Commissionerate System VS Local Government System.

 The notion that the PPP leadership could treat Sindh as its fiefdom has been challenged by the Sindhi people. The more than a week long protests against decisions having a negative impact on Sindh are enough to indicate that PPP can no more take Sindh for granted. Anybody who thinks he alone knows what is in Sindh’s interests is now bound to be challenged in Sindh’s streets by the local population asserting its right to be consulted. It is a slur to suggest that those presently being tagged as “nationalists” and the Sindhi media maintained silence during the military rule and have suddenly become vocal against an elected government. There is a need to put the record straight. Throughout the Musharraf era, the nationalists and a section of the local media stood in the way of the construction of Kalabagh Dam. It was the “nationalists” who organised protest marches against the Thar canal and against attempts to reduce or deny Sindh’s rightful share of Indus’ water. What one sees happening is a continuation of the struggle. REFERENCE: A new awakening By:Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/?p=112798 

Ayaz Latif Palijo (Bolta Pakistan -- 8th August 2011)

http://youtu.be/T_1nXiuB37w

Awami Tehreek President Ayaz Latif Palijo demanded on Friday that two more districts should be carved out of Karachi. He believed that the city should comprise districts West, East, South, North, Ibrahim Haidery, Lyari and Malir. Speaking at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), the Sindhi nationalist leader extended his party’s full support to Saturday’s (today’s) strike, and the demanded the arrest of all those involved in target killings. He said if these criminals were found guilty, they should be hanged. Palijo said cases withdrawn against criminals since 1988 should be reopened and the culprits involved in the May 12, 2007 carnage tried by a court of law. He urged the chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, to take notice of the ongoing wave of terrorism in the city. He also urged the chief justice to take notice of an ordinance “unconstitutionally passed” through the assembly. He said the Awami Tehreek, Sindhiani Tehreek and 60 million people of Sindh would not tolerate any intrigue against the province. Palijo thanked the Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders as well as Baloch leaders, especially Akhtar Mengal, for supporting the Awami Tehreek and the people of Sindh. He also hoped that oppressed sections of the Pakistan People’s Party would also stand by Sindhis in this struggle. Meanwhile, Sindh National Front Chairman Nawab Mumtaz Bhutto said the people of the province would foil the alleged attempts of President Asif Ali Zardari to create differences among them. Replying to a question on former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza, Bhutto said that he had now become known as “Maufi Mirza” (Mirza who apologises). He said Mirza took pride in claiming he was a gangster. REFERENCE: Awami Tehreek demands two more districts in city Shahid Husain Saturday, August 13, 2011 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=62602&Cat=4&dt=8/13/2011 

News Night with Talat -- Ep 195 -- Part 1 - YouTube.flv

http://youtu.be/v6s3-6OJcRk

“Pakistan is a home of 160 to 180 million people, there is a need for local government (LG) system in order to resolve basic problem,” said Nafisa Shah, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA while delivering a lecture at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST). The former Nazim of Khairpur district was speaking on local government system and its importance in the resolution of problems faced by the common people at grass root level. According to Shah, the local government system introduced by former President Musharraf is good but there are problems in its design and implementation as it is made by a dictator with aim to use it as a tool promotion of his interests. She said that basically the local government system consisted of decentralisation of power from federal and provincial government to district level. However, it did not happen because the military regime wanted to use it for the realisation of its political motives. Shah said that during her tenure, various development projects were started in Khairpur. Old roads were repaired and new roads were constructed in the areas where there were no roads previously, due to which people were unable to connect to cities. Apart from that she said special efforts were made to promote education at primary level, which included provision of free school uniforms and books to poor children, she added. Furthermore, she told the audience that since she belonged to the PPP, her funds were stopped and district bureaucracy was non-cooperative due to which development work suffered immensely. The lecture was followed by a question answer session. Earlier Azra Maqsood, the Deputy Director SZABSIT, Karachi campus introduced Nafisa Shah. In the end Dr Javaid Laghari spoke on the occasion and thanked Shah for giving lucid and thought provoking lecture on the local government system and its utility in the democratic system. He also gave Shah SZABIST’s souvenir. The lecture was widely attended by students and faculty. REFERENCE: LG system to be re-structured: Nafisa Shah Saturday, November 29, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=149552&Cat=4&dt=11/29/2008 

News Night with Talat -- Ep 195 -- Part 2 - YouTube.flv

http://youtu.be/oTu-HIVSD-Q

News Night with Talat -- Ep 195 -- Part 3 - YouTube.flv

http://youtu.be/TsoPY4hGpDc

News Night with Talat -- Ep 195 -- Part 4 - YouTube.flv

http://youtu.be/Uv5Xtphu8MY

THATTA, July 30 The revenue department has finalised the territorial map of an area admeasuring 15, 33,344 acres in four coastal talukas of Thatta district for the mega project of Zulfikarabad on Friday. The talukas of Kharochhan, Keti Bandar, Shah Bandar and Jati consist of 199 dehs and are located on coastline from Ghaghar Phatak up to the Zero Point in Badin district. As per the break-up, Zulfikarabad would consist of 404,584-12 acres of Qabuli (surveyed) land, 312,622-07 acres of Na-Qabuli (un-surveyed) land, 25,936-21 acres of kutcha state land, 175,44 acres of forest land, 711,531 acres (to be reclaimed from the sea), 3,505 acres of public-private land as entered in Village Form-VII, an area of 469,99-12 acres under grants, 10,622 acres under paths, canals and villages etc. Information collected from the revenue sources revealed that the existing structures of 532 primary schools, 13 secondary schools, 11 middle and one higher secondary school would be included in the area to be inhabited by 275,898 people as per 1998`s census. In this connection, a meeting of price control committee presided over by the District Officer Revenue Thatta, Hadi Bux Kalhoro, and attended by the private members of the committee, had recommended Rs150,000 per acre price for normal land and Rs200,000 per acre for the land existing on the creeks. However, the DO contended that this was not the final price and Member Land Utilisation, BoR, would be the final authority to re-assess and re-fix the rates during the next phase. Meanwhile, activists of civil society believed that a large number of scattered settlements and villages have not been included in the official record of revenue as the record was set ablaze in the aftermath of assassination of Benazir Bhutto. They said, due to this very reason the residents of such villages and settlements would definitely be compelled to vacate the sites without getting any compensation. They were also of the view that the decision about 469,99-12 acres of grant land and 711,531 acres of land periodically devoured by sea was also a subject hard to be sorted out unilaterally by the revenue department because the figure includes private land holdings as well. It`s a recorded fact that during the military regime of General Musharraf a large number of investors, particularly from Karachi, had massively procured agricultural lands in Thatta coastline on exorbitant rates. Some circles are of the opinion that no doubt that the building up of Zulfikarabad would open up enormous venues of livelihood and prosperity for the locals, but the government should also consider apprehensions of the indigenous population not to convert them into minority by depriving them of their legitimate rights inherited through their ancestors in the historical district of Thatta. REFERENCE: Zulfikarabad layout finalised By Mohammad Iqbal Khwaja From NewsPaper July 31, 2010 http://archives.dawn.com/archives/126938 

District system to harm mohajirs more: Pir Pagara - States Times Report KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Chief Pir Pagara Friday ѕаіԁ thе district system wουƖԁ bе mοѕt negative tο thе mohajirs. Hе ѕаіԁ Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members wουƖԁ call οn hіm tomorrow (Saturday), warning those whο back up district system tο know thаt thе issue сουƖԁ lead tο fаntаѕtіс bloodbath. Pathan spends whеrе hе lives, Pir Pagara ѕаіԁ stressing thеу аrе іn Sindh аѕ many аѕ thеу аrе іn Karachi. “Thеrе wіƖƖ bе genocide асrοѕѕ Sindh leaving mohajirs аt thе losing еnԁ,” Pir Pagara maintained. STATES TIMES http://www.statestimes.net/2012/08/district-system-to-harm-mohajirs-more-pir-pagara/  District system to harm mohajirs more: Pir Pagara Updated on: Friday, August 12, 2011 3:59:22 PM http://www.samaa.tv/newsdetail.aspx?ID=35282&CID=1 

http://ejang.jang.com.pk/08-13-2011/Karachi/pic.asp?picname=1032.gif

  

The strangest case is that of Lt-Gen Tanvir Naqvi and his district devolution plan. No kidding, Gen Naqvi is a bright officer. Whoever heard him speaking during the Zarb-I-Momin military exercises when General Aslam Beg was army chief came away greatly impressed. But the profession of arms is one thing, politics quite another. Has he ever cast his vote in an election? Has he ever been near a village polling station in his life? I doubt it. If a delegation of NATO commanders were visiting Pakistan the best person to address them from the present crop of serving or retired generals would be Gen Naqvi. But if an election plan were being put together I would keep Gen Naqvi at a distance of a hundred miles. References: As per Daily Dawn Columnist Mr Ayaz Amir [dated 21 April 2000 i.e. One year after Illegal Martial Law Regime of General Musharraf and Co] had written on the cronies in General Musharraf's Cabinet http://www.dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/20000421.htm

Capital talk - 10th aug 2011 - p1

URL: http://youtu.be/medKdB7_0Zg

During 2004 ANP Senator Asfandyar Wali said when Gen Pervez Musharraf assumed power and presented his seven- point agenda, there was a little hope as it contained the issue of provincial disharmony. However, he said, the devolution plan presented by Lt-Gen (retired) Tanveer Naqvi even snatched a little bit autonomy which the provinces had been enjoying. He said the devolution should be from federal to provinces and then from provinces to districts. By putting the districts directly under the federal system for six years, the provincial governments have been made post offices and the chief ministers should be called postmasters general, he added. Reference: SDPI Research and News Bulletin - "Greater Provincial Autonomy" http://www.sdpi.org/help/research_and_news_bulletin/nbjanfeb04/articles/In%20Retrospect.htm

Capital talk - 10th aug 2011 - p2

URL: http://youtu.be/o5XQt9TIuz8

REPORTS that the federal government is planning to transfer more subjects to the provinces out of the concurrent list deserve to be welcomed. Such a move was overdue, because restricted autonomy has been cause of much resentment among the provinces. Even though federal in nature, the 1973 Constitution has a strong bias in favour of the centre. According to article 142- (c), a provincial assembly has the power to make laws "with respect to any matter not enumerated in either the federal legislative list or the concurrent list". Significantly, the fourth schedule has only two lists - federal and concurrent - and does not have a provincial list. The federal list contains 67 subjects (59 in Part I and eight in Part II). The concurrent list consists of 47 subjects, leaving very little for the federating units to legislate on. In other words, the provinces have the right to legislate on very small number of subjects "not enumerated either in the federal legislative list or in the concurrent list". In matters of tax collection especially, the Basic Law virtually denies the constituent units any worthwhile sources of revenue. As a perusal of taxation powers will show, the federal government has reserved for itself almost all sources of revenue. The federal taxes mentioned in the fourth schedule - points 43 to 54 - include virtually all taxes, except, very significantly, "taxes on income other than agricultural income". Reference: Need for consensus September 12, 2005 Monday Sha'aban 7, 1426 http://www.dawn.com/2005/09/12/ed.htm Nothing but provincial autonomy By Shamim-ur-Rahman - Mr. Shamim-ur-Rahman is a Senior Correspondent with Daily Dawn - Pakistan http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag1.htm This article appeared in 2006 For the Text Balochistan: Nothing but provincial autonomy By Shamim-ur- Rahman http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/04/balochistan-nothing-but-provincial.html

Capital talk - 10th aug 2011 - p3

URL: http://youtu.be/X5WbXuz2zm0

The last Martial Law of General Pervez Musharraf [1999 - 2008] has further eroded already negligent Provincial Autonomy by introducing the so-called "Devolution Plan", BBC's Tim Sebastian had ruined Tanveer Naqvi Lt. General [General Musharraf's National Reconstruction Bureau's Chief Planner] and his so-called Devolution Plan in one of his program Hard Talk in the year 2000 - 2001. One must have joined issue with Lt.-Gen (Rtd) Tanvir Naqvi when he says that the army has ``the right`` to amend the Constitution. Speaking on the BBC, the chief of the National Reconstruction Bureau, however, tried to soften the impact of his remarks by saying that the government was not going to amend ``the whole Constitution.`` This evades the real issue, which is: does the army have a right at all to amend the nation`s basic law? [BBC Link of Hard Talk is not available but I had myself watched the Program - www.bbc.co.uk]. To protect the devolution scheme from interference by elected governments, Musharraf's LFO placed the four provincial Local Government Ordinances in that part of the 1973 constitution (the Sixth Schedule) that can only be amended with consent of the president. It was also required that provincial governments "shall, by law, establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected local representatives" . This provision creates the false impression that devolution remains within a provincial framework but its protected constitutional status effectively precludes provinces from amending the LGO. With this constitutional cover, the military government could rely on its local clients ensure a favourable outcome in the October 2002 national elections. In the Punjab, where a majority of district and tehsil nazims could be counted on to support military-backed candidates for the national and provincial assemblies, they were encouraged to mobilise support openly for the pro-Musharraf PML-Q in return for generous developmental funds. Elsewhere, nazims were threatened and intimidated to support PML-Q candidates. In parts of Sindh and Baluchistan, wholesale transfers of district officers were ordered to blunt the authority of "hostile" nazims. Local governments proved instrumental in the military government's manipulation of these general elections, which international human rights and election observer groups termed "seriously flawed". With the military's backing, the PML-Q obtained the most seats in the National Assembly and the Punjab Provincial Assembly. "The blatant political use of elected councils in the general elections has proved beyond any doubt that the local bodies had been primarily created for that very purpose",. Reference: Lets have a look at the so-called Refroms thrusted down the throats of 170Million Pakistanis by A MARTIAL LAW REGIME during 1999-2007. International Crisis Group had published a detailed and an impartial report in 2004. For kind perusal - Devolution in Pakistan: Reform or Regression? 22 March 2004 http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2549&l=1] [For Text of that Report in 4 Parts - Playing with basic law: Devolution Plan of Musharraf - http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/playing-with-basic-law-devolution-plan.html -http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/playing-with-basic-law-devolution-plan_05.html - http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/playing-with-basic-law-devolution-plan_7260.html - http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/playing-with-basic-law-devolution-plan_2210.html

Bolta Pakistan - 9th Aug 2011 Part 1

http://youtu.be/EXZ7qwhpIZg


Bolta Pakistan - 9th Aug 2011 Part 2

http://youtu.be/5hB8JH0SEso


News Night with Talat Ep 196 Part 4

http://youtu.be/9QCHHUxqKPo

Aaj Kamran Khan Ke Saath - 9th Aug 2011 - Part - 3

http://youtu.be/lR1XKOWS7vw

Pakistan's military government launched a campaign for political devolution in 2000 that it said was aimed at transferring administrative and financial power to local governments. The scheme was to strengthen local control and accountability and, according to President Pervez Musharraf, "empower the impoverished" . In practice, however, it has undercut established political parties and drained power away from the provinces while doing little to minimise corruption or establish clear accountability at a local level. The reforms, far from enhancing democracy, have strengthened military rule and may actually raise the risks of internal conflict. Under the Devolution of Power Plan announced in August 2000, local governments were to be elected on a non-party basis in phased voting between December 2000 and July 2001. District and sub-district governments have since been installed in 101 districts, including four cities. Operating under its respective provincial Local Government Ordinance 2001, each has its Nazim and Naib Nazim (mayor and deputy mayor), elected council and administration. Like previous local government plans, Musharraf's called for re-establishing elected local councils at district and sub-district levels.It promised substantial autonomy for elected local officials and, most notably, placed an elected official as overall head of district administration, management and development, reversing a century-old system that subordinated elected politicians to bureaucrats. Musharraf's scheme ostensibly aimed at establishing the foundations of genuine local democracy. However, the main rationale for devolution was and remains regime legitimacy and survival. Aside from the widespread allegations of rigging and manipulation that have shadowed them, the non-partisan nature of the local elections has exacerbated ethnic, caste and tribal divisions and undermined the organisational coherence of political parties. Devolution, in fact, has proved little more than acover for further centralised control over the lower levels of government. Despite the rhetoric from Islamabad of empowerment, local governments have only nominal powers. Devolution from the centre directly to the local levels, moreover, negates the normal concept of decentralisation since Pakistan's principal federal units, its four provinces, have been bypassed. The misuse of local government officials during the April 2002 presidential referendum and the October 2002 general elections has left little doubt that these governments were primarily instituted to create a pliant political elite that could help root the military's power in local politics and displace its traditional civilian adversaries. Friction is growing between various levels of government, especially since the military transferred power, at least formally, to the central and provincial governments that were formed after the 2002 elections. These tensions are partly the result of the manner in which the devolution plan was devised and implemented in the absence of elected officials and against the strong opposition of the major political parties, civil society and media. Despite its lack of domestic legitimacy, the devolution plan has considerable support from donors, who mistakenly believe it is advancing democracy and building down military rule.For now, the military's backing as well as this external support works in its favour. But low domestic acceptance undermines its long-term prospects, and the military's political engineering that accompanies it is widening divisions at the local and provincial levels. Some of these could well lead to greater domestic violence and instability. Devolution in Pakistan: Reform or Regression? 22 March 2004 http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2549&l=1

Help the poor victims of Floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa & Balochistan.

Apart from any kind of Political Difference "Human Life" is sacred! Today it was somebody else tomorrow it could be me. The life is long and completes its circle. Pakistani Intelligentsia should offer a Collective Funeral Prayers on Decency, Mercy, Consciousness and Compassion because not single TV Channel has stop its "Routine Musical Programs/Comedy Program" even now when Millions are homeless and more than 1000 are dead in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Jurair Ibn `Abdullah reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever is not merciful towards people, will not be treated mercifully by Allah." [Note: Reported by Ahmed on a good authority, Al-Muntaqa (No.69), and Al-Haisami, vol.1, p.27]

Abu Musa reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "You will not be true believers until you are merciful with one another." They said: "O, Messenger of Allah, we are all merciful!" He said: "It is not that you should be merciful to each other, but you should also merciful in general." [Note: Agreed upon, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab and Muslim in Al-Fada`l]

`Abdullah Ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "The merciful are treated mercifully by the Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth so that Allah will be Merciful to you in the heavens." [Note: Reported by Al-Tabarani, Al-Muntaqa, No. 1322, and Al-Haisami. vol.8, p.78]

Hundreds of people have died in northwestern Pakistan after floods triggered by monsoon rains swept through the region. More than a million people have been affected and thousands forced to flee their homes as bloated rivers washed away villages and triggered devastating landslides. Rescue operations are under way to save the stranded, but submerged roads and destroyed infrastructure are proving to be major obstacles. Al Jazeera's Sohail Rahman reports from Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. [Courtesy: AlJazeera English]

Pakistan's worst flooding


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIstQ3OS9pU&feature=feedu

PESHAWAR: The United Nations says devastating floods have affected 1 million people in Pakistan. Officials say floods have killed 430 people in the deadliest such disaster to hit the region since 1929. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the cost of damage from floods was not clear. Rescuers were using army helicopters, heavy trucks and boats to reach flood-hit areas. Government official Lutfur Rehman said Saturday floodwaters were receding in the northwest, but rescuers were facing problems reaching affected people because of damage caused to roads and bridges. The flooding capped an already deadly week in Pakistan. A passenger jet slammed into hills overlooking Islamabad killing all 152 people on board Wednesday. REFERENCE: Floods affected one million in KP: UN Updated at: 1215 PST, Saturday, July 31, 2010 http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=109495

PESHAWAR: The death toll from massive floods in northwestern Pakistan rose to 1,100 Sunday as rescue workers struggled to save more than 27,000 people still trapped by the raging water, officials said. - Monsoon floods kill up to 800, affects 1 Million Rescue workers and troops in northwest Pakistan struggled Saturday to reach thousands of people affected by the country's worst floods in living memory, as the death toll rose to 800. Hundreds of homes and vast swathes of farmland were destroyed in the northwest and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), with the main highway to China reportedly cut and communities isolated as monsoon rains caused flash floods and landslides. The United Nations said almost a million people had been affected by the flooding, and at least 45 bridges destroyed around Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Television footage and photos shot from helicopters showed people clinging to the walls and roof tops of damaged houses as gushing waters rampaged through inundated villages. Carrying their belongings and with children on their shoulders, some even walked barefoot through the water to seek safety. "This is the worst ever flood in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the country's history," provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said. REFERENCE: Floods affected one million in KP: UN Updated at: 1215 PST, Saturday, July 31, 2010 http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=109495 Death toll from floods rises to 1,100 Sunday, 01 Aug, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-flood-toll-rises-qs-07 At least 410 killed, over 400,000 affected by KP flood By Zulfiqar Ali Saturday, 31 Jul, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-flood-kp-ajk-qs-05
Rains floods Balochistan

Courtesy: DAWN NEWS
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix3cAdOyIz0&feature=player_embedded

balochistan floods

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JAISndQ4c8&feature=related

THE ABOVE VIDEO IS OLD AND SITUATION IN BALOCHISTAN IS STILL THE SAME

The Balochistan once again faces the flood with the destruction of various villages, localities and major crops. More than 50 people and hundreds of livestock deaths have been reported till date while hundreds are reported as missing. The Affected areas have rare approach to the communication and public transport, the national highway N65 has been damaged from various parts while train line has also been broken by the flood. Hundreds of families including new bourns, aged and ailing are bound to spend their time and seek for the help under the open sky without food and shelter. The Green Balochistan's volunteer team visited the affected areas of District Sibbi, Nasirabad and Bolan on 23, 24 and 26th of July 2010. The condition of affected areas is getting most terrible and people are seriously looking for Food, Shelter & necessary medicines. [Courtesy: greenbalochistan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P95YxREdGc]
Balochistan Flood 2010 - Courtesy GREEN Balochistan

Balochistan Flood 2010 Part 02

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSe7JeQ8o5U
Balochistan- Cyclone phet.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dBlLv048yg&feature=geosearch
Thousands of people were rendered homeless in Barkhan, Kohlu and Sibi. The disastrous Flood in the various areas of balochistan.
Flood in Barkhan - 2010

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfLspN67w24&feature=related
Disastrous Flood in Barkhan and Kohlu

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuNsGxvEXHc&feature=related

There is also a marked threat of outbreak of epidemics in the flood affected regions as there is a lack of food, clean water and medication leave alone substantial medicine and medical staff which are even unapproachable for easily-treatable cases of snake-bites that have been reported from villages but could not be treated as the rescue teams have not arrived or are short of medical articles such as snake-bite serum. The Wazirabad village of Bakhtiarabad in Lehri Tehsil is the worst-affected area and such is the situation there that dead bodies are decaying for nothing is available for neither the funeral nor the people to bury them. Over 57,000 people have been affected in Sibi, Lehri, Barkhan.The floods have damaged 90% of the houses, over 50% livestock and agriculture. And according to the district agriculture and revenue departments these floods have broken the past records of 1978. “In Tambo Tehsil of Nasirabad, more than 30,000 people have been made homeless while crops have been completely washed-out in the canal-irrigated area. Around 0.2 million people had been affected by floods in six districts of Balochistan where rescue and relief work had been slow and inadequate. Roads, power transmission lines and railway tracks have been destroyed in the district. Reference: Uncoverings Of The Flood : Balochistan Govt’s Inaction : Are We Nurturing The Deprivation In Balochis?- by Hafsa Khawaja 28 July 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/20161 Over 60,000 affected by flood in Balochistan By Saleem Shahid Friday, 30 Jul, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/over-60,000-affected-by-flood-in-balochistan-070

A Compassionate appeal from a FB Friend, Awais Masood My dear urbanites, please do something for the victims of floods and plane crash. We can certainly do a lot but for heaven's sake do not insult the victims by calling these calamities a 'khudaee azaab' since nobody deserves an 'azaab' more than your consumerist existence [Awais Masood]

پاکستان: بدترین سیلاب، کشمیر اور پختون خواہ شدید متاثر
آخری وقت اشاعت: جمعـء 30 جولائ 2010 , 11:03 GMT 16:03 PST

پاکستان: بدترین بارشوں کے نتیجے میں آنے والے سیلاب کے باعث اب تک ڈیڑھ سو سے زیادہ افراد کے ہلاک ہونے کی تصدیق ہوچکی ہے، تاہم غیر سرکاری اعداد و شمار کے مطابق تین سو تک افراد کے ہلاک ہونے کی اطلاع ہے۔ پاکستان کے زیر انتظام کشمیر اور پختون خواہ شدید طور پر متاثر ہیں۔ پختو ن خواہ میں ہنگامی حالت نافذ کردی گئی ہے۔

COURTESY: BBC

URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2010/07/100730_pak_floods_video.shtml

As raging floods wreaked havoc across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some Fata regions, inundating large parts of Nowshera, Charsadda and Swat, the people of Dera Ismail Khan were warned on Friday of a similar disaster after 400,000 to 500,000 cusecs of water discharged from the overflowing Tarbela reservoir threatened all natural and man-made protective barriers in the district. REFERENCE: Monsoon unleashes havoc in the north http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/media-gallery/17-monsoon+unleashes+havoc+in+the+north-ek-02?pageDesign=new_MediaGallery_externallink2-6
خیبر پختونخواہ میں بارش، ہلاکتیں، تباہی
آخری وقت اشاعت: جمعـء 30 جولائ 2010 , 13:55 GMT 18:55 PST

پاکستان کےصوبہ خیر پختونخوا میں حکام کے مطابق مون سون کی بارشوں کے بعد شروع ہونے والے سیلابی ریلوں میں ایک سو پچاس افراد ہلاک اور سولہ ہزار سے زائد محصور ہو گئے ہیں۔
Courtesy: BBC
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2010/07/100730_flood_pakhtoonka.shtml

I don't know whether Late. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto grazed on grass or not but people of Pakistan have been having grass for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Supper too..

The nuclear dream began with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Educated in America at the beginning of the Cold War, a student of politics, by the time he became foreign minister in the early 1960s he saw in the bomb a route to power as much for Pakistan as for himself. Nuclear nationalism found its first champion in Bhutto who declared Pakistan would fight India for a thousand years, and that Pakistan would get the bomb even if it meant having to eat grass. In other words, he thought glory was worth the price of self-destruction. (Dr Zia Mian, a research scientist at Princeton University, US, is active with the Pakistan Peace Coalition. He is co-editor with Smitu Kothari of Out of the Nuclear Shadow, Rainbow Press, New Delhi, 2001.) REFERENCE: The Thousand-Year War With Ourselves It took Kargil, and a thousand young lives, to rediscover an old truth: the Bomb is a blunt weapon ZIA MIAN MAGAZINE JUL 23, 2001 http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?212693

They don't have funds for Boats and Motor Boats to save life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, yet they have funds to distribute in Bar Councils.

Finance Minster Dr Abdul Hafeez unveiled the budget 2010-11. Realising the defence as number one priority in the overall current security environment and the expenditures incurred in the war on terror, defence spending for the coming financial year has seen an anticipated upsurge. The government has allocated Rs442.17 billion for defence expenditure for the fiscal year 2010-2011. It marks an increase of Rs64.04 billion or 16.9 per cent compared to Rs376.85 billion last year. Among these, Rs176 billion is to be allocated for the much-required salary increases and other benefits to the defence personnel. REFERENCE: No funds for saving lives: Defence budget at a glance Saturday, 19 Jun, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/letters-to-the-editor/defence-budget-at-a-glance-960

Pakistan is paying $1.4 billion for the jets and an additional $1.3 billion for the up gradation of its existing fleet. F-16 jets land in Pakistan Saturday, 31 Jul 2010 http://tribune.com.pk/story/23896/us-to-hand-over-3-f-16-jets-to-pakistan-today/

No Funds for Boats and Motor Boats

President Zardari and his entourage will stay at the five-star luxury hotel Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, located in the Marylebone area, adjacent to Park Lane, and minutes walk from Hyde Park, Marble Arch and Buckingham Palace. ‘The News’ has learned that nearly half of the ninth exclusive floor called Regency Club Level, which has 18 suites and 10 executive type luxury rooms, has been booked and blocked for any commoner to venture into on the grounds of security reasons. Nearly half of the rooms will not be used at all as some of the delegation members will be accommodated in other cheap-rented rooms, but still the full rent will be paid. President Zardari will stay in one of the booked the Royal Suites, the most expensive luxury suites which cost around £7,000 per night for each room. He follows the footsteps of former president Pervez Musharraf who was addicted to staying in his nearby favourite Dorchester Hotel, which is even more expensive than the Churchill Hotel. The services bill or the catering (breakfasts, lunches and dinners) is not included in the price. The catering for this trip has been ordered from an Asian restaurant at the cost of around £18 per pack for the delegation members and the high commission members, but the special meals for the president and a selected few will be arranged by the hotel itself. Around 10-12 luxury cars have been hired at the cost of £400 per vehicle and they will be engaged with the delegation for the entire duration of the presidential visit. REFERENCE: Security concerns main reason Saturday, July 31, 2010 Zardari team’s visit to cost tons of UK pounds By Murtaza Ali Shah http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=30402

مـينوتـر ديوتا ناشتي ۾ ڪيئي نوجوان ڇوڪرا ۽ ڇوڪريون ڳـڙڪائي ويندو هو. حقيقت ۾ مينوتـر اڃا بـ پنهنجي هچا جاري رکيو پيو اچي. فـرق اهو آھ تـ هاڻ سندس روح سياستدانن ۾ گهڙي ويو آھ. ڪٿي ٻوڏن سبب تباهي، ڪٿي صاف پـاڻي نـ ملڻ سبب بيماريون، ڪٿي بک ۽ بدحالي تـ ڪٿي وري ماڻهن کي قبيلائي جهيڙن ۾ ڦاسائي ٿو. مينوتـر جنسي ڳـڙڪائيندو هو ۽ هي موت جي کيڏ مان مال گـڏ ڪن ٿا

جڏهن روم سڙي رهيو هو تـ نيرو بانسري پـئي وڄائي. ٿـر ۽ ڪوهستان ۾ ماڻهن کي صاف پاڻيءَ جو هڪ گلاس ميسر ناھ ۽ حڪمران هليا آهن جپان جي طرز تي نئون شهر ”ذوالفقار آباد“ اڏڻ ـ اهي ماڻهو ڪنهن جي اکين ۾ ٿا ڌوڙ وجهن؟ سنڌ ۾ اڳ موجود شهرن کي سهولتون ڏنيون اٿن جو هليا آهن نوان شهر جوڙڻ؟ گـٽر کليا پيا آهن انهن ۾ ٻارڙا ڪري پـيا مرن. شايد نيرو جو روح هنن ۾ واسو ڪري ويو آھ ـ

Courtesy: Sindhi Xafar 

When Towns are in ruins our Super Intelligent Rulers instead of rehabilitating the existing Towns, they are building the new one. Why don't they divert these funds to those towns which really need financial help: Zulfikarabad layout finalised By Mohammad Iqbal Khwaja Saturday, 31 Jul, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/zulfikarabad-layout-finalised-170 Fact Sheets on Zulfiqarabad! There is also a General [Retd] S P Shahid [very close to Musharraf] is sitting in the meeting and that General is responsible for many shifting to Gitmo.:) Appointments show Musharraf does not intend to shed uniform: Gen Haq appointed JCSC chairman, Gen Hayat VCOAS By Rana Qaisar Sunday, October 03, 2004 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_3-10-2004_pg1_1 Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lt-Gen SP Shahid. Couldn't they find any civilian for the post? Zulfiqar Development Authority Director-General General (retd) SP Shahid will also brief the president about the projects underway in Lyari and Karachi.A megacity in the making? http://tribune.com.pk/story/13555/a-megacity-in-the-making/ As per news above that "Zulfiquarabad would be like Singapore" like city in Sindh. What about developing or allocating funds for many "Moen Jo Daro"like Moro, Sakrand, Mehar, Sukkur, Nawabshah and you can take any name. Please keep Sindh remain as Sindh, don't make it Singapore or Paris just arrange funds for existing cities. Progress on Zulfikarabad city project reviewed By Our Reporter Friday, 23 Jul, 2010 - KARACHI, July 22: President Asif Ali Zardari, who arrived in Karachi late on Wednesday, presided over two meetings in the Bilawal House on Thursday to review progress on the planned ‘Zulfikarabad City’ in Thatta district and industrial and agricultural demonstration zones in the province. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/progress-on-zulfikarabad-city-project-reviewed-370