Save the life of Mushtaq Mirani

by Suraiya Makhdoom

I am appalled at learning about Saeen Mushtaq’s illness. Mushtaque Mirani’s personality is an institution: he is an academic, a trade unionist (he has always been in the Mehran University Teachers Association), a development expert as well as a scholar. He is a great asset for his land.

Mushtaque Mirani’s ill health is a matter of concern for all of us. I wish him a speedy recovery. I hope he will take extra care of himself and prioritise his health above every thing else.

We should do something practically as well. There was a suggestion to contact the CM. This could be done. The Islamabad govt too could be contacted. As a serving professor, he may be entitled to some sort of medical facilities from the University. All those avenues should be explored.

Sindhi computing 2 steps forward

Sindhi computing 2 steps forward, for details please click here or following link.

http://www.sindhforum.com/sindhi/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=2311

Download Sindhi software, please click here at ILDC or click the following link;

http://ildc.in/

Civil-Military Rift in Pakistan Over US Aid

by Omar Ali, USA

Lets see what happens. My guess is that the US embassy will do what the US president does with congress, bribe them by increasing the unmonitored goodies (announced or unannounced). But will the army bite? On past performance, one would guess they will. Its hard to see how a rift with their paymasters and a revival of jihadism will help the property values in sector E-7, but one must keep in mind that these are generals who think of themselves as amazing trapeze artists who can fly through the air and grab that handhold at the last possible moment. They may be calculating that Obama has absolutely no choice in this matter since a face-saving exit from Afghanistan depends mostly on ISI cooperation. This perception has probably been bolstered by Obama’s very public wavering over Afghanistan, but the problem I see is that even if they are correct and Anne Patterson gives them their India-specific Jihadis and even their “good taliban”, it is the jihadists who will not stick to the script. In the long run, this extortion is a recipe for disaster (some would argue that so is meek acceptance of the American plans, but we may have to compare disaster to disaster and see which nasty medicine tastes a shade better)….

I can hear some people saying “China will bail us out” or “Saudi Arabia will take up the slack”. Well, we will see. I don’t think so…

If anyone has any doubts left about who is orchestrating the opposition to the Kerry Lugar bill, they should read Kamran Khan’s column. It seems the main sticking point is not the Kashmiri Jihadis or even the blessed “good Taliban”. Its the fact that bloody civilians may try to “interfere” in the army that is supposedly subservient to the same “bloody civilians”. Unfortunately, the short sighted Mian brothers have opted for the politically expedient and suicidal route of supporting the corpse commanders on this issue….

Courtesy: CRCP yahoo groups

Tao Te Ching

Heaven and Earth last forever.

Why do heaven and Earth last forever?

They are unborn,

so ever living.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Tao Te Ching or Dao De Jing (simplified Chinese: 道德经; traditional Chinese: 道德經; pinyin: Dàodéjīng), originally known as Laozi (simplified Chinese: 老子; traditional Chinese: 老子; pinyin: Lǎozǐ), is a Chinese classic text. Its name comes from the opening words of its two sections: 道 dào “way,” Chapter 1, and 德 dé “virtue,” Chapter 38, plus 經 jīng “classic.” According to tradition, it was written around the 6th century BC by the sage Laozi (or Lao Tzu, “Old Master”), a record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court, by whose name the text is known in China. The text’s true authorship and date of composition or compilation are still debated.[1]

The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Philosophical Taoism (Dàojiā 道家) and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also central in Chinese religion, not only for Religious Taoism (Dàojiào 道教) but Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside East Asia, aided by hundreds of translations into Western languages.

The Wade-Giles romanization, Tao Te Ching, dates back to early English transliterations in the late 19th century, and many people continue using it, especially for words and phrases that have become well-established in English. The pinyin romanization Daodejing originated in the late 20th century, and this romanization is becoming increasingly popular, having been adopted as the official system by the Chinese government. See Daoism-Taoism romanization issue for more information.

Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching

Heaven and Earth last forever.
Why do heaven and Earth last forever?
They are unborn,
so ever living

The two rules for good health

1. Purity & Cleanliness: Bathe daily, drink at least 8 glasses of crystal clear water, eat raw green and colourful vegetables, legumes ( beans, lentils/Dall,  root vegetables (Moori/Mooli) , cut sugar or refine carbohyderates products. Fresh water fish is good for health. 2. Vitamins: Take B, C and E vitamins

Hereditary politics

By Jamil Junejo, Jati, Thato, Sindh

Today with a chance I saw documentary aired on Sindh Tv written by Manzoor Solangi to slam Awami Tehrik with special reference to Palijo Saheb on account of hereditary political nature of AT.

One year rule celebrations!!

by Nazir Ahmed, Nawabshah, Sindh

The present regime is celebrating these days first year of President Zardari’s rule, completed on 6th September with great fanfare by publishing large size advertisements and supplementary in the print media and holding special programs in local television channels.

BE THE HEROES

Poetry by: Muhammad Kamran Baloch

No more heroes in legacies

No more heroes in fantasies

Supermen are flying way above our visions

Spider men are climbing buildings way beyond our missions

Tarzans are left in jungles, lonely

Romeos are in movies only

No one left, to lift who suffer

No one left, to catch who murder

Sons dying, just on demand for their rights

Mothers crying on the bodies of their lights

Fathers dragging the burdens of their lives

Sisters begging, just to earn some glimpse of their lives

Only tears to console tears

Desperation, over desperation layers

Capitalists are ruling the world

Capital is the rule of world

Terrorism and Anti-terrorism for resources

Crusading and Jihad for resources

Need, not only for survival, lust is working

Heed, not only for revival, lust is working

Cosmetic activities, to get a social status

Then jerks to the society, to retain the status

No more shows to cure pains

No more showers of blessing rains

Entertainment, is to see live fighter jets

Bleeding bodies and suicide attacks

Love & Care has lost its taste

Chirping birds have lost their nests

Now, best advice is, “Do not advice,

Just have fun with one electronic device”

Where gone the social mentors?

Where gone the social inventors?

Where are we going? We don’t know.

What are we sowing? We don’t know.

Come out of this cage

Come out of this cave

Bring reforms. It is your duty and right

Stand firm. Please, don’t give up the fight

You are the real rulers of this world

Intruding first raw and delight of this world

Pierce the curtains of these piercing rules

Be the legends and make new rules

Be the heroes and rule the hearts

Become the helping hands and loving thoughts

Put your pen and change the story

Die on truth with lasting glory

BE THE HEROES, BE THE HEROES, BE THE HEROES.

Courtesy: Sindhi e-list Mehran

Huffing and puffing [about Kerry-Lugar bill] by Manzur Ejaz

Dr. Manzur Ejaz

WASHINGTON DIARY: Huffing and puffing

by Dr Manzur Ejaz, USA

Courtesy: Wichaar.com, October 6th, 2009

Ultimately, after the US consultants and intermediaries have taken their cut, Pakistan will get about three to four hundred million dollars which cannot do much when the country is several billion dollars short of its obligations and needs.

The saga of the Kerry-Lugar aid bill to Pakistan has become as surreal as it can get. Every concerned sane person is wondering what the fuss is about. Conditions attached to this bill are the same as in most previous such bills. Furthermore, why is such a big deal being made out of the bill when it cannot go very far in pulling Pakistan out of its ongoing economic crisis?

India felt it would win N-war with Pak

In a book, Bill Clinton says India had calculated that a Pak nuke hit could kill 500 million Indians, while Indian nukes would kill everyone in Pakistan

New York: In the event of a nuclear war with Pakistan, Indian leaders had predicted a bizarre victory, according to former US president Bill Clinton. Indian officials had calculated that while 300 million trymen would die if Pakistani nukes hid India, all 120 million Pakistanis would be annihilated in a tit-for-tat Indian strike, Clinton is quoted as saying in a book. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Taylor Branch’s new book, The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President, which goes on sale this week, has an unguarded Clinton venting about Indian and Pakistani leaders’ so-called willingness to threaten the death of millions in their standoff over nuclear arms.

Sindhi Book : Chand Chawanee Sachu

Altaf Shaikh

“Chand Chawanee Sachu” چنڊ چوانءِ سچ by Altaf Shaikh

Pages: 300 includeing 16 pages of Coloured photographs, Price: Rs. 250/- Publishers: Roshini Publicatioans.

CHINESE STILL SEE INDIA AS MAIN ENEMY : REPORT

London : Nearly 47 years after they fought a war, the Chinese still perceive India as their main enemy, a British paper has claimed. In an article ahead of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic, The Sunday Times said: “Not everyone in Beijing speaks in the silky language of the foreign ministry. The enemy most often spoken of is India.

For every love

“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.

For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.

For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.”

-Ivan Panin (Russian mathematician 1855-1942)

Angina

Reasons of Angina: Multi factor reasons, unhealthy diet, stress, body toxicity and acidification. These suggestions may help- Exercise, Medication, get good sleep, eat raw green leafy vegetables and Vitamin B complex, cut sugar and sugar products, rice and fried potatoes.

Book review : Dili Darshan

Reconnecting to the past

Reviewed by Shamim-ur-Rahman

Courtesy: daily dawn, Sunday, 04 Oct, 2009

Dedicated to the memory of Pakistan’s assassinated leader, Benazir Bhutto, the book presents impressions gathered by a peace activist from the province of Sindh about India, its people and the challenges facing developing countries in general.

China-Myanmar conflict gives India an opportunity

New Delhi: China may have stood like a rock behind Myanmar for the past 20 years while the rest of the world treated it like a pariah, vetoing UN resolutions against the military regime, providing it arms and billions of dollars to develop infrastructure, and thus allowing the isolated country to cock a snook at the international community. But now, cracks are appearing  in that relationship, which, analysts say, can benefit New Delhi if exploited well, particularly since India already has more than a toehold in Myanmar. The overwhelming Chinese presence had rung alarm bells in some quarters of the Myanmar military establishment, General Than Shwe, a smart tactician, believes his country con not afford to put all its eggs in the China basket and wants India and other countries to come in with major developmental projects. The recent release of the American citizen who swam across to Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s home is an indication that the bamboo curtain is lifting inch by inch. There is hope in Yangon that the new Barack Obama administration in the US would be less sanctimonious and gradually open up to Myanmar. The Americans are saying nothing publically but the visit of US senator Jim Webb in August, when he called the sanctions against Myanmar “overwhelmingly counterproductive”, gives room for hope.

Yongon’s problems with China in recent months in the border areas, where ethnic Chinese have clashed with the Myanmar army, have led to fresh tension. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in Kokang, an ethnic Chinese region in the northern Shan state bordering China, has been under attack by the army which wants all its tribes in the north east of the country, allowed by a China-brokered peace agreement in 1989, to integrate into Myanmar’s forces and become border guards…

Source – Asian Mid Week – Thursday, Sepember 22, 2009, volume 9, No. 38

Amazing artist: Touching work – Must watch

Sand Animation by Ksenia Simonowa from Ukraine. Really touching.

Monitoring teaching of Sindhi in Sindh

by Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA

During an informal meeting with the Minister of Education for Sindh (Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq), the question of non-compliance of private schools to teach Sindhi in the schools of Sindh was also raised. The Minister confirmed that the teaching of Salees Sindhi and Salees Urdu are mandatory in the schools of Sindh. He also said that people should report any cases of non-compliance of this rule promptly and the Ministry will take appropriate action against them immediately. The Minister further said that if any one has verifiable reports that any school in Sindh is not teaching at the minimum of Salees Sindhi, they should either call him or or the Secretary of Education Sindh, MR. Rizwan Memon or they can also report via email to secy.edu@sindh.gov.pk. Let us see if the present Government is serious about ensuring that current laws of Sindh with respect to the use and teaching of the Sindhi language are enforced.

Those interested in monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of various education programs of the Sindh education ministry are advised to visit Ministry’s web site and share their views and critique. The Ministry URL is: http://www.sindh. gov.pk/dpt/ EducationFinal/ index.htm

Principles of life

* Winning isn’t everything, But wanting to win is.* You would achieve more, if you don’t mind who gets the credit. * When everything else is lost, the future still remains.  * Don’t fight too much. Or the enemy would know your art of war . * The only job you start at the top is when you dig a grave. * If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything. * If you do little things well, you’ll do big ones better. * Only thing that comes to you without effort is old age. * You won’t get a second chance to make the first impression . * Only those who do nothing do not make mistakes. * Never take a problem to your boss unless you have a solution. * If you are not failing you’re not taking enough risks. * Don’t try to get rid of bad temper by losing it. * If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. * Those who don’t make mistakes usually don’t make anything * There are two kinds of failures. Those who think and never do, and those who do and never think. * Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win. * All progress has resulted from unpopular decisions. * Change your thoughts and you change your world. * Understanding proves intelligence, not the speed of the learning. * There are two kinds of fools in this world. Those who give advise and those who don’t take it. * The best way to kill an idea is to take it to a meeting. * Friendship founded on business is always better than business founded on friendship .

The video of beating Taliban suspects

by Omar Ali

This is a video of the army interrogating some Taliban suspects and they all get beaten during interrogation. Which is not unexpected and is probably no worse than what most other armies do in counter-insurgency, but its not good either. One must disapprove of such treatment of suspects even if one knows that it happens in every insurgency. Which is why it would have been better if we had not allowed things to reach this stage.

Btw, for those unfamiliar with the everyday standards of torture in the Indian subcontinent, I will add that this particular army detachment is pretty amateur and “soft” and would get laughed out of any police station in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. The officer even gets his men to stop at several points while the suspect is still only lightly injured. If you want to see real torture, you will have to go to a thana in Lahore or Delhi or Amritsar. American police stations used to do a pretty thorough job of beating suspects in the old days, but one must admit that standards in the US have really changed and serious torture of the subcontinental variety is now the exception rather than the rule. England (and the Scandinavians, to the best of my knowledge) is probably the most civilized in this respect, with police torture being a most rare exception indeed. The coarser aspects of British society do exist, but their police is still among the most amazingly civilized in the world….which is neither here nor there, but I thought I would put it in anyway; The security apparatus in most countries is still so casually cruel that one should make an effort to give credit where credit is due…

Courtesy: crdp@yahoogroups.com

Drop in B Vitamin levels may increase risk of dementia

Seniors with low levels of the folate B vitamin or folic acid has more than triple the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, according to the new research. “Attention needs to be paid to the nutritional status of people with dementia from the time of diagnosis onwards, regardless of whether this is a cause or effect of the condition.” Researchers tested the blood levels of all participants for folate, vitamin B12 and the amino acid homocystine. The seniors with low folate levels at the outset of the study were 3.2 times more likely to develop dementia ; those with low levels of vitamin B12 had a much lower risk, about 60 per cent. A number of studies have shown that high levels of homocysteine- a substance that can make arteries stiffen and clog- translate into higher rates of heart disease and dementia. Folate is a vitamin and found  spinch, broccoli and asparagus, in leafy green vegetables and in legumes such as lentils and kidney beans, and in citrus fruits. It is also well established that folate and B12 lower homocysteine. What remains in question, however, is whether bolstering intake of B vitamins- for example with folic acid and B12 supplements- can actually prevent or slow the onset of dementia.

The new research does not directly answer that question, but it does demonstrate quite clearly that a drop in folate levels is closely associated with the onset of dementia. People with dementia also suffer weight loss and a drop in blood pressure. Relationship between weight loss and micro nutrient concentration is potentially complex,” but the new research suggests that it may be related to poor diet. The researchers say that  “nutritionally good diet may delay the onset of dementia.

Military seeking revenge against Taliban in Swat for heavy causalities, senior offical says

Pakistan army tied to killings

by Jane Perlez and Pir Zubair Shah, Islamabad

Courtesy: Toronto Star, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009

Mingora – Two months after the Pakistani army wrested control of the Swat Valley from Taliban militants, a new campaign for fear has taken hold, with scores, perhaps hundreds, of bodies dumped on the streets in what human rights advocates and local residents say is the work of the military. In some, cases, people may simply have been seeking revenge against the ruthless Taliban, in a society that tends to accept tit-for-tat reprisals, local politicians said.

But the scale of the retaliation, the similarities in the way that many of the victims have been tortured and the systematic nature of the deaths and disappearances in areas that the military firmly controls have raised suspicions. Local residents, human rights workers and some Pakistani officials conclude the millitary has had a role in the campaign. The Pakistani army, which is supported by the United States and in the absence of effective political  leadership is running much of Swat with an iron hand, has strenuously denied any involvement with the killings. The army has acknowledged the bodies have turned up, but its spokesmen assert they are the result of civilians setting scores with collaborators. “There are no extrajudicial killings in our system,” said army spokesman Col. Akhtar Abbas. “If something happens, we have a foolproof accountability system.” Neighbours of the victims and Swat residents say there is something more going on than revenge killing by civilians. A senior politician from the region and a former interior minister, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, said he was worried about the army’s involvement in the killings. “There have been reports of extrajudicial killings by the military that are of concern,” he said. “This will not help bring peace.” The operation in Swat, begun under public pressure from the United States, has been hailed by Washington as a showcase effort of the army’s newfound resolve to defeat the militants. The American ambassador, Anne patterson, visited Mingora, the biggest town in Swat, last week, becoming the first senior American official to go to Swat since the army took over. Now, concerns over the army’s methods in the area threaten to further taint Washington’s association with the military, cooperation that has been questioned in Congress and has been politically unpopular in Pakistan. The number of killings suggests the military is seeking to silence enthusiasm for the Taliban and to settle accounts for heavy army causalties, said a senior provincial official who declined to be identified for fear of reprimand by the army. – Source – Toronto Star, page – A12, Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009.

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To read more about Army Torture video at BBC Urdu, click here or click the following link of BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2009/10/091002_army_torture_video_zs.shtml

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Link to watch video of human rights abuses click here or click the following link;

http://pkpolitics.com/2009/10/01/human-rights-abuses-by-pakistan-army/

No fire can burn the truth!

God! is, even though the whole world deny him. Trust stands, even is there be no public support. It is self-sustained. -Gandhi Ji

Cricket : Team Pakistan vs Team India

by Asad Umar, Karachi, Sindh

Courtesy: The News, Wednesday, September 30, 2009

We all know that India is now arguably the best team in the world and Pakistan cricket is struggling to be competitive. We don’t even have to be experts in cricket to know that — every expert commentator on TV will tell us that. This was also the buzz in the crowds at Lord’s and the Oval during the early stages of the T20 world cup. They were all mostly saying that the favourites were Australia, South Africa and India – though not necessarily in that order. So I decided to be stupid about it and subject this apparently widely-held belief to a scrutiny of statistics. Head-to-head ODIs between India and Pakistan during the last five years: 24. Won by India: 12. Won by Pakistan: 12.

Jacob-j-Lew US Deputy Secretary, FATA Secretariat and CSOs of FATA

By Zar Ali Khan Musazai

The money provided to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar Bill will not go directly to the Government of Pakistan. This was reported in a Pakistani newspaper few days ago.

Jacob- j- Lew , US Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources who recently visited Pakistan and NWFP (Pashtunkhwa) Province is said to have uttered these words.