Sindh Conference Held in London Linking Sindh to the World Peace

LONDON – October 4, 2009, Press release: …the presence of a sovereign Sindh could create a new path to democracy and a new method of counteracting pan-Islamic forces. This was the consensus view at the 21st International Conference of the World Sindhi Congress (WSC), a human rights advocacy group for Sindh and Sindhis, held in London on 3rd October 2009.

Several distinguished scholars and activists from Sindh, Balochistan, India, Canada, the USA and the UK gathered to present speeches on the theme of ‘Sovereignty of Sindh for World Peace.” Prominent speakers included, Mr. Sana Baloch, ex-Senator of Pakistan, Mr. Harbiyar Marri, Dr. Naseer Dashti, Isar Kalyani, Humera Rehman, Munawar Laghari and Noorudin Mengal. Along with speeches, a book reading session by Ms Alice Alibina, the writer of a new book ‘Empires of Indus,’ and a Sindhi soul music session were all part of the full-day Conference…

Why there is so much of noise against Kerry-Lugar bill?

by: Iqbal Tareen

There is so much of noise against Kerry-Lugar bill as if this was the first time ever Pakistan is receiving any assistance without strings attached. From the days of Baghdad Pact to SEATO, Ayub Khan’s rule to Zia’s satanic era to recent 9 years of Musharraf’s dictatorship Pakistani state, security forces, business, and urban citizens have been benefactor of begged and borrowed prosperity. It doesn’t matter who do we receive an assistance from whether it is World Bank, Friends of Pakistan, EC, Saudi Arabia, or even from Japan and China it has not been without the nod of either USA or “Soviet Union”.

Obama: long road ahead

By: Haider Nizamani, Canada

AN athlete is never awarded a gold medal in the Olympics simply because he has declared that he would finish first in the race. Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama is akin to rewarding an athlete for his intentions.

Obama has to prove through his actions that the committee of Norwegian politicians who chose him for the 2009 Peace Prize weren’t terribly wrong in their judgment.

To this end he has some factors working in his favour. He enjoys an immensely positive image among US allies in Europe. The US image in Europe was battered by George W. Bush, who managed to thoroughly alienate America’s close allies from 2003 onwards. Obama usually says the right things at the right places. He chose Cairo in June to convey his goodwill message to the Muslim masses and launched the idea of a world free of nuclear weapons while addressing a huge public meeting in Prague in April. He is erudite and charmingly articulate. But these qualities would only be meaningful if they are augmented by concrete actions.Before pinning our hopes too high on Obama as the saviour of the world, let’s keep the following in mind as a reality check. First and foremost, he is the elected president of the world’s foremost military and economic power. But his is an executive position that is subject to multiple institutional powers and vested interests that can restrict his room to manoeuvre in global affairs.

Classic Arabic music and beautiful singer!