Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-Jan 24, 2016

[Prem]

^^^
WRT these two videos by jujhar ji & me, and many others about Gilgit Baltistan all demanding freedom from Pakistan, the Pakjabis won't last another 10 years.
In all past instances of indo-pak conflicts, the Pakistani fauj has taken matters into their own hands and tried a military misadventure.I also think Pak military has currently staged a defacto coup.
Its not dejure as that would cut off all US aid.This military non-coup is with US state dept blessing.

With current trade trend , Paki will require in tune of additional 10-15 Billion a year Khairat to survive . From 2020-2030 ,Pakistan will be 250$ aid Moth Munched Munni . Which country will have that much spare change to enjoy Paki Mujra?

[RCase]

^^^
CPEC will turn Pakistan into a land of milk and honey. Remember the Chinese are 'giving' $46B. (Or will Tarrel Deepel fliend milk Pakiland dry?)

[vaibhav.n]

Okara erupts again; protests against the Porky Army in Punjab

Aproximately 68,000 acres of state-owned agricultural land in Punjab are now the site of the most significant popular protest movement that Pakistan has witnessed in recent times.Spread out over ten districts, this land is tilled by the almost one million descendants of migrants settled in the area by the British Raj a century ago.

The problems in the affected districts result from a straightforward disagreement.Traditionally, farmers have been sharecroppers, handing over part of their produce as rent to the military, which acts as landlord through military-run farms.In 2000, the military unilaterally tried to change the rules, demanding that the farmers sign new rental contracts requiring them to pay rent in cash.The farmers have refused, fearing that cash rents would, when times were lean, place them at risk of being evicted from land that their families have lived on for generations.Instead, as the situation has grown more polarized, they have begun demanding outright ownership of the land.

This disputeover some of Pakistan's most fertile landhas led to an extraordinarily tense standoff between the Pakistani army, paramilitary and police forces, and the tenant farmers.Since 2002, tenant farmers resisting efforts by the military to undercut their legal rights to the land-especially those from the movement's epicenter in the Okara district, where the military claims to own at least 17,000 acres and where farmers are in direct confrontation with military authorities-have been subjected to a campaign of killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, "forced divorces," and summary dismissals from employment.Twice, paramilitary forces literally besieged villages in the area of dispute, preventing people, food and public services from entering or leaving for extended periods of time.

Background:https://www.hrw.org/report/2004/07/20/s ... #pq=7iv8tm

http://www.dawn.com/news/1117385

[SSridhar]

Okara erupts again; protests against the Porky Army in Punjab

Land is a very important component of the Pakistani military, especially the Pakistani Army. After the 1857 Second War of Independence by Indian soldiers, the British wanted a more dependable Army and used the award of huge tracts of lands as a bait for buying in loyalty. The Muslims of West Punjab, who played a large part in putting down the War in 1857, were rewarded by the British with lands and recruitment in the Army. That tradition continues. Pakistani military officers get one 'vacant plot' after 15 years of service, a second one after 25, a third one after 28 years and a fourth one after 33 years of service each worth more than 15 million rupees in the open market.

Ayesha Siddiqa writes that out of the 11.58 million acres of land controlled by the Pakistan armed forces, an estimated 6.9 million acres, or 59 percent of the total land, lies in rural areas. She writes that around 70,000 acres are controlled directly by the military for operational purposes, such as camping grounds and dairy farms, while 35,000 acres are controlled by the Army Welfare Trust, the Fauji Foundation and the Bahria Foundation. A whopping 6.8 million acres are owned by individual members of the armed forces. They convert the usage of state land from official to private purposes. Farmland has been converted into land for laying golf courses or residential housing schemes. Agricultural land is regularly transferred from provincial governments to the Ministry of Defence, which is finally responsible for dividing the total land acquired at a given time amongst the three services, which then redistribute it among their individual members. This British-inherited system was fine-tuned during the Ayub regime. “The mass distribution of land through military awards has created a class of military agriculturalists.” Land entitlement varies from 240 acres for generals to 100 acres from lieutenants to majors to 32 acres for non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Many officers receive more than one urban plot of land. Gen Pervez Musharraf bought farmland in Islamabad for Rs 40 million and a former DG ISI made Rs 100 million through the sale of his farmland. The military remains a major stakeholder in real estate.

Of course, 'land entitlement' is not the only way the miltary makes 'some' extra income. From a list placed before the National Assembly:

Fauji Foundation runs: Fauji Sugar Mills, (more than one), Fauji Cereal, Fauji Corn Complex, FONGAS (Natural gas supply company), Fauji Poly Propylene Products, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Fauji Jordan Company, Fauji Cement, Fauji Oil Terminal Company Project (FOTCO), Fauji Kabirwala Power Company Limited. Army Welfare Trust: Askari Stud Farms, Askari Farms, Askari Welfare Rice Mill, Askari Welfare Sugar Mill, Askari Fish Farm, Askari Cement (more than one plant), Askari Welfare Pharmaceutical Project, Magnesite Refineries Limited, Army Welfare Shoe Project, Army Welfare Woollen Mill, Army Welfare Hosiery Unit, Travel Agencies, AWT Commercial Plazas, Army Welfare Shops, Army Welfare Commercial Project, Askari Commercial Bank, Askari Leasing Limited, Askari General Insurance Company, Askari Welfare Saving Scheme, Askari Associate Limited, Askari Information Service, Askari Guards Limited, Askari Power Limited, Askari Commercial Enterprises, Askari Aviation, Askari Housing Schemes (at several locations)

Then there is Shaheen Foundation and Bahria Foundation of the Air Force and the Navy respectively.

All in all, a fantastic enterprise is this Pakistani armed forces. Tell me now, why they should collude with the IS who will take all these away from them (and enjoy themselves in the bargain)?

[Aditya_V]

There is no fertile land left right, so if Paki Fauji is given land, it is taken from someone else right?

[SSridhar]

* BREAKING NEWS *
Gen Raheel dismisses 12 army officers from service over 'corruption'

In an unprecedented move, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif dismissed 12 army officers from service over alleged corruption on Thursday.

Five brigadiers, three colonels and a major general are among those dismissed by the army chief, military sources told DawnNews.

Sources say the following officers are among those dismissed:

Lt Gen Obaidullah, Inspector General Arms and Weapons at General Headquarters
Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid
Brigadier Rasheed
Brigadier Asad Shahzada
Brigadier Saifullah
Brigadier Amir
Lt Col Haider, Commandant Chaman Scouts
Maj Najeeb

The eight officers named above served with the Frontier Corps Balochistan and have been charged for corruption during their service with the paramilitary force. The others dismissed were junior commission officers who worked with those named above, said an intelligence official speaking to DawnNews on condition of anonymity.

Following the investigation conducted by Adjutant Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat on the orders of the army chief, the charged officers were asked to return all earnings accumulated through corruption, the official said, adding that all perks and privileges had been withdrawn from the officers except their pensions.

There has been no official confirmation regarding the move.

The development comes two days after the COAS said "across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan", adding that the war against terror cannot be won unless "the menace of corruption is uprooted".

Gen Raheel said "Pakistan’s Armed Forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction which would ensure a better future for our next generations."

The army chief's call for across-the-board accountability comes as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is embroiled in the explosive Panama Papers which count his family among other global political elite with undeclared offshore assets.

Opposition leaders have demanded a probe into the scandal, with some calling for the PM to step down.

Quarters close to the PM’s Office say PM Nawaz is determined to have his three children cleared of accusations of money laundering and tax evasion in the aftermath of Panama Papers leak.

Gen. Raheel is angling for the dismissal or stepping-down of Nawaz with his action against these Army officers. Otherwise, Brigade 111 is well-poised to strike.

Imran & Qadri will rise in chorus now. The Nawaz goose is cooked. Will he end up in Adiala?

[Peregrine]

Afghanistan losing interest in trade links with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Afghan authorities appear to have lost interest in pushing forward any trade related agreements with Pakistan with the alternative route via Iran close to being finalised.

Last week, on April 11, Iran, Afghanistan and India finished negotiating the details of the trilateral transport and transit pact, meant to provide legal framework to operate trade corridors via Iran’s Chabahar port.

This development could possibly downgrade Pakistan’s importance from being the primary facilitator of India-Afghanistan trade to a mere back-up. This means that Pakistan has potentially lost a great opportunity to build strategic trade ties with regional economies.

Officials in the Ministry of Commerce told The Express Tribune that Afghan authorities were slower in responding to the proposed bilateral and transit trade related matters and it seemed that they were least interested towards Pakistan and would rather devote their time and energy towards materialising the trilateral agreement with Iran and India.

“All this happened because Pakistan refused to include India in the Pak-Afghan transit trade agreement,” noted the official.

Afghanistan insists that India must be part of the transit trade agreement in the same way as Pakistan uses Afghan soil to reach Central Asian states.

The officer cited a draft agreement pertaining to the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) that the ministry had sent months ago. He insisted that there has been no response from the other side.

“We have learnt that they have shared the draft agreement with their security agencies for clearance, which is surprising for us,” said the official.

Moreover, the maiden meeting of the Pak-Afghan Joint Business Council (JBC) has not been held even after its establishment around five months ago to discuss issues and to devise strategies for enhancing bilateral trade.

The JBC was supposed to hold its first meeting in February 2015, but it could not take place.

“We have again asked the Pakistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to set another date in this regard. However, the ministry has not received any response from FPCCI. The members of the JBC have already been notified from each side.”
Cheers

[SSridhar]

There is no fertile land left right, so if Paki Fauji is given land, it is taken from someone else right?

Fertile land, there may not be anything left. Not quite sure. But, the fauj have always diverted water from the canals to irrigate their lands anyway. Bonded labour is freely available, especially for the fauj. Fauj Generals are always lambardars. So, fertility part of their land, they may not care much.

[rsingh]

How many Brigadiers does Bakistan has ? I heard that Bakistan has largest number of Army officers (proportionally to the Jawan and NCOs).

[partha]

* BREAKING NEWS *
Gen Raheel dismisses 12 army officers from service over 'corruption'

In an unprecedented move, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif dismissed 12 army officers from service over alleged corruption on Thursday.

Five brigadiers, three colonels and a major general are among those dismissed by the army chief, military sources told DawnNews.

Gen. Raheel is angling for the dismissal or stepping-down of Nawaz with his action against these Army officers. Otherwise, Brigade 111 is well-poised to strike.

Imran & Qadri will rise in chorus now. The Nawaz goose is cooked. Will he end up in Adiala?

Also see how he waited for NS to come back from London. If he had dismissed these officers when NS was in London, NS would have got a clue and applied for asylum in UK.

[ramana]

Those 8 officers in Frontier corps probably were siphoning pastry ration money.
What was the opportunity/level of corruption in FC?
Not much!!!!

There won be coup while Democrats are in power in US.
The reason is a formal coup will require cutoff of aids.
So they advise the couping country to takeover but not declare it.

[Prem]

Raheel will need his trusted men in right places before declaring himself Minnie Caliph of Crapistan.

[member_23370]

Hmmm I predict a coup by end of this year. Depending on the US election result.

[Prem]

Watch Paki Bragaadiar Going Pagal on TV
http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-KirpalAft ... 487577.cms

[Falijee]

Those 8 officers in Frontier corps probably were siphoning pastry ration money.


There won be coup while Democrats are in power in US.
The reason is a formal coup will require cutoff of aids.
So they advise the couping country to takeover but not declare it.

Ramana-ji:
I agree 100% with you ! the Faujis cannot openly seize power; because the aid-spigot ( the bread and butter of the Paki Qaum !) under Kerry -Lugar would be in jeopardy ! Anyone can see who wields the "real power" ; "in-name PM" is currently under lots of "financial stress" to save his ill -gotten loot, and hence the sudden round trip to Londonistan and the miraculous cure in his health
Meanwhile, the "small fry" crooks in the Paki Fauj ( ie the Brigadiers shown the boot !) are shown as an example of "accountability" ; one may ask about the "big crooks" in the army who minted or are minting money left and right like arms commisssion, land sales, housing plots allocation ; what about that Riaz Malik's statement that "Paki public would be shocked if they came to know who he has bribed " ! ; a prime example is the ex chain smoking, rabid Anti- India General who is "trying" to settle in Australia ; is he going to be booked ?

[Falijee]

Pakistan,China to launch satellite to monitor CPEC projects

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the launch of a special satellite to monitor the development of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal on behalf of Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and China Great Wall Industry Cooperation (CGWIC) President Yin Limping signed the agreement here yesterday.

Can any observer seriously believe about the quality and quantity of the Paki contribution is this monitoring satellite ?

The minister said that the agreement would also transfer space technology to Pakistan and the PRSS-1 is yet another flagship project between China-Pakistan relations after CPEC.
It would go a long way to redefine the bilateral relations, he said.
The new project would also help Pakistan in national security arena by strengthening border security and surveillance apparatus, Iqbal said.

Slowly and surely the Pakis are selling so virginity to the Chinees !

[Peregrine]

X Posted on the PESW Thread

Fearing dollar flight, govt looks for Chinese financing

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has asked coal-based power producers to arrange financing from China instead of domestic institutions and markets in an attempt to prevent the outflow of dollars for the purchase of equipment, officials say.

However, it is feared that this government move will delay the completion of power projects by 12 to 18 months.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Pakistan,China to launch satellite to monitor CPEC projects

Can any observer seriously believe about the quality and quantity of the Paki contribution is this monitoring satellite ?

Slowly and surely the Pakis are selling so virginity to the Chinees !

Falijee Ji :

Soverginity belongs to Allah. It has now been permanently leased to the Chinese.
Cheers

[Falijee]

In Pakistan, comedy means calling Hindus 'dogs'

New Delhi: While the sorry plight of minority Hindus is Pakistan is well known, a 'comedy show' aired on a TV channel in the predominately Muslim country has taken the issue to a new low.
The show 'Sawa Teen' aired on Neo TV on April 8 had a comedian Sajan Abbas, who was acting as a dealer of conscience, use the words ‘Hindu k**ta’.
The studio audience loved the words and they appreciated the 'humour' with a loud applause and laughter.
The fact that the derogatory reference to Hindus was allowed to go on air speaks volumes about the state of affairs in Pakistan when it comes to the honour and rights of minorities.

My question: where is the so-called Paki liberal society on this ?
Recent reports in the Paki Press like "restoration of an Historic Hindu Temple", "declaration of Holiday on Hindu Holy Days" are just public relations gimmicks, mostly for the consumption of foreign audiences to show that Pakistan is moving towards a liberal and broad minded society ! All B.S . Can you imagine the hue and cry if a "comedy programme" produced in India, depicted Malsi in an derogatory light ?

[Falijee]

Smoking dead scorpions is KP's latest dangerous addiction

PESHAWAR: “I started scorpion smoking in the mid 60s,” recalls 74-year-old Sohbat Khan.

It was Ayub Khan’s era, and Sohbat was only 20 years old. He would frequent the famous Jalil Kabab house, which is how he met the vendor who sold scorpions worth Rs1 or Rs2 right next to the eatery. The men got their supply from Peshawar’s Matani area, which is rich in scorpions because of its insufferably hot weather.

Sohbat says he has quit smoking scorpions.

But he is still on charas though !

A dead scorpion is first dried in the sunlight or burnt on coal. The coal is kept on a traditional stove, and the scorpion is allowed to cook until it burns to death.

His addiction to opium doesn’t bother him as much; Sohbat says opium’s affects are far safer than scorpion smoking.

“Chars aw powder kho asi gup dai,” Sohbat says in way of explanation—“Hashish and heroin’s so-called relief is nothing in front of scorpion.”

During his years of addiction, Sohbat remembers madly roaming around his house and village, hunting for scorpions. Often, when the need was too overwhelming and there was no scorpion in sight, he would make his way to Peshawar. "It’s a worst form of addiction," he says in Pashto.

In India, where the use is common in a few states, the method is quicker, and more expensive. People holding scorpions in their hands park themselves in specific spots, and addicts come to have a 'sting of pleasure'. They pay between 100 to 150 Indian rupees for each sting.

There has to be an (wrong ) = = angle to show that this type of addiction is a " serious problem" problem in India as well

In India, where the use is common in a few states, the method is quicker, and more expensive. People holding scorpions in their hands park themselves in specific spots, and addicts come to have a 'sting of pleasure'. They pay between 100 to 150 Indian rupees for each sting.

Just wondering if the notorious ISI has feasibility studied the export potential of this money earning product to supplement their coffers in this day and age of scarce funds

Azeemullah, a former service man at KP’s narcotics control department, who has traveled around the province for many years, has found addicts in the districts of Bannu, Kohat, Karak, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Charsadda and Batkhela. He cannot cite numbers, but his results show that the drug is not a rare indulgence.

It would be a good idea to "introduce" this product in other parts of Pakiland as well

Azeem comments on the lack of laws for scorpion smoking in Pakistan. “We need laws in place to stop the killing of scorpions,” he says. Azeem adds that scorpions are used in medicines for diseases like cancer and AIDS. Unless their use is regulated, scorpion addiction poses a threat to the availability of scorpions for medical purposes.

Maybe, some forumites may elaborate on this

[arun]

X Posted from the “Oppression Of Minorities In Pakistan” thread.

For Pakistani Christians, persecution goes beyond terror attacks:

USA Today

[Falijee]

Two former corps commanders may also come under fire over corruption

LAHORE (Staff Report) – Following the dismissal of around a dozen top army officials including two generals, another two former corps commanders are also likely to come under fire for corruption charges.
Lt-General (Retd.) Sajjad Ghani and Lt-General Naveed Zaman, who served as corps commanders of Karachi and Lahore, have been given a clear message by military brass to immediately return all the embezzled money. Sajjad Ghani has been directed to return Rs2.80 billion to public exchequer, according to several news channels.
Both of the former officials have been accused of taking unfair benefits from Defence Housing Authority’s (DHA) projects in Lahore and Karachi. Inquiries into the alleged corruption case were ordered some four years ago.
It is also relevant to be mentioned here that Lt-General (Retd.) Naveed Zaman is considered as a close business partner of brother of former Chief of Army Staff Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Kamran Kiyani.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is also probing an alike corruption case Mr Kiyani.

Bad Sharif casting a wider net ? Remains to be seen.

[Falijee]

Pakistan concerned over launch of nuclear missile submarine by India
* FO says New Delhi’s move will not only impact region’s strategic balance but also result in nuclearisation of Indian Ocean

Now wait for gifting and /or begging from 2.00 out of the 3.5 friends to do the = = thing !

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over the latest Indian test of submarine capable of firing nuclear ballistic missiles, terming it an act to impact the delicate strategic balance of the region.
Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria in his weekly press briefing said the launch of India’s nuclear submarine was a ‘serious development’ and had resulted in nuclearisation of Indian Ocean.

The Indian Govt policy of expanding the presence of its navy in the Indian Ocean will contribute in a "small way" to bankrupting and/or putting pressure on the Paki economy !

The spokesman termed it a ‘worrisome development’ for the region and the international community. He pointed that the submarine launched ballistic missile test was not notified to Pakistan. “Any test of missiles, whether launched on the surface or submerged platform, can be mistaken by other country as an offensive missile,” he said.

The spokesman said Pakistan believed that in line with the agreement on the pre-notification of test launch of ballistic missiles, the test should had been notified to Pakistan. On Pakistan’s efforts at diplomatic front following the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadev, the spokesman said Pakistan continued to highlight the foreign hand involved in subversive activities and financing of terrorism. He said a number of foreign representative based in Islamabad had also been briefed on the issue. He recalled that Pakistan had presented dossiers on Indian involvement to the United Nations and the United States, and emphasized that the arrest of Yadev had strengthened Pakistan’s stance.
On India’s National Investigative Agency stating that Lt Col Purohit was not an accused in the Samjhauta Express tragedy, the spokesman said mastermind Swami Aseemanand in a public confession had named Lt Col Purohit and eight other officials behind the incident. He said Pakistan’s request of sharing details of the investigation of Samjhauta Express rested with the Indian government.

The Paki FO spokesman seems to be on "full throttle complaint mode"!

The spokesman confirmed that the visit of Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah had been postponed. He said the new dates for the visit earlier scheduled for May 2-3, would be communicated by the Afghan government later.

So, something must have happened to make the Afghans cancel the meet !

About media reports citing shifting of the summit of the Ministerial Standing Committee on Science and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) from Islamabad to Kazakhstan’s capital Astana as a ‘diplomatic blow’ to Pakistan, he said the holding of summit in rotation was a routine matter.

First, the West Indians declined to play cricket in Pakistan, now the venue of this COMSTECH gathering has shifted ; are these Pakis not getting the message that because they are not a normal country, no one is interested in "tasting their hospitality"

[Falijee]

Mushy Named As a Go-Between Between Altaf Bhai And Paki Fauj
- Per Hajam Sethi's Friday Times

The Quaid-e-Qiwam has instructed the Barrister in his party to reach out to the khakis once again and we hear the intermediary is none other than Mush. The B was in the latter’s party, not so long ago. Back at the ranch, the khakis are making headway in splitting the Quaid’s party. Those who aren’t moving are staying put because they think they will inherit the spoils when the Quaid meets his Maker.

So, Kammandu's spine /back problem, just like Ganja's heart problem, has now completely disappeared

[Falijee]

Interesting tit-bits.
Nuggets From Urdu Press - Per Friday Times:
Good entertainment !

Halal Food Authority coming soon
Reported in Jang (March 17, 2016) the Ministry of Science and Technology has asked the government for Rs 100 million to set up a ‘Pakistan Halal Authority’, which will decide which foods are Halal and Haram. The organization will hire for 100 posts.
Applications in Arabic( only) , will be entertained from clerics trained in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan spelled wrong on Musharraf’s exit permission !
According to Nawa-e-Waqt (March 19, 2016) on the notification to remove former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from the exit control list and allow him to leave the country, the word ‘Pakistan’ was spelled wrong. People were surprised to read it (hairat ka izhar).
Mushy whisked out of the country, ASAP before the in-charge Aam Abdul could correct the typo !

[Gagan]

Pakistan and its uber space organization SUAR-CO have one mission.
Make a military spy satellite.

The two odd small micro satellites they've managed to build and get them launched have had cameras to try and spy on India. Pretty sure that the resolution was suitably crappy.

Now the fauj is again spending the pakistanis good money with the chinese for a satellite in low earth orbit with a suitable camera to purportedly "keep an eye on CPEC".
LOL - yeah right!

Even with the $700 million, did they spend it on development? On building hospitals or road or improving infrastructure or improving the lot of the nation? NOoooo!
They spent it on 8 F-16s, and pocketed the rest.

Bad sharif rightly dismissed those frontier corps officers for corruption: If you are a chindi chor, stealing pennies, you are corrupt and deserve to be punished. If on the other hand you pocket a couple of million dollars, and share the loot with the top guys, you get a promotion.

[sudhan]

Interesting blog on the CPEC project and other things (apologies if already posted)

This author is clearly a part time RAA agint, atleast.

Camp Gwadar: Diary of an 'embedded' journalist

Some tid bits:

0930hrs: We had to land in Pasni because the Gwadar airport was closed for maintenance. It was like landing in absolute wilderness: Balochistan’s coastal belt is filled with sand dunes and dusty planes.
We were then transported to the Naval Officers’ Mess, also known as the wardroom, to "freshen up" before the two-hour bus ride to Gwadar.
Despite the dismal dunes of Pasni, the lavatory at our disposal was lavish.

Nothing but the best for a pawki fauji's mush. The mango abduls can roll in the dirt..

Contrary to my expectations, Gwadar — which is the main block of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project — is yet to benefit from the development propagated through paid media content.

Oh boy, somebody is going to get a visit from the brown pants..


On board PNS Zulfiquar: Diary of an 'embedded' journalist

Day 2:

On our way to the naval dockyard, the discussion turned towards the infamous hijacking of a destroyer by an allegedly defecting naval officer.

The back and forth became amusing when senior journalists turned to the naval officers to verify the stories they had heard — the uneasiness on the officer’s face was obvious. He tried covering it up with a forced smile, until a second officer spoke up, saying they had little knowledge of the incident as it was a matter of national security.

Hearing this, the journalists laughed and continued hypothesising about what might have happened on that fateful night.

Good times.

Seriously man, why do you want to meet Saleem Shazhad so badly?

0900hrs: At the tactical school, Vice Admiral Hussaini spoke of the Navy’s professional abilities to safeguard the country’s trade ventures at sea.

He said the Pakistan Navy’s "balanced fleet" was capable of guarding trade via sea routes and along the coastal belt.

Yeah right.

"Convey my message to my people and the government. You strengthen the CPEC, we are here to protect you," he told us

What a heroic message! Upholder of the finest traditions of PeeEnn.. Pick a fight with IN at daybreak and assemble at Davy Jone's locker in time for Pindi Channa lunch.

We boarded PNS Zulfiquar, a part of the Navy’s newly-acquired arsenal in its quest to maintain dominance (Dominance over whom? Lobsters?)and conduct sea surveillance. The frigate is armed with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and also has torpedoes to engage and destroy enemy submarines.

In short, it is a complete package of maneuverability and battle-readiness when it comes to guarding the country’s coastline. We are all quite impressed.

Badass! Apparently capable of defeating a USN flotilla, all by itself.

1300hrs: Lunch was arranged inside the ship’s hangar; a three-course meal which had been prepared on the ship.

But a small discussion with the officers on deck revealed that they are not served a meal of this standard even once during their usual three-month long stay on board.

"Usually we have rice and lentils for days," said the lieutenant who I am not naming — because I don’t want to deprive him of getting some good food on board.

What! No meat for TFTA? The cook must be a Yindoo RAA agint.

As our day on board the naval frigate came to an end, and we were disembarking, we met an officer who accompanied us on the trip.

I asked, "Where have you been?", since the officer had boarded the ship but was nowhere to be seen after that.

The reply: "I was sleeping in the cabin since I get sea sick." A sea sick naval officer, I mused, just irony or an oxymoron?

[Falijee]

A spotlight on the Pakistani military's corruption
Topic Of The Day !

Pakistan's army has sacked six military officers over allegations of corruption. But analysts say it's a political move aimed at increasing pressure on PM Sharif, who's trying to come clean in a Panama Papers' scandal.

In the local media, Pakistan's army chief Raheel Sharif is being hailed as a "leader" who wants to eradicate corruption in the South Asian country. Last week, the general insisted that the battle against terrorism and corruption must go hand in hand

IMHO, the ' Bad Sharif ' is angling for some position post-retirement, other wise "cleaning up the august stables", near the tail end of his career does not make sense. Maybe, he wants to be nominated for the post of Chief Policeman of the CPEC !

The dismissal of army officers (are they going to spill the beans? ) – who are not being tried for corruption, but have only been sent into early retirement – comes at a time when the civilian politicians are facing huge criticism over their own monetary corruption.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is facing one of the biggest political challenges of his tenure. The leaked Panama documents mentioned his family's ownership of offshore companies. Though the PM and his son deny any wrongdoing, there is a huge uproar in Pakistan, with opposition parties demanding his resignation, claiming the premier evaded taxes through these firms. On April 5, Sharif addressed the nation on television and announced that he was forming a judicial commission to investigate the allegations.
Now, after the removal of army officers in corruption cases, PM Sharif is under more pressure to come out clean in the Panama Papers' scandal./quote] I think, the purpose of the London trip was to tie up some loose ends and make his deniability more plausible in the eyes of the Aam Abduls

The public opinion is rapidly turning against the premier, who, according to experts, needs to do something very quickly to thwart the crisis. At the same time, General Sharif is once again being hailed by many Pakistanis as a "messiah," who put the country on the path of prosperity. Badmash Sharif has a good thing going here, with his brother taking care of Pakjab loot and the son taking care of the foreign loot ; and both the brothers living in a joint palace in Raiwind ! if he not too much greedy, he will still live to "enjoy" the ill-gotten wealth, unless he suddenly succumbs to heart disease !

Corruption
Military's financial corruption
But critics of the army say that the dismissal of six army officers cannot sufficiently address the issue of military's massive financial corruption, which usually goes unnoticed. ( just look at the reports of Ex Generals settled in places like Canada, USA. ) The Pakistani military keeps a lion's share of the country's budget and is not answerable to the civilian government over its expenditures, they say. Rights activists also assert that the fact that the army chief removed officers over corruption charges is proof that the military is not a "holy cow" as many in the country would like to believe.

"The corruption in the Pakistani military is as rampant as in any other state institution," Arif Jamal, a US-based Islamism and security analyst, told DW. "The army is involved in the smuggling of oil and narcotics through the borders of the western Balochistan province. The military also makes money through its checkpoints in the restive province. All drivers have to bribe the officers to pass through these posts. These are just a few examples," Jamal added.

Farooq Tariq, a leader of the socialist Awami Workers Party, claims the military's financial corruption goes beyond Balochistan: "The Pakistani army is involved in all spheres of the economy. It is running businesses all across the country, from marriage halls (special discount to faujis !) to factories, and from banks and insurance companies to dairy farms. Does the constitution allow this? Isn't it corruption as well," questioned Tariq.

According to Tauseef Ahmed, an Islamabad-based political analyst, the military's financial corruption is no secret, but it is impossible for the civilian government to take action against army officers.
"Some time ago, Senator Farhatullah Babar told the Senate about 20 companies that are being run by the army. The Supreme Court passed a judgment against the army-administered Defense Housing Authority for encroaching lands across the country," Ahmed told DW. "In Karachi, the military-run Faziya housing scheme pumped millions of rupees into advertisements, prompting people to invest in housing. Later, the people lost all their money as it turned out that the land only existed on papers," Ahmed added.

The activists also decry the Pakistani military's alleged lack of respect for the rule of law. Last month, former military dictator, Pervez Musharraf, who is facing multiple charges in Pakistani courts, was allowed to leave the country to seek medical treatment abroad. Considering the nature of the cases against Musharraf, it should not have been that easy for him to exit Pakistan. The former general is accused of treason, and involvement in the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

"The military does not want to set a precedent where its officers are held accountable by the civilians," Usman Qazi, an Islamabad-based UN adviser, told DW.

"How can General Raheel Sharif talk about accountability of politicians when his own institution supported Musharraf whole-heartedly, facilitating his way out of the country?" Ahmed underlined.

"The punishments like dismissal from service or premature retirement with all privileges for proven corruption are too little and too late. For similar crimes, the politicians have been sent to jail. Former President Asif Ali Zardari spent many years behind bars for the alleged crimes that the military could never prove."

Badmash Sharif, being a Pakjabi and an out -an- out Islamist will not meet the same fate !

[Gagan]

200 More Army Officers Are Going To Be Fired
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Aze1a0FTo

[Gagan]

PM Nawaz Sharif Address To Nation Over Panama Leak Documents – 22nd April 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbS2yBAoSfQ

[Gagan]

^^^
Has a farewell speech ring to it...

One wonders after all this suffering of the sharif family at the hands of the fauj and establishment, how can they still remain loyal to the state of Pakistan? Hussain Haqqani revolted almost right away after the fauj and establishment pushed him against the wall.

Me thinks all the major Pakistani leaders in exile belonging to the BLA, PPP, TTP and the MQM have similar experiences at the hands of the pak fauj. It is india's fault why these people were not coopted into our fold to dismember pakistan

[vivek.rao]

I think Modi/Doval will use Sharif.

ISI was closely co-ordinating with $ONIA/PRESSTITUTES/CON UPA/NITISH/KUJLI till now

[Falijee]

Panama Paper leaks: Will resign if proven guilty of wrongdoing, says PM

Too early yet for 2016 Oscar nominations!

Meanwhile :

Political reaction

While Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq welcomed the announcement, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly while speaking to Express News, said “We will be satisfied when an international audit firm will become part of the inquiry commission.”

[Falijee]

Gagan wrote:
PM Nawaz Sharif Address To Nation Over Panama Leak TrDocuments – 22 April 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbS2yBAoSfQ


Gagan-ji :
Thanks a lot for posting this wonderful acting performance by the Badmash Actor ! (wonder how many takes were needed to record this !) Trying his best (with a straight face ) to use Malsi to invoke sympathy vote from the Aam Abduls ; attempt to explain the source of his wealth ! his fate, should be decided by the Aam Abduls and not even by a Sharia court of law! this shameless C grade corrupt to the core politico, should be strung from a tree! On this point, at least I agree with Taliban Khan !

[Falijee]

‘Ferrari crash in 2014 led to sacking of Pakistan Army officers’

It was the crash of a Ferrari sports car at Quetta in 2014 that led to Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif’s decision to sack several officers, including two generals, for corruption, military sources said.
The sports car was bought by Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid, the then inspector general of the paramilitary Frontier Corps in Balochistan, for his son for around $400,000.
After the Ferrari was serviced at an army unit, Shahid instructed a major and a colonel to take it for test drive. Both officers were killed when the car crashed in November 2014.

So, if this incident had not happened, it would have been "business as usual " !

The families of the officers wrote to the army chief to order an inquiry after the Frontier Corps closed the case. They sent an application asking the army chief to declare the officers as ‘shaheed’ (martyrs) as they died on duty. Gen Sharif then ordered an inquiry to ascertain facts.
While there has been no official comment on the sacking of senior officers on Thursday and there are conflicting figures for the number of officers sacked, sources said the inquiry into the Ferrari crash led to the dismissals.

The inquiry found the sports car had been smuggled into Pakistan. Maj Gen Shahid also could not justify how he had bought the car.
Soon after, Shahid was transferred from the Frontier Corps and appointed the director general of foreign military cooperation. The inquiry also showed Shahid was allegedly making money from illegal activities, including the smuggling of vehicles, the sources said.

As someone has remarked " the State of Pakistan is a vast criminal enterprise"

In August 2015, a long-delayed military probe into a Rs 4.3-billion scam in the National Logistics Cell, an army-run engineering and freight unit, had found two former generals guilty of illegal investments in the stock exchange. The generals were punished under the Pakistan Army Act.

These are the ones who unfortunately "got caught" with their hand in the "cookie jar" ; you can imagine the ones who are still plying their trade !

[Falijee]

Judges detention case: ATC terms Musharraf’s medical report ‘fake’

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) has termed General retired Pervez Musharraf’s medical report ‘fake’ and rejected the request of former military ruler’s for temporary exemption from court appearances. As suspected by everyone !
During hearing of the judges detention case on Friday, the court expressed resentment after it found that fresh medical certificate is ‘fake’. ATC Judge Sohail Ikram stated that Musharraf went abroad in March and medical certificate submitted in the court is of April 6th.
On this, Musharraf’s lawyer told court that his client will appear in court if his doctors allow him and adequate security is ensured for him.
Police submitted a report, stating that the accused could not be arrested despite issuance of non-bailable warrant against him. The former president went to Karachi two years back and last month he went abroad. (for good !)
While maintaining the non-bailable arrest warrant, the court ordered police to arrest and present Musharraf till May 20.

Mushy is laughing all the way to his bank !

[Kashi]

^^^
One wonders after all this suffering of the sharif family at the hands of the fauj and establishment, how can they still remain loyal to the state of Pakistan? Hussain Haqqani revolted almost right away after the fauj and establishment pushed him against the wall.

Because Haqqani had no stakes in Pakistan, wife is a US citizen. He had a limited ceiling in Pakistan.

Ganja on the other hand, lameduck he may be, still "rules" Pakistan, his brother "rules" the only Paki state that matters- Pakjab. Family owns huge tracts of land and industries that receive enormous benefits in the form of state's direct and indirect largess. Ganja and his family have long term stakes in Pakistan. They wish to "rule" that land in perpetuity and believe that having a legitimate claim to the throne is more important than temporary humiliations.

Me thinks all the major Pakistani leaders in exile belonging to the BLA, PPP, TTP and the MQM have similar experiences at the hands of the pak fauj. It is india's fault why these people were not coopted into our fold to dismember pakistan

And they'll be the first to sting us like the proverbial scorpion. History is replete with examples. We co-opted Sheikh Mujib in the past.

Plus, I believe we have been to passive on this matter till recently. Now with Baloch leaders visiting India, appearing on Indian television, perhaps we are cautiously moving in that direction. But unlike Mukti Bahini, there's not too much that these folks can do apart from annoying the Pakjabis no end. That itself is worth it.

[Prem]

Gajna is long lost weak and greedy descendant of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's family. He think he has natural claim to rule the territory.
http://nation.com.pk/international/22-A ... y-to-india
IPI gas pipeline not possible: says Iranian envoy to India
( Diplomatic art to fart on Paki face by Ummah Brother)

New Delhi: Iran has ruled out the possibility of an Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project materliasing, saying that "we should forget about it", Indian media reported on Friday.Iranian ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari also stressed that the "Americans will not let it appen"."Those who have invested in the LNG (liquified petroleum gas) projects in India will not allow the pipeline venture to take off, he said at a media interaction at the Foreign Correspondnets' Club here."People who have invested in LNG in India, I don't think they will let any pipes to come in," he said."Americans are looking for the Indian market for the future and any sort of pipeline will put and end to these investments. So, I don't think pipeline can be a serious project. I am sure Americans will not let this project go ahead," he added.
He said that the Chabahar port project that will open up access to central Asia has been almost finalised."It has almost been finalised. Only the signatures at the ministerial level is due," he said.
"It will give a good access to Indians to Afghanistan, to Central Asia, Russia and North Europe. According to a test that was done recently, it would be 40 percent cheaper for Indian goods to go to Europe. But I don't think Americans will be able to use that," he said.India and Iran agreed to fast-track the Chabahar port project as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks during her first visit to the country on Sunday.Ansari also said Chabahar and Gwadar, which is situated in Pakistan's Balochistan province, were not competing issues."I don't think Chabahar and Gwadar are competing against each other. We are not looking at Chabahar this way, and Chabahar is not a new offer to the Indians. The first time it was directly offered was in 2003. Maybe, in future these two ports can be linked as well," he added.
Ansari also said that Iran was "very accurately" examining the issue of the arrest of an ex-Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan on charges of planning "subversive activities" in its Balochistan province."First of all we are trying to complete our own information about the case, we are looking into this issue very accurately."Jadhav, who allegedly entered Pakistan through Iran, was arrested last month and described as an officer of the Indian Navy. The Indian government has rejected the claim.Ansari also said that cooperation between India and Iran should strengthen in the areas of energy, connectivity and metals."Indo-Iran ties are becoming increasingly important in the regional as well as on the international stage," he said.Ansari also believed that Iran's new approach towards economic and people-to-people cooperation could be the solution to the problems pertaining to the Middle East."There should be a paradigm shift in the region," he said.

[RCase]

‘Ferrari crash in 2014 led to sacking of Pakistan Army officers’

It was the crash of a Ferrari sports car at Quetta in 2014 that led to Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif’s decision to sack several officers, including two generals, for corruption, military sources said.
The sports car was bought by Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid, the then inspector general of the paramilitary Frontier Corps in Balochistan, for his son for around $400,000.
After the Ferrari was serviced at an army unit, Shahid instructed a major and a colonel to take it for test drive. Both officers were killed when the car crashed in November 2014....

When there is a need to battle the Taliban with F16s in the badlands, submarines in Peshawar, why does anyone have to blink an eyelid when the jernails need $400,000 Ferraris for chasing those bad guys on foot and in Landcruisers, hainji?

[SSridhar]

Sikh politician shot dead in Pakistan - PTI, Reuters

A prominent Pakistani Sikh politician was shot dead on Friday by unidentified motorcycle-borne gunmen near his home in the country’s restive north-west.

Sardar Sooran Singh, the Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Minority Affairs, was assassinated in Pir Baba area of Buner district in the province when he was going back to his home after a routine walk, police said.

He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. Police said Mr. Singh had no guard at the time of attack. Initial post-mortem report stated that he received only one bullet in his head. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Special Assistant to KP Mushtaq Ghani and Provincial Ministers Shahram Tarakai have condemned the killing of Singh. They vowed to bring to justice all those responsible for the killing.

Mr. Singh was a doctor, TV anchor and politician. Before joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 2011, Mr. Singh was a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for nine years {wow!} .

He was also member of the Tehsil council, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

Mr. Singh also hosted programme Za Hum Pakistani Yam for three and a half years with Khyber News.

Sikhs make up less than 1 percent of Pakistan's 190 million people but many of them see Pakistan as the place where their religion began.

According to the police, at least eight members of the Sikh community have been killed in the northwest in 2013 and 2014 — the first recorded sectarian killings of Sikhs in Pakistani history.