Coffee and tea are sources of theophylline, a bronchial muscle relaxant used to treat asthma in people who are not sensitive to salicylates.
Monthly Archives: May 2010
Hamid Mir saga – Dawn Editorial
The controversy surrounding television anchor and columnist Hamid Mir refuses to go away, and for good reason. Many questions remain unanswered. A purported telephone conversation between him and an unknown militant has shocked the country and the journalistic community in particular.
Puppet strings – by Nadeem F. Paracha
- DAWN
The emergence of a taped conversation, allegedly between famous TV anchor and journalist, Hamid Mir, and a member of what is called the ‘Punjabi Taliban,’ has created great furor – especially within the journalistic community in Pakistan.
In the the conversation, a man recognised by some as Mir, makes derogatory remarks against the Ahmadiyya sect and insistently alludes that Khalid Khawaja – the controversial former ISI man who was kidnapped and murdered by an group that is believed to have ties to the Punjabi Taliban – was a CIA agent and close to the Ahmadiyya sect.
YouTube & FaceBook the mass media for common people in Pakistan blocked
Pakistani court orders Facebook blocked in prophet row
A court in Pakistan has ordered the authorities temporarily to block the Facebook social networking site.
Punjabi Taliban – Dawn Editorial
It is time the Punjab government accepted the obvious and took urgent steps to dismantle the jihadi network whose tentacles are spreading throughout the province.
Southern Punjab has long been seen by independent observers as a hub for Punjabi militants who maintain close ties with the Taliban and travel to the tribal belt for both training and combat. The traffic, in fact, is two-way with Punjabi militants providing safe haven to Taliban commanders and fighters as and when needed. Yet, despite these clear linkages, the authorities in Lahore continue to deny the existence of the Punjabi Taliban. At the same time, the provincial law minister insists he did nothing wrong when he canvassed votes for a by-election in the company of known Jhang-based militants. This lingering state of denial is strengthening the hands of terrorists and jeopardising the security of not just Punjab but the country as a whole.
Two recent developments ought to stir the Punjab government into action. It was reported in the press on Monday that the Jhang police have registered an FIR against the district head of the outlawed Jaish-i-Mohammad for playing host to Taliban commanders when they visit the area. The FIR is based on police intelligence-gathering which found that the Taliban network is gaining ground rapidly in southern Punjab through the recruitment and fund-raising efforts of local militants in Jhang and nearby districts. Also on Monday, a Punjabi Taliban commander from Dera Ghazi Khan ‘surrendered’ to the Punjab police, ostensibly because he could no longer live with the knowledge that the suicide attacks he orchestrated had killed a large number of bystanders.
What more will it take to convince the provincial government that the Punjabi Taliban are a reality that cannot be wished away? Forget media reports, which authorities across the land routinely dismiss when the news doesn’t suit their taste. Remember that the Punjab police itself believe that militants operating under the Taliban umbrella are growing in strength. The provincial authorities can no longer evade this issue and deny the obvious. If they do, many could be prompted to ask where their sympathies lie.
Wednesday, 19 May, 2010
Proposal for Sindh Media University (SMU)
by: Manzoor Chandio
..there is a pressing need for setting up two universities in Sindh. 1- the Sindh Media University (SMU) because recently the media in Sindh has grown as an industry… It requires thousands of skilled people in various fields… 2- the Sindh University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences because our land is blessed with millions of animals but there is no scientific knowledge to save them. Every year thousands of livestock die after being hit by diseases leaving Sindh’s rural poor more poorer… Education in both these disciplines is the most neglected in Sindh…
If we don’t compare Sindh with the developed world and only look at Punjab, the province is much ahead of us and has established such universities.
The subjects of SMU should be mass communications, film, art, drama, theatre, folk crafts etc…SUVAS should impart scientific education about cattle and wildlife…Our old-styled rulers have no realisation that Sindh’s unique species of cows, buffaloes, goat etc are on the verge of being vanished. Wildlife is about to go extinct…
I would suggest, instead of setting up any media-related institution in Hyderabad, it should be established in Karachi because there is no university in the city named after Sindh. There are several institutions in Lahore named after Punjab… And no one has objection… Those who have imposed educational apartheid in Karachi and banned Sindhi students admission to educational institution of the city are planning even to rename the Sindh Medical College as Jinnah Medical College.
SDF and WSC demands the restoration of historical and geographical position of Hyderabad and Karachi
SDF calls for restoration of districts’ old status
HYDERABAD, May 16: The Sindh Democratic Forum has called for restoration of the old status of Karachi and other districts divided by the Arbab Ghulam Rahim government. The leaders of the forum who met here on Sunday said that the provincial assembly should take a decision on the issue because the issues of demarcation and demographic changes were more political than administrative.
The meeting demanded immediate restoration of the old status of Hyderabad because, it said, the city had been divided by a military dictator on ethnic lines to reward the MQM for its support for his illegal and unconstitutional rule.
High Court issues notice to Asif Zardari in dual office case
LHC issues notice to Asif Zardari in dual office case
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued a notice to President Asif Ali Zardari during the hearing in the dual office case.
The legal challenge to Zardari over his two posts does not pose an immediate threat to the president but it is a reminder of the legal difficulties he faces, legal analysts said.
The Pakistan Lawyers Forum (PLF) filed a petition, or a challenge, questioning the right of the president to hold the two offices and in response, the High Court in the city of Lahore ordered Zardari’s principal secretary to explain.
“Since the president could not appear because of security reasons, the court asked his principal secretary to appear in court on May 25,” PLF president A.K. Dogar told reporters outside the court.
There is no constitutional bar on the president holding office in a political party but Dogar said the Supreme Court had in the past barred a president from holding a party post.
“Our Supreme Court judges decided in 1993 that the president should be non-partisan. He should not involve himself in political battles. He should shun politics but here he is a party head, which is illegal,” he said.
Hearing in the dual office case was then adjourned till May 27.
Monday, 17 May, 2010
Courtesy: daily dawn
President Zardari issues pardon in Malik’s Sentence
Zardari issues pardon in Malik’s corruption conviction
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has given a presidential pardon to Interior Minister Rehman Malik after the latter was convicted by the Lahore High Court in two NAB corruption reference cases.
Rehman Malik, Interior Minister of Pakistan Might Be Arrested Soon
Malik plea against sentences dismissed
LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed the appeals filed by Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik against the punishments announced by accountability courts, Geo News reported Monday.
It should be mentioned that Accountability courts declared three-year sentences for not appearing in two different cases. At the outset of the case, the court suspended his sentences on his plea and granted him bail.
The legal experts said the sentences meted out to Malik stood as restored technically after his appeals for the repeal of the sentences were discharged by the court and he might be arrested.
Courtesy: http://www.geo.tv/5-17-2010/65062.htm
Thailand: Tyrants cling to power over the dead bodies of the people
By Giles Ji Ungpakorn
Update, 03.25 hrs Sunday, May 16, 2010, Bangkok time — Earlier on Saturday, unconfirmed reports indicated that Abhisit Vejjajiva’s soldiers had shot dead at least 50 people. Later, 22 named deaths were confirmed by the Erawan emergency centre, and 172 injured (including one Canadian, one Polish, one Burmese, one Liberian). But an official from the centre says that the real death toll is higher but cannot be reported at the moment.
Watch what former mayor of Karachi is saying to Bill Clinton!!
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder in which the brain doesn’t have enough of the chemical dopamine to help transmit nerve impulses throughout the body. It is a progressive & degenerative condition and a difficult condition to live with it. It can be controlled with medication or surgery in most cases, but at present, there is no cure.
People to foil division of Sindh: Farooq Sattar
by Sajad Hussain and Kavi Hassan
HYDERABAD: The Federal Minister and Deputy Convener of MQM Rabta Committee Dr. Farooq Sattar said that people will foil the division of Sindh. MQM has never asked for division of the Sindh, MQM thinks Sindh as Homeland he added.
He said that some nationalists are hatching conspiracies against MQM by propaganda and added that all the conspiracies will be foiled. He said this while addressing press conference at MQM Zonal Office in Hyderabad, Sunday.
Transcript of Hamid Mir’s conversation
Courtesy: daily Times
Hamid Mir: Many bombings are being carried out.
Unidentified man: Let’s see. There will be more of them. There are some in the pipeline. What do they (government) say about the operation in Orakzai? Will they stop it or not?
HM: No, they say it would not be stopped, rather they say they will also start an operation in North Waziristan and 40,000 troops will leave in a couple of days.
The Evolution of U.S. Flag
Did you know that the current US flag was designed by a high school student for a class project? (He got a B grade, though his teacher changed it to an A after Congress accepted it as the national flag!).
via – Azhar Ali Shah
Sindhi Baluchi Pop Music- Janana
Iron is a two edged sword
Iron is absolutely essential for life. We should have it to build re blood cells to carry oxygen in the blood; to make new proteins to repair wear and tear of our tissues. But although it is necessary, it’s also quite dangerous. Iron behaves as an oxidant that can damage us. For instance, the most severe damage from a heart attack comes not from the blockage preventing blood flow but from the explosive reaction that occurs between stored iron released during the attack and the oxygen-rich blood returning to the heart muscle after the obstruction has been relieved. Usually women get deficiency of Iron. Live, meat, eggs and dark green vegetables are the good source of Iron.
Basics of Project Management
by: Jamil Junejo
During my work experience in development sector, I have been experiencing that many of project managers especially new ones remain miserably entangled into various difficulties during the processs of managing the projects. There are some basics of project management which a project manager should master inorder to run a project effectively and efficiently to meet the set goals with corresponding set activities.
Long live Sindh, South Asia and long live the world – Sindh Round Table Conference in London
by: Javed Qazi
London round table conference on Sindh, organized by Sindh Monitors a Washington based advocacy group, whose main activist are Dr Maqbool Halepoto, Dr Safdar Sarki, Hanne Bursech and Mr Munawar Laghari, held from May 5rd to 8th, was indeed a successful event. It was first of all a novel in its format, and it had taken place in one of the prestigious educational Institution of the World, and also in its department of oriental sciences. It was mainly academic and well recognized people in this respect had participated in its different session. Almost all issues and corners of Sindh and its society and about its politics had been discussed. Its all sessions were brain storming. I give the organizers congratulations for its success.
PPP Information Secretary Fauzia Wabha left live show because of PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali’s inappropriate language
PPP Information Secretary Fauzia Wabhab left live show because of PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali’s inappropriate language, tone and wording like Idiot & … against the Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer
Courtesy: ARY
Source – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb-Mj0WkNBQ&feature=player_embedded
///-///-///
Abid Sher Ali, PML-N leader
Courtesy: Express TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQTC7ZojhH0&feature=player_embedded#!
Secular blunders!
- CRDP
The late President Anwar El-Sadat of Egypt was assassinated in 1981 by a faction of Egypt’s leading Islamist organisation, the Muslim Brotherhood. The irony is that this was the same organisation that Sadat had purposefully patronised.
He had replaced the charismatic Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdul Nasser as the President of Egypt after Nasser died in 1970. Nasser had ruled the country as a popular president between 1952 and 1970, leaving behind a legacy of staunch secular/socialist Arab nationalism.
Though Nasser remained popular till his death, the glow of his influence across assorted Muslim and Third World countries was somewhat dimmed when Egyptian and Syrian armed forces backed by the Soviet Union were decimated in the 1967 war against Israel. Though Sadat had helped Nasser in toppling the Egyptian monarchy in 1952, and was also an integral part of Nasser’s socialist/secular policies, he initiated a shift. In Sadat’s view, Nasser’s socialist model could not sustain the new sombre realities that had surfaced after the 1967 war.
Sadat’s move towards the western economic model was welcomed by the country’s urban bourgeoisie, but it was vehemently challenged by the pro-Nasser and left-wing student groups and the Arab media. To neutralise the pro-Nasser and left-wing challenge to his shifting policies on campuses and in the print media, Sadat brought back to life one of the staunchest anti-Nasser and anti-left forces in Egypt: the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood had been greatly radicalised by its second generation leadership led by the teachings of Syed Qutb. He had posed the biggest challenge to Nasser’s socialism and the regime’s pro-Soviet and secular make-up. However, after Nasser’s death, Sadat tactfully let loose the Brotherhood, using state power to help the organisation infiltrate campuses and the media.
To appease the organisation, Sadat instructed the state-owned radio and TV channels to not only start regular religious programmes, but to also show as many images as possible of him saying his prayers at a mosque. Sadat also lifted the ban on various Muslim Brotherhood magazines and newspapers. All this was done to soften Egypt’s pro-Soviet and Nasserite image and to mollify concerns of the West and Egypt’s new allies such as the oil-rich Saudi Arabia.
Immediately after Egypt’s 1973 war with Israel — in which Sadat (falsely) claimed to have defeated the enemy — he completely pulled Egypt out from the Soviet camp. However, in 1977 when Sadat, in an unprecedented move, agreed to make formal peace with Israel, the Brotherhood became Sadat’s biggest enemy. Eventually, in 1981, he was assassinated by members of the Brotherhood — ironically the very organisation he had encouraged to nullify the perceived communist threat to his regime.
Something similar happened in Pakistan as well. In the 1970 elections, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party had routed the Islamic parties. But by 1973 Bhutto was under pressure from the PPP’s leading ideologues, asking him to hasten the regime’s socialist agenda. In response, Bhutto purged the PPP of its radical founding members. He then came under the influence of the party’s ‘conservative wing’ that encouraged him to appease his staunchest opponents, the Islamists, (especially the Jamat-i-Islami), which had declared the PPP’s socialism as ‘un-Islamic.’
Though in private, Bhutto accused the Islamic parties of being ‘anti-socialist American stooges,’ in public he went along with some of his advisers’ counsel and declared the Ahmaddiyya community non-Muslim, naively believing this concession would appease and contain his Islamist opponents. The truth is, the Islamists were only emboldened by this gesture.
Also, while purging the left-wing radicals in the PPP (from 1974 onwards), Bhutto is also said to have ‘allowed’ the student-wing of the Jamat, the IJT, to establish a strong foothold on campuses which, till then, were mostly dominated by radical left-wing student groups such as the NSF.
Bhutto, like Sadat, had ignored the Islamist challenge to his regime, and seemed more concerned about imaginary ‘Soviet/ Indian-backed groups.’ His pragmatic indulgence in this regard had the reverse effect. Instead of containing the Islamist parties, his constitutional concessions only emboldened them. Not surprisingly, he was toppled by a reactionary general whom he had handpicked himself, shortly after the Islamist parties unleashed a countrywide movement against the PPP regime in 1976, calling for Sharia rule.
These are just two brief examples of the blunders committed by certain leading secular Muslim leaders that annihilated the over-blown left-wing and secular challenges by regenerating and using Islamist forces against them. This created daunting political and ideological vacuums in societies that were eventually filled by reactionary military regimes, rejuvenated Islamist forces and, eventually, a new breed of extremism — the sort that now worked towards grabbing state power and carving out a theological hegemony, based on mythical and Utopian illusions about an eternal ‘Islamic State.’
Pakistan and Egypt are prime examples; two of the many Muslim republics now desperately trying to reinvigorate moderate and secular forces to open a consensual front against extremism that was once state-sanctioned, to bludgeon opposing secular forces.
One wonders if it is already too late to do that; or if there are any worthwhile progressive sections in society today, in these countries, who can once again demonstrate the same boldness and imagination that they exhibited in the construction of their respective countries’ nationalism before their downfall.
February 18th, 2010
Courtesy – http://wichaar.com/news/296/ARTICLE/18977/2010-02-18.html
Lambeeeee Judaiiiiiiii.
1983 – Film Hero: Lambee judai, Singer: Reshma, Music by Laxmikant-Pyarela, Stars: Jackie Shroff, Meenakshi
Watch PML-N Leader Abid Sher Ali in a Live Show
Dance little lady dance — Tina Charles
Richard Dawkins: If Science Worked Like Religion
Video clip by Richard Dawkin on world religions and beliefs … at UC Berkeley
Source – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYigmGyN2RQ&feature=player_embedded
The terrorist question – by: Dr Manzur Ejaz
Dr. Manzur Ejaz
Courtesy: Wichaar
No other Muslim country sponsors private religious and sectarian militias for domestic use or to achieve strategic goals. Probably, every state, other than Pakistan, knows fully well that the rise of private militias is bound to threaten the state’s monopoly of using power and coercion.
We may console ourselves by parroting the ‘conspiracy against Pakistan’ mantra over and over but the fact remains that most bombers are traced back to Pakistan. American-Jewish-Hindu conspirators may be out there to target Pakistan, but how does one explain the failed Times Square bombing attempt by Faisal Shahzad, or Aimal Kansi, all originating from Pakistan? It is a puzzling question if one goes a bit deeper.
Sindhu Sansar present’s interview with Sindhi Bollywood Film Artist Mak Mohan
Sindhu Sansar present’s interview with Sindhi Film Artist of Bollywood Mak Mohan Interviewer : Ashok Manwani Videography
Sambha passed away
Macmohan the famous role played by him in Sholay is the character of sambha passed away due to cancer. Macmohan, who started his career with the film Haqeeqat in 1964, acted in over 175 films in a career spanning 46 years. But his greatest moment came in the 1975 blockbuster when Amjad Khan’s character asks him, (Arre o Sambha, kitna inaam rakhe hain sarkar hum par?) and he answers, (Poore pachaas hazaar). Unfortunately, he passed away.
The attempted bombing on Times Square – An analysis by Omar Ali
The Lunatics Took Over the Asylum – by: Omar Ali
Courtesy: OutLook
The son of an air marshal ruined his own life and abandoned his wife and kids in an utterly incompetent attempt to blow up innocent people (some of whom were probably Pakistani cab drivers). Why is Pakistan breeding (or attracting) so many Islamic fanatics (luckily for us, some of them are incompetent Islamic fanatics)? And is it different from other third world countries and other fanaticisms?
12th May, 2007: Watershed in Pakistan’s history
by: Aziz Narejo, TX
May 12th, 2007 should be a watershed in the history of Pakistan. On that day a military dictator and his collaborators in the London-Karachi based terrorist group stood against and confronted the popular movement in Pakistan for restoration of the deposed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The terrorists with the connivance of the Military Establishment, unleashed a reign of terror in Karachi, that day and killed and injured scores of people, harassed media and tried to stifle any voice for democracy and justice. The people of Karachi witnessed what naked terrorism could be. The thugs who believe in political blackmail and use of violence to achieve their objectives were at their worst. At the end of the day, the coward dictator raised his both arms in front of a coward in Islamabad and showered praises at ‘his’ men in Karachi who through the use of force had stopped the Chief Justice from reaching the Sindh High Court. In his words it was the manifestation of the ‘people’s power’.
Such occurrences can’t be stopped and undemocratic forces can’t be effectively defeated if the London-Karachi based terrorists and the ex-military dictator are not taken to the courts of law for their crimes against the people, democracy and the rule of law. No amount of appeasement would stop the undemocratic and terrorist forces from raising their heads again and again and play havoc with the people.
Immediate steps should also be taken to free the cities of Karachi and Hyderabad of the arms and ammunition. It is not just the areas of North Western Pakistan that have some terrorists. There are even more dangerous terrorists in the cities of Sindh that have taken the whole country hostage. They need to be tackled and de-weaponized too.
May 12, 2010
Incident of Times Square and future of the region
By Zar ali khan musazai
Faisal Shehzad has admitted that he was a criminal and terrorist who wanted to explode the innocent people at Times square, New York, USA. He belonged to Mohib Banda, a village situated at the west of district Nowshera adjacent to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa.
Pakistan : Mosaic of anarchy – By I.A. Rehman
Courtesy: Dawn
While much is being said about the elite’s perception of anarchy in Pakistan little attention is paid to events and images that constitute the mosaic of anarchy as seen by common citizens. It is the latter version of anarchy that is undermining the majority’s confidence in the state.
yeh jo halka halka saroor hai
Who Is Our Hero : Raja Daher or Muhammad Bin Qasim?
No Tombstone for the Hero? – By Anwaar Hussain
The text books that are taught to Pakistani children recount exploits of numerous past Muslim heroes in them. Standing tall amongst these heroes is one Arab by the name of Muhammad bin Qasim, born on 31 December 695 in the city of Taif in modern day Saudi Arabia.
Following are just some of the tokens of Pakistanis’ veneration for their hero.
He is sometimes called “the first Pakistani”. Port Qasim, Pakistan’s second major port is named in his honor. PNS Qasim is the name of a Pakistani Naval ship. Pakistan Army Aviation’s home base is called Qasim Base. Qasim is a fairly common first name for Pakistani male children. The day of Yom-e-Babul Islam is observed each year in Pakistan in memory of Muhammad bin Qasim.
Now let us see what we are told about this hero and what we are not.
Bread Not Bomb
Nuclear weapons in South Asia – by: ZULFIQAR HALEPOTO
MAY is known as a sinister month for peace in South Asia when on May 11, 1998, India tested three devices at the Pokhran underground testing site, followed by two more tests on May 13, 1998.
On May 28 the same year Pakistan exploded five underground nuclear devices in response to India’s nuclear tests. Tests were justified as an instrument of ‘deterrence’ to avoid any conventional war in the future.
