Karan M wrote:A joke right? Because i cant see any video..
SBajwa wrote:Surgical strikes leaked video
congress and all the MahaThugBandhan parties are accusing Modi of releasing this video to influence elections!
Karan M wrote:A joke right? Because i cant see any video..
SBajwa wrote:Surgical strikes leaked video
. What does it matter anyway! Isloo is a gated ghetto, surrounding on all sides by the "real Pakiland"ISLAMABAD: The capital’s administration has banned processions, rallies, the distribution of handbills and pamphlets, wall-chalking, loudspeakers and the public use of sound systems ahead of the general election for a period of two months. They have also banned the publication of housing development launches, plot sales, carrying and displaying firearms and the sale, purchase and use of firecrackers and fireworks and stone-blasting.
When contacted, administration officials said the bans were imposed to maintain law and order, avoid untoward incidents and keep the city clean.
Political parties favoured by the "Deep State" will be given priority treatment !Political parties will only be permitted to hold processions and public gatherings after obtaining no-objection certificates from the district magistrate, and Parade Ground and F-9 Park will be reserved for such processions.
Officers claimed the district magistrate had learned that some segments of society were planning to hold unlawful assemblies, including majalis and processions, in Islamabad.They said segments of society were planning to lead religious and sectarian processions and hold demonstrations in the capital, which could disrupt or threaten public life, cause annoyance or injury, endanger human life and safety, pose a threat to public property and lead to rioting, including sectarian riots.
Gatherings of five or more people within the revenue limits of Islamabad, including the Red Zone, are banned. namazSlogans and posters are also banned as they could hurt religious sentiments, the officials claimed.
The district magistrate has also banned publications regarding the launch of housing schemes to sell plots, invite applications for membership fee deposits or the publication of plot prices in such schemes without observing all the legal formalities unless prior permission has been obtained from the office of the district magistrate.Officers said there were housing societies, trusts and limited companies operating in the capital in a manner not warranted by the law and advertising more land than they had available to them. Bahria and Malik Riaz and his fauji cronies![]()
Carrying, displaying and exhibiting firearms have also been banned for two months, they said. No one other than a member of the armed forces, civilian law enforcement, Rangers and on-duty police may carry firearms or display firearms within the revenue or territorial limits of the Islamabad district, they said. Armed Bodyguards of politicos![]()
In the interest of clarity ,they should also come out with a list of activities that will be allowed for electioneering purposesStocking, selling, buying and using firecrackers and fireworks has also been banned as this could disturb public peace and poses a threat to public property. Digging stone by blasting has also been banned for being disruptive and dangerous to the public.
In my most recent Wall Street Journal column (read it here), I write about the Pashtun Tahafuz (protection) Movement, a non-violent group that campaigns against human rights abuses by Pakistan’s army against the Pashtuns, Pakistan’s largest linguistic minority. Some 30 million Pashtuns account for 15% of Pakistan’s population. Over the past four months, PTM has attracted thousands of protestors to its rallies.
There’s a wider context to Pashtun discontent. For most of its seven decades of existence, Pakistan has struggled to accommodate grievances by ethnic minorities. In 1971, Bengali-speaking East Pakistan seceded to form the new nation of Bangladesh. The army—easily Pakistan’s most powerful institution—has fought (and largely crushed) a bloody insurgency in Balochistan. Last year, Pakistan effectively dismantled the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a political party associated with Mohajirs, descendants of Muslim migrants from India.
Apart from the Pakjabis, the other ethnicities do not share the intense hatred of India and the Urdu language ! And Islam means different things to different groups !In part, this discomfort with both minority protest movements and parties viewed as unsympathetic to the army has to do with Pakistan’s decision to define itself in ideological rather than territorial terms. As the Hudson Institute’s Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S., writes in his new book, Reimagining Pakistan: “Pakistan could have recognized its diversity and evolved as a multi-language federation with political and cultural autonomy for its constituting units. Instead, its leaders chose to base Pakistani identity on a national ideology.” That ideology, says Haqqani, has three cornerstones: Islam, hostility to India and the Urdu language.
In Bangladesh, Pakistan used force to quell Bengalis and failed. Its regular playbook, which relies on a combination of brute force and a well-oiled propaganda machine, may not work against the Pashtuns either.
For starters, Pakistan’s 30 million Pashtuns greatly outnumber other ethnic minority groups such as the Baloch (7 million) and the Mohajirs (16 million). Thanks to migration, Pakistan’s commercial capital, Karachi, also contains the largest concentration of Pashtuns in the world: about four million people.
Pakistan Deep State maintains that the PTM Movement is controlled by Afghanistan. And India !Add to that 14 million Pashtuns in Afghanistan, where they form a 42% plurality of the population.(The PTM has no connection with Afghanistan, and works strictly within the boundaries of Pakistan’s constitution, but Afghan and Pakistani Pashtuns share close ties of kinship and culture.) In February, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted in support of the PTM.
The PTM’s embrace of non-violence also makes it harder to target harshly without international backlash. Though the group protests against excesses committed by the military during Pakistan’s crackdown on the terrorist group Tehreek-i-Taliban, or Pakistan Taliban, PTM leaders are focused on civilians inadvertently caught up in the conflict. They argue that any terrorists among the thousands of Pashtun disappeared must be tried in court. (Two weeks ago, a U.S. drone strike killed the brutal TTP leader Mullah Fazlullah in Afghanistan.) Who was initially reared by Pakistan in its own back yard !
When the Chini Censorship System is fully implemented courtesy CPEC, the breathing space presently available to Paki Social Media is also going to shrinkIn the face of a media blackout, the PTM has used Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to get its message across, including to the Pashtun diaspora in the West. This too makes it harder to curb than other Pakistani protest movements. According to Mohsin Dawar, a senior PTM leader, “had there been no social media there would be no PTM.”
That is a big complement to the young leader !And finally, in 26-year-old Manzoor Pashteen the PTM has a charismatic leader who has quickly attracted a devoted following among his people. Abubakar Siddique, an analyst with Radio Free Europe in Prague, believes Pashteen is akin to Nelson Mandela for the Pashtuns.
Perhaps keeping all of these factors in mind, the Pakistan army has approached the PTM with relative restraint. It has arrested PTM members, placed travel restrictions on the movement’s leaders, and used the domestic media to smear them. But it has not gone after them with the brutality it has used, for instance, on Baloch separatists.
Will the army’s relative restraint last? ( Dr) Mohammad Taqi, ( Mazdaki , a Pashtun himself , and who was chased out of Paki Media ) a regular U.S.-based commentator on Pashtun and Pakistani politics, worries that it may not. “If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail,” he says.
LAHORE – The top contender for Pakistan’s top office of Prime Minister, Imran Khan has clarified his position over his ‘controversial’ action at a Sufi shrine in Punjab, following a religio-political storm that has gripped the social media since last night.
After getting hitched with the Peerni, the Kaptaan has morphed into a "follower of Sufism" . And Sufism , is a big no -no in Wahabi Saudia , where both of them went there for the "small hajj ( AKA Umra ) . Wonder, if the Saudis are aware of Immy and the Peerni's penchant for Sufism“Sufism speaks about removing the “mein” the ego in an individual, people see these things superficially and declare fatwas without knowing the religion, without even knowing the facts whether it was a kiss or sajda,” the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) told the host of a show on Dunya TV.
In real Islam, you do not revere a pir ! Saudi Arabia has destroyed all the tombs of prominent Muslims, including members of the PBUH family in Mecca . And replaced these "holy" places with western style shopping and / or entertainment centres !!!“Sajda is only for Allah, I only kissed the floor of the mazar (shrine) out of my respect for the great individual that he was, for his services to Islam. This makes you more humble and removes your ego.
“Anyone who believes in the kalma, in the oneness of God, can never share anyone with Allah,” he added.![]()
The images and videos of Imran and his wife Bushra Maneka showing them allegedly ‘performing sajda’ at the point of entry to the tomb of Baba Farid Ganjshakar, in Pakpattan, were well noted by social media, with political commentator, Gul Bukhari equating the move with a Sajda (prostration only done before Allah Almighty by the Muslims).
Completely upset by Imran’s action, some including his former wife Reham Khan even accused him of ‘Shirk.’ The Book ( Reham's gossipy tract !) is going to be released shortly![]()
Another account regarding Imran’s ‘bow-down’ is that there is a difference between Sajda and paying respect to the sacred shrine by kissing the floor.An Islamic school of thought is arguing on social media that Imran Khan merely expressed his respect for the place by bowing down, a continuation of what he did in Saudi Arabia by landing barefoot on the Holy land.Analyst Mosharraf Zaidi also dished in on the matter and took a jibe at the commentators who otherwise avoid indulging in religious affairs, but expressed their views on Imran’s shrine visit.
The U Turns Of Imran Listed BelowThe third wife of Khan, who is also believed to be a spiritual mentor of the PTI chief, spread flowers in front of the Bahishti Darwaza (the door of paradise) at the shrine. Khan also distributed ritualistic sweets and edibles.
Imran Khan was also flanked by his close friend and business tycoon Zulfikar Bukhari during the visit, which apparently aims at seeking blessings ahead of the upcoming polls.
ISLAMABAD: Despite concentrated efforts to avoid the inclusion, Pakistan has officially been placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ‘grey list’ on Wednesday. Experts now believe that Pakistan should avoid going to the International Monitory Fund (IMF) for another bailout package as the lending agency question the country’s sources of foreign funding. IMF will of course "demand" transparency re CPEC , which the Paki National Assembly was not privy to![]()
IMF, which is dominated by US is not in the business of "doling" out free funds, as Pakistan from previous experience should well know“It is very clear that the IMF, which is ready to facilitate another bailout package for Pakistan, will ask about all sources of foreign fundings including the ones coming through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) after Pakistan’s fall in the grey list,” Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) former chairman Dr Muhammad Irshad said. He added that the lending agency (IMF), which is influenced by those countries which put Islamabad on the grey list, will demand to share every detail about CPEC related investments and hence their legalities.
The COAS will have to make another "goodwill" trip to Saudia, under guise of doing "Umrah" or Hajj and submit himself to the mercy of the Saudis , who may throw a few billions to rescue the "First Islami Atomi Takat". Maybe, Raheel Sharif may again whisper a few good words in the ears of the senile monarch, on behalf of Pakiland !Unfortunately, for wrong policies of the previous government, Pakistan is fast heading towards another bailout package to meet the grave situation of current account deficits. Defaulting to foreign loans will be more destructive for the country. “This is why I suggest the government extend the existing amnesty scheme and provide more facilities to oversee Pakistanis convincing them to transfer assets to Pakistan. Let the Pakistani diaspora enjoy facilities even if undue. The country needed desperately needed dollars,” he said suggesting further, that a national economic agenda is needed to be framed on an emergency basis.
In a separate report, the Paki press speculated that many Paki corrupt businessmen, corrupt faujis, corrupt bureaucrats and corrupt politicos and others have salted away billions and billions of dollars in Swiss Banks !“As the previous government estimated around $5 billion revenue to be generated under the amnesty scheme, we need to let it continue for another few months to ensure more facilities for overseas Pakistanis. In case of better inflows, the country can sustain for more time without IMF’s support,” Dr Irshad added.
India is always the favourite whipping boy for Pakiland . Nothing about Saudi Arabia and China who also did not support Pakistan !According to an official at Ministry of Finance (Mof), even after the decision of putting Pakistan in the grey list again, the country has the grace period of 12 to 15 months to come out of the list. “What Pakistan needed was to perform better diplomacy and convince at least five to seven countries and get favourable votes out of the total 37 countries before the next meeting of FATF . This time, even friendly countries avoided supporting Pakistan under the pressure of the India led lobby,” he said, adding that the country had once come out of the list in 2015, it can again leave the list if adequate measures are taken. Islamabad needed to ensure the implementation of the action plan shared with the FATF .
Talking about the option of extending the amnesty scheme to pave the way for repatriation of foreign assets, sources claim that people, enjoying the extended period may declare money/assets but thera e is little possibility to bring money back into Pakistan. They may declare assets inside and outside the country to whiten the black money.
Economists claim that the grey-listing will squeeze Pakistan’s economy and make it harder for the country to meet its mounting foreign financing needs, including potential future borrowings from the International Monetary Fund. It could also lead to a downgrade in Pakistan’s debt ratings, making it more difficult to tap into the international bond markets.
IMO,- and I could be wrong - the CPEC is responsible for "sucking away to China" all the foreign exchange reserves of Pakiland . In 2012 there was no CPEC !However, officials at the finance ministry claim Pakistan was on the FATF grey-list from 2012 to 2015, a period during which it successfully completed an IMF program and raised over $5 billion from the international bond markets. During this period Pakistan’s imports and exports remained stable, evidence that the grey-listing did not raise any significant barriers to trade.
China and Saudia are Pakistan's enemy“Though the economic team of Pakistan has also shown weaknesses in the entire process of meeting requirements of FATF , a lobby of Pakistan’s enemy may have also played a key role in the decision of putting Pakistan against on grey list,” sources.
WASHINGTON: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list following a meeting on money laundering in Paris on Wednesday.According to details, Pakistan’s interim Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar presented a strong case during the meeting, pleading Pakistan’s case to remove its name from the FATF grey list.
Details are unavailable as to which nation, if at all, came out in support of Pakistan this time !The minister apprised the anti-terror financing body of measures that country has taken to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and to eliminate the terrorism from its soil.The US motion, to have Pakistan added to the “grey list” of countries was reportedly backed by Britain, France and Germany.
So, Pakistan failed to make any progress since Feb 2018 !It was revealed that FATF finalised this decision asserting the country failed to take necessary measures against terror financing on its soil.
They should "thank their stars" that they were not put on the dreaded Black ListA Topline research report said, “the meeting will conclude with the third and final Plenary meeting on 27-29 Jun 2018, where they will officially place Pakistan on the ‘Improving Global Anti Money Laundering (AML)/ Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) compliance’ list also known as the ‘grey’ list’.”
Pakiland supporting Daish. Why is this info not mentioned in Paki mediaThis list comprises of jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF .Previously, a local media house reported a 26-point action plan has been designed spanning a period of 15 months to avoid being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).The idea of the plan being passed is to stop the financing of terrorist groups like Da’ish and the Haqqani network.
For how long can Pakistan keep up its pretense that it is a responsible member of the world community and does not engage in nuclear proliferation and cross border terrorism, money laundering , fake currency printing , suppression of minorities etc etcMoreover, the discussion on the action plan began by the global intergovernmental body working to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.The plan that the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of Asia Pacific Group (APG) submitted to the FATF Plenary also requires Pakistani authorities to proactively cooperate with counterpart bilateral agencies.According to reports, the Ministry of Finance stated that Pakistan will have to deliver on the first goal by January next year and complete all the 26 actions by September 2019.In February 2018, the FATF approved the nomination of Pakistan for monitoring under its International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) commonly known as Grey List.
The ICRG of the APG has identified four key areas of concerns, including deficiencies in the supervision of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing regimes, cross-border illicit movement of currency by terrorist groups, progress on terrorism financing investigation and prosecution and implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions 1267 and 1373, for curbing terror financing. It was further reported that the number of conditions taken into account are the concerns of the UNSC resolutions.This is followed by eight commitments to address the issues regarding terrorism financing prosecution, four are about curbing currency movement across the border and five recommendations relate to improvement in the supervision mechanisms of banks and companies.
LAHORE – A three-member full bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday summoned former prime ministers’ Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on July 29 on a petition seeking registration of treason case against them.A three-member full bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) headed by Justice Mazahir Alil Akbar Naqvi released the written order.
Obviously, Deep State is behind Siddique !The court while summoning Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on July 29 ordered both the parties to clear their position after appearing before the court.The petition was filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique saying that Nawaz Sharif interview falls in the ambit of treason, while Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told Nawaz Sharif the proceedings of a very important meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC).
LONDON – Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has warned that there will be dire consequences if ‘rigging’ was not stopped.Expressing his reservations about arrest of Qamarul Islam and disqualification of Daniyal Aziz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at Harley Street in London on Thursday, he said that the slogan of ‘respect the vote’ is being chanted in every house.
Ganja's "tough stance" against the Deep State may severely "spoil" the chances of his "clever brother" and his PML party in the forthcoming election !“Such behavior resulted in the separation of East Pakistan. Take pity on the country and stop playing this game,” he said.The former premier said that different judgments are being pronounced in similar cases.
Ganja may cry foul . Or at the worst, may spill "some more secrets" of Deep State to international media . But then, he should be ready to say "goodbye" to Pakiland“For the time being, the PML-N is the only target. The previous months’ record shows that I and my colleagues are being targeted,” he maintained.Nawaz Sharif said that a new history of rigging is being written.
“I have directed the entire party to support Qamarul Islam and his sons and daughter,” he said.![]()
Pakistanis are a superstitious lot. It is easier for us to blame our own mistakes, lack of vision or just poor risk perception on evil eyes, bad omens or anything else that suits our fancy. The important thing to remember is, it is never we, who are at fault. And why would we ever be at fault? Superstitions trumps logic any day!
Leaderans reflect the masses , right ?It is our good fortune that it is not just the average citizen that hold such beliefs, even our politicians and heads of state believe in bad omens, evil eyes and jinxes. I mean, since they are leading our great and glorious nation on a path of progress and prosperity, they would know better right?
On the other hand, sadiqa ( sacrifice) also practiced by BB, did not help her , when it mattered !Our former president, who has the distinct honour of having his party’s democratically elected government complete its full term, the first in our history, weathered every storm by sacrificing a goat every day. Every day of the year, for years.
One wonders if the goat sacrifice is still the norm behind the fortress-like walls of Bilawal House, but only God and American spy satellites would know. Now Pakistan, will not have to "rely" on US Satellites , beginning next month . Chini assisted satellite will do the needful![]()
Dus Percenti, is at least physically, if not politically alive, so something MUST have worked . Not sure, if Junior Zardari, an Oxonian like Imran , has joined the ranks of the superstitiousIt would be an injustice if we do not mention Pir Ejaz, the pir who enabled our former president to access the paltry sum of $60 million in his Swiss bank account.The pir gave up all worldly pleasures and meditated in Medina for a year, for the sake of el presidente’s money. The level of dedication is admirable.At the end of the year long meditation, the former president was able to cash his cheque at his Swiss bank branch.The pir also claims that no harm can come to Asif Zardari, due to his otherworldly efforts.
Bilawal House in posh Clifton is not too far away from the Karachi coast line !he pir had also advised the then president to live near the seashore, in order to ward of ‘evil spirits dangling over his head’. It is highly likely that Zardari’s presence so near to the coast saved us from Cyclone Nilofer.
Not "enough" Sadiq and Ameen , according to Deep State !Our incumbentGone ! prime minister is no stranger when it comes to superstitions and pirs. They have guided him well, so well in fact that he got kicked out of officetwice;Thrice let’s hope third time is a charm.
The Pir is fake , like fake news !!The pir in Sharif’s life was the celebrated Dewana Baba of Dhanaka Sharif in Mansehra District. Sharif would race to his hilltop abode every time an election was near, in order to get his blessings. It is matter of debate how the blessings worked out, as Sharif is yet to complete a full term in office.
Benazir Bhutto – Former prime ministerNawaz’s visit to the pir was surely a blessing for the pir’s fellow villagers, as their village was electrified ( load shedding solved) during Sharif’s second term. Pirs surely work in mysterious ways. The pir died in 2008, one wonders if there is a new pir in Nawaz’s life. There should be some Pirs in London for sure
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Another Oxonian falling into the "trap of the pir-shir business"Elected twice democratically, and dismissed just as many times undemocratically, former prime minister of Pakistan and wife to Asif Zardari, had her own pir to guide and assist her. No need for advisers or ministers to advice on functions of the state, the pir knows all.Benazir was lucky to have inherited Dewana Baba after she assumed office following Nawaz’s dismissal. His dismissal should have been a red flag, but Benazir continued to visit the 'famed' pir, and sought his blessings whenever the need arose.
It is reported that she had the road leading to the pir’s abode paved, and eventually constructed a helipad for easier and quicker access, beating Nawaz to his favourite pir.
But, then did not Ex POTUS Reagan, himself "entertained" the then Jihadi warriors in the White House !Another famous incident is of Benazir’s first trip to the White House after getting married. She was accompanied by an individual, part of her very ‘small’ entourage, who baffled the culturally savvy American Secret Service as well as the Pakistanis.
The Americans, just like the Pakistanis on the trip, were unable to determine who the individual in question was. Many say, including a very prominent journalist of Pakistan, that the man was a pir who was accompanying the first couple of Pakistan. So there you have it plebs, our pirs have been to the White House.
Imran, another "Oxford Educated " like his political U turns has now switched Pirs and , if media reports are to be believed gone "completely Sufi" under the Islamic Influence of his now THIRD wife, a Pir herselfIf social media and certain reports are to be believed, Khan rubbed kaali daal all over himself to ward off a curse. Another distinct possibility is that Khan was experimenting with a new method to cleanse his skin. All those trips to Sindh’s dusty interior areas to gather votes wreak havoc on one’s skin. There were also media reports about certain amulets being found. In a perfect world, amulets would win elections and stop those unsavory opposition party leaders from rigging elections, but fortunately, the world is not a perfect place.
The Pakistani government’s removal of a virulently anti-Shiite militant from its terrorism list at the very moment that an international money laundering and terrorism finance watchdog was deciding to put the country on a watchlist highlights Pakistan’s struggle to come to grips with militancy.
The decision by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that was reported by Pakistani media but has yet to be announced by the group itself also puts China’s ambiguous attitude towards Pakistani militants on the spot.It further raises questions about attitudes of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Arabia attitude towards Pakistani militants. Raheel was supposed to "look after" this Prince !!
Like China, Saudi Arabia has adopted contradictory attitudes towards Pakistani militants, supporting those that serve its geopolitical objectives while seeking to neutralize militants that either threaten its interests or are of little value to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia and China paved the way for this week’s decision to put Pakistan on FATF’s grey list by acquiescing in February to a FATF decision to give Pakistan three months to clean up its act.The grey listing means that Pakistan's financial system will be designated as posing a risk to the international financial system because of "strategic deficiencies" in its ability to prevent terror financing and money laundering.Pakistani officials downplayed the significance of the grey listing, noting that the country was able to float international bonds, borrow from multilateral bodies, receive or send remittances or conduct international trade when it was listed between 2012 and 2015.In March, then finance minister Miftah Ismail told the national assembly that the listing would not affect Pakistan’s economy and at best cause the country embarrassment.
Pakistan, nevertheless, sought to evade listing by issuing this month a directive that strengthened its anti-money laundering and terrorism finance controls.
The chicken dish qorma is of course "halal"The Pakistani effort however did not stop the government from removing Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, the head of Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), from its terrorism list on the day that FATF was discussing Pakistan in Paris.
ASWJ, which is fielding dozens of candidates for Pakistan’s July 25 elections, is the successor of long-banned Sipah-e-Sahaba, a virulently anti-Shiite group that has close ties to Saudi Arabia. SA is vehemently Anti Shia . And so is Raheel Sharif !!!. “Some things are natural. It’s like when two Pakistanis meet abroad or someone from Jhang meets another person from Jhang in Karachi. It’s natural to be closest to the people with whom we have similarities… We are the biggest anti-Shiite movement in Pakistan,” Mr. Ludhianvi said in 2016 over a lunch of chicken, vegetables and rice.
Mr. Ludhianvi sits at the intersection of both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s two-pronged attitude towards militancy.Madrassas or religious seminaries operated by ASWJ in the Pakistani province of Balochistan that borders on Iran have benefiited from an injection of funds from the kingdom in the last two years, according to militants.
The Kingdom of course practices its own version of "moderate Malsi", where minorities are not allowed to open their places of worship ( church, temples, gurdwaras etc )The source of the Saudi funding remains unclear but is believed to have tacit government support despite Prince Mohammed’s propagation of an undefined form of moderate Islam, a cutback in Saudi funding of ultra-conservative Sunni Muslims worldwide, and the kingdom’s stepping up its economic cooperation with Afghanistan in a bid to isolate both Iran and the Taliban.
Saudi ambiguity is matched by a similar Chinese haziness in its attitude toward Pakistani militants. China’s sincerity will be put to the test when later this year the United Nations Security Council is likely to again debate designating Masoud Azhar, a fighter in the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan in the 1980s and an Islamic scholar who is believed to have been responsible for an attack in 2016 on India’s Pathankot Air Force Station, as a terrorist.China has repeatedly vetoed Mr. Azhar’s designation. China shielded Mr. Saeed from being listed by the UN prior to the Mumbai attacks.
So, Pakistan is used as a "pawn" by both Saudia and ChinaMen like Messrs. Saeed and Azhar serve China’s interest of keeping India off balance as well as the People’s Republic’s relations with the powerful Pakistani military, which it views as a more reliable partner than Pakistan’s unruly and rambunctious politicians.Complicating the equation is the fact that Chinese and Saudi selective support for Pakistani militants works at cross purposes.
China’s focus on India does not threaten Saudi interests but Saudi support of anti-Shiite militants in a region that is key to China’s US$50 billion Belt and Road-relative investment in Pakistan could put Balochistan’s already fragile security at risk.
Too early to say . Remains to be seenThe question is whether Saudi and Chinese acquiescence in FATF’s grey listing of Pakistan signals that the two countries may have second thoughts about their ambiguous approaches to Pakistani militants. If so, that may be the key to untying Pakistan’s knots in its struggle with militancy.
ISLAMABAD - Nikki Haley , the US envoy to the United Nations, said on Thursday her country is urging Pakistan more strongly not to give safe haven to terrorists.She said Pakistan has been cooperating with the United States, but Washington cannot accept any government protecting terrorists.
Haley, herself an American of Indian origin ( like so many others !) is obviously considered an "Indian Agent" by many in the Paki Establishment ( like Dr Sanjay Gupta of CNN and Senator Kamala Harris of California )“We are communicating this message to Pakistan more strongly than in the past and we hope to see changes,” Haley told members of the Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think tank.
And Mullah Omar died in AfghanistanPakistan's cooperation is seen as key to the success of President Donald Trump's Afghanistan policy. The country is under pressure from Washington and the Afghan government who accused it of offering safe haven to militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan, a charge Islamabad denies. Pakistan also insists its influence over the Taliban has been exaggerated.
Haley, a convert to Christianity from Sikhism cannot afford to be seen as a partisan of any particular religion, specially in the conservative Christian state of South Carolina, where she originally is from !Earlier in the day, Haley undertook an interfaith journey in New Delhi, visiting a Hindu temple, a Sikh shrine, a mosque and a church in old parts of the capital.
Haley, who was born in South Carolina to Sikh immigrants from the northern Indian state of Punjab, rolled breads at the Sikh shrine, a religious way of paying obeisance to Sikh gurus.
After visiting the Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques, she interacted with a child sitting outside.
She is on her first visit to India since becoming the US ambassador to the United Nations in 2017. She met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday. Haley visited India in 2014 when she was governor of South Carolina. - Agencies
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said on Thursday night in an interview to a local news channel that he prefers to sit on the opposition benches in the Parliament instead of forming a coalition government.
Imran has a "poor attendance record" in the National Assembly, so what is this talk about "sitting in the oppositions"When questioned of whether he would put forward the names of Asad Umar or Shah Mehmood Qureshi as consensus candidate for prime minister slot if his party does not acquire a two-thirds majority in 2018 elections, he said he would rather sit in the opposition instead of trying to build an alliance with other political parties.
Khan shared a verse by Allama Iqbal, “Abhi ishq ke imtehaan aur bhi hein (there are more barriers to overcome to achieve what one loves)”. Khan emphasized sitting with the opposition since it does not hamper implementations of the declaration of the parties involved in building a leadership.![]()
IOW, Imran is PTI, and PTI is Imran !“Whoever joins the party comes under that party’s discipline”.
Look who is talking about corruption !“If we do not stop corruption, we cannot save the country,” he added.
Imran is already talking either like a "PM in waiting" or an elder statesman like Nelson MandelaAddressing the NA-131 workers, he said that the constituency would experience an extreme competition. He added, the real battleground is Lahore as it would be making decisions for Punjab and Punjab in return would be doing the same for Pakistan.
This is one case, where this kind of an incident was detected. In rural Pakiland, there may be other countless cases, where media is unaware of such practices !LAHORE: Man from Lahore’s Badami Bagh area arrested by police for allegedly raping his six-year-old stepdaughter. Six-year-old stepdaughter was left mentally and physically shaken after being abused by the alleged rapist who has been identified as Sabir, according to police. The minor suffered fractures in her skull and both arms, said the police. The medical report also confirmed broken bones of the minor.Survivor’s medical report was obtained and alleged rapist was arrested. For the safety of the six-year-old, the Child Protection Welfare Bureau took over the custody of the minor.
For India to go below the replacement ratio of 2.1, is not good when we consider its malsic populace propensity to have more kids. The demographic dividend phase will also be very short lived. Not good
India needs Pakistan for accessing European market: former National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua
Janjua said India's burgeoning economy needed access to the rich markets of Europe via Central Asia. Pakistan, he said, is the only country which could provide India with the access it truly desired.
Islamabad | June 29, 2018
India needs Pakistan for accessing European market: ex National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua Nasser Khan Janjua.
India must maintain a relationship of respect with Pakistan as its burgeoning economy needs access to the markets of Europe via Central Asia and Pakistan is the only country which could provide this, former National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua has said.
Speaking at a regional conference on ‘Connectivity and Geo-Economics in South Asia’, Janjua, who stepped down this week after spending nearly three years in the office, said economy and security are two sides of the same coin with one having a causative relationship with the other, the Express Tribune reported.
Noting that stability in South Asia is a pre-requisite for its connectivity, he said it is only through connectivity economic growth and stability can be brought about.
The conference, organised by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think tank, was attended by prominent scholars from both the countries.
Janjua said India’s burgeoning economy needed access to the rich markets of Europe via Central Asia. Pakistan, he said, is the only country which could provide India with the access it truly desired. He acknowledged that without involving India in the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), free trade in the region is “quite difficult”.
Participants at the conference explored how to achieve connectivity in a region that is beset with old rivalries and instabilities.
Asked if China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to which countries like Pakistan have already signed, can help achieve that connectivity, the former NSA said Pakistan has a central role in the emerging geo-economic order of South Asia, as it can help connect the countries economically.
“Even India cannot trade with this part of the world without Pakistan on board,” he said, adding that the “bitterness of the past should be overcome”.
Indian scholar Sudheendhra Kulkarni said that South Asia is the most populated, least integrated and one of the poorest regions of the world. The trade amongst South Asian countries often circumvents each other, passing through third countries.
Speakers at the conference pointed out that rivalries and stereotypical perceptions about each other have been hampering connectivity and trade.
They discussed the policy implications of projects like the BRI and the CPEC and what would be the impact of supplementing these efforts with enhanced cultural contacts and cross-border economy.
Another Indian scholar, Shanthie D’Souza, said that for connecting the region, small confidence-building steps were required.
Other participants said India and Pakistan must establish linkages for trade to flow in the region
For services to Deep State , no doubt . Keeping with the Paki tradition of "biradari", which is a very important factor in Paki politics and Paki fauj, there is a KAYANI and a JANJUA as well . Would be interesting to know , how many appointments are merit based, how many are seniority based, and how many are appointed on the basis of sifarishAccording to the DG ISPR, a total of 987 officers were considered for promotion. Of them, 37 brigadiers, including nine from Army Medical Corps, were approved for promotion to the rank of major general.![]()
Most of them are due to nepotism., they are bhai bhateeja of earlier generals.Falijee wrote:In These "Hard Economic Times" Of Belt Tightening , 37 Brigadiers Of Paki Fauj Are Awarded Promotions To Major Generals
37 Brigadiers of Pakistan Army promoted as Major Generals: Complete list of OfficersFor services to Deep State , no doubt . Keeping with the Paki tradition of "biradari", which is a very important factor in Paki politics and Paki fauj, there is a KAYANI and a JANJUA as well . Would be interesting to know , how many appointments are merit based, how many are seniority based, and how many are appointed on the basis of sifarishAccording to the DG ISPR, a total of 987 officers were considered for promotion. Of them, 37 brigadiers, including nine from Army Medical Corps, were approved for promotion to the rank of major general.![]()
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PS: Belt tightening and austerity measures is for the civilian birds onlee![]()
FATF authorities will be rolling their eyes ? Was this in the Action Plan submitted to FATF ?ISLAMABAD: Pakistan removed a radical Sunni Muslim leader from a terrorist list on Thursday, in a surprise twist that paves the way for his candidates to contest next month’s election even as another key ally of ousted leader Nawaz Sharif was disqualified.The clearing of Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, head of the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) group, by the caretaker government that is running Pakistan during the two months of campaigning ahead of the July 25 general election was called “a shocking development” by the local Express-Tribune newspaper.
Civilian Govt will obviously take the rap for all this !ASWJ has in the past been accused of inciting violence against Pakistan’s minority Shiite Muslims as the political face of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) militant group. It denies links with LeJ.
The Election Commission of Pakistan was due to release a final candidates list by Friday, one that could include dozens of ASWJ candidates as well as others supported by Hafiz Saeed, an anti-India cleric labelled by the United States and India as the mastermind behind the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.
An order from the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) dated June 14 that was obtained by Reuters specifies that Ludhianvi be taken off the “schedule four” list of people with links to terrorism and his bank accounts unfrozen.However, a senior official with NACTA said the body was acting on recommendations from the Punjab government.
“We got a recommendation from Punjab government that Ludhianvi was no more on fourth schedule and wasn’t required on watchlist, and we just removed him,” a NACTA official said.But, Hasan Askari Rizvi, the caretaker chief minister of Punjab province, indicated that the decision came from the federal government.“Punjab Government is implementing decisions of Election Commission and the federal government in this regard,” Rizvi told Reuters. He said Ludhianvi’s assets would be unfrozen and he would be free to travel.Ludhianvi said he had only been on the watchlist as a result of “bogus cases.”
“I have been cleared of all these cases by the courts, and Punjab home department removed my name,” he told Reuters by telephone. “I am, God willing, contesting the upcoming election just like I did in 2008 and 2013.”Ludhianvi has made forays into politics before.
Window dressing !Recently, though, Ludhianvi has shown signs of seeking to rehabilitate his group’s image.Earlier this year, he was one of more than 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics who signed an Islamic directive, or fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings, in a book unveiled by the government.
The current round of diplomatic hostility between India and Pakistan seems to have erupted after the Pakistani help of India’s defence attache in Islamabad was forced to stop working for him by local authorities. Indian authorities saw this as violating the understanding reached in late March that the two countries would follow the 1992 Code of Conduct meant to ensure “smooth and unhindered functioning of their diplomatic and consular officials in conformity with recognised norms of international law ”.
What provoked this action by Pakistani authorities is not known but it was reminiscent of the incidents of harassment and intimidation of diplomats witnessed in both capitals in February and March. The matter was taken up with the Pakistanis. This was followed by a spate of incidents both in New Delhi and Islamabad this month.
While Pakistan alleged that one of its visiting woman diplomats was robbed of her handbag and that another diplomat had his car tailed and broken into, the Indian air adviser was detained at Islamabad airport for a while for not carrying his identity card. The identity card though had expired and the diplomat was awaiting its renewal by the Pakistani foreign ministry.
According to Indian authorities, the cases brought to the government’s notice were of law and order nature and had nothing to do with harassment. TOI also learnt that in April, a junior staffer had to be recalled to India after an aborted bid by ISI men to blackmail him into passing sensitive information to them.
Matters came to a head last week after Pakistan prevented Indian high commissioner Ajay Bisaria and other officials from entering Panja Sahib gurudwara at Hasan Abdal. They were also not allowed to meet Indian Sikh pilgrims.
While India warned Pakistan against fanning secessionist sentiments, Islamabad claimed that these pilgrims were protesting against Indian authorities. India and Pakistan have had no substantive engagement for over two years now, except for humanitarian issues, and things are likely to remain the same at least until the outcome of elections in Pakistan.
The report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on alleged human rights violations in J&K has further vitiated relations with India taking note of Islamabad’s attempts to milk the report.
Unanimously agreeing to put into effect its February decision to place Pakistan in the grey list for inaction against terror funding, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has laid out a 10-point action plan for compliance with its guidelines.
Pakistan’s failure in implementing the elaborate action plan may result in it being included in the black list the next year. After 2012-15, this is the second time it has been grey-listed and is facing sanctions.
The country has been instructed to take measures demonstrating that UN-designated terrorists and banned terror outfits such as Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, Taliban and Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and their affiliates, are deprived of their resources and their sources of funding are choked.
Political commitment
The FATF, in its Paris Plenary that concluded on Friday, observed that Pakistan had this time round made a high-level political commitment to work with the global watchdog and the Asia Pacific Group, of which it is a member, to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter terror-financing regime. {Highest-level political commitments have been flouted rather contemptuously by Pakistan. Would end up as a total farce. FATF is deluding itself. I think that the US & China helped it from being placed in black list, for entirely different reasons,}
Remedial measures
Pakistan will have to take steps to ensure that terror funding risks are properly identified, assessed and that supervision is applied on a risk-sensitive basis. It will also be required to show that remedial measures are being taken to prevent financial institutions from indulging in money laundering and terror funding.
The country will have to take stringent action against illegal financial operations, identify cash couriers and enforce controls on illicit movement of currency. It has been told to improve coordination between the provincial and federal authorities on combating terror funding and enforce effective prosecution and conviction of the designated persons, entities and their affiliates.
The FATF has also sought actions demonstrating effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions (supported by a comprehensive legal obligation) against all designated terrorists and those acting for or on their behalf.
From FATF Website:Improving Global AML/CFT Compliance: On-going Process - 29 June 2018
Paris, France, 29 June 2018 - As part of its ongoing review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the FATF identifies the following jurisdictions that have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF. While the situations differ among each jurisdiction, each jurisdiction has provided a written high-level political commitment to address the identified deficiencies. The FATF welcomes these commitments.
A number of jurisdictions have not yet been reviewed by the FATF. The FATF continues to identify additional jurisdictions, on an ongoing basis, that pose a risk to the international financial system.
The FATF and the FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs) will continue to work with the jurisdictions noted below and to report on the progress made in addressing the identified deficiencies. The FATF calls on these jurisdictions to complete the implementation of action plans expeditiously and within the proposed timeframes. The FATF will closely monitor the implementation of these action plans and encourages its members to consider the information presented below. ……………………..
Pakistan
In June 2018, Pakistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen its AML/CFT regime and to address its strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies. Pakistan will work to implement its action plan to accomplish these objectives, including by: (1) demonstrating that TF risks are properly identified, assessed, and that supervision is applied on a risk-sensitive basis; (2) demonstrating that remedial actions and sanctions are applied in cases of AML/CFT violations, and that these actions have an effect on AML/CFT compliance by financial institutions; (3) demonstrating that competent authorities are cooperating and taking action to identify and take enforcement action against illegal money or value transfer services (MVTS); (4) demonstrating that authorities are identifying cash couriers and enforcing controls on illicit movement of currency and understanding the risk of cash couriers being used for TF; (5) improving inter-agency coordination including between provincial and federal authorities on combating TF risks; (6) demonstrating that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are identifying and investigating the widest range of TF activity and that TF investigations and prosecutions target designated persons and entities, and persons and entities acting on behalf or at the direction of the designated persons or entities; (7) demonstrating that TF prosecutions result in effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and enhancing the capacity and support for prosecutors and the judiciary; and (8) demonstrating effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions (supported by a comprehensive legal obligation) against all 1267 and 1373 designated terrorists and those acting for or on their behalf, including preventing the raising and moving of funds, identifying and freezing assets (movable and immovable), and prohibiting access to funds and financial services; (9) demonstrating enforcement against TFS violations including administrative and criminal penalties and provincial and federal authorities cooperating on enforcement cases; (10) demonstrating that facilities and services owned or controlled by designated persons are deprived of their resources and the usage of the resources.
KARACHI: Pakistan’s enlistment in the grey list of watchdogs did not show its impact immediately but bankers said the cost of doing business would get higher and the situation for banks would become more difficult than it was during 2012-15.
Pakistan was placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ‘grey list’ on June 27, indicating that the country failed to put in place measures to prevent money laundering and other illegal transactions that may be used for financing terrorism.
“Cost of doing business will be higher due to this grey list but it is manageable for banks with some difficulties,” Hussain Lawai, a seasoned banker, told Dawn. “Remember we were in the watch list from 2012-2015 but we managed to continue doing business,” he added. No harm in having a "positive attitude"![]()
“With the grey list, large banks like JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and others will suspend credit lines which mean they would not accept letter of credits (LCs),” said Mr. Lawai. Can Chinese help![]()
So, the word is out "not to touch Paki Banks "Now the opening of LCs to some extent would be difficult, but still manageable, he added.Pakistani banks find it very difficult to operate under the current laws and regulations in countries like the US. Last year, Habib Bank had to pay a penalty of $225 million to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) of New York State for violating multiple state regulations and also had to unwind its operations there.
Currency dealers in the open market believe that the banks would face the first impact of grey list that would be reflected in the open market.
“The effect of grey list may come later but there is no impact of tax on illegal foreign assets and cash under amnesty scheme as the taxed amount (if any) is not visible in the country’s balance sheet,” said Paracha.
CheersISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development on Friday discussed the alarming situation of non-availability of water in different areas of Islamabad.
The committee was shocked to know that Islamabad only has water reserves for 10 or 15 more days if it did not rain in the next few days.
So, all this "rebranding hoopla" and the frittering away of millions of dollars- in this hard financial times - to a Hongkong firm , came to a big fat zero, thanks to the interference of this zealousISLAMABAD –The Supreme Court of Pakistan has barred the Pakistan International Airlines from using Markhor as rebranding logo on airplanes.
While hearing a suo motu case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar said, “If Pakistani flag is removed from any PIA’s it will be considered as a contempt of court”.Previously, national flag carrier had proposed to facelift their airplanes by replacing the Pakistan’s flag on the tails of its airplanes with an image of the country’s national animal.
So, it will cost another couple of millions of dollars, at least to re-paint the Paki flag on these decrepit planes . Unless , Pashtun "truck artists" from FATA are brought in to do the job cheaply, thus saving valuable foreign exchange .Earlier, the Supreme Court had temporarily barred the Pakistan International Airlines from using Markhor as its logo on airplanes.
TheWhile hearing a suo motu case regarding the airline’s performance, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar ordered PIA to halt the revamping of its aircraft until a report on the matter is submitted in the court.
No wonder, that the legal fraternity in Pakiland is "up in arms" against this CJP SOB for his arrogant tone etc etc!“We have found out that you are planning to replace our national flag [on the tails of PIA aircraft] with the picture of an animal,” the chief justice said to the managing director of PIA, who was present in the court room.
Moreover, Supreme Court has also directed the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to submit audit details of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the last decade within 10 weeks.Is it possible to do this lengthy job, within such a short time when outside temperatures are soaring to 40* C , A/C system not working due to load shedding, and the "election tamasha" is well under way these days
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Comparing gas and oil rich Qatar and Kuwait to bhooka nanga Pakiland . Is it fairA two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing a case pertaining to the privatization of the national carrier.The airline’s total loss has reached Rs. 360 billion and in which PIA had to suffer Rs. 280 in last ten years, there were must be reasons behind the loss and someone would be responsible for that, CJ asked, Shujat Azeem’s counsel.Till how long government would suffer the subsidy of Rs. 13 billion to PIA adding that some small countries like Qatar and Kuwait running their business of airlines successfully then why not Pakistan, he asserted.
This SOB CJP is a hard task master for sure !Subsequently, the bench directed AGP to complete audit of the airline within ten weeks and granted ten days for amendments in the Terms of Reference (ToR).Chief Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that retired captain Shujaat Azeem, the former special assistant to the prime minister on aviation, be allowed to travel conditionally, adding that if Mr. Azeem would not appear before the court on summoning then his property could be attached. The court also directed DG PIA to provide all relevant documents to the auditor.Further hearing of the case was adjourned for ten days.
No one to take care of them, as they are "only animals". No money to spare in these "hard economic times" . No zoo expertise available in Pakiland. Can "help" be sought from CPECLAHORE: Nine of the several giraffes, brought from South Africa to different zoos of Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan and Gujranwala have died in the past week.One of the three giraffes, who were brought to the Lahore Zoo a few days ago, died on Friday.Lahore Zoo Director Hasan Ali Sukhera said since they were recently brought to the facility they were tired of travelling.
“Today, one female giraffe stopped eating and eventually died,” he said. He added that another giraffe will be replaced in the near future. Throwing "good money" after " bad money"?
It is doubtful that Paki zoo authorities kept their end of the bargain, properly feeding and taking care of these non -humans . PAYMENT SHOULD BE COLLECTED !!!The giraffes, which cost a total of Rs19.9 million, were kept in quarantine. Under the contract, the payment will only be made if the animals remain in proper health. Lahore Zoo’s only giraffe died in 2015 and the enclosure has remained empty ever since.