Through a news item I have learnt that an official of the National
Book Foundation revealed that the government is not releasing the
funds to support the “Readers’ Club” scheme. This scheme is very
much beneficial for the student and readers community while
promoting and keeping alive the book reading culture in the country
which is already on the verge of death. The priorities of the
government and its responsible are entirely different and not in
support of the people. It is highly desirous yet required by the
student and readers’ community for the URGENT release of the
particular funds so that the scheme should be re-launched for the
betterment of the people. —Islamabad
The revival of an old terror
Wajiha Butt
Almost a century ago, kala pani was a worst threat to any freedom
fighter of the sub-continent facing criminal charges. Kalapani was
actually built for the execution of leftover Mughal royals. Built in
Indaman Island, kalapani turned into a symbol of horrer for every
activist who was struggling against British occupation of the
sub-continent but after sixty two years of independence the terror
of kalapani is silently striking back to an important strategic part
of the sub-continent in a new shape of a mercenary army and improved
way to take control along with the support of those people who can
even sell themselves for few bucks. It is an open secret now that
Black water or Xe services is hired by Zardari not only to protect
his links with corrupt mafias but also to give Americans an easy
access to Pakistan’s important military and nuclear installations.
The growing American influence is causing high alerts in public
opinion polls.It is the right of the people of Pakistan to know why
they are here and who has invited them? They are entering through
chartered flights and leaving to their places without any security
checking and the worst of all is that officials at the airport are
not allowed to keep the record of these special people.
They have hired many houses in F-6, F-8 and E-7 sectors in the
capital. They are also scattered in N.W.F.P as foreign workers of US
funded n.g.o’s and hiring buildings and buying lands from local
communities but the campaign does not end here. Americans, with the
help of their Indian friends are hiring x military persons and
influencial government officials to get hold of all important
departments. Such departments include security, higher education and
media. The idea behind the recruitment of senior x and on duty
officials is to create a control panel for handling the Muslim
society of Pakistan and to make workable plans to the implementation
of US policies in the region. Keeping in mind the destruction done
by US in Iraq and Afghanistan one can easily imagine the future
situation of Pakistan with the presense of US marines and the
mercinary army.
Pakistan, a developing country with weak political institutions is
facing grave danger to its internal security from unwanted
terrorists imported from Afghanistan and United States.It has proven
now that black water or xe world wide has slaughtered innocent
people in Iraq and has involved in smuggling of illegal weapons so
what is the purpose of their presense in Pakistan, the answer of
this question is known to all. In the current situation it is
nessary to stop the increasing level of foreign interference in the
country, a prompt action from intelligence and security agencies is
required to restore people’s trust otherwise a great storm would
blow every thing.—Islamabad
While oracle speaks, trees weep
Z I Raheemullah
As expected Ch.Nisar Hussein, opposition leader was denied live
coverage to his important speech, on Kerry Lugar Testament as one
puts.There could not be greater abuse of power on the part of
Information ministry who gave full live coverage to Prime minister
speeches and his Information minister, the anointed oracle of PPP-AZ,Chairman
( when he speaks, the trees, weep in tears much less the nation).
This surely gives proof again and again of the shallow claims made
of ‘supremacy of democracy and parliament’ by PPP-AZ,MR Zardari ,MR
Galani,political cartel-coalition of opportunists to pain the public
ears. Their famous adopted modus operandi to backtrack, flip
flop,deceive,shilly shally, dilly dally, confuse nation,oppostion to
ultimately bulldozes in all convenience national issues on the
pretext of ‘ find consensus in parliament, as recently for Mushraff
trial and mumafti siysat etc’.Once again it is being chorused by P.M
on KL-Bill and perhaps another Long March ( which restored SCP,CJP
or similar mounting pressure seems imperative again ) to rid nation
from the slavery of IMF,India,WB,UK,USA. It is in place to mention
that the dictatorial, extra constitutional powers of partisan
president: the incompetence, inefficiencies, corruption of present
coalition government is ruining everything in this country. PPP-AZ
tragically lacks all intent to distinguish between wrong and right,
evil and good as they are sunk deep in myopic vested interest of
unlimited wealth, unlimited power perpetuating though, sometimes NRO,
sometime KL-B etcetc. Nonetless, ML-N has no right nor its Ch Nisar
Hussein to ensure safe five years if PP-AZ government has failed
miserably. They have taken it for granted to play hell .Only if any
ZYZ party, government delivers: it has no right to stay much less
assured stabilization at the cost of national destabilization. Let
J,TI,ML-N, ML-Q, Lawyers, jurists, civil society, seventeen crore
people pf Pakistan unite and not fall apart to play to the satanic
tunes of divide and rule [especially on Lahore-Pindi bye election]
and thwart it. We should go for self reliance, end of NRO,end of
corruption,17TH amendment,58-2B and honest, competent and noble
representatives to govern us.—Hyderabad
Afghan elections & Indian influence
Farooq-uz-Zaman
Recounting of the disputed August 20 presidential election ballots
from 274 of 3,498 polling stations has begun in Afghanistan under a
UN-backed commission to announce whether Karzai had won or would
face a runoff with Abdullah Abdullah. Already the preliminary
results took weeks longer than expected, and there have been delays
in the recount process. The vote-rigging has plunged the country
into an electoral crisis at a time when the Taliban are expanding
from their southern strongholds into the north and west of
Afghanistan. Eight American soldiers were killed in a single battle
on October 3 when the Taliban attacked two posts in Nuristan
province, the biggest loss in more than a year. The NATO command
reports that two more international soldiers, including one
American, were killed in recent fighting. Only on the day of
election, more than 400 Taliban attacks occurred despite the
presence of 100,000 US-NATO troops, almost equal to the 1980s Soviet
forces, plus 150,000 Afghan security personnel. Bolstering Kabul’s
weak and corruption-ridden government is considered key to the US
strategy for curbing the Taliban. The Obama administration is
divided over a request by the top military commander, Gen. Stanley
McChrystal, to send up to 40,000 more US soldiers to Afghanistan. In
his 66-page assessment report, Gen. McChrystal points out succinctly
to the manner in which an unbridled Indian interference is pushing
the chaos in Afghanistan. “Indian political and economic influence
is increasing in Afghanistan, including significant development
efforts and financial investment. In addition, the current Afghan
government is perceived by Islamabad to be pro-Indian. Thus
increasing Indian influence is likely to exacerbate regional
tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures.”
Anyway, Bruce Riedel, the author of Af-Pak policy, believes the US
desperately needed a legitimate and credible outcome from this
election to arrest the erosion of public support for what is now
America’s longest war both at home and abroad. His hope was that the
election would yield a partner who has the support of the people and
can provide the decent governance that is essential to fighting an
insurgency. This has not materialised. Whatever may be the results
of recounting, Washington will have to keep in mind Pakistan’s
concerns in the light of McChrystal’s assessment and not only
pressure India to downsize its presence in Afghanistan but also to
resume the composite dialogue with Pakistan. —Islamabad
Zardari’s one year celebrations
Nazir Ahmed
The present regime on completion of its first year on 6th September
has celebrated ‘first year of President Zardari’s rule’, with great
fanfare by publishing large size advertisements and supplementary in
the print media and holding special programs in local television
channels. In the hindsight memory of nation only event praising to
the skies the “achievements” of ruler was commemorated in 1968 i.e.
‘Centenary Celebration’, but it was no more than after the
completion of President Ayub Khan’s ten years dictatorial Rule;
which though proved to be his first and last eventful episode of
life.
The media this time is publishing articles written by party workers
and sitting Ministers, praising President’s passing one year in the
office. Although return to democracy after the long night of 10
year’s oppressive rule of Perwaiz Musharaf is enough to be contended
of, otherwise one year is to short a phase to judge the performance
of an individual holding the office of an all powerful President.
Leaving aside the merit and time of celebration, at this juncture
when country is going through the worst socio-political and
economical crisis spending millions of taxpayers’ money on lengthy
advertisements is not at all appreciable let alone dissipating the
predicaments of masses. I hope the President and Prime Minster would
direct the party workers to avoid such undue celebrations specially
at this time when people are dying in queues only to get a bag of
flour or sugar. The government needs to be more circumspect while
allowing such celebrations as it has more pressing problems to solve
to get the people out of serious despair.—Nawabshah
