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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"PTI Analyze, Strategize"

With politics getting murky by each day in Pakistan, the PTI must realize that it has very little time to organize itself internally before the election dates are announced. Rumors of PPP joining hands with PML (n) to announce elections on the 14^th August 2012 are around the circles, if that becomes true, PTI which is still a band of hullabaloo internally needs to get smart fast. It is sad to see that instead of learning from the past, PML (n) & PTI are getting back to the politics of 90s. One wished that Imran Khan could refrain from following the suit. People of Pakistan have complete confidence in his Philanthropist works and the repute of Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

Imran Khan came out with a blunt response to PML (n)’s accusations of playing with the money of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital went a step further and has not only posed 11 questions to be answered by none but Mian Nawaz Sharif but also challenged him to come face to face on a live TV debate meaning by that, Imran has fully exposed the so called most popular leader who is power hungry in any case. Imran has now undoubtedly pushed Mian Nawaz Sharif to point of no return. Numbers and Figures quoted by Imran speak volume. It has become an obligation on the part of Mian Nawaz to come out clean from the muddle otherwise he is becoming his own enemy which will further dent his own repute and risk; others from PML (n) are not supposed to speak on this subject & if they do then it only confirms whatever Imran alleged is nothing but true. Mian has no face to refute or rebut Imran and therefore he is asking his stooges to issue some statements for his face keeping. Mian sahib! Come out from hiding as the time is already running against you. Be the brave LION instead and reply each one of those 11 questions of Imran unless you prefer sudden political death!

The announcements and dissolution of internal office bearers in PTI happened a while ago, one wonders why concentration on that to take forward towards internal party elections is not considered the need of the hour. With press conferences coming in from left right centre of all sorts by Imran Khan for clarifications at this crucial point, he must understand that “one doesn’t need to reply every accusation” that is hurled his way from PML (n). It is time to focus, organize, strategize, analyze, and make solid teams inside the party to stand up strong at this point in time. Look for people within the party to come forward as brave Vikings at this crucial juncture. One such person hangs around the PTI all the time, not being a part of this political ideology, Hafiz Ullah Niazi has given services, acumen and strength to the party standing outside; who rendered valuable, years, wisdom to the party at its infant stages back in the 90’s. It is time he be pulled in to make the team stronger. With elections around the corner PTI must bring forward the names of party candidates for it is about time these people start their election campaign.

The honorable members of PTI who have had enough experience of loitering around power corridors previously, should help pool in their mature experience. It is the need of the hour that PTI now should have a complete set-up and strategy to counter all the illicit propaganda against them. Planning, and counter act on propaganda by these people, instead of Imran Khan coming out every time to give a reply.

This nation of 180 million plus people has had enough of accusations, court cases of one form or the other since the past almost five years. A common man who is busy making ends meet would rather hear some schemes and packages the potential parties plan to bring forward rather than see on television/newspapers everyday one accusation following the other. Imran Khan touched the pulse of the nation with his slogans of “Tsunami and Change,” is this the change they have in store in future? He must realize that without the friendly hand-shake of PPP-PML (n) of four plus years these circumstances wouldn’t have emerged in Pakistan. If they weren’t together why would have PML (n) given a tacit support to the Presidency? Neither would have they supported each other in every action/reaction we all have witnessed during this time (there is Rs7-8 billion corruption per day in the country, both have failed to even take note of it, let alone curtail it).

This mud-slinging campaign too is a result of both hand in glove with each other. PML (n) knows that it is not going to be in power again from Punjab, so all this outcry has only one beneficiary in Punjab and that is PPP. The people of Punjab rejected PPP way back; if Imran Khan does not analyze the situation closely he will let the beneficiary i.e. PPP win from Punjab after almost two decades! These press conferences and accusations seem like teenage sibling rivalry to the masses now. PTI must realize those millions of people who see some hope in this party taking Pakistan ahead on the road to development feel somewhat alienated at this point in time.  The 180 million plus are suffering each day, “Democracy is the best revenge” was the slogan Mr. Zardari put forward to people, seems as if it stands now for “Demon-cracy as the best revenge.” He came via America's favor, his presence here is because of their will. It is their strategy that PTI which has had a substantial following in Punjab should get in a direct tussle with PML (n) so that eventually PPP, which has their backing should capture Punjab through Polls. Instead of Imran Khan becoming a part of that devils dance he must Realize, Analyze, collect, collate and synthesize their strategy.  Dark shadows of danger lurk on the borders of Pakistan, where schemes like Balkanization of the country are being cooked up by power players, look beyond personal egos for Heaven’s sake and think about the country! Will these useless battles of words solve grave issues of terrorism, power cuts, target killings, Railways, PIA, OGDC, etc?
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"Mud Slinging of PML (n)"

August 1^st 2012, PML (n) came out with accusations on Khan Sb and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. Charges like ill use of donated money by people around the world in the form of “Sadqa and Zakat”. Another charge was: A speculated real estate business off shore; a business in Masqat and Dubai which incurred huge losses (64 in all) as investments. At a press conference Khawaja Asif issued a fact sheet of SKMH, with serious allegations on Khan sb that he had transferred 4.5 billion rupees out of SKMH accounts, a money that was given to him by Pakistani’s for the hospital only and challenging him to prove all the above in court. Khawaja Asif accused Khan Sb of “Money Laundering” and that the donation money had been put in gambling where it had been lost! Another ludicrous charge was that people’s fitrana money had been misused in investing into separate businesses and for which he had ample proofs. That those businesses; were offshore and unnamed companies, whose front man was “Mr. Imtiaz Haideri” who had transferred the entire amount.

Rejecting the above allegations Khan Sb called up a press conference on Wednesday where he clearly indicated that Mian Nawaz Sharif was involved in money laundering and the charges on him put by PML (n) were groundless as not a penny had been misused from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital. He further explained that the foreign donations are collected in a dollar account which is managed by the hospital’s endowment fund. “The endowment fund uses this money for investment and earn profit on it,” he declared. “The endowment fund has its own board which decides how to use the money, a board of which I’m not a member,” Khan Sb said, adding that the board decided to invest money in Dubai as property prices were rising back then.  He added, the money never went abroad from Pakistan as it was a part of the endowment fund and the company, where the hospital’s endowment fund invested, was owned by Imtiaz Haideri, who is also the chief executive.      

The power hungry league was resorting to mean tactics and could go to any length in achieving their goals. Declining the charges put by Khawaja Asif, Khan Sb said, “I am openly saying Nawaz Sharif is involved in money laundering, has dubious assets worth millions in foreign countries,” and challenged Khawaja Asif to go to court against him. He said, it was a move to hurt and damage the Trust Hospital which is an asset of this nation.

What’s notable is that the accounts of the Hospital are transparent and that their details are available on its official website. Khan Sb reiterated that such befouled allegations were put by the PML (n) against him in the past also which had damaged the cause and pace of SKMH earlier.

Every Pakistani should understand the following: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital is made in Pakistan; hence it’s a property all of us own and should be proud of. This Trust hospital is curing patients who live in Pakistan, people who do not have enough means to travel abroad for treatments like Nawaz Sharif or Shahbaz Sharif do on the slightest cough! This institution treats people of all ages, races and religions, it does not discriminate who is under treatment by the world class team of doctors it has provided. Lastly, every large non-profit company does what SKMH has done, that is, they can create investment abroad rather than keeping it in the bank at zero percent return. Most notables who are doing similar are Agha Khan Hospital, Red Cross etc. Organizations that do not do that are being unfair to their donors.
 
Pakistani’s should also not forget the “Qarz Utaro Mulk Sanwaro Scheme” which was launched on 27^th February 1997 by Nawaz Sharif, in which resident and non-resident Pakistani’s were urged to send money using their foreign currency accounts towards retiring the country’s external debts. What happened to those? Where did they go? Where did those Millions of Dollars land?

One needs to understand the nervousness PML (n) faces at the hands of PTI’s popularity in the masses. Many a times the wounded league tried to do alliance with PTI especially after the Lahore Rally of October 2011. Khan Sb gave no heed to those calls so such tactics which the PML (n) resorted to in 1997 are back in swing. The time sought by PML (n) for mudslinging in the month of Ramazan is quite noteworthy. This is the time of the year when maximum Zakat, Fitrana and Sadqa’s are given by Pakistani’s for poor patients. To shine political gains in Ramazan through maligning the organization and Khan Sb’s charity works seems quite a contaminated attempt! PML (n) should realize; this is not 1997, such below the belt moves will only further weaken Nawaz Sharif, for this shows clearly that he is not fair in his actions and words such messy political jibes are surely taking him to the end of his Era.                

One also fails to understand that while all these allegations were put on the SKMH and Khan Sb was replying all, where was the “NEW” top leadership of PTI? There was a press conference by Chaudary Nisar of PML (n) why wasn’t a similar Press Conference called by PTI’s new top brand? Where were they? Even on the Television talk shows the old members of PTI came forward and replied to all the queries put on them. Where are those stalwarts when the party needs them? Are they only good for getting themselves photographed?  For occasions like such do Khan Sb and the old team need to come forward and reply or give rebuttals only?

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"A Corrupted Cocktail"

People in Pakistan today have very few venues left which can be used as family recreation. Such are grave issues here that families usually avoid going out together, due to security risks, bomb blasts that excursions are options now almost non-existent with kinfolk here to actually enjoy from.

In true honesty, petty politics mingled with creative literature made a disastrous soup! The martial law of Zia-ul-Haq smuggled in culture of Kalashnikov, heroin and violent religiosity which struck a crushing blow to the film industry. A new genre of cinema grew where glamorization of violence and brutality in extracting vengeance were common subjects of film making. Film-making dropped from a total output of 98 films in 1979, of which 42 were in Urdu, to only 58 films (26 in Urdu) in 1980. Wahshee Gujjar, Maula Jat and Jat da kharaak are some of the films from that period which effectively captured the subject.In 1979 General Zia-ul-Haq banned all Pakistani films produced in the preceding 3 years which caused a huge void badly affecting the progress of film making and encouraged small time film makers to invest in cheap film making. With ridiculous bans put by him on through censorship and policies, display of affection was reduced in the movies and an increase in violence was ignored! Violence added films were the art of that day which was promoted by huge banners and billboards which the officials put a blind eye to. The cult of Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi of Maula Jatt and Noori Nath was promoted over real literary scripts by quality writers in Urdu language for the Urdu Cinema. This added complete disaster for the cinema starved audience and its legal caretakers. Backed by powerful politicians, Pashto filmmakers were ahead in this rat race to get around the censor policies and filled their films with soft-core pornography to increase viewership. The influx of millions of refugees from across the Afghani border, who were denied the entertainment in their country, kept the industry strongly active.It is interesting to note that while Zia was publicly flogging people, Maula Jut later was banned by him for being too violent!! The producer however got a stay from the High Court. Similarly while Zia-ul-Haq ordained the toughest moral codes for local cinema, his own family remained an ardent viewer of pirated Indian films. Shatrughan Sinha from Bollywood was patronized by the late General Zia and his family. Incidentally, he was the only guest from that filmdom who attended the marriage Function ceremony of (late) General Zia’s daughter!

Shabnam & Nadeem pose in "Aina"

The peak of Pakistani cinema industry was in the mid 1970s, Karachi alone had more than 100 cinema halls and more than 200 films were produced and released each year. Today, fewer than ten of these houses remain which have been converted to one or the other thing due to prevailing conditions. Javed Jabbar's Beyond the Last Mountain, released on 2nd December 1976, which was Pakistan’s first ever venture into English film-making. Pakistan's government was in a state of turmoil. Aina, released on 18 March 1977, marked a distinct symbolic break. The film stayed in cinemas for over 400 weeks at the box office, with its last screening at 'Scala' in Karachi where it ran for more than four years. It is considered the most popular film in the country's history to date.
Cinema of Pakistan was slowly strangulated by a group which had other ulterior motives. This almost non-existent, funds with below average script writers and the effects of overall violent laws of Zia slowly diminished the creative guru’s from this Industry. They saw refuge in other countries where their talent could be utilized in a better way or they completely gave up making quality cinema after being dejected many times. With the Maestro’s gone, this industry was orphaned to the likes of Syed Noor, Madam Sangeeta, and Saeed Rizvi.

This slow poisoning of such a creative medium was systematic which has brought us now to the new era of importing movies of all kinds from across the border. The Bollywood Cinema has many facets which need to be addressed if we want to rely on “foreign fed” movies only. One such movie lately imported and released on Pakistani soil is the vulgar “Cocktail.” The lead cast being; Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty. Supporting cast has Boman Irani and Dimple Kapadia. It’s a mixture of soft porn with an ultimate desire to become European living in India! The plot of this movie revolves around three people; one man and two women. The females become friends and start living together in a flat somewhere in London. In doing so they meet up with Gautam (Saif) who befriends one woman (Deepika) first, has physical relationship with her while suddenly falls in love with the other woman (Diana). With scenes which I am sure no Pakistani would have been comfortable in watching with family, children, elders; and dialogues with smutty vocabulary is being proudly shown and advertised throughout the country. Where free sex is shown acceptable and where norms of the society and culture are totally ignored!  After watching this movie with children I had no option left but to sit down, pen my thoughts as a concerned parent of growing up children.

Four Pakistani singers contributed songs for this movie namely; Arif Lohar, Imran Aziz Mia, Javed Bashir and Masooma Anwar for which they couldn’t even get visas by the Indian High Commission for music launch. I am not against cross border joint ventures, I fully endorse creative jugal-bandi but I ask :  Why is quality not being maintained by our so-called people in charge?


Sadly, not one creative block/organization in Pakistan has objected to this absurdity! What are we importing in the name of creativity/family entertainment? Where is our Censor Board? Does it exist? If it does, was it drugged while this movie was brought and is being audaciously show cased in the borders of Pakistan? Why are we ruining what is left of our society? Do we have to become puppets in this rat-race of losing our heritage?


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Genocide by Inhuman!

Burmese refugees in Bangladesh are facing starvation 

The systematic killing or destruction of a racial or cultural group is what genocide denotes. In history such horrific episodes have happened before which caused the total world population to condemn it, calling it a drive that inflicts great loss on humanity. Such a loss in great numbers has recently erupted again this time around with much more ferocity than before.

The Rohingya are a community of 800,000 living in the Arakan region of Burma. According to the United Nations, they are amongst the most persecuted minorities; and aside from occasional reporting, their plight, particularly in current days, remains poorly reported.

The Arakan land which is inhibited by Rohingya Muslims was separated from British rule in 1948. Prior to this year, it was under Indian British Raj which started in 1824. Various portions of Burmese territories, including Arakan, Tenasserim were annexed by the British after their victory in the First Anglo-Burmese War; Lower Burma was annexed in 1852 after the Second Anglo-Burmese War. The annexed territories were designated the minor province (a Chief Commissionership), British Burma, of British India in 1862. After the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, Upper Burma was annexed, and the following year, the province of Burma in British India was created, becoming a major province (a Lieutenant-Governorship) in 1897.This arrangement lasted until 1937, when Burma began to be administered separately by the Burma Office under the Secretary of State for India and Burma. Burma achieved independence from British rule on 4 January 1948. In 1939, the British authorities, who were wary of the long term animosity between the Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslims, formed a special Investigation Commission led by James Ester and Tin Tut to study the issue of Muslim immigration into the Rakhine state. The commission recommended securing the border; however, with the onset of World War II, the British retreated from Arakan. During World War II, Japanese forces invaded Burma, then under British colonial rule. The British forces retreated and in the power vacuum left behind, considerable violence erupted. This included communal violence between Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya villagers. The period also witnessed violence between groups loyal to the British and Burmese nationalists. The British armed Muslim groups in northern Arakan to create a buffer zone from Japanese invasion when they retreated. The Rohingya supported the Allies during the war and oppose the Japanese forces, assisting the Allies in reconnaissance.
The Japanese committed atrocities against thousands of Rohingya. They engaged in an orgy of rape, murder and torture. In this period, some 22,000 Rohingya are believed to have crossed the border into Bengal, then part of British India, to escape the violence.
40,000 Rohingya eventually fled to Chittagong after repeated massacres by the Burmese and Japanese forces.The Rohingya people practice Sunni Islam with elements of Sufi worship. Because the government restricts educational opportunities for them, many pursue fundamental Islamic studies as their only educational option. According to Amnesty International, the Muslim Rohingya people have continued to suffer from human rights violations under the Burmese junta since 1978, and many have fled to neighboring Bangladesh as a result.
The Rohingyas’ freedom of movement is severely restricted and vast majority of them have effectively been denied Burma citizenship. They are also subjected to various forms of extortion and arbitrary taxation; land confiscation; forced eviction and house destruction; and financial restrictions on marriage. Rohingyas continue to be used as forced labourers on roads and at military camps, although the amount of forced labour in northern Rakhine State has decreased over the last decade.
In 1978 over 200,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh, following the ‘Nagamin’ (‘Dragon King’) operation of the Myanmar army. Officially this campaign aimed at "scrutinising each individual living in the state, designating citizens and foreigners in accordance with the law and taking actions against foreigners who have filtered into the country illegally." This military campaign directly targeted civilians, and resulted in widespread killings, rape and destruction of mosques and further religious persecution.
During 1991-92 a new wave of over a quarter of a million Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh. They reported widespread forced labour, as well as summary executions, torture, and rape. Rohingyas were forced to work without pay by the Burmese army on infrastructure and economic projects, often under harsh conditions. Many other human rights violations occurred in the context of forced labour of Rohingya civilians by the security forces.
As of 2005, the UNHCR had been assisting with the repatriation of Rohingya from Bangladesh, but allegations of human rights abuses in the refugee camps have threatened this effort.
Despite earlier efforts by the UN, the vast majority of Rohingya refugees have remained in Bangladesh, unable to return because of the negative attitude of the ruling regime in Myanmar. Now they are facing problems in Bangladesh as well where they do not receive support from the government any longer. In February 2009, many Rohingya refugees were rescued by Acehnese sailors in the Strait of Malacca, after 21 days at sea.
Over the years thousands of Rohingya also have fled to Thailand. There are roughly 111,000 refugees housed in 9 camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. There have been charges that groups of them have been shipped and towed out to open sea from Thailand, and left there. In February 2009 there was evidence of the Thai army towing a boatload of 190 Rohingya refugees out to sea. A group of refugees rescued by Indonesian authorities also in February 2009 told harrowing stories of being captured and beaten by the Thai military, and then abandoned at open sea. By the end of February there were reports that of a group of 5 boats were towed out to open sea, of which 4 boats sank in a storm, and 1 boat washed up on the shore. February 12, 2009 Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there were "some instances" in which Rohingya people were pushed out to sea.
"There are attempts, I think, to let these people drift to other shores. When these practices do occur, it is done on the understanding that there is enough food and water supplied. It's not clear whose work it is but if I have the evidence who exactly did this I will bring them to account."
The Prime Minister said. He regretted "any losses", and was working on rectifying the problem!
Bangladesh has since announced it will repatriate around 9,000 Rohingya living in refugee camps in the country back to Burma, after a meeting with Burmese diplomats. Steps to repatriate Rohingya began in 2005.
In October 16, 2011, the new government of Burma agreed to take back registered Rohingya refugees.

Burma’s constitution closes all options for Rohingyas to be citizens, on grounds that their ancestors didn’t live there when the land, once called Burma, came under British rule in the 19th century (a contention the Rohingyas dispute). Even now, as military rulers have begun to loosen their grip, there is no sign of change for the Rohingyas. Instead, the Burmese are trying to cast them out.

The current violence can be traced to the rape and killing in late May of a When a Buddhist woman was raped and murdered, suspicion and rumor was directed to the Rohingya community prompting hundreds of Buddhists to drag 10 Rohingya from a bus, murdering them: another cycle of violence erupted.That was followed by mob attacks on Rohingyas and other Muslims that killed dozens of people. According to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, state security forces have now conducted mass arrests of Muslims; they destroyed thousands of homes, with the impact falling most heavily on the Rohingyas. Displaced Rohingyas have tried to flee across the Naf River to neighboring Bangladesh; some have died in the effort.

Aung San Suu Kyi hasn't done or said anything for them, yet the Rohingyas actually campaigned for her in the 1990 elections. Like most other Burmese people, she is silent about the rights of Rohingya. In her first visit outside Myanmar in 24 years, Suu Kyi in the month of May met thousands of Myanmar refugees now living in a Thai border camp. She promised to try as much as she could to help them return home, vowing not to forget them.
Interestingly, while she had highlighted the plight of other Myanmar refugees, mostly Karen people, there had been no words of hope by her for the Rohingya. On the other hand US has voiced concern that Bangladesh was turning away Muslims fleeing religious violence in Myanmar and urged the Dhaka government not to send them back.
The Dalai Lama is Globe Trotting at the moment at some exotic location, without mentioning a single word of the dangerously growing Buddhist intolerance in Burma. That artificial humbleness out of him is quite evident now. Those leaders who do not voice their concerns for persecuted people become accomplices or complicit in their persecution. While Aung San Suu Kyi desires to lead the people of Burma,  wonder how this position of her quietness or uncertainty about a deprived minority will fulfil her dreams to deliver, 'better lives, greater opportunities,' to the people of Burma?  There can be no worse head of state than one who dismisses and ignores the plight of 800,000 of her countries residents. And I fear His Holiness Dalai Lama's words, when meeting Suu Kyi, "I have real admiration for your courage," no longer reflects the woman I once read of and admired, who in her silence on Rohingya persecution is a heroine no more. Now I believe; despite her accolades of peace, and her rapturous reception in Europe, as she now travels freely, she remains, mentally, a prisoner under house arrest!!


The above article got published on the following links::
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http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=165385

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"A Tribute to Courage"

Courage is doing what is right

Feeling that keeps you all tight

Without having to be told

Courage is manning up behold
When you've done something wrong

Or looking the enemy in the eye strong

And telling them to just bring it on

Courage is having fear for the unknown

But still staying hardy

Courage of facing adversity

But being able to overcome animosity

Courage is leaving  family in suavity

To defend the country you love

Being a soldier who rises above

In the greatest army of the world

Thank you for this courage Lord

Courage lets us live free

May the Divine bless you

Come home safely to your families

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

The poem was published in my book "Building Bridges" and on the following link::

http://www.islamabadtimesonline.com/a-tribute-to-courage/

From USA, with Love!

The Predator Drone 

After the OBL operation in Pakistan on May 2^nd 2011 relations between the US and Pakistan have been worst in the history of these two nations. As the frontline ally of this “GWOT” Pakistan suffered mainly in terms of its repute ( by portraying it either an accomplice or incompetent to the world community), cost in expense and loss of lives. Pakistan’s territory has been violated not just in “Operation Geronimo” but innumerable times due to the unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV’s which have killed innocent civilians and angered the tribal people of that area. The country stood worth blaming despite the fact that arrest of all top Al-Qaeda leadership was only possible with the help and support of Pakistan army and the ISI. In this situation whether really the death of Osama has achieved the target of a more than a decade long war or not (it has lasted longer than WW1 & WW2), whose cost of sending troops in Afghanistan is more than 400 billion dollars.

The Bush Administration argued that 9/11 triggered the right of self-defense against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, sparking an armed conflict with those entities-- a ‘Global War on Terror’ (GWOT). The GWOT was conceptualized as a non-international armed conflict against non-state actors without any territorial boundaries.

After the Salala check-post attack on Pakistan by NATO forces in which two dozen Pakistan army jawans were martyred (November 2011), without due apologies US unleashes its wrath upon the citizens of Northern Pakistan with more Drone attacks with love! The Obama administration has let out the CIA to resume an aggressive campaign of drone strikes in Pakistani territory over the last few weeks, approving strikes that might have been vetoed in the past for fear of angering Islamabad.

 Lets forget the CIA's black prisons, rendition, water-boarding, and the torture of the innocents in the jails of our friendly dictators for a while. Technically, CIA individuals are not part of the U.S. armed forces, are not subject to military command structure, and do not wear uniforms.  Under international law, they are therefore civilians directly participating in hostilities, much like the very fighters whom they target! Under IHL, such individuals may be targeted as combatants; such persons lose immunity from prosecution for crimes under domestic laws—meaning Pakistan could prosecute them for murder.

With emphasis put by Mr. Panetta that Pakistan has not cracked down on local insurgents who carry out deadly attacks on U.S. troops and others in neighboring Afghanistan. “We are reaching the limits of our patience, and for that reason it’s extremely important that Pakistan take action” to crack down on armed groups based there that attack American and coalition forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said this on the 8^th June 2012 in Kabul.  The CIA  launched eight Predator drone attacks since Pakistan's president, Zardari, was invited to attend the May NATO summit in Chicago but refused to make a deal to reopen crucial routes used to supply US troops in Afghanistan, as the White House had hoped.

Pakistan blocked truck convoys hauling NATO war supplies. The U.S. initially halted all drone strikes for two months to ease Pakistani sensitivities, the attacks resumed only sporadically after mid-January. By May, Pakistani officials were signaling a willingness to reopen the supply route to resurrect relations. It is worth noting: The U.S. is withholding at least $3 billion in reimbursements for counterinsurgency operations and security-related funding, according to congressional aides and Pakistani officials. After the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan allowed NATO supplies to be transported through its territory at no charge. It later levied a $250 charge per truck. Islamabad now wants between: $2500-$5000 per truck to reopen the road, a toll US officials refuse to pay.

The White House has authorized an expansion of the C.I.A.’s drone program in Pakistan’s tribal areas, officials said this week, to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. American officials are talking with Pakistan about the possibility of striking in Baluchistan for the first time: A controversial move since it is outside the tribal areas as that is where Afghan Taliban leaders are believed to hide.

More C.I.A. drone attacks have been conducted under President Obama than under President George W. Bush. The political consensus in support of the drone program shows how radical it is. For the first time in human history, a civilian intelligence agency is using robots to carry out a military mission, selecting people for killing in a country where the United States is not officially at war!

 U.S. drones have struck targets in Pakistan an estimated 140 times since 2004, from 2004 to 2007, the C.I.A. carried out only a handful of strikes. But pressure from the Congressional intelligence committees, greater confidence in the technology and reduced resistance from Pakistan led to a sharp increase starting in the summer of 2008.

The U.S. is not at war with Pakistan, yet conducts air strikes in its territory on a near daily basis. Both the US-Air Force & CIA have conducted operations in Pakistani air space, with some missions originating in Afghanistan & others from inside Pakistan. In 2006, images of Predator drones stationed at Shamsi Air Base in Pakistan were found on Google Earth. In 2009, The New York Times reported that operatives from Xe Services (the Blackwater), had taken over the task of arming Predator drones at the CIA’s hidden bases in Pakistan & Afghanistan. According to the Guardian UK, "It is easy to understand how the CIA slaughtered innocent victims. Those who press the Hellfire buttons are 8,000 miles away in Nevada and are dependent on local "intelligence". Just as with Guantánamo Bay, the CIA is paying bounties to those who will identify "terrorists". Five thousand dollars is an enormous sum for a Waziri informant, translating to perhaps £250,000 in London terms. The informant has a calculation to make: is it safer to place a GPS tag on the car of a truly dangerous terrorist, or to call down death on a Nobody (with the beginnings of a beard), reporting that he is a militant? Too many "militants" are just young men with stubble. At least 174 have been children.”

With Osama’s death, Obama declared that, “world has been saved’ but he was wrong in his thinking, because “Pakistan became more insecure’ with extremism rising at record high in the country & abroad. Therefore, those who think that Pakistan’s significance have been elevated, they are perhaps wrong, because America has defamed Pakistan in this so-called “operation”. If it was not a planned drama, and carries any truth, America and NATO forces must leave Afghanistan and Pakistan as they have achieved for whom they were fighting a decade long senseless war.

 This article got published on the following links:
 http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=160973

 http://www.islamabadtimesonline.com/from-usa-with-love/

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"Burnt Infants want Shahbaz Sharif!"

In Pakistan everyday unfolds a new crisis for the people of this country. Thursday 7^th June 2012 was one particular day when parents of 7 dead infants and 25 critically burnt infants faced the wrath of devastation. This incident of fire happened in the capital of Punjab, Lahore, at Services Hospital, one of the main Government owned hospital. Right under the nose and rule of Shahbaz Shareef the Chief Minister and Health portfolio holder, who was playing the emotional stand with the people of Punjab under a tent at the time, staged on Minar-e-Pakistan.

At 3:15pm Thursday afternoon, fire erupted due to short-circuiting and spread so rapidly that it engulfed the entire Nursery Unit. The clouds of smoke covered the entire unit, while the leakage of oxygen gas also increased the intensity of the fire. The staff on duty, medics all ran out of the fire stricken place where there were helpless infants. No heed was paid to move the babies out of that area, parents, relatives (of infants), one guard from the hospital, Rescue 1122 personnel and Edhi officials, (who reached 15 minutes after the incident), broke glass windows in the heavily smoked area and retrieved the infants & shifted the babies to other hospitals. With 7 burned to death, the rest of the 25 who were retrieved were critically burnt who have been placed at the CCU ward. The Rescue 1122 officials who did turn up were untrained fire fighters who sprayed water, without caring the babies trapped there, as carelessly as one of the babies fell from the bed due to the intensity of the shower. Those babies who have been saved too stand a little chance in survival since 40 per cent body of an adult is burnt, while a baby cannot sustain even minor heat due to the fire or sizzling hot weather.Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique confirmed six deaths. He told reporters that the bodies of two babies had been handed over to their families, adding that the remaining four babies were completely burnt; therefore, they would be handed over to the aggrieved families after conducting the DNA tests.

What is astonishing in this case is the fact: On how the medics ran out of the Nursery. How the fire extinguishers if they were placed did no good at a time like that. How the crying babies were left mercilessly. How is it that the Punjab Government Blatantly refuses to accept the deteriorating conditions of Public Hospitals? Why is it that the Electric wiring which is being referred to being the sole cause of this incident, when it was last updated and repaired in 1987? Witnesses there said the hospital administration fled from the ward soon after it caught fire leaving the babies inside. On the other hand, the hospital spokesman said they ran away to save their lives.

The Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif reached the hospital at 5:30pm at which he launched an enquiry to the incident and a report is handed to him in 24 hours. What will he do now? Give Rs. Five lakh each to the bereaved parents? Terminate a few negligent Hospital staff? Or will he after doing both the above still defend that the health conditions, the services provided were all A-Okay according to his standards? And what are his standards by the way? Has he taken ANY formal training in hospital and health management which he is maintaining the portfolio of, that he audaciously holds close to his chest? Retaining provincial health ministry among others, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has relinquished eight ministries which he has devolved to other cabinet members, assistants and advisors without appointing any new minister. The chief minister has also changed portfolios of the ministers. Shahbaz has retained provincial Health Ministry defying a strong demand of the Opposition to hand it over to anyone else after over 100 lives were lost to faulty medicines supplied by a Karachi-based company. That incident happened only some months back, not so long ago when innocent people then too paid through their lives.

It was only a year ago when hundreds died due to Dengue outbreak, then too innocent people paid through their lives. Does Shahbaz Sharif realize there are too many mishaps happening in his time and era of rule? Is it too much to ask an incompetent person to stop what he is not good at doing? Or is it too much to ask the CM: To quit playing with the lives of people of Punjab since this portfolio he dearly holds on to is no doubts bringing him millions to plunder from but is opening hell on innocent lives. That: His incompetence is now evident from the attitudes of the junior staff too. When reports and enquiries bear no significance and bring out NOT ONE person accountable; Then the one person in all the mishaps relating to Health, accountable is the one who holds this portfolio, either he should leave it or pay the price. The parents of these infants should file a suit against the CM for incompetence, mismanagement, gross misuse of health funds and demand justice only from the SC. The CM should realize those innocent babies died in pain, a suffering they were not looking forward to when they came to this world two days ago, because of his negligence, his greed, innocent blood wants justice, from the court of this land or the Court of Allah!
Copyright ©2011-2050 Ayesha Zee Khan. Reproduction: Poetry/articles/stories strictly prohibited. Watermark template. Template images bymicheldenijs. Powered by Blogger. 

The above article was published on the following links::
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=160380
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