Bharat Rakshak

THIS is apropos of the report ‘Three acquitted in Mazar rape case’ for want of evidence (April 7). My head hangs in shame. The sessions court in Karachi has acquitted the three men accused of raping a resident woman of Lodhran who came to visit the Mazar-i-Quaid in March 2008.

The learned judge disregarded the DNA report as it was deemed unacceptable under Hudood Laws and Maulana Abu Aala Maududi’s interpretation was made the basis of acquittal.{alamdulillah }

The fact that it took the learned court five years to arrive at the conclusion is very disturbing. The victim survivor from Lodhran must have faced a lot of difficulties while pursuing the case bravely. Alas, the verdict did not turn out to be in her favour.

How many among us would care to come forward as witnesses for five years? Can the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not see any discrepancy in delivery of justice in such cases?

DR M. AUQIL
Lahore

ramana wrote:Carl, You should be the new Indic Green Mantle!!!

Unfortunately, as we review our brief history, the blood we have spilt has been mostly our own: first in East Pakistan; today in the killing fields of Fata, Karachi and Balochistan. Each act of violence — terrorist attacks and assassinations, drone strikes, sectarian and ethnic massacres — drains the lifeblood of our nation and saps the commitment of the victims to the state of Pakistan. Shockingly, the perpetrators of such violence are well-known. Some openly claim responsibility for their gory crimes; others prefer to kill anonymously or silently from the skies. These daily aggressions on Pakistan’s people can be stopped. But those with the capability evidently lack the clarity and courage to do so.

In Pakistan, the pride and self-confidence which made its creation possible, has been steadily eroded by the supine acceptance of a series of humiliations inflicted on the nation. The first major humiliation was the surrender at Dhaka. More recent were those inflicted by a presumed ally: the Raymond Davis affair; the Abbottabad incursion and the Salala attack.

The injury to Pakistan’s pride now extends well beyond the military sphere. Today, Pakistan is equated with failed states like Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia. It is excluded from key forums, such as the Group of 20; discriminated against on peaceful nuclear cooperation and, barring our temporary membership of the UN Security Council, absent from deliberations on global political and economic issues. Our leaders are treated with condescension and contempt. At the borders of even friendly countries, Pakistanis are received with suspicion. We cannot even take pride in our once world-class hockey and cricket teams.

Pakistan was created in hope: that the Muslims of the subcontinent would be free, politically, economically and culturally, from the domination of the majority Hindu community. For almost two decades, this hope seemed to be well-placed in the fledgling state, as it grew economically, was governed efficiently and respected internationally.

Today, as public opinion polls indicate, hope has largely faded and the vast majority of Pakistanis are suffused with pessimism about their own and Pakistan’s future.

Unless these challenges are urgently addressed, there will be more blood on our streets and the pride and hope that were the signal feature of Pakistan’s birth will fade from memory. Internal divisions will be accompanied by the danger of external subjugation. The stage would then be set for history to impose its cruel judgement on Pakistan.

jrjrao wrote:

More recent were those inflicted by a presumed ally: the Raymond Davis affair; the Abbottabad incursion and the Salala attack.

Pakistan was created in hope: that the Muslims of the subcontinent would be free, politically, economically and culturally, from the domination of the majority Hindu community. For almost two decades, this hope seemed to be well-placed in the fledgling state, as it grew economically, was governed efficiently and respected internationally.

The Awami National Party — founded by ‘Frontier Gandhi’ Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s son Khan Abdul Wali Khan — came under terrorist attack for the third time in a week on Sunday as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) followed up on its threat to target the three “secular” parties.

Mukarram Shah, local ANP leader and a prominent member of Swat Peace Committee, was killed on Sunday afternoon in a blast targeting his vehicle, near Mingora. He was alone in the car.

An ANP rally was targeted in Charsadda, injuring a party leader and three others.

(CNN) -- At least four people were killed when missiles thought to be from a U.S. drone struck a militant compound in tribal North Waziristan on Sunday, Pakistani military sources told CNN.

Two missiles hit a compound in the village of Data Khel, the sources said.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's election commission today barred candidates from seeking votes in the name of religion or sect under new guidelines issued for the country's landmark May 11 general election.

KARACHI - The banned outfit Hizbut Tahrir (HT) has started its campaign across the country to convince people not to participate in elections and join hands with the outlawed organisation for the unification of Muslim world as a single state under the leadership of Sheikh Ata Abu Rishta.

The campaign has been started in almost all parts of the country and the HT activists have started holding public gatherings and corner meetings to convince people on a point that democracy was against Islam.

sanjaykumar wrote:Pakistanis should demand reunion with Saudia.

abhijitm wrote:Funny thing is in Pakistan you say any crap aloud or do anything and then just claim it is as per Islam. Nobody will even dare to challenge you. Simply because everyone can have their own version of Islam and claim to be the purest. Pakistan is truly a free country for Muslims. Only catch is you must be a part of majority at the end of the day.

shiv wrote:

abhijitm wrote:The trilogy of Quran, hadith and sura often have contradicting information so anything really can be Islamic. For example peace with kafirs can be Islamic. War with kafrs can be islamic. Everything is changeable depending on the context and who owns the gun.

candidates and their supporters must not campaign against any person on the basis of religion, ethnicity, caste or gender. Candidates and their supporters shall refrain from speeches arousing parochial and sectarian emotions and controversy between gender, community and linguistic groups.

The banned Baloch Republican Party and Baloch Republican Student Organisation held a rally here on Sunday, asking the Baloch people to boycott the elections.

They termed the participation of Baloch nationalist groups in the polls treason and urged Baloch people to stay away from polling stations on May 11.

Aditya_V wrote:Thats why I said consensus on the Indian side. But I guess we must wait till the WKK gets fully exposed.

KARACHI: In what is said to be an incident of theft, the laptop of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ibrahim was stolen along with other important documents from his office located in Clifton here, Geo News reported Sunday.The theft took place between 12 noon and 1 pm today, source said.
The laptop of the Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ibrahim contained data which is said to be of a sensitive nature.

SSridhar wrote:

Aditya_V wrote:Thats why I said consensus on the Indian side. But I guess we must wait till the WKK gets fully exposed.

I believe that unless India reaches a point where it has got no option left except to react ruthlessly, it does not react. Even then, it does not take its reaction the whole hog. It leaves it in the middle allowing the scourge to re-emerge a little later. We are like that onlee. So, leave aside the dream of seeing a proactive India.

Bhutto’s wail (dated APril 14, 1963)

The Pakistan Foreign Minister has complained that “the world has been too kind to India.” Mr. Bhutto, speaking in the National Assembly on April 11, said: “Whatever India does, everyone is ready to explain it and to rationalise India’s conduct. When India wants to shout Hindi-Chini bhai bhai, the world tries to appreciate and understand it. When India says there is no threat at all from any quarter, the world tries to understand it. And, all of a sudden, when the equilibrium in the mind of India shifts from one end to the other, still the world tries to understand it. This is an ironical and historical situation, and it is this kindness to India, this gross and gratuitous kindness to India that has jeopardised the lives of the people of Kashmir and has threatened the security and integrity of the sub-continent.”

SSridhar wrote:Z.A.Bhutto's Wail - From Archives of The Hindu

Bhutto’s wail (dated APril 14, 1963)

The Pakistan Foreign Minister has complained that “the world has been too kind to India.” Mr. Bhutto, speaking in the National Assembly on April 11, said: “Whatever India does, everyone is ready to explain it and to rationalise India’s conduct. When India wants to shout Hindi-Chini bhai bhai, the world tries to appreciate and understand it. When India says there is no threat at all from any quarter, the world tries to understand it. And, all of a sudden, when the equilibrium in the mind of India shifts from one end to the other, still the world tries to understand it. This is an ironical and historical situation, and it is this kindness to India, this gross and gratuitous kindness to India that has jeopardised the lives of the people of Kashmir and has threatened the security and integrity of the sub-continent.”

anupmisra wrote:This latest ECP ruling is against the spirit of pak-e-satan and the nazariya-e-pak. ECP bans seeking vote on religious, sectarian grounds. Imagine if Djinnah had to abide by these rules. No more "islam khatrey mein hai" excuse.

“Pakistan is like AIG,” Zardari told Holbrooke, comparing his country to the U.S. insurance giant that was bailed out in 2008. “Too big to fail.” Washington, Zardari keenly recalled, had given AIG “$100 billion. You should give Pakistan the same,” Zardari said. Holbrooke smiled throughout the meeting.

Holbrooke, writes Nasr, was troubled by Zardari’s display of dependence on the U.S. and the sense of entitlement that went with it. “Holbrooke didn’t like the image of Pakistan holding a gun to its own head as it shook down America for aid,” writes Nasr

“When you look at Pakistan today,” says Nasr, “it is nuclear-armed, in near conflict with India, has a dangerous civil war with its own extremists, is now subject to one of the most brutal terrorism campaigns against its population, that is now coming apart along sectarian lines.” If the U.S. does not maintain influence in Pakistan, he says, it won’t be able to have a positive impact on the direction of the country. “Looking at it from an American perspective,” Nasr says, “we’re just going to be basically saying, ‘We’re going to sit on the sideline and look at this roller coaster go off this rail.’”

“These were ways of laying out for Pakistan a longer road map with the U.S., and alternately trying to put on the table for Pakistan interests that would gradually wean it away from its strategic outlook and bring it in a new direction.” There would be no quick fix. It was a longer strategy aimed at slowly undoing decades of alienation and mistrust.

As Nasr acknowledges, there was a rival school of thought that said, “It was too difficult, too time-consuming and wouldn’t work anyway.” When Holbrooke died, their view won out.

Gagan wrote:At least Fakhru's laptop is being put to good use - to surf the internet to search for doggy sex and camel sex.
Poor old fakhroo will have to use his home PeeCee for surfing for the above.

jrjrao wrote:The last time Munir Akram felt such frustration and deep despair, he beat up his girlfriend in NY. Maybe this time, he will break some empty whiskey bottles over his head.

Blood, pride and hope
http://dawn.com/2013/04/14/blood-pride-and-hope/

Pakistan was created in hope: that the Muslims of the subcontinent would be free, politically, economically and culturally, from the domination of the majority Hindu community. For almost two decades, this hope seemed to be well-placed in the fledgling state, as it grew economically, was governed efficiently and respected internationally.

Shocking to learn are the disclosures about fake degrees, loan defaulters, non-payment of utility bills and tainted pasts.

Mian Waheed was in the foreign service for 27 years and was posted to many countries, the most important being Vienna, Bonn and Rome. While in Bonn, he had a lot to do with our nuclear <sic> programme. Therefore, Mian sahib was a nuclear spy and an industrial thief

My procurement officer, Mr Ikramul Haq Khan, a competent, German-speaking engineer from the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, was posted in Bonn, first as "councilor" and later as minister. He was on very good terms with Mian Waheed and the latter gave him all the possible assistance and facilities he could provide. So, there were two spies and industrial thieves helping AQK

The technology I brought with me was worth $2 billion (He means. technology that he stole; and now we have an amount/value of the theft) at that time, all of which I put at the disposal of the country against a meagre salary of Rs3,000 per month. If there ever was a "confession, this is it

Incidentally, I am familiar with Loharu, Jalalabad, Muzaffernagar, all tiny Pathan states near Delhi. They were Pathan bastis, just like Bhopal, Rampur, Mahmudabad, Tonk etc. Our next door neighbours in Bhopal belonged to the royal family and we were close friends – all tall, well-built and extremely handsome.

anupmisra wrote:Confessions of the demented khan (AQ, that is).

History revisited

Straight to the good parts:

Shocking to learn are the disclosures about fake degrees, loan defaulters, non-payment of utility bills and tainted pasts.

Mian Waheed was in the foreign service for 27 years and was posted to many countries, the most important being Vienna, Bonn and Rome. While in Bonn, he had a lot to do with our nuclear <sic> programme. Therefore, Mian sahib was a nuclear spy and an industrial thief

My procurement officer, Mr Ikramul Haq Khan, a competent, German-speaking engineer from the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, was posted in Bonn, first as "councilor" and later as minister. He was on very good terms with Mian Waheed and the latter gave him all the possible assistance and facilities he could provide. So, there were two spies and industrial thieves helping AQK

The technology I brought with me was worth $2 billion (He means. technology that he stole; and now we have an amount/value of the theft) at that time, all of which I put at the disposal of the country against a meagre salary of Rs3,000 per month. If there ever was a "confession, this is it

This is what takes the cake:

Incidentally, I am familiar with Loharu, Jalalabad, Muzaffernagar, all tiny Pathan states near Delhi. They were Pathan bastis, just like Bhopal, Rampur, Mahmudabad, Tonk etc. Our next door neighbours in Bhopal belonged to the royal family and we were close friends – all tall, well-built and extremely handsome.

Take that you short scrawny darkies.

Shocking to learn are the disclosures about fake degrees, loan defaulters, non-payment of utility bills and tainted pasts.

Brad Goodman wrote:subhanallah

Rape victim’s ordeal

THIS is apropos of the report ‘Three acquitted in Mazar rape case’ for want of evidence (April 7). My head hangs in shame. The sessions court in Karachi has acquitted the three men accused of raping a resident woman of Lodhran who came to visit the Mazar-i-Quaid in March 2008.

The learned judge disregarded the DNA report as it was deemed unacceptable under Hudood Laws and Maulana Abu Aala Maududi’s interpretation was made the basis of acquittal.{alamdulillah }

The fact that it took the learned court five years to arrive at the conclusion is very disturbing. The victim survivor from Lodhran must have faced a lot of difficulties while pursuing the case bravely. Alas, the verdict did not turn out to be in her favour.

How many among us would care to come forward as witnesses for five years? Can the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court not see any discrepancy in delivery of justice in such cases?

DR M. AUQIL
Lahore

Now judge should start zina proceeding aganist the lady to make it completely islamic trial

As the time of the withdrawal of the USA and the allied forces is coming closer the Pakistan army has suddenly changed its stance against the Taliban. The army has developed its new policy from "Crush the terrorists" to "Our enemy's enemy is our friend" and included the Taliban as its partner for the coming changes in the region.

However, once again, a policy shift has been observed where the military is now forcing the tribal leaders of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to make friends with the Taliban and sign peace deals with them.

Malaks are the tribal elders of different tribes and the Khan is the leader of the Malaks. The Malaks in Bajaur Agency are under tremendous pressure from the military to sign peace deals with the Taliban who fled to Kunar province in Afghanistan. Bajaur is one of the seven tribal agencies bordering Afghanistan. To the South of Bajaur is the Mohmand Agency while to the North it is connected with District Dir.

During the war with the Taliban the Pakistan army provided arms, ammunition and training to the tribal leaders and elders to fight against Terrorists. For that initiative the Aman Committees (Peace Committees) were formed and they fought valiantly, sacrificing their lives and property to save the country from attacks from the northern areas.

According to the details available from the scribe of this article in the interviews conducted with the Malaks, they were invited for a Jarga three months ago at the Political Agent's office in the agency headquarter, Khaar. In that meeting the Malaks were asked to sign a peace deal with Taliban from Bajaur Agency and also to send a delegation to Kunar in order to bring them back.

The Jargas in the tribal areas are the official meetings conducted under the political agent of the FATA and grand Jargas are conducted by the provincial governor of Khyber Pakhtoonkha.

When the Malaks resisted this initiative, another Jarga was called on February 8, 2013 which was addressed by Brigadier Ghulam Haider who is the commander of the military in the agency. In this Jarga, Brigadier Haider pressed the elders to agree to a peace deal with the Taliban.

The 'demand' from the military was not merely limited to a peace deal with the Taliban. Each Malak was also asked to host 30 Talibani until the political agent built houses for them.

"We were shocked and could not believe what we were told by the Brigadier. We thought the military came to uproot the terrorists from our area but now it is asking us to sign a deal with the murderers of our sons, brothers and children", a shaken and incensed Malak shared with this scribe in Bajaur.

"We are accused of taking money from the USA, Afghanistan, Europe and India for launching our Lakhkar. And when we refused to succumb to the pressure of the military to have peace with Taliban, a 1000-strong Taliban outfit attacked our area from the Baatwar side, a mountainous village on the Pak-Afghan border. Our valiant tribesmen deterred their attack and pushed them back to the Afghan side", a Malak told me on the condition of anonymity. We were sitting in the shadow of those tall snowy mountains from where Taliban entered some four months back.

"We do not know what the military and the government want from us. We sacrificed so much in this war. There is not a single family that did not lose a member in this fight. But we are befuddled that why after so much sufferings, the military wants us to welcome those murderers. If this was going to be the conclusion of our fight, we would not have wanted the sacrifices of our children, fathers and brothers", an elderly man belonging to the Salarzai tribe voiced, the sorrow and subjection was clearly printed on his wrinkled face.

The scribe then asked, "But will you be able to handle Taliban if the military left Bajaur. He replied, "We want the military out as we are sick of its double game and we have arrived at this conclusion that military and Taliban are the same.

"The military is forcing Malaks to agree to a peace deal with the Taliban and for that it exploits different tactics", divulged a local journalist on the condition of anonymity. "If you are a Malak and you resist negotiations with the Taliban, a stranger would use some Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in your area and stay there until the military sniping dogs spot him there. This gives the military an opportunity to confront the Malak and accuse him of harbouring the Taliban himself. He is left with no option but to accept peace deal". He laughed, probably noticing the expression of surprise on the face of this scribe. "This is FATA my dear, away from human civilization", he added.

The recent appointment of the governor of KPK, Shaukatullah Khan could be linked to this new strategy of the Pakistan army to bring back their assets from Afghanistan, rest them and get them ready for a new battle in Afghanistan after the US forces withdraw. Shaukatullah Khan was an elected member of the National Assembly from Bajaur Agency.

PaksMIT, a Pakistani cultural group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), held a spectacular event this past Saturday evening in an effort to promote the richness and diversity of Pakistani culture