Pakistan - News and Discussion 6

06-17-2006, 08:18 PM

Nareshji,
My personal experience using Made in China electronics and Kitchen appliances are great.
I am very happy Pakistan is buying everything made in China. Atleast it will keep money in circulation all the time. On heavy days it will collapse. India should relax and watch fun.
Rail, frigates, tanks, missiles, planes and what not Pakis are buying from China.

Naresh · 06-17-2006, 11:20 PM

Mudy Ji :

The Chinese Imports of âConsumer and other goodsâ has sent 20-30 Pakistani Industries to the wall.

It is sad that the Pakistanis went to Haj wearing Shoes made of Non-Halal Pigâs Leather!

Tauba, Tauba.

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

Naresh · 06-18-2006, 02:14 AM

The wages of power <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' />

There is a singular dearth of cheerful news when it comes to a scan of the daily press â at least when it comes to the majority of the few literate amongst the 166 millions who inhabit Pakistan. We are beset with scams galore, stretching from the Steel Mill imbroglio (no mean scam, this one) down the line to black cabs, cement, sugar, all of which involve the highly educated members of the assemblies and the cabinet which has the distinction of being the largest in the country's history and the most despised.

Of course there are the lucky few, the top dogs and fat cats, who are taking advantage of the largesse of the prime cum finance minister's selective policies. Banks and investment companies on the make freely admit they have never had it so good.

The armed forces have no grumbles. Their mighty industrial, transportation, road construction, commercial, real estate and land-owning empire is well set. From huge development schemes, all the various "cities" that are springing up in the Defence Housing Authorities scattered across the land, down to the modest chicken tikka outlets in the once proud messes of the now commercialised army, money flows in to the khaki coffers.

The country bumbles along, with no one quite knowing to where exactly it is bumbling. President Musharraf, has made up his mind that, barring accidents, acts of God, or the wickedness of man, he intends to stay on in place - actually in two places, at the twin pinnacles of power in Pakistan. He has abdicated all pretence at governance in favour of electioneering or of traveling the world, keeping his hand in with the international shakers and movers.

Those who support the General - still and in spite of all - ask where and what is the alternative? Well, that is a good question because he has managed, for the foreseeable future, to ensure that there is none. He has his problems, however, in the company he keeps (by which a man is known, so they say). He persists in consorting with the lowest of the low when it comes to evaluating political reputations for corruption and dirty dealing. He maintains a sinister relationship with the religious right and is allowing the Taliban to regroup up in its old stomping ground. The meager population and assets of Balochistan are thinning alarmingly by the day, but he seems unbothered. He obviously has a strategy, which he reckons will eventually evolve to his benefit.

Meanwhile, in the national assembly, so ably led by the third prime minister of its life, during the President's absence in booming and bustling Shanghai, discussions took place regarding a 15 percent increase in the presidential salary. Good, all in line with the increase in the national minimum wage.

Allocated to the President in the budget is an amount of Rs 3 million plus to cover his internal electioneering travels. For his international tours he will be given Rs 220 million, which is rather jolly. During the last financial year his travels abroad cost us a mere Rs 200 million.

But hang on, this is a veritable peanut when it comes to the primus inter pares, careful investment banker who counts each paisa in the exchequer. His public relations tours around the globe last year cost the country Rs 759 million and it is now calculated for this current year that he will need Rs 789 million. All this may sound very unreal to the man on the Mandi Bahahuddin omnibus, but it isn't. It is one of the few (very few) truths told by the government of Pakistan. But, just in case I have this wrong, I hope the InfoMin will put me right.

Electioneering fever is the order of the day. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz may state to the press that the Sindh government is in perfect shape, posing no problems at all, and that all is in control. It can't be. Due to the death of the incumbent, a constituency in Dadu was up for contentious grabs and on June 13, Mr Aziz sent a special plane (who paid?) to pick up the Sindh chief minister, ferry him to Islamabad for an urgent meeting to resolve the seat issue, and then dispatched him homewards pronto.

What with all this vital activity and electioneering busyness, the prime minister and all the other paid and perked representatives of the people of Pakistan have surely little time to peruse the press and will have missed a rather good story that appeared in a Karachi newspaper last week. It pertains to a fellow Islamic state, not to Scandinavia or any other western country where such happenings are a daily fare.

In Malaysia, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was issued with eleven tickets for illegal parking and speeding pertaining to three of his cars. Though he was apparently not driving any of them at the time when the offences were committed, he thanked the police for doing their job, paid up, and promised to sort out the drivers concerned.

This is an example of what is known elsewhere as law and order, which does not exist in this Islamic State. It is inconceivable that any government car in this country could be challenged, even if it mowed down a couple of pedestrians. The thought that any vehicle connected with those numerous beasts known as VIPs could be challenged would not even enter the mind of what is erroneously known here as a law enforcer. We must not be surprised - this is how it should be. We can but sigh.

E-mail queries and comments to: aminajilani@nation.com.pk

Cheers

Naresh · 06-19-2006, 03:07 AM

Competing with Godzilla <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' />

According to news appeared in a national daily the government is contemplating increase of 50 billions rupees in defense allocation in the next financial year to make new addition in military hardware so as to keep pace with the Indian forces which has been allowed a 27 percent rise in the budget 2006-07. For the past so may years, our defense forces are being provided sizeable increases in their annual allocations unfailingly.

The amount usually runs in tens of billions of rupees. How and why such huge allocation are acquired is not a secret or mystery. In order to conceal the whopping actual increase, the pensions paid to armed forces was last year taken out from the defense allocation and transferred to civilian account. That is in addition to the salaries of non-combatant forces, coast guards and Maritime Security Agency who are all paid from the civilian budget. Whatâs more, there is a complete lack of transparency in defense spending. Probably Pakistan is the only country in the world where no question is asked about the manner which the money is spent, so much so that even parliament is not supposed to know the details and break up of expenditure.

Yes a select committee of the National Assembly was told something (we donât know what) this year but its chosen members were not allowed to tell the parliament or the press what they were told. Nor was an open debate allowed even in this rubberstamp house. At this stage, when Pakistan and India are moving towards reconciliation (whether due to their own expediencies or under American pressure) there is absolutely no justification for such a huge increase in our defense allocation. But then that is an unfortunate reflection of the skewed priorities of worldâs most militarized state.

We are trying to compete with India, a huge country having four times the area of Pakistan with politically strong institutions, ingrained democracy, sustained economic growth, and foreign exchange reserves exceeding 150 billion US dollars. It has limitlessly deep pockets, and ambitions, to build its massive military into a regional behemoth. How can we hope to compete with it?-AYAZ HUSSAIN SHAIKH, Karachi, via e-mail, May 27.

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

**acharya** · 06-20-2006, 05:04 AM

Tuesday, June 20, 2006 E-Mail this article to a friend Printer Friendly Version

âPakistan, India relations prone to deteriorationâ

BAKU: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri warned on Monday that history had shown that relations between Pakistan and India were prone to sudden deterioration. Addressing the 33rd foreign ministerâs session of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, Kasuri regretted that despite both sides having achieved some progress under the Composite Dialogue framework of confidence-building measures, they had still failed to resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir. The foreign minister thanked those Islamic countries that had stood by Pakistan in supporting the Kashmiri peoplesâ right to self-determination, while appreciating OIC support for Islamabadâs efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute. nni

**acharya** · 06-20-2006, 05:06 AM

Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Current political situation will lead to civil war, says Khar

* PPP leader says crisis can only be averted with Musharrafâs resignation
* Current PML has become the GHQâs mistress

Staff Report
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...0-6-2006_pg7_37

LAHORE: Pakistanâ current political situation will lead to civil war and the crisis can only be reverted by President General Pervez Musharraf resigning from both offices, said Pakistan Peopleâs Party Central Leader Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar at a press conference on Monday.

âPakistanâs economy and integrity have been damaged by every military ruler that came to power,â said Khar, a former Punjab chief minister. He said that history showed military rulers implementing bogus policies and damaging the country. High levels of corruption and inefficiency in government departments and a dire law and order situation in the country mark military rule, he added. âGenerals undermine democracy by concentrating powers in their hands and destroying provincial autonomy.â

The former chief minister said that military rulers had used the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) for their own motives and destroyed the party that had at one time represented Pakistanâs ideology. âThe PML fought for the rights of Indian Muslims against the British government and Indian National Congress, but now its has become the General Headquartersâ mistress,â he said, adding that people were against military rule and would fight to end it.

âMusharrafâs regime has destroyed the countryâs unity, judiciary, bureaucracy, press, army and political parties,â said Khar. He praised former military chief Gen Jehangir Karamat for âgracefully resigningâ from his post. Army officials should follow Karamatâs lead and resign if they develop differences with the government, he added. He requested world leaders to use their influence and ensure free and fair elections were held in Pakistan. World leaders should also ensure that Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain participate in the polls, he added.

Khar said that Benazir would return to the country soon. He said that âespionage agentsâ had infiltrated all major political parties of the country. He refused to name them.

06-20-2006, 05:53 AM

Something is there which is stopping civil war in Pakistan. May be strong hand of Army and Elite who are somehow managed to control people. Even continuous bomb blast in religious places and foreign forces continuously bombing inside Pakistan, freedom struggle in Balochistan and Balwaristan, but we see no civil war.
Either people are coward and docile. Pakistani are converted people so may it is in genes to bow down during pressure, basically genetically coward people.

What is that something?

Naresh · 06-20-2006, 02:41 PM

QUOTE(Mudy @ Jun 20 2006, 05:53 AM)Something is there which is stopping civil war in Pakistan. May be strong hand of Army and Elite who are somehow managed to control people. Even continuous bomb blast in religious places and foreign forces continuously bombing inside Pakistan, freedom struggle in Balochistan and Balwaristan, but we see no civil war.
Either people are coward and docile. Pakistani are converted people so may it is in genes to bow down during pressure, basically genetically coward people.

What is that something?
[right][snapback]52669[/snapback][/right]

Mudy Ji :

There is a Civil War going on in Pakistan.

This is evidenced by the Various Scams being perpetrated by the Armed Forces, Traders-Feudal-Bureaucratic Combine i.e.

1. Wheat Scam.

2. Sugar Scam.

3. Pulses Scam.

4. Railway Locomotives, Passenger Carriages & Freight Wagons from China Scam.

5. Black Cab London Taxi Scam.

6. Land Scams â too numerous to list.

7. Development Funds especially for Health, Education & Welfare being routed to the Armed Forces.

8. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Since the Literacy Rate is in Single Figures â per the Minister of State for Religion â the vast majority of Pakistanis are in the same âObedient Mindsetâ as the general population in the Sub-Continent prior to Independence.

Whereas India instituted Land Reforms Pakistan has not and a such the ordinary peasant is under the Control of Feudal and Tribal Leadership whereas those in the Urban Areas are under the influence of the Religious Fundamental Fanatic Groups.

India must guard its Border with Pakistan â a well as with Bangladesh â so as to prevent further âexcrementâ from either side rushing into India at the first sight of Instability in the two Failing (if not already Failed) States!

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

Naresh · 06-20-2006, 03:05 PM

Mudy Ji :

Evidence of the âSuper Intelligent 400% Better Educated Abdul the Pakistani Bulbulâ <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' />

Sabotage & train tracks

TRAIN tracks are being sabotaged and their fish-plates are removed, causing unsafe situations. According to a recent news report, the Pakistan Railways is considering welding of the fish-plates to the tracks, eliminating this possibility.

Modern train tracks are welded together and the length of a single track is 400 metres against the current run length of 10 to 12 metres. This not only reduces maintenance but it also makes the journey smooth. In Japan bullet train Shinkansen runs on welded lines. If we replace our current train tracks with the upgraded materials, the chances of sabotage will be reduced 40 times.

S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi<!--emo& Confused

tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' />

Such is the mental capacity of the Pakistanis!

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

Naresh · 06-21-2006, 02:05 AM

Filmmakers star in Bangkok payment controversy

KARACHI: Some Pakistani film producers, especially Karachi-based ones, have been facing difficulties in engaging Bangkok-based postproduction houses that are reportedly refusing to entertain their work because of a controversy involving the failure of payments.

Pakistan Film Producers Association Chairman Saeed Rizvi has accused Mubashir Luqman, the producer and director of âPehla Pehla Pyarâ, of failing to pay Technicolor (Thailand) Limited, a Bangkok-based postproduction house. For his part though, Luqman has denied the charges and instead accused the Thai-based laboratory of failing to honour a previous commitment.

According to a letter from Technicolor studios received by Daily Times from Rizvi, Mubashir Luqman Films failed to clear outstanding dues worth close to $80,000. In the ânotice of non-paymentâ that Rizviâs office received, Technicolor has said that the negatives of the movie are still with them in their storage. The letter also said that the amount of â$79,711.41â should be cleared otherwise the company will take legal action against Mubashir Luqman films. The letter is dated April 17, 2006 and has warned that legal action will be proceeded with if the dues were not cleared by April 28, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.

âFurther, we will begin to charge you storage costs for your negatives at $500 per month from the time the first notice of completion of work until such time as payment is made and the negatives are collected from us,â the letter stated, and added that the company will dispose of the negatives if they are not collected by May 1, 2006. The letter has been addressed by Dusit Kananond, senior director sales and marketing.

When asked about this correspondence, Luqman said that he was willing to clear up any misunderstandings, provided the lab contacted him. âInitially I had approached Cinecolor laboratories for the online editing of my movie,â Luqman explained to Daily Times. âThe lab was later bought by Technicolor, which revised the rates that I had accepted with Cinecolor. Also, the new owners misplaced the sound of my movie, landing it in a fix. I had to call all the actors and dub the movie in Lahore at Farooq Studios all over again.â

Rizvi claimed that Pakistani producer Syed Noor had to approach an Indian postproduction house after the Thai authorities refused to entertain him for the postproduction work for his movie âMajajanâ. In response to this, Luqman refuted Rizviâs claims, saying that major filmmakers such as Shoaib Mansoor, Ejaz Bajwa and Shehzad Rafiq were all having their movies post-edited in Mumbai, âbecause the price there is 50 percent less than that of Bangkokâ.

Luqman said that Technicolorâs parent organisation was Thompson CSS and he would be approaching them to settle the problem. âI am sure that they have not informed Thompson. I will be approaching them with my complaint that they went back on their earlier commitment,â he said.

Ataullah Farooqui, whose company, Imaging Technologies, represents âTechnicolorâ confirmed the controversy and said that Luqman had yet to clear his dues with the parent company. âI received at my office the legal notice which I had to distribute but the date had passed by the time I got it. I will be travelling to Bangkok to clear things up for my part, but there is no solution except for Luqman clearing his dues,â he said.

âBut this is quickly becoming a community of cheats <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /> because even Ajab Gul has yet to clear his dues amounting to $18,000 for his movie âKyoun tum say hay itna pyarâ with the same studios,â Farooqui told Daily Times. âAjab was the man in charge in Bangkok but when it came to make the payments he backed away saying that he was only the director.â Farooqui claimed that the producer for the movie was Squib Khan he had not cleared their dues either. When contacted, Ajab Gul told Daily Times that the dues had been cleared on his part and the studio in Bangkok should be contacted for the matter.

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

utepian · 06-21-2006, 02:25 AM

The idiots are still making films in TECHNICOLOR? <!--emo& Confused

tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' />

Naresh · 06-21-2006, 04:31 AM

utepian :

Yes sir! After all they are P A K I S T A N I <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' />

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

Naresh · 06-21-2006, 04:53 AM

IT firm signs $0.5m deal with real estate developers

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

**acharya** · 06-21-2006, 04:54 AM

The gods are missing on Pakistani soil
Amir Mir
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 23:04 IST
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1036761

LAHORE: Of the 300 Hindu temples that Pakistan inherited at the time of partition in 1947, hardly three dozen have managed to survive in the pre-partition period, many of whom are in ruins and set to disappear with the passage of time if due attention is not paid to their maintenance by the government.

Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, over 200 temples were destroyed across Pakistan. There are about 2 million Hindus in Pakistan. The Hindu population is largest in Sindh followed by the NWFP.

The famous Temples at Katas, near Kalar Kahar, are in a dilapidated condition and require renovation. This is despite the fact that Pakistan had been already signed an agreement with India to restore the Katas temples. The temples had been falling into disrepair, and parts of them had been cemented before L K Advaniâs 2005 tour to Pakistan. One of the Katas temples had even been converted into a library.

The Katas Raj temples are located on a hill six kilometres from Choa Saidan Shah of the Chakwal district of Punjab. Katas is mentioned in the Mahabharata. According to the religious belief, both Katas and the Paskar (Ajmer) are the eyes of Shiva. Paras Nath Jogi drew his last breath in Katas.

Katas also holds great historical significance, being the place where Alberuni attempted to measure the circumference of the Earth, studied Sanskrit and wrote his âKitab-ul Hindâ.

Similarly, the Doodhwali Mata Mandir and the Sheetla Mandir in Lahore, built before the invasion of Alexander, are in dilapidated condition. The Sheetla Mandir at Lahore, built before the invasion of Alexander, has seen many of its precious idols either looted or handed over to archeological department. The Doodhwali Mata Mandir between the Shah Almi and Lahori Gate has somehow managed to survive in its dilapidated sanctum sanctorum.

The famous Parahlad Mandir and Jain Mandir near Anarkali in Lahore, which were largely damaged by fanatic Muslims after the demolition of Babri mosque in India, have been locked and an Islamic school is being run in the compound of the latter.

However, the government is not allowing local Hindus to look after their desolate temples on the pattern of Sikh gurdwaras, for unknown reasons.

Naresh · 06-21-2006, 04:54 AM

Kuwait not recruiting Pakistani workers due to drug trafficking

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

**acharya** · 06-21-2006, 05:02 AM

Profile your passengers

Air India is the national flag carrier of India. Its livery, local stewardesses attired in their national dress proudly reflect the culture of the country. Look at Thai Air. It carries more Pakistani passengers from Lahore or Karachi to Bangkok, than does PIA. It offers these passengers a choice of various connections to Singapore, Australia, Far East. This airline also has an all-Thai cabin crew. It is only British Airways which employs a few Urdu/Punjabi speaking cabin crew (British nationals) on its flights to Islamabad, to cater to the 95% passenger profile on this particular sector.
PIA is the national flag carrier of Pakistan. Its cabin crew of Pakistani origin fluently speaks English as well as the local languages. Maybe PIA needs to hire a few Kashmiri speaking girls and boys, who can make the bulk of its passengers travelling to and from UK, feel more at ease. Most of them are shy of travelling on other airlines, because they feel more at home on board the PIA. I fail to understand the logic of PIA hiring foreigners as cabin stewardesses. Why are we so apologetic about our origins, our culture and our national identity? -GULL ZEE, Paris, France, via e-mail, May 18.

**acharya** · 06-21-2006, 06:01 AM

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

COMMENT: Yashwant Sinhaâs hidden message âIjaz Hussain

The question arises why did Mr Sinha take a hawkish line on Kashmir while on a goodwill visit to Pakistan? Whatever his calculations the message for Pakistan is: India has not changed an iota on Kashmir. All the talk of demilitarisation and joint management is poppycock. Pakistan is being offered only a settlement more or less on Indiaâs terms

Yashwant Sinha, the Indian foreign minister during the last BJP government and currently an important figure in the party, is no wishy-washy politician. He is an inveterate hawk who likes to speak his mind without mincing words. His hard-hitting statements against Pakistan, particularly the one suggesting that it was more deserving of a pre-emptive military strike than Iraq bear testimony to this. On a visit to Pakistan recently he gave free expression to his uncompromising views on Kashmir, particularly in an interview on Aaj television.

One question on which Mr Sinha took issue with the interviewer was whether or not Kashmir constituted the core issue. He refused to accept the description arguing that there were no documents to show that India ever agreed to it. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office subsequently refuted his contention by pointing out that no issue other than Kashmir was specifically mentioned in the Simla Agreement for final settlement and that it was also mentioned in the Tashkent Declaration. She also said no student of Pakistan-India relations could escape the conclusion that Kashmir lies at the heart of the tension between the two countries.

Irrespective of the existence or lack of documentary proof, a formal agreement on the centrality of Kashmir would have been of no avail since India has repeatedly reneged on its word. Take the agreement on a plebiscite under UN auspices as a solution of the Kashmir imbroglio to which India, Pakistan and the international community were formally agreed by virtue of various UN resolutions. Nehru reneged on the commitment on the pretext that the circumstances had changed, though the real reason was the realisation that India could in no way win in a fair and free plebiscite. Ever since India has been in denial of these resolutions, even though the Indian position is absolutely untenable strictu sensu under Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

Some Indians have argued that the âcore issueâ formulation is no more than a semantic quarrel and that since the two countries are committed to resolving Kashmir Pakistan should stop insisting on it. They draw a parallel with the situation whereby Pakistan is deemed to have accepted the Indian formulation of calling Kashmir an âissueâ rather than a âdisputeâ in the interest of advancing negotiations on Kashmir.

This contention assumes that language is of secondary and the intention(s) of the parties of primary importance. This is a very dangerous proposition because it questions the sanctity of the written word that the Vienna Convention wisely insists on in Article 31. Otherwise too one should be circumspect for India has not only consistently tried to undermine the text of agreements with Pakistan but also approached negotiations in bad faith.

For example, the UN resolution S/3793 of 1957 describes Kashmir as a dispute but India insists on calling it an issue. India also comprehensively sabotaged negotiations under the UN auspices, forcing Owen Dixon â entrusted with preparing the ground for holding the plebiscite â to hold it responsible for the failure. Also, if the âcore issueâ formulation is just a matter of semantics why should India be so reluctant to accept it?

Mr Sinhaâs refusal to accept Kashmir as a âdisputeâ inexorably led him to observe that the latter territory was an integral part of India. This created a difficult situation for him because it implied the utter futility of the ongoing peace process of which he was one of the architects. (He was reportedly involved in the drafting of the January 6, 2004 Joint Statement). To extricate himself from it he tried to hide behind the Indian parliamentâs resolution on Kashmir calling the territory an integral part of India and seeking the restitution of Azad Kashmir from Pakistan. This meant that the current talks on Kashmir were nothing but a farce.

Mr Sinha threw a challenge to the interviewer on Pakistanâs locus standi on Kashmir â a challenge the latter did not take up. India had earlier raised this objection during the 1962 Security Council debate. Pakistanâs representative Sir Zafrulla Khanâs reply deserves to be reproduced here: âIt is argued too, on the other side, that Pakistan is no party. Pakistan is no party? Look at the agenda which the Security Council approved only today: âThe India-Pakistan Questionâ. Look at the resolutions of the Security Council: âThe dispute between India and Pakistanâ, âThe situation between India and Pakistanâ. Look at the resolutions of the Council: even with regard to the plebiscite they have said: âby the Government of India and the Government of Pakistanâ. And now it is beginning to be said... that Pakistan is not really a party to this. It is only I suppose, out of charity that we are even permitted to speak on this question.â The situation has not changed a bit since because even today Kashmir is on the Security Council agenda as âIndia-Pakistan questionâ.

On the question of the participation of Kashmiris in the peace process, Mr Sinha categorically stated that there was no place for a third chair on the table. In this connection, he recalled the Joint Statement of January 6, 2004 that envisaged a settlement of the Kashmir dispute to the satisfaction of Pakistan and India. His reluctance to see the peace process become tripartite is understandable. He knows that the moment India does so it will lose half the battle on Kashmir. Pakistanâs position possibly does not differ much from that of India. The question the two countries need to ponder is whether an imposed settlement on Kashmiris will endure.

On one occasion, the Aaj interviewer suggested that India should be more circumspect before levelling allegations against Pakistan. He cited the example of Chittisinghpora incident of 2000 when 35 Sikhs were massacred and Pakistan was blamed for it. The interviewer referred to the subsequent investigation that showed that the episode was stage-managed by the Indian intelligence agencies to tarnish Pakistanâs image at a time President Bill Clinton was visiting the subcontinent.

With a straight face, Mr Sinha denied the existence of such an investigation. This despite the fact that according to Ritu Sarin of the Indian Express the CBI investigation spread over three years showed the involvement of five army offices in killing five Kashmiri civilians in a fake encounter to protect those involved in the massacre.

Finally, the question arises why did Mr Sinha take a hawkish line on Kashmir while on a goodwill visit to Pakistan? Was he scared into it by the Advani episode (challenge to his leadership following his pro-Jinnah observations)? Perhaps it was linked to the power struggle within the BJP rather than a hawkish temperament. He might have calculated that a soft line on Pakistan could hurt his chances at home. Whatever his calculations the message for Pakistan is: India has not changed an iota on Kashmir. All the talk of demilitarisation and joint management is poppycock. Pakistan is being offered only a settlement more or less on Indiaâs terms. Take it or leave it.

North Korea left the NPT in 2003 and not in 1993 as stated in my last piece. The error is regretted. The writer is a former dean of social sciences at the Quaid-i-Azam University. He can be reached at hussain_ijaz@hotmail.com.

**acharya** · 06-21-2006, 07:28 AM

:: EDITORIAL & ANALYSIS ::

Hindus in Pakistan: A History

Sheena Patel

- There is a lack of awareness across the world about the very existence of a significant yet dwindling Hindu community in Pakistan. Presently it is estimated that Hindus make up 2% of Pakistan's population. This is at least five times the number of Hindus in Britain.

- Before the end of colonial rule in 1947, the land that was to become Pakistan had a large proportion of Hindus, accounting for over 26% of the population. The Partition of India was the biggest forced migration of people in human history, and was accompanied by large scale massacres. During this period, the population of Hindus dropped to 15% in this region.

- Even though there was heavy risk, many Hindus chose to remain in their ancestral homeland and were promised protection by the Government of Pakistan. However in practice, Hindus found it very difficult to live in Pakistan, where they were very vulnerable and often subject to persecution.

- There was a constant level of crime and harassment against Hindus in Pakistan. The constitution and legal system that was framed for the new country openly discriminated against Hindus. During periods of tension between India and Pakistan, Hindus were killed and expelled in large numbers. In 1965 a law was passed that openly incited and legitimised confiscation of Hindu property. This was called "The Enemy Property Act". Therefore the Hindu population steadily dropped.

- During 1970 and 1971, huge massacres were perpetrated upon Hindus, by the Pakistani army. A proper study into the casualty figures has never been conducted. Estimates for the number dead are up to 3 million. Millions of Hindu women were raped and kidnapped in this period. It was one of the largest massacres in recent history, and also one of the most ignored.

- In 1977, General Zia ul-Haq led a military coup in Pakistan. He introduced Islamic Law, which further excluded and marginalised Hindus.

- In 1989 and 1992 over 300 Hindu temples were destroyed. Many Hindus lost their homes. The largest outward migration of Hindus from Pakistan since Partition took place during these years.

- Unbelievable as it may seem, Hindus still exist in Pakistan, numbering over 2.5 million. The Hindu population is largest in the Sindh province, but there are Hindu communities dotted all over Pakistan. They suffer constant threats against their security, property and lives. Hindus in Pakistan have to live a very low profile existence, and have to put up with many insults to their honour and dignity. They authorities in the country rarely intervene to help Hindus, and often make matters worse. There are regular reports of kidnapping of Hindu women and children, looting of Hindu property, and other forms of discrimination, persecution and dehumanisation.

- Unfortunately the international media and human rights groups do not take much of an interest in all this. Together with the apathy of the general public around the world, this has meant that the Hindus of Pakistan remain a forgotten and voiceless people. The brutality that has been melted out to the Hindus in Pakistan knows few parallels in history.

- Until decent minded people across the world show concern for the fate of the helpless and speak out for those without a voice, there is little hope for the Hindu men, women and children who remain in Pakistan.

Naresh · 06-21-2006, 01:57 PM

Pakistan will soon witness a revolution : Altaf

KARACHI: Despite conspiracies by exploiters and feudals in Punjab, none can stop the poor and the middle classes from bringing a revolution the country was awaiting since long.

âIt (revolution) is knocking at the door and is bound to come very soon,â Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain said this while addressing the partyâs district committee members of Lahore and Gujranwala, separately.

The MQM had been fighting from the day one the case of the exploited classes, which had suffered hardships and underwent numerous difficulties, he said.

âIt brought the poor and the oppressed at par with the rich and the powerful sections of society, gave them a voice to fight for their rights and was grateful to Allah Almighty for giving the courage to its members to remain firm on their principles,â he added.

Altaf said that the military operation of June 19, 1992, was so oppressive in nature that it could have broken the spirit of the most of the determined people, but they braved the odds to set an example for others.

âMQM supporters are not only in Sindh but in Punjab as well. They were betrayed by the PPP in the name of Roti, Kapra aur Makan. They were again cheated when Nawaz Sharif filled his own coffers rather than helping the poor. The people of Punjab had been through this game and were no more ready to be taken for a ride now,â he added.

Altaf said the feudals were frightened with the increasing popularity of MQM in Punjab and were busy spinning conspiracies, adding, but nothing of the sort would succeed now.

He criticised the attack on MQM party offices in Punjab by the vested interests and Jamat-i-Islami and advised the workers to be patient and face the problems with fortitude, said a press release.

Another press release said that Fatima Jinnah Development Council had conferred an award on a great social service personality in Manshera and Abbotabad on Tuesday.

The citation eulogised his services for the earthquake victims of the area. Speaking at a special ceremony in Mansehra, Deputy Convener of Rabita Committee Dr Farooq Sattar said that selfless services rendered by the MQM in disaster-hit areas had negated the entire propaganda against MQM by the so-called political and religious organizations.

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />

06-21-2006, 07:26 PM

QUOTEPakistan will soon witness a revolution : Altaf
No chance, very different community, they will never rise. Always ruled by dictator, they have slave mentality.

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