Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan (TSP): 29th May 2012

[RamaY]

Very apt. When beaten blue, Pakis will remember their roots - like that pranaam

[Prem]

US, Pakistan beginning to look more like enemies
You know a friendship has gone sour when you start making mean jokes about your friend in front of his most bitter nemesis.

Chaar Dina da Yaar sii Massa, barri Lambi Gubbaiii!!
Khwab ujjar gayye ,Valley milne se pehle
East Poaqstan gya , Abb Sindh Balochi
Ki Barri bhi ayye.
Hiiii, verry painful Gubbaai
Socha thaa Unkil
Vann gya Ghar Jammaiiii

[Kakkaji]

From the 'Such gup' section of this week's TFT:

Cloud cuckoo land

What can we say of the Bal CM who appears to live in cloud cuckoo land? They say he invested Rs 6.5 billion in Dubai real estate and his partner decamped with the money to Switzerland. Easy come, easy go when you're looting the poorest of the poor. The Bal CM was also spotted recently in Isloo, where he constantly lives instead of Quetta, riding a Harley Davidson with two guns in holsters on each hip. And that's not all. Isloo's wags are saying the Bal CM has a brand new missus, a young lady whom he's recently married and she's been seen on the bike with him.

Brioni suits

What do Donald Trump, Vlad Putin, Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al Maktoum and an exalted Pakistani personage, much in the news currently, have in common? They all wear Brioni suits, the least expensive of which start at USD 5000a piece and go up to USD 46,000per suit. Watch this space.

[Kakkaji]

'Nuggets' from this week's TFT:

When Hina Khar embarrassed Zardari

Writing in Express Nusrat Javeed narrated that when a high level American person came to see President Zardari in connection with foreign policy and Pakistan's attendance of the Chicago Conference on Afghanistan the president was favourably disposed to consider the invitation when it came. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar was also there but she threw in a monkey wrench by intervening (phat pareen) and telling the American guest that Pakistan could not commit to Chicago until Parliament had issued the new guidelines on Pakistan's foreign policy. President Zardari was shaken by this and thought he had to deal with another Shah Mehmood Qureshi. This could have ended her prospect of becoming prime minister in case Gilani had to go.

Moinuddin Chishti jihadi saint

Columnist Hamid Mir wrote in Jang that the famous saint of Ajmer Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was reputed to be a saint of peace but in his day he was known to favour jihad in the name of Islam. When he saw that the Hindu Rajputs were becoming too cruel he called in the Muslim invader Shahabuddin Ghauri from Afghanistan. Ghauri came and trounced Prithvi Raj Chauhan. This gave rise to the naming of missiles by India and Pakistan. India named its missile Prithvi (not after Prithvi Raj but as one of the elements of nature) and Pakistan retaliated by naming its missile Ghauri. (India's other bigger missile is Agni which proves that Prithvi was not named after Prithvi Raj.)


Zardari was a 'munshi' of America

Leader of PPP Bhutto Shaheed, Ghinwa Bhutto was quoted in Nawa-e-Waqt as saying that those who are demanding more provinces are speaking the language of America. She added that Zardari was a 'munshi' (clerk) of America. She asserted that Bilawal was not the rightful heir of the Bhutto legacy. Her children are from the son of Bhutto therefore the rightful heirs of the Bhutto Legacy.

Some graves give off nice smell

Daily Jang reported from a popular GEO TV programme in which a soul expert Allama Shabbir and a group of gravediggers discussed the experience of soul (ruh) after separating from human body. They all agreed that after death the soul of the dead person does not reside in the house as some people believe. But they agreed that some graves belonging to good and pious people start giving off perfume.

Not even food allowed on Nato route

Leader of the Defence of Pakistan Council of clerical parties Maulana Samiul Haq said in Express that his followers will spill blood to stop the Nato supplies when they resumed. He said he would not allow even the supply of food to Nato forces through the Pakistani route. Ex-ISI boss Hameed Gul said America was coming next to Balochistan and he was unhappy that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had changed his stance on the Nato supply route.

Attacks on Kandahar and Bannu prisons

Columnist Hamid Mir wrote in Jang that two important jailbreaks were achieved by the Taliban in the month of April. In April 2011 they attacked the big prison of Kandahar in Afghanistan and easily took away 500 of their dangerous member terrorists. In April 2012, they attacked the big prison in Bannu in Pakistan and walked away with 286 hardened criminals including a number of their members held there. At Bannu over a hundred of Taliban came across a number of security checkposts in their vehicles and no one could stop them because of fear of being killed.

America's discriminatory apology policy

Daily Jang had Hamid Mir saying that when India's actor Shahrukh Khan was held at the American immigration for two hours the Americans apologised to India but America would not apologise to Pakistan after killing Pakistani troops at Salala Checkpost in November 2011 . But America was forced to use the Pakistani route for its supplies because the Russians and Central Asians had asked for too much money for passage through their territory.

'Karant' pir of Jhelum

Reported in Jinnah a spiritual guide called Saeen Abid called 'Karant Pir' in Sarai Alamgir in Punjab was raping innocent women by promising to solve their domestic problems. Women called on him at his home where he used live electric wire in his doorway to render them senseless after which he raped them. He used electric current to stage his miracle and was therefore called 'karant' Pir.

Sughra Imam almost became minister of state

Reported in Mashriq daughter of PPP leader Syeda Abida Hussain almost became minister of state in the Foreign Office after being appointed by President Zardari. But incumbent minister Hina Rabbani Khar opposed the appointment and threatened to resign if Sughra Imam was inducted.

Shabasha, Pasha!

Famous columnist Major (Retd) Mehmood Abbasi wrote in Jinnah that General Pasha head of the ISI was true soldier and loyal to Pakistan and only those people were happy over his final retirement because he had not done them any favours. He became disliked by those who took bribe from America after he opposed America's infiltration of Pakistan with spies like Raymond Davis and talked back to the bullying US officials. He also unmasked the treasonable conduct of Ambassador Haqqani who was working for the Americans by allowing spooks to enter Pakistan without checking. Pasha did not forgive Haqqani and because of his sincerity also persuaded General Kayani to honestly tell the Supreme Court what had transpired in the 'memo' case.

'Nuclear father' speaks out!

Dr AQ Khan told Nawa-e-Waqt that PM Gilani was continuing to insult the Supreme Court which was not right while the Supreme Court was not able to come up to the expectations of the people by not deciding some major cases. He said Reko Diq was given in the hands of Chief Minister Raisani who could not tell the tail of a frog from its head.

Judges should not threaten lawyers!

Quoted in Mashriq lawyer and human rights worker Asma Jehangir stated that the courts should not threaten lawyers when they give their valid views about the running cases. She said Memo Commission had no law under which it could suspend the practice of a lawyer. The judges should remain within the ambit of law while deciding.

[Johann]

No, America is not the target of all Jihadis around the world. This is an exaggerated claim and somewhat specious portrayal of America as a perpetual victim. India is as much a target of TSP based Jihadis as US is mostly from mid-east based Jihadis.

Rangudu is correct, that is certainly not what was said or meant. There's a lot of jihadis around the world that have nothing to do with the Al Qaeda ideology.

Al Qaeda's message from 1998 onwards is that America is the greatest enemy of Islam in the world, even worse than Israel. That is what makes Al Qaeda as an idea distinct from other jihadi movements.

Will the Al Qaeda brand remain viable in the medium term now that Osama is dead? Probably. The combination of Gulf money for Sunni extremists everywhere, Muslim resentment of American policies, and lots of failed states in the Muslim world is going to be around for a while.

America's problem isn't just in Af-Pak - the Al Qaeda franchises in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa and West Africa still growing.

[ShauryaT]

Johann: Welcome back.

[SureshP]

The Jehadi connection.

Baroness Warsi and the 'extremist'

Baroness Warsi, the Conservative Party chairman, faces fresh questions over her business partner.

By Jason Lewis, Investigations Editor

9:00PM BST 09 Jun 2012

The peer is under investigation over her undeclared links to Abid Hussain, a relative by marriage with whom she is involved in a catering business.

However, there were calls last week for the inquiry, ordered by David Cameron, the Prime Minister, to be widened after Mr Hussain admitted that he had been involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamist party that the Conservatives had pledged to ban.

In his first public statement, Mr Hussain said that he had attended its meetings, although he said he had never been a “member”, and had not told Lady Warsi about his involvement.

She has previously said she was unaware of his activities.

There were also questions over one of the trips to Pakistan by Lady Warsi on which she was accompanied by Mr Hussain.

In February last year, she travelled to the country on government business and in the course of the trip opened the “Office for Overseas Pakistanis and British Nationals”, which she said “works with police forces across the UK and British consular services on issues such as forced marriage and kidnapping”.

However, The Sunday Telegraph has established that the office is operated from the premises of an opposition party, whose British arm organised a protest against US policy when President Barack Obama visited Britain.

Last night, Michael Dugher, Labour’s shadow cabinet office minister, said Lady Warsi appeared to be mixing party and government business.

The current investigation into Lady Warsi is being carried out by Sir Alex Allan, the Prime Minister’s adviser on the ministerial code, into the disclosure that company documents showed she was the majority shareholder in Rupert’s Recipes, a spice company whose other shareholder was Mr Hussain.

She had not registered the holding with the House of Lords, whose rules say peers should declare any majority shareholdings.

“These further revelations about the conduct of Baroness Warsi are extremely worrying,” Mr Dugher said.

“Yet again, there seems to be a blurring of the lines between what constitutes proper official business and what is, in fact, party political activity with private associates.

"Labour will be asking urgent questions next week in Parliament, including of the Foreign Office.

"What the baroness was doing with someone who has admitted his involvement with the extremist Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir also calls into question her judgment.”

Hizb ut-Tahrir has been accused of promoting racism and anti-Semitism, praising suicide bombers and urging Muslims to kill Jews.

Before coming to power, Mr Cameron pledged to ban it but the plan was shelved after a Coalition review.

The nature of Mr Hussain’s involvement in the radical party has already prompted questions over the extent of security vetting.

He has twice accompanied Lady Warsi on trips to Pakistan, and has also been pictured in the House of Lords at a reception for her.

In the early 1990s, sources say, Mr Hussain joined Hizb ut-Tahrir and was nicknamed “Strapper” by other students because of his bulky frame.

He lived for a time in one of its London houses, studying the radical form of Islam taught by its then leader Omar Bakri Mohammed, who is now banned from Britain.

In 1995, Mr Hussain attended a party rally filmed in a BBC a documentary and was seen laughing and joking with others.

Mr Hussain issued a statement through a lawyer last night which said he “has never been a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir”.

“In his mid-20s, which is to say more than 20 years ago, Mr Hussain attended Hizb ut-Tahrir meetings,” the statement said. “However, he often debated against their views and never became a member.”

A former Hizb ut-Tahrir member, Ghaffar Hussain, who now works for the Quilliam Foundation, the anti-radicalisation organisation, said: “He [Mr Hussain ]acted as a key recruiter and propagandist for the groups in the late 90s.

“Hizb ut-Tahrir have a very idiosyncratic definition of the term 'member’. Only the very senior and public activists call themselves 'member’.

“This gives the junior activists and those who don’t want to be public about their involvement plausible deniability by claiming that they are not officially 'members’.”

Mr Hussain’s brother is still a high-profile figure in Hizb ut-Tahrir, and is referred to as “Professor” Muhammad Nawaz Khan in videos and photographs on its website.

Mr Hussain said last night he had not spoken to his brother in a decade.

Mr Hussain’s presence on Lady Warsi’s trip in February last year to Lahore was disclosed by the Conservative chairman last week. He was present when she opened the “Office for Overseas Pakistanis and British Nationals”.

The Foreign Office described the organisation last week as a “private initiative” and as a “charity” that “helps British nationals overseas”.

However, The Sunday Telegraph has established that the organisation is run by a political party, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), headed by a former Pakistan prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and his brother, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of the Punjab.

It is unclear whether Baroness Warsi knew the organisation appears to be political, rather than charitable. During the Lahore event, attended by Mr Sharif, Mr Hussain and Baroness Warsi were pictured with Anjum Chaudhary, the president of PML-N’s UK Youth Wing.

Mr Chaudhary organised a protest outside Parliament in May last year against President Obama’s state visit.

In the UK, the office, based in the party’s headquarters, in Romford, east London, is headed by the PML-N’s UK president, Zubair Gull, and shares several members of staff.

Abid Hussain appears to be involved in the organisation, appearing in a number of photographs on its website.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Sir Alex Allan is looking at Baroness Warsi’s business relationships and will provide advice on how they should be handled in future.

“All relevant information regarding Baroness Warsi’s business interests will be available to Sir Alex.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... emist.html

[Gerard]

In the Islamic Emirate of England, Held Wales, Occupied Scotland and English-Administered-Ireland, the children of Pakistani immigrants enrich their new homeland with their culture...

Gangs raping and sexually exploiting vulnerable white young girls 'is an Asian problem', top Crown prosecutor admits

[pankajs]

Shouldn't this be part of BRF dictionary as visual depiction of Bakiness.

[Arjun]

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport is becoming tougher by the day

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport is becoming tougher by the day
By Aoun Sahi

Abid Hussain belongs to a well-established trader family of Islamabad and resides in E-11 Sector. He along with seven of his friends planned to go to Malaysia in March this year on a vacation. They contacted a tour operator who managed to get their visas after some hassle in two weeks. The group of friends left for Malaysia early April this year.

“We planned to go to Malaysia because it was out of question to get visas to some European countries. We were very happy and kept on planning how to spend our time there in Malaysia and joked around during the flight. But all our excitement vanished once we landed at the Kuala Lumpur airport,” says Abid Hussain.

The Malaysian authorities questioned them for two hours. They finally allowed only three of them to enter while ordered the other five to be deported from the airport.

In fact, “They sent back several Pakistanis travelling on that flight,” says Hussain. “They told us that majority of Pakistanis who come to Malaysia on tourist visas slip into their country and become illegal immigrants. So, they don’t allow people on tourist visas until they are not 100 per cent sure that the visitor is a genuine tourist.”

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport has become tougher in the last two decades.

The situation is not only affecting those who want to visit other countries for economic reasons, but also those who want to travel for recreational purposes especially in summer vacations.

It is not only the war on terror and the track record of Pakistanis in many terrorism activities abroad that alone is responsible for this.

“To get a tourist visa of any country has become difficult for Pakistanis because an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis slip into not only western countries, but also into countries like Malaysia and Dubai,” says Ali Butt, who is a business partner in one of the country’s largest travel agency. “They also use forged or fake documents like bank statements and police reports to apply for tourist visas. It does not only create problem for genuine tourists but also tour operators. We have to pay fines of some kind to get our licenses restored because of these people. Lately, we have been facing severe issues with the Malaysian visas. Most of the time people succeed in getting visas but it has become difficult for them to convince the immigration authorities in Malaysia. I think almost 60 per cent people travelling on the green passport who have genuine tourist visas are being denied entry into Malaysia.”

Ali Butt says the US, the UK and the European countries are particularly careful while granting visas — “These days the US and European countries are rejecting visas to more than 5 per cent of applicants, and the visa processing procedure usually takes months.”

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, an NGO head based in Islamabad, who travels frequently to different parts of the world for work, says that getting visas in Pakistan is like getting loans from banks. “Those who need it are hardly able to get it as the process has become so complicated over the years.”

A tour operator and travel agent based in Faisalabad who has been in the business since the mid-1990s tells TNS that things have changed drastically for the Pakistanis trying to travel abroad for all purposes. “Everyone, from businessmen to tourists to students to job-seekers to pilgrims, has been affected. Tourists are among the most hit. They spend money to go somewhere to relax but it has become so hectic to get a visa in the first place and then the kind of grilling Pakistanis go through at entry points almost everywhere in the world has made it very tough.”

Syed Wahad Raza whose company arranges tours in the Middle East, tells TNS that his company did not receive a single application for a tourist visa this year, while when the company started, five years ago, the company started getting applications from April. Another reason is also that the expenses—airfare and hotel rates — have doubled during the last five years.

According to Raza, “In those days most of the countries, except Gulf states, used to stamp passports on arrival. Now there are less than 20 countries (mainly African countries and some SAARC countries) in the world that grant Pakistanis visas on arrival.”

Several Western countries’ embassies in Pakistan have scaled down their presence in Pakistan and some have scrapped their visa councillor offices altogether. The embassies now do not allow applicants to come straight to them to file the application. They ask the applicants to file applications along with pile of documents like bank accounts, property ownership details, return tickets, hotel booking confirmation receipts, proof of travel and health insurance, medical test reports and police reports through a courier service provider.

In many cases applicants are needed to fill online application forms as well.

Western countries have not only increased their visas fees manifold but have increased the processing time as well and applicants are asked not to bother calling the embassy to check the status of an application.

At present, the tourist visa fee for the US is Rs14,400 plus Rs1,500 courier charges and UK visit visa fee valid for six months is Rs9,750 (inclusive of FedEx charges) plus Rs200 bank charges. Visa fees are non-refundable while one also spends a good amount of money to come to Islamabad for the interview. For the US and other western countries an acceptance of visa applications does not mean that visas will surely be granted. For example, the US embassy after accepting an application gives a receipt to the applicant that clearly mentions that it can take several months to issue a visa and the embassy has the right to deny a visa even then if it is not satisfied with the applicant.

Another very important factor that makes travelling from Pakistan to Western countries cumbersome is the suspension of operations of all Western airlines from Pakistan after 9/11. There are hardly any direct flights from Pakistan to Western countries and Pakistanis have to travel on Middle Eastern countries which further adds to the cost of travel. For example it costs only Indian Rs 32,000 to 35,000 (around Pakistani Rs 60,000) to get a return air ticket to any European country from India. While these countries’ air ticket from Pakistan is not less than Rs 80,000 to 90,000.

Then there are several countries like Mexico which do not have their embassies in Pakistan and people have to travel to India or some other country to get a visa.

Different countries have introduced specific restrictions for Pakistanis who want to travel. India, has always been considered the most problematic country for Pakistanis to travel to and vice versa because of required documentation and security approvals, but even a country like Indonesia has made it essential for applicants to show a personal guarantor from Indonesia who needs to explain concerned authorities in Indonesia why he/she may be inviting a Pakistani to Indonesia. Cambodia also requires a personal guarantor for visiting Pakistanis.

Dubai fines a travel agent Rs 180,000 if a tourist overstays or slips.

Rumana Hussain , a regular international traveller and travel writer agrees that the situation has become tougher for Pakistani tourists to go abroad. “It depends on where one wants to go. For example India is our neighbour and the cheapest country to travel to but it is the most difficult country to get into. The situation is also different for people belonging to different age groups. Young people have been facing the worst situation. It is also true that visa processing for Pakistanis has become more complex and time consuming but better planning can help to overcome this issue. People should apply two-three months in advance and should fill the online application forms with full concentration. I think it would help those getting visas in time and less grilling at airports.”

[chetak]

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport is becoming tougher by the day

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport is becoming tougher by the day
quote]

Why then are WE considering visa on arrival for these creeps?

[KLNMurthy]

‘Dawn:Pakistan, US working on draft of apology’

WASHINGTON, June 8: The United States and Pakistan are working on the language of a possible US apology to end their stalemate and reopen Nato’s supply routes to Afghanistan, diplomatic sources told Dawn.
...

"diplomatic sources" is just code for pakis planting a story in Yawn. If they were unkli sources, the article would have bragged about it.

[svinayak]

Absolutely justified

Much to the chagrin of Pakistan, the US response to its repeated calls for putting an end to the drone strikes has been to step them up instead, and make them virtually a daily occurrence. The recurrent and deliberate violations of our sovereignty and the deaths these attacks cause have spread a wave of anger and dismay across the length and breadth of Pakistan. Islamabad was, therefore, left with no choice but to summon the American Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Richard Hoagland, on Tuesday and lodge a demarche with him, expressing the government’s serious concern over the issue. Mr Hoagland was briefed that these attacks were ‘unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty’. This is the second such formal protest from our side; the first one was in April last year. The Chargé d’Affaires was also handed over another demarche about unauthorised weapons a US diplomat were found carrying in Peshawar, which the Foreign Office rightly maintained was unacceptable and contrary to both Pakistani law and accepted norms of diplomatic conduct.

[ArmenT]

Shouldn't this be part of BRF dictionary as visual depiction of Bakiness.

Doesn't seem to meet the dictionary definition of Bakiness. The cartoon depicts plain ol' grovelling.

[RSoami]

The U.S. has attempted to bridge the difference over money by offering to repave highways used by the supply trucks, said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

No money. The evil amrikhans will repave the road instead.

Low IQ Americans seem to be matching the bhikhari pakistanis when negotiating now.

[rajanb]

The U.S. has attempted to bridge the difference over money by offering to repave highways used by the supply trucks, said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

No money. The evil amrikhans will repave the road instead.

Low IQ Americans seem to be matching the bhikhari pakistanis when negotiating now.

The low IQ Yanquis can negotiate and the high IQ Yanquis can ensure that IEDs are planted under the roads so that when they want to blow up travelling targets (cheaper than Dronas, plus no rough violation of sovirginity) and also destroy the road after 2014.

[Kanishka]

Foreign agencies behind Baloch disappearances: Justice Javed

Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal — head of the inquiry commission on missing persons — on Saturday said that there was concrete evidence to show that foreign intelligence agencies were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan as well as the disappearance of individuals.

Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Javed Iqbal said that foreign intelligence agencies wanted to destabilise Balochistan and Pakistan. He asserted that no state institution had a confirmed reports regarding the number of missing persons, and added that baseless propaganda was being created to confuse the issue. He said the number of missing persons in the country currently stood at 440, while 44 people had been recovered during the last three months owing to efforts made by the commission.

“For the past decade, the authorities have been unable to compile the complete details of those on the list of missing persons,” Iqbal held.


According to the commission, Justice Iqbal said the total number of missing persons stood at 460, including 18 from Islamabad, 117 from Punjab, 174 from Sindh 170 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 57 from Balochistan and 24 from Azad Kashmir and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). He also said the bodies of 42 missing persons had been discovered in Balochistan.


The inquiry commission’s chief claimed that foreign intelligence agencies were involved in the issue of missing persons, and further said that the list also contained the names of those living abroad and also those who had been involved in terrorism-related cases.


Iqbal said that the Balochistan chief minister had sent a list of 945 “missing” persons to the commission, and added that the complete details of even 45 persons on the list had not been made available: “We sent the list back to the ministry for correction but it never came back,” he said.

The commission’s chief said that during the past week, 12 people who had been missing had been recovered from Balochistan. He claimed that some of the missing persons were in Afghanistan but could not be recovered because they were in US-controlled territory: “We have credible reports about the 11 to 15 missing persons of Balochistan who are in the Paktia and Policharkhi jails under the control of the US Army in Afghanistan,” he said.

Investigation and reporting paki style.

[vishvak]

Foreign agencies behind Baloch disappearances: Justice Javed

...
...
The commission’s chief said that during the past week, 12 people who had been missing had been recovered from Balochistan. He claimed that some of the missing persons were in Afghanistan but could not be recovered because they were in US-controlled territory: “We have credible reports about the 11 to 15 missing persons of Balochistan who are in the Paktia and Policharkhi jails under the control of the US Army in Afghanistan,” he said.

Investigation and reporting paki style.

The official report from an inquiry commission headed by a former Justice, has "credible reports about the 11 to 15 missing persons of Balochistan who are in the Paktia and Policharkhi jails under the control of the US Army in Afghanistan" but also that "no missing person following release was ever willing to talk about the forces that had abducted him". Surely now pakis want to involve, ally on war-on-terror, khan-birathers of all matters within, including issues dealing with missing persons. Chinese should take note how well the decades of friendship with pakis may result in.

[abhijitm]

Foreign agencies behind Baloch disappearances: Justice Javed

Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal — head of the inquiry commission on missing persons — on Saturday said that there was concrete evidence to show that foreign intelligence agencies were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan as well as the disappearance of individuals.

justice saheb is absolutely spot on. ISI is foreign intelligence agency for Balochistan.

[Brad Goodman]

Pakistan working on 'revolutionary' steps to import Indian gas: PM

[Brad Goodman]

Visa issues stall Pakistan hockey players' Europe tour

[Brad Goodman]

some trivia
Tracing the origins of Pakistan's doom and gloom

Mahindra and Mahindra . Seriously. Keshub Mahindra's recent retirement from chairmanship reminded me of this star-crossed connection. The company traces its origins to British India. In those days -1945 in Ludhiana to be precise - the company was titled Mahindra and Mohammad.

Mohammad being Malik Ghulam Mohammad had no way of prophesizing the company's future success, that the company he sired along with the Mahindras would one day be a global conglomerate with total assets valued at just under $7.5billion.

Intrigued by the idea of Pakistan, Mohammad quit his business enterprise and opted for better fortunes. He became Pakistan's first finance minister, and subsequently the governor general in 1951. Although he died early, in 1956, few remember this gentleman warmly.

yevil baniya has denied the momeen its bious share of money

After all, Mohammad can be seen as one of the earliest eroding influences on the growth of democracy in Pakistan . He introduced the first army intervention to quell the Lahore agitation of 1953, led by another Indian who crossed the border - Maulana Maududi. Maududi's Jamaat-e-Islaami was already causing mayhem inciting hatred against the Ahmaddiyya community.

During his short tenure in office, Mohammad dismissed the then PM, Khwaja Nazimuddin (full disclosure: my family), changed around laws, alienated then East Pakistan , and most importantly to today's story, brought the army into politics. A lament: if only Mohammad had stuck to doing business in India, who knows how this sordid tale would have ended.

[Brad Goodman]

AoA nanha's might have lost their limbs but not their mardangi

New polio cases in Pakistan alarms WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern over emergence of new polio cases in Pakistan`s northwest tribal region, where around 150,000 children have reportedly not been immunized against the deadly virus.

At least eight cases have been detected in Khyber agency this year, one from Tirah and seven from Bara town, Dawn News reported.

[Brad Goodman]

Pakistan: Border police charged with rape at check post

Three officials of Pakistan’s Border Military Police force and two civilians have been accused of raping five women after stopping their car at a check post for routine check in Punjab province.

All the policemen have denied the charges but are absconding.

As per the reports, the incident took place at the border force police station Fort Munro, 85 km from Dera Ghazi Khan, one of the most populous cities in the province.

The five women hail from Lahore and were visiting Dera Ghazi Khan, said Border Military Police commander Tariq Basra.

[pankajs]

Incensed by Panetta’s statement, Pakistan receives his deputy

ISLAMABAD: While US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said his country is ‘losing patience’ with Pakistan, his deputy is expected to make it clear to Pakistani officials that Washington is unmoved by Islamabad’s sovereignty tantrums.

[kasthuri]

Yawn news...

Drone strikes in Pakistan to be stepped up: report

It is noteworthy that the US has yet to declare the Haqqani network as a terrorist organisation, itself.

Shouldn't US declare Haqqani network as a terrorist organisation if it is serious about TSP acting? Not that TSP would act, but it would make their claim more legit...

[pankajs]

Tokyo donors, KL programme: Enthusiasm dies down as world lenders fail to honour promises

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has so far managed to get just $1.6 billion (12.8%) out of $12.5 billion pledged at the Tokyo donors conference and under the Kerry-Lugar Act, the two major international initiatives launched to support the country’s fragile economy and help it fight terrorism.

Sources in the finance ministry said in the initial year the response was very encouraging, but due to trust deficit the donors started distancing themselves from the government, which is evident from the amount loaned in the previous three years.

Saudi Arabia was the only country that fulfilled its pledge and gave the entire amount, largely loans. Iran also offered $300 million.

[pankajs]

Pakistan a friend? Try the word fiend

To speak of Pakistan as America’s partner in the war against global terrorism is both an abuse of fact and an insult to the public’s intelligence.

[anupmisra]

Low IQ Americans seem to be matching the bhikhari pakistanis when negotiating now.

Really?

[pankajs]

Pakistani woman doctor held for poisoning Afghan girls

At least 11 suspects were arrested, including a Pakistani woman doctor named Gulnaz, hailing from Punjab province, provincial media in-charge Mustafa Rasuli told the Afghan Islamic Press.

Gulnaz was working at a health clinic in Rustaq district, but did not have the required medical certificates.

She also did not have the documents required for a foreign doctor to work in Afghanistan.

[anupmisra]

Why then are WE considering visa on arrival for these creeps?

To make it easier for these pakis to travel to Mexico.

Then there are several countries like Mexico which do not have their embassies in Pakistan and people have to travel to India or some other country to get a visa.

[anupmisra]

Although he died early, in 1956, few remember this gentleman warmly....A lament: if only Mohammad had stuck to doing business in India, who knows how this sordid tale would have ended.

Sure. If Mohammad had stuck around in India, he would have been another Premji. Of late, these khayali Pulaos by the "what if'ers" in pa'astan are becoming routine. These people are more dangerous than the likes of Zaid Gazwa-e-hind (pbuh) Hamid who openly tout war with India. India (and Indians) must remain on guard against these second guessers. I can almost see the day when Mohammad's decendents and his types start claiming their "rightful" share of Indian companies like M&M and Oberois. Now you know why the pakis want a visa-free regime.

[pankajs]

Pakistan's prickly paralysis fuelled by legacy of delusion

[arun]

Pakistani woman doctor held for poisoning Afghan girls

At least 11 suspects were arrested, including a Pakistani woman doctor named Gulnaz, hailing from Punjab province, provincial media in-charge Mustafa Rasuli told the Afghan Islamic Press.

Gulnaz was working at a health clinic in Rustaq district, but did not have the required medical certificates.

She also did not have the documents required for a foreign doctor to work in Afghanistan.

A report from the Afghan press on the female doctor from Islamic Republic of Pakistan occupied Punjab being under investigation for involvement in poisoning school students in Afghanistan.

Pakistani female doctor arrested for poisoning school girls

[anupmisra]

Paki tradition (and penchant) for owning personal weapons is nothing new. After all, they are only following their leader Djinnah's example who owned several firearms in safe old England while practising as a lawyer (barrister) in the country. I am not able to tell if the date on the registration certificate is 1946. Why 1946? Wasn't he in India by then?

[RajeshA]

Pakistan's prickly paralysis fuelled by legacy of delusion

Anti-Americanism has also been fuelled by the military, its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and some politicians. Finger pointing is easier than answering the Pakistani people's questions to the establishment about the risk of state failure.

The military has also encouraged extremist groups, Islamic fundamentalist parties and Sunni sectarian groups, to unite for anti-American rallies. Now that the government is trying to talk to the Americans about reopening the road, it finds it is trapped by these same activists: their demands have escalated and the anti-American mood in the country is more pronounced.

I think we on BRF knew already what kind of tactical brilliance Paki Army was showing during the Raymond Davis case.

Paki Establishment has used anti-Americanism in USA as a bargaining tool to get more for doing less. They have used the excuse that if Americans want to bring down the Anti-Americanism in Pakistan, then USA should give bigger dole-outs.

At the same time, they have used Anti-Americanism in Pakistan to plead their inability with USA to do the needful and go after the terrorists.

To some extent the Americans were aware of this Pakistani way of negotiating, but they allowed it.

It all worked, but IMO, Raymond Davis case was when the Pakis decided to cut open the goose which laid golden eggs. In order to score cheap points on Paki ghairat, the Paki establishment decided to make Americans beg for his release. And the goose was killed. The Pakis got what they wanted on their terms - blood money for the relatives of those who died, and some other concessions. Their big mistake was to magnify this issue. What it did was, Paki behavior which was irksome but acceptable by a small low-level department in State Dept. & Pentagon, suddenly was made a topic for discussion among the Congressmen and White-House.

At this level, Pakis should have avoided showing their true colors. For the kind of double-game Pakis were playing, discretion was an imperative. But their ghairat and tactical brilliance became too much for their brains to handle.

And then came Operation Geronimo ...

From then on Pakistan lost the game.

When Panetta came to India and wanted to make a joint stand with India against Pakistan, India did not really give Panetta much leeway. The thinking in Washington may have been that by cozying up to the Indians, he can better use a small lever against Pakistan to nudge it to do Washington's bidding.

But we want the Americans to use a really big lever to deal with Pakistan. All the middle ground to solve Pakistan should become scarce.

By stopping NATO supplies and making a reopening incumbent upon an apology for Salala, or by demanding exorbitant prices for each supply truck, Pakistan has actually shown even more tactical brilliance.

Fanning Anti-Americanism in Pakistan in order to squeeze more out of USA for doing less, is a strategy that has burnt itself out. It wouldn't work anymore.

How long can the Pakis negotiate with a pistol to their heads?

Do they know any other way? GUBO perhaps!

[Theo_Fidel]

Pakistan a friend? Try the word fiend

To speak of Pakistan as America’s partner in the war against global terrorism is both an abuse of fact and an insult to the public’s intelligence.

check out some of the comments!

BTW Aisha Khan was a college girl who married Paki cousin from Pakistan then in a fit of disgust ran away for 6 days claiming some white guy harassed her (subtext for her religion) and the family kept mentioning she was wearing a head scarf at the time. Only security video shows she was alone all the time. There were 6,000 volunteers searching for her at one point and this comment went down particularly hard around here. Not only that, the family claimed she left text messages and voice mail to claim she was scared when there is no evidence of such a thing. She then dropped out of school has disappeared behind burqa. It appears she tried to escape, at which point the family, including her own sister who she called for help, got the police to put so much pressure that she had to return. This is big problem around here, American born girls married off to uncouth Paki louts. I can't get over the fact that her own sister turned on her.

But it is PC to not mention these things.

[archan]

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport is becoming tougher by the day

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport is becoming tougher by the day
By Aoun Sahi

Abid Hussain belongs to a well-established trader family of Islamabad and resides in E-11 Sector. He along with seven of his friends planned to go to Malaysia in March this year on a vacation. They contacted a tour operator who managed to get their visas after some hassle in two weeks. The group of friends left for Malaysia early April this year.

“We planned to go to Malaysia because it was out of question to get visas to some European countries. We were very happy and kept on planning how to spend our time there in Malaysia and joked around during the flight. But all our excitement vanished once we landed at the Kuala Lumpur airport,” says Abid Hussain.

The Malaysian authorities questioned them for two hours. They finally allowed only three of them to enter while ordered the other five to be deported from the airport.

In fact, “They sent back several Pakistanis travelling on that flight,” says Hussain. “They told us that majority of Pakistanis who come to Malaysia on tourist visas slip into their country and become illegal immigrants. So, they don’t allow people on tourist visas until they are not 100 per cent sure that the visitor is a genuine tourist.”

Travelling abroad on a Pakistani passport has become tougher in the last two decades.

The situation is not only affecting those who want to visit other countries for economic reasons, but also those who want to travel for recreational purposes especially in summer vacations.

It is not only the war on terror and the track record of Pakistanis in many terrorism activities abroad that alone is responsible for this.

“To get a tourist visa of any country has become difficult for Pakistanis because an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis slip into not only western countries, but also into countries like Malaysia and Dubai,” says Ali Butt, who is a business partner in one of the country’s largest travel agency. “They also use forged or fake documents like bank statements and police reports to apply for tourist visas. It does not only create problem for genuine tourists but also tour operators. We have to pay fines of some kind to get our licenses restored because of these people. Lately, we have been facing severe issues with the Malaysian visas. Most of the time people succeed in getting visas but it has become difficult for them to convince the immigration authorities in Malaysia. I think almost 60 per cent people travelling on the green passport who have genuine tourist visas are being denied entry into Malaysia.”

Ali Butt says the US, the UK and the European countries are particularly careful while granting visas — “These days the US and European countries are rejecting visas to more than 5 per cent of applicants, and the visa processing procedure usually takes months.”

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, an NGO head based in Islamabad, who travels frequently to different parts of the world for work, says that getting visas in Pakistan is like getting loans from banks. “Those who need it are hardly able to get it as the process has become so complicated over the years.”

A tour operator and travel agent based in Faisalabad who has been in the business since the mid-1990s tells TNS that things have changed drastically for the Pakistanis trying to travel abroad for all purposes. “Everyone, from businessmen to tourists to students to job-seekers to pilgrims, has been affected. Tourists are among the most hit. They spend money to go somewhere to relax but it has become so hectic to get a visa in the first place and then the kind of grilling Pakistanis go through at entry points almost everywhere in the world has made it very tough.”

Syed Wahad Raza whose company arranges tours in the Middle East, tells TNS that his company did not receive a single application for a tourist visa this year, while when the company started, five years ago, the company started getting applications from April. Another reason is also that the expenses—airfare and hotel rates — have doubled during the last five years.

According to Raza, “In those days most of the countries, except Gulf states, used to stamp passports on arrival. Now there are less than 20 countries (mainly African countries and some SAARC countries) in the world that grant Pakistanis visas on arrival.”

Several Western countries’ embassies in Pakistan have scaled down their presence in Pakistan and some have scrapped their visa councillor offices altogether. The embassies now do not allow applicants to come straight to them to file the application. They ask the applicants to file applications along with pile of documents like bank accounts, property ownership details, return tickets, hotel booking confirmation receipts, proof of travel and health insurance, medical test reports and police reports through a courier service provider.

In many cases applicants are needed to fill online application forms as well.

Western countries have not only increased their visas fees manifold but have increased the processing time as well and applicants are asked not to bother calling the embassy to check the status of an application.

At present, the tourist visa fee for the US is Rs14,400 plus Rs1,500 courier charges and UK visit visa fee valid for six months is Rs9,750 (inclusive of FedEx charges) plus Rs200 bank charges. Visa fees are non-refundable while one also spends a good amount of money to come to Islamabad for the interview. For the US and other western countries an acceptance of visa applications does not mean that visas will surely be granted. For example, the US embassy after accepting an application gives a receipt to the applicant that clearly mentions that it can take several months to issue a visa and the embassy has the right to deny a visa even then if it is not satisfied with the applicant.

Another very important factor that makes travelling from Pakistan to Western countries cumbersome is the suspension of operations of all Western airlines from Pakistan after 9/11. There are hardly any direct flights from Pakistan to Western countries and Pakistanis have to travel on Middle Eastern countries which further adds to the cost of travel. For example it costs only Indian Rs 32,000 to 35,000 (around Pakistani Rs 60,000) to get a return air ticket to any European country from India. While these countries’ air ticket from Pakistan is not less than Rs 80,000 to 90,000.

Then there are several countries like Mexico which do not have their embassies in Pakistan and people have to travel to India or some other country to get a visa.

Different countries have introduced specific restrictions for Pakistanis who want to travel. India, has always been considered the most problematic country for Pakistanis to travel to and vice versa because of required documentation and security approvals, but even a country like Indonesia has made it essential for applicants to show a personal guarantor from Indonesia who needs to explain concerned authorities in Indonesia why he/she may be inviting a Pakistani to Indonesia. Cambodia also requires a personal guarantor for visiting Pakistanis.

Dubai fines a travel agent Rs 180,000 if a tourist overstays or slips.

Rumana Hussain , a regular international traveller and travel writer agrees that the situation has become tougher for Pakistani tourists to go abroad. “It depends on where one wants to go. For example India is our neighbour and the cheapest country to travel to but it is the most difficult country to get into. The situation is also different for people belonging to different age groups. Young people have been facing the worst situation. It is also true that visa processing for Pakistanis has become more complex and time consuming but better planning can help to overcome this issue. People should apply two-three months in advance and should fill the online application forms with full concentration. I think it would help those getting visas in time and less grilling at airports.”

The icing on the cake is that Malaysia is an Islamic country. So much for the song and dance that the pukis make in the name of Islam. The Saudi treatment to the "short, dark and filthy " is well known, now even Malaysians?
Soon poakroaches will be unable to travel out anywhere out of their hellhole. Even BDs are gonna start refusing entry to these terrorists.

[RamaY]

We must not see Pakistan from others vision be it USA or KSA or Malaysia. We should see them from our own vision and grant them visas, free access to our markets, encourage people to people connections and even inter-faith marriages. After all marriage is the best bond we can use to convince Pakis that their terrorism as state policy is useless with India. Will they kill their own sasuraal?

[ArmenT]

Paki tradition (and penchant) for owning personal weapons is nothing new. After all, they are only following their leader Djinnah's example who owned several firearms in safe old England while practising as a lawyer (barrister) in the country. I am not able to tell if the date on the registration certificate is 1946. Why 1946? Wasn't he in India by then?

You forget the other Paki penchant of emigrating to the UK. Perhaps Jinnah was hedging his bets in case the Pakistanis revolted and kicked him out in the future. Interestingly enough, the inside page of his firearms permit lists his residential address as a hotel (Claridge's). Which means the man dropped by to England for a short period, when he got his firearms permit. Which smells like he was preparing the groundwork for a second home in England and probably feared that "South Asian" radicals might try to get to him if he moved there. Choice of weapons that he applied for permits for seems to indicate this: two .25 pistols and a .22 revolver, which are strictly home defense weapons and not the sort of thing to go bird hunting with. Also interesting is the choice of hotel: Claridge's is one of the top hotels in London, many heads of state and royal families stay there on their visits to London and the British royal family even throws a lot of parties in there. During World War II era, several of Europe's exiled royal families took residence in Claridge's. (As the legend goes, in 1947 a diplomat telephoned Claridge’s and asked to speak to the King. "Certainly sir," came the polite response, "but which one?") Either Jinnah must have had a lot of money to stay at that place, or he must have been staying there compliments of the British government (which I think is more likely, because they probably saw him as a future head of state who needed to be groomed).