precludes my holding forth on those nightmares. At the end of the Saarc summit in the Maldives, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pronounced that his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani "was a man of peace." Gilani did not return the compliment.
Indo-Pak relations are complex and accident prone. Manmohan Singh's desire to have cordial and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan are laudable. How to convert hope into reality? He has not come up with a convincing answer because he takes a somewhat simplistic view of Indo-Pak relations. His Pakistan policy lacks gravitas.
Sherm-al-Sheik is a striking example. Why in the name of heaven insert Baluchistan in the joint statement? His principal foreign policy adviser is his National Security Adviser. He should know better having headed our mission in Pakistan.
What, if any, role the minister of external affairs plays remains a mystery. Does the prime minister hold the view that Gilani, his man of peace, can deliver? He cannot! The Army and the ISI can. These two are unlikely to oblige Manmohan Singh. Our home minster does not share the prime minister's soft corner for Gilani. The man who matters in Pakistan is General Ashraf Pervez Kayani.
Till the FDI fiasco, Manmohan Singh was America's favourite Indian. No longer! As of now the PM will be licking his wounds to take any major foreign policy initiatives. The resumption of the composite dialogue will be a media event devoid of significance.
The world lacks statesmen at a time when there is a crying need for them. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton during her brief stay in Chennai said that India should be more assertive in this part of the globe. Even assume a leadership role.
President Obama like most of his predecessors has a somewhat limited understanding of the non-western world. He inherited a mess in Iraq and in Afghanistan/Pakistan. President Bush sowed the wind. Obama is reaping the whirl wind.
Does the US today have a well thought through Afghan policy, a Taliban policy or a Pakistan policy? For the USA, at the moment, it is impossible to live with Pakistan. Also impossible to live without Pakistan. These are complex geo-political nightmares.
My main focus is on Indo-Pak, relations. This precludes my holding forth on those nightmares. At the end of the Saarc summit in the Maldives, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pronounced that his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani "was a man of peace." Gilani did not return the compliment.
Indo-Pak relations are complex and accident prone. Manmohan Singh's desire to have cordial and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan are laudable. How to convert hope into reality? He has not come up with a convincing answer because he takes a somewhat simplistic view of Indo-Pak relations. His Pakistan policy lacks gravitas.
Sherm-al-Sheik is a striking example. Why in the name of heaven insert Baluchistan in the joint statement? His principal foreign policy adviser is his National Security Adviser. He should know better having headed our mission in Pakistan.
What, if any, role the minister of external affairs plays remains a mystery. Does the prime minister hold the view that Gilani, his man of peace, can deliver? He cannot! The Army and the ISI can. These two are unlikely to oblige Manmohan Singh. Our home minster does not share the prime minister's soft corner for Gilani. The man who matters in Pakistan is General Ashraf Pervez Kayani.
Till the FDI fiasco, Manmohan Singh was America's favourite Indian. No longer! As of now the PM will be licking his wounds to take any major foreign policy initiatives. The resumption of the composite dialogue will be a media event devoid of significance.
The world lacks statesmen at a time when there is a crying need for them. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton during her brief stay in Chennai said that India should be more assertive in this part of the globe. Even assume a leadership role.
Source: Pakistan, India relations
Bilawal unhappy with President Zardari
Ruling Pakistan People's Party's nominal head Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reportedly expressed his "displeasure" at his father President Asif Ali Zardari's "watered down response" to the killing of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer by a police guard with links to extremists.
Bilawal, who has been playing a greater role in the affairs of the PPP since Zardari travelled to Dubai last week for the treatment of a heart condition, has "independent opinions about events as well as party affairs", a party insider said.
"At one of the meetings, he (Bilawal) expressed his displeasure over his father's watered down response to the killing of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. He thought President Zardari should have taken a stronger position to denounce religious radicalisation that led to the Governor's murder," the unnamed party insider told the Dawn newspaper.
Party insiders disputed the popular perception that Bilawal is young and may not have developed his political faculties.
The 23-year-old Bilawal, who is ineligible to become a member of parliament till September 2013, was thrust into a central position by his father's abrupt departure to Dubai.
Bilawal seems keen on performing his role as PPP chairman, particularly with regard to upcoming polls to the Senate or upper house of parliament in March next year and the general election in 2013, the party insiders said.
"He will lead the manifesto and programme development for the party for the next general elections," said one source.
In recent days, Bilawal has sat in on key meetings chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that discussed the President's health and national security issues related to the November 26 cross-border NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
"Bilawal is in Pakistan on the instructions of President Zardari as he wants to dispel an impression that he and his family have fled," presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the Dawn.
Babar said Bilawal was formally named the PPP chairman after his mother Benazir Bhutto's assassination but had not been performing his role because of his studies.
"Now he has completed his education and is getting engaged in different political activities," he said.
The PPP had announced that Bilawal's political career would be formally launched on August 7 last year in Birmingham but the event was subsequently cancelled after criticism that President Zardari was undertaking a visit to Britain at a time when the people of Sindh had been devastated by catastrophic floods.
Bilawal, who has been playing a greater role in the affairs of the PPP since Zardari travelled to Dubai last week for the treatment of a heart condition, has "independent opinions about events as well as party affairs", a party insider said.
"At one of the meetings, he (Bilawal) expressed his displeasure over his father's watered down response to the killing of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. He thought President Zardari should have taken a stronger position to denounce religious radicalisation that led to the Governor's murder," the unnamed party insider told the Dawn newspaper.
Party insiders disputed the popular perception that Bilawal is young and may not have developed his political faculties.
The 23-year-old Bilawal, who is ineligible to become a member of parliament till September 2013, was thrust into a central position by his father's abrupt departure to Dubai.
Bilawal seems keen on performing his role as PPP chairman, particularly with regard to upcoming polls to the Senate or upper house of parliament in March next year and the general election in 2013, the party insiders said.
"He will lead the manifesto and programme development for the party for the next general elections," said one source.
In recent days, Bilawal has sat in on key meetings chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that discussed the President's health and national security issues related to the November 26 cross-border NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
"Bilawal is in Pakistan on the instructions of President Zardari as he wants to dispel an impression that he and his family have fled," presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the Dawn.
Babar said Bilawal was formally named the PPP chairman after his mother Benazir Bhutto's assassination but had not been performing his role because of his studies.
"Now he has completed his education and is getting engaged in different political activities," he said.
The PPP had announced that Bilawal's political career would be formally launched on August 7 last year in Birmingham but the event was subsequently cancelled after criticism that President Zardari was undertaking a visit to Britain at a time when the people of Sindh had been devastated by catastrophic floods.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Pakistan's stand increased importance in international community
Pakistan’s principle stand to boycott the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan and to review its relations with NATO and United States have been supported by all the political parties and Pakistan’s importance has been increased in the international community. According to diplomatic sources, although it is tough stand to boycott the Bonn Conference and stop the NATO supply but the general public and political parties have termed it a strong and committed decision by the Pakistan government at this important moment following the unproved and uncalled for attacks by the NATO/ISAF helicopters on its border check-posts in Mohmand Agency that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and officers.
Pakistan’s diplomates clarified that Pakistan boycotted the Bonn Conference in the larger interest of Pakistan, but it should not be taken as Pakistan’s total disassociation from its aspiration to promote peace and security in Afghanistan.
The foreign office further stated, “Peace and stability in Afghanistan is indeed in our own larger national interest and Pakistan will continue doing whatever it can to facilitate the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.”
President Pakistan Muslim League-N Nawaz Sharif while appreciating the decisions of government said that NATO supplies must remain suspended till apology over attacks on Pakistan military check posts in Mohmand Agency.
Nawaz Sharif said the government had taken a firm stand and should stick to it.
He said NATO air-strike at Mohmand Agency which claimed the lives of 24 Pakistani soldiers was an open attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty. He reiterated that such attacks must not be happened. He also praised and appreciated the government’s decision to boycott Bonn conference.
The most important decision besides condemning these attacks, taken by the Government of Pakistan was to boycott the Bonn Conference which has disturbed the world community but it was supported by the masses at home.
International community especially US President Obama, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and other world leaders used their diplomatic channels and put pressure to convince Pakistan to withdraw its decision to boycott the Bonn conference.
The Bonn conference on the future of Afghanistan was held in Bonn, Germany on December 5 and it was meant to find a solution to the problems of Afghanistan especially after the proposed withdrawal of American forces.
Pakistan time and again clarified that without ensuring protection to its sovereignty, integrity, security and honour, it will not attend Bonn conference.
Pakistan has also conveyed to the international community and especially the US that there could not be “business as usual” with Washington in the wake of the strikes.
Another important initiative by the government, which was being appreciated by the political leaders and the public, is the decision to vacate Shamsi Air Base which was allegedly used for drone attacks in Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari even rejected UAE’s request to review the decision to close Shamsi Air Base when its Foreign Minister called on President soon after the decision to vacate Shamsi Air Base.
Although the United States has expressed concern about the impact of the deadly NATO strike incident on its bilateral relations with Pakistan, which, the State Department described as “vital” to both countries.
The State Department said, “Of course, we are concerned about the impact of this incident on our relations with Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s decision to boycott Bonn Conference was considered an early blow to US efforts to have Afghanistan’s powerful neighbors, act as guarantors of the post-2014 peace.
US Ambassador Cameron Munter had to meet Pakistani leadership almost every day since the NATO/ISAF attacks and he had been making efforts to revive the previous Pak-US relations.
President Zardari told the American envoy that if the US does not take care for Pakistan’s interests and sovereignty, it will deteriorate relations between the two countries.
The President further said Pakistan had rendered innumerable sacrifices in the war against terror but the government, army, and people had strong reservations about the unprovoked Mohmand Agency attack.
Pakistan Army while expressing its disgust over NATO attacks has said that it does not accept NATO apology and that this action can lead to serious consequences.
Such incidents have happened in the past that killed 72 soldiers and injured more than 250 troops in three years, said the spokesman for Pakistan Army.
Pakistan has also sealed its border with Afghanistan, shutting down the supply lines for some 130,000 US-led foreign troops in that country soon after the NATO attack on Pakistani posts.
Pakistan has also protested with the United Nations on these unprovoked attacks and a letter has been written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in this regard.
NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, “Saturday’s NATO attack in Mohmand Agency was tragic and unintended.”
He wrote a letter to Prime Minister Gilani that the deaths of Pakistani personnel are as unacceptable and deplorable as the deaths of Afghan and international personnel.
He assured, “We will determine what happened and draw the right lessons”.
He further said NATO remained strongly committed to working with Pakistan to improve cooperation to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani also strongly condemned NATO/ISAF’s blatant and unacceptable act resulting in loss of precious lives of Pakistani soldiers.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar telephoned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to inform the US government of the ‘deep sense of rage’ felt across Pakistan at the senseless killings of soldiers in attacks on a Pakistani military post in Mohmand Agency.
The Foreign Minister also contacted many countries including China, France, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Iran, UK, OIC and European Union besides United States to convey the sentiments of the Government and people of Pakistan on NATO/ISAF attacks on Pakistani order posts.
Pakistan’s diplomates clarified that Pakistan boycotted the Bonn Conference in the larger interest of Pakistan, but it should not be taken as Pakistan’s total disassociation from its aspiration to promote peace and security in Afghanistan.
The foreign office further stated, “Peace and stability in Afghanistan is indeed in our own larger national interest and Pakistan will continue doing whatever it can to facilitate the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.”
President Pakistan Muslim League-N Nawaz Sharif while appreciating the decisions of government said that NATO supplies must remain suspended till apology over attacks on Pakistan military check posts in Mohmand Agency.
Nawaz Sharif said the government had taken a firm stand and should stick to it.
He said NATO air-strike at Mohmand Agency which claimed the lives of 24 Pakistani soldiers was an open attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty. He reiterated that such attacks must not be happened. He also praised and appreciated the government’s decision to boycott Bonn conference.
The most important decision besides condemning these attacks, taken by the Government of Pakistan was to boycott the Bonn Conference which has disturbed the world community but it was supported by the masses at home.
International community especially US President Obama, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and other world leaders used their diplomatic channels and put pressure to convince Pakistan to withdraw its decision to boycott the Bonn conference.
The Bonn conference on the future of Afghanistan was held in Bonn, Germany on December 5 and it was meant to find a solution to the problems of Afghanistan especially after the proposed withdrawal of American forces.
Pakistan time and again clarified that without ensuring protection to its sovereignty, integrity, security and honour, it will not attend Bonn conference.
Pakistan has also conveyed to the international community and especially the US that there could not be “business as usual” with Washington in the wake of the strikes.
Another important initiative by the government, which was being appreciated by the political leaders and the public, is the decision to vacate Shamsi Air Base which was allegedly used for drone attacks in Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari even rejected UAE’s request to review the decision to close Shamsi Air Base when its Foreign Minister called on President soon after the decision to vacate Shamsi Air Base.
Although the United States has expressed concern about the impact of the deadly NATO strike incident on its bilateral relations with Pakistan, which, the State Department described as “vital” to both countries.
The State Department said, “Of course, we are concerned about the impact of this incident on our relations with Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s decision to boycott Bonn Conference was considered an early blow to US efforts to have Afghanistan’s powerful neighbors, act as guarantors of the post-2014 peace.
US Ambassador Cameron Munter had to meet Pakistani leadership almost every day since the NATO/ISAF attacks and he had been making efforts to revive the previous Pak-US relations.
President Zardari told the American envoy that if the US does not take care for Pakistan’s interests and sovereignty, it will deteriorate relations between the two countries.
The President further said Pakistan had rendered innumerable sacrifices in the war against terror but the government, army, and people had strong reservations about the unprovoked Mohmand Agency attack.
Pakistan Army while expressing its disgust over NATO attacks has said that it does not accept NATO apology and that this action can lead to serious consequences.
Such incidents have happened in the past that killed 72 soldiers and injured more than 250 troops in three years, said the spokesman for Pakistan Army.
Pakistan has also sealed its border with Afghanistan, shutting down the supply lines for some 130,000 US-led foreign troops in that country soon after the NATO attack on Pakistani posts.
Pakistan has also protested with the United Nations on these unprovoked attacks and a letter has been written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in this regard.
NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, “Saturday’s NATO attack in Mohmand Agency was tragic and unintended.”
He wrote a letter to Prime Minister Gilani that the deaths of Pakistani personnel are as unacceptable and deplorable as the deaths of Afghan and international personnel.
He assured, “We will determine what happened and draw the right lessons”.
He further said NATO remained strongly committed to working with Pakistan to improve cooperation to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani also strongly condemned NATO/ISAF’s blatant and unacceptable act resulting in loss of precious lives of Pakistani soldiers.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar telephoned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to inform the US government of the ‘deep sense of rage’ felt across Pakistan at the senseless killings of soldiers in attacks on a Pakistani military post in Mohmand Agency.
The Foreign Minister also contacted many countries including China, France, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Iran, UK, OIC and European Union besides United States to convey the sentiments of the Government and people of Pakistan on NATO/ISAF attacks on Pakistani order posts.
APPC
Saturday, December 3, 2011
If US attack Pakistan return the fire
Pakistan's top military commander has issued orders to the country's troops to return fire should they come under attack again from U.S.-led coalition forces, a move that's likely to increase tensions after an American-led air raid on two border outposts last week killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan's army chief, issued the order in a letter to his troops that set out the rules of engagement against any "aggressor."
The new orders came as Pakistan and U.S. officials continued to trade conflicting accounts of what happened in the incident, which American officials say came after a joint U.S.-Afghan unit took fire from the Pakistani side of the border but which Pakistani officials say was unprovoked. No American or Afghan casualties were reported in the incident, which now is thought to have occurred shortly after midnight last Saturday.
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan's army chief, issued the order in a letter to his troops that set out the rules of engagement against any "aggressor."
The new orders came as Pakistan and U.S. officials continued to trade conflicting accounts of what happened in the incident, which American officials say came after a joint U.S.-Afghan unit took fire from the Pakistani side of the border but which Pakistani officials say was unprovoked. No American or Afghan casualties were reported in the incident, which now is thought to have occurred shortly after midnight last Saturday.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
is Pakistan and US link still vital?
THE DEPTH of Pakistan’s fury over a NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at a remote border post last week was on full display yesterday, as Pakistan shut off foreign news channels, including CNN, and refused to attend Monday’s international conference on Afghanistan’s future. This comes on top of Pakistan’s expulsion earlier this week of US personnel from an airbase that launched drones and its halting of trucks supplying the US military in Afghanistan.
It’s clear that the long-troubled US-Pakistan relationship is at a crossroads. But it should be equally clear that the United States and Pakistan still need each other, and that the Obama administration should do all it can to forestall a permanent rupture. While American frustration with Pakistan is understandable - whether over Pakistan’s ties to militants or its failure to arrest Osama bin Laden - an outright break would be far more costly than maintaining the current fragile and sometimes disingenuous friendship.
The core of the alliance is the exchange of American aid for Pakistani help in the fight against Islamic extremists. As imperfect as this relationship is - and as duplicitous as Pakistan’s military can be - a rupture in the alliance would damage counterterrorism operations in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, undermining a string of successes against Al Qaeda. A rupture would also be a victory for extremists in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state. Given the stakes involved, the administration’s response has been surprisingly muted. The US military central command launched an investigation into the airstrike, which US officials said took place only after US soldiers came under fire. But a US military investigation is unlikely to sway anyone in Pakistan, where the attack has been described as deliberate and unprovoked. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed regret over Pakistan’s decision to boycott talks over Afghanistan’s future and over the deaths of the Pakistani soldiers. But her statements hardly seem to reflect the importance that the Obama administration placed on Pakistan just two years ago.
Meanwhile, Pakistanis are understandably shocked by images of their soldiers in coffins, killed by Americans. “We are already virtually at war,’’ Zafar Hilaly, a former Pakistani ambassador, wrote in a popular newspaper, The News.
Some US officials think it’s only a matter of time before Washington and Islamabad part ways. The CIA quietly shifted its drones to Afghanistan back in April, and the US military has been rerouting increasing amounts of supplies through Uzbekistan. Many American politicians are calling for an end to US aid to Pakistan. That would be a mistake. The Obama administration should do more to explain how costly a break with Pakistan would be, especially as the United States seeks to scale back the war in Afghanistan. If Pakistan is causing trouble in Afghanistan now, as an American ally, imagine what it would do as an enemy.
It’s clear that the long-troubled US-Pakistan relationship is at a crossroads. But it should be equally clear that the United States and Pakistan still need each other, and that the Obama administration should do all it can to forestall a permanent rupture. While American frustration with Pakistan is understandable - whether over Pakistan’s ties to militants or its failure to arrest Osama bin Laden - an outright break would be far more costly than maintaining the current fragile and sometimes disingenuous friendship.
The core of the alliance is the exchange of American aid for Pakistani help in the fight against Islamic extremists. As imperfect as this relationship is - and as duplicitous as Pakistan’s military can be - a rupture in the alliance would damage counterterrorism operations in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, undermining a string of successes against Al Qaeda. A rupture would also be a victory for extremists in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state. Given the stakes involved, the administration’s response has been surprisingly muted. The US military central command launched an investigation into the airstrike, which US officials said took place only after US soldiers came under fire. But a US military investigation is unlikely to sway anyone in Pakistan, where the attack has been described as deliberate and unprovoked. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed regret over Pakistan’s decision to boycott talks over Afghanistan’s future and over the deaths of the Pakistani soldiers. But her statements hardly seem to reflect the importance that the Obama administration placed on Pakistan just two years ago.
Meanwhile, Pakistanis are understandably shocked by images of their soldiers in coffins, killed by Americans. “We are already virtually at war,’’ Zafar Hilaly, a former Pakistani ambassador, wrote in a popular newspaper, The News.
Some US officials think it’s only a matter of time before Washington and Islamabad part ways. The CIA quietly shifted its drones to Afghanistan back in April, and the US military has been rerouting increasing amounts of supplies through Uzbekistan. Many American politicians are calling for an end to US aid to Pakistan. That would be a mistake. The Obama administration should do more to explain how costly a break with Pakistan would be, especially as the United States seeks to scale back the war in Afghanistan. If Pakistan is causing trouble in Afghanistan now, as an American ally, imagine what it would do as an enemy.
Source: Boston Globe
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Lahore High Court: Haqqani won't leave
The federal government on Monday assured the Lahore High Court that former Pakistani ambassador to US Husain Haqqani would not leave the country before the completion of inquiry about ‘Memogate scandal.
Two deputy attorney generals (DAGs) appeared before the court as Justice Umar Ata Bandial admitted for regular hearing the petition seeking for directions to federal government to place the name of Husain Haqqani on ECL (exit control list) and initiate high treason proceedings against him on charges of violating Constitution.
The law officers of the federal government also informed the court that the investigation about the ‘Memogate scandal’ would be carried out under the supervision of chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security (PCNS) Senator Raza Rabbani.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed the law officers to submit their written reply and adjourned the hearing till December 09.The judge ordered the petitioner, Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree, to include the names of secretary interior and foreign affairs on request of DAGs that they might have more relevant information about the memo issue. A citizen Iftikhar Rajpoot, thorough his counsel Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree, had filed the petition and made parties the Cabinet Secretary, Nargis Sethi, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq in the petition. He said Haqqani sent a derogatory letter to former US military chief Mike Mullen through a US-based Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz against Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
By doing this, he said, Haqqani tarnished the image of both Pakistan and its armed forces and made an attempt to pledge Pakistan’s sovereignty to America. He said Haqqani was holding dual nationality of Pakistan and US. He said in the past he was appointed Pakistani ambassador in Sri Lanka against merit during Nawaz Sharif stint as prime minister.
Later, (Haqqani) changed party and joined ‘Zardari Group’ and got lucrative post of Pakistani ambassador in US again in violation of merit. Barrister Jafree said Haqqani wasted and minted huge amount of public money (5 million dollars) in unsuccessful defence of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in US Courts that not only caused humiliation to Pakistan but Aafia was also sentenced for life term.
Petitioner said in order to reveal the truth the lie detecting machine be applied on Haqqani and other politicians. He requested the court to direct all the respondents to declare their all national and foreign assets along with affidavits.
Two deputy attorney generals (DAGs) appeared before the court as Justice Umar Ata Bandial admitted for regular hearing the petition seeking for directions to federal government to place the name of Husain Haqqani on ECL (exit control list) and initiate high treason proceedings against him on charges of violating Constitution.
The law officers of the federal government also informed the court that the investigation about the ‘Memogate scandal’ would be carried out under the supervision of chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security (PCNS) Senator Raza Rabbani.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed the law officers to submit their written reply and adjourned the hearing till December 09.The judge ordered the petitioner, Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree, to include the names of secretary interior and foreign affairs on request of DAGs that they might have more relevant information about the memo issue. A citizen Iftikhar Rajpoot, thorough his counsel Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree, had filed the petition and made parties the Cabinet Secretary, Nargis Sethi, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq in the petition. He said Haqqani sent a derogatory letter to former US military chief Mike Mullen through a US-based Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz against Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
By doing this, he said, Haqqani tarnished the image of both Pakistan and its armed forces and made an attempt to pledge Pakistan’s sovereignty to America. He said Haqqani was holding dual nationality of Pakistan and US. He said in the past he was appointed Pakistani ambassador in Sri Lanka against merit during Nawaz Sharif stint as prime minister.
Later, (Haqqani) changed party and joined ‘Zardari Group’ and got lucrative post of Pakistani ambassador in US again in violation of merit. Barrister Jafree said Haqqani wasted and minted huge amount of public money (5 million dollars) in unsuccessful defence of Dr Aafia Siddiqui in US Courts that not only caused humiliation to Pakistan but Aafia was also sentenced for life term.
Petitioner said in order to reveal the truth the lie detecting machine be applied on Haqqani and other politicians. He requested the court to direct all the respondents to declare their all national and foreign assets along with affidavits.
Memo and Pakistan nuclear installations
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that every Pakistani was shocked at the martyrdom of army personnel in the Nato attack and is rightly asking as to why boundaries and national sovereignty of Pakistan are being violated again and again.
He said that unless Pakistan decided to stand on its own feet and renounced the charity by foreigners, its sovereignty would continue to be jeopardised in the same manner. He said we would have to foil the conspiracies being hatched against the motherland and the Ulema and Mashaikh would have to play their key role in this regard.
The chief minister was addressing a meeting of Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee held in connection with Muharramul Haram at the Chief Ministerís Secretariat here on Monday.
He said the entire Muslim world, including Pakistan, was passing through the most critical phase of its history and the motherland was facing an explosive situation and it was unfortunate that on the one hand, the nation was shocked at the Nato attack while on the other hand, its own persons were involved in hatching a conspiracy against the country in form of memo scandal which was aimed at nothing but to damage the interests of the country and to give the nuclear capability to foreigners. He said the leadership of the PML-N had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, believing that the court would certainly expose all unholy characters involved in that conspiracy.
Shahbaz said Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee had always played a commendable role in the maintenance of sectarian harmony and law and order and sectarian hatred had considerably been decreased due to its efforts. He said that due to cooperation of the Ulema and administrative measures of the government, law and order situation in Punjab during the last Muharram remained exemplary and no untoward incident took place. He said the Punjab government had also constituted other committees at district, tehsil, village and union council level. He said the meeting had been held to seek invaluable proposals of Ulema, to benefit from their consultation and to review the measures taken by the government in connection with Muharram.
The CM said the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the sanctity of Muharram demanded that Muslims should virtually pay homage to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) by maintaining unity in their ranks. He urged the Ulema to play their role for promoting tolerance and brotherhood and maintaining peaceful atmosphere in the society and spread Islamic teachings like economic equality, justice, tolerance and just distribution of resources in their sermons.
Members of Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee said that Ulema and Mashaikh would not hesitate from any sacrifice for safeguarding the country and foil the nefarious designs of such forces as were weakening the national security.
Senior Advisor Zulfiqar Khosa, Provincial Minister for Auqaf Haji Ehsaanuddin Qureshi, members assembly, chief secretary, inspector general of police, secretary Auqaf as well as commissioner and district coordination officer, Lahore and senior officers were present.
He said that unless Pakistan decided to stand on its own feet and renounced the charity by foreigners, its sovereignty would continue to be jeopardised in the same manner. He said we would have to foil the conspiracies being hatched against the motherland and the Ulema and Mashaikh would have to play their key role in this regard.
The chief minister was addressing a meeting of Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee held in connection with Muharramul Haram at the Chief Ministerís Secretariat here on Monday.
He said the entire Muslim world, including Pakistan, was passing through the most critical phase of its history and the motherland was facing an explosive situation and it was unfortunate that on the one hand, the nation was shocked at the Nato attack while on the other hand, its own persons were involved in hatching a conspiracy against the country in form of memo scandal which was aimed at nothing but to damage the interests of the country and to give the nuclear capability to foreigners. He said the leadership of the PML-N had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, believing that the court would certainly expose all unholy characters involved in that conspiracy.
Shahbaz said Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee had always played a commendable role in the maintenance of sectarian harmony and law and order and sectarian hatred had considerably been decreased due to its efforts. He said that due to cooperation of the Ulema and administrative measures of the government, law and order situation in Punjab during the last Muharram remained exemplary and no untoward incident took place. He said the Punjab government had also constituted other committees at district, tehsil, village and union council level. He said the meeting had been held to seek invaluable proposals of Ulema, to benefit from their consultation and to review the measures taken by the government in connection with Muharram.
The CM said the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the sanctity of Muharram demanded that Muslims should virtually pay homage to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) by maintaining unity in their ranks. He urged the Ulema to play their role for promoting tolerance and brotherhood and maintaining peaceful atmosphere in the society and spread Islamic teachings like economic equality, justice, tolerance and just distribution of resources in their sermons.
Members of Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee said that Ulema and Mashaikh would not hesitate from any sacrifice for safeguarding the country and foil the nefarious designs of such forces as were weakening the national security.
Senior Advisor Zulfiqar Khosa, Provincial Minister for Auqaf Haji Ehsaanuddin Qureshi, members assembly, chief secretary, inspector general of police, secretary Auqaf as well as commissioner and district coordination officer, Lahore and senior officers were present.
Award winning building
A cob and bamboo building made in a village in Sheikhupura district has won the prestigious first award for Asia-Pacific that is aimed at promoting innovative architecture focused on sustainable infrastructure for communities.
Commissioned by a Germany-based Pakistani family from Sheikhupura’s Jher Moulvi area, the project has been designed by architect Eike Roswag and his German team. The award-winning project that upgrades a traditional building method with effective low-tech measures through engineering and design won the top prize of $100,000 in Asia-Pacific of the Holcim Foundation.
The Earthen School Tipu Sultan Merkez in a small village near Lahore provides seven new classrooms in a school for underprivileged girls. The building is constructed from a locally-sourced cob (clay, sand, water and straw) lower-floor combined with an upper floor made of earth-filled bamboo walls. Intense research on cob construction resulted in a significant increase in strength and durability, and extended maintenance intervals compared to traditional approaches.
At the award ceremony in Singapore, Wowo Ding, head of jury and dean of architecture at Nanjing University, China, praised
the project for propagating the use of new construction methods by the agrarian population and improving the local economic situation. “The new construction approach shows the rural community an affordable, high quality and durable alternative compared to widely-used but higher cost and less environmentally-compatible construction materials,” she said.
Tipu Sultan Merkez, which had started the school project in this remote village in Sheikhupura, was founded by Asaf Jah, a Pakistani expatriate living in Germany. His social activity is supported by his family in Germany: his German wife and his three children. His two sons, Karim Jah and Akim Jah, who attended the award ceremony, said over the years they developed long bindings with Pakistan through extensive journeys and stays in the country. Knowing the difficult reality of the people in the rural areas of Pakistan, they have committed themselves to continuous support to the project in different ways. “We want to help develop the region, give people fair chances for access to education and empower women. Basic and
advanced school education and the possibility of learning a profession are essential for a self determined life. The Holcim Award will help us further develop the project and we feel encouraged to continue our efforts.”
On Wednesday the Jah brothers along with the award-winning architect will participate in a symposium in Lahore to present details of their concept of sustainable development in rural Pakistan.
The second award of the competition went to a Thai project team for the conversion of a former textile factory and adjacent land into a 1.4ha agricultural production site and retail outlet. The third prize was awarded to an ecologically-designed retail and commercial building in Malaysia.
Switzerland-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction conducts the Holcim Awards competition to promote sustainable responses to contemporary technological, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural issues affecting building and construction at national, regional and global levels. More than 6,000 submissions for projects located in 146 countries entered the competition with a total prize sum of $2 million per three-year cycle.
Commissioned by a Germany-based Pakistani family from Sheikhupura’s Jher Moulvi area, the project has been designed by architect Eike Roswag and his German team. The award-winning project that upgrades a traditional building method with effective low-tech measures through engineering and design won the top prize of $100,000 in Asia-Pacific of the Holcim Foundation.
The Earthen School Tipu Sultan Merkez in a small village near Lahore provides seven new classrooms in a school for underprivileged girls. The building is constructed from a locally-sourced cob (clay, sand, water and straw) lower-floor combined with an upper floor made of earth-filled bamboo walls. Intense research on cob construction resulted in a significant increase in strength and durability, and extended maintenance intervals compared to traditional approaches.
At the award ceremony in Singapore, Wowo Ding, head of jury and dean of architecture at Nanjing University, China, praised
the project for propagating the use of new construction methods by the agrarian population and improving the local economic situation. “The new construction approach shows the rural community an affordable, high quality and durable alternative compared to widely-used but higher cost and less environmentally-compatible construction materials,” she said.
Tipu Sultan Merkez, which had started the school project in this remote village in Sheikhupura, was founded by Asaf Jah, a Pakistani expatriate living in Germany. His social activity is supported by his family in Germany: his German wife and his three children. His two sons, Karim Jah and Akim Jah, who attended the award ceremony, said over the years they developed long bindings with Pakistan through extensive journeys and stays in the country. Knowing the difficult reality of the people in the rural areas of Pakistan, they have committed themselves to continuous support to the project in different ways. “We want to help develop the region, give people fair chances for access to education and empower women. Basic and
advanced school education and the possibility of learning a profession are essential for a self determined life. The Holcim Award will help us further develop the project and we feel encouraged to continue our efforts.”
On Wednesday the Jah brothers along with the award-winning architect will participate in a symposium in Lahore to present details of their concept of sustainable development in rural Pakistan.
The second award of the competition went to a Thai project team for the conversion of a former textile factory and adjacent land into a 1.4ha agricultural production site and retail outlet. The third prize was awarded to an ecologically-designed retail and commercial building in Malaysia.
Switzerland-based Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction conducts the Holcim Awards competition to promote sustainable responses to contemporary technological, environmental, socioeconomic and cultural issues affecting building and construction at national, regional and global levels. More than 6,000 submissions for projects located in 146 countries entered the competition with a total prize sum of $2 million per three-year cycle.
Monday, November 28, 2011
NATO 'regrets' over attack rejected by Army
The Pakistan Army has rejected regrets from the U.S. and NATO over the killing of 24 soldiers in Friday's deadly and attack on two border posts in the country's tribal region.
"The NATO strike can have grave consequences," the army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said Monday.
NATO Secretary General Sunday expressed regret over the losses of Pakistani soldiers and supported investigation into the incident, which sparked angry reaction in Pakistan and the government closed supply line for foreign troops in Afghanistan.
"NATO regret over the killing of Pakistani soldier is not enough," military spokesman told the BBC Urdu language service.
"We think this is not enough and we do not accept it. Such raids have also been conducted in the past. Such attacks are unacceptable," General Abbas said.
He said Pakistani leadership will decide what more steps should be taken in reaction to the NATO strikes in Mohmand tribal region along the Afghan border.
The army says that NATO fighter planes and helicopters struck two border posts between the night of Friday and Saturday, killing 24 soldiers and injuring 13 others. Two officers were among those died.
NATO sources have claimed that its special mission had come under attack from Pakistani soil.
But the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations rejected the NATO claim and said NATO will have to tell if any NATO personnel died in Pakistani attack.
"It is ridicules to find out justification for NATO unprovoked attack through such notions," General Abbas said.
When his attention was drawn to the NATO chief statement that the strike was an accident, the spokesman said that it will prove after investigation is completed. He said the NATO representatives were informed when them started firing.
"The NATO representatives were told to immediately stop firing but the attacks continued".
"When our people were martyred and NATO continued more firing then Pakistani troops exercised its right of defence to respond to stop NATO attacks," the army spokesman said.
"Investigation will prove whether or not Pakistani fire hit them," General Abbas said.
The army spokesman that 72 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and nearly 250 injured in NATO strikes in three years.
"The NATO strike can have grave consequences," the army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said Monday.
NATO Secretary General Sunday expressed regret over the losses of Pakistani soldiers and supported investigation into the incident, which sparked angry reaction in Pakistan and the government closed supply line for foreign troops in Afghanistan.
"NATO regret over the killing of Pakistani soldier is not enough," military spokesman told the BBC Urdu language service.
"We think this is not enough and we do not accept it. Such raids have also been conducted in the past. Such attacks are unacceptable," General Abbas said.
He said Pakistani leadership will decide what more steps should be taken in reaction to the NATO strikes in Mohmand tribal region along the Afghan border.
The army says that NATO fighter planes and helicopters struck two border posts between the night of Friday and Saturday, killing 24 soldiers and injuring 13 others. Two officers were among those died.
NATO sources have claimed that its special mission had come under attack from Pakistani soil.
But the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations rejected the NATO claim and said NATO will have to tell if any NATO personnel died in Pakistani attack.
"It is ridicules to find out justification for NATO unprovoked attack through such notions," General Abbas said.
When his attention was drawn to the NATO chief statement that the strike was an accident, the spokesman said that it will prove after investigation is completed. He said the NATO representatives were informed when them started firing.
"The NATO representatives were told to immediately stop firing but the attacks continued".
"When our people were martyred and NATO continued more firing then Pakistani troops exercised its right of defence to respond to stop NATO attacks," the army spokesman said.
"Investigation will prove whether or not Pakistani fire hit them," General Abbas said.
The army spokesman that 72 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and nearly 250 injured in NATO strikes in three years.
Muharram: Banned Ulema in Sialkot
The district administration has banned the entry of as many as 22 Ulema into Sialkot district during the month of Muharram. These Ulema are belonged to different schools of thought.
Newly-appointed Sialkot DPO Syed Ali Mohsin Naqvi told the newsmen that the Ulema whose entry had been banned are: Qari Abdul Qadeer Khamosh (Lahore), Maulana Abdullah Nisar, Maulana Abdul Rasheed (Gujranwala), Maulana Irfan Haider Abid, Maulana Atta Ullah Bundiyalavi, Maulana Ziaul Haq (Sargodha), Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi (Toba Tek Singh-former president defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan), Maulana Muhammad Yahiya Mohsin (Sankhatra-Narowal), Qari Kafayat Ullah (Dinga-Gujrat), Maulana Saeed Ahmed Multani, Maulana Ghulam Ahmed (Kabirwala-Khanewal), Maulana Abdul Sattar (Tuansa Sharif), Maulana Abdul Karim (Jhang), Maulana Abdul Hamid Nadeem (Multan), Taj Din Haidari (Rahwali-Gujranwala), Qari Manzoor Hussain (Sohdara), Riaz Hussain Haidari (Inspector police Gujranwala), Qazi Mazhar Hussain Hashmi (Chakwal), Maulana Gulfam Hussain Hashmi, Maulana Syed Muhammad Taqi (Multan), Prof Abdul Hakim (Hyderabad-Sindh) and Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi (President Millat Jaffariya Pakistan).
The DPO further said that gagging orders had also been issued for eight Ulema including Ehsan Ullah Farooqi, Hafiz Muhammad Saleh, Qari Muhammad Akram, Maulana Abu Khan Usmani, Maulana Muhammad Afzal, Ejaz Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali Gohar and Ali Nasirul Hussaini. He said these Ulema would be unable to deliver speeches in district during the month of Muharram.
He said that as many as 48 places had been declared sensitive in Sialkot district’s all four Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils.
Newly-appointed Sialkot DPO Syed Ali Mohsin Naqvi told the newsmen that the Ulema whose entry had been banned are: Qari Abdul Qadeer Khamosh (Lahore), Maulana Abdullah Nisar, Maulana Abdul Rasheed (Gujranwala), Maulana Irfan Haider Abid, Maulana Atta Ullah Bundiyalavi, Maulana Ziaul Haq (Sargodha), Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi (Toba Tek Singh-former president defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan), Maulana Muhammad Yahiya Mohsin (Sankhatra-Narowal), Qari Kafayat Ullah (Dinga-Gujrat), Maulana Saeed Ahmed Multani, Maulana Ghulam Ahmed (Kabirwala-Khanewal), Maulana Abdul Sattar (Tuansa Sharif), Maulana Abdul Karim (Jhang), Maulana Abdul Hamid Nadeem (Multan), Taj Din Haidari (Rahwali-Gujranwala), Qari Manzoor Hussain (Sohdara), Riaz Hussain Haidari (Inspector police Gujranwala), Qazi Mazhar Hussain Hashmi (Chakwal), Maulana Gulfam Hussain Hashmi, Maulana Syed Muhammad Taqi (Multan), Prof Abdul Hakim (Hyderabad-Sindh) and Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi (President Millat Jaffariya Pakistan).
The DPO further said that gagging orders had also been issued for eight Ulema including Ehsan Ullah Farooqi, Hafiz Muhammad Saleh, Qari Muhammad Akram, Maulana Abu Khan Usmani, Maulana Muhammad Afzal, Ejaz Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali Gohar and Ali Nasirul Hussaini. He said these Ulema would be unable to deliver speeches in district during the month of Muharram.
He said that as many as 48 places had been declared sensitive in Sialkot district’s all four Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Khar on Memogate Scandel
The memogate scandal has provoked questions about the influence of the civilian government in Pakistan and created the impression that the army is pulling the levers of power, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said in an interview with the BBC.
However, Khar added, it was “ridiculous” to link President Asif Ali Zardari with the controversial note. “Sadly it does. I cannot deny that, and that’s an unfortunate part that something as ludicrous as this could raise more questions.
“It doesn’t take much to be able to raise those questions,” Khar said. Asked if President Zardari would survive if he was linked to the scandal, Khar said, “I cannot even answer that question because it is ridiculous … to associate him with this particular memo”.
The Pakistan government would conduct an inquiry “at the highest level” into the controversy to satisfy “all parties, all people, all constituencies who have raised concerns over this entire issue”, she said, adding, “We would hope that this is where it should and will stop.” It is “not yet clear” that Haqqani “had any role to play” in the matter. “He was asked to resign so the inquiry process could be transparent and that is something that should be appreciated,” Khar added.
In response to another question, Khar said Pakistan had not arranged any more meetings between the Haqqani network and US officials except one meeting that was held earlier this year. “Pakistan cannot guarantee anything [with regard to the Haqqani network]. We have said this very clearly. We can play a positive role but it has to be at the request of the Afghans,” she said.
Khar further said she was not worried about the risk of the US administration cutting off aid for Pakistan. “Let me just say clearly that we over project the dependency syndrome of Pakistan on US assistance. We could do without it. If the feeling in the US Congress is that we have done too much for Pakistan, the feeling in the Pakistani Parliament is that you’ve done too less.” "You cannot change things overnight. The army has had a larger-than-life role to play in Pakistan's history. However, you do have a democratic set up," she said.
Pakistan's envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani, was forced to resign after being linked to a secret memo that was delivered to the then American military chief Admiral Mike Mullen by controversial Pakistan-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz in May. Haqqani has denied that he played any role in drafting the memo.
However, Khar added, it was “ridiculous” to link President Asif Ali Zardari with the controversial note. “Sadly it does. I cannot deny that, and that’s an unfortunate part that something as ludicrous as this could raise more questions.
“It doesn’t take much to be able to raise those questions,” Khar said. Asked if President Zardari would survive if he was linked to the scandal, Khar said, “I cannot even answer that question because it is ridiculous … to associate him with this particular memo”.
The Pakistan government would conduct an inquiry “at the highest level” into the controversy to satisfy “all parties, all people, all constituencies who have raised concerns over this entire issue”, she said, adding, “We would hope that this is where it should and will stop.” It is “not yet clear” that Haqqani “had any role to play” in the matter. “He was asked to resign so the inquiry process could be transparent and that is something that should be appreciated,” Khar added.
In response to another question, Khar said Pakistan had not arranged any more meetings between the Haqqani network and US officials except one meeting that was held earlier this year. “Pakistan cannot guarantee anything [with regard to the Haqqani network]. We have said this very clearly. We can play a positive role but it has to be at the request of the Afghans,” she said.
Khar further said she was not worried about the risk of the US administration cutting off aid for Pakistan. “Let me just say clearly that we over project the dependency syndrome of Pakistan on US assistance. We could do without it. If the feeling in the US Congress is that we have done too much for Pakistan, the feeling in the Pakistani Parliament is that you’ve done too less.” "You cannot change things overnight. The army has had a larger-than-life role to play in Pakistan's history. However, you do have a democratic set up," she said.
Pakistan's envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani, was forced to resign after being linked to a secret memo that was delivered to the then American military chief Admiral Mike Mullen by controversial Pakistan-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz in May. Haqqani has denied that he played any role in drafting the memo.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Pakistani got the MIT Technovator award in technology
Umar Saif received a very coveted award this week from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his groundbreaking project to bring internet access to those who cannot otherwise afford it. Saif’s project is centered primarily around poor families in his home country of Pakistan where many people are struggling to afford food; let alone a computer and internet access. Saif says that he hopes his revolutionary project will unite the people with the one technology they all have; cell phones. Like so many revolutionary projects Saif says he got the idea following the earthquake disaster in Pakistan in 2005; ever since then he has been working on this internet style communication system for cell phones all around the world. The idea may not have brought full internet to the people of the region but he says it will likely be able to save thousands of lives by connecting everyone to a unified source of information.
The project is remarkably simple as well; which is part of why he received the away from MIT. Saif’s project is simply a computerized system that allows users to join the network using a cell phone number; should an emergency or other major issue break the computer will be able to easily and quickly communicate important information to anyone who has joined the cell phone social network. The best part is that the entire system works with even the oldest and most out of date phones so Saif hopes that everyone will eventually be able to benefit from this potentially life saving device.
The project is remarkably simple as well; which is part of why he received the away from MIT. Saif’s project is simply a computerized system that allows users to join the network using a cell phone number; should an emergency or other major issue break the computer will be able to easily and quickly communicate important information to anyone who has joined the cell phone social network. The best part is that the entire system works with even the oldest and most out of date phones so Saif hopes that everyone will eventually be able to benefit from this potentially life saving device.
15 days for closing of US shamsi base
The Federal Cabinet's Defence Committee on Saturday ordered the United States to vacate the Shamsi airbase within 15 days and closed NATO supply lines into Afghanistan in response to a deadly cross-border NATO air strike.The military's top brass including CJSC, COAS and the Naval and Air Force chiefs attended the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the Interior, Defence, Foreign, Information and Finance Ministers while senior minister Pervaiz Elahi and the secretary defence were also in attendance.
The Defence Committee that met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, hours after the Nato strike in Pakistan that killed 24 troops, categorically said that attacks on Pakistan check posts were unacceptable.
It was also decided that the Prime Minister would take the Parliament into confidence on Pak-US relations. Parliament will also be taken into confidence over the shape of Pakistan's future relations with Nato and ISAF.
Condemning the Nato attack, the committee said that the strike violated international laws.
The defence body said no compromise would be made on the sovereignty and protection of the country. "People and army will ensure Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity at any cost."
It termed the attacks on Pakistan check posts as completely unacceptable and rejected the labeling of today's event as accidental.
shamsi air base google map
shamsi air base google earth
shamsi air base location
Strange advice to Pakistan
The US Ambassador Cameron Munter has suggested that Pakistan should prefer TAPI pipeline over the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. And although he admitted that the IP pipeline would benefit us in the short term, he followed it up by saying that the project was not in our interest, as Iran was an unreliable partner. With that Ambassador Munter also stated that this advice of the US should not be misconstrued as dictation.
As a friend of Pakistan, he knows well that our energy needs at this point in time are dire. Already the economy has been badly affected owing to the increasing demand and supply gap. If our energy demands are not met within time, our economy will further receive destructive blows. Yet his advice is that we should not go for the project. Also it would be in his knowledge that TAPI gas pipeline, while ideal on the map is totally fanciful when it comes to its construction. Big energy cartels have in the past expressed serious reservations against the project over reasons of civil strife and unrest in Afghanistan. On the other hand, IP pipeline is much better than TAPI. Indeed, it will provide us gas at cheaper rates and Iran’s energy rich reserves will ensure an uninterrupted supply for ages to come. Unlike TAPI, there is no area along its route where war is going on. Yet another point is that 90 percent work on the project inside Iran has already been completed and it is only in Pakistan where its construction remains to be taken up. Why should Pakistan abandon this project at this stage and instead go for TAPI that would take several years to complete and even then would be at the mercy of insurgents in Afghanistan. Also Ambassador Munter’s argument that Iran was not a reliable partner is not valid. The US has its own conflict with Iran and it doesn’t mean Iran would always act likewise with every other country. There is a flaw of logic in this argument.
The pity is that the US is discouraging us from a project that can quickly provide relief to the economy. The PPP government should disregard this piece of advice and must try to complete the construction work on this side of the border in quickest time possible. We should not ruin our relation with a brotherly Muslim country just because the US has differences with it.
As a friend of Pakistan, he knows well that our energy needs at this point in time are dire. Already the economy has been badly affected owing to the increasing demand and supply gap. If our energy demands are not met within time, our economy will further receive destructive blows. Yet his advice is that we should not go for the project. Also it would be in his knowledge that TAPI gas pipeline, while ideal on the map is totally fanciful when it comes to its construction. Big energy cartels have in the past expressed serious reservations against the project over reasons of civil strife and unrest in Afghanistan. On the other hand, IP pipeline is much better than TAPI. Indeed, it will provide us gas at cheaper rates and Iran’s energy rich reserves will ensure an uninterrupted supply for ages to come. Unlike TAPI, there is no area along its route where war is going on. Yet another point is that 90 percent work on the project inside Iran has already been completed and it is only in Pakistan where its construction remains to be taken up. Why should Pakistan abandon this project at this stage and instead go for TAPI that would take several years to complete and even then would be at the mercy of insurgents in Afghanistan. Also Ambassador Munter’s argument that Iran was not a reliable partner is not valid. The US has its own conflict with Iran and it doesn’t mean Iran would always act likewise with every other country. There is a flaw of logic in this argument.
The pity is that the US is discouraging us from a project that can quickly provide relief to the economy. The PPP government should disregard this piece of advice and must try to complete the construction work on this side of the border in quickest time possible. We should not ruin our relation with a brotherly Muslim country just because the US has differences with it.
