Loud Thinking

Posts Tagged ‘Pakistan’

Don’t be surprised, if the third ODI cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe being played today, ends in a tie..!

All the PML’s governments Hullabaloo may not be in the love of A.S (Dr.Aafia Siddiqui) but to placate the the American government on S.A (Dr. Shakeel Afridi).

An an eye opening exposé by the daily “Pakistan Observer” published today as below:

Smoke screen

US pressure working well
Ground preparing to let Shakil Afridi go, Afridi’s jail sentence set aside

Liaqat Toor

Friday, August 30, 2013 –

Islamabad—Though the Government has denied the recent approval by the Cabinet to sign the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of sentenced persons has anything to do with the release of Dr Shakil Afridi, but the evolving events have indicated that ground is being prepared for his happy voyage to Washington.

It was officially said the Cabinet approval will pave way for repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from the US, but it is a smokescreen with hidden agenda of releasing Dr Afridi who helped the US to track down Osama Bin London by launching a fake vaccination campaign in Abbottabad. At that time the US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had confirmed Dr Afridi worked for CIA. Since then Washington has been putting pressure on Islamabad to let Afridi go. Diplomatic sources told this scribe during Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent visit to Islamabad, he discussed with Pak authorities for his release.

The events have started developing in sequence after the Cabinet approval of the Convention as on Thursday Commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) Sahibzada Mohammad Anees suspended the 33-year sentence of Afridi on the plea that the previous judge in the case had exceeded his authority and referred back the case to Political Agent of Khyber agency for retrial.

Afridi’s lawyer pleaded his client has no link with Lashkar-e-Islam, rather he was kidnapped by Lashkar-e-Islam in 2008 and ordered to pay one million rupees. At that time, the court had not entertained evidence relating to Shakil Afridi’s involvement with the CIA saying it was not under his jurisdiction.

Raymond Davis, a US agent responsible for killing of two Pakistanis in Lahore was finally travelled back to the US when Washington put pressure on Islamabad and found a way for his release.

The US will not a bandon Afridi who worked for CIA and helped them to kill their the most wanted enemy in Abbottabad.

The Prime Minister has directed the Interior Minister to fast track the process of the signing of the convention as after that the US government will be requested under the relevant provisions for the repatriation of Dr Aafia presently undergoing imprisonment in a US jail. Dr Afridi will also be the beneficiary, diplomatic sources said.

Afridi’s jail sentence set aside

Tariq Saeed

Peshawar—The FCR commissioner on Thursday set aside the sentence of Dr Shakil Afridi, who had allegedly facilitated the Abbottabad operation to hunt Osama Bin laden on May 2, 2011, a decision that may lead to opening new dimensions of the episode of Afridi who is enjoying full backing of the US government.

The Commissioner Peshawar Sahibzada Mohammad Anis, who also holds the charge of commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) ruled that the previous judge in the case exceeded his authority. He directed the Political Agent Khyber Agency to conduct new trial of Afridi who is undergoing 33 years imprisonment in central jail Peshawar amid tight security measures. He further directed that Dr Afridi could not be released before the orders of the Political Agent. This changed Dr Afridi status from convict to accused and fresh trial will be initiated against him.

Dr Afridi, who was arrested 20 days after the Abbotabad operation, was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment under 40 FCR in the court of Assistant Political Agent (APA) Khyber agency in 2011 apparently for having links with the militant organization and banned religious outfit Lashker-i-Islam.

Giving verdict on the appeal filed by Dr. Shakil Afridi lawyer against his conviction in the appellate court, the FCR commissioner observed that the court of APA has no authority to give his verdict in such a trial where as the lawyer of Mr. Afridi had also contended that the APA had no power to power to award punishment for more than seven years and that his client was not given opportunity for his defense. Shakil Afridi’s lawyer Samiullah Afridi advocate said whatever decision the Political Agent Khyber Agency may give against his client, he has the right to file appeal in the appellate court adding there was no need to shift Dr. Shakil Afridi to the Political Agent’s jail since number of prisoners from Khyber agency have already been going imprisonment in the Central Jail Peshawar.

It will be pertinent to mention here that the new Government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa had further beefed up security around central Jail Peshawar, that is housing the doctor from Khyber agency as well as a few Taliban militants, in the first week of August.

Though apparently the step was taken following an intelligence alert and militants attack on a Dera Ismail Khan (D I K) central jail in the last week of July 2013, the insiders believe the PTI led government was more concerned about Shakeel Afridi as it has vehemently been asking the Federal Government to shift the former to some other place.

Sources believed that the Central Jail Peshawar does not only face threats from the militants specially the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) but also from the “well-wishers” of Shakeel Afridi who have repeatedly been calling for his release. Those benefited by Dr. Shakeel Afridi in getting closer to the Osama Bin Laden, the man continued to shatter the nerves of Americans for long years, may not face much difficulty to penetrate into Central Jail Peshawar and whisk away their facilitator with in no time.

Shakeel Afridi who, is alleged to have carried out a fake vaccination campaign to obtain DNA of Osama bin Laden and his family for the Americans facilitating the American Navy seals to get hold of OBL, it may be recalled had also gone on hunger strike last year when security around him was tightened extraordinarily after his reported interview with the representative of American Fox TV who somehow mysteriously managed to have access to him in Peshawar Jail.

Likewise, though the lawyers of Shakeel Afridi have constantly been denying his role in the Abbotabad operation, the American administration has been all praise for the doctor from Khyber agency and expressed their concern about his well-being so many times.

Even the spokesperson of US foreign ministry Victoria Noland is on record to have said that her country wanted early release of Dr. Afridi and protection to him adding detaining Afridi and putting him on trial would send wrong message to the world and that they were taking up issue with the Pakistani government.

Both US foreign minister as well as Defense minister have raised their concern about Dr. Afridi detention and called for his release which, many believe, is on the card.

امریکہ شرم تم کو مگر نھیں آتی

America! you don’t seemed to be ashamed of yourself..!

America wants to single out ONLY Pakistan in the whole world, for doing any trade with IRAN.

A sensational & eye opening news published by the “Times of Oman” on 28 August, 2013.

Oman, Iran gas supply deal valued at $60b

byAFP

August 28, 2013 , 8 : 25 am

Tehran: Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday to export gas to Oman from 2015, in a 25-year deal valued at around $60 billion, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said yesterday.

Zanganeh said Iran and Oman had “signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a gas pipeline” under the Sea of Oman, on the east of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the official Irna news agency said.

The construction would “soon” commence once “research on different routes” is completed, he said while hailing the agreement as “the largest economic deal” between Iran and Oman.

Zanganeh said the estimated value of the contract was around $60 billion, based on current gas prices. His remarks came after talks with Omani officials during the visit by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Oman plants can produce up to 10.4 million tonnes of LNG a year but has not produced more than 8.8 million in the last five years and output fell to 8.4 million in 2012, according to Oman LNG’s latest annual report.

According to a working copy of the 2007 pact between the two countries, in addition to imports of one billion cubic feet per day of gas from Iran for domestic use, Oman would allocate two million metric tonnes per year in excess capacity at its Oman LNG plant to process Iranian gas for export.

Link:-
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-21635.aspx

No Law (except in Islamabad Capital Territory & Sindh) in Punjab, KPK, Balochistan, GB & AJK, for poor students free education, in private schools.

Late last year Pakistan’s National Assembly passed a law for compulsory free education of 10% poor children in the near vicinity of private schools of Islamabad.

This year in February 13, the Sindh Provincial Assembly also passed the same law for compulsory free education of 30% poor children in the near vicinity of private schools in the entire Sindh Province. I had specifically requested for this 30% figure to President Asif Ali Zardari and it was very kind of him that he accepted my proposal.

It is very strange that no such law has been passed by the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, KPK, Balochistan, GB and AJK governments.

Here, it must be noted that millions of school going age children are not able to join the schools in Pakistan, due to various reasons; and if these millions are ignored today, our future is guaranteed to be ruined tomorrow.

Already, Pakistan is the lowest ranked country in the field of education in the SAARC region.

Daily The News reports today that “Conditions of IMF met for $7.3 billion bailout package”.

Link:- http://images.thenews.com.pk/26-08-2013/ethenews/t-25004.htm

Mr. Ishaq Dar kindly clarify the following 7 questions relating to the facts regarding the Pakistan’s economy..!

1. Firstly, you stated on the floor of the house that we are taking fresh loan from the IMF to repay the old IMF loan.

2. You also stated on the same floor of the house that the loan amount from the IMF will be $5.5billion at an interest rate of 3%, which was exorbitantly high interest rate considering that IMF had already decided in December, 2012 to give loan on ZERO interest rate to poor countries. Kimdly inform which country can be poorer than Pakistan, who was unable to even repay its loans?

Your kind attention is invited towards the following news item titled “IMF extends zero interest rates on poorer country loans” published by the daily “Pakistan Today” on 23 December, 2012 detailed news available at the link :- http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/12/23/news/profit/imf-extends-zero-interest-rates-on-poorer-country-loans-2/

3. Secondly, you pledged on the floor of the house that loan terms will not be against the interests of Pakistan.

4. Then you increased the electricity tariff for the Pakistani industrial users by a whopping 70% to fulfil the IMF conditions for the loan.

5. Don’t you think that this power tariff increase will destroy our economy and create unemployment, as the increased cost of production of each and every item, under the use of the poorest of the poor, will make the goods highly expensive and the poor will become even more poorer? In fact, your this step will ever be remembered in the history of Pakistan, as the one and only top most action which murdered the economy of the country and pushed additional millions of people below the poverty line.

I am also afraid that your this single step may not forever seal, the fate of PMLN’s chances in coming to the power again, as and when the negative impact is gradually filtered down the line.

If I were the PM Pakistan, would never have approved this fatal decision of increasing power rates of the already limping industry of Pakistan.

5. Why you earlier mislead the nation that $5.5billion is being taken for the repayment of the old loan and now the cat is out of the bag and the loan amount is actually $7.3billion?

6. The above fact at #5 also proves that you also wrongly said that this loan was being taken to repay the old loan.

7. Hope you remember the maiden speech of the PM in the Parliament house wherein, the PM promised with the nation on the floor of the house, that nothing will be hidden from the nation. Then why you hid the fact that this loan is being taken NOT just for the repayment of the loan; and why you hid the fact that this loan amount was actually $7.3billion and not $5.5billion?

An early reply shall be highly appreciated.

Best regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore.

Sent from my iPad3 4G LTE

Mr. Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister of Pakistan, perhaps you know very well that your today’s gesture of goodwill of releasing 365 Indian prisoners, which was almost ignored by the thankless Indians and their media, has been reciprocated by the Indians by martyring our soldier on the LOC. Yesterday, the Indians martyred a captain of the Pak Army.

Now the question is are we supposed to live under the aggressive designs and hegemony of the Indians under your rule, as a disgraced nuclear power?

Kindly, immediately snap diplomatic ties with India and stop any Indian planes overflying Pakistan.

If India do not want to live in peace with Pakistan, we should tell them that Pakistan also gives them a hoot.

A must read for the PM and the planners of Pakistan.

A letter titled “micro-finance instead of alms” published by the daily DAWN.

THE natural calamities that struck Pakistan in the last decade, including the 2005 earthquake, the floods of the last few years and even displacement of people due to military action, led to the formation of many new NGOs, as well as to expansion of activities of existing NGOs and a massive influx of local and foreign aid that was provided in the form of cash and kind to the affected parties. These are all lofty developments which bring a sense of munificence in the general populace but at the same time this can result in the proliferation in our society of the debilitating characteristic of mendicancy.

There is no harm in providing aid to poverty-stricken people but constantly providing financial help can lead to the habit of living in a situation where they don’t have to work, yet they receive financial help. In the long run this may result in the deteriorating of quality of labour which will affect the country economically, as well as result in the development of a psyche of scrounging which can have negative implications for the social fabric of the nation.

Instead of doling out donations, NGOs and relevant government institutions can design micro-financing projects under which the affected people are provided with small businesses in the form of a long-term loan, such as a fruit pushcart or a small pa’an shop or a French fries kiosk, or a few cows to sell milk in case of a rural area.

This is proposed, of course, in addition to education and skill development. The beneficiaries can be provided with the technical know-how of running the business, as well as a plan to take this small loan capital back from them in the form of monthly tiny cash installments.

Once the beneficiary has returned the entire amount, he will feel a sense of ownership in the business venture, he will end up with a running business which can be expanded further based on his personal acumen, the benefactor will get the amount back which can be utilised somewhere else. The habit of being dependent on aid for livelihoods should not penetrate a society that is already fraught with many other evils. As a nation, we have been roaming around the world with a begging bowl at the official level. Let’s build our society with massive micro-financing across the country to make our people self-reliant and prevent mendicity from becoming a national attribute.

M. M. A. Hossain
Karachi

This news is an eye opener for those people who say why Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah carved Pakistan out of India.

Muslims have lowest living standard in India: Govt survey

A TOI Report

NEW DELHI: Among various religious groups, Muslims have the lowest living standard with the average per capita expenditure of just Rs 32.66 in a day, says a government survey.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sikh community enjoys a much better lifestyle as the average per capita spending among them is Rs 55.30 per day, while the same for Hindus is Rs 37.50. For Christians it is Rs 51.43.

“At all-India level, the average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) of a Sikh household was Rs 1,659 while that for a Muslim household was Rs 980 in 2009-10,” said an NSSO study titled ‘Employment and Unemployment Situation Among Major Religious Groups in India’.

The average household MPCE is a proxy for income and reflects that living standards of a family.

According to the study, the average MPCE for Hindus and Christians were Rs 1,125 and Rs 1,543, respectively.

The survey said that average monthly per capita consumption at all-India level was Rs 901 in villages and Rs 1,773 in cities. Overall, the average MPCE was Rs 1,128.

Muslims were at the bottom in rural areas, with an average MPCE of Rs 833, followed by Hindus at Rs 888, Christians at Rs 1,296 and Sikhs 1,498.

In urban areas, Muslims’ average MPCE was also the lowest at Rs 1,272 followed by Hindus at Rs 1,797, Christians Rs 2,053 and Sikhs at Rs 2,180.

Yes we can, we have not one but two persons, who can deliver to the nation and the world even more than Steve Jobs, provided they are given the government patronage, proper atmosphere and opportunity for R&D in IT sector; and they are Mr. Umar Saif, world renowned IT genius guru and Chairman PITB and Mr. Jibran Asghar, an IT (software) genius of Pakistan, working for the last 10 years in Bern, Switzerland.

If we watch the Movie “Jobs” which is based on the story of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computer Inc., is a life story of how the Apple Computer Inc. came into being.

It is a story of a man driven by his brilliance. It was as if he knew his life was short and he was given this gift and ordered to fulfill it.

In that quest he failed to make friends, gave up old friends, did not amass wealth, lived a simple life, took some controversial actions that were wrongly interpreted. Yet, he managed to create an enterprise that was valued as the most valuable company in the world.

In that process he made thousands of Millionaires and lifted hundreds of families from abject poverty to a life of affluence.

His mantra was simple, give the people something that they have never used but be honest when you offer that. The net result was he generated an unparalleled following.

Apple sold less cell phones than most of the worlds brands, but made many times more revenue than any other cell phone company. The reason, people trusted Apple to provide the best. Then sacrificed (some even sold their body organs) to obtain their product at any price. Apple delivered what it promised.

That is how legends are made.

This has reference to the news item of 01 December 2012, by Mehtab Haider titled “Total debt scales Rs.14.5 trillion mark” published by the daily “The News” link :-http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-145837-Total-debt-scales-Rs145-trillion-mark

The gist of the above reveals the extremely precarious economic situation of Pakistan, as below.

1. Pakistan’s public debt and liabilities crossed Rs.13.5 trillion by end-September 2012, as per SBP data released on 30 November, 2012. However, a closer look reading of the data showed that the size of total debt is Rs.14.5 trillion.

2. According to SBP data total debt and liabilities at end of September 2012, touched $66.24 billion.

3. BY THE END OF JUNE 2012, PAKISTAN’S DEBT-TO-GDP RATIO STOOD AT 61.5%.

4. According to the former economic adviser Dr. Ashfaque Hassan Khan. “Even now, interest repayments are consuming 56 percent of the FBR’s revenue. And these unsustainable levels of public debt will be a burden on future generations who will service this debt through exorbitant taxation.”

5. Analysts say that irresponsible fiscal management, sharp depreciation of the Rupee (from Rs.60 to a dollar to Rs.97 to a dollar – in the last four years) and low economic growth have caused the surge in public debt.

In view of the foregoing, it is clearly evident that we have reached a stage, where even alarm bells ringing time has passed. The economy of Pakistan is not sinking, it has already sunk. Foreign exchange reserves are fast depleting.

{This piece was written in December, 2012 and now today (in the year 2013) the government has been forced to obtain loan from IMF to repay its old loan. This proves that we have no money to pay our liabilities. This situation in plain words is called bankruptcy.}

However, what is very alarming and strange that the entire government and the parliament is silent over the issue, as if, they are in collusion with each other, on (God forbid) this virtual economic demise of the country. Otherwise, at least a single person from the entire parliament would have raised his/ her voice, over violation of the binding on the government, for not exceeding the debt-to-GDP ratio over 60%. (Please refer para 3 above).

We should remember that USSR was not dis-membered, due to the violation or collapse of its geographical boundaries. Rather, it was the collapse of its economy, which destroyed a superpower overnight. The USSR broke down without firing of a single bullet, just due to its economic melt down.

If, even at this later stage, patriotic Pakistanis won’t raise their voice, over this virtual economic collapse of the country, then be ready, history will never forgive us, for our collective Harakiri.

No amount of military or nuclear power, can save a nation from its demise, due to the economic collapse. Yes, collective will power of its people, can save a nation from any crisis, but that too if, the people are not too late, as time and tide waits for none.

Although, Pakistan is in a perpetual state of war for more than a decade, yet, the government never acted in a manner, that would reflect even slight realisation on its part, to make its expenses in a more prudent manner. No austerity measures were imposed, to either reduce the size of the bloated cabinet, stop payments of foreign exchange to top government functionaries, who are entitled for such perks, or even restrict purchase of new cars etc.

This is extreme callousness with the nation. On the other side, high and mighty are enjoying benefits, which even a rich country like Switzerland, can not afford to its VIP’s; for example allowing instalment payment of power bills of their factories stretched over a period of 2000 YEARS, YES 2000 YEARS. The Pakistani VIP class is enjoying such facilities and benefits, which even the Queen of England would envy.

Now, business as usual can not be continued.

The economic treason with the state of Pakistan, by all the concerned, looks like a fit case for the patriotic people in the government, opposition (in and out of parliament) and the entire civil society, to demand the immediate formation of a very lean national government, which should impose an economic emergency; and also take necessary action on the question that “why all the concerned remained silent when the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded 60%, that too, few months back on 30 June, 2012.” Don’t forget, when the same problem was faced by the US government, even the salaries were not paid, till such time, President Barack Obama, got approval from the law makers, for enhancing the expenditures limit.

It will not be out of place to end this note, with quote of the Midwestern tycoon Warren Buffett, who once gave an easy solution to America ’s debt problem on CNBC:

“I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than three percent of GDP all sitting members of congress are ineligible for reelection.

FRESH TAIL PEICE DATED 17 AUGUST 2013.

THE NATION DEMANDS THAT THE PREVIOUS RULERS BE IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND TRIED FOR PUSHING PAKISTAN TO THE STATE OF BANKRUPTCY.

THE NATION ALSO DEMANDS THAT ALL THE ASSETS INSIDE PAKISTAN AND ABROAD OF THE ENTIRE LOT OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT’S TOP FUNCTIONARIES BE CONFISCATED AND THESE PEOPLE SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO COME OUT OF THE JAIL IF THEY AGREE TO REPAY THE PREVIOUS IMF LOAN OF $11.3 BILLION.

THE QUESTION IS SIMPLE WHY THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN SHOULD REPAY THE ODIOUS IMF LOAN OBTAINED AND UTILISED BY THE PREVIOUS RULES FOR THEIR OWN BENEFITS?

THE NATION ALSO DEMANDS AN IMPARTIAL JUDICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE ECONOMIC MURDER OF THE NATION WHEREIN WHEN GENERAL MUSHARRAF’s GOVERNMENT HANDED POWER TO THE PPP GOVERNMENT OUR LOAN LIABILITY IN THE YEAR 2008 STOOD AT $40 BILLION (PPP GOVT GOT SANCTIONED A LOAN FROM IMF WORTH USD 11.3 BILLION AND RECEIVED $7.6 BILLION SO AT THE END OF PPP GOVT THIS FIGURE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN USD 48 BILLION) AND ONE USD WAS EQUAL TO PKR 60. WHAT HAPPENED TO PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY WHEN THE PMLN GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER IN JUNE 2013 ONE USD WAS SELLING FOR 100 PKR AND NATIONAL LOANS SHOT UP TO USD 67 BILLIONS?

A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF UNACCOUNTED FOR INCREASE OF ABOUT 20 BILLION USD IN LOAN LIABILITIES OF PAKISTAN DURING THE FIVE YEARS (2008-13) OF PPP RULE?