Tree plantation

Syed Ejaz Ali Shah

We are all aware of advantages of trees. There is not a single disadvantage. 4% area is hardly enough to have forest in our country. When Pakistan came into being in 1947, Japanese advised us to ‘Plant trees’. We did not realize it nor took it seriously. With gradually deteriorating climatic conditions, pollution and global warming has led us to seriously think about it. The way India is diverting river water for its use, our rivers are almost dry in winter. You can see the inflow of Tarbela & Mangla, our two important reservoirs. This gives us warning; if we do not plant trees in our country over vast areas, we will soon have shortage of food in our country. Less rainfall will affect our agriculture produce. Our sources of drinking water is river – but without realizing we have polluted all our major rivers including sea, because cities besides them like Lahore, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Karachi are throwing toxic waste in rivers, polluting river water and damaging marine life. We need to realize the damage we are causing to our environment. I suggest Environment subject should be taught from primary level and ways to reduce pollution should be taken seriously. The second part is plantation of trees, all along the roads, railway lines, canals. Protective forests should be developed. We should plant fast growing trees as it has been done in Karachi on roads. Aerial spray should be done in Northern Areas. We can hire good consultants from other countries at National level. It is time we should do aerial spray of seeds so we can increase forest areas. Even if we have to use rangers, police, army and other well organized institutions, we should take their help. Financial support can be taken from banks and industries. Plantation of trees in cities, villages, valleys be done and man-made forests be developed, particularly in areas where it will take less time to develop. ‘Doab’ land can be used for this purpose. A few words about factories, laws are there, we need to implement and enforce to reduce water and air pollution. Solid Waste Management must be taken seriously. We have damaged the environment, our beautiful rivers, and sea to an extent, now reversing it needs serious efforts. Can we do it?—Karachi

Next challenge

Manzoor Ahmad

The operation Rah-e-Rast” which started on April 26 2009 in the valley of Swat has been a success to a large extent, abolishing and eliminating miscreants and their safe havens and training centers. Although the top leaders of Tehrik-e-Taliban Swat are still alive and are out of sight but even then it is a great success. More than two million people had been displaced which was much more than the displacement during 1947. Nearly at that time 6 to 8 lakh persons were displaced.

The returning of internally displaced people have started from 15th July to the conflict-hit areas which were declared as safe and peaceful by ISPR. It is quiet difficult to get rid of any insurgency but the credit goes to Pakistan army who fought very bravely and eliminated insurgents and their movements to a large extent. Pakistan army paid the prices of this war physically, socially and economically but their success in this war is definitely a greater achievement.

The government should keep the armed forces there to face the challenge of extremism and terrorism, so that the people could feel safe and secure and demolish the psychological fear which they felt in past.. The Govt. should build and sustain a particular force, having recruitments of locals who have better knowledge of the area and masses, which should keep eyes on the locals. They should be well trained, equipped by Pakistan army. The Govt should make the local institutions like police and courts strong enough so that the people could trust them. The process of rehabilitation and reconstruction is not an easy task, it will take time but the Govt. should provide food, shelter and security to these people and should manage and consume the funds which are allocated for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the budget properly without any misuse and mismanagement.

The government should build professional and vocational institutions and training centers to engage the youth of the area to enhance economy. The phenomenon of unemployment can be terminated by constructing industries in the area and provide economic opportunities for the locals. Similarly schools buildings and health facilities should be provided as quickly as possible. Scholarships should be awarded to the students of the area so that they can groom well. Media, academics and religious persons should play their role in educating local masses and getting rid of the curse of extremism and terrorism. All these steps are possible only when there is good governance. —Islamabad

They are killing one another!

Eschmall Sardar

Eighteen Taliban militants affiliated with Mullah Nazir group were killed in mysterious circumstances by unknown people on the dangerous Wana-Ladha road in South Waziristan on August 16. According to some reports Maulvi Nazir is among the dead. The incident indicates that (a) the Taliban are not fighting for a cause – neither Islam nor Shariah implementation; (b) they have vested interests; only minting money is their objective – there are reports of three billions worth assets which Baitullah Mehsud left and the infighting between his successors was mainly to get hold of those assets – there was the question of getting equal share from 40 million rupees which reportedly Sufi Muhammad got from the government ahead of the Swat peace deal; (c) that there is foreign hand involved, the mastermind is hostile agencies which are feeding them, funding them and arming them; (d) There is no unified group which has one single central leadership because only a common cause, not money-minting spree, can keep them together. So if the splits are visible amongst the Taliban ranks, it is understandable. (e) All the Taliban have no consensus over the suicide bombing. Mullah Nazir and Qari Gul Bahadur had been opposing it, while Baitullah and Fazlullah were in favour. Qari Zainuddin who was later killed by Baitullah defected from him for opposing killing of innocents through suicide bombing. (f) This also exposed the Taliban’s own knowledge about Islam and their actions and deeds only led to earning bad name for Islam.

The forming of lashkars from amongst the supporters of Taliban against the heinous crimes committed by Taliban and atrocities perpetrated on the locals was a signal of negation of their popularity in the areas of their influence. A number of top Taliban leaders started defecting from the tehrik like Qari Shahid who denounced the attacks on security forces which is a good example to follow. The locals also abhorred kidnappings for ransom by the Taliban which is not an Islamic act. Islam is taken only as a refuge. There is a need to exploit such differences amongst the Taliban and expose their myths which now the locals have greatly understood. They are now killing one another because their struggle is for money and power minus cause and objectivity. —Peshawar

Indian role exposed

Shumaila Raja

Christen Fair, a reputed US journalist has exposed Indian covert operations in Pakistan . For Balochistan, Indian consulates in Kandahar and Zahedan are playing a key role. Situation in Balochistan was deliberately worsened by getting three Baloch nationalist leaders killed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in last April since they were on verge of spilling the beans about Brahamdagh led BLA sponsored by foreign agencies. Captured suicide bombers from Dera Bugti made damning revelations of involvement of runaway Brahamdagh Bugti, RAW and RAAM in training terrorists in camps in Afghanistan and launching them in Balochistan against assigned targets. Riasat 25 and 33 detachments were specifically created for fomenting unrest in Pakistan . Commander Raziq Achakzai turned Spin Boldak into forward launching pad for unleashing terrorists and supplying arms and ammunition in Balochistan. Afghan officials facilitate border crossing of RAW agents.

Shahgarh-Kishingrah route in Indian Rajasthan is also frequented for same purpose. RAW chief VM Varma and RAAM chief Amanullah Saleh hold frequent meetings in New Delhi and Kabul to coordinate clandestine operations in Pakistan . CIA and Mossad also take part in some of Pakistan-specific meetings. Baloch miscreants are richly paid by foreign agencies and lifestyle of heretofore unknown BLA members belonging to Marri tribe has become opulent. Other shady organizations having no base are on papers only. These include Baloch Republican Army (BRA) representing Bugtis, Lashkar-i-Balochistan, an armed group of Mengals and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) representing many Baloch tribes. Purpose is to make the world believe that movement is wide based. —Rawalpindi

RAW campaign

Col Amjad Farooqi (R)

A systematic campaign is in progress under patronage of RAW to brainwash Baloch youth, inculcate in them Baloch nationalism and turn them against concept of Pakistan. Twenty teachers were sent in 2008 from Balochistan to Afghanistan for receiving training to subvert school/college syllabus in Balochistan as had been done in East

Pakistan through Hindu teachers and professors. Pakistan History, social and Islamic studies in particular is being distorted. In many schools in Baloch dominated districts like Mastung, Kalat, Naushki, Sui, Dera Bugti and Kahan, students no more sing national anthem or display Pakistan flag or eulogize services of Quaid-e-Azam. Hatred against Punjabis, army and federal government is inculcated on grounds that they are plundering the resources of Balochistan and thriving on Baloch natural resources.

Pattern of propaganda themes is on lines played by Awami League in East Pakistan . Nawab Bugti is lionized as a Baloch hero and BLA projected as a vehicle struggling for emancipation and independence of Balochistan from the yoke of parasitic Punjabis who have colonised their province. BRA is eulogized for confronting the army. It has claimed responsibility for all acts of terror including target killings of Punjabi settlers. It is holding 21 police officials and 14 laborers as hostages since 30 July and has already killed 12 policemen and threatened to kill remaining abducted persons if arrested Baloch dissidents involved in anti-state activities are not immediately released. Pillions riding masked gunmen belonging to BLA are carrying out target killings of Punjabi settlers and Persian speaking Hazaras. —Rawalpindi

Quetta

Muzaffarabad

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