Remembering Shaikh Ayaz: The legend poet of Sub-Continent

Birth Day celebration on March 2nd, 2009 at Karachi Arts Council main auditorium at 3.30 PM, Programme includes: Papers and Speeches- Book Launch and Music
He sangram! samhoon Aa Narayan Shayam!
hina ja munhinja Qola bi saGya Boola bi saGya
hoo kavita jo kaaka-dharni, para munhinja ranga-ratola bi saGya
DHatu bi saGyo DHolu bi saGyo hanou bi saGyo hola bi saGya
huna tay keean bandooka KhaRNa maan!
hina Khay golee keean haRNa maan!
keean haRNa maan! keean haRNa maan!
keean haRNa maan!
Translation: This sangram! in front is Narain Shayam!
His and mine tales are the same
promises are the same
He is the king of poetry, but my colorful ways are also same
land also same beloved also same heart also same horrors also same
How can I point a gun to him!
How can I shoot him! How can I shoot! How can I shoot! How can I shoot!

Higher tax on rich

Obama’s bold budget dicards Bush ideology in bid to lift economy

U.S. President Barack Obama blamed current economic woes on “an era of profound irresponsiblity.”
- ANDREW TAYLOR
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON- U.S. President Barack Obama charted a dramatic course for the United States with a bold but contenttious budge proposing higher taxes for the wealthy and the first steps toward guaranted health care for all Americans.
The budget was accompained by an astonishing $1.75 trillion federal deficit that would be nearly four times the highest in history. In a veiled jibe at George W. Bush’s eight- year presidency, Obama attributed the current economic maelstrom to “an era of profound irresponsibilty that engulfed both private and public institutions from some of our largest companies’ executive suites to the seats of power in Washington, D.C.”

Denouncing what he called the “dishonest accounting” of recent federal budgets, Obama unveiled his own $ 36 trillion blueprint for next year, a proposal tha would transfer walth from rich taxpayers to the middle class and the poor….

Shabaz Karay Perwaz- Meena Naz Dhammal

Court ban on Shrif brothers- A Sindhi prespective

A sad day for justice and democracy in Pakistan

by Khalid Hashmani, McLean

It is indeed a sad day for democracy and justice in Pakistan. Even though the policies of PML-N in general and Nawaz Sharif in particular have been anti-Sindhi and anti-provincial autonomy, the recent actions by the controversial judges of the Pakistan Supreme Court and subsequent imposition of Governor’s rule in Punjab should be unfit.

Taking one step forward to restore democracy and justice in Pakistan and two steps back does not bode well for the future of Pakistan. The same politics of agitation and supressing opposition of yester years continues to prevail, bringing Pakistan one step closer to becoming a failed state.

Feb 26, 2009

Pakistan in turmoil as court bans ex-PM

Sharif’s backers protest in streets after ruling bars him from office

by Laura King, Los Angeles Times

Islamabad- Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif may well be the most popular politician in Pakistan. So the Supreme Court’s decision yesterday that bans him from holding elected office has set the stage for what could be a bitter show-down between his backers and the already shaky government of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistan, which over the past 18 months has seen a grassroot uprising against long-time military leader [Dictator] Pervez Musharraf, the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and then the advent of civilian rule, appears ill-prepared for another prolonged period of political. turmoil. Islamic insurgents are gaining strength, and the economy is virtually on life support from international leaders.

Analysts characterized yesterday’s court ruling as a drawing of battle lines between Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples party and its one time ally, Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim league- N. Two parties teamed in Feb 2008 to take on Musharraf, soundly defeating his party in parliamentary elections and ousting him from office six months latter. But having gained power, they fell out with on another.

Sharif’s supporters protested yesterday’s verdict, saying they do not recognize the legitimacy of the court. They repeated demands for the reinstatement of the former chief justice and other senior judges dismissed by Musharraf in late 2007 during a bout of de facto martial law.

“This is mockery of justice, mockery of democracy,” Ahsan Iqbal, senior leader of Sharif’s party, said of the ruling. “The decision has once again pushed Pakistan on the path of political confrontation and political instability.”

The former prime minister’s brother, Shahbaz Sharif, was also disqualified by the court from holding office, in effect removing him from his position as chief minister of Punjab, the country’s most populous and affluent province.

Supporters of the Shairf pouredinto the streets of major cities, burning tires and chanting anti government slogans.

A firebrand populist, Sharif returned to Pakistan in late 2007 after nearly eight years in exile, foiling efforts by Musharraf to keep him away. Although Shairf’s party trailed the Pakistan People’s Party in the February 2008 vote, some commentators attributed that to sympathy over the assassination six weeks earlier of Bhutto, Zardari’s wife. Most public opinion polls suggested Sharif’s popularty has now eclipsed Zardari’s.

—-

Our source of above article Thursday, Feb 26, 2009, Toronto Star, page A13.

Why not try to do something to build bridges!

“We thought, why not try to do something to build bridges between people who see each others as opposites… says Ronni Abergel, co-founder who conceived the idea after his friend was stabbed by a stranger. The program, launched in Denmark in 2000, was his way of breaching the divide between people. Says Abergel: If we felt more at ease in our neighbourhood or schools we would have more life quality, all of us.”

It is never too late to mend

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai
The incident of 9/11, 2001 changed the world in general and Pashtun region in particular. Americans and allies launched their war against al- Qaeda and Taliban terrorists who were harboring terrorism and terrorists to Afghanistan and all over the world including the attacks on the US.

Pakistan’s Sharif Vows Protest After Court Bars Him From Office

- Khalid Qayum and James Rupert
February 25th, 2009
Courtesy and Thanks: Wichaar.com
Feb. 25 (Bloomberg) — Pakistan’s main opposition party called for nationwide protests after the Supreme Court barred its leader, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, from holding elected office.

To call a thief a thief

To call a thief a thief
In other countries, you used to call a thief a thief but in Pak you call them government officers.

Logical reason:  Teacher: “Why are you always late for school.”  Student: “Because you always ring the bell before I get there.”

BBC Journalists go on strike

BBC South Asia goes on strike in London
by Saqlain Imam, London, imam6@hotmail.com
BBC World Service’s South Asian journalists are starting a 24 hour strike action as part of their ongoing campaign ‘Save the BBC World Service’ on Thursday, 26th of February. The BBC World Service management is attempting to force a restructuring plan, endangering 34 jobs in Hindi, Urdu and Nepali sections, without an agreement with the trade unions. The BBC WS journalists have been protesting for the last 15 months against ‘reckless off-shoring’ under the banner of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Broadcast Entrainment Cinema Theatre Union (BECTU).

Rescuing Pakistan

WASHINGTON DIARY: Rescuing Pakistan
Dr Manzur Ejaz
February 24th, 2009
Courtesy and Thanks: Wichaar.com
The writer can be reached at manzurejaz@yahoo.com
Only fortune-tellers can forecast the supply of electricity and water; there are serious risks to public health, especially Hepatitis B and C; the education system is in ruins; and the rural unemployment rate – Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving jihadi in Mumbai, came from such an area – is well over fifty percent.

Real possibility of Taliban take over of Pakistan

WASHINGTON DIARY: The advancing enemy (Real possibility of Taliban take over of Pak) Daily Times
by Dr Manzur Ejaz, USA
Rulers averse to an independent judiciary and an equitable socio-economic order; an economic upper class hostile to paying its fair share in taxes; self-obsessed intellectuals and media persons; and a poverty-stricken population – this presents the perfect mix for the forces of destruction.

Opinion- MQM: Perspective and Prospective

by: Jami Chandio

1.Executive summary:

There have been different and opposite points of view about the emergence and existence of MQM in political and intellectual circles. MQM has been calling itself the product of the tyranny of circumstances. And the blame for this was first leveled against Sindhis and now apparently the establishment is charged with it. A great bulk of the Urdu speaking intellectuals has been holding a similar point of view. Majority of the Punjabi intellectuals have suffered from a lack of clarity in this regard. And, except for a few of them, they have been keeping away from a categorical expression, in this regard due to political opportunism. Sindh, so far, has not produced political intellectuals with enough and incisive scientific understanding of the circumstances, whereas, some writers and political circles have been there with a stance in this context. I too have been tackling it for the last 18 years on occasions at policy level. In these contexts, I have never been pressurized by the idea as to what conflicts of understanding could germinate from this. I have always considered it my primary duty to write about the major and fundamental issues related to Sindh. And since MQM has also been an important issue concerning Sindh, it has been among my basic intellectual responsibilities to lay before the Sindhi public my readings on it.

Historical Look at Hingol : Hinglaj Devi was last mother queen of Matriarchal era of Indus Valley

Another name of Hinglaj Devi is Goddess Naina which is very akin to Goddess Nania of Sumerian Civilization

by Jagdeesh Ahuja, Hyderabad, Sindh.

Originally Hinglaj has nothing to do with religion or nationalism. Hinglaj is the historical monument of Sindhu Civilization. Hingol was one of the great many kingdoms of Sapta Sindhva (Sindhu des of seven rivers) and Hinglaj Devi was last mother queen of matriarchal era of Indus Valley. Another name of Hinglaj Devi is Goddess Naina which is very akin to Goddess Nania of Sumerian Civilization. The great poet of Indus Valley, Shah Latif called her “Nani Ama(n)” and after then Hinglaj Temple became famous as Temple of Nani Ama(n) especially in the Muslim populace. And Hinglaj Yatra has now got a great new altitude beyond religious divide.

We are unfortunate people who disown our own history. Ironically people of India own our monuments of ancient civilization as their sacred religious shrines and we are ever ready to give up our past and destroy our future. What a great alienation and ignorance of our own history! How can one weigh the advantages of destruction of Harappa, Taxila or Mohen-jo-daro!? Hinglaj is even more ancient than these historical sites. Mehargarh and Hinglaj are the monuments of advent of civilization. Legend of Shiva Parpati explains the transition of matriarchal era to patriarchal era. Shiva is the first male god of Sindhu Civilization whose whole Shakti (Power) was enshrined in his spouse Parpati (Hinglaj Devi) that is why she is also called Shakti Devi. It is well known fact that Shiva was the Lord of Indigenous Dravidian people of Indus Valley. When they were forced to migrate to Ganges Valley by Central Asian Aryan invaders, they continued to worship their Lord Shiva there. Long after the Aryans settled in Sapta Sindhva and owned Shiva along with their Lord Indra (God of Storm), people of Ganges valley started to visit the land of their ancestors. Hence the tradition of Hinglaj Yatra took place.

We must not forget the fact that the word Hindu itself is nothing but Sindhu. The Persians pronounced Sindhu as Hindu. And later Greek invaders pronounced Hindu as Indu, thence words Indus and India came into existence. Due to our ignorance we have lost sense of our history. Religious and nationalistic narrow mindedness has blurred our vision. Hinglaj doesn’t belong to any single religion or nation only, it is a great asset of Indus Valley and heritage of whole humanity, which should be put in the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

President SANA Visiting Sindh

Report by Zulfiqar Halepoto, zhalepoto@yahoo.com
Dr Valeed Shaikh, President of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) was here in Sindh for couple of days and had meetings and discussions with various friends from different walks of life including political leaders, writers, intellectuals, civil society activists, development practitioners and artists.
Those includes Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Speaker of provincial Assembly of Sindh, writers Amar Jalil, Siraj Memon, Ibrahim Joyo, Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqi and others, President SANA extended formal invitations of Silver jubilee Convention of SANA in July 2009 at St Louise.

Mohammad Afzal Khan : A Ray of Hope in the Abyss of Extremism

- Zar Ali

In May 2008, the NWFP government formally signed a peace deal with the extremists from Swat, and as a goodwill gesture the government also released Sufi Mohammad, the founder of Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadia. Sufi was under arrest since late 2001.

Police raid at the home of Sindhi Rights leader Ibrahim Joyo & arrest of his son

M. Ibrahim Joyo

- Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA
Khalid Hashmani can be reached at khashmani@hotmail.com
It is shameful that the Hyderabad police raided the house of great Sindhi Rights leader SaeeN Ibrahim Joyo and arrested his son. Please join me in condemning this awful action and demanding the release of Dr. Mansoor Joyo.

Sixty years of solitude

by Mohammad Ali Mahar, USA
February 22nd, 2009
Courtesy and Thanks: Wichaar.com
Situation in Pakistan keeps one reminding of the story of Macondo, the town around which the most famous literary works of Garcia Marquez, “One Hundred Years of Solitude” revolves.

Medical advances mean HIV patients more likely not to die with AIDS

- David Grahm
“You can’t live your life with a gun to your head,” says 52-year- old Gary, who tested positive for HIV in 1985. “At some point, you have look away and get on with things.”

The Silk route & the ancient Indus Valley

by Aftab Kazi, PhD
The writer can be reached at aftabkazib@yahoo.com
Silk was among the items exported from the ancient Indus Valley emporiums to Mesopotamian city-states approximately 4000 years ago through both land and sea-borne silk-routes. Historically China has maintained cross-continental trade through the port cities of the Indus Basin River state, i.e. Sindh, Ind, Hind, Al-Hind respectively, the land areas that are now called Pakistan. Most recent early medieval example is that of the Kushan Empire (included land areas comprising modern Central Asia, Pakistan with a thin inland incursion into Bharat up to Mathura) which also had an excellent relationship with China. Both empires traded silk, spices, malmal (cotton cloth made in Sindh), indigo, etc all the way to Roman Empire through the Indus port city of Barbarikon (ruins of Barbarikon are likely to be that of Bhambhore located approximately 50 klometers from modern Karachi. This was the sea-borne silk-route link. Suez Canal did not exist then.

DIET CHART

AN IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT DIET

apples	Protects your heart	prevents constipation	Blocks diarrhea	Improves lung capacity	Cushions joints
apricots	Combats cancer	Controls blood pressure	Saves your eyesight	Shields against Alzheimer’s	Slows aging process
artichokes	Aids digestion	Lowers cholesterol	Protects your heart	Stabilizes blood sugar	Guards against liver disease
avocados	Battles diabetes	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	Controls blood pressure	Smoothes skin
bananas	Protects your heart	Quiets a cough	Strengthens bones	Controls blood pressure	Blocks diarrhea
beans	Prevents constipation	Helps hemorrhoids	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Stabilizes blood sugar
beets	Controls blood pressure	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones	Protects your heart	Aids weight loss
blueberries	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Stabilizes blood sugar	Boosts memory	Prevents constipation
broccoli	Strengthens bones	Saves eyesight	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Controls blood pressure
cabbage	Combats cancer	Prevents constipation	Promotes weight loss	Protects your heart	Helps hemorrhoids
cantaloupe	Saves eyesight	Controls blood pressure	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Supports immune system
carrots	Saves eyesight	Protects your heart	Prevents constipation	Combats cancer	Promotes weight loss
cauliflower	Protects against Prostate Cancer	Combats Breast Cancer	Strengthens bones	Banishes bruises	Guards against heart disease
cherries	Protects your heart	Combats Cancer	Ends insomnia	Slows aging process	Shields against Alzheimer’s
chestnuts	Promotes weight loss	Protects your heart	Lowers cholesterol	Combats Cancer	Controls blood pressure
chili peppers	Aids digestion	Soothes sore throat	Clears sinuses	Combats Cancer	Boosts immune system
figs	Promotes weight loss	Helps stops strokes	Lowers cholesterol	Combats Cancer	Controls blood pressure
fish	Protects your heart	Boosts memory	Protects your heart	Combats Cancer	Supports immune system
flax	Aids digestion	Battles diabetes	Protects your heart	Improves mental health	Boosts immune system
garlic	Lowers cholesterol	Controls blood pressure	Combats cancer	kills bacteria	Fights fungus
grapefruit	Protects against heart attacks	Promotes Weight loss	Helps stops strokes	Combats Prostate Cancer	Lowers cholesterol
grapes	saves eyesight	Conquers kidney stones	Combats cancer	Enhances blood flow	Protects your heart
green tea	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Helps stops strokes	Promotes Weight loss	Kills bacteria
honey	Heals wounds	Aids digestion	Guards against ulcers	Increases energy	Fights allergies
lemons	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Controls blood pressure	Smoothes skin	Stops scurvy
limes	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Controls blood pressure	Smoothes skin	Stops scurvy
mangoes	Combats cancer	Boosts memory	Regulates thyroid	aids digestion	Shields against Alzheimer’s
mushrooms	Controls blood pressure	Lowers cholesterol	Kills bacteria	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones
oats	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	Battles diabetes	prevents constipation	Smoothes skin
olive oil	Protects your heart	Promotes Weight loss	Combats cancer	Battles diabetes	Smoothes skin
onions	Reduce risk of heart attack	Combats cancer	Kills bacteria	Lowers cholesterol	Fights fungus
oranges	Supports immune systems	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	Straightens respiration
peaches	prevents constipation	Combats cancer	Helps stops strokes	aids digestion	Helps hemorrhoids
peanuts	Protects against heart disease	Promotes Weight loss	Combats Prostate Cancer	Lowers cholesterol	Aggravates diverticulitis
pineapple	Strengthens bones	Relieves colds	Aids digestion	Dissolves warts	Blocks diarrhea
prunes	Slows aging process	prevents constipation	boosts memory	Lowers cholesterol	Protects against heart disease
rice	Protects your heart	Battles diabetes	Conquers kidney stones	Combats cancer	Helps stops strokes
strawberries	Combats cancer	Protects your heart	boosts memory	Calms stress
sweet potatoes	Saves your eyesight	Lifts mood	Combats cancer	Strengthens bones
tomatoes	Protects prostate	Combats cancer	Lowers cholesterol	Protects your heart
walnuts	Lowers cholesterol	Combats cancer	boosts memory	Lifts mood	Protects against heart disease
water	Promotes Weight loss	Combats cancer	Conquers kidney stones	Smoothes skin
watermelon	Protects prostate	Promotes Weight loss	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	Controls blood pressure
wheat germ	Combats Colon Cancer	prevents constipation	Lowers cholesterol	Helps stops strokes	improves digestion

Posted by:

Najamuddin Ghanghro at yahoogroups e-lists

U.S. Canada relationships- Obama’s visit to Canada

OTTAWA- “I love this country (Canada). We could not have a better friend and ally.” Barack Obama, U.S. President said in Canada.

Geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends. Economic has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder.” -John F. Kennedy

Rally in Toronto Against Taliban Atrocities

TORONTO: This Sunday, the Canadian Pashtun community staged protests the Taliban’s ongoing and brutal oppression of Pashtun people in Northwestern Pakistan. Answering the call of the Pashtun Peace Committee for a “first-ever anti-Taliban rally in Canada.” Says rally spokesman Inayat Khan Kakar:

Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West -Benazir Bhutto

Publisher Comments:
Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007, after eight years of exile, hopeful that she could be a catalyst for change. Upon a tumultuous reception, she survived a suicide-bomb attack that killed nearly two hundred of her countrymen. But she continued to forge ahead, with more courage and conviction than ever, since she knew that time was running out – for the future of her nation, and for her life.

Pakistan Railways does not even have funds to buy fuel!

Unending woes of Railways
by Isha M. Kureshi, Hyderabad, Sindh
Courtesy and Thanks: Daily Dawn, 19.2.2009
It is shocking know that Pakistan Railways (PR), which was incessant financial problems has now even does not have enough funds to buy fuel. The PR is the same organization that was established by the British in this part of sub-continent in the middle of nineteenth century catering to the needs of millions and was considered as one of the best transportation systems in the world.. It supplied excellent services to the passengers/clients and also provided to its employees the best residential facilities, inexpensive education and healthcare as well as clubs and gyms that were available almost in every big city.

To Sindhi Stakeholders in future of Sindh

US Policy Advisors Recommend Focusing Aid on Provinces in Pakistan and Afghanistan

by Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA
Dear Sindhi Stakeholders in future of Sindh,
I urge you to participate in the national ensuing debate that is currently occurring in Pakistan on decentralization that is likely to be implemented through constitutional amendments in the next few months. It is imperative that Sindhi politicians, intellectuals, writers, and other Civil Society leaders voice their opinions to ensure that the Sindhi interests are protected in any forthcoming changes. This is once a life time event to win at least some autonomy and protect our language and culture. This is something that our fathers and forefathers did not do well when passing resolution in Sindh Assembly for Pakistan without securing any guarantees and then again in 1973 by agreeing to accept “concurrent lists”.
My request is not that we engage in debates solely on Internet lists but rather an appeal to engage in wider debate through newspaper articles, seminars, rallies, and other forms of interactions to ensure that the decision makers not only hear Sindhi point of view but incorporate that point of view in the upcoming constitutional amendments. Please feel free to pass on my e-mail with any additional comments to other Sindhi individual and group stakeholders who I have missed in my e-mail.
My sense is that the debate on the “provincial autonomy” has now reached the corridors of Washington DC as the US Government is considering financial assistance to support Pakistan government in implementing any centralization/ decentralization changes. An initial salvo has already been thrown by MQM, which has tabled a package of constitutional amendments.
As the debate gets underway, the following are points that might interest you and others:
1. We need a powerful senate with equal number of seats from each of the four provinces. The Senate should be elected directly by the people and enjoy similar powers as the US Senate including right to initiate monetary bills. My fear is that MQM, Punjab, and NWFP will try to include special seats for FATA (same as now), Islamabad (same as now), and Karachi (MQM will likely push for a special status with separate Senate seats).

February 21- The International Mother Language Day Mother Language Day

by Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA
Today, the world is observing International Mother Language Day. The tradition for recognition of the importance of mother languages is founded in the struggle of Bangladeshis, who fought for the right to be taught and use their mother language in their home land. They not only won that right but are now have full say in shaping their destiny. However, the struggle of Sindhi people for the full restoration of their mother language in their own homeland still continues. In spite of laws duly passed by the Sindh legislature, a large section of people, particularly those who migrated to Sindh in the last few decades and living in Karachi and Hyderabad are denied the right to learn the language of their new home land.
On this International Mother Day proclaimed by UNESCO, I urge the Government of Sindh to take immediate steps to ensure that Sindhi language is taught in every school of Sindh and vigorously promoted as the official language of the province.

United Nations Panel on Racial Discrimination

United Nations Panel on Racial Discrimination has demanded Pakistan provide answers to its racist treatment of Baloch:
GENEVA: Pakistan’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva says his country is trying to address the discrimination against its Baluch minority.
Zamir Akram says the Pakistan government “has given high priority to engaging the local Baluch leaders and the people of Baluchistan in a meaningful dialogue and removing their legitimate grievances.”
A U.N. panel on racial discrimination questioned Akram on Thursday about Pakistan’s treatment of the Baluch people.
(International Herald Tribune)

ADRSH- A SINDHI MARXIST MAGAZINE PUBLISHED

by Nasir Mansoor, nasirazz@yahoo.com
Adrash is one of the serious Marxist magazines in Sindhi. It was bring into being in Jan 2004 by Comrade Asim Akhund (Late), young Marxist intellectual and former member of Executive Committee of LPP  and Sindh Dost Baaliq Tanzeem. After the untimely death of Comrade Asim, LPP Sindh with the team of Adrash decided to publish it to continue the revolutionary legacy of Comrade Asim in Sindh. Last issue of the magazine was dedicated to Comrade Asim, his political and intellectual work.

Differences between Sindh and Punjab?

By: Prof. Nadeem Jamali, Canada

Let’s not get too excited too quickly. PPP-PML(N) collaboration doesn’t end Kalabagh and other dams planned on the Indus. It doesn’t restore the Sindhi language to its rightful status in Sindh. It doesn’t end Punjab’s dependence on Sindh’s resources. It doesn’t take apart army that doesn’t leave any money for health care and education, in order to pay salaries to and build empires for otherwise unemployable Punjabis.

The conflict between Sindh and Punjab is rooted in large part in a natural competition for resources. Punjab, being the one with fewer resources (in per capita terms) covets Sindh’s riches. Precisely because Punjab is not rich in many resources, it has a good supply of desperate people who are happy to move to other lands to feed themselves, or to be foot soldiers of a mercenary army. With this army, and with its hordes of economic immigrants, Punjab occupies Sindh (and Balochistan) , and takes whatever it wants. That is the relationship between Sindh and Punjab.

Sindh and Punjab will have this competition so long as they are contiguous nations. Punjab will always covet Sindh’s waters and other resources. Until Sindh wins freedom, Punjab will always steal from Sindh. Punjab will steal because it can. The saying “power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” applies. And Punjab will also steal because it needs to. Punjab’s population has skyrocketed in the last sixty years. If it stops stealing from Sindh and Balochistan, Punjab’s population will starve.

There is no way for Sindhis to satisfy Punjab’s need and greed except by starving themselves. And Punjab cannot give Sindhis their rights except by starving its poorest. Some nations are richer than others just as some individuals are richer than others. A poorer nation does not have a right to occupy a richer nation and steal from it until both are equally poor or it becomes richer than the latter. Until Sindh wins freedom, Punjab will continue to be Sindh’s occupier, and consequently, Sindh’s enemy. The only path for Sindh toward becoming Punjab’s friend is through winning freedom from Punjab’s occupation. Until then, it is a war of freedom in which honorable Sindhis will fight on Sindh’s behalf.

Sindhi is included in U.S. Army Recruitment program

Report by Hanif Sangi, Fairfax, Virginia, USA,  mehranian89@hotmail.com
This is very good opportunity for folks who are here in the U.S legally to get their citizenship while serving the Country.
Recruitment opens from 23 Feb 2009 for 6 months in New york city only. You do not have to be NYC resident.
If you are a health professional, you have a perference in selection and there is a different quota.

Mast Dhamal by Shazia Khushk

The War in Pakistan!?