.

10th grand procession of Muharram appears from Ganish; speakers highlights unprecedented valour of Hussain Ibne Ali; deviation from the teachings of prophet and Imam cause of sufferings; time to identify elements creating differences among sects
VoH Report
By:Shamsuddin Muhammad

HUNZA, Dec. 28, 2009: As a part of Ashora-Muharram, like other parts of the region to commemorate the great sacrifice offered by Hussain Ibne Ali and his followers in Karbala against tyrant Umayyad ruller Yazid one about fourteen centuries ago. The main procession appeared from lower Ganish marched and reached to Dorkhan at 1:30 P.M. Participants after offering prayers observed mouring. Speakers on the ocassion highlighted the unprecedent example of valour and sacrifice to save Islamic values.
Ali Muhammad, director Uswa schools systems speaking to the participants said that today we gathered here to recall the heroic deed of our Imam against an evil force.


Participants of procession hearing speakers carefully

He claimed that few international powers are trying to create chaos in the country. He said that Hussain Ibne Ali accepted death willing and rejected the demand of Yazid, a composition of vices. He alleged that the those fighting the state today are the descendants of those terrorists forces of Ibne Ziaad under the direction of Yazid who blocked the way of even drinking water to Iman and his followers. "We must recognize our enemy trying to create differences on sectarian lines," he added.
Other speakers including Ashraf Ali, Sherbaz Ali Khan also threw light on the tragedy. Youth perform Zanjeer Zanee during procession

They in their speechs described attributes of Karbala from with different aspects saying the tragedy even after lapse of about fourteen hundred years in Karbala and about fourty eight years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)is still alive in hearts of his follower. Shaikh Hadi in his brief speech said that Imam (A.S) sacrificed his and his own family andcomrades' lives at the altar of liberty and justice.

First aid workers are on their work during the procession
Health department arranged special camp for the injured during the procession. A resolution was presented in the concluding session demanding arrest of culprits involved in murder of Syed Razi uddin Rizvi; assurance of safety of Shia communities in N.W.F.P; closure of offices of notorious Black water and security of routes of processions across the country.

Ismaili community, Garelt locality offered a tea for the participants of Ashora procession

The procession returned on the same route from Dorkhand. Engineer Zameer Abass, assistant commissioner Hunza, along with other administrative and security personnel kept on monitoring procession. Ismaili boys scouts and volunteer corps offered their services to ensure security of route. Garelt Ismaili community facilitate participants with a tea as a gesture of brotherhood which was greatly appreciated on various levels and this way Muharram was observed peacefully in the region.






Bad Road conditions- who is responsible?

VOH

A van over turn due to negligence of both political administration and concerned department

Public gathered to evacuate the van from the spot

The above picture is the main road of Hyderabad, Hunza that connects the area at Ali abad and Ganish valley ends. The road was built decades ago and use of years resulted demage at various points which may cause human casualities.



A movement indespensible for the rights of G.B says Feroza Rubab

VoH Monitor
GILGIT, Dec. 27: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Feroza Rubab, an eminent lawyer and secretary Lahore high court bar association, who played an important role in restoration of judiciary has said that a steady and live movement for the rights of Gilgit-Baltistan is the indespensible. Talking to a regional daily, she said that federal government should bestow the same rights as given to other parts of teh country. She said that Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of the state and we should not consider it as a separate entity. She also urge government to formally include area under the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. (Daily K2-Urdu)





Sher Jahan Mir as governor is acceptable for all; people have expectations with him says Islamuddin
VoH Report
GILGIT, Dec. 26:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Sher Jahan Mir is acceptable for all parties as a governor for he has grasp on various issues. These views were expressed by Nizamuddin of Jamat Islami, Giglit during a meeting with media persons. He said, people have a lot of expectations that he will play an effective role to eridicate unemployment and sectarainism from the region.




Security tighten in Muharram, law inforcement agencies vigilant; forces were deployed in sensitive areas
VoH Report
GILGIT, Dec. 26: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Local administration has advised duputy commissioners, assistan commissioners and DSPs of respective areas of Gillgit-Baltistan to ensure security measures and monitor processions during holy month of Muharram. Armed personnel have been deployed in sensitive areas and ulemas were ask to keep eyes open .





Sher Jahan Mir appointed as the first local governor under new setup; oath following Muharram;
VoH Report
GILGIT, Dec.25: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) According to an update from a reliable source late night, there are romours that Sher Jahan Mir has been appointed as the first local governor by the central government under new self governance reform package, 2009. By profession, he is a successful banker and administrative expert who worked with different organizations. He was given protocol as a governor when he reached the capital on Thursday. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in consultation with President Asif Zardari announced the appointment of governor. Chief Justice Supreme appealet court will take oath after the Muharram. He will enjoy office with the confidence of President of Pakistan and will enjoy a vast authority bestowed by the central governor in capacity of governor. He shall work as the representitive of centre with the formal designation of Vice Chairman Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Council. Gilgit-Baltistan Public Service Commission will work under the supervision of governor and will authorize to appoint Chairman of the commission. The new refrom package gives governor authority to constitute cabinet and recommend for ministeries. Besides, he is authorised to dissolve assembly in consultation with Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan. The real situation will be clear with in few days.






Participants highlight the necessity of safe drinking water; the only self made water reservoir provides few localities of the settlement; a new project of worth 50m underway
VoH Report
By: Shamsuddin Muhammamd
HUNZA, Karimabad, Dec.25: Water is the basic requirement of living beings on earth and provision of such facilities is the basic duty of any government. Hyderabad village is deprived of any proper safe drinking water facility so far. While few water purification plants were built in the inappropriate places to bestow some influential persons. These views were expressed by the participants of one day debate session on safe drinking water, conducted by Hyderabad Rural Support Organization (HRSO) on Thursday, here at a local hotel Karimabad, Hunza. Engineer Zameer Abass, assistnat commissioner Hunza sub-dicvision was the chief guest of the session.

Chief secretary was invited but he could not managed to reach from his busy schedule. The session started with a documentary film by Devako production to portray the real picture of the area. All participants were given equal chance to speak on issue. Sardar Khan, a notable of Hyderabad in his turn said that few NGOs worked in this sector. UNICEF was very that introduce a partial facility to few localities. Since then no development has been observed to address the issue in the area. Ainul Hayat, highlighted the diseases like hepatitis, diarrhea, typhoid and other that broke due to pollutant water. Other participants requested authorities to plan new schemes keeping in view the weather conditions to ensure safe drinking water in winter when the demand for it rises. Engineer Abdul Wahab said that under the directives of acting governor Qamar Zaman Kaira, in his recent visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, a new scheme worth fifty million of drinking water is under way for central Hunza and will be completed in next three years.
Speaking to the occasion, Waqar Taj, deputy commissioner Hunza-Nagar district said that government has a different style to deliver development projects from non-government organization. “We have our distinct traditional and cultural heritage that infuse a spirit of volunteer services in our society,” he added. He said instead of dependency solely on government institutions, people should continue the tradition of participation on self-help basis to harness development. ‘Such sessions by public circle is a good way to find the solution,” he added. He said people of Hunza and Nagar are well aware adding the session should not destined to speak, sitting , eating and heading without any tangible result. He directed works department to plan new scheme considering disaster prevention measures. Assistant commissioner engineer Zameer Abass thanked the participants for organizing such an informative step to find out the problems and efforts in their solution. He ensured for his complete support in resolving issues both on upper and grass root level .
In the last, few recommendations were presented to authorities regarding the issue including ban on construction of cattle houses along the cannels and take health measures while planning a scheme in future.



Gahkuch roits-BNF nominates Pir Karam Ali Shah in FIR; calls for re-election in the constituency; protestors marched to record protest, situation still tense in the region;
VoH Report
GAHKUCH, Dec.25:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Balawaristan National Front has nominated Pir Karam Ali Shah and his supporters in FIR against the killing of a seventeen years old boy Zubair during roits that left many injured searously,media sources confirmed. Protestors marched in a the form of rally from Sher Qilla, the home town of Nawaz Khan Naji, BNF chief and runner up in unofficial results to Gahkuch.The rally then assembled into formal protest and protestors dispersed on assurance of immediate action against the elements involved in carnage. Nawaz Khan Naji, BNF chief while speaking to the public in Japukai village demanded for re-elections in constituency , during a press conference in Gahkuch. He criticised on negligance of local administration especially the district authority. Naji has accused the district leadership of PPP of allegedly being involved in roits to manipulate the results of the poles. Shafqat Inqlabi of BNF has called international human rights organization to take notice of voilation of human rights. Trafic on Ghizar-Chitral remained suspended for many hours as the angry protestors blocked the road at many places.
On the other hand, Baba Jan,chief organizer Progressive Youth Front, Hunza-Nagar chapter in a press release has demanded resignation of chief minister, IGP, Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan and other authorities for negligance and incompetence.

Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on Friday

0 comments

Post a Comment

Monitoring every regional historical development

Monitoring every regional historical  development
Click above to visit blog

Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan

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

SRs Times

SRs Times
Click on above picture to know....

World in Focus-Top News

Valleys with invaluable natural beauty

Valleys with invaluable natural beauty
Gift of Nature

Click to read unheard regional stories

Click to read unheard regional stories
GBEcho

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



BLOG VISITORS

free counters

About Me

My photo
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.

Labels