<b>Where Is Osama Bin Laden? </b>
http://abcnews.go.com/International/stor...569&page=1
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"It's like letting the fox guard the chicken coup," said a frustrated U.S. official. "We will never find Osama until the ISI wants us to
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Posted Monday, Jan. 5, 1948
<b>Recessional</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Technically, Waziristan is a country. It is also the scene of one of Britain's most dogged (and futile) essays in civilization. A ragged parallelogram of 5,200 square miles of barren territory, it is tucked away at the southwest corner of the North West Frontier, at a point where the Punjab and Kashmir reach out toward Afghanistan and Baluchistan. It is inhabited by various tribes who, finding their land too poor for a decent standard of living, have for years supported themselves by raids on their less impoverished neighbors .
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09-11-2006, 08:46 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-11-2006, 08:50 PM by Bodhi.)
Benazir Bhutto...ex-PM of Pakistan, at her birthday bash in dubai...
from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto
<img src='http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/dd/Benazir_Birthday.jpg/200px-Benazir_Birthday.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Also some quotes of hers listed on wikipedia, say:
"Women are superior, a man can give pleasure to only one woman perhaps two women at a time. A woman on the other hand can give pleasure upto five men at a time."
"Ships are always safe standing in the harbor, but that's not what ships are made for."
Wikipedia page is hijacked by her opponents or is above true???
Nice legs. <!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Pak sees Taliban as tool to curb Indian influence: US official</b>
<i>New York, Sept. 11, 2006: Pakistan has largely turned a blind eye to Taliban activities because it sees the group as a tool to counter growing Indian influence in Afghanistan, American officials said.
The Pakistanis have viewed a friendly Afghanistan as critical to their survival and fears India may be trying to encircle their country, an article in The New York Times quoted the officials as saying </i>
..........
<b>Special US unit can enter Pakistan at will to hunt Osama</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: <b>A special US unit now has the authority to go after Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan without having to seek permission first, according to two US officials.</b>
A comprehensive report on the hunt for bin Laden run by the Washington Post on Sunday says that Lieutenant General Stanley A McChrystal, the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) operates on the understanding with Pakistan that US units will not enter Pakistan, except under extreme circumstances, and that Pakistan will deny giving them permission.
<b>This is what happened in January 2006, when the JSOC troops clandestinely entered the village of Saidgai, two officials familiar with the operation said, and Pakistan protested.
âThe authority,â one knowledgeable person said, âfollows the targetâ: if the target is bin Laden, the stakes are high enough for McChrystal to decide any action on his own. </b>
The JSOC has been given more resources from the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies. President Bush recently directed the team to âflood the zoneâ or intensify the search for bin Laden. The resources of the special group in terms of personnel and materials were also increased. However, no one is certain where the âzoneâ is.
Gary Berntsen, the former CIA officer who led the first and last hunt for bin Laden at Tora Bora in December 2001, told the Post, âThis could all end tomorrow.â One unsolicited walk-in, one tribesman seeking to collect the $25 million reward, one courier who would rather his kids grow up in the US, one dealmaker, âand this could all change,â he said.
A senior Pakistani intelligence official told the newspaper, âFor technical intelligence ISI works hand in hand with the NSA (National Security Agency). The US assistance in building Pakistanâs capabilities for technical intelligence since 9/11 is superb.â
Since early 2002, the US is said to have stationed a small number of NSA and CIA personnel near where bin Laden may be hiding. They are embedded with counter terrorism units of the Pakistan armyâs elite Special Services Group, according to senior Pakistani intelligence officials. The NSA and other specialists collect imagery and electronic intercepts that their CIA counterparts then share with the Pakistani units in the tribal areas and with Balochistan. But even with sophisticated technology, the local geography presents formidable obstacles.
The army lost its best source of intelligence in 2004, after it began raids inside the tribal areas. Scouts with blood ties to the tribes ceased sharing information for fear of retaliation. The report says: âPakistani and US counter terrorism and military officials admit that Pakistan has now all but stopped looking for bin Laden<b>. âThe dirty little secret is, they have nothing, no operations, without the Pakis,â one former counter terrorism officer saidâ. </b>
Last weekâs truce with the Taliban that calls on the insurgent Afghan group to end armed attacks inside Pakistan and to stop crossing into Afghanistan to fight the government and international troops has created unease in Washington.
According to the Post, âPakistan will permit only small numbers of US forces to operate with its troops at times and, because their role is so sensitive politically, it officially denies any US presence. A frequent complaint from US troops is that they have too little to do. The same complaint is also heard from US forces in Afghanistan, where there were few targets to go after.â McChrystal has become the de facto leader of the hunt for bin Laden and developed a good working relationship with the CIA. He asks for targets from the CIA, and it tries to comply.
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Bush Bonanza: US likely to announce substantial discount to PAk in F-16 deal
<b>Bush bonanza: US likely to announce substantial discount to Pak in F-16 deal </b>
PTI
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 14:35 IST
ISLAMABAD: US President George W Bush plans to announce a "substantial discount" on the $5 billion deal to sell F-16s to Pakistan during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Washington as a gesture of approval of his handling of the war on terror, a media report said on Tuesday.
<b>Bikini takes Pak assembly by storm</b>
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/artic...988021.cms
ISLAMABAD: A member of the Islamist alliance in Pakistan failed to agitate the issue of a Pakistan-born American girl in bikini in the National Assembly, but did arouse the interest of many legislators in her "shameful" photograph, the Daily Times reported on Wednesday.
<!--emo& --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.bizbrowse.com/UrduDiegest/Urdu/bikini/bikini2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Imported poultry feed contained pork, NA told</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo--> [/center]
<b>ISLAMABAD : Minister for Finance Omar Ayub Khan made a stunning disclosure in the National Assembly here on Wednesday when he said that 137 containers of poultry feed containing pork were imported into the country.
The minister said the consignments came through the Karachi Port, Bin Qasim Port and Lahore Dry Port in December 2005.
Though the minister did not give the exact figures, but formally confirmed that at least 137 containers of the feed containing pork had arrived at these ports.</b>
MNA Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha had asked the minister whether it was fact that 35 containers of imported poultry feed, which contained pork, were confiscated by customs authorities in December 2005 and if so the disposal of the said feed.
Replying to the question, Omar Ayub said it was true that 137 containers, said to contain organic fertilisers and plant growth regulators, were imported at Karachi Port, Port Mohammad Bin Qasim and Lahore Dry Port. He said at the time of examinations, samples were drawn from the imported consignments and sent to the PCSIR laboratories for testing. He said on the basis of these test reports, which confirmed the presence of pork contents, the containers were confiscated by the customs authorities.
Replying to the second part of the question, the minister said importers of these confiscated consignments have filed appeals against the confiscation orders.
He said 56 containers were confiscated by Port Qasim authorities. Likewise, appeals against them have been rejected. Omar said appeals against 45 containers confiscated by the Appraisement Collectorate are sub judice at the appellate forum. He said Lahore Collectorate has confiscated 36 containers. There is still a time to file appeals against this confiscation, he added.
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Imported poultry feed contained pork, NA toldÂ
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now all Pakis are kufir.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->THE FRIDAY TIMES : 15-21 SEPTEMBER 2006
<b>SUCH GUP</b>
<b>To tell the truth</b>
One evening last week, one of Pakistanâs most eminent and outspoken rights campaigners, <b>Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, tested the limits of media free</b>dom. A local television channel had asked him to be one of their guests for a live programme on Defence Day, September 6 1965, when the Indo-Pakistan war ended in a stalemate and ceasefire brokered by the international community. Of course, it is billed as our khakisâ great moment of glory, possibly because the two other conflicts that followed in 1971 and 1999 were such ignominious routs.
But back to the programme -- also on the panel with Dr Hoodbhoy were a retired general and a retired air marshal from Karachi and a former ambassador from Islamabad. The generals waxed eloquent about the importance of 1965, the power, strength, etc. of the khakis until Dr Hoodbhoy got his first chance to speak or, rather, launch a broadside. So he asked why they didn't talk about the <b>loss of East Pakistan in 1971, Kargil in 1999,</b> and the many years in between when âtheir glorious army has been throwing bombs and machine gunning the Pakistani population in places like Balochistan and Waziristan, and the only war it has won has been against our own people?â to quote Dr H.
The anchor kept interrupting Dr Hoodbhoy but he fended him off until it appeared useless and then Dr H threw off the microphone and walked off the set. The link to Karachi, where the anchor was based with the two military men, mysteriously broke so Dr H wasnât aware whether his walkout was visible to viewers.
Anyhow, by the time Dr Hoodbhoy reached the elevator outside, a bunch of the TV crew came running after him to persuade him that he should return and complete what he had been saying. They said they liked very much what he was saying and that they knew exactly what the khakis had done to Pakistan. So Dr H did go back. The anchorman, thinking he was on safer ground, eventually returned to Dr H and asked about the economy. So Dr H launched a second broadside about the army having eaten Pakistan out of the house and home, having become real estate sharks, forcibly capturing industries. He ended by saying:<b> âfauj ka kam mulk ka difaa karna hai, cheenee aur dalia banana nahin hai - yeh ploton aur murrabon ka karobar chhor dainâ</b>. The compere had another panic attack and cut Dr H off once again and launched into panegyrics of the great sacrifices rendered by the Pakistan army for the sake of the fatherland.
When asked to confirm the above episode, Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy did so and sent us his last word:<b> âThis country lives in terror of its occupiers... the truth has to be toldâ. </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gem from FT.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Corruption at mazaar</b>
According to daily Jang, the Indian waqf Board has seized the donation boxes at the mausoleum of Hazrat Nizam-ud-din Aulia. The board has accused the caretakers of mazaar of corruption and lining their pockets with devoteesâ money.
<b>Conspiracy against Muslim Ummah</b>
According to Daily Pakistan, famous lawyer MD Tahir has sent a legal notice of fifty million rupees in damages to âArmed Force Journalâ in America. He asked the editor of the journal to apologize in one month or face legal case of defamation. He said the map of Muslim world printed in the magazine was a conspiracy. He asked how Americans would feel if America is shown as divided into 500 states or the boundaries of France, Germany or Britain are changed.
<b>Jamaat Islami killed Akbar Bugti</b>
As quoted in daily Khabrain, members of MQM in National Assembly accused Jamaat Islami for plotting to kill Akbar Bugti.The members said Chaudhry Shujaat and Mohammad Ali Durrani had said that the operation was done on the request of the Balochistan government. Since Jamaat Islami is part of the Balochistan government, and army action was done at the request of Balochistan government, JI is responsible of the killing of Akbar Bugti. They said Jamaat Islami was always against the provincial autonomy. Jamaat Islami created Al badr and Al shams to kill Bengalis. They also killed Sindhis, Balochis and Mohajirs who wanted autonomy rights. If JI is against the army operation in Balochistan and NWFP, why are they still part of the government?
Private security for Badshahi mosque
According to daily Khabrain, the Auqaf Department has hired the services of a security company to protect the sacred relics at Badshahi mosque. The private company has bought equipment worth six million rupees that includes sixteen movie cameras and metal detectors. The department said it hired security to protect 400 mosques and 400 mausoleums. <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>These steps are taken after thieves stole the sacred shoes (naulen mubarrak) of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). </span>
<b>Dr Qadeerâs cancer and Nishan e Imtiaz</b>
Columnist Hamid Mir wrote in daily Jang, that he saw Nawaz Sharrif as Prime Minister worried before nuclear explosions. Next day he wrote about it in his column, that some one in Pakistan is also against the nuclear explosions other than America. Dr Qadeer invited the columnist to his house for tea, but didnât tell him the name of anti-explosion personality. After the explosion Dr Qadeerâs name was curiously missing from the congratulatory banners in Islamabad. There was certain lobby that was active against Dr Qadeer. Now Dr Qadeer is under custody without any case against him in any Pakistani court. Great nations donât treat their heroes like we are treating Dr Qadeer.
<b>Saviour of Pakistan after Jinnah</b>
Sarerahe said in daily Nawa-i-Waqt, that nuclear scientist Dr Qadeer has sent a card to Qazi Hussain Ahmad and thanked all opposition leaders. He wrote a couplet that he chose to be written on his tombstone after his death from cancer. Sarerahi said it is sad to see someone who has saved us from graves is writing couplets for his own grave. The whole nation is praying for his health. His eternal life is already written in front of God almighty. God is always sending people to save Pakistan. After Quaid-e-Azam, Dr Qadeer was assigned the task of saving Pakistan. <!--emo& --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Akbar Bugti committed suicide!</b>
According to daily Khabrain, ex-Director General of ISI Lft Gen (Retd) Asad Durrani stated that Akbar Bugti died of suicide. The tribal sardars make arrangements that they be remembered as a great personality in history. If Akbar Bugti was buried quietly as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, it would have created more problems. <!--emo& --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Insurance policy is haram</b>
As reported in daily Nawa-i-Waqt, the Darul alum Deoband has issued fatwa that buying insurance policy is haram for Muslims. The chairman of its board, Mohammad Zafiruddin, declared interest on bank deposits against the sharia. While shia personal law board chairman, Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar said that Insurance policy and interest on bank deposits is not haram for Shais, if they gave zakat from this money.
Death for US spies
As reported in Nawa-i-waqt, the administration in North Waziristan found two bodies of Afghans with their heads cut off. They were found with two notes that said they were killed for spying for the Americans. The Afghans were residents of North Waziristan, and were identified as Haq Nawaz and Noor Wali. The local Taliban had threatened to kill anyone found spying for US.
<b>Punjabis killed in Balochistan</b>
Renowned columnist Arshad Ahmad Haqqani wrote in daily Jang that ill-treatment of Punjabis at the hand of Baloch nationalists has been a cause of concern for him for some time. He said a student hasdsent a letter to inform him of bad treatment meted out to Punjabis. The letter said that some unidentified men stopped a bus on its way to Punjab. The gunmen shot three laborers from Punjab. The letter also alleged that the principal of Mastung Cadet College was killed in his house by the Baloch nationalists.Â
<b>Rape be allowed in marriage</b>
According to Sarerahe in daily Nawa-i-Waqt, member National Assembly Kashmala Tariq said that sex without consent in marriage should be punished as rape. Sarerahe said all wives are not as beautiful as Kashmala, but when that happens, husband has to bear the consequences. Kashmala has strange logic to find rape (haram) in marriage (halal). <!--emo&  --><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo--> Even the religious fundamentalist would agree that there should be no force in marriage but calling it rape is offence against those who are really raped by powerful and rich men of Pakistan
<b>Idols stolen from a temple in India</b>
As reported in daily Jang, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, thieves took away three priceless statues of Ram and Sita worth millions of rupees. These statues were from a 15th century temple.
<b>Sacred warriors of Islam</b>
As reported in daily Khabrain, Lashkar e Islami and Ansarul Islam have started fighting again and lost five warriors. It all started to regain the control over some bunkers in the remote area of Tirah in Khyber agency. The head of Lashkar e Islami, Manga Bagh Afridi has reached Tirah. Fifty people have already died in this war. Political administration has deployed Frontier Constabulary at key positions in Khyber Agency.
<b>Vande Matram must for Indian Madrassahs</b>
As reported in daily Jang, BJP has announced that all students of education institutions including Islamic Madrassahs have to read Vande matram along with national anthem. Muslim leaders say Vande matram was written in Sanskrit by a Bengali poet for Hindu goddesses. BJP said it would enforce singing of Vande Matram in states where they have BJP controlled governments.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>[center]<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>The Pakistan Connection</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->[/center]
<b><i>Though Pakistani security sources claim that the plan to blow up airliners over the Atlantic was a home-grown British plot, a sms originating from Lahore and ties to the shadowy Al-Jihad group make Pakistan's involvement indisputable.</i></b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Don't know who the author is and don't have any link but I will see if I can get it:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Solution to Balochistan : All Baloch convert to Hinduism
Baluchis are a fierce tribe. They are never subdued in their entire
history except in the last 50 years where they were made slaves of
Punjabis in the name of Pakistan.
Right now, it is fair to say that they are slaves of Punjabis. Their
land is not theirs. They cannot speak in their language in assembly.
If they speak in Baluchi language in "Pakistani parliament" the mike
would be switched off and they will be forced to speak in Urdu.
When all the tribal leaders were opposed to the merger of Balochistan
into Pakistan, only Akbar Khan Bugti put faith in Pakistan and was a
prime mover in Balochistan' s integration with Pakistan.
And Pakistan has paid its thanks to Bugti in the language only
Punjabis can understand.
Now all the tribes and clans of Balochistan are opposed to Pakistan.
They want freedom from Pakistan. But how to get it?
There are two ways for it.
One is the old way.
In this way, the Baluchis need to become gurilla fighters and take on
the might of the Pakistan army. It may result in freedom from Pakistan
or it may die down when all the Baluchi fighters are killed. All those
great fighters would die with the dream of free Balochistan which may
never be fulfilled. There are many such struggles going on all over
the world which are producing nothing but deaths for the youth.
Generations of children are wasted and death by massive military
machines are destroying the future for the youngsters. Rebellion
would be ruthlessly crushed by the might of Pakistani military machine
that is been constantly fed by the money that is produced in
Balochistan. We might lose around 60000 youngsters before reaching any
agreement with Pakistani army. Yet, there is no guarantee that there
will be free Balochistan. To our sadness, we might even see that the
entire baluchi tribes are wiped off the face of earth by this rebellion.
But there is another way. That is the peaceful way, but will surely
result in free Balochistan.
This is not the way of Gandhi. If Gandhi would appear in Balochistan,
Pakistan army would not think twice before shooting Gandhi in a point
blank and move on. Pakistani army would not respect Gandhi like
British did. That is not the peaceful way I am suggesting.
The way I suggest may make you uncomfortable and not willing to take
the leap. But in my opinion, it is much more preferable than the death.
The peaceful way is to become Hindus.
The entire edifice of Pakistan is built on the concept of Islamic
nation. The four provinces are tied together in the name of pakistan
because of Islam.
If entire population of Balochistan declares themselves as Hindus,
what right pakistan has over Balochistan?
It is not one person converting to Hinduism. It has to be entire
Balochistan converting to Hinduism. If entire Balochistan become
Hindu, then immediately Pakistan loses the reason for Balochistan to
be part of Pakistan. If few Baluchis convert to Hinduism, they would
be arrested and tried in Blasphemy courts. So the tribal leaders
should decide beforehand and announce together that entire Balochistan
adopting Hinduism. Then Pakistani govt cannot arrest entire
Balochistan, can they? If all the people of Angaria,
Baloch, Barija, Bhutani, Bhutta, Bizenjo, Brahmani, Bugti, Buledi,
Burfat, Buzdar, Domki, Jadgal, Gabol, Gichki, Gola, Hasni, Hoti, Jam,
Jamali, Jamoot, Jamote, Jattak, Kalmati, Kalpar, Kansi, Khetran, Khosa,
Kolachi, Lari, Lashari, Lasi, Leghari, Magsi, Marri, Masuri, Mengal,
Nausherwani, Nothazai, Regi,Rahija Raisani, Rind, Sanjrani, Sasooli,
Shambhani, Talpur, Umrani, Wadhela, Zardari tribal leaders get
together and decide to convert to Hinduism, what can Punjabis do?
If we declare ourselves as Hindus, then Punjabis can do nothing about
it. We are not declaring a war on Pakistan militarily. But we are
declaring a war on Pakistan and its concept. Pakistan has no option
other than to leave Balochistan. Without lifting a single rifle, we
would attack pakistan in a way which destroy pakistan in a way
unimaginable. Since the entire concept of pakistan is built on
anti-Hindu and anti-India mentality, nothing would devastate Pakistan
like Balochistan converting to Hinduism. Punjabis would seeth in
anger, they would call us traiters and infidels. But, they can do
nothing about it. Punjabis can tolerate if Balochistan becomes
Christian or Buddist. If we become Christian, then Pakistan would
treat us like people of the book and continue to rule over us. But
they can never tolerate and accept if Balochistan becomes Hindu. That
is where it should hurt. The enemy is not punjabi. The enemy is the
concept of Pakistan. Once we destroy the concept of Pakistan, the
freedom is automatic. Once this is done, the whole edifice of Pakistan
would fall flat.
If entire population of Balochistan leave Islam and become Hindus,
then it would become a major world news. Then India and the world
would take notice. Then the oppression of Balochistan under Pakistani
punjabi rule would become a world issue.
If Pakistan needs to hold on to Balochistan, then it has to declare
itself as secular nation which it can never do.
Punjabis are asking for Kashmir because it has Muslim majority. If
that is the case, what right they will have if Balochistan become
Hindu? India has many regions that are muslim majority and some
regions that are Christian majority. That is why India is a secular
nation. But Pakistan prides itself as the Islamic nation. All the
regions have Muslim majority. If Balochistan becomes Hindu, then the
entire Pakistan collapses.
Let me make another thing clear. I dont suggest that all the Baluchis
should be Hindus for eternity. Hinduism does not have blasphemy laws.
Once the free Balochistan is achieved, then we can make this as a
secular nation where people can follow any religion including Islam.
Free Balochistan! <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
09-19-2006, 01:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-19-2006, 01:12 PM by Naresh.)
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Transparency says Musharraf regime more corrupt than BB, Nawaz Governments</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->[/center]
<b>NEW YORK : The present government is more corrupt than the two earlier governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif according to a survey conducted by the Pakistan chapter of Transparency International</b>
The corruption watchdogâs 2006 report on Pakistan, based on a sample of 4,000 urban and semi-urban citizens in all four provinces, only 10 percent of those questioned said that the first Nawaz Sharif government (1990-93) was corrupt, but 34 percent thought the second (1996-99) was corrupt.
While assessing the Benazir Bhutto government in its first term (1988-90), only 8 percent saw it as corrupt, but her second term in office (1993-96) was seen as corrupt by 48 percent of those sampled.
<b>Asked about the present government, 33 percent of the respondents thought that it was corrupt in 1999-2002, but when asked to assess the period 2002-06, more than 67 percent thought it was corrupt.</b>
Questioned about corruption in government departments, the respondents were of the opinion that in per capital terms, citizens had to pay higher bribes to customs, followed by the land department, judiciary, taxation, banking, power, education, health, police and railways.
The causes of corruption were identified as low salaries, discretionary powers, influential people, lack of transparency, lack of choice and monopolies, red tape and shortages in demand and supply.
<b>Asked as to which were the most corrupt sectors in the country, 64 percent named police, followed by power, judiciary, land, taxation, custom, health, education, railway and banking.</b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Pakistan sustains US $27.43 Billion loss in two years</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->[/center]
<b>LAHORE â Pakistan has sustained a huge loss of 27.43 billion dollars in last two financial years in the shape of trade deficit and fiscal deficit. Details obtained by The Nation showed that this financial loss stands at 1645.80 billion in local currency during financial years 2004-05 and 2005-06, when calculated at dollar-rupee exchange rate of 60 rupees</b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>PAKISTAN CONQUERS NEWSWEEK</b>
Forum Members are requested to write a Letter to the Editor of Newseek Cancelling their Subscription! <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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"Acceptable" Kashmir solution within reach : Pak Prez
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Source: IANS
Image Source: AFP
United Nations: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf told the United Nations General Assembly that "an acceptable solution" to the Kashmir issue was now within reach, thanks largely to improved relations with India.
His meeting last week with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana, on the sidelines of the NAM Summit, would help to promote the peace process in Kashmir, he said on Tuesday in his address to the Assembly's 61st session.
Pakistan desires a peaceful environment in the region and was engaged in a peace process with India, aimed at confidence building and resolving issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, that has been the source of tension and conflict between the two countries in the past, Musharraf said.
Improved relations and a conducive international environment, had brought an acceptable solution of this longstanding dispute within reach, he said.
"I am confident that my positive meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Havana will help to carry forward the peace process which is vital for the future of both countries and for peace in South Asia and beyond," he added.
On the nuclear issue, Musharraf said Pakistan had a legitimate requirement for nuclear power generation to meet the energy needs of its expanding economy and industry.
As a "responsible" nuclear state, it would continue to seek nuclear technology for power generation under strict International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, he said.
However, he said, "We cannot accept discrimination in the nuclear field," Musharraf said in an oblique reference to denial of an India-type nuclear deal by Washington.
A stable security environment is also important for peace in our region. Pakistan has proposed the creation of a Strategic Restraint Regime in South Asia, encompassing minimum nuclear deterrence and a balance of conventional forces, he said.
"We do not want to enter into an arms race. But we will do whatever is necessary to preserve the credibility of our minimum defensive deterrence level," Musharraf declared.
On the issue of terrorism, he said terrorism and extremism would continue to attract alienated Muslims until "the foreign occupation and suppression of Muslim peoples ended."
Military interventions and old conflicts "have spawned a deep sense of desperation and injustice" across the Muslim world, Musharraf added.
"Each new battleground involving an Islamic state has served as a new breeding ground for extremists and terrorists. Indiscriminate bombings, civilian casualties, torture, human rights abuses, racial slurs and discrimination only add to the challenge of defeating terrorism," he said.
The Pakistani leader called for a two-pronged strategy of "enlightened moderation" so that terrorism is tackled head on while at the same time the international community strives to resolve conflicts in the Islamic world.
"We also need to bridge, through dialogue and understanding, the growing divide between the Islamic and Western worlds. In particular, it is imperative to end racial and religious discrimination against Muslims and to prohibit the defamation of Islam. It is most disappointing to see personalities of high standing oblivious of Muslim sensitivities at these critical moments."
The unfortunate history of the region has placed Pakistan in the frontline of the global campaign against terrorism, he said.
"We cooperate daily with many countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. Our cooperation has pre-empted several terrorist plots, such as the one uncovered recently to blow up airliners flying from London," Musharraf said.
Over the past five years, al Qaeda has been significantly degraded as an organisation in the region, he claimed.
On Iran, Musharraf said the confrontation over Iran's nuclear programme threatened further instability in this already inflamed region. But he believed that the issue could be resolved peacefully in a manner that accommodated the legitimate rights and interests of all the parties involved.
Resorting to coercion and, worse, the use of force, could lead to grave consequences in the region and globally, he warned.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Pakistan won't hear of India's most wanted </b>
PTI | New Delhi
Pakistan would not discuss India's list of most wanted persons, including Dawood Ibrahim, under the proposed joint institutional mechanism on anti-terrorism, High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan has said.
In an interview to CNN-IBN, Khan said Indian requests for intelligence on terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and LeT head Hafeez Mohammad Sayeed would "not be entertained via this mechanism", according to a release by the news channel.
However<b>, he said the anti-terror mechanism could work well "if both sides wanted it to work", </b>the release said.
The decision to set up the mechanism was the most significant outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Havana last week.
Asked about the possibility of Presidential pardon for Sarabjit Singh, sentenced to death in Pakistan in a bomb blast case, the Pakistani envoy wondered why "sudden interest has developed in his case at the last minute".
<b>He claimed Jamat-ud-Dawa, the political wing of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT), was "a charitable organisation involved in charitable work". </b>While Pakistan had banned terrorist outfits<b> "there was no reason to ban Jamaat-ud-Dawa,</b> he added.
On Kashmir, he said the final solution was<b> "almost there to grab and as far as I am concerned, only four weeks away. What is required is for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf to sit and take a decision". </b>
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