Commuters calls for accommodation facility at Aliabad; replacement of boat service demanded; transport charges beyond payment capacity of far-flung population
VoH Report
HUNZA, Aliabad, June 22: Commuters came from down cities, Gilgit and other areas of the region for their native places of Gojal, Upper Hunza has demanded of government to provide accommodation facility to the deserved persons when stranded at Aliabad. Public have blamed local administration for aggressive attitude even in case of emergency.

HUNZA: Commuters stranded at Aliabad have to spend hours under scorching sun with out any accommodation facility for them. Image by: Shams

They have demanded of regional government to take immediate steps to resume boat service in order to reduce burden or pressure on airlift. "Amidst economic disparities and prices hikes, travelers have to face various issues ranging from accommodation to food on the way as nothing is certain," said Aslam of Gulkin.Sher Alam, a resident of Passu claimed that despite of spending three days, he was unable to get permission to abroad saying many people with acquaintances to authorities manage to travel on the same day of their arrival to Aliabad.
Shreen Bibi, a dweller of Shishkat also blamed for mal-treatment of personnel deputed for the facilitation of commuters saying her child was forced to travel on the next day on pretext of fewer sorties to their respective places. Shehzad Ali of Chipurson claimed that in case of successful airlift the next stage is even more hardous journey saying transport fares were beyond the payment capacity of majority of the people of the far-flung valleys of Gojal." We people have to pay thrice travel charges for what they had to pay once," he added. Mere three tents have been installed to facilitate travelers especially to female but proved utterly insufficient due to lack of other facilities like sanitation etc.





Controversy over the Widening of Spillway at Attabad Lake Hunza
Monitoring Report
HUNZA-NAGAR, June 21:The issue of widening spillway has taken a new turn when the people from low-lying areas of Nagar valley have taken a strong position against the demands for the widening of the spillway.
It is to remember that due to the narrow water pass at
the barrier of the Attabad lake, water outflow is lower than its inflow, due which it is continuously submerging land in the villages of upstream of upper Hunza (Gojal). In order to protest against government inaction people form Gojal had reached to the spillway on June 17 and 18 and started to widening spillway under very dangerous conditions. The work of widening spillway was stopped when high officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) assured people that within ten days government will take appropriate measure through a controlled blasting of the boulders in the spillway, since than three days have already passed but no action has been noticed.

HUNZA: Local volunteers and Civil society members on the way for the widening of spill way over blockade. Photo by: Zulfiqar Ali Khan

On the other side, the representative of Nagar in the GBLA, Muhammad Ali Akhtar, who is the Finance Minister has threatened to breaking the legs of those who will push the idea of widening of the spillway. Same as the Home secretary he declared those who are working on the widening of the spillway ‘traitors of Pakistan’.Muhammed Ali Akhter and Mirza Hussain both hails from Nagar Valley and considering that in case of flooding due to the widening of the spillway it may cause damage to the low lying areas of Nagar Valley have threaten to take stringent action. The words used by Muhammad Ali Akhter ‘traitors of Pakistan’ and words used by home secretary Mr, Lodhi ‘agents of the enemies of Pakistan’ have been highly condemned all over Gilgit-Baltistan and they both have been asked to apologies in public. While, local volunteers have stopped work on Fridary after neotiations and given 10 days dead line for windening of spill way.
Courtesy:www.gbtimes.wordpress.com





Finance MinisterGB to bear expenses incurred on power generation till the end of June
VoH Report
HUNZA, June 21: Muhammad Ali Akhtar, minister finance Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has pledged to finance power generation personally as a gesture of his love for the area. According to the details, minister has promised local Power and Water department to pay expenses for the fuel being consumed on generation of electricity in the newly established district Hunza-Nagar.

HUNZA: The only Hydro-power generating plant for more than thirty thousand population of a large portion of Central Hunza. Image by: Shams

The power generation Unit-2, located in the foothills of the Hasanabad along the Hunza river was disassembled ahead of release of water from the Attaabad lake as a disaster prevention measures. On the other hand, due to increase in demand and constant shortfall has resulted into one day loadsheding in Hunza thus affecting the students preparing for degree examinations. Public circles have expressed their concerns over the scheduled load sheding and inefficiencies of concerned authorities who, despite of provision of fuel incapable to chalk out distribution plan. They have demanded of regional government to take the notice of ineffectiveness and lack of will on part of power generation department in the area.




CC Attaabad meets NDMA chairman; calls for speed up rehabilitation process; no categorization in assessment process says Gen(r) Nadeem
VoH Report
HUNZA, June 21: Coordination Committee Attabad led by Mr. Liaqat met General (r) Nadeem Ahmed, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority here in Aliabad to discuss over delay in rehabilitation process for last three months. Committee expressed its concerns over the undertaking of reassessment process of the land ruined as a result of Attabad land slide. General (r) Nadeem listened to their demands carefully and pledged to constitute a new committee comprising representatives of line departments, Non-governmental Organization and one from the affectees of the disaster hit areas to entrust immediately the task to finalize compensation
process to deserved ones.




Political activities, meetings, processions, entry of political elements banned; section 144 imposed in , Gojal Hunza
VoH Report
GULMIT, Gojal, June 19: According to a reliable source, political activities, meetings and processions in Gojal tehsil has been banned following the severe criticism and agitation against government for lethargic role to make proper arrangements for release of water by employing new technology and just wait over policy. Local administration has imposed section 144 and directed concerned law inforcement agencies to ensure normalization of affairs to facilitate relief operations. On the other hand, Noor Muhammad, former candidate for GBLA has criticized government for resorting to violence to suppress the agitation against inefficiency. He has demanded of central government and human right organizations to take notice of inhuman attitude adopted by local leadership to side line opposition to facilitate its non-democratic attitude.





Helping humanity-A great virtue itself
Voice of Hunza

HUNZA, Karimabad: Caritas-Pakistan, Islamabad distributing relief package among the IDPs of Salmanabad village at relief camp, Inter college Karimabad.






Volunteers stop work on spill way; ten days Deadline given to government following negotions VoH Report
HUNZA, Attabad, June 18: Local volunteers of Upstream areas like Gulmit, Shishkat, Ayeenabad and Husani village have stopped work on widening of the spill way after negotiations made with the regional authorities and NDMA officials. Volunteers have given government ten days Deadline for concrete steps in order to release large amount of water via spill way to save Upstream areas from submerging into rising level of water.
The water inflow in the lake has served to increase water level by 4 inches during last thirty hours, a local source told Voice of Hunza.




Water discharge around 5400 and inflow reached 5600; water level again increased by 15 inch
VoH Report
Gojal,June 16: The water level that was halted to rise further has restarted to rise as the outflow was less than inflow. According to the reliable sources, the water level during last 36 hours have recorded with an increase of around 15 inches, thus serving to submerge some more areas on one hand and increased burden on West-Banks. Local administration sources claimed that they have made arrangements to tackle any type of situation in time to come.






Financial assistance for disaster hit traders need of hour; suspension of Sino-Pak trade link created obstacle to reimburse loans owed from banks says Altaf Hussain
VoH Report
GILGIT, June 15: Altaf Hussain, president, Gari Bagh union of traders has called upon region government to provide financial assistance to local traders who were in perplexity to reimburse loans borrowed from different banks for trading concerns in the region. He said that it was due to the blockade of Karakorum High Way which has caused to bring starvation in the families of those who invested in Chinese trade saying lack of trade activities have served to hamper investments. “Many of these traders were unable to earn two times bread for their families,” he added.





Caritas-Pakistan to distribute emergency response relief package among 678 affected families of Hunza-Nagar district; military officials not cooperating: Sonam Samual
VoH Report
HuNZA,June 15: Critas-Pakistan, an emergency mendatory humanitarian assistance organization has managed to bring a comprehensive emergency response package to be distributed among the 678 affected families of Attabad, Sarat, Salmanabad,Up and down strem areas of Hunza-Nagar district. According to Sanam Samual, manager Operations and logistics, relief goods under a complete package net weigh 19 kg comprising three kits: Beding(cotton metresses, pillows) hygiene and Kitchen kits for each familiy to cater problems emerged from the disaster, RDs times report.

Read More
Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on Wednesday

VoH
The outflow via spill way and seepage from different points from the around 385 feet high and 22 kilometer long accidentally formed lake at Attaabad has exceeded inflow a day earlier causing to raise water level and creating a new threat of submerging of low level Upstream areas along Upper Ayeenabad, Shishkat, Gulmit and Husani settlements.

The rapid and haphazard erosion on the spill has surfaced heavy bolders with gorges among them served gradually to allow more water to pass over and ease pressure on West end facades. Despite of appearance of heavy bolders under the outpouring water, there is very least chance of sudden reliease of water by the next month when the inflow in the barrier would exceed outflow due to meling of glaciers in Gojal, Upper Hunza. Though, local governments of Hunza-Nagar, Gilgit, Diamer in collaboration with other some of Non Governmental Organizations like FOCUS, Red-Cross and Behria Town was trying to give possible relief to affectees from available funds provided by fedral and regional government, there are many among affectees who express concerns on the mechanism of recieving and distribtution to the target population. According to majority of affectees a portion of relief goods have had disappeared in Gilgit jurisdiction by a mafia linked with the political and civil bureaucracy. Such a case which could not come on surface and burried under the soil was disapearance of more than half of the relief goods announced by various parties like that of PML(N)'s five trucks from which mere two trucks reched to their destinations while rest have been unloaded at unknown place. Similar was with the relief from Behria Town management that reached with half loaded trucks. On inquiry from a driver, it was disclosed that some portion of goods have been unloaded at in the way, near Gilgit. There are some couragous news that Behria Town was planning to provide edibles to affectees for next three months would help the Upstream population a lot to cater needs of the families in trouble.
Nevertheless, amidst concerns over mismanagement on part of administration and apathetic political role, irregularities in the recieving and issuing tendencies, a development occured a few days back when Caritas Pakistan, a humanitarian assistance organization expressing its dissatisfaction over distribution of relief packages to affectees sought permission from authorities directly like that of FOCUS and Red-Cross followed by a thorough need assessment plan. Federal government has pledged to help ensure rehibilitation of disaster hit people with 365 million rupee in 2010-11 fiscal year. The influx of relief items to affectees was a test of capability of local administration to ensure provision to the deserved ones.
We hope, that local administration through proper coordination with military and NGOs would plce a check on illegal movement of relief items and leave no corner to ensure proper distribution of relief goods accordint to the respective needs of affectees. We may hope that local governments would keep their ears and eyes open to halt any activity that may harm the interest of affectees to reduce the possiblities of occurance of irregularities and illegal movement during logistics from down cities to wear houses in the region.







Editor

Read More
Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on

Hunza, June 15: The names of following representitives have approved and being sent to Gulmit, tehsil headquarter by authorities to recieve and issuance of the relief goods at Heli-Pad being provided by different humanitarian organizations for Gojal, Upper Hunza.


The move has been finalised following a high level meeting here in Aliabad, Hunza which resulted into approval of nominations who have been delegated authority to issue relief items after recieving via helicopter. Due to communication barier and lack of availability of local volunteers, helicopters on Thursday remained on router for hours as mere two JCOs managed to unload goods on helipad, the sources claimed. The undersigned nominations for Aliabad, relief shifting helipad by concerned authorities were as below:
Sultan Ayub S/o Halawat Khan Numbardar, Relief Committee Gulmit, Gojal incharge
Gulab Shah S/o Jahan Shah, member relief Committe for Gulmit, Gojal
Ulfat Nazar S/o Sultan Nazar, member relief Committee for Gumit
Fazal Karim S/o Bai Nazar, member
Muhammad Nabbi S/o Mir Ahmed, member
Izat Ali Shah S/o Baqa Ali Baqa, member
Javed Iqbal S/O Feroz Shah, member
Farmanullah S/o Abdullah, member

While the following persons have been appointed for recieving and issuance of relief goods at Aliabad, Hunza.

Ismailuddin, R/O Sost, member
Muzaffar, R/O Gulkin, member
Akbar Khan, R/O Chipurson, member
Sultan Krim, R/O Sost,, member
Karim Khan, R/O Shimshal, member

The above persons were subjected to coordinate concerned authorities in relief operations.

Read More
Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on

Pakistan hasn’t quit courting insurgents;US report says extremist networks with current or former ties to govt pose significant risk to US, Pak govt itself
Monitoring Report
WASHINGTON, ISLAMABAD, June 22:WASHINGTON: Pakistan has not quit its habit of courting insurgents, and extremist networks with current or former ties to the government pose a significant risk to the US and the Pakistan government itself, a new study concludes.A rising number of terrorist plots in the US with roots in Pakistan stems in part from an unsuccessful strategy by Islamabad to blunt the influence of militant groups in the country, said the report by the RAND Corp, a non-profit study group frequently hired by the Pentagon.The report issued on Monday says the failed car bombing in New York’s Times Square is an example of how militant groups, some with shadowy government backing, can increasingly export terrorism far beyond the country’s borders.
The US isn’t getting its money’s worth for all the billions in aid pledged to Pakistan, the report concludes. The US should withhold some aid until Pakistan makes “discernible progress”, authors Seth Jones of RAND and Christine Fair of Georgetown University wrote. The authors chart long government support or tolerance for some extremist or terrorist groups, including Taliban at the Afghan border. The report says the US has had limited success in encouraging Pakistan to cut ties with extremists, while the Pakistan Army has had limited success in a series of military campaigns against militants over the last year. Agencies,Daily Times






Ahead of talks, Pakistan troops fire at border post
VoH Watch Dog
NEW DELHI, June 22: Ahead of the Indo-Pak talks, Pakistani troops in an apparent ceasefire violation fired at a border post along the international border inviting counter fire from BSF troops.The firing, according to reports, came from Pakistan’s Suragpur post on Abdullia border outpost along the international border in R S Pura sub-sector . The BSF retaliated against the Pakistani firing. The cross firing initially lasted for one and half hours but started again after a short break and continued for a couple of hours. Reports also said that there was an explosion triggered by an IED near the border line. The Indian side sees the firing as a violation of the ceasefire. A massive search operation was subsequently launched in the area. The firing incidentally takes place three days before the home ministers of the two countries are scheduled to meet to discuss a range of issues. Border tension and infiltration has continued to be an area of concern for India and this is set to be taken up in the upcoming, high-level meetings between the two sides. A similar incident took place on Sunday when Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions at Machhil sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Two porters were killed while two jawans were injured in the firing. India accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire in the Machhil sector. The incidents come just ahead of home minister P Chidambaram’s visit to Islamabad for the Saarc home ministers’ meeting. He is also scheduled to hold meetings with his Pakistani counterpart, Rehman Malik. And India is expected to take up the issue of infiltration attempts which have increased in Jammu and Kashmir in the summer months. Ahead of the home ministers’ meeting, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao will meet her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir. The meetings which are aimed at reducing the trust deficit will include discussions on incidents across the border. India had stalled the dialogue process after the Mumbai terror attacks in which terrorists had travelled from Pakistan to India to carry out multiple attacks.Courtesy: Economic Times




Lahoris being looted as corruption in passport offices runs riot
VoH Monitor
LAHORE,June 21: Getting a passport has become a tough ask for citizens due to the “powerful and corrupt” government officials working in the passport offices in hoots with a large network of agents, who loot hundreds of thousands of rupees from the masses in bribes to get the process done earlier than it would take them in routine.
There are at least four different groups of agents called Mushtaqi, Dhana, Bhatti brothers and Qasim working both in and outside the passport offices situated in Garden Town and Abbott Road. A family calling themselves ‘Sheikh brothers’ is solely dominating the agents business at the offices at Abbott Road. The illegal activity is running in full swing across the board in the city because these agents are bribing everybody to continue their illegal activities, from the basic office to the higher authorities. The office at Abbott Road deals with the people from Lahore city and Sheikhupura, while the other office issues passports to citizens from Lahore Cantt and Kasur. The FIA seldom bothers to take notice of the activities going on in these offices, despite being the authority charged with ensuring that there is no corruption in these offices. In a raid in 2009, the FIA could only find one clerk named Rana Riaz who was involved in issuing tokens to agents and taking bribes. However, Riaz was soon at it again a few days later after facing minor inquiries and he is still working in the same office. One of the front men working for agents outside the office, Iftikhar, told Daily newspaper that around 1,000 to 1,200 people visit each passport office in the city every day, while more than 500 of the people looking to have their passports made get the job done by paying agents, who further pay Rs 500 for each entry to government officials working in the passport office and keep the rest as their own profit. He said the agents working outside the offices convince people to pay bribes varying between Rs 700 to Rs 2,000 in order to avoid long queues of people standing outside the office, merely to get an entry token for further processing. He said the same networks were working inside the office and that they take Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 in bribes to get each process completed earlier. The process consists of data entry, biometrics, checking their names in the Exit Control List and interviews. The whole phenomenon has made the experience an ordeal for tens of thousands of poor families who visit the offices to get their passports, but cannot afford to pay bribes to agents. News about doubling of passport fees from July 1 has further added to the misery of poor people. Sources in the Garden Town offices told Daily Times that the network of agents and their nexus with people working inside the office have grown to the extent that they are not even afraid of people from influential offices and raids by authorities, as they either pay high ups or satisfy the ‘powerful visitors’ by sharing the bribes with them. A citizen named Muhammad Tufail told Daily Times that most of his family members lived abroad and the rest kept visiting the offices to get their passports, adding that so many visits to the passport office had made him somewhat of an expert on the whole process.
He said that the people
who were dealing with the agents on different levels inside the Garden Town office include Shaikh Dawood, Talat Chaudhry, Asif, Idrees and a person called Pasha.He said that Pasha was considered the front man of Assistant Director Jahanzeb Shah, who uses him as a clerk to oblige influential people such as his friends and family by giving them special protocol. Dawood collects money from a section of agents, while Talat deals with the rest, he added. Tufail said that 50 percent of the total amount earned by the office was given to the assistant director, while the rest was distributed by the staffers amongst themselves.However, Garden Town office Assitant Director Jahanzeb Shah told Daily Times that there had been corruption and an agents’ network inside the office in the past, but he had resolved the issues now. He denied taking any money in terms of bribes from agents and denied the existence of agents both inside and outside the office,Daily times reports.



Political meetings banned in Karachi
VoH Monitoring desk
KARACHI, June 16: "The government has banned public political meetings for a month as a way of controlling the targeted killings, a senior government official said Wednesday.“The government has banned public political meetings for a month as a way of controlling the targeted killings,” said Waqar Mehdi, an aide to the chief minister of the southern province of Sindh, of which Karachi is the capital. “The decision was taken late Tuesday night and we have issued a notification to this effect,” he said.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/8de49e0042dd78058433df3fd2f1cba0/policeKarachi--reut608.jpg?MOD=AJPERES

Police have picked up at least 12 suspects since the violence erupted last week. — Photo by Reuters


The measure applies to all large public meetings, rallies and demonstrations except for funeral prayers and burials.“There is a persistent possibility of terrorism activity during the large meetings and rallies as terrorists could inflict heavy damage to life and property,” Mehdi told AFP.The government has not released exact figures, but security officials say at least 10 people have died so far this month in targeted killings in Karachi and more than 100 since the beginning of the year.At least four more people were killed in incidents of target killing in different parts of Karachi during the past 12 hours, a private news channel reported. Unknown assailants shot dead a man on the city's Mauripur Road. Police said the man was involved in criminal activities and an investigation into the incident was underway.
Courtesy: Dawn News




Pakistani student remains missing in Kyrgyzstan
VoH Watch dog
ISLAMABAD, June 16:A Pakistani student in Kyrgyzstan is still missing in the riot hit Kyrgyzstan and has not returned home according to his family. Talking to private TV channel here on Wednesday, Riaz Ahmed said that his son Imran Ali resident of Mandi Bahauddin is in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for getting higher education since last three years.
He said that three days back his son told them on phone that there are 45 Pakistani students in his hostel and they have been directed to leave the hostel with in three days, after that there has been no word from him and they do not what has happened to him. Riaz Ahmed has appealed to the government to ensure his son's return. Courtesy:The Nation

Read More

Man publicly executed in Miramshah
VOH Watch
PESHAWAR, North Waziristan, June 08: Hundreds of people watched a man executed at gunpoint in a militant stronghold in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday after a Taliban court found him guilty of killing two brothers, residents and officials said. The Taliban brought the man, blindfolded and with his hands tied by rope, into a football ground in Miramshah, the main town of the North Waziristan region near the Afghan border.

The execution highlighted the power the Taliban still wield in the region.The Pakistan army mounted several offensives in the volatile northwest over the past year, killing hundreds of militants and capturing several of their strongholds, but it has not yet launched a crackdown in North Waziristan. A Taliban court had earlier convicted the man over the killing the two brothers about two weeks ago. The court asked the family of the slain brothers to take their revenge under Islamic law.“The heirs fired five gunshots and killed the suspect on the spot,” a resident told Reuters by telephone.The Taliban later handed over the man's body to his relatives, an official in Miranshah said. Courtesy: Dawn news






Parliament to open general discussion on budget today
VOH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, June 8: The National Assembly and Senate are scheduled to initiate a general discussion on the federal budget for fiscal year 2010-11 today (Tuesday), for which a two-week time has been allocated.Both the Houses will culminate their general discussion on the budget by June 21, which would then follow its passage by the National Assembly. Both the houses of parliament will separately re-assemble at the Parliament House following a break of two days to open the general discussion on the new budget.The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and the leader of the opposition in the Senate, Senator Wasim Sajjad, will open the general debate.Source: Dailytimes








Pak needs aid for uplift in tribal areas: Gilani
VOH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, June 8:Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan needs aid from the international community to carry out its social and economic development programme for tribal areas. In an interview to a Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the Prime Minister said, “after the successful military operations, we now need a social and economic development programme.” He said the government has already measured local needs and damages done by the insurgents and schools, bridges and public buildings have to be constructed and it is now that they have to win the hearts and minds of the people. He said, “We have told the European Union that we will need its aid.” “We are looking beyond terrorism. We are going for a long run relationship with Europe. For the tribal zones, where we are militarily involved, we don’t only need Europe, but the whole world,” he added.Source: The Nation

Read More
Posted by Shamsuddin Muhammad on Tuesday



Justify FullOut flow exceeds inflow in the Attaabad land slide spawned lake; increase in water discharge and erosion expends passage through spill-way gradually
VoH Report
HUNZA, Attabad, June 08: The out flow from the barrier has increased to 4550 cusec against 4510 cusec. According to the Gilgit Power and Water Department (GBPWD), and NESPAK,NDMA as well as fOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan, the outflow has exceeded inflow flow by around 40 cusecs, cuasing to lower the water level in the barrier. The reading taken on Monday at Ganish focal point inluding other streams of Central Hunza was recorded around 4850, cummulatively.

http://pamirtimes.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/spillwaynew1.jpg?w=640&h=480
HUNZA, Attaabad: water is discharging from the lake via spill way is greally increasing due to expansion into passage for last twenty four hours. Image by: FOCUS H.A.P

The weather remaind partially cleared on Monday , mere boat service from Gulmit to Shiskat, Husanni and other affected upstream areas, sources informed in the evening. The increase in water discharge and gradual erosion has expanded water passage on spill-way during last twenty four hours both horizontally and verticall, alowing more water to spill over easily.







Authorities bow before pressure; relief items shifted to Shishkat
VoH Report
HUNZA, June 08: Following the agitation and media coverage resulted to get the authorities ready to shift perishable relief goods to Shishkat, Upper Hunza village that stranded for more than a week on pretext of bad climatic conditions.


Faqeer Khan, contacted VoH on Monday, criticized electronic media for focusing on College ground helipad and neglacting certain other points namely Deedargah helipad, being used for the transfer of relief goods via Army helicopters.


HUNZA, Aliabad: Local volunteers help loading relief items on helicopters . Images by Shamsuddin Muhammad

A team of Dawn News, currently monitorring situation actively in the region was requested immediately to cover but failed to reach on the day. Consequently, a team of Geo News, finally managed to reach on Monday, took few shots and within few minutes athorities bowed before pressure and all items were shifted to their destination.

HUNZA: An army helicopter takes off with the relief goods, damped at deedargah for more a week to Shiskat village, Gojal.

One thing is apparent in such cases, most of the news channels were prototyped; if one manage to cover other would naturally find its way to that place.





Lack of proper energy distribution machanism or least attention of employees of power supply department to despense their duties?
Voice of Hunza

HUNZA, Aliabad: Authorities of power department never get tired to give directions to use low voltage appliances and savers to reduce pressure on the only power generating house, Hasanabad, Hunza can be applied overwhelmly if the department itself would able to dispense its own responsibilities. A street light is eluminated during the day time in the Aliabad. Image by: Shams







Italian radical party takes Abdul Hameed Khan into its fold
Monitoring Report
ROME, Italy, June 08: According to a media source, the Radical Party in the Italian parliament has given membership to Balawaristan National Front (BNF) Chairman Abdul Hamid Khan in recognition of his services for highlighting the plight of the people of his region at the international level and suffering exile for it.The representation was given to Mr Khan for highlighting the injustices being meted out to the masses of GB, human rights violations, especially eviction of local people from their land and lack of representation to the locals at the annual general meeting of the UNPO.
Recently, Abdul Hamid Khan told the UNPO meeting in Italy that in order to perpetuate its control in the region Pakistan was not only evicting the local people from their land but was also issuing leases of precious mineral resources in the region to Chinese and other companies in complete disregard to the opposition by the residents.He told the participants that this act of Pakistan would not only deprive the locals of their rights on the natural resources but would also pave the way for snatching their political rights of deciding about their future as an independent nation. Weekly Baang-e-sehar, Karachi.







Affectees express serious concerns over damping of perishable items for a week on pretax of bad weather; immediate shift of relief goods demanded
SRT Report
HUNZA, Aliabad, June 7: Affectees of disaster hit village Shishkat of Upper Hunza, Gojal has expressed serious concerns over the damping of perishable relief goods at Aliabad, Helipad.

HUNZA, Aliabad: Relief goods (perishable items) damped at Deedar Gah on pretext of bad climatic condition in the Shiskat village. Images by: Shamsuddin Muhammad

According to the details, relief goods includeing edible items including vegitables were brought to the Aliabad, Deedargah helipad for distribution to Gulmit, Passu, Sost and Shishkat settlements, respectively.

Yet, the situation become perplexed when Commanding Officer, Warehouse Aliabad, in contrast to the directives of civil administration officials directed junior army personnel, deputed at the spot to send item all destinations except Shishkat on pretext of excessive air pressure in the atmosphere four days earlier. To read full story, please log on: www.srtimes.blogspot.com





Environment day celebrations-IDPs of Salmanabad, at inter college Karimabad arrange envrironment protection walk
Bureau Report
Hunza, Karimabad,June 07: World community observed envirnment day on Saturday,fifth June, 2010 with zeal as usual. Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) of Salman abad, who have been accommodated at Girls Inter College, Karimabad, Hunza arranged a special walk to mark the day.

HUNZA, Karimabad, Hyderabad: IDPs of Salmanabad on a walk to mark world environment day. Image by: Shams

Students, teachers holding playcards marched from the Karimabad, temporary relief camp to Khurukushal, Hyderabad and to Aga Khan Academy, Baltit to give people environment friendly messages. To read in detail, please click on following link: www.rdstime.blogspot.com

Read More

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