Loud Thinking

Author Archive

“In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919);
26th U.S. President

For Pakistan’s Intellectuals – A Food for Thought

Pakistan has reached a stage where business as usual will do no good any further. And in order to meet the challenges of the fifth columnists, regional and international politics of intrigue and hegemony, we must rebuild Pakistan inside out. Currently, Pakistan is a patient on drip therapy, which must first stand on its feet, only then the inside and outside challenges can be effectively met. In this regard, the following proposals are submitted, for the overhaul of the entire Pakistani governance system(s), for the consideration of the intellectuals, people at the helm of the affairs and general masses to develop a consensus for taking Pakistan out of the woods.

MAKE EVERY DIVISION A PROVINCE – PAKISTAN’s ONLY PANACEA

Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan is a more fragmented society than our forefathers could have ever imagined. The division in society is so intense that if immediate corrective steps are not taken, God forbid, this country may see even more turbulent times.

The writing on the wall is clear for all to read. The decadence of Pakistani society in every sphere of life, be it political, economic, educational, industrial, agricultural, religious, law and order or any other segment worth naming, is abysmal, to say the least. Hardly any day passes without reports of suicides committed by the poor due to the economic hardships. Children are not dying in dozens, but in scores due to the measles outbreak and, strangely enough, no soul has moved and not even a single person has been held accountable.

Maybe we have one last chance to stem the rot, to unite the people and to give them a prescription to rise again and build the nation from the ashes because, for the overwhelming majority, a time is coming that they will be forced to think: no life no nation.

The current frame work under which the country is being run will not take Pakistan any forward, even if it is allowed to continue, for another 100 years. All small and big nations in our region and the world have overtaken us, in the basic fields of health, education, justice, law and order and food security.

All stakeholders must wake up, as the nation is moving towards destruction and business as usual can do nothing for Pakistan; our survival is directly linked with the existence of our nationhood. Nationhood means, “the state or quality of having a status as a separate and independent nation”.

Pakistan needs a turnaround, for which the basic need is our adaptation and readiness for the change, not in cosmetic but real sense. We need a complete change from one era to another, like the one witnessed by China, under Mao Zedong.

Hence, for all Pakistanis, failure is not an option, but success is also not automatically guaranteed. In this regard, I would like to suggest that we formulate a new social contract for the common people of Pakistan, who always pays 100 percent bills and taxes and never defaults on their bank loans, but is deprived of every conceivable civic amenities.

Let us make a new Pakistan, which is redesigned to practically cater to the needs of the exploited masses.

Changes must be made in the constitution to block corrupt and power hungry mafias from contesting the elections. The current election system should also be radically changed, so that the whole country directly votes for a president/prime minister. However, before the voting, the candidates of all the political parties, for this post of the president/prime minister, must notify a list of their MPAs, MNAs and Senators, who will be automatically considered elected, according to the percentage of votes cast, in favour of the main candidate, for the top post of the country.

The decision for Pakistan’s charter of development for building dams and mega projects for the next 50 years should also be finalised, on which later on, no politics should be allowed. In other words, the representatives of the nation should decide now where they would like to see Pakistan, in each and every field of life after 50 years. This vision should be further divided into ten five years plans.

In order to decentralise and empower the maximum number of people, to enjoy the fruits of self-rule, we should convert every division of Pakistan into a province. This will also work as a panacea for the eradication of linguistic and any other type of frictions and doubts about the hegemony of the people. from certain large areas over the people of other smaller areas. In fact, it will work wonders in the speedy development and unity of Pakistan and kill instantly, any secessionist or separatist activities, currently prevailing in some parts of the country.

nayyar51@hotmail.com
Lahore – Pakistan

Don’t Be Late for That Meeting

When you can text or email a colleague and let her know you’re running late, it’s easy to push back meetings. This ability to quickly communicate is helpful when you’re unavoidably detained, but overusing it has costs. One study found that staff lateness costs the UK economy £9 billion per year. There’s something to be said for old-fashioned punctuality. Sixty years ago, it was important to keep commitments because there was less opportunity to reschedule on the fly. But even in this era of always-on technologies, being on time is important. It keeps you focused. It conveys to others that you’re reliable. And it shows respect for the people who don’t have to waste their time waiting on you.

Adapted by HBR from “Old-School Business Practices Worth Bringing Back,” by John Coleman.

Sleeping with enemy???

Mr. Imran Khan can someone from KPK government clarify the statement of Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi that PTI KPK law minister Mr. Israr ullah Gandapur is supporting the son of Maulana Fazlur Reman in elections?

PM Mian M Nawaz Sharif needs to clarify that:-

1. Is the below mentioned news true as reported by Dawn today on 5 August, 2013 that our PM has assured the Americans that there will be no trial of Pervaiz Musharraf under article 6?

2. And if the release of Dr. Shakeel Afridi and Pervaiz Musharraf was discussed with John Kerry why the release of Dr. Aafia was not discussed with the visiting US SoS?

Dawn News:-

ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister and a leader of the All Pakistan Muslim League Mian Zahid Sarfaraz has claimed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has assured the United States that retired Gen Pervez Musharraf will soon be released and allowed to go abroad.

Addressing a news conference on Sunday, Mr Sarfaraz said that the release of Gen Musharraf and Dr Shakil Afridi, who had allegedly helped the US trace Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad, had come under discussion between Mr Sharif and US Secretary of State John Kerry during the latter’s recent visit to Islamabad.

Mr Sarfaraz, who is chief organiser of the Musharraf-led APML, said the US never left its supporters in trouble and just like Raymond Davis, who shot dead two people in Lahore, both Gen Musharraf and Dr Afridi would soon be allowed to go abroad.

He said Mr Sharif had no courage to seek Gen Musharraf’s trial under article 6 of the constitution.

Mr Sarfaraz said Gen Musharraf was living a comfortable life with his family at his farmhouse, though the same had been declared a sub-jail.

Difference of a timid dictator and a brave popularly elected leader..!

Hope the lion Mian M Nawaz Sharif will not succumb to the empty threats of the USA on this issue like PM fell in line on one telephone call of Colin Powell

@LondonNiazi: IP project in jeopardy: US threatens curbs if Pakistan pursues Iran deal, says PM http://t.co/5uIkxB8Cbl via @etribune

Few Suggestions for the Consideration of ICC..!

1. In order to enhance credibility and transparency of the game, it should be made mandatory for the TV camera to show the stopped coin after the toss. This will remove any doubt about the rumours that huge money is involved in betting regarding the toss decision, which obviously is not shown these days on the TV screens.

2. Rules regarding the UDRS may be amended so that batting or bowling side may ask for unlimited number of reviews, with a condition that EVERY unsuccessful review will result in deduction of 10 runs from the grand total of the team’s TOTAL score, as UDRS penalty; only for deciding the result of the match.
It is repeated that these penalty runs will not be deducted from the individual scores of the batsmen, but only from the total score of the team, to ONLY just decide the winner of the match.

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on –
it is going on when you don’t have strength.”

“Confidence sells — people believe in those who believe in themselves. No one wants to be stuck in a room with other people who feel like they don’t deserve to be there. Stop wondering if you’re good enough. Know you are, and start acting like it.”

— Simon Black

Will the US Secretary of State Senator John Kerry consider an honourable action after his categorical statement on PTV about ending drone attacks in Pakistan was rubbished by State Dept?

Please read the full story reported by the daily “Dawn” as below:

US NOT TO GIVE UP DRONE ATTACKS

WASHINGTON: “In no way would we ever deprive ourselves of a tool that would help us fight a threat if it arises,” says the US State Department while explaining Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement that US drone strikes in Pakistan will end soon.

Mr Kerry declared in an interview with Pakistan Television on Thursday the drone strikes in the country would soon come to an end.

“I think the programme will end as we have eliminated most of the threat and continue to eliminate it,” the secretary said.

Asked if there was a timeline for ending the drone strikes, Mr Kerry said: “I think the President (Obama) has a very real timeline, and we hope it’s going to be very, very soon.”

The two quotes were read out at a news briefing at the State Department and spokesperson Marie Harf was asked to give a timetable for ending the drone programme.

The official referred to President Barack Obama’s policy speech in May this year when he said the US had made significant progress against core Al Qaeda by using the drones and as it made more progress, the need to use the drones would also reduce.

Ms Harf said that in his interview to Pakistan Television, Secretary Kerry only “reinforced the changes” that the US expected to take place in the drone programme over time, “but there is no exact timeline to provide. Obviously, a lot of this is driven by the situation on the ground”.

She added: “The goal…is as we have success against Al Qaeda…we need to use this tactic less going forward, and that’s what the secretary was referencing.”

She was reminded that Secretary Kerry talked about ending the strikes, not reducing them.

“Well, clearly the goal of counter-terrorism operations, broadly speaking, is to get to a place where we don’t have to use them because the threat goes away. Now, we’re all realistic about the fact that there is a threat that remains and that we have to keep up the fight in this and other places around the world,” Ms Harf responded.

The secretary’s statement, she said, was “in no way indicating a change in policy”.

The State Department official pointed out that US drone strikes had eliminated a number of key Al Qaeda leaders but “nobody is naive about the threat, certainly, which is why we remain very focused on it, there and elsewhere”.

Asked why the secretary was then talking about ending the use of a tool which the administration regards as so highly effective, she said: “We would all like to get to a place where there is no threat. Now, nobody’s naive about the fact that one still exists, and that we’re going to keep up the pressure.”

If the US will not deprive itself of an effective tool like the drone, will it start using it again even if it was stopped, a journalist asked.

“In no way would we ever deprive ourselves of a tool to fight a threat if it arises,” she responded. “That’s a point I’d like to make very clear.”

The United States, however, would continue to discuss a broad range of counter-terrorism issues with the Pakistani government going forward, she said.

Reminded that keeping the option available meant using it when needed, Ms Harf said: “I would not want to further expand on what it means when I say, ‘We would not deprive ourselves of a tool’. There’s a very different thing between saying we would keep tools that we think help us achieve our goals, and saying we reserve a certain right to do a certain thing in a certain place. I’m not going to commit to the specific hypothetical that you have raised.”