Apprehensions become reality-A massive landslide turns the whole settlement into rubble; scores of trapped under rubble many hours; authtorities did not take notice of VoH report
Voice of Hunza
www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com
HUNZA, Attabad , Jan. 03 : A massive landslide destroyed nearly seventy percent of the Attabad village, leaving ten dead and dozens trapped under the rubble for many hours. According to initial reports from the affected area, the incident took place at 2 P.M. causing the Jamat Khana, a middle School and more than twenty five residential and dozens of cattle houses. Rescue work underway and number of volunteers, boy scouts , local representatives and government officials are busy to avoid further casualities.On the other hand sliding has changed course of Hunza river while Karakoram Highway (KKH) has been closed for traffic. Health department has declared emergency in all hospitals of Gilgit-Baltistan. Voice of Hunza had published a comprehensive report a couple of days ago but due to negligence of concerned authorities finally lead to loss of lives of common masses due to massive land slide.




Qouta for G.B students in Professional Institutes, colleges doubled
VoH Monitor
LAHORE, Jan. 03, 2010: (Samar Abbas) According to media sources, Punjab government has announced increase of existing quota for students from Gilgit Baltistan in professional studies like MBBS, BDS, Vaternity and other relevant disciplines in the government colleges and universities. The concerned Punjab Department, on Saturday issued a notification with a review and fifty percent increase of seats: from 30 to 60 in both medical and dental and agricultural colleges and universities in the province. According to details, the existing MBBS seats will be doubled from three to six in the King Edward Medical University, Lahore; existing one to two in the Nishtar Medical College, Multan; from three to six in Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur; from two to four in the Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, from four to eight in the Rawalpindi Medical College; from existing three to six in the Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore; from four to eight in the Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore; three to six in the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore and from two to four in the Shaikh Zayed Medical College, Rahimyar Khan. For BDS, the seats will be doubled from existing three to six in de’Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, and from existing two to four in the Nishtar Medical College (Dental Section), Multan. The students of Gilgit Baltistan shall receive free education until the completion of their academic courses as they will not be charged any tuition fee during their studies in medical colleges of Punjab.




Civil society calls for rehiblitation of Attaabad affecties; the area turned into battle ground of humanity and natural forces, gradually says Hakim Khan
VoH Report

www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com
HUNZA, Attaabad, Jan. 01, 2010: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) The affected area of Attaabad village has turned into a battle ground between human and natural forces and in the quest, property has been lost due to slope failure and sliding. This was stated by Mr. Hakim Khan, notable Attaabad, a village 760 Kilometers away from Capital, about thirty killometers of Aliaabad and 55 killometers from Karakorum High Way above Sarat village on a steep slope in Central Hunza. A large part of village settlement is suffered due to continuous movement of ground level for last four years causing houses pitched on mountain slope in Attaabad village. The valley was first inhibited by the Hunza people who were sent by the then Mir (ruler) of Hunza for cultivation and has remained an issolated village, an example of negligence of local and regional leadership. Mr.Hakim clarify that cracks were appeared very first time on top of the settlement when a high magnitude earth quack waves shoke the village in 1994, causing to move a certain area about 1000 feet above the residential periphery. The cracks began to get wider when the upper verburden slop started to move outward causing the soil sliding and eneven leveling of cultivated land, gradually. As a result, during last four years,the settlement affected badly;residential houses of about twenty six and agricultural land propert of sixty six families were forced to evacuate the area. The situation became even more serious when a Kashmir earth quake of October, 2005 hit the area and intensified the movement of rocks, destroyed houses. Reports like that of Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) have declare the area a potential threat, which can demolish either gradually or haphazardly. These reports have recommended for public safety, animal and agricultural property. With the passage of time, the width of trenches have been increased as rain, snow melting water entering into cracks. The affected area is extremely cold during winter season; yet, four months of Summer remains only a pleasant season for the inhibitants. On the other hand, we should applaud their patience and endurance. Despite havy sufferings, the inhibitants are ready to face circumstances. Every day life is still alive and hostilities of natural forces could not impinge in the way of their little happinesses as evident from a wedding ceremony in the village in the photograph. Pulblic circles has urged the local administration to ensure the safe evacuation of dwellers of the affected areas at their earliest.


Happy New Year to all our valuable readers

VOH
The team of Voice of Hunza extends its heartiest feelings and good wishes at the end of the last & at the eve of a new year. May the comming year bring more happiness and serve to reduce, deprivations, vices and human sufferings on earth. May Lord give good sense to those who are working against humanity in the illusion of doing virtue





Protestors come to street against Karachi carnage;speakers vowed to continue peaceful protest
VoH Monitor
GILGIT, SKARDU, HUNZA, Jan. 01: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Hundreds of protestors came on Ponial road to record protest against the killings of 48 innocent people on Ashora in Karachi city. Holding play cards and banners, participants chanted slogans against lack of security measures by authorities and the extremists who have restorted to voilance even against common people. Speaking to the ocassion, DidarAli, member, legislative assembly Gilgit-Baltistan, said that few neferous elements are trying to destroy the country through their evil designs. He condemned the killings and appealed the people to be peaceful to nulify the pursuits of non state actors. Some unknown people torched vehicle tyres in support of strike called by Jafarya Aliance and major markets and shoping centres remained closed in the city. Meanwhile, a clash was reported between security personnels and protestors leaving a few people injured.
The corpses of four martyrs were shifted to Skardu by a special aircraft out of which some were sent to Gilgit via helocopter and rest to respective villages. Speaking to a large gathering, Sheikh Hasan Jafary said that those involved in the carnage were the off-springs of Yazid. In Hunza, a rally was also organized from Ganish village to Aliabad to agitate against killings which assembled later into a formal protest. Protestors demanded the immediate action against those involved in the carnage.





First woman governor expected for Gilgit-Baltistan; Naheed and Sadia Danish among the top prirority; PPP Gilgit-Baltistan hailed the dicision of a female governor
VoH Report
GILGIT, Jan. 01 :(Shamsuddin Muhammad) The president Islamic Republic of Pakistan while speaking to a public gathering in Sindh, gave a clue that proposal of a female governor is under consider and announcement will be made soon. According to some sources, Naheed Khan, former MNA and political secretary to PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto may be offered the position of first governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. On the other hand,talking to a mainstream national news paper Safdar Abassi, husband of Naheed said, "We are part and parcel of the party and do not need any office,”. “We don’t need any office. What we expect from the party leadership is to consider our proposals seriously which we have floated for the betterment of the party,” he added. Yet, internal sources of rulling party supported the notion that President Zardari may incline to offer Naheed, the slot of Gilgit-Baltistan governorship.
On the other hand, a source with a promise to undisclose name also claimed that Sadia Danish is another hot favorite name among nominations presented before president Asif Ali Zardari. The controversy on appointment of governor raised when Sher Jahan
Mir had given full protocol as governor and romours of his appointment lasted for many days. Yet, due to strong reservations of rulling party and others, federal government altered the decision to reconcile the situation.




Five detained in connection with BNF activist muder in Ghizar
VoH Report
GHIZAR, January, 01, 2010: At least five people have been reported on Wednesday by Ghizer police on allegations of murder of Zubair Ahmed, a seventeen year activist of Balawaristan National Front (BNF), a couple of days ago. Yet, Pir Karam Ali Shah, the proclaimed winner from the district and the main figure alleged by BNF involved in the incident is still out of approach of police. The arrest has been made following the demand of Grand Ghizar Jirga, formed unanimously few days ago who have undergone varous meetings with the varous stake holders including Pir Karam Ali Shah with no result. On the other hand, Ismaili council also met BNF leader Nawaz Khan Naji, who requested Nawaz Naji to play the role to pacify the chaos in the region.




Two die as the van slipped on snow covered road
VoH Watch
HUNZA, Jan.01, 2010: Two persons have been reported dead in a road mishap new power house, Hassan abad, Hunza. According to sources, a jeep met a fatal accident, in Aliabad police limits, killing Bakhtawar Shah, the founder of Community-based Naubahar Model School, Shimshal on spot and leaving two females:Dilshad and Mah- Jabeen injured, seriously. The victims were rushed to Aga Khan Community health centre and then shifted to Gilgit. Yet, few hours later, another victim breathed last.
The unfortunate van was heading to Oshikhandas, a village about seven killometers away from Gilgit when it slipped on snow covered dillapidating road near Hasanabad Powerhouse. Karakorum Highway is under construction has been left dangerous at varous places and the company will resume work in the spring.

Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on Thursday
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Monitoring every regional historical development

Monitoring every regional historical  development
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Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan

Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan
Reflecting socio-economic, administrative and cultural impulses in regional periphery

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Mission Statement & Weekly VoH Publishing team


VoH
Voice of Voiceless

The blog aims to disseminate the accurate regional information without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion and ideology to the valuable readers across the globe. We promise to abide with the moral and professional ethics of citizen journalism through this medium of communication. The voiceless masses of this one of the most beautiful places on earth, situated in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan experience hard times due to continuous natural and man made disasters which have left them at surviving stage. Shortly speaking, in a short span of time, Hunza valley has embraces a steady socio-economic and ecological development making it self an authentic book to read about or take a model for rest of far flung valleys bordering Chines Sinkiang province in the extreme north of the country. The haphazard material development in this comparatively small area has also served to create various socio-economic and ethical problems which ultimately served to shake the fabrics of very roots and foundations of culture and civility among dwellers. On geo-political front, analysts find a very little say of a common man in the major decisions related to regional socio-economic development, violation of meritocracy by mafias in political parties, pressure groups which safe guard their own interests, a unbridled bureaucracy, corrupt regimes that patronizing nepotism or favoritism and who wield powers in Gilgit, the main hub and capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. Rapid increase in expenditures ranging from general commodity price hikes to transportation has left no option or time for people to think on other issues.
The so called Economic-Recession, unequal distribution of wealth, concentration of opportunities towards certain beings, lack of social responsiveness and transparency in government sector and no check and balance on private sector has brought its ugly implication in terms of high unemployment, depression among the youngsters, anxiety and hatred towards system of governance.
We vow to bring fore the issues of common man at grass root level, strive to highlight irregularities in government sector and flaws in public policy and finance in a democratic way. We shall continue to give our opinion on issues of importance and determine to prove a viable platform to have a positive role for public welfare, inter-communal harmony, integrity and social justice.
Amid such a situation when even the survival of country is on stake and is defamed due to continual terrorist incidents throughout the our county, we may pray for a peaceful and prosperous future of the nation. May Lord save the peaceful Gilgit-Baltistan region from the evil designs of devils in human form.

The blog has been developed and upgrading by the efforts of the following dedicated volunteers.


Board of Editors
Editor: Shamsuddin Muhammad
Email:jaashams@gmail.com


Co-editor: Inam Karim
Email: inamkarim02@gmail.com


Reporting Team
Karachi: Sartaj Karim
Email: sartaj_compaq@hotmail.com



Hunza: Naeem Hamoon
Email: naeemhmn@hotmail.com


Gilgit: Aslam Shah

Email: hunzaishah@gmail.com


Islamabad: Ikramullah Baig
Email: hunza_havenonearth@yahoo.com

Voice of the voiceless!

The blog is a venture with exclusive news updates, unbiased analysis and opinion on historical, cultural, ecological, socio-economic, geopolitical and administrative issues and events occurring in country in general and the region particular. It would serve as a portfolio of credible information retained first hand from own and secondary reliable electronic and print media sources and aspire to become a powerful voice for a common man. We are committed to adhere with the professional ethics of citizen journalism, a new trend to shackle the chains of excessive curb over dissemination of reality either for any cause in the name of so-called sensor, with maximum possible accuracy and least deviation while delivering information to show the real side of picture of events so that our valuable readers will have an alternative portal to know what developments are going on various levels, particularly backward areas like that of Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Azad Jamu and Kahsmir, Tribal areas etc., across the country. One can easily discern a great social change in terms of attitudes, perceptions both in individual and society; values and reaction to the variables in daily life patterns among the dwellers of the comparatively backwards areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, a deprived region of its fundamental rights for more than six decades of its liberation from colonial yolk. In a quest to voice over issues of vital importance, keeping closer to circle of concern, Hunza, a name famous for its beauty and rich cultural heritage has been selected to represent as a case to further the cause and issues of the rest of the region. Virtually, the region especially Hunza-Nagar retained a rapid development with a short span of time after remaining isolated for centuries to out side world. The blog also aims focus largely to identify core areas from on bottom or grass root level to the top. Keeping due consideration of inter-religious harmony, tolerance, respecting pluralism, diversity, mutual respect, democracy, equal opportunity and other aspects of human rights and professional values of journalism, the blog will serve as a binding force and medium of voice of the voiceless people of the area with reference to Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The idea of creation of this blog came into my mind during a visit after spending few years of career at Karachi, capital of Southern province to the region. While traveling from south pole of the country to north, I experienced many new changes nearly in all aspects of life explicit in urban areas and implicit in rural belts: people have opted to modern technology, availed faster means of communication; task centered behavior, selfishness, following short-cuts, chase of wealth and more opportunities in their career and many more that made their lives much more easier but crazier than before. Nevertheless, the scene suddenly turned bit dim when I entered the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. I could not believe my eyes that this was the Gilgit I saw four years ago. Many things, except the faces were utterly unchanged formats primitive outlook. The Chinese bridge that linked Danyore and Gilgit and a main source of transportation was no more. Few people told me that few journalists have lost their lives in lethal road accident due to lack of arrangements on part of concerned authority to avoid the incident. Karakorum High Way (KKH), one of the highest truck able route and so-called eighth wonder in the world is under construction and many places portray nothing but a passage through a rough stony pasture. It took nearly twenty four hours from Rawalpindi to reach after an exhaustive journey to Hunza, my home town, compared to nineteen hours in past. The scenario seemed worse in Hunza, my home town which remained unchanged for last four years except a drastic decline in standard of living of more than fifty percent of the population. One may think that people have replaced muddy homes with cement ones but that are not the real yardstick of measurement of both mental and material development. Infrastructure, fixtures, telecommunication systems were largely depreciated to their estimated life coupled with inappropriate number of personnel required in educational, administrative and health institutions. The so-called economic meltdown that started from American giant Leman soon took the world into its tyrant claws, shaking many stable economies of the world including the rural areas of developing states- a big example of negligence and subjugation by the rulers of respective countries where people live not above the level of animals. Apart from the allegations on policy makers of industrialized nations having economic interest only, the poor, irrational, incompetent, self-centered and corrupt leadership in Pakistan like other third world countries where immature economies spends it larger portion of budget expenditure on defense could not resist the negative consequences of economic crisis in terms of high rate of unemployment, recession, right or down sizing, price hikes, violation of consumer rights and so on. Hunza-Nagar, like other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan was no exception. The smiling faces that greeted us once warmly few years ago turned unhappy for the crisis brought its ugly implication on the daily life pattern of an individual thus sucking down the unique attributes of population: courtesy, generosity and hospitality. Having a so-called high rate of literacy in the country unfortunately, the region is facing many problems ranging from health to drinking water and energy sector. To many, it was because of lack of geo-political awareness and excessive tendency towards NGO culture where people little bother to beg their rights from the states besides emphasis on duties. Historical chronicles vindicate that the region remained in isolation for many centuries due to a specific location and lack of access to out side world. Many dynasties ruled the area that hardly accepted change in a traditionally sophisticated feudal based society. The wheel of transition continued to move and finally the area got librated through a mutiny with the help of indigenous population from the clutches of Dogra subjugation. Later, the area was affiliated with Pakistan vide a secret treaty called Karachi Treatise as defacto part, unconditionally. Gilgit-Baltistan region got on real terms an impetus to grow from zero level with the visit of three icons of development: Aga Khan, President Ayub Khan and Z.A.Bhutto- a historic event of its nature with long standing implications on live of the people of the region.The area could hardly observed any impulse for more than half dozen years of affiliation with Pakistan when Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan (3rd) first time introduced Diamond Jubilee Schools network during mid fifties in the region. A real phase of development gain impetus when Shah Karim Alhusaini, Aga Khan (fourth) stepped in the region, a population with miserable conditions in 1960. He initiated many new projects in different aspect of life, strengthening the existing educational network under the umbrella of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) for the betterment and uplift standard of living of masses lived under poverty line. Aga Khan Development Network in collaboration with donor agencies, with a view to bring social change from grass roots level, initiated rural support programme and other services for less-privileged societies in the region. In simple words, initial projects were stretched to new areas under AKDN umbrella ranging from self-entrepreneurship to planning and building services. These development programmes served a catalyst for a common man who, earlier was confine to a certain limit where facilities and perks were confined to a specific creed, definitely a big change in society led to process of decline of so-called nobility. By, 1974, Z.A.Bhutto, chief of Pakistan Peoples Party and his cabinet undertook a disintegrated country following the fall of Dhaka, albeit eliminating princely status of numerous states gave them democratic structures, initiated socio-economic, political and administrative reforms in civil services cadres under 1973 constitution of Pakistan. These reforms opened a path for further reforms in tribal and affiliated princely states, mostly in mountain regions. Elders assert, by 1976, when Bhutto abolished the princely status of the units and replaced the princely flag with that of the country declared region formally its de-fecto part. The new development allowed for the first time a limited right of franchise and representation in a parallel council governed from capital. He in collaboration with international donor agencies like UNICEF and World Food Programme helped ensure provision of basic necessities like food to indigenous population still in poor conditions. He gave word to poor and enables to build his destiny. The facility fell a prey of Zia-ul-Haq who abolished the programme to benefit his favorite breed. He altered such programmes to facilitate Mujahideen busy fighting Afghan war against Soviet invasion on behalf of American assistance. By, 1988, before the withdrawal of USSR, Zia regime played a dirty game: as an integral strategy to get parallel success, he supported a breed of militants to eliminate all those against his faith in Gilgit-Baltistan. Unfortunately, the indigenous people could not understand his nefarious designs under the veil of religion that had to sustain his regime using divide and rule tactic and nothing to do with public welfare fell a prey of communal discord. Thousands of innocent people were brutally killed without a reason from both sides and this in turn sowed the seeds of sectarianism thus introducing a Kalashnikov culture in this region. On country’s political front, frequent interventions of military in politics in the wake of undemocratic moves of leadership, double standard attitude of bureaucracy and excessive influence of establishment forces harmed political evolution during last sixty two years of country's history. A finest dictatorship is considered worse than a worse democracy for it largely overlook the opinion of masses. The undemocratic regimes since 1952 onwards in general and during dictators’ regimes left people with no option but to support immature, corrupt and unable leadership confined to their self interests coupled with narrow vision. On global front, with the withdrawal of USSR from Afghanistan, American administration started to shift its strategy of dependency and support for Pakistan especially that to check movement and expansion of communist philosophy, an anxiety among the then US policy planners. Political front once again passed through a new change in 1999 when military took over in October 1999. Numerous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), both national and international rapport delivered remarkable work since 1990s to 2004 in many sectors like education, health, cultural preservation, design and building.

History repeated itself, but in a new form under different circumstances after cold war, when terrorists attacked twin towers of World Trade Centre, an icon of prestige and glory of America killing thousands of innocent people as a response to US policies inviting a fresh hostility between US and Islamist groups or in other words initiated an open conflict between two countering forces. To some, hidden forces worked behind the incident: Muslims thought it was a Judaist elements while to Europe and US a strike of Islamist elements; even the then Bush administration alleged Islamist groups behind this nefarious act to initiate an open armed struggle to defy its policies and interests. The September 11 incident served a cause to create sufferings for the Muslim communities residing in America and Europe. Being a sponsoring source of Jihadist elements, Pakistan was in real trouble as it was asked either ally the US or ready to go into stone age. Consequently, Pervez Musharraf took U-turn in state policy against billions of dollars as assistance. Once again, US dependency on Pakistan after Afghan war, in an endless war against an invisible enemy in terms of Osama started, leading farmer to think to gain control over natural resources in Afghanistan and Central Asian states. As a state, Pakistan endured many hardships, mostly from inside elements, Majority of our political leadership, for instance is largely nurtured under the aegis of military establishments and always ready to achieve their own interest lest it comes to compromise on national matters, evident from the successive overthrowing of representative regimes. They could not deliver any remarkable to uplift the standard of living of a common man except false promises. It was the Musharraf regime which can be given credit for many reasons: allowed a national government to complete its five year tenure, introduced local government systems for dicentralization of power though a move to by pass the then political and administrative forces like his predecessors military dictators to bolster one man show. Apart from few of blunders in terms of killing of Akbar Bugti, subjugation of judiciary, appointment of army on service and retired personnel in institutions offering higher education, other key positions in major public organiztions and using force as a decisive force instead of dialogue his regime can be recalled for many things during last eight years. He was the first who put hand on non-state actors, brought changes in status of deprived regions like Gilgit-Baltistan bringing reforms and took initiatives to improve education and health facilities. He gave us an International University, increased woman representation, empowered Northern Light Infantry, established N.A scouts and notified Hunza-Nagar district and many more. Yet, at the same time on mass level, despite many accomplishments, it failed to address the real issues of poor. Giant fishes got most and poor further got depressed as the regime greatly revolved around the interests of Chaurdhries and lords. December 2007, shall be remembered a black day when Benazir Bhutto, a female leader of international repute was assassinated at the same place where one of the most famous Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan as killed. Country fell into chaos and observed an extreme internal and internal threat to her existence second time after 1971. Good heaven, the situation soon normalized. With the dawn of democracy, based on Benazir Bhutto's sacrifice has brought a hope of change of image of the country in global economy. PPP led contemporary government has given a new Self Governance Reforms Package 2009 ahead of poles to empower the assembly to legislate on various subjects not allowed in past and choose their own Chief Minister unanimously with the consent of Prime Minister, the head of set up-a good initiative after Z.A Bhutto's compassions for the region. The package has opened a door for more autonomy resembles to that of Azad Kashmir. Though, there are many flaws in the package yet, it will serve to reduce feeling of deprivation among the masses.

There is another side of the picture that the poor performance in many of the departments in government sector during last two years has raised many questions in our mind regarding its capability to cope the challenges that the country faces internally and externally. Public welfare, security from internal and external aggressions and provision of basic necessities to the citizens is the fundamental responsibilities of modern states. Yet, more focus on external threats under security syndrome has left the country nothing but to expend on defense-thus neglecting other sectors like education, strategic personnel planning, health, trade and industry and exploitation of natural resources to strengthen our economy. As for as the private sector especially the NGOs are concerned, the are now confine to reporting to get funds, roam and measure the length of roads in their luxury vehicles. Now it depends on flow of events that will decide the future course of history.





Shamsuddin Muhammad,

Author and Editor,

VoH



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Hyderabad,, IslamicRepublic of Pakistan, Pakistan
I am social person with a tendency towards learning knowledge that will balance the material world and the hereafter, a legacy obtained from the family. I earned my MA (General History with specialization in Modern History) and M.A.S (Master of Administrative siences with speciliazation in HRM) both from University of Karachi in 2005 and 2007 respectively, am fond of social work and public welfare. The blog focuses on social change caused by socio- economic and geo-political impulse in the country in general and the region particular.

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