They drilled in his toes, made him stand, chained his hands and blindfolded him for months…
Dr. Safdar Sarki a US Citizen remained incarcerated for more two years under General Musharraf’s rule. After skinning of a dictator and arrival of an elected government in Pakistan, Dr. Sarki was released to re-unite with his family in USA.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had tirelessly championed for the release of Dr. Sarki along with all other illegally held political prisoners under Musharraf’s regime. Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry had also demanded Dr. Sarki’s” Sarki’s status from Musharraf’s regime. Unfortunately the highest court of the nation was booted and the jurists were removed under the gun.

Dr. Safdar leads a Sindh Rights movement. He has been a very active human rights activist. We would like to hear his take on which way people are leading the politics in Pakistan especially in province of
Sindh. I request our friends from the media to join us in this informal and frank conversation with Dr. Sarki.

You may disagree with his political opinions but yet it will be an eye opener to hear him how a so called US ally tortures US Citizens and get away with it. We urge you to join us in this session to hear the shocking stories of human rights abuses directly from the victim.
We will be awaiting your company.
Iqbal Tareen
Organizer

There is no participation fee for this event - A self pay and self service lunch buffet and full service menu is offered by Aabshar Restaurant.
(The Forum for Justice and Democracy is a non-partisan platform, which welcomes subject matter experts, leaders, human rights activists having diverse political, ideological, and religious preferences)
–
Telephone: 703-866-1155
A buffet lunch consisting of many Hallal dishes will be catered. Every attendee will pay their own bill with the per lunch rates as follows:

Adult and kids above 10 years: $ 9.99 per person

Children between 5 and 19 years: Half price

Children under the age of 5 years: Free
Taxes, tips, tea and soft drinks are extra as applicable.

——————————————————————————–
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:29:51 -0700
From: tareen@scigrp. com
Subject: Dr. Safdar Sarki tells his story at the Forum for Justice and Democracy in Pakistan
To: khashmani@hotmail. com

On July 26th Dr. Safdar Sarki to tell his story at the Forum for Justice and Democracy in Pakistan in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Safdar Sarki a US Citizen remained incarcerated for more two years under General Musharraf’s rule. After skinning of a dictator and arrival of an elected government in Pakistan, Dr. Sarki was released to re-unite with his family in USA.

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had tirelessly championed for the release of Dr. Sarki along with all other illegally held political prisoners under Musharraf’s regime.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry had also demanded Dr. Sarki’s status from Musharraf’s regime. Unfortunately the highest court of the nation was booted and the jurists were removed under the gun.

Dr. Safdar is one of the leaders of Sindh rights movement He has been a very active human rights activist. We would like to hear his take on which way people are leading the politics in Pakistan. I request our community members, subject matter experts on Pakistan, human rights groups, and friends from the media to join us in this informal and frank conversation with Dr. Sarki.

We urge you to join us in this session to hear the shocking stories of human rights abuses directly from the victim.
We will be awaiting your company.

Iqbal Tareen
Coordinator

****

To: tkumar@aiusa. org
Subject: Meet: Former “Disappeared” Dr. Sarki.
From: tkumar@aiusa. org
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:04:53 -0400

Meet the former “Disappeared” political activist  from Pakistan Very rarely does a “disappeared” person come back alive. US Citizen Dr. Safdar Sarki was one of the few who “disappeared” for over two years and was able to come back alive mainly due to the efforts of Pakistan Chief Justice Mr. Iftikhar Muhammad Chawdry, who himself was dismissed by the Military government of Pakistan and put under house arrest.
 
Very rarely does a “disappeared” person come back alive. US Citizen Dr. Safdar Sarki was one of the few who “disappeared” for over two years and was able to come back alive mainly due to the efforts of Pakistan Chief Justice Mr. Iftikhar Muhammad Chawdry, who himself was dismissed by the Military government of Pakistan and put under house arrest.
 
Imensty International issued an Urgent Action on Dr. Sarki following his “disappearance. “  He was severely tortured, shackled and was constantly blindfolded. Due to this he developed a severe eye condition and other health problems.
When: July 24 (Thursday)
Time:   5:30 pm
 
Location: Amnesty International, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E.; 5th Floor
Metro:  Eastern Market (Orange and Blue lines).
 
For information contact: tkumar@aiusa. org or (202)544-0200, ext: 224.
Co-sponsored by: Amnesty International USA, Washington-Pakistan Forum and Asian American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights.

T. Kumar
Advocacy Director for Asia & Pacific
Amnesty International USA
Phone: (202) 544-0200
Fax: (202) 546-7142
Email: tkumar@aiusa. org
http://www.amnestyu sa.org ext. 224

“Energy Crisis in Pakistan: Coal as an alternate”
On Wednesday July 30, 2008@ 3 pm sharp @ Hotel Indus, Hyderabad
Jointly organized by Sungi Development Foundation and Sindh Democratic Forum (SDF)
Chief Guest: Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial Minister for Revenue and member Thar Coal Board

Speakers:
Technical Viability of Thar Coal: Syed Mohibullah Shah
Natural Resources and question of Provincial Autonomy: Ibrar Kazi
Thar Coal Authority: Legal and Constitutional Perspective: Hussain Haroon

Socioeconomic aspect of Energy Resources in Sindh: Naseer Memon
Sate of Energy in Pakistan, An overview: Mohsin Babbar
A representative from GovernmentSindh

Moderator by: Zulfiqar Halepoto
Question and Answer (One hour)

In a small town in the southern US, a person decided to open up his Bar, right opposite to the Baptist Church.  The Baptist Church’s congregation started a campaign to block the Bar from opening with petitions and prayed daily against his business.

Work progressed.  However, when it was almost complete and was
about to open a few days later, a lightning bolt struck the Bar and it was
burnt to the ground.

The Baptist Church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until
the Bar owner sued the Baptist Church authorities on the grounds that the
Baptist Church through it’s congregation’ s prayers was ultimately responsible
for the demise of his bar, either through direct or indirect actions or means.

In its reply to the court, the Baptist Church vehemently denied all responsibility
or any connection that their prayers were reasons to the bar’s demise.

As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork at the
hearing and commented:

I don’t know how I’m going to decide this case, but it appears from the paperwork, 

‘we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer’

‘we have an entire church and it’s congregation that doesn’t.’  

- Sarfraz Gahothi, Canada

But you have no need to go any where

Journey within your self.

Enter a mine of rubies

and bathe in the splendor of your own light.

- Rumi

Apple protect the heart by it’s flavonoids, antioxidant compunds that portect us from the damage of “bad” LDL cholesterol. The flavonoid which is present in large amount in apples called quercetin. Quercetin seems to be a major  antioxidant which protect the heart if we eat apple with it’s skin.

Sindhi Association of North America has demanded immediate abolition of the recently established Thar Coal Authority as it was an illegal and unconstitutional entity and blatant interference into provincial affairs. In a statement issued in Houston, TX, SANA president Aziz Narejo said that any attempts to take over natural resources guaranteed to provinces in the Constitution will meet strong protest in Sindh and elsewhere and will further harm relations between the federation and the province.

SANA

president also opposed the holding of an international investment
conference in Washington, DC on July 29 to attract finances for the
exploitation of Thar coal reserves. He said any commitment to investors
before abolishing the Thar Coal Authority will not have any legal standing.
The government should call off the proposed conference until the Thar Coal
Authority is abolished and the duly constituted Sindh Coal Authority is
empowered to issue leases and attract investment.

He said SANA will resist government moves to take over Sindh resources and
will protest and make representations to the World Bank and other potential
investors not to invest in any illegal projects and scams which have no
legal sanction and which will be opposed by the people. The investors will
be risking their investment by entering into any agreement as the legal body
competent to enter into agreements with them is Sindh Coal Authority which
has been illegally abolished by the federal government.

He also cautioned the investors that the government officials behind the
recent government moves were of questionable character and a number of
corruption cases were registered against them before the change of the
government in Pakistan and they may again have to face the law for their
malpractices. That will doom any investments made through shady deals.

Sarfraz Memon
Information Secretary, SANA

By Gul Agha, Champaign, Illinois, USA

(A Sindhi-American Republican, originally from Hyderabad, who is a political appointee of the Bush administration at US AID agency, has been been working for several years informing US officials and policy makers of the importance of supporting education of Sindhis, keeping in view that Sindhis are natural allies of secularism and democracy, and strongly against fundamentalism and terrorism. The person has been in touch with me over the years, also inviting me to meet several officials at social receptions when I am in DC.. Feedback from the ground about these efforts would be useful to pass on). From VoA:*

*Editorials*
*Reflecting the Views of the
United States Government*

Education Aid For Sindh Province *15 July 2008*
Education Aid For Sindh Province - Download (MP3) [image: audio clip]
http://www.voanews. com/mediaassets/ uspolicy/ 2008_07/Audio/ mp3/014354. mp3
Education Aid For Sindh Province - Listen to (MP3) [image: audio clip]
http://www.voanews. com/uspolicy/ figleaf/mp3fileg enerate.cfm? filepath= http://www. voanews.com/ mediaassets/ uspolicy/ 2008_07/Audio/ mp3/014354. mp3>

The United States Agency for International Development and the Department of
Education and Literacy of Pakistan’s Sindh province this month signed a
memorandum of understanding to expand USAID’s nationwide ninety-million
dollar ED-LINKS program in Sindh province. Also this month, education
officials launched two workshops for educators in Karachi and Islamabad as
part of the ED-LINKS program.

“This program promises great rewards in Sindh,” said USAID Pakistan Mission
Directory Anne Arnes at the signing ceremony. “ED-LINKS projects will
improve the teaching skills of more than thirty-thousand teachers in the
target districts; provide effective models for school management; and
improve the learning environment for more than five-hundred- thousand
students.”

The ED-LINK program will be implemented in three-thousand middle and
secondary schools in ten Sindh province cities and towns.

ED-LINKS launched its activities in Sindh with a ten-week leadership and
management program for one-hundred- twenty-five head teachers at Aga Khan
University. In Islamabad, USAID Pakistan Acting Deputy Director Robert
Wuertz launched a ten-day workshop on standards-based education. The
workshop, conducted under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Education
Curriculum Wing, brings together leading authors, textbook writers, subject
specialists, and teacher trainers. They will work together to develop
strategies for implementing curriculum standards in schools across the
nation.

Since 2002, the U.S. Government has provided more than two-billion dollars
to Pakistan to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance,
and to reconstruct areas affected by the October 2005 earthquake.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte noted, the U.S. seeks to
“build a comprehensive partnership not only with the Pakistani government
but with the Pakistani people. We recognize that our fate – that is, our
security, our freedom, and prosperity – is linked to the fate of the people
of Pakistan.”

–

Our source: We pick above email of Gul Agha from Sindhi e-group list.

A short story in Sindhi written by Chandiramani in phonetic roman script

1. Ghara jo maamlo
 Mohan ghara may> t/amaam excited haala may> pahut/o 

Joi khay chayaaee>’ Aj/u maa> kayt/ran saalan khaa> poi hika puraar>ay d/ost/a Vishnooa khay gad/iyus . Asul ee kona phiriyo aahay .Huna khay suj*aa>rar>u t/amaam savlo huo . Saag/iyaa ee chilka>d/ar kapir/aa ai> saag/ee perfume jee khooshboo . .Lag/ay tho t/a asul kona phiryo aahay .’ 

Kahir/o Vishnoo ? Jayko ajeeb ho ?’ Jor>asi puchiyo .‘

Ajeeb mar>hooa jo mat/labu kahir/o aahay ?’ Mohan puchiyusi 

 ‘‘Shaad/ee kayaaee>?’ Jor>asi puchiyo .‘

Haar>ay moo> g/aalh samjhee.Ha ,shaad/ee kayaaee> ai> b/a puta bi athas .’Mohan javaab d*ino .‘

Ihaa t/a barabar khaas khabar chaibee,’ jor>asi naku mor/ay javaab d*ino.‘

‘Hair/ee tokbaazee chho thee karee>’?Mohan puchhiyus . 

 ‘Ar/ay moo> kucchu galat/ chayo chhaa? , ‘Jor>asi suvaal puchiyus ‘ ..

‘Na na ! ‘ Mohan javaab d*ino ‘.

Haar>ay muhi>jo vaaro aahay t/okhay kujhu ajeeb khabaroo> d*iyar>a joo> ‘ jor>asi chayo . 

‘Aj/u maa> achanak t/uhi>jee hika puraar>ee sahir/eea khay gad*iyas’ .’ Jor>asi ag/t/ay chayo ..

‘Kayr?’ Mohana puchhiyo .‘..

‘Moo>khay khabar aahay t/a t/okhay jaam saahir/iyoo> huyoo> . So keea> maa> hunakhay theek suj*aaray saghaa> thee ?,’ Jor>asi javaab d*ino‘‘

‘Haar>ay moo> g/aalh samjhee,’ Mohan charchay may> javaab d*ino,’ suthho thiay haa t/a maa> hiku register rakhaa> ha .Moo>khay maaf kari ..’ 

 Jor>asi khilar>u shuroo kayo ai> chayaaee> ‘Hooa jaykaa lu>daa frocks paaee>d/ee aahay .’ 

‘Dhar>ee rahim karay! .Aj/u kala jaam chhokir/iyoo> lu>daa frocks paaee>d/iyoo> aahin ‘.Mohan naaraazgeea saa> javaab d*ino ‘Umay>d/a t/a ko naalo athas?’ 

 ‘Moo>khay b/udhaayaaee> t/a sahee> para moo>khay naalo visree viyo ,’jor>asi javaab d*ino .‘.

Barabar haar>ay moo> g/aalh samjhee. T/oo> uhay shayoo> yaad/ ka >d/ee aahee> jaykay yaad/ karar>a jay laaik aahin.’ Mohana javaab d*ino . 

Haar>ay b/udhaai , kayr tokbazee karay rahiyo aahay? Oh ! Moo>khay haar>ay naalo yaad/ aayo . Sonia , aayai yaad/?’‘

‘Vaah ! Hooa sweet chhokr/ee ?’Mohan d*aadhhay fikira maa> puchhiyo .  

 ‘‘Sabhu chhokir>iyoo> had/a sweet hoo>d/iyoo> aahin jayst/aaee> shaad/ee na kayee athan . Poi hunan jaa sachaa ra>ga zaahir thee>d/aa aahin.’Jor>asi javaab d*ino . 

‘Na , iay> asulu kona aahay ,’moohi>jee sweet joi khay d*isu.Jahir/ee sweet huee t/ahir/ee sweet aj/u bi aahay,’ .’ Mohan javaab d*ino . 

 Ai> b/inhee khilar> shuroo kayo .
 
Jor>si cha>g*ee t/arah samjho t/a sa>d/asi mur/su diplomatic thee rahiyo ho .
.
‘T/o ghar achar>a laai invite kayus ? ‘ Mohana puchhiyo
.
‘T/oo> chhaatho samjhee> t/a maa> bayvakoof aahiyaa> chha ?Risk chho khar>jay?.Jor>asi chayo .
Jaykee var>ayee so kar,’Mohan javaab d*ino ‘,Moohi>jay laai saag/ee g/aalih aahay .’ 

 ‘Suchu ? ‘Ihaa t/a ajeeb g/aalh chaibee . Moo>khay t/avhaa> sabhinee mard/an jee khabar aahay . Haar>ay dhyaana saa> b/udhu .’Jor>asi chayo .’ T/uhi>jee pyaree dheeu jahi>khay t/o hayt/ro pyaar d*ayee safaa khaariyo aahay ,uhaa hamaysha telephone t/ay aahay .Bus g/aalaahir> u ee nathee ba>d/ karay .’ 

 ‘Hina umir may> t/oo> huna maa> kahir/ee thee umayda rakhee>’,Mohan javaab d*ino.’Chhaa hooa kapr/aa siba>d/ee ?’ 

‘Dhar>eea jay naalay g/aalh khay samjhar> jee koshashi kari .Dhar>ee j/aar>ay , kahir/ay kisama jaa dost/a athas .B/iay mahinay sa>d/asi birthday aahay .. Achu t/a sa>d/asi sabhnee d/ost/an khay invite kayoo> .Asaa> khay vajhu mil>d/o sabhinee sa>d/as d/ost/an khay jaachar>a jo.’ Jor>asi chayo. 

 Ocht/o unhan jee dheeu achee ut/ay pahut/ee .‘

’Papa ,’ hina vaako karay chayo,’Asee> sabhu movie disar> vaj*ee rahiyaa aahiyoo>. Kujhu paisa khapan.’,

‘T/uhi>jo piyaaro papaa t/okhay kad*ahi> bi kahi> g/aalh lai inkaar na kand/o . Moohi>jay lai paisaa kona athas para t/uhi>jay lai aasmaan jee limit aahay .’ jor>asi chayo .‘

‘Varee shuroo thee vayee>a.’Mohan d*ukha may> chayo . 

 Poi pahi>jay dheeu d*aa>h nihaaray chayaaee>,’B/iay mahinay may> t/uhi>jo birthday aahay . Sabhinee friends khay ghara may> invite kari .’ 

 ‘T /avhee> iay> keea> thaa g/aalaahiyo! Papa dear ! .Asee> relax kee>a karay sagha>d/aasee> ?Saj/o vakt/u t/avhee> vaythhaa asaa> khay g/ijha va>guru jachee>d/aa. Para t/avhaa> jee g/aalh d*aadhhee suthhee aahay .Maa> aj/u khaa>ee vathhee list thhaaee>d/as t/a kahi>khay kahi>khay invite kayaa> . Party kithay kayoo> so maa> t/avahaa> khay poi b/udhaa ee>d/asi. Shaaid/ hooa jaykaa naee> restaurant haar/ay khulee aahay, ut/ay. Moohi>jaa friends t/amaam impress thee vay>d/aa . Para haar>ay maa> t/amaam t/akar/ may> aahiyaa> . Moo>khay jald/ee kujhu paisa d*iyo .’Dheer>asi chayo .’ 

 Mohan pahi>jee purse pahi>jay joi jay t/ayz nazara haythh kholee a i> thoro mu>jhiyo jad*ahi> dheer>as atkala adhu paisaa purse maa> khar>ee vayee’
 ‘
‘Hina pahi>jaa kulhaa dhud*aayaa ai> par>a khay chayaaee> ,’Maa> t/a hamaysha pahi>jee joi khay kaafee paisaa d*ee>d/o aahiyaa> poi bi hooa eeay> chho thee halay ? Chhaa maau ai> dheeu jay vicha may> hasad/u thee saghay tho ? ‘ 

Hina joi d*aa>h nazara phayraaee jaykaa huna d*aa>h shookay nihaaray rahee huee . .
 Achaanak hina jay joi chayo ,’Shukur dha>eea jo .Muhi>jo Raajoo eea> konhay .Saj/o d*eehu> vaythho par/hay ai> nako ko d/ost/a athas ai> nako ko b/aahir vaj*ay. ‘ 

’Para iho t/a abnormal thiyo.’Mohan javaab d*ino’ . 

 Ochit/o telephone vaj/ar> shroo kayo . .

The End.

K B Bhutto President PPP California’s meeting with information and cultural minister  MS Shery Rehman at her office in Islamabad on dated 22/07/08

Mohammad Ali Mahar, Austin, TX, USA

Those who have seen the video of MBB’s last speech at Rawalpindi, where a man, standing right beside MBB,  is seen doing suspicious things, such as, looking in the sky, waving his hand in front of his neck, as though indicating to slaughter something,  signaling towards MBB, impatiently signaling someone in the crowd to finish the job. The guy was Khalid Shahanshah.

For those who haven’t seen the video, here it is once again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=tcNBYj-JOjM

Mohammad Ali Mahar, mamahar@hotmail.com

Free India and Pakistan from the divisive roles of the agencies, read what the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi says.
http://southasiatimes.tk/
Manzoor Chandio

Joining hands for peace

By Rajmohan Gandhi

Daily DAWN, July 22, 2008

MANY in India have been troubled over the charge publicly levelled by a senior official that Pakistan’s agencies planned the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, and over suggestions that Indian agencies should consider retaliating in like fashion against locations in Pakistan where hits against Indian targets are allegedly planned.

If New Delhi had found evidence of the ISI’s role in the destructive act in Kabul, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee should have confronted their Pakistani counterparts with it.

If the evidence was confirmed, the Indian premier should have solemnly presented it to the Pakistani and Indian peoples, and to the world.

Given the power and secrecy of the subcontinent’s intelligence agencies, anything, it is true, can occur. Yet if extremist pro-Taliban groups in Afghanistan and in Pakistan’s tribal areas have on numberless occasions targeted Pakistani leaders and its security forces for supporting the US-led war on terror, the Indian embassy in Kabul would also be a natural target for them.

Apart from the fact that Indian backing for the war against terror has been unambiguous and well known, India’s role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s infrastructure also invites the Taliban’s hostility.

Therefore assertions in New Delhi (or Kabul) that a Pakistani agency rather than one of Afghanistan’s Taliban-related extremist groups attacked the embassy have to be backed by solid evidence.

And if the ISI or sections of it are indeed in cahoots with the Taliban, it is the people of Pakistan who should worry the most and devise steps necessary to break the unholy alliance. In the struggle against the threats of extremism and terrorism, the people of Pakistan are the Indian people’s natural partners, and a key constituency for Indian leaders perturbed by the threats.In fact the Kabul incident should trigger a much-needed partnership between the people of Pakistan and the people of India.

Pakistanis should demand from Islamabad the truth about the charge that an intelligence agency was involved, and Indians should likewise ask New Delhi how its agencies quickly reached the conclusion that not pro-Taliban extremists but the ISI was responsible.People on both sides of the India-Pakistan border (and on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border) have the right to know the facts about the embassy bombing, for their security is at stake. And if security agencies are engaged in dirty work or in disinformation, then the peoples of Pakistan and India must jointly take up the daunting yet inescapable task of putting the agencies in their place.To take our countries back from the agencies may well be the need of the hour.

Ministers are our servants, and the agencies our servants’ mazdoors. Of course servants too are always entitled to respect, and to appreciation when they do their job well. I for one refuse to endorse the assessment of some of India’s Pakistan-watchers that elected leaders will prove worse than the military in dealing with extremism.

The late Bhutto’s powerfully articulated rejection of extremism is a strong legacy that is shared, as far as I can see, across the spectrum of mainline Pakistani politics, by PML and ANP leaders as by the PPP.

However, for figuring out effective ways of addressing grievances and defeating extremism and terrorism these politicians may need to consult more closely with one another across party, provincial and ethnic divides, and also with military and security experts.Perhaps intellectuals on both sides of the Pak-India border should prepare an updated manifesto for the subcontinent.

Some items on such a manifesto are obvious: mutual respect, including unreserved respect for the other nation’s independence; an equally unequivocal rejection of violence, whether direct or indirect, open or concealed, for solving internal, bilateral or international disputes; a clear rejection of the clash-of-civilisations theory; a solution for Kashmir acceptable to Kashmiris and to India and Pakistan; and a commitment to minority rights in both countries.

Also critical to such a manifesto, yet not so obvious in our dazzlingly globalised world, is a commitment to search for subcontinental and regional solutions instead of looking to global powers or a superpower for interventions.

The US and China are formidable countries, and both India and Pakistan have tried to build relationships with them. Given the history of India-Pakistan mistrust, such relationships have seemed attractive.Yet geography is stronger than history.

Oceans and mountains remain large impediments even in the 21st century. For years India and Pakistan have tried to involve distant powers in their dealings with each other, with poor results. It is time to put the subcontinent first. Whether we like it or not, geography mandates coexistence. We can decide to enjoy what cannot be helped and seek to profit from it.This does not mean that Pakistan should give up on its China links, or that India should turn its back on Afghanistan or on India-US relations.

What it does mean is that India-Afghanistan or India-US links should not grow at Pakistan’s expense, or Pakistan-China links at India’s cost. It also means that our peoples should be vigilant against inviting external conflicts to the soil of the subcontinent.We should acknowledge, in both India and Pakistan, not only the divisive roles of the agencies but also the hegemonic character of our societies.

The arrogance of the high-born, the high-placed and the man with the stick is known to both countries. While Pakistan may not formally accept caste hierarchies the way India continues to do (despite progressive laws and the emerging political power of the so-called lower or ‘untouchable’ castes), Pakistani society seems to tolerate armed elites and private jails.In India and Pakistan alike, muscle-power or gun-power is celebrated in posters and movies. In real-life interactions between the citizen and the policeman or the government functionary, the citizen usually comes off second best in both countries.

Correcting this equation, and honouring the listening policeman or politician rather than the macho one, has to be part of our subcontinental manifesto.

If despite disasters and misgovernance our economies have grown, the credit should above all go to the subcontinent’s hard-working and enterprising people. Our countries are on the move because of what our ‘common’ people grow, create, repair or remit, and the millions of vehicles they skilfully drive on hazardous roads.Should we be betting on the subcontinent’s civil society, on the sanity and energy of our peoples?

Though not permanent, hates and fears can after all continue for long, especially when politicians feed those fears and hates instead of working on education and healthcare. Still it may be a good idea to bet on our peoples and on their willingness to become partners. Better to bet thus and lose than concede that mutual destruction is the subcontinent’s destiny.

Dr Ali Akbar M. Dhakan

  This refers to Mr. Sardar Ahmed former Advisor of Finance to Sindh’s demand that 40 percent quota in jobs in Sindh should be observed for urban people (dawn dated 19-7-08). Mr. Sardar has rightly said that it is for national cohesion, unity, brotherhood, prosperity.

          It is therefore pertinent that such demands may also be made with the Federal Government to adopt, execute and comply with the provisions of the Constitution and remove sense of deprivation, heart burning and usurpation of rights from the minds of the people belonging to the smaller and backward provinces.

Mr. Sardar may therefore kindly let the nation know the actual data of recruitment / employment made during the tenure of regime for which he worked w.e.f 1999 till handed over power to PPP and tell the people of Sindh both Urban and rural areas as to how and when they followed in letter and spirit with the provisions of the Constitution in providing jobs to the people of Sindh of both Urban and rural areas in accordance to quota.  He may also collect such data from the Federal Government and see as to how compliance of the constitutional provisions has been made there.  

The demand of former adviser in any case is just and has to be implemented not only in future but after collecting facts and figures regarding employment provided during the past years in federal as well provincial Governments, and efforts are required to makeup the deficiency by giving rights of employment to all the regions and areas according to the constitutional requirements. This way, we can reduce the problem of unemployment in the less developed and resource less areas. Mr. Sardar`s contribution in this regard will be highly appreciated particularly in small provinces and he will get blessings and earn well-wishes from such unemployed educated people of backward areas.

- Dileep Ratnani, Sarnia, Canada

23rd of July is a national holiday in celebration of the revolution in 1953 that changed Egypt from a monarchy to a Republic.

The July 23rd Revolution is a turning point in the history of Egypt and the entire Third World during the second half of the 20th century. The Revolution sprang from the Egyptian conscience, reflecting the history, traditions and heritage of the Egyptian people. The Revolution changed the face of life in Egypt dramatically.

A secret call in the army - including a number of officers from different corps known as the free officers group - was set up early in 1952 and led by Lieutenant Colonel Gamal Abd Al- Nasser.

In the morning of July 23 of the very same year, army forces marched to take control of government authorities and bodies, the radio, and public utilities. Major Muhammad Anwar Al- Sadat broadcasted a statement to the people of Egypt in which he declared the outbreak of a peaceful bloodless movement by the army forces for the national welfare on the basis of revolutionary legitimacy.

A result of the corrupt royal regime, and the corruption of party system in the absence of a sound democratic one, due to the rigging of elections in favour of the minority parties which ruled the country under the sway of the king whose throne was protected by the British.

A flagrant example of such corruption was the king’s interference to put parliamentary life out of action by suspending the enforcement of the Constitution and dissolving the House of Representatives on and on again.

The Egyptian economy was based upon agricultural production only, especially cotton. In addition, unemployment spread; wages and standard of living were on the decline; industry was neglected; foreigners were controlling national economy represented in the huge companies of insurance, foreign trade as well as banks.

The Egyptian society was divided into two completely separate classes. The first was few in number comprising the feudalist and capitalist tycoons with no more percentage than 0.5% of the total population. Yet, this class manipulated the country’s wealth whereas the second class representing the overwhelming majority of the people included peasants, craftsmen, retail merchants and labourers. This class had very limited ownership rights and made low incomes. Consequently, education and health services were neglected; poverty, illiteracy and disease spread in shocking numbers.

The July 23rd Revolution laid out the landmarks of its course and field of work for building a new society summarized in six principles as follows:

1. Putting an end to the British occupation and its accomplice Egyptian traitors by confronting the British forces stationing in the Suez Canal area.
2. Eliminating feudalism in opposition to its domination over land and people
3. Eliminating capitalism and individual monopoly to combat resources of wealth exploitation being at the service and in the hands of a group of capitalists for their sole interests.
4. Establishment of social justice in opposition to exploitation and cruelty, the normal outcome of social injustice.
5. Building a strong national army to foil foreign conspiracies working to undermine Egypt ’s military power. This army will also serve as a shield against the anti-revolution supporters at home.
6. Setting a sound democratic system to confront political falsification that attempted to wipe out the features of national identity.

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Mir Murtaza Bhutto

(September 18, 1954 - September 20, 1996)

Murtaza Bhtto, the elder son of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was a revolutionary. Bhutto campaigned as an independent in the 1993 elections, winning a seat in the assembly governing the Sindh province^. In 1996, he accused police of unfairly targeting his organization. Several hours after the conference, he was shot and killed along with six supporters during an altercation with the police^. Murtaza was killed by police in 1996 in Karachi, during the premiership of his sister, Benazir Bhutto.

Fatima Bhutto (born 29 May 1982) is a young poet, writer and columnist who came to fame after the appearance of her first book, a collection of poems, titled Whispers of the Desert. Fatima was only 15 years old when the collection was published. She is now a columnist for The News in Pakistan. She received notable coverage for her second book. Fatima is the daughter of the Shaheed Murtaza Bhutto. She is the grand-daughter of former Prime Minister, Z.A. Bhutto. Fatima is not known to be very active political worker. She is however far more active as a political writer and spares no body in criticism. Fatima’s style of writing resembles that of “Arab News” jovial writer Jehad Khazin. Her writings reflect some Pan-arabism , Liberalism and a lot of multi-directional political sides.

A man charged with murder has escaped from a Texas jail by climbing through an air conditioner vent. The vent was less than 30 centimeters wide, and authorities said Darryl Layne Norris had been losing  weight since arriving at the Waller Country Jail in April.

Courtesy & Thanks: 24 hours, Monday, July 21, 2008

Fayaz Khaskheli, Seoul, S.Korea

As In coming months in Pakistan there will be Census after 10 years, indeed every one knows about the importance of population counting in a federation. Even in world scenario it has also a great impact of population. On the Other hand, previously due to severe conspiracies against Sindh, we were became a noticeable minority on our own land. In Karachi Sindhis are just as amount of salt in flour according to official census and several gazettes. Even though realities are admirably different but our own fault and negligence became serious cause to the above throttle conditions of Sindhis existence.

If we awake now and seriously think about and make every possible efforts to count each and every person of throughout Sindh and more earnestly counting of Sindhis in Karachi then I think it’s no late. An Awareness, Motivation and Pre-Preparation to activate our self voluntarily to make it possible the entire counting of Sindhis in Census 2008. …

Vitamin A: Normal vision, health skin, rissue repair and growth, Vitamin B1: Help digestive system work properly, help muscles and Nerves and normal function of heart. Vitamin B2: Healthy immune system & skin, engergy production, Vitamin B3: helps lower the colestrol and clean the artries, Vitamin B6: helps blood cell production, growth and maintain weight, Vitain B12: helps in formation of red boold cells, vitamin E: helps tp protect cell memberances and nerves, Vitamin C: helps wound healing, disease resistance, bone and teeth formation.

-Dileep Ratnani, Sarnia, Canada

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for Rs. 10/-. The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest and started catching them.

The man bought thousands at Rs. 10/- and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He further announced that he would now buy at Rs. 20/- This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.

Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer rate increased to Rs. 25/- and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it!
The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at Rs50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him.
In the absence of the man, the assistant first kept buying the monkeys and then on one day he told the villagers,’ Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at Rs35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell it to him for Rs. 50/- ‘
The villagers squeezed up with all their savings and bought all the monkeys.
Then they never saw the man nor his assistant, only monkeys everywhere!!!

Welcome to the ‘Stock’ Market!!!!!

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- Dileep Ratnani, Sarnia, Cnaada

A remote mountainous area between Hyderabad and Karachi on tuesday after rumours that a Hindu child in Thano Ahmed Khan town had burnt a copy of the Holy Quran. People gathered in the town to pressurise police to take action against the child.  Later it was revealed that the child, who works in a grocery shop, had mistakenly given a buyer some goods wrapped in a page from a textbook of Islamiyat which had a Quranic verse on it.

According to reports reaching here, the child was taken to an autaq (guesthouse) , stripped and beaten up. Another report, denied by police, said that the boy was paraded naked in the area.

The boy’s father, Maharaj Jaman Das, who holds an important religious position in the community, offered an unconditional apology to the protesters and said his son did not know what was written on the paper.

Police tried to verify the incident but no one in Thano Ahmed Khan could produce the paper which contained the Quranic verse.

Thano Bula Khan SHO Liaquat Baloch told Dawn that no FIR had been lodged as no one had given any evidence that an act of blasphemy had occurred.  “I volunteer to become a complainant in the case if I got evidence to that effect,” he said.

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