Under Articl 245, Islamabad's Security has been handed over to Army: TV Report

The government of Pakistan has imposed Article 245 by calling Pakistan Army for Islamabad's security in attempt to avoid any blow back from the military engagement in North Waziristan Agency of Pakistan, the government spokesperson quoted.

The army units will also be responsible to serve as rapid response force which was earlier the duty of Police elite force. The interior ministry has earlier said that the security will be given from August 1, but interestingly Interior Minister refuted the news and clarified that Islamabad was not being handed over to the army. “Neither Islamabad is being handed over to the army nor is there any relevance of August 1. In fact, the army has been called out to assist the police and civil administration for a limited period to avert any possible terrorist attack and to maintain law and order in Islamabad,” he added. On the other hand, Information Minister told the journalist that army has been called for all the Islamabad's security and it is up to army how they deploy their troops.

It is interesting to note here that this step was taken with the intentions of preempting any terrorist attack but the insiders in the power corridors considers this strategic deployment is to coup up with the scheduled rallies of opposition parties during August. The government has probably given the message to march towards Islamabad will be considered as march against Pakistan army. Surprisingly, army's officers shown complete ignorance about such measure taken by the government.

Opposition parties like PPP, PTI and others have opposed the move and consider it a step forward towards martial law in the country.

Imran Khan denounced Gaza massacre and wrote a letter to the UN Secretary General

Finally Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf came out of summer vacation with a letter to the UN  Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by urging to play its role to stop the Israeli atrocities in Gaza. In the last 17 days of atrocities in Gaza, Imran Khan was busy in watching cricket and enjoying leisure time with his sons in pleasant weather of UK. This letter came out after the federal government of Pakistan announced observance of Day of Mourning for Gaza and 10 million dollars grant. 

In the last 17 days,Imran Khan was sleeping regarding Gaza and his politics was around denouncing the federal government, now to score a point equalizer, he has written a letter to the UN  Secretary General, which is very good effort, but certainly a delayed effort. His party, the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, is ruling the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which is hosting more than a million IDPs of North Waziristan in the southern Districts of the province. His absence was felt everywhere in delivering good governance, but he spares no time in scoring goals against the ruling PML-N. 

It is really unfortunate, the leader having the slogan of CHANGE, has gone into traditional dirty trends of Pakistani politics. 

Imran Khan's Letter to the UN Secretary General:

“I write to you as the Chairman of the second largest political party in Pakistan and on behalf of the Pakistani nation that has always been the lead nation in UN peacekeeping across the globe. We have been watching in shock and horror as the state of Israel has unleashed the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza during the Muslim Holy month of Ramazan and the UN has stood by as a silent spectator. The death toll of the Palestinians in Gaza has risen above 800 and the Israeli aggression continues. The residents of Gaza cannot seek escape as Egypt has kept its border with Gaza sealed. The Egyptian authorities have also prevented medical supplies from going in to Gaza and the UN has issued not a word of protest.

Yet the UN's primary responsibility is to maintain global peace and to prevent aggression. From the UN Charter’s preamble to Article 2:4 to Chapter V11, the UN has a duty to ensure that people are not persecuted and states do not aggress against other states and territories. The UN  office of the Secretary General has a critical role to play in the maintenance of international peace and prevention of state aggression and war. Chapter XV Article 99 defines the special responsibility the  Secretary General has in this regard and Article 100.1 also calls on the Secretary General not to be influenced by any state in the carrying out of his functions.

The SG has to ensure the credibility of the UN in times of crises and war. At present the UN is undergoing a major challenge in terms of sustaining its institutional credibility. The massacre of innocent women, children, and elderly by the state of Israel cannot simply be ignored by the UN and by yourself as its SG. Nor can the Israeli aggression under false claims of “self defence” be ignored – especially by the UN and its SG. The UN Charter clearly circumscribes the notion of self-defence in Chapter VII and the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Israeli Wall further countered the Israeli claims of self defence. How can the bombing of a hospital, a cemetery and a UN school be regarded as acts of self-defence?

As the world watches Israel losing all sense of humanity and breaking all international norms of behaviour, it is the UN to which it looks for intervention. After the UN World Summit of 2005 the international community asserted the principle of the Right to Protect as part of humanitarian intervention. The primary responsibility for enforcing this rests with the UN and its SG. I call on you to immediately exercise this responsibility to prevent a genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.

As SG your actions will decide whether the UN is to remain credible as the harbinger of peace, the protector of the weak and the institution that ensures aggression remains unsuccessful around the globe. After all the UN was founded “to prevent future generations from the scourge of war”. It is up to you to ensure that the UN fulfills the mandate given to it by the comity of nations.

My country has always been one of the prime supporters of the UN in its peace and security functions. My Party has justice and human dignity as underlying principles. We cannot now allow the UN to lose all credibility because one powerful state is allowing Israel to conduct aggression against Gaza with impunity. We have a right to demand that you as the SG enforce the UN Charter and play an active role in halting Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian population of Gaza. As SG you must also demand and ensure Egypt open its border with Gaza to allow medical assistance and essential supplies to go into Gaza. You have a duty to ensure that the plan of genocide of the Palestinians by the Israeli state is thwarted. It is time for you as the UNSG to fulfill this critical duty.”

Tourism in Pakistan

Pakistan has got tremendous tourism opportunities and can be one of biggest contributor to the foreign exchange reserves if developed and publicized. It is a country that is having -10 to 48 degree temperature at one point of time. Some facts of about the Tourism:

• Home to 108 peaks having height of more 7000ft
• Five of the fourteen independent peaks (the 8000ft) eight thousanders are located in Pakistan
• Home to the 2nd highest peak in the world, K2
• Lonely Planet magazine declared Pakistan is the Next Big Thing of the world tourist industry
• Home to the 2600BC old ancient Indus Valley Civilization

Many centuries old forts, Budhists , Sikh and other religious and civilization centers 

Weaker are nations more exposed to Cultural influences from strong nations By Mohammad Asad Islam at the Crossroads

No single nation or group can today afford to remain aloof from the rest of the world. Economic development has ceased to be local. Its character has become world-wide. It ignores, at least in its tendency, political boundaries and geographical distances. It carries with itself -and possibly this is even more important than the purely material side of the problem -the ever-increasing necessity of a transfer not only of merchandise but also of thoughts and cultural values. But whereas those two forces, the economic and the cultural, often go hand in hand, there is a difference in their dynamic rules. The elementary laws of economics require that the exchange of goods between nations be mutual; this means that no nation can act as a buyer only while another nation is always a seller; in the long run, each of them must play both parts simultaneously, giving to, and taking from, each other, be it directly or through the medium of other actors in the play of economic forces. But in the cultural field this iron rule of exchange is not a necessity, at least not always a visible one: that is to say, the transfer of ideas and cultural influences is not necessarily based on the principle of give-and-take. It lies in human nature that nations and civilizations which are politically and economically more virile exert a strong fascination on the weaker or less active communities, and influence them in the intellectual and social spheres without being influenced themselves. Such is the situation today with regard to the relations between the Western and the Muslim worlds.

Mohammad Asad's Islam at Crossroad 

Jon Stewart destroys Israel

Post by Pakistan Defence.

Social Media: a Powerful Tool for Social Awareness and Communication (by Shiraz Paracha)

It seems to me that organizing an event through the social media is not very common in Pakistan. Perhaps many of us don’t take the social media seriously. We use social media forums to pass time and often for sharing casual opinions and comments. There is nothing wrong with that but we can also use the social media for campaigning, organizing activities and promoting togetherness and harmony. 

In many parts of the world the social media are sources of bridge building and bringing people together for common causes. Social media forums have become major sources of communication, networking etc. Such forums are also used for event organization and political activism. This has happened because of the mainstream media’s indifference towards problems of working classes. The corporate media serve interests of the rich and powerful and ignore issues that concern ordinary people. In this backdrop the social media forums have become alternative platforms and voices of the voiceless. 

However, the social media are not alternative to actual/physical human interaction and activities. If cyber exchanges and interaction are not backed by real time human efforts and activities, and if the social media sources/platforms are not credible there can be negative implications. Also the social media are not replacement for physical human socialization and political activism. Total reliance on the social media for communication and social activity can result in de-politicizing people, inactivity, individualism, isolation etc. The point to remember is that the social media are not alternative to actual human interaction, activity or interpersonal communication. The social media tools should compliment and strengthen actual human interaction. Use of credible social media forums can supplement real time social and political activities/debates and awareness campaigns.

For example, in the late 1990s, the powerful anti-globalization and anti-capitalist movement were created through the social media where thinking minds and dissatisfied souls shared ideas and concerns. This was followed by actual mobilization of millions of people who would turn up at every meeting of the IMF, the World Bank, G7 group and other influential bodies. Ordinary people successfully registered their protest using the social media as networking and communication tools. The creation of the G20 group was the direct result of those protests where activists from around the world had successfully challenged institutions that protected interests of the rich and powerful. That is why most governments and agencies monitor social media forums for intelligence and information gathering purposes. They formulate policies and strategies in the light of trends and information they note on social media forums. First WikiLeaks and now Edward Snowden disclosures about the US National Security Agency (NSA) electronic surveillance and internet monitoring are examples of the significance of the social media. Anyway it is another topic and I will try to share more thoughts about it but at another time. 

My Comment: Food for thought for PTI government in KPK by Shiraz Paracha (FB Post)

My comment..!

Last weekend, I was in Lahore where power cuts (Load-shading) were terrible. I was staying near the Mall Road but even that posh area was not immune from the load-shading. Same was the situation in other parts of the city. Power cuts are severe in rural areas and in small towns. Therefore Khyber Pakhtunkhawa isn’t the only province which faces electricity shortages indeed all Pakistan is suffering because of this. 

There is little doubt in WAPDA’s incompetency and irresponsibility. PESCO staff and employees performance is also poor. They could be involved in power theft, wrong billings, line losses etc. The Provincial Government can assist the Federal Government in controlling these problems.

Under the 18th amendment provinces have the authority to sign agreements with foreign and local companies, import/purchase electricity, build power plants and dams and produce electricity from multiple sources. Power generation should be the top priority of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Government, not protest marches. 

Currently it takes 72 months (six years) to prepare feasibility report of a hydropower project. This is a very long time. Actually, most of the time is wasted due to red tape and bureaucratic hurdles. This time period can be brought down to half easily. According to experts a hydrology report can be prepared within 24 months.

The PTI Provincial Government should focus all its energies on hydro-power projects. It has four more years during which it can start several dozen hydro-power projects. Consequently, the power crisis will be resolved. 

Political point scoring, finger pointing and street protests are not the way forward. Both governments should cooperate and come up with solutions. Pakhtunkhawa needs peace and stability for economic development more than any other province. Wisdom dictates that the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Government join hands with the Federal Government in resolving the power crisis. Dialogue and engagement with the federal government is in the interest of our province. Political disturbance and street marches may take us back to the dark day of July 5, 1977. 

Shiraz Paracha

The Issue of Palestine: in comparison to the issue of Pakistani Pashtuns (Shiraz Paracha's recent FB Post)

Where do we go?
Some friends are comparing the Palestinian situation with the situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and FATA. In my humble opinion, it is not the right comparison because both are different cases. 
Palestine is occupied by the illegitimate state of Israel. The Palestinian people are victims in their own homeland at the hands of Israel and its Western supporters. Britain had created Israel at gun point in the Palestinian lands. Jews were victimized by Europeans (Germans) not Arabs. A Jewish state should have been created in Europe; instead the British helped Zionists to occupy the Palestinian lands and forced the Palestinian people out of their homes. Later, the United States patronized Israel and provided it full support. Even today, Israel can’t survive without the US economic, political and military aid.
Two-State Policy/solution is not a fair or just solution but despite the unfairness enshrined in the Two-State Policy, most Palestinians have accepted it. They are willing to co-exist alongside Israel. But everyday Israelis humiliate & discriminate Palestinians, Israel is building new settlements and grabbing more and more Palestinian land. Still ordinary Palestinians do not resist. They go to Israel and work as slaves; they live in Gaza as prisoners but Israel’s greed and discrimination seem unending. Zionists extremists like prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his masters in the US and UK want to totally enslave and subjugate the Palestinian people. They are exterminating the Palestinians. Systematically Arabs are forced out of their lands and homes. This is absolutely unacceptable to any people.
Would Western people accept such treatment? The answer is NO. The British state and people are extremely sensitive even about their colonies. In 1981, Britain had sent troops to Falklands (A British colony in the South Atlantic Ocean) near Argentina. The British had occupied Falkland which was part of Argentina but when Argentina tried to take it back Britain had attacked Argentina. The point is that the Western countries follow double standards and they do not believe in any morality when it comes to foreign policy. They support Israel due to Western strategic interests in the Middle East and also because of the influence of powerful Jewish lobby on Western governments and politicians.
Through Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states, the United States and its allies control the Middle Eastern oil and strategic energy and trade routes at the cost of the Palestinian people. That is why all democratic and peace loving people, including many Jewish organizations and groups, support the Palestinian cause. 


As compare to Palestine our situation is different. We the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are divided and have been fighting among ourselves. Foreign troops (USA and NATO) are occupying Afghanistan but some of us consider the Americans and NATO forces as saviors. Some liberal friends support the U.S presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps such friends are frustrated with Mullahs, the Talibans etc. By supporting the U.S and the West they believe that they are strengthening anti-mullah forces/elements. But in reality their stand is based on reaction, not just and rational principles.
On the other hand there is a large majority of Pashtuns who see the world in black in white. They believe in an over simplified interpretation of Islam and politics. To them everyone who disagrees with their interpretation of religion or way of life is an enemy of Islam and Pakistan. So they hate ‘liberals or pro-western Pashtuns and Pakistanis’.
The Pakistani military is not clear either. Military commanders consider themselves philosophers, political thinkers, religious scholars, strategic planners and diplomatic experts---all at the same time. Under this thinking Pakistani generals want to control the will and fate of 200 million people by determining Pakistan’s internal and external policies. We are facing consequences of wrong polices and misadventures of our former military generals.
Indeed we are victims of our own believes, interpretations and understanding of world and life as a whole. Foreign forces don’t have to come to Pakistan to destroy us. Apart from few African and Asian countries, I have never seen such polarization and hatred for each other in other societies as we have in Pakistan.
People and nations survive when they agree on a minimum agenda and take the middle ground, not extreme positions. In mature societies decisions are reached after public consultations at appropriate forums through objective and rational reasoning and analysis. Evidence based arguments/realities dictate policies, not illusions and few persons’ dreams. If we are driven by emotions, ethnic and religious biases we will not make right choices and may not find peace and harmony. Pakistan needs soul searching and many dimensional national dialogue. Most of all we should trust and appreciate each other as individuals and also have faith in our institutions despite their mistakes.
Shiraz Paracha 
(Recent Facebook Post)