Revenge, Clench & Trench

According to media reports, the PM appointed his son-in-law to the post of Executive Director of World Bank by using his discretionary powers. Suo motu notice was taken by the Supreme Court over these media reports. A three-member bench of SC headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has been constituted to hear this case on 19^th December 2012.

Previously, Azeem-ul-Haque’s  rise to the altar is unheard of as just a few years ago he was serving as grade 18 in the Income Tax Group. He was also hired by Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) in BPS-20, (It merits mentioning here that EOBI is a subsidiary of Ministry of Resources for Human Development (RHD) while earlier it was of Ministry of Manpower and scales of semi-government organizations are altogether different from government departments). Sources said that the vacancy was arranged upon political pressure and Muhammad Azeem-ul-Haq Minhas had been appointed as senior joint secretary in PM Secretariat on grade 21 (grade 21 in just two years on political pressure). Soon after his father-in-law got elevated as the PM of Pakistan; he was automatically up-graded as Additional Secretary Internal Affairs in the PM Secretariat which is a grade 21 post.

This report by media about the appointment of Raja Azeem-ul-Haq, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Raja Ashraf was no big surprise. It only revealed that such out of merit appointments are blatant audacity and misuse of powers and public trust!  The finance ministry had opposed Mr. Azeem Haque’s nomination even though the summary for his appointment was moved by the Economic Affairs Division. In due course, the finance ministry had to bend down to the wishes and Herculean assertions of the Prime Minister Secretariat, said the reports. In today’s Pakistan specially, it seems wherever they go as the heads they always prefer their own children over the deserving people of Pakistan. Nothing fresh, this old news has been reported many times before, not about the above entity, but concerning various others who formulated this “Successful five year old Government.”

This wasn’t a case which was "a first" of its kind, previously reports came of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary's son, then Mr. Gilani's two "able" sons, then Pervez Elahi's son, so on and so forth. This "Heir to my Throne" mentality of Pakistani power holders & politicians is the poison that has spoiled the infrastructure of every department. Each and every misplaced appointment has cost the downfall of various National Organizations be it Railway, PIA, Pakistan Steel Mill, Police, the Health Department, the Education, the HEC etc. Not a single organization in the land today has been spared deliberately from disrupt, disorganize, demoralize, or destroy! One wonders; Does Democracy of this kind mean a total collapse of anything good we ever had? How long would this mindset of “you scratch my back and I scratch yours” last Pakistan? Mr. Prime Minister, why didn’t you think about promoting any young man from your constituency of Gujar Khan, the poor masses who gave their precious vote & trust to you? Why did you alienate the young deserving officers of Pakistan? Or should one understand by your actions that “Blood is thicker than water.” Mind you Sir, this is a country, not a private property that must only be inherited by your next of Kin!

In the dynastic world of Pakistani politics, only a few things are Kosher, so it comes as no surprise that politicians of all the ruling parties are lining up their children and relatives for the upcoming elections of 2013, as well as promoting "Openly usurp & visibly swim in corruption”! (A famous Urdu phrase; Khula Khao aur Nangay Nahao). Their blood might be young, but the dynasties remain the same, so the faces might change, but it’s only superficial. A reflection of our Politicians of ruling parties that shows they nurture and patronize nepotism. The democracy that has been touted as the savior for the people of Pakistan is pretty much a sham, where all parties follow their own beat up unique agenda. From the looks of it, democracy really is the best revenge, to clench and throw the masses in the Trench!!
Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.

The above article was published on the following::
http://epaper.pakobserver.net/201212/21/comments-2.php

http://pakobserver.net/epaper/detail-news.asp?id=187919

No Matter

             
                    No matter how hard you try

               No matter how much you cry

               It will happen eventually

               Truth prevails essentially

              No matter how much they pry

              No matter how much you dry

              Your hard work pays potentially

              This is what God says confidentially

             Get going for they will fry

             Indeed then you can wry

             You will progress exponentially

             Enjoy your success presidentially


Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.

A Monumental March

A World Wide Protest, this one took place in Arizona USA

Drones that were invented to kill people only and used so frequently in the borders of Pakistan.

Waziristan, a place that is at the center point of Drone Attacks by the US-led NATO forces. Where from thousands of residents got misplaced internally and had to lodge their families to safer places of Pakistan. Waziristan, a place that is forgotten even by its own rulers!Imran Khan the Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf lead a “Peace March” to South Waziristan with citizens of Pakistan, local media, with his own party workers and above all foreign journalists, anti war activists from the West. 
This march started from Islamabad on Saturday the 6^th of October 2012, the motorcade drove across Talagang, Chakwal, Kundian, Mianwali, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan and finally entered Waziristan; crossing Northern Punjab, Central and South Punjab from where it entered into the borders of Waziristan on Sunday 7^th October 2012.
With hurdles created by the Administration to slow down or at some points to stop this March moving forward, the determination of Imran Khan kept the rally moving forward where finally it was stopped to move beyond Tank.  PTI’s Chief Coordinatior DI Khan Malik Abdul Qayyum Khan criticized the government for blocking the routes towards Waziristan, creating further hurdles for the peace rally. He asserted that the government wanted to discourage people from Wana to join the march.There has been a lot of criticism regarding this “Peace March” by the parties of statuesque. Many points have been raised from them calling Khan “delusional” or a “Political point scorer” or a “Taliban Khan” or even “an agent of the West” only. Notable propaganda started which included Maulana Fazlur Rehman too. Khan accused JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman to have a strong hand in circulating adverse perception against PTI. “Fazlur Rehman is a charlatan who is spreading the wrong idea amongst people by labeling us as the agaents of Christians and Jews; as we are just trying to promote peace within the region,” said Khan. Khawaja Asif prominent PML (n) leader is quoted, “Everyone has seen that the PTI’s rally to Waziristan was a failure, similarly people would also disregard the PTI in the upcoming election.” He said that Imran Khan was making people of this country fool. Asif said that whenever there was any crisis situation in the country, Imran Khan was outside the country.

Local journalists and anchors condemned Imran Khan asking why he had not taken his March to the North Waziristan which was the most affected area by Drones. Khan on the other hand concerns that he was travelling with civilians, a place like that if anyone was hurt could have been disastrous for PTI and the blame would have rested on Khan's shoulders. So he took maximum measures not to expose foreign media, his own party workers and the local people to any mishap.

One wonders; what kept these critics from visiting the people of Waziristan in the last almost 5 years? Why couldn’t they politically point score? Who is to blame today? Imran Khan who started his dharnas (sit-ins) against NATO & Drones many years back or themselves who never moved a muscle to show solidarity with the people from whom they go to ask for votes? Why hasn’t any other party done this?

A place where not even the local media was allowed to go previously is there on the ground taking interviews of common people of that area. Whats remarkable is; No one in that area knows the name of the Prime Minister of Pakistan! Raja sahib they are your people, don’t you think you should be known to them? Own your people sir, why have you alienated them?

One needs to understand, the people of FATA were facing problems from three sides. One, there are attacks from the US-led NATO drones, two they have to face the Pakistan Army which they take as foreigners in their very conservative society, the army pickets affect the local people more since their women and children are thoroughly searched whenever they move around, thirdly, like in Swat the Taliban demand money from the local people, or their daughters in marriage or their sons to join in the fighting, a similar situation which was exposed in Swat. Taliban forcefully seek hideouts in the local populations which eventually expose civilians to the drones and Pakistan Army. Which has resulted in their children missing schools, their businesses lost and their agriculture has been damaged.
PTI has managed to bring together people of FATA with the common people of Pakistan, this is a monumental achievement which will benefit the country and its citizens in the long run. Creating the lost Jazba or zeal is vital at this moment for our nation. It has managed to highlight the menace of Drones which has killed innocent people, maimed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Whether Drones are stopped or not that is another story but what Imran Khan and PTI has achieved is that they have shown solidarity to a people, an area which was totally forgotten since the past five years. PTI today is the only party that has provided a shoulder for the people of FATA which they were looking for since the past five years.

Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger.


The above article was published on the following links.:

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/14276/ptis-peace-march-give-credit-where-it-is-due/

http://www.islamabadtimesonline.com/a-monumental-march/

http://www.dailyausaf.com/epaper/wp-content/uploads/2012/October/10/?pg=15 

Pakistan Govt: Demonstrations but Zero Action!

Pakistan Protests 21st September 2012

The Musalman’s in Pakistan along with members of minority groups observed the “Love for Prophet (pbuh) Day” on Friday the 21^st September 2012. This Observation happened in the length and breadth of the entire country where every division, district, city, town saw rallies of people either chanting ‘Naats’ (songs of praise for the Holy Prophet) or condemning the lunatic who dared such an act. Which saw the protest getting wild, at places out of hand when mobs vandalized public property, cars, buses that were torched and above all according to Al-Jazeera news 17 people had to face death in these events. Muslims also marched the same day in at least a half-dozen other countries to protest the film. Some burned American flags and effigies of Obama. The deaths of at least 47 people, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, have been linked to violence over the film throughout the Muslim world. In Pakistan, officials say today's deadliest violence occurred in Karachi, where at least 12 people were killed and over 80 wounded. An Interior Ministry official says the government temporarily blocked cell phone service in 15 major cities on Friday to keep militants from using phones to set off bombs during the protests.
This was a unique observance by a Government to take judgment on its own and decide that the whole country would be shut down officially to observe the “Love for Prophet (pbuh) Day” so that true sentiments of the Governing party and the nation are known to the International Community (The proposal to such an observance came from his highness Dr Rehman Malik).  This dastardly act of one person living in the United States, the distribution of blasphemous content of that Internet film all over the world & of course declaring the day a public holiday, to urge the nation, political parties to participate in huge numbers so that a legitimate complaint could be lodged to the American Government. Nice idea, but where was the President who had aimed to secure votes on this incident? Why didn’t he make a nation-wide address on this crucial day, why didn’t he become a part of the nation this day? Why was there no televised address by the Prime Minister urging them to remain calm, lodge their protest and protect Pakistani property? Where were our heads of state? Why was the Pakistani nation shown Mr. Obama’s speech and not our own leaders? Why didn’t the President Lodge this complaint via the Foreign office in his televised speech and urge the neighborly friendly nations to join in, while emphasizing on the fact that Muslims all over the world should keep their anger in control?The “so-called rage” is a pent up reaction of the oppressed world against the over-domineering imperial power of the only ONE super power in the world. The Musalman’s love for Prophet (PBUH) has become a rallying point or a point that ‘seems’ to have broke the back of the camel. You would find a lot of factors behind the 1857 mutiny/freedom war if you examine the events which exploded into a revolt by a cartridge which was rumored to have been covered with pig/cow fat! Now do we remember those 'sepoys' of Meerut as bigots or freedom fighters?

 Now the problem is; the left or the pro-people political intelligentsia has been marginalized, or they made themselves marginalized as they failed to understand the dynamics of the contemporary politics since many of them chose to become part of the foreign-funded NGOs. They chose to become "liberals" and started ranting whatever they were taught in their NGOs regardless of the fact that the US-sponsored 'liberalism' is a new face of its imperialism! It is the same when Muslims were urged by the British to throw Cow tails in a temple or Sikhs were told to throw pig-heads in the Mosques, the modes operandi is the same! We should be pro-people and should support them when they feel that they have been deeply offended by some acts of certain miscreants in the west. Musalman’s reaction is bizarre some times, and ridiculous as well, but it is so because the pro-people liberals, leftists or intelligentsia have distanced themselves from the people and, subsequently, have allowed the bigots to lead them to nowhere! It is time Pakistan also adopted measures to ensure transparency on the activities, funding and management of NGOs receiving money, directly or indirectly, from foreign sources. Islamabad is teeming with them. Greater openness in a matter that so far has been cloaked in opacity will inspire greater trust in the NGOs. Trust me, if any one of the leftist, liberal or educated member of our intelligentsia stayed away from people by criticizing and condemning them for their lack of civility and decency like many other 'liberals', the leftists/liberals would push them further towards bigotry! That's why; ‘believe’ in your own people, own their rage and lead them correctly!

It is not the first time this has happened i.e. using media to defame the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), this usual characteristic of the West was first witnessed when the “Satanic Verses” written by Salman Rushdie came out. It was not a literary masterpiece. The entire west backed & protected him, spending millions of pounds for his protection and later was hailed as the “Knight in Shining Armor” to have done a brilliant job. Fatwa on him consequently made him more popular and dear in the west. So was the case of Caricatures that sprouted from Europe, millions of Muslims protested against it then too, many boycotts were witnessed but Western allies remained adamant on the “Freedom of Speech” mantra! Then the Looney tunes Pastor Terry Jones appeared, with his ludicrous trial on the Holy Quran, and then it was the “Burning Quran” incident on Bagram Base, Afghanistan which was administered by the US troops. Let’s not forget this “Innocence of Muslims” a D-grade internet film on YouTube, and lastly the French magazine comes out with Caricatures of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) again. Phew! The List is long, but do understand their modes operandi, all such activities happen from the west, all such activities target Muslims, all such activities are made to become the “sore point” for Muslims around the world, all such activities come under the umbrella of “Freedom of Speech”….One wonders why naked pictures of Duchess of Cambridge were banned? Weren’t they a form of “Freedom of Speech, manners & of course rights” that west keeps trumpeting all the time on Muslims? Is that anyway different? Why isn’t the “Holocaust” freedom of speech? Why is it anti Semitic? One law for your own whereas quite another law for Muslims?  While the Islamic Ummah is exhorting the need for inter-faith dialogue and harmony, is the west trying to pursue the path of clash of two major religions of the world, previously known and carelessly spurted out by Mr. Bush Junior as “The Crusades”?

The Muslim world needs to understand; they definitely need to counter these nefarious designs through collective will. Torching one’s own property, rampaging or vandalizing isn’t the answer. “Slapping one’s own face in an argument does not prove that one is right.”  No one in the International community has sympathy for a society that burns itself when some idiot somewhere else does something stupid. We need to grow up. Such acts for the world show a thuggish behavior which needs to be curbed. Muslims have a definite cause to defend (but they are doing it in the wrong manner) and that is why protest demonstrations are held not only in Pakistan but elsewhere in the Islamic world as well. Demonstrations by people whose sentiments have been injured are understandable but decision of the Government to give them official patronage is questionable, as the executive has so many courses and options to take up the issue in the right earnest way with the forces that be and take measures to safeguard interests of the Muslims. Apart from raising the issue bilaterally with the US, the decision to highlight it at the forum of the UN General Assembly is welcome and similarly, efforts should be made to channelize strength of the Ummah through OIC and coordinated diplomatic moves by the OIC member states. If the Government ridiculed the Punjab Government for joining rallies against load-shedding then how can it justify its own decision to join protest demonstrations now? At best, it seems to be a move to pacify sentiments of the people and to gain political mileage out of a religion-related issue and situation. Prudence demands that the Govt should come out with a solid plan of action to counter such moves as, Governments act they don’t demonstrate!

Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger. 

"Lady with the Crow"

                                         I saw a Lady with a crow

                                              Sitting slightly above her brow

                                              She was tall, with dark eyes

                                              Holding the pet like a prize

                                              The dupatta over head flow

                                           With the sweltering summer blow

                                             She was trying to devise

                                              A meal for both, if someone buys

                                           Walking around looking for dough

                                            Begging she hated though

                                           Hungry stomach’s both had size

                                           Let’s see who would give & rise

                                           Mumbling jumbling she walked slow

                                           Carefully as if she treads on floe

                                          The crow dazed by sun fell on her thighs

                                          Upset and crying, she uttered, “Oh he dies”!

                                         He stayed limp, she held on, reviving undergo

                                        Sprinkling water on the bird, the passersby say, “let go”

                                        A child stood up and offered her French-fries

                                       With joy, the woman fed herself and bird with surprise.

         

PTI’s Economic Policy Plan

Mr Asad Umar spelling out PTI's Economic Policy

Friday 24 th August 2012, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf announced its Economic Policy. At the seminar which was held in an Islamabad hotel, it was largely attended by dignitaries, civil society, media people, party supporters and concerned citizens. It is a matter of deep concern to people in Pakistan on how things have been going since the past almost five years of this democratic government. Many ills have occurred during this tenure, mostly lows rather than high indicators as far as Economics of the country are concerned. Mr. Jehangir Tareen started while Mr. Asad Umar steered the seminar where audience were thwarted with the current statistics of zero growth, spiraling fiscal deficits and record built up of debt in the country’s 65 year old history.

PTI came out with a unique way of informing the masses of their intended program for the coming years in which they will be in power. Previously we had seen political parties usually just concentrate on their electoral expenditure, their seats, once in assembly grasp in their portfolios, lastly, they would look into the problems of the state, PTI has done reverse of what was being done. A good encouraging move: By this party to let people think on whom they should entrust their future votes in the coming elections.For a common Pakistani to understand the figures, facts and numbers may be difficult. For this we first must identify where we stand today with what kind of problems. Secondly, Knowing the resources of the country, thirdly, having experts to resolve the situation and fourth the most vital, will, honesty, dedication and faith in God to resolve the problems. PTI’s testament that they will revamp the economy with a policy that is owned by policy makers and party hierarchy: A political economic vision committed to achieve its dynamic heights. Current Government’s lethargic approach towards collection of taxes, built up of debt, eroding value of PKR, negative balance of trade, economic bailing out by International politics related external capital flows (One such example is the prized institution Pakistan Steel against whom every six months Billions of dollars worth bail is asked for, where political gallows chums are appointed who are dishonest, illiterate, this bail money is distributed from top till bottom) and decades of underinvestment in Education/Health/Skills the demographic dividend turning into a liability.

A crumbling state with raised corruption graphs is now unable to meet the challenges of the modern era, weak institutions with Civil Servants and politicians deeply suspicious of each other. The country’s economic decline accelerated sharply under the status quo Government which has in these almost five years been the weakest in GDP growth of only 3%,  a record deficit of 8.4% (PKR 1,720 Billion) according to the State Bank of Pakistan the worst by far in the history of this country. Investment collapsed to only 12.5% in FY12 from 22.5% in FY07. Sub-Saharan Africa today is at 60% of growth, which is much faster than Pakistan. Every fiscal year that ends here takes India six years ahead of us. Nigeria, Rwanda, Liberia now have higher literacy rate than Pakistan. In the same 5 year period India, Srilanka, and Bangladesh have had an average GDP growth 7.8%, 6.1% and 6.8% respectively. Investment to GDP ratio 35%, 28% and 25% for India, Srilanka and Bangladesh. India’s per capita growth rate of 6% will double its per capita income in 12 years whereas Pakistan’s 1% per capita growth rate will take an average Pakistani 70 years to double their income. Today, PKR stands weaker than the Bangladesh Taka. 

A child born in Pakistan has less chance of survival than in countries like; Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, India and Bangladesh. According to the World Bank, only 55% of Pakistani’s above 15 years of age can read or write their names (the highest who score here are Vietnam, Turkey, Zimbabwe and Kenya). Government itself has been eating up the reserves with the provincial governments also following the suit which stand at PKR 35 Arab over draft by the State Bank of Pakistan. The country is fast becoming “The Poor man of Asia.”One should ask oneself; what could be the aim in life of Mr. Zardari or Mr. Nawaz Shareef? Words engraved in my mind are those of Mr. Abdul Hafeez Peerzada who (in the past was blue-eyed boy of late Mr. Bhutto whom he fondly used to refer to him in Punjabi as “Sohna Munda”: Handsome Guy) at a talk show on a private channel commented on the former as, “Zardari has the animal instinct to survive.” People who don’t understand this quote of Peerzada sb should watch a program on Nat-Geo. Poor masses of Pakistan at large and Punjab in particular count their days earnings or Taka’s on their fingertips whereas Shareef family count their mills and flats in Europe on their fingertips; their aim in life is to keep on increasing the numbers of family investments (to become the richest men on Earth) over the cost of the future of Pakistani youngsters.

Asad Umar, senior vice president of PTI while giving an insight into the current situation of Pakistan, said that the country's solution is not administrative, it is political. He added that the cost of economic failure in Pakistan is of human life. He reiterated that all is still not lost, that they have the vision and faith of bringing Pakistan back on the developing front & for that, deep institutionalized reforms would be done on five fronts:
1).Institution Reform Emergency;
Ministry of Railway will be abolished, it will only work independent, fully autonomous and without Government interference. This will bring the Railway back on track in 12 months time.  PIA will be removed from the control of Ministry of Defense. Strategic Government Institution to manage SOE’s much similar to Malaysia’s Khazanah which will be a fully autonomous board, with mandate to revitalize in two years & CEO’s will be appointed by boards and not the PM.
Declare Reform Emergency as frontal attack on;
OGRA, SECP, CCP,NAPRA will be strengthened and empowered against Cartels, Speculators, Hoarders and Gas/Electricity thieves. Protect land & property owners from exploitation of real estate mafia & Qabza groups. Eliminate culture of specific SRO’s.
Accountability Emergency;
An independent, empowered accountability mechanism will be adopted so that NAB does its own investigation and prosecution outside the purview of the Executive. It will take up all mega scandals of previous and present where teams of motivated honest empowered investigators to grapple mega scandals and bring justice. Special task force will be formulated to recover looted national wealth which is kept safe off shore. The recovered corruption assets will be used to educate the youth of this country.
Governance Reform Emergency;
Implement Civil Service reforms with result based management. Encourage functional specialization; monetize all Civil Service benefits/perks.
Give incentives to high performing CS’s, enable professionals to work for the Govt.

Stressing the need for a local government system in Pakistan current governance in the country is very centralized and weak. "Imran Khan, as the prime minister, will devolve all powers from his hands down to the grass-root, village level to decentralize power," he added.  A few other points for governance reforms include implementation of civil service reforms and direct funding for every district to ensure equal distribution of funds to districts and villages. 

2). Expenditure Reform Emergency;
All Governor houses, PM House, and all those buildings that give pomp & show will be shut down and will be for public use only. Expense of the President house will be cut by half. Punjab CM today has 6 Camp houses those would be reduced to one. Federal Ministries will be reduced from 37 today to 17. Limit perks of MNA’s, MPA’s, Military and Civil Bureaucrats, finish policy of free and subsidized plots. All State Institutions will have to reduce their expenditure and that includes Defense as well. Zero development funds to Parliamentarians and eliminate all discretionary funds.
3). Energy Reform Emergency;
To make Pakistan an energy secure state Circular Debt would be resolved through moving to lower cost of production. Divert all resources to maximizing Energy Production. Bring Load Shedding or power cuts urgently to manageable proportions. Initiate PTI medium term Energy Plan: To reduce cost of generation & line losses etc in which provinces will play their part in resolving the energy situation. Electricity and Gas shortages will be eliminated within the first term of PTI’s Government.
4). Revenue Collection Emergency;
Federal Board would be made autonomous, so that there is no political influence on it. This will eliminate the pressure of lucrative postings in FBR. The tax policy of Government will be independently implemented by the FBR. Advance technology will be introduced so that there is increase of transparency to tackle any leakages. Citizens will be empowered to join the fight against corruption by empowering them the access to information (Independent estimates reveal that around 900 billion PKR escapes the tax net every year). To raise revenue by ensuring tax collection without raising tax rates. Minimum Assets tax will be adjustable against Income tax. All income in the land will be taxable which will include; Agriculture, Real Estate, Stock Market, etc. Soft Amnesty on tax will be ended. The taxes will be reduced and an abbreviation of tax burden on the citizens & business will be visible once the Reform Measures kick in. In this regard each Provincial Government will play a pivotal role in the collection of the following; there will be an end to Benami transactions, the state will take over under-declared property. Agriculture Taxes from Large landowners and GST on services. Tax evaders will be given time to mend their ways and declare correctly or otherwise a force of law would be applied on them.
5). Human Capital Development (Health/Education/Skill);
Health care is vital for the poor of Pakistan, for that PTI will increase spending from 0.86% of GDP to 2.6% in five years. Provide the masses Primary Health Care (PHC) which will give a boost to the rural health centers, focus on Mother/Child care, all DHQ/THQ Units will be modernized, all RHC’s, BHU’s will be revitalized with staff/nurses and medicines. New jobs in Health care for Nurses, Doctors (with special focus on Eye and Dental Doctors), Paramedics, LHW’s, LHV’s will be created.
Education Reforms;
One Education system will be followed all over Pakistan with increase in its spending from 2% of GDP to 5% of GDP in five years. Community will be empowered to help manage schools; Decentralize Service Delivery to District, all hiring will be done within the district. Double the number of girls schools, special program to modernize and upgrade Govt Colleges. Sports and extra Curricular activities will be specially emphasized so that development of potentials in youth is possible.
Skill Development;
Leverage private/public/NGO’s for mega skill development program which will target 2 million youth in skill development centers at the end of Year 2. It will remove barriers to poor students for entry, provide stipends to poor/deserving students, students who deserve shall be funded while schools will NOT be funded, and special focus will be on the employable skills & placement service to match student requirements in jobs, focus on social service delivery providers and develop manpower skills for exports. Give a boost to the export strategy, fix flawed energy policy, give confidence to overseas Pakistani’s to invest home. Non-resident bonds to be floated & to ensure legal protection of overseas Pakistani’s investment.


As the above reforms will be adopted, the following results will be evident:
There will be an increase spending on poor and middle income households. Government budget for the welfare state in FY14 TO FY18 would be; 5% GDP increase in tax to GDP, 2% reduction of GDP in wasteful expenditure, 2% improvement by elimination of PSE’s losses, with a fiscal space of 9% of GDP there will be 5.5% of GDP increase in Education, Health & Income support spending and 3.5% reduction of fiscal deficit.Until the jaw dropping scandals of the status quo lot emerge to the world, Pakistani’s have ample time to analyze, ponder and seriously consider whether they want a change or not. Their decision will either bring prosperity or more downfalls. They need to cerebrate; they must understand problems which have been pinpointed by the Economic Policy of PTI. Any simple Pakistani who is not an economist can empathize this; one day Pakistan will be on the road to success, serving and nurturing this nation like Shaukat Khanum and Namal University are already doing.
Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited.. Awesome Inc. template. Template images by molotovcoketail. Powered by Blogger. 


The above article has been published on the following links::


http://www.islamabadtimesonline.com/pti%E2%80%99s-economic-policy-plan/ 

Mob Killings

 Protection of citizens is one of the primary responsibilities of the state. Effective measures of public safety can be taken only when police system of the state is organized on internationally accepted norms of professionalism, functional specialization and sound training techniques. The police system working in Pakistan, prior to the Police Order, 2002, was a 140 years old colonial legacy, as it was based on the Police Act, 1861. Under this law, the primary focus was on prevention and detection of the crimes, whereas the underlying objective was to control the local population for maintenance of colonial rule. In the absence of a proper system of public oversight to check the excesses, police could not be turned from a ‘force’ into a ‘public service’. Powers were concentrated at the upper levels in the police hierarchy. There was a great void between police and public with the consequent result of leaving the people insecure.  

Police in any country is thought to be there to protect the citizens, lock the suspects so that peace & harmony prevail. Unfortunately in Pakistan, it has been doing totally the reverse of what their duty calls for. When lone incidents occur in any part of the country police stays silent, unless you hand in some bribes here and there. Mostly incidents occur in front of the policemen but their silence drives the people of that area with rage, revenge and fury. This in turn becomes a situation which becomes incontrollable, resulting in public lynching and mob attacks who deliver justice in their own way on the spot!

Growing incidents of mob justice clearly show that the system is not working as per expectations of the masses and that is why people have started taking the law into their own hands. One Ghulam Muhammad was lynched to death by an angry mob while two of his accomplices were seriously injured for allegedly brining a woman into a house for illicit relations in Tando Adam Khan area of Sindh. The worst aspect of the entire episode is that according to local people they locked the suspects inside the house and called in police but it took no action and son of the deceased says mob killed his father in the presence of police that remained indifferent to what was happening. Seven people have already been arrested and a six member investigation team formed by Sindh Chief Minister to probe the incident and hopefully things would become clear on completion of the probe. But recurrence of mob violence and mob justice is alarming as it speaks volumes about apathy of the administration towards what is happening in the society and lack of confidence of the people in the system.Earlier, in Sialkot two brothers were lynched by the mob when some people dubbed them as dacoits. There were also media reports from other parts of the country where people caught thieves and dacoits red-handed and stoned or torched them to death on the spot. One cannot expect otherwise when even in high profile cases like attack on GHQ led to nowhere as some suspects were arrested and later had to be released due to lack of sufficient evidence.

There are genuine complaints that in most of the cases police do not bother to arrest criminals and prefers underhand deals with them and even if someone is arrested he gets released due to lackluster investigations and in the absence of reliable evidence. Fear mongering by the police and security officials has badly damaged the social fabric of the state of Pakistan. One of the repeated complaints by the citizenry is that in many cases Police officers out rightly refuse to file the complaint, for reasons known only to them. Albeit the fact that no police officer carries the authority to refuse registration of a case withal external or internal pressure, lethargy and initial inactivity of the police has become a daily occurrence in Pakistan. In some cases, even judges do not award sentence to culprits for fear of reprisals as some judges have been targeted by criminals in different parts of the country. Political interference and appointments in police have also played havoc with the system besides bruised psyche of the people due to day-to-day problems. Mob rule seems to be the rule of the day and it is time for the executive, the legislature and the judiciary to take remedial measures, otherwise the system is bound to collapse soon.Incompetency, contributes 70% and corruption contributes 30% of the 100% failure of today’s government and the rest of the institutions that it heads. Every Government department in the world today needs expertise that are educated and trained in their specific fields….look at us! The worse people who got themselves elected with fake degrees in basic graduation are the sole fathers of all the departments today. Corruption is at peak level. What elaborate starting from any department and ending on any sector anything and everything is dependent upon give and take of money. The Current government is concentrating for 5 years in power and making as much money as they can, to take care of the next four generations, they know that they will not be elected next time, they are not bothered and as the track record shows maybe after 10 years of cycle they will return to power again. Everyday life is based on ad hoc decisions and personalized dealings.

How can we take actions for a better society? The solutions lie within if we apply good governance to the existing institutions.

1). Rule of law must be made supreme for all irrespective of what background one comes from. More than 80% of the problems faced by the oppressed can be resolved this way. The police should be well paid and under no institutional interference. Catching and apprehending a culprit becomes more efficient this way. Police transfers and appointments should be done by the institution itself with no recommendations taken either by the President or the Prime Minister of the country

2). Feudalism should be abolished in Pakistan with immediate effect. 90% of the problems will be resolved once this system is collapsed by the Government.

3). Education should be a top priority for all the citizens of the country. The meager 2.2% of the GDP is totally not sufficient for the nation. System of education should be one in the country and till the 10^thgrade it should be made compulsory on all. Students and young people should be encouraged and given the chance to enroll in classes that teach skilled trades such as construction, welding and plumbing. Child labor should ban and the ones found guilty in this heinous crime should be punished severely.

4). Health facilities need to be improved on war footing. With the 75% deprived of medical cure the Government needs to spend more on this sector for the betterment of the citizens. Hospitals should be better equipped with proper medical care and staff in uniformity throughout the country.

5). Increase in minimum wage and unemployment allowances should be set up for the poor and labor class.
The people of Pakistan need a better chance in life. They are hardworking, resilient masses who are braving against the toughest of challenges. Under present scenario of a forced imposed war on Pakistan which has left the economy crumbled and has increased the sufferings of common man specially the above mentioned category of people more oppressed and excluded. An ideal society where; equality is maintained, justice is in balance, and where people feel secure to live in. The economy must enable all the citizens of our country to enjoy a rising standard of living. This will demand of all sectors of the economy - state-owned, private, and co-operative to allocate resources and implement policies in keeping with this common national requirement. Such a society isn’t an unachievable one; for I believe with love and conviction we can definitely bring a change into the present scenario. We must commit ourselves to carrying at least a few grains of sand as hope to the building site of a new society. 



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