Sindh: Call for New Constitution

R.B. Palijo

Courtesy: Daily Dawn Karachi, Sindh August 14, 2009

HYDERABAD: Validity of 1973 Constitution has come to an end due to continuous undemocratic interventions, extra-constitutional amendments and its inherent flaws. The current constitution could not resolve the intra-state political and economic conflicts, Sindh political and civil society activists said here on Wednesday while initiating an effective discussion to design what they said a comprehensive list of demands acceptable to all. The 1973 Constitution should work for an interim period leading to a new constitution based on 1940 resolution through a new elected constituent assembly. That constitution would work as a new social contract among the federating units of Pakistan , they said.

Choose a positive thought

- The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time, choose a positive thought.  – Jealousy work the opposite way you want it to. – The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement changes will leave you 2 steps behind.  - Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life. Creativity is maximized when you are living in the movement.  – Drink fresh water and as much water as you can, water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp.  -  Friends are more important than money.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PAKISTAN: A human rights activist faces terrorism charges for publicising the murder of Christians, while the mullahs who incited the violence remain free

To: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Islamabad

Name of the Victim: Mr. Tariq Mehmood, son of Mohammad Tufail Ansari. Resident of village Basti Danishmandan, Chak no. 264, G-B, district Toba Tek Singh,  Punjab

Names of the perpetrators: 1. DSP, Toba Tek Singh district. 2. SHO, Toba Tek police station, Punjab 3. DPO, Toba Tek district, Punjab, Pakistan

I am writing to register my deep concern regarding the arrest of Tariq Mehmood, an activist working for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Labour Party of Pakistan, on charges of terrorism and disturbing the peace. The charges disproportionately refer to demonstrations he helped arrange after the burning murders of a number of Christians, and the burning of their houses by Muslim extremists. Police have not arrested those who incited the violence using the loudspeakers of mosques, which is illegal in Pakistan.

Pakistan Energy Report- Sindh produces 31% more than what it consumes

Pakistan Energy Book 2008 Report
By Mohsin Babar
Please note: Mohsin Babar is an Islamabad based senior journalist, he writes for fortnightly Sindhi Magazine “Affair”, Sindhi Daily “Kawish”, and hosts a TV program from Islamabad for KTN News, a Sindhi News Channel.
Government of Pakistan has announced 7th Petroleum Policy yesterday on April 5th, 2009. New policy binds oil and gas exploratory companies to give maximum 50% of unskilled jobs to people of local districts.
Province-wise Oil per day Production
Total 70145
Sindh 39370 56%
Punjab 17856 26%
NWFP 12847 18%
Province-wise Consumption
Sindh produces 31% more than what it consumes
Punjab produces 30% less than what it consumes
NFWP produces 9% less than what it consumes
Balochistan produces 10% more than what it consumes
Gas Production in country

US State Department Directed International Visitor Leadership Program

Forwarded by Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA

International Visitor Leadership ProgramThe International Visitor Leadership Program annually brings to the United States approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors, who are selected by American Foreign Service Officers overseas, are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other fields.

Happy 95th Birthday to Ibrahim Joyo

Ibrahim Joyo

Ibrahim Joyo: A wonderful Human Being

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born: August 12, 1915(1915-08-12)

Terath Laki, District Dadu now Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo (Sindhi: محمد ابراهيم جويو) son of Muhammad Khan was born on August 12, 1915, in village Abad near Laki, Kotri, Dadu, now in Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. He is a great scholar of the twenty first century.

Pakistan – Debate on provincial autonomy

by:  ZULFIQAR HALEPOTO, Secretary, Sindh Democratic Forum, Hyderabad

Courtesy: Daily Dawn, Thursday, 13 Aug, 2009

TWO months ago an advertisement appeared in leading national dailies in which the ministry of provincial coordination, government of Sindh, solicited civil society to submit proposals and recommendations to the government regarding provincial autonomy. The content of the advertisement gives an impression that provincial autonomy is an important issue and the centre is seriously seeking suggestions from provinces to resolve the autonomy issue. The formation of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and the National Finance Commission to work out for fair distribution of resources are the arguments given by the government about the seriousness of the regime to decentralise powers of the centre. However, during its 15 months in power the government has only demonstrated overcentralisation of power in the presidency.

Kashmir Peoples Right of Self-determination Celebrated

Washington, D.C. August 13, 2009. All Parties Committee for Kashmiri Peoples Right of Self–determination, comprising 16 main political parties of Azad Kashmir is observing August 13, 2009 as “Kashmir Peoples Right of Self-determination Day” on national as well as international level.

Why are we in this state!?

Khalid Hashmani

by: Khalid Hashmani, McLean

August 12, 2009: The reason is simple! The natives of the provinces, where these resources are located, are denied their due share of benefits in Pakistan. Much of this wealth is enjoyed by people who either live in other provinces or people associated with powerful and high-maintenance organizations such as military. This leaves very little for common men and women, particularly those who live in rural areas.

‘China should break India into 20-30 states’

Courtesy: ZeeNews, Tuesday, August 11, 2009

New Delhi: In an article likely to raise Indian hackles, a Chinese strategist contends that Beijing should break up India into 20-30 independent states with the help of “friendly countries” like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

Pakistan Bans Jaish-e-Mohd, Jamaat-ud-Dawah, and Lasher-e-Taiba

Islamabad: The Pakistan government has banned 25 religious and other organizations, including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, Jaish-e-Mohhammed and Lashker-e-Taiba, the interrior ministry said. The ministry presented a list of the banned organizations in the National (Federal) Assembly or lower house of parliament. It also said the Sunni Tehrik had been put on a watch list. Among the organizations included in the list of outlawed groups are JuD, LeT, JeM, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muahammadi, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Al-Akhtar Trust, Al-Rasheed Trust, Tehreek-e-Islami, Islamic Students Movement, Khair-un-Nisa International Trust, Islami Tehreek-e-Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Islam and others.

Pakistan competing in Afghanistan with India

WASHINGTON DIARY: Competing in Afghanistan

by: Dr Manzur Ejaz, USA

Courtesy: Wichaar.com, August 11th, 2009

Pakistan has a certain potential edge over India because of the Pashtuns living on both sides of the border. However, Pakistan will have to use the Pashtun card differently than it has done in the past. While Pakistan failed in its delusionary policy of gaining strategic depth in Afghanistan, India is gaining broad and deep influence there. Investments of $1.6 billion and its dominance of every economic sector of Afghanistan will give India long lasting influence. And Pakistan’s Taliban proxies may not be a sufficient policy tool to balance Indian influence.

India has already constructed the 218-km Zaranj-Delaram highway to use as an alternative for Indo-Afghan trade in case Pakistan does not allow its territory to be used for the purpose. Besides building the Afghan Parliament, India has donated three Airbus airliners to Ariana, 400 buses for the public transportation system, and 105 vehicles for the Kabul municipality. India has heavily invested in several power generation projects as well, including a solar plant for the electrification of a hundred villages.

Tharparkar at Glance- By Dharmoon Bhawani

No one has realized what we have done in the past, when we were in the state of childhood. Some time love of past makes us cry, tears come into our eyes, jut like a drop of rain form the sky with shower. Those things that we used to hate are now the inevitable part of our life, are always in front of us like a dancing shadows, as if they are alive. Perhaps Shakespeare is right in his saying that “The more you hate, the more I love you.”

OGDC discovers gas in Sindh

KARACHI – SINDH (APP)- Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) has discovered natural gas from its Reti exploratory well No 1-A (Guddu Block), located in Ghotki district.

According to the communique to KSE here Wednesday, the Guddu joint venture is comprised of OGDCL, IPRTOC and Government Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, having 70 %, 25 % and 5 % working interest respectively.

Reti Well was drilled down to its target depth of 770 meters based on electric logs, geological and drilling data. The production testing was started on August 1, 2009 to evaluate the potential of Pirkoh Limestone of middle Eocene age.

Three zones in Pirkoh limestone have been selected for testing.

Zone-I proved to be tight and water bearing, while Zone-II has produced 2.82 mmcfd of gas wellhead flowing pressure of 498 Psi.

Scientists edge closer to growing replacement bones

London: Scientists have edge closer to growing replacement bones with stem cell technology. Molly Stevens, professor at Imperial College London and author of a new study said: “Our study brings us on step closer to developing materials that will have the highest chance of success when implanted int patients.” The effort is on to create bone-like materials, derived from stem cells.

Pakistan International Airline’s loss is Rs. 142 billion

Pakistan’s Senate Committee says: “Pakistan International Airline, PIA’s loss is Rs. 142 billion.” This means, if PIA starts earning a profit of 1 billion from today, which is impossible, than it will take 142 years to get rid of bankruptcy.

The paradox of our time!

Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin – comedian of the 70′s and 80′s – could write something so very eloquent…and so very appropriate.

by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

Pakistan First!

..Like when General Musharraf introduced his ‘modern enlightenment’ philosophy tagged with the slogan “Pakistan First”, a joke was on SMS that his wife complained that he has not been screwing her lately – and the General candidly replied: Pakistan First.

Excerpt from the article “jokes Too Far” written by Wajid Ali Syed.

Source – http://www.wichaar.com/news/292/ARTICLE/15691/2009-08-10.html

Balochistan – A Home-grown Conflict

by: Malik Siraj Akbar

Courtesy: The Times of India, 11 August 2009

When the first Baloch insurgency broke out in 1948 to resist the illegal and forceful annexation of the Baloch-populated autonomous Kalat state with Pakistan, Manmohan Singh – today Indian prime minister – was barely a teenager while his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani had not even been born to witness the rebellion’s magnitude. Yet, last month, both leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh discussed for the first time the indefatigable Baloch insurgency.

India – Police abuses’

A report – titled Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police.

NEW DELHI – Inida’s police force has been accused of extrajudicial killings, torture and carrying out illegal detentions, human rights campaigners have said. “India’s status as the world’s largest democracy is undermined by a police that thinks it is above the law,” Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), said on Tuesday. Indian police continue to use their old methods: abuse and threats…

Inability of so called Sindhi MPAs, MNAs, Ministers & Officers!

Thatta Coastal community project at stake

Courtesy: Daily Dawn, 11-8-09

THATTA, Aug 10: The Sindh Coastal Community Development project was at stake due to unnecessary delay in recruitment of staff, Dawn learnt through reliable sources here on Monday. The Asian Development Bank-assisted project of $40 billion was launched in November 2008.

It meant for the uplift and improvement of socio-economic conditions of coastal population of Thatta and Badin districts, incorporating mangroves planting over 3,000 hectares by the government, 200 fish pond development schemes, rehabilitation of three hatcheries, small and medium scale community and government-managed interventions.

The project was to be implemented over a period of six years from 2006 -07 to December 2012. However, unnecessary delay in the recruitment on 109 posts from grade 1 to grade 19 caused to stop the project.

Sources said that at a meeting held on July 10, 2009, the ADB country director made it clear that the project would be cancelled if recruitment was not completed soon. Minister for Economic Division and Finance Hina Rabbani Khar wrote a letter to the Sindh government in the last week of July to take on staff within one month, otherwise the project would be withdrawn and no project would be given to Sindh in future. Reports said the Sindh CM had issued directive to constitute a committee to start recruitment and advertise vacancies in the newspapers, but the bureaucrats were deliberately not complying with the directives.

Ministers, MNAs and MPAs of the two districts were silently watching the tussle between bureaucrats and top politicians of the province.

Jokes Too Far

by: Wajid Ali Syed

Courtesy: Wichaar.com, August 10th, 2009

You can’t deny the importance of humor in life. One of the first steps to ensuring a nation’s death is to regulate and ban its humor. Humor implies tolerance. Without it a people wither on the vine. Humor is not necessarily portable. People the world over can relate to Three Stooges-like pratfalls and jokes about meddlesome mothers-in-law or nagging wives or hapless husbands. Many American jokes could probably be enjoyed in Pakistan, like this one: What’s the difference between Jesus and a picture of Jesus? You only need one nail to hang up a picture of Jesus.

Free education bill passed in India

NEW DELHI:  The Indian parliament has approved a landmark education bill which seeks to guarantee free and compulsory education for children aged between six and 14. The bill, passed by the lower house of parliament, will set up new state-run neighborhood schools. It will also force private ones to reserve at least a quarter of their of their places for poor children.

A call for the people of Sindh – Let us March to Islamabad on the first meeting of NFC

by: Javed Qazi, Sindh

A new National Finance Commission has been announced. Ishaq Dar has been nominated by the Punjab government to represent them. And from Sindh it is our Kaiser Bengali. It is a constitutional requirement that every five years such committee sits to set the criteria of distributing the revenues from the central pool that goes to the provinces.

The fact is that it was simply a formality sort of exercise if ever previously has been done and the criteria is always the population based. Hence Sindh receives very dismal vis a vis the amount of revenues it generates. Where as Punjab receives the more than it generates.

Not only that the eighty percent of the employees that work in the federation are from Punjab . The very federation is located in the Punjab and any development that takes place in the federal Capital, its benefits go more to the Punjab . The population of the capital has its 80 percent people from Punjab .

Even the taxes that are provincial in nature and characteristic if gauge it under the rule of law, constitutionalism for the matter under 1973 constitutions, such right has also been usurped by the central government.

If this is the spectrum it implies that Punjab and the federation is same and no one can form the government in the federation without having a support of the institutions which have predominantly a Punjab ’s representatives.

Peaceful Protest for victims of religious violence in Pakistan

Pakistani American Christian Coalition and Pakistani American Congress is arranging a peaceful protest in front of Pakistani embassy and White House on Thursday, August 13 at 11:00 AM. A bus has been arranged, which will leave Columbia, MD in the morning. Please attend this rally to show solidarity with our fellow Pakistani Christian people and to demonstrate that hate crimes by a few do not represent the mindset of 160 Million peoples of Pakistan.

Ustaad Hamid Ali Khan vs Ustaad Pervez Musharraf Ali Khan

Former President of Paksitan Pervez Musharraf is Singing Live in Official Party….!

Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Worst single terror attacks in history

Courtesy: Links International

By Norm Dixon

August 6 and August 9 2009 mark the 64th anniversaries of the US atomic-bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Hiroshima, an estimated 80,000 people were killed in a split second. Some 13 square kilometres of the city were obliterated. By December, at least another 70,000 people had died from radiation and injuries.

Arrest the Murderers of Saheed Nazeer Abbassi

Report by: Ghaffar Pandrani

Arrest and sentence the murderers of Comrade Nazir Abassi Shaheed at the occasion of the 29th anniversary celebration of Shaeed Nazir Abassi at Shahdadkot.

A program was arranged by Sindh Hari Porhiat Council, Shaheed Nazeer Abassi Yadgar Committee on August 8, 2009 at Shahdadkot to pay tribute to the struggle of Comrade Nazir Abassi Shaheeed. On this occasion of the 29th anniversary celebration of Comrade Nazeer Abassi members of Sindh Hari Porhait Council, Shaheed Nazir Abassi Yadgar Committee, Communist Party of Pakistan, Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party, Sindh United Party including political, social activists, journalists, members of civil society, members of labor unions, and peasants participated.

The program was presided over by the central president of Sindh Hari Porhait Council Mr. Punhal Sariyo. He told in his speech that the time has reached and the to gather the individuals who follow the thoughts of Shaheed Nazir there fore, its necessary to a national forum be formed through which a struggle may be started against the injustice of the state. He demanded that the murderers of Shaheed must be arrested. He announced to start a movement from Shahdadkot with the support of those whose sympathies were with Shaheed Abassi to fight for the case of Nazir Abassi.

The Central Chairman of Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party and a colleague of Shaheed Nazir Abassi Comrade Sufi Abdul Khaliq Baloch said Shaheed Nazir Abassi is the name of a living movement, and its today’s need to spread the thoughts and concept of Shaheed Nazir at village level. He further said that those who are involved in parliamentary politics are failed.

A farmer leader said in his speech that we can bring an end to feudalism by following Nazir Abass; he said the struggle for agricultural reformation.

Ms. Rubina Chandio, a women rights activist, said in her speech that after the martyrdom of Nazir Abassi his family especially his mother has suffered a lot. She further said that a positive change can be brought in the society with the mutual struggle of men and women.

Comrade of Communist Party of Pakistan Mr. Salih Silro, Mnasoor Jarwar from Sindh United party, civic leader advocate Waheed Bhatti, Labour leader Mir Muhammad Lashari, Comrade Khabar Silro, Sarfraz Chalgari, Ghaffar Pandrani, Malik Pandrani, Farooq Soomro, Ghulamullah Silro, Papu Dero and others demanded that the murderers of Shaheed Nazir Abassi should be arrested who and the area of Shahdadkot Textile Mill should be given to the labor families.

Report by: Ghaffar Pandrani, On Behalf of Shaheed Nazir Abassi Yadgar Committee and Sindh Hari Porhait Council Shahdadkot Arrest & Sentence the Murderers of Saheed Nazeer Abassi.

Aug 10, 2009

Cyber-warriors —Haider Nizamani

Courtesy: The News

by: Haider Nizamani, Canada

The late Edward Said, the eloquent and incorrigible voice of Palestinians on the world stage, had fundamental disagreements with Yasser Arafat but I haven’t come across one sentence where he turned it into personal mud-slinging.

PAKISTAN: Bring Pervez Musharraf and his henchmen before the law

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-027-2009
25 March 2009
PAKISTAN: Petition to bring Pervez Musharraf and his henchmen before the law.

Manufactured Beliefs

by: B. R. Gowani

The ruling class creates beliefs

Through absolute lies, Even though it may later accept, That it manufactured the beliefs, Or the fact may present itself

through investigative reports, Nevertheless, the hard core devotees hold on to their beliefs: Saddam was linked to al qaeda

and:

The government health care plan offers NO CHOICE, that is, only the merchants of death (the private health insurance companies), offer choice and can take care of your health …

Capitalism is the only solution (despite the trillions of dollar bailout)

All Muslims are terrorists

…

A recent poll shows the majority believes that the dropping of atomic bombs in 1945 on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was the right thing to do.

B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com

Courtesy: Globeistan

Sindh`s Share In NFC

By Dr Ali Akbar M. Dhakan, Karachi, Sindh

It is a common fact that “Sindh`s finances continue to remain plagued with the chronic problem of matching expenditures with inadequate and uncertain availability of resources”.

Making a fool of oneself!

In a train that was about to leave the platform, one person came rushing in a compartment . There was already another person seated there.. He said to the person already seated ‘, My God! It is so hot.’ And he switched on the A/C

The other person got annoyed , and said to himself ,,Evidently he has no manners .He did not ask for my permission to start the A/C .’ So he said,’it is already cool .Don’t start the A/c. So they got into an argument and nearly came to blows.

Meantime the guard arrived on the scene and said, ‘What is this argument about?’ Both the passengers turned to him and gave their versions .. The guard replied, My God! But the A/C is out of order.’

Protect Your Heart

High blood pressure affects one in every four South Asians (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, SriLanka), and the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. Yet 42% of people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it, because it produces no symptoms.

Mr. Drone you are the real triumphant

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai

Oh, Mr. Drone you are helpful to Pashtun/Afghan and you are the only one to having capability to hit the real and actual target. Pashtun are your friends and do not feel that they will forget you. They will remember you as long as the world is there. You proved your efficiency at last and killed the one which was the blue eyed boy of the intelligence Agencies. You proved that you have the capability to strike those terrorists who make terrorism in Pashtun region.

Merit Prizes to Sindhi Writers for literary books

Forwarded by: Dilip Tekchandani, India

The NCPSL, established by Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development for propagation, promotion and development of Sindhi language, invites applications for the following schemes for the year 2009 – 10.

1. Special Awards, 2. Merit Prizes to Sindhi Writers for literary books, 3. Bulk purchase of Sindhi Books / Magazines / Audio-Video Cassettes / CDs / VCDs / DVDs for free distribution to educational institutions / schools / colleges / public libraries, 4. Purchase of Copies of Sindhi Reference Books, 5. Financial Assistance for publication of books to promote Sindhi language, litrature & Culture, 6. Financial Assistance to Voluntary Organization for selected Promotional Activities related to Sindhi Language.

The entries should be sent on prescribed performas to be obtained from NCPSL, up to 1st September, 2009 for details log on to www.sindhigulab.com World’s 1st Sindhi Internet magazine Since 2001 in the service to SINDHYAT.