Replacement of old employees of PIA demanded;
Majority of senior employees unaware of computer technology: M.A.Mansoori
GILGIT, March 27: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) MuJahid Ali Mansoor,ex-member and Chairman Panah Welfare Society, Gilgit has said that the old employees of the office of Pakistan International Airlines are unaware and able to use computer technology.In a press statement he said that in today's advance age, where computer technology has enhanced the speed and efficiency of operations and facilitated air travel more convenient than before but it is a dilemma that the staff working in PIA especially the old aged employees are incompetent. He demanded of PIA authorities especially Managing Director to replace the old employees with the capable young employees to work on computerized system. "Pakistan International Airlines is an organization of global report and has impressive performance but ironically, old employees with little knowledge have been appointed in this far flung office," he added. He said that one can observe the situation saying a whole day is consumed for reservation of a single ticket.




Dr. Shama Khalid seeks report on disaster relief work
VoH Report
GILGIT,March 27: Doctor Shama Khalid, newly appoint governor of Gilgit Baltistan has sought report from government authorities. Officials briefed her on progress in breach of water blockade due to Attaabad land slide disaster. She ordered authorities to expedite work to release water on emergency basis and make proper arrangements for the safety of the settlements on both side of Hunza ruler. She also ordered administrative machinery to ensure every possible relief to the affectees of the disaster. There are two opinions regarding the situation. The first maintains that there is no chance of outburst of naturally formed lake on Hunza River while the second has warned of the sudden outburst if the pressure of water increase with the rise of water level. Some of the geological experts working with humanitarian non governmental organizations have apprehended the possibility of outburst if the water could not released by end of June.





Good governance,elimination of corruption,effective mechanisms for women empowerment and grass root development, the main priorities: Governor

VoH Report
ISLAMABAD, March 25: Doctor Shama Khalid, the newly appointed first ever female governor in history of the country has said that her main priorities including good governance, elimination of corruption, better arrangement for law and order condition, woman development and improvement and effective mechanism for grass root development. After taking oath at presidency house as the female governor of the Gilgit Baltistan talking to journalists she said that without good governance, the dream for sustainable development will be a wild goose chase. She said that she will serve the people of region with out any bias saying she will keep striving to come to the expectations of federal government in days to come." I shall try my best to bring a real socio-economic change to make the dream of ruling party true which has given by self governance order for Gilgit-Baltistan," she added. She said that it was the PPPs government which has brought reforms by empowering the region on real lines.





Light shocks were felt in Hunza-Nagar
Buildings continue to jolt for many seconds
VoH Report
HUNZA, Karimabad, March 24: A low scale earth quake shocks were felt on Monday, 8:00 PM in various places of Hunza and Nager. The intensity of the shocks were 4 on rector scale and with origin in Himalayas.The shock continued to jolt buildings for several minutes. Yet, no loss of property and life has been reported.





Dr Shama Khalid takes oath as GB governor
Monitoring desk
ISLAMABAD, March 24: Dr Shama Khalid took oath as Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Tuesday and became the first ever woman in the country’s history to assume governorship of a province. The chief judge of the Supreme Appellate Court GB administered the to Dr Shama at a special investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. She was appointed governor on Monday by President Asif Ali Zardari.

Shama Khalid, a leading social worker, is also the first woman to assume governorship in Pakistan’s history. — Photo by APP

Dr Shama is a leading social worker who has voluntarily worked in different parts of GB and served the cause of anity by setting up free summer medical camps every year. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by President Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, GB Chief Minister Syed Mehdii Shah and federal ministers. app


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Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on Wednesday

PM endorses proposal to make voting compulsory
VoH Monitor

ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani endorsed a proposal that voting be made compulsory in elections so that people including women should use their political right to elect their representatives.The proposal was made by a delegation of PILDAT which met the Prime Minister here at the Prime Minister House today. Terming reforms in electoral system a prerequisite for holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country, the Prime Minister said veteran personalities of media, legal profession, civil society as well as former members of superior judiciary, civil and military bureaucracy can make suggestions based on their experience to improve the system. He added that the present leadership of the Election Commission of Pakistan is well-versed with the issues as well and could bring necessary changes in the electoral process.
Regarding the proposed recommendations relating to constitutional amendments, the Prime Minister said these have been shared with the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. He assured the delegation that their proposals for the electoral reforms would also be looked into very carefully and extended requisite support of the government.
The Parliament, he said is serious on constitutional reforms and is totally committed for the betterment of the political system. The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, he added is an independent body functioning in a democratic manner with a futuristic vision. All the political parties, he added are on board in this regard and all the members are doing a good job in the larger interest of the nation.It is being unanimously felt that institutions need to be strengthened, he said. The Prime Minister said that governance is a shared responsibility among all the institutions at all levels.
The governance, he added can be further improved through quick decisions for which the culture of coalition government has to be better understood and practised.
The political and the administrative environment, he said will definitely improve with the passage of time and through experience.





Constitution set for overhaul, consensus on amendments

VoH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, March 25: For the first time in the country’s parliamentary history, the Constitution will undergo a major overhaul as one-fourth of its articles are being amended with a ‘consensus’.
Photo by: Associated Press of Pakistan
The all-party Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, has suggested more than 100 amendments to over 70 articles of the Constitution, sources told Dawn on Wednesday. Besides removing person-specific changes made arbitrarily by military rulers through legal framework orders (LFOs), and which were later endorsed by parliament, the Rabbani committee has also suggested some crucial changes in the articles dealing with provincial autonomy.Although the proposed 18th Constitution Amendment Bill carries some two dozen dissenting notes submitted by all political parties, except the PPP, committee members say the notes will not block the changes proposed in the onstitution.The parties have decided that they will finalise the draft with consensus and if any party has reservations about some proposals, it will be allowed to submit a note of dissent to bring its viewpoint on record. The committee, which was formed last year in the light of promises made by the PPP and the PML-N to repeal the controversial 17th Amendment, had to go for a review of the entire Constitution after smaller and nationalist parties refused to agree on anything short of complete provincial autonomy.In a landmark achievement, the committee has suggested some major changes in the Constitution, giving more administrative, financial and political autonomy to the provinces.
Interviews with leaders of smaller parties revealed that they were more than happy with a proposal to abolish the Concurrent List from the Constitution, giving the provinces rights to do legislation on a number of subjects which have hitherto been under the control of the federal government.Although some nationalist parties are not “fully satisfied”, particularly with amendments to the articles dealing with financial autonomy, they term the package historic, Dawn Reports.







Zardari seeks Czech support for country’s access to EU markets

VoH Watch
ISLAMABAD, Mar 25 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday urged for further enhancing bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Czech Republic in all fields particularly in areas of commerce, trade, tourism and defence production.Talking to Martin Bartak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Czech Republic at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the signing of Memorandum of Understanding will provide a sound base for enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries. Those who attended the meeting included Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, Minister for Defence Production, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar and other senior government officials. Ambassador of Czech Republic in Pakistan Pavol Sepelak was also present.
The President also sought Czech Republic’s support for Pakistan efforts for enhanced market access to Pakistani products in the European Union. He also informed the Deputy Prime minister about the fight against militancy and terrorism, problems of displaced people as a result of war against terror, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in war affected areas and its huge impact on the country’s economy. The President said Pakistan has paid a heavy price in terms of both human and material losses in the fight against militancy.
“Our economy, trade, investment and tourism could not flourish as a result of continued fight against militancy during the last eight years,” the President said and added that Pakistan looked forward to the international community to assist it in overcoming difficulties.








US announces $125m for Pak power sector: ‘New day’ for US, Pakistan: Hillary
VoH Monitoring Report
WASHINGTON, March 25: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday described the latest round of strategic dialogue as a “new day” for the US and Pakistan after years of uneasy cooperation between the countries, but some of Islamabad’s requests met a cool reception.

In her opening remarks at the first-of-a-kind strategic dialogue with Pakistan and later at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Hillary said she wanted to speak directly to the people of Pakistan. “The two nations have had ... misunderstandings ... and there are sure to be more disagreements in the future as there are between any friends or, frankly, any family members. But this is a new day.”
Qureshi said Pakistan was seeking “non-discriminatory” access to energy resources as well as
a “constructive” role by the US on its dispute with India over Kashmir. “Pakistan is committed to doing its part to facilitate the world community’s efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. We hope the world community will be equally responsive to our legitimate concerns and help advance common interests.” Water, energy shortage: Hillary said she recognized the need for cooperation with Pakistan in dealing with the country’s water and energy shortages, and announced $125 million to help Pakistan overcome the power crisis. Courtesy Daily Times

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Voice of Hunza
Equality like liberty is one of the most important concept of political thought of today's world.Many revolutions of the world that turned the shape of history was product of feelings of inequality, injustice, double standard concept of citizenship, and despotism. One of the main cause of fall of both ancient Greek and Romans was narrow mindedness of their concept of democracy that justified tyranny, slavery, exploitation and considered citizens to those born within city-states and given rights and liberty of citizenship.The French declaration of Rights of 1989 proclaimed that " men are born, and always continue to be free and equal in respect of their rights." The American declaration of independence supports the same concept earlier in these words," we hold these truth to be self-evident that all men are created equal." The general concept adhere to the term equality is that all men are equal and all should be treated equally. Every individual in the world has unique traits and is different from each others; even two brothers are different in physical and mental traits. Similarly, in most cases,men and women differ from each other in terms of their taste, need, ideas, habits, ambitions and interests and other moral, mental and physical differences.These inequalities are due to nature and nurture, social experiences and education. The participle of equality arose as a protest against the class distinctions and injustices of medieval society. The inequalities persists even today in different forms. Equality means, firstly the absence of special privileges for any class of people; means all persons should be treated equally. and allowed to enjoy equal opportunities to develop one's abilities,faculties of mind as well as to pursue a good career in the state.
Lets come to the real point, the gazetted jobs in public sector are subjected to the quotas based on population size among the federating units, approved by the competent authority. Federal government has given various special facilities to the applicants like that of age relaxation to certain regions including Tribal areas, AJK, FANA and Gilgit-Baltistan. The upper age limit, for instance in competitive examination which is conducted by Federal Public Service Commission is 30 years with relaxation of two years as the formal maximum age limit is twenty eight years. The upper age limit under provincial set-up, Gilgit-Baltistan Public Service Commission is 33. According to observation of current prevailing tendencies, many persons who seem keen to apply for such a dreamed career are unable due to sole reason that is they crossed the age limit. According a survey conducted by Voice of Hunza by keeping a sample of some restricted number of educated youth in Gilgit city revealed fourty eight percent youth are willing to appear in competitive examination but unable to do so for they crossed the age limit of 30. Ten percent said that they have examophobia or hype created by people of difficult paper pattern and unwilling to appear, three percent answered that they attempted once and no more willing to appear, two percent youth said they have appeared in recent examination while ten percent did not express their view. This survey discloses a vital issue that need to be discussed and realize-that is demand of increase in upper age limit.
Federal government has recently announced a special package for Balochistan in order of address the one of the longstanding demand of population of the province which has allowed the upper age limit from thirty to thirty five years for applicants. But no such facility seem to be the fate of this region which hold high rate of literacy in the country. We are confidant that the educated youth of Gilgit-Balttistan possess potential and no less than others in any field of life. They need an opportunity to utilize them for the service of the country. On the other hand our political leadership has had no acumen to consider such matters in house to move a resolution and discuss them before authorities sitting in capital. Rather most of their time is consumed in debates on worthless issues and in economic incentives which has nothing to do with the welfare of common man.This a duty of national representation to work on issues remained outstanding for many years. The appointment of first ever female governor by federal government is a good omen and sign of change for she is one of the highly educated and competent person. We hope that she will utilize her potentials in the development and empowerment of the poor population of the region. We, would like to press the need to demand of federal government for increase in age limit so that the acknowledgeable and aspirant youth will be able to render the services and become a useful member or society. We, hope that federal government would realize the such a need kept underneath susceptible in past.








Editor

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Novroz is being celebrated in Gilgit-Blatistan
V
oH Report
HUNZA, March 21:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Novroz Festival is being celebrated with simplicity this year in most of the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. In Hunza-Nagar, the festival is observed with great zeal. Nevertheless, due to natural disaster of landsliding and its negative implications faced by Upper Hunza has overshadowed the the celebration. The day will start with special prayers in mosques, Jamat Khanas for world peace, prosperity and good time in future; and will mark the very first day of the natural calender of year lasts as a legacy of ancient Persian and central Asian tradition. According to the thinkers, the day itself brings a message to contemplate over nature for man is an important part of nature; emphasizes upon tolerance, patience and brotherhood among the human kind in the world. It also elucidates a philosophy that every autumn is followed by a spring; every difficulty is followed by ease; darkness is destined to light later. It is pertinent to mention here that majority of the areas in country in general and rest of the world in particular do not know about this festival for either they are deprived of diversity of seasonal manifestation(have only two seasons like summer and winter) or did not realized the change manifested in every living being on this world. May Lord bring the whole year with happiness, peace, solidarity and mutual love among human beings and eliminate hatred in our hearts for the others.On this occasion, we, the team of Voice of Hunza would like to extend our wishes for all our readers and pray for a good year with happiness and peace.





What ails you- CBR to impose value added Tax in Gilgit Baltistan;
Parliament has powers to accept or reject VAT: CBR Chairman
VoH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, March 18: ( APP/AFP) Sohail Ahmed, chairman Federal Board of Revenue has said that about 40 million rupee will be additional income from value added taxes to be imposed in Gilgit Baltistan.He said that Wheat, flour, pulses, education, live saving medicines and health as well as imports will be exempt from value added tax. He said that Value Added Tax bill sought no role of International Monitory Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed ON Thursday said that the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime was not being implemented in the country on the dictations of International Monitory Fund (IMF) or World Bank (WB) and the parliament had the powers to accept or reject the same. He was addressing a session of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) at Pearl Continental here, which was also attended by the presidents of Chambers and Industries from across the country. He said the implementation of the VAT from July 2010 in place of existing General Sales Tax, could only be possible if all the federating units agreed on it. He said the VAT would ensure sovereign Pakistan. The final draft of the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime would be ready by the end of April or the beginning of May. The discussion in parliament committees would be started from this month. The VAT would be in final shape within a period of two months. VAT is currently implemented in 34 countries of the world. He said Pakistan had the potential to collect around Rs 2200 to Rs 2300 billion tax. If the taxes are collected according to the potential there would be no need to beg from International Monitory Fund or World Bank.
The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday discussed the draft of Value Added Tax (VAT) Law in the presence of provincial Chief Ministers and decided that in order to get the country out of its current resource crunch, it is imperative to expand the resource base and consider the VAT Law as an important part of this effort. This was stated by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira during a joint press briefing alongwith Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Wednesday. The briefing was held after a special meeting of the Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here to discuss counter-terrorism measures with special focus on inter-provincial efforts in this respect. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers, Ministers of State, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of the four provinces and Prime Minister of AJK as well as the Provincial Chief Secretaries, IGs of Police and Chief of General Staff, GHQ. The minister told the briefing that the Cabinet decided that all the provinces will introduce the Provincial VAT Bill 2010 in their respective Provincial Assemblies immediately, so as to enable their respective finance Committees to deliberate the proposed law for its final disposal by June 2010.






Instead of joining PML(N) prefer to remain a minor activist of PML(Q)
says Mirza Hussain

VOH Monitor

GILGIT, March 18: Mirza Hussain, member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has said that he would prefer to remain a normal activist of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) instead of joining Pakistan Muslim League (N) in order to get a higer designation. in the council. Talking to media persons, after assembly session, he said that instead of becoming a part of any national mainstreme political party if necessary, he would prefer to join nationalist parties like Balawaristan National Front. Mr.Mirza said that the blockade of water on Hunza river is transformed into a big lake posing threat to the settlements on both sides. He alleged that local administration is uttering every thing is OK despite of increasing danger, Daily K2 reported.








A man shot dead of animosity

VOH Report
HUNZA,Karimabad, March 18: A man was found dead after he received bullets in his upper torso late hours last night. According to details, Deedar Ali, resident of Brongushal was found dead near Girls High school, Karimabad. He was rushed to Civil hospital where doctors confirmed his death. According to police sources, the deceased was convicted by apex court of life imprisonment in a murder case in 2000. He was released from jail few weeks ago and was killed the kith and kin of the former victim . He was burred into Suriyasay Das in front of hundreds of people on Thursday.




Appointment of governor based on consensus: Mehdi Shah
VoH Report

GILGIT, March 17:(Shamsuddin Muhamammad) Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan has said that the appointment for the office of governor will be approved within a week. He said that all members of the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly will be taken into confidence before the appointment of the proposed candidate during the confidence to be held in president house, Islamabad . Talking to Voice of Hunza, he said that numerous names are under consideration and among the most favorite including Lady doctor Shehzadi,Shama Khalid, sheerin and miss Rubina; nevertheless the final name will be announced in the conference. " Preservation of democratic norms was the moral duty of party activists and no deviation will be allowed in this regard," he added.






Shehzad Ali Shaheed earns appraise of civil society
Voice of Hunza Report
HUNZA, March 17: ( Shamsuddin Muhammad) Shehzad Ali, who died of a land slide mishap at the calamity hit site Attaabad earned appraise of the public for his great humanitarian work for humanity.

HUNZA, Aliabad: Shia Imami Ismaili boy scouts are stading beside the grave of Shaheed Shehzad Ali to pay a due tribute for his work for humanity Photo by: Fazal Karim

Shehzad Ali, who was an active member of Shia Imami Islmail Boys scouts, Aliabad, Hunza remained busy in the philanthropic work following the land slide calamity. The notables of Aliabad Hunza in statement paid their due tribute to this brave social worker who lost his life in the service of humanity. He was seriously injured along an army personnel following a sudden rock slides at the water blockade site on Hunza river. It is pertinent to mention here, civil society organizations like Boy Scouts, local volunteers have played a remarkable role to serve the victims of the land slide hit area as well as stranded people on both sides of water blockade.






At last government declares Upper Hunza calamity hit area
VoH Report
HUNZA, Attaabad, March 16: Syed Mehdi Shah, Governor Gilgit Baltistan and federal minster for information and broadcasting has said that the government is aware of the problems of the people who have been suffered due to water blockade following massive land slide at the Attaabad, Hunza. He visited the site and was accompanied with Wazir Biag,Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Farooq Ahmed, Chairman Disaster Management Authority and government officials. He declared Upper Hunza, at last calamity hit area saying employment opportunities besides provision of the basic necessities will be ensured. He said that tuition fee of students studying in different government institutions will be waved off." Experts of international repute have also been invited to get more insight into the dynamics to tackle challenge effectively and in time. He himself expressed his dissatisfaction on expertise of Frontier Works Organization saying the way they are working will serve to delay the work." In order to cater the immediate need of the people of Upper Hunza, an operation theater will be soon start its work with specialist doctors," he added.





Global media covers emerging threat of water blockade
VoH Monitoring desk

Aljazeera's recent Report

Courtesy: You Tube






Movie on Landslide Disaster

VoH Monitor

Courtesy: You tube

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Voice of Hunza
According to the media reports, corruption has got its way to every nook and corner of the country during its journey for more than six decades. There is hardly any institution or organizational structure which can be taken as an ideal entity. Despite of efforts of every new government to hinder corrupt practices, any tengible outcome could be resulted from; rather the menace of corrupt practices were given formal justification. On political front, politics its self has become the dirty game as it gets inspiration from the political pattern prevailing in the rest of the country. Majority of politicians have had involved in back kicks and their focus revolves around personal gains as they have their own axes to grind for they know that the voters who support them and get them entered into legislative bodies in elections are nothing but irrational breed who can be tricked using different tools like arousing communal and cultural hatred among
them to achieve their end-that is to preserve their seats. Lets first put a glance over the common observation of prevailing norms in public oranizations. According to a police peronnel, recruitment procedures are being ignored on non-gazatted posts like that of constables and head constables in police department which according to him needs at least fourty thousand rupee as a
driving force to get the file approached to the authorities; similarly, the department for a common man is known as currency minting area for it has influence in dailylives of the people. The case with revenue, civil supply, building and construction and rest of the service departments is no different. The patwaries, the legacy of British empirial yolk who come under the command of assistant comissioners even bypass their bosses in dispensation of their services to get extra charges, skillfully; so here too, the additional charges or Nazrana is a monor practice. There are numerous departments indireclty involved corrupt practices, though few legitimized by powerful establishments.
A for as bureaucratical naunces and intrasies in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned, they can be clearly discerned through a close observation. A German sociologist Max Weber was the first social scientist to coin the term bureacracy in the as a response to the then tyranical and
despotic rule in Europe. He identified at least five attributes of such a rule including: individual subjugation, cruelity, subjective judgement, favouritism and unwavering loyality to the sovereign. The presented his own modle that emphasized on division of work, rigid heirarchical system, abidance to the rules and regulations; he described buruatical model as most effective organizational structure against monarchical rule.He attributed bureaucracy with some of its qualities: professionalism, regidity , importance to structuralism and bossism which proved its defects later. The biggest shortcoming in this model that brought the model under fire or severe criticism was was negligence of human factor as he did not elaborate any thing regarding role of human relations and excessive importance to structure and procedure.
The phenomenon of bureaucracy emerged rapidly after second world war due to expansion in the activities of states as the bureaucracy was considered as one of the most efficient and well structure organization as compared to the others.Yet, due to lack to constant check and lack of acumen among political representations, most of the bureaucracies suffered from corruption, nepotism and proto-typed rather than proactive attitude based on scientific research. The phenomenon of bureaucracy in the whole country is a complex case to elaborate in few lines, instead we should focus on the irregularities prevailing in Gilgit-Baltistan region.According to media reports, the irregularities and back door accesses are on apex in services structure. According to an official on the condition of anonymity claimed that the recruitment and promotion rules are largely being ignored. According to him, promotion on scale 14 to 16 are subjected to approval of authorities and is based on a particular policy; but what is happening is beyond imagination. An official of grade fourteen, who is affiliated with a national newspaper has been given promotion from grade 14 to 16 within one year of his appointment and now proposed to grade seventeen withing few months which is a tangible evidence of corruption on different levels. He according to him, promotions are backed by communal polarization means a member of a specific community though competent enough may loss if he does not enjoy the backing of a powerful community. There are thousands of cases out of record when deserved were pushed back to give way to one who have some influential recommendation though incompetent enough to dispense his duties.
The menace of corruption has infused so rapidly into very fabric of every walk of life in the country in general and and Gilgit-Baltistan in general that there seems no way to get out of it. Such cases of irregularities are mere aimed to portray where we are heading. In private sector, we can observe numerous examples where Non Governmental Organizations are hoodwinking doners against fake developmental projects which serves to achieve their end-that is an impressive photography though not necessarily it relates and get economic incentives in the name of humanitarian work. It seems nothing could work to stop it except a revolution that will change the dynamics of so called development on part of humanity in developing countries in particular. We would like to appeal those on helms of affairs to take immediate notice to the irregularities to ensure appointments and promotions based on merit and competence. We hope the high ups will make efforts to eliminate every source of corruption to create better society and help ensure euality.







Editor

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ANP & MQM record dissent on provincial autonomy
VoH Watch

SLAMABAD, March 21: The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms completed on Saturday the first reading of a draft report of the constitutional amendment bill with dissenting notes on different issues by almost all parties, except the Pakistan People’s Party, sources told Dawn.The dissenting notes, however, would not block changes to be made in the Constitution in the light of the report of the committee, said some members who submitted the dissenting notes. The sources said the committee, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, had finalized the draft of the 18th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2010, with only five to six issues remaining to be settled. They said that except for the issue of renaming of the NWFP, other issues were of minor nature and could not be taken up at Saturday’s meeting because of the absence of some members. The committee will meet again on Sunday to review and finalise the draft of the preamble to the bill, which has suggested more than 80 amendments to the Constitution.
Most of the dissenting notes, the sources said, had been
submitted by parties like Awami National Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on the issue of provincial autonomy. Senator S.M. Zafar of the PML-Q submitted a dissenting note about abolition of the concurrent list from Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. He opposed the move on the demand of smaller parties. Mr Zafar also submitted a dissenting note on articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, which deal with disqualifications of membership of parliament and the president, Dawn News reports.






Ex-ISI official says he arranged 5 meetings between Nawaz, Osama
VoMonitor
LAHORE, March 21: Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Khalid Khawaja has claimed that he arranged five meetings in the past between former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden on separate occasions. In a recent interview with a private TV channel, Khawaja said Nawaz asked the al Qaeda chief to provide financial support for “development projects”.“I still remember that Osama provided me funds that I handed over to then Punjab chief minister Nawaz to topple Benazir Bhutto’s government,” said Khawaja, adding that Nawaz met Osama thrice in Saudi Arabia alone. “Nawaz insisted that I arrange a direct meeting with Osama, which I did in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“Nawaz was
looking for a Rs 500 million grant from Osama. Although Osama provided a comparatively smaller sum ... he secured for Nawaz a meeting with the Saudi royal family.”
The former ISI official also claimed that Nawaz had met leaders of Islamic movements around the world, Dailytimes report.





PM asks MPs to prioritize public welfare development projects

VOH Watch
ISLAMABAD, Mar 18 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Wednesday asked the Members of Parliament to prioritize public welfare development projects in their respective constituencies in accordance with the immediate need and availability of resources.

The government, he said would continue to support the projects in the backward areas despite financial
constraints. The Prime Minister was talking to groups of parliamentarians who met him in his chamber at the Parliament House.The Prime Minister advised the parliamentarians to work for education and promotion of healthy activities for the youth of their respective areas. The prospects for creating economic opportunity within their constituencies, he said, might also be explored to generate employment and to help improve the living condition of the people. The parliamentarians apprised the Prime Minister of the progress of projects in their respective areas and also the problems being faced in the same context.Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khurshid Shah and Minister of State for Finance Ms.Hina Rabbani Khar were also present in the meetings.







Electricity Crisis Deepens Across Country

VOH Monitor
LAHORE,March 18: Electricity crisis once again resurfaced across the country as power shortfall has reached to 3,500 MW. The duration of load shedding has also increased.The demand of electricity has been reached to 11,500 whereas production stands at 8,500 MW.With the start of summer season, load shedding duration has extended up to 17 hours in small cities and towns and 10 to 12 hours in Lahore and other big cities, Breaking news reports. He demanded of government to take immediate steps to save the people of the approaching danger. " Instead of baseless statements the officials and ruling government should do something to reduce inflation and price hikes in the region," he added.






PM Gilani, Shahbaz condemn Taliban

VOH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, March 17: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif joined Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday in condemning the recent terrorist attacks in the country in an apparent move to offset pressures on the PML-N leader over his controversial statement in which he urged Taliban to spare Punjab from attacks. The joint condemnation came during a meeting between the prime minister and a PML-N delegation at the Prime Minister’s House a day after Mr Sharif had met Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani amid widespread protests over the statement made at a seminar in Lahore on Sunday. “While condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Lahore and Mingora, both leaders expressed their firm resolve to fight this menace in all its forms and manifestations,” said an official press release issued by the Prime Minister’s House. Critics saw Mr Sharif’s appeal to Taliban to spare Punjab as amounting to justifying attacks in other provinces. The official press release which appeared to be an attempt to counter that impression, quoted the two sides as saying: “The courage shown by the people of Pakistan to combat terrorism is the motivating force in confronting the evil designs of the terrorists.” It said Mr Sharif apprised the prime minister of the current security situation in Punjab and steps being taken by his government to provide protection to people. Besides security-related issues, the two sides also discussed the political situation in the country and the relations between the ML-N and the PPP.The prime minister said the PPP government would follow the policy of reconciliation essential to comprehend the political culture emerging out of coalition between political parties both in the government and in the opposition. Dawn



NFC Award victory of democracy: President
VoH Watch

ISLAMABAD,March 17, 2010: Terming the finalisation of 7th National Finance Commission Award as victory of the democracy, President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday inked the historic document in presence of the provincial chief ministers and governors. Addressing the ceremony, he said that it was a big step forward towards strengthening of the Federation, as the agreement was ‘a historic achievement’ of the present political Government. “It is a victory for democracy, political parties and all provinces, and also success of the policy of reconciliation,” he said The NFC award was agreed upon by the four provinces at a ceremony at Gwadar on Dec 30 after a gap of 19 years and would come into effect from the next financial year. Besides Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi, Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister NWFP Amir Haider Khan Hoti and Chief Minister Balochistan Nawabzada Aslam Raeesani and the Parliamentarians attended the ceremony at the Presidency. “I feel democracy has taken a leap. We are trying to make a new Pakistan by adhering to the spirit and vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto,” he said and added that the nation would soon hear good news regarding the Constitutional reforms by the end of this month. “Democracy that returned to the country some time back, has demonstrated its strength. Lets give it time to grow, give people of Pakistan a chance to grow and they will prove a productive part of the global society,” he said addressing what he termed as detractors, The Nation reports.




UNDP employee alleges harassment by HR ministry official
VoH Monitoring Report
ISLAMABAD, March 17: A UNDP employee has accused a Ministry of Human Rights official of harassing her, and is seeking action against the man under the code of ethics and Protection Against Harassment of Women Bill 2010. In a letter to the HR Ministry on February 2, ‘UNDP Secure Pakistan’ project coordinator Farhat Sattar said she felt ‘insecure’ at the hands of PS Asif Larak. Addressing the ministry high-ups, Farhat alleged that Asif ‘forced’ her to appoint certain staff members for the project. She also claimed that Larak demanded the illegal handover of UNDP equipment to him once the initial phase of the project was completed on February 4. According to the letter, the project was being implemented in collaboration with the HR Ministry, after which the UNDP country office would give directions for the appropriate disposal of the equipment. “On February 1, Asif Larak once again harassed me and the National Project Director (NPD) is witness to that,” she wrote in the letter. Farhat Sattar stated that she was under the supervision of the NPD who was appointed by the HR Ministry. She said that she was not a government servant, and as per the gender policy, no one should misbehave and harass her at her workplace. Daily times

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Recent Movie on submerging of Shishkat- Gulmit Bridge, the only link between both villages of Upper Hunza due to water blocked on Hunza river



Courtesy: Youtube

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Conference in Gilgit demands calamity hit status for disaster affected areas of Hunza
VoH Monitoring
GILGIT, March. 10:Speakers at a conference held in Gilgit today said that if the government did not increase pace of the debris removal work at barrier of the lake formed on Hunza River the ensuing threat posed by the lake would inflict heavy losses to life and property from Hunza to Tarbella. The political leaders also threatened to launch a movement across GB if pace of the debris removal work was not enhanced and if the government did not take concrete steps to safeguard life and property of people upstream and downstream of the lake. The speakers included leaders of various political parties and religious groups. The speakers unanimously termed the lake hazard to be of great risk for the entire region and not only Gojal valley.Conference papers read during the event highlighted the existing and future human, economic and cultural cost of the Gojal lake hazard. The speakers unanimously demanded of the government to declare Gojal valley as calamity hit and develop service delivery mechanism for health, education and economy. The speakers also expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work and demanded that the debris removal contract shall be given to a consortium of international agencies instead of relying solely on the expertise of FWO. The conference had been called by the coordination committee of affected people of Gojal valley.The conference was also attended by representatives of FOCUS Pakistan. Regional program manager of the humanitarian agency said that they have trained communities in 23 vulnerable villages of Hunza – Nagar and Gilgit districts for coping with the challenges that might be caused by a sudden release of water from the artificial lake formed on Hunza river. He also said that FOCUS has installed sms triggered modern sirens at 12 most vulnerable villages along the bank of Hunza River to alert the people during disaster situation. He further said that FOCUS provided three months food for the displaced people of Attabad village and is providing food and other relief material to the displace people of Ayeenabad as well.Also present at the occasion was the representative of Pakistan Red Crescent Society. He also explained PRCS’ role during the Attabad disaster.Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman of PML (N) said that the government has not been able to satisfy the local people’s demands and that his party stands with people of the disaster hit area. Other speakers at the occasion were MLA Mirza Hussain, Nawaz Khan Naji (BNF), Kalb Ali, Ghulam Muhammad (PPP), Ali Qurban, Fazal Amin Baig and Rehan Shah. The speakers expressed solidarity with the people of Gojal and said that they would mobilize support for the cause of Gojal. Courtesy: Pamirtimes.net

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Karzai tells Pakistan 'no proxy wars' in Afghanistan
VoH Monitoring Report
ISLAMABAD, March 10: Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Pakistan on Thursday his country did not want to become a battle ground for proxy wars and welcomed an offer from Islamabad to help with peace efforts. Karzai met Pakistani leaders on his first visit to the neighbouring country - viewed with deep suspicion by many Afghans - since winning controversial elections last year and pledging to work towards peace talks with Taliban insurgents.The Afghan president welcomed Islamabad's offers of support for Afghanistan's efforts at reconciliation, saying Pakistan “has a significantly important role to play in that and Afghanistan would welcome that role”.Pakistan confirmed only the arrest of Mullah Adbul Ghani Baradar, described by US officials as number two to Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar but also reported to have been in contact with Afghan government officials.Karzai's government has called on Islamabad to extradite Baradar but some analysts suggest he could become a bargaining chip for a Pakistan determined to have a say in Afghanistan's future. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan was “consulting legal experts” with regard to the extradition request but reiterated willingness to assist Afghan-led peace efforts.Dawn News

Restoring 1973 Constitution in original form not possible: Aitzaz
VOH Watch
ISLAMABAD, March 10: Under the prevailing situation, the 1973 constitution cannot be restored to its original form, former Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan said on Wednesday.Talking to reporters at the Supreme Court, Aitzaz supported the role of parliament in the appointment of superior courts’ judges, saying parliament should also play its role in “other similar matters”.He said since the people supported the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR), there should be no qualms about its recommendations on the superior courts judges’ appointments.He said the impression being created about the committee’s recommendations for the appointment of judges in the superior judiciary was not justified, adding political affiliation should not affect the judges’ appointment or their eligibility.Meanwhile, the legal fraternity is expressing reservations over the recommendations of the PCCR, which has decided to amend the articles of the constitution regarding the judges’ appointment in the superior judiciary.Aitzaz said the Supreme Court, in its July 31, 2007 verdict, had declared the November 2007 emergency “unconstitutional” and protected parliament by intercepting military adventurism.He said that although the SC’s verdict could not block the tanks, it had created a hurdle in their way and would protect parliament from future military interventions.Aitzaz said the history of South Asian countries was different from those in the Middle East, which had hereditary kingships and no democracy. He said every dictator in the political and constitutional history of Pakistan needed popular support (vote) and legitimacy of the judiciary.
In a resolution passed by the lawyer’s convention on Tuesday, the SCBA observed that epresentatives of the executive would interfere in the judges’ selection process, rendering the
udicial consultees helpless and exposed to government pressure.Dailytimes

Pak must be key partner in finding solution in Afghanistan: Miliband
VoH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, March 10:Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan is close to the core of Islamabad’s national security interests and Pakistan has to be a partner in finding solutions in its western conflict-hit neighbor, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband emphasized Wednesday while also urging Afghans to pursue a political settlement in their country.Delivering a lecture on how to end the war in Afghanistan, Miliband saw a “vital” opportunity in new expanding US-Pakistan partnership to address Islamabad’s concerns.“There has been a significant change in Pakistan in the last 18 months under President Zardari’s civilian government. The reality and threat of domestic terrorism has brought new purpose to civilian and military leadership, and new consensus between leaders and led,” he noted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, near Boston.As a result of Pakistani actions and coalition’s efforts on the Afghan side, he said it is now realistic to talk of complementary pressure on the Taliban insurgencies on both sides of the
order.Miliband spoke as Pakistani leaders hosted talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and as top-level Pakistani political and military leaders prepared to hold a series of meetings in Washington on anti-militancy efforts, broader bilateral relationship and the way forward in Afghanistan. the nation reported.

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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

SRs Times

SRs Times
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Valleys with invaluable natural beauty

Valleys with invaluable natural beauty
Gift of Nature

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Click to read unheard regional stories
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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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About Me

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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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