No common ground found
VoH News Watch
ISLAMABAD, July 16: Hope and despair both reigned supreme on Thursday as Pakistan and India failed to agree on anything but that they would continue to talk. The Pakistan-India trust-building dialogue ended in a deadlock as the two sides failed to come up with a clear road map for sustainable engagement or a consensus on confidence-building measures.


Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, both of whom had been mandated by their prime ministers to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries, held protracted discussions, but failed to agree on anything tangible. At the end of the day the two appeared before the media for a much-delayed press conference with only vague assurances -- to remain engaged; in addition the Indian minister extended an invitation to Mr Qureshi to visit New Delhi. A source at the meeting described the discussions as very intense and attributed the deadlock to the inflexibility of the Krishna-led Indian delegation that refused to discuss issues of concern to Pakistan. Their excuse was that they did not have the mandate to do so. The Indians, sources said, were more interested in discussing the trial of Mumbai attacks’ suspects in Pakistan; following the leads that emerged from US terror suspect David Headley; crackdown on alleged India-specific terrorism infrastructure in Pakistan; ‘increased’ infiltration across the Line of Control; and putting an end to the hate propaganda being churned out by Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. However, they were disinterested in discussing the issues close to the Pakistani delegation -- the Kashmir dispute and human rights situation in the occupied Valley; Siachen and issues pertaining to peace and security, particularly the strategic restraint regime. The Indian side, it appeared, wanted a road map for the trust-building process on their own terms.
However, the Pakistanis, who were equally focused on their own wish list, told the Indians that they could not pick and choose issues and would have to look at the entire spectrum of irritants. So great was the gap between the two sides that Dawn has learnt that the Indians were not ready to agree to a timeline for the trust-building process, keeping it open ended and putting off Pakistan’s concerns indefinitely. The stalemate because of the intransigence could not end even after two rounds of discussions spread over more than six hours.In fact, the talks which were supposed to end in the afternoon allowing the two ministers to address a press conference at two in the afternoon extended till late evening; they finally spoke to the media after eight at night. In between, they also dropped in on the prime minister and president as scheduled.Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s conversation with Mr Krishna articulated his desire for peace. The Pakistani leader had, along with his Indian counterpart, laid the foundation for renewing contacts after the break precipitated by the Mumbai attacks.“The existing environment of goodwill in Pakistan for fostering friendly relations with India needs to be built upon through concrete measures to address all the outstanding issues between the two countries, lest it gets eroded with the passage of time,” Mr Gilani said, adding that the ball was now in India’s court. Courtesy: Dawn News






Five killed in Mingora suicide attack
VoH Monitor
PESHAWAR, July 15: A suicide attack targeted a Pakistani military convoy on Thursday, killing five people in the northwestern Swat valley where the army put down a Taliban uprising last year. It was the deadliest attack in the district since February and underscored lingering insecurity in a region that until a major military operation last year was largely outside government control and paralyzed by Taliban militants. The bombing came as the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers in Islamabad held their first substantive talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks - which New Delhi blamed on Pakistani militants - torpedoed their peace process. Anwar Khan, 40, who runs a general store in Mingora, said he was outside asking someone not to park in front of his shop when the bomb exploded.






Punjab agrees to close Chashma-Jhelum link canal
Bureau Report
LABHORE, July 13:Sindh and Punjab on Tuesday settled their dispute on water distribution as latter agreed to close Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal, the major bone of contention between the two provinces, a private TV channel said.
The settlement came in a ministerial-level meeting
held at Punjab House, following a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani failed to achieve a solution to the dispute. The settlement was reached as Punjab bowed before the Sindh’s demand of closing the link canal that it claims is fetching water from its share, the channel added.
The decision to open CJLC has been canceled and a
meeting of Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has been summoned for July 14 to settle
further issues, stated a handout issued by the PM House. The Nation






Pakistan opposes new category of permanent members ‘without veto’ on UNSC
VoH Watch dog
UNITED NATIONS, July 13 (APP): Pakistan has voiced its opposition to any move to create a new category of permanent members “without veto” on the U.N. Security Council, and reiterated its stand for increasing the number of non-permanent members as talks continued on the ways to reform the 15-member body. “There is neither a comprehensible criterion nor a definitive logic” in the UN Charter for adding ‘Permanent Members without Veto’ to the Security Council, Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon told a closed door session of the General Assembly on reforming and expanding thecouncil aimed at making it more representative and more effective.
India, Germany, Japan and Brazil are aspiring to become new permanent members in an expanded Security Council. But during the discussions over the past few days, the existing five veto-wielding permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States—have ruled out the possibility of extending veto power to new permanent members. “It is obvious that the existing ‘Permanent-5’ cannot be clumped in a single category, with the individual aspirants of this permanent seat category,” Ambassador Haroon noted. As the main allies against Germany and Japan in World War Two, the five major powers received permanent seats on the Security Council with veto rights. The five later acquired special status as official nuclear weapons states under the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty. Full-scale negotiations to restructure the Security Council began in the General Assembly in February last year on five key areas—the categories of membership, the question of veto, regional representation, size of an enlarged Security Council, and working methods of the council and its relationship with the 192-member assembly. Despite the general agreement on enlarging the council, as part of the UN reform process, member states remain sharply divided over the details.
In July 2005, the so-called Group of Four “India, Germany,Japan and Brazil” made a bid for permanent seats without veto rights on a 25-member council, with six new permanent seats without veto power, including two for the African region, and four additional non-permanent seats. In the same year, the Italy/Pakistan-led “Uniting for Consensus” (UfC) group opposed any expansion of the permanent members on the Security Council. It sought enlargement of the council to 25 seats, with 10 new non-permanent members who would
be elected for two-year terms, with the possibility of immediate re-election.





PA passes pro-media resolution
Monitoring Report

LAHORE, July 12:After receiving huge condemnation from all sections of the society for its anti media resolution Punjab Assembly today adopted a resolution in favour of media, report said on Tuesday.


The motion was moved by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. PML-Q MPA Amir Sultan Cheema pointed out about the lack of quorum, which was rejected. Punjab Assembly Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the media of "irresponsibility that is damaging the democracy."






NUST Students to build one seater economy engine; car may travel 250 km against consumption of one liter
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD, July 12: A team of mechanical department of National University of Science and
technology (NUST) is about to complete its project on one seater economy motor car engine. The project aims to reduce fuel consumption working againts millage would help reduce air pollution encountered by big cities.







Rapid population growth, biggest problem than water and power: PM
Monitoring desk
ISLAMABAD, July 11: Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the rapid population
growth is a biggest problem than water and electricity. Addressing a national convention on population held at Convention Center on Sunday, the Prime Minister said that the incumbent government has always been cognizant of the fact that rapid population growth has a direct nexus with poverty.
"I take pride in sharing that Pakistan People's Party is the only political party, that includes 'Population Planning' at its party manifesto", he added. The Premier emphasized that Pakistan can take advantage of experiences of brother Islamic countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia to control population. The Prime Minister said that two years ago, when our elected government shouldered the responsibility of serving the country, economic deprivation, scarcity of resources, internal strife and terrorism dominated the national scene. "But by the grace of Allah, with the support of our masses and continued assistance of our friends, we have been able to address these challenges in a befitting manner and, today, I am proud to declare that Pakistan is steering ahead towards the path of prosperity, self reliance and economic well being", added by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said: "Our Government's policies have helped in confronting on one hand terrorism - the biggest challenge posed to our homeland's security and stability and on the other hand, the issue of rising poverty and economic meltdown".




65 killed in twin suicide attacks in Mohmand Agency
VOH Watch
PESHAWAR,July 11: At least 65 people were killed, including women and children, and 110 injured, as two suicide bombers ripped through political offices, just seconds apart from each other, in Yakka Ghund tehsil of Mohmand Agency on Friday, Mohmand Political Agent Amjad Ali Khan said.

The dead included five khasadars, two political moharrars and five members of a family, while over 100 shops and more than two dozen vehicles were destroyed in the explosions. According to AFP, the force of the explosives collapsed flimsy wooden roofs of more than two dozen shops, twisted shutters and snapped off doors.The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Mohmand chapter claimed responsibility for the attacks.The first bomber, riding a motorbike, hit the main boundary wall of the political offices of the Yakka Ghund tehsil, while the second attacker, driving an explosives-laden coach, hit the main offices, which also included a sub-jail in the premises. Resultantly, the entire building collapsed, killing 65 people and injuring 110 others. Thirty-five prisoners fled from the prison, four of whom were recovered later. The bomber rammed the vehicle, as hundreds of tribal elders had gathered around the office of Rasool Khan, the Mohmand assistant political agent, for a meeting. None was hurt, according to Amjad Ali Khan. Women, children: Among the wounded were several people displaced due to the military operation, who were collecting relief goods near the blast site. Residents said five children, aged between five and 10, and several women were among those dead. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and those critically-wounded were shifted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital. Rescue workers were sifting through the debris of partially-collapsed buildings and officials feared the death toll could rise further.Agencies





Punjab Assembly passes ‘anti-media’ resolution
VoH Monitor
LAHORE, July 10: In an unprecedented development, the Punjab Assembly (PA) on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning certain sections of the media for its “irresponsible role” against political and non-political personalities, a move that can potentially damage democracy. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present in his assembly chamber on the occasion. PML-N MPA Sanaullah Mastikhel introduced the resolution, alleging that some media programmes were being used as propaganda tool to put politicians and public representatives into disrepute.
The resolution urged media representatives to observe impartiality in covering events, refrain from adopting an insulting attitude towards legislators, discourage ‘baseless’ reports and demonstrate responsibility. The resolution also demanded the Punjab government to constitute a joint committee comprising of media personnel and MPAs to prepare recommendations to sort out the issue.
Meanwhile, PPP MPA Shaukat Basra accused TV anchors, Kamran Khan and Hamid Mir, of working for the ISI, and appealed to the CJP to take suo motu action against them. PML-Q’s Seemal Kamran urged the media to refrain from defaming and disgracing women parliamentarians. She also condemned MPA Abid Ali’s remarks regarding the PA and demanded the House to bring a resolution against him. PML-N’s Nadeem Khadam Hussain also condemned Abid’s remarks.
In response, the media representatives sitting in the gallery boycotted the assembly proceedings and walked out in protest against the resolution. They held a demonstration in front of the Punjab Assembly building and shouted slogans against the “fake degree-holding politicians” as Shahbaz came out of the House. The journalists chanted slogans against the CM when he avoided confronting them. At this, a handful of MPAs verbally abused the journalists as the CM made a hurried departure from the assembly. A row erupted between parliamentarians and journalists but the security guards managed to intervene, pulling both parties aside before things could turn ugly.Daiytimes






Pakistan won’t hand over 26/11 suspects to India’ * President says ‘non-state actors’ who derailed Indo-Pak talks will be brought to justice in Pakistan; Govt will survive political turmoil, complete term : Zardari
VoH Monitor
BEIJING: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday ruled out handing over the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to India, saying the “non-state actors” who derailed the Indo-Pak rapprochement would “hopefully” be brought to justice in his country. Zardari, who concluded a five-day visit to China, in an interview said Pakistanis involved in the Mumbai attacks could not be handed over to India, as there was no extradition treaty etween the two countries.
“I do not think it works like that between the two nations. There has to be bilateral treaties of that sort, which do not exist between us. But we are trying those people in Pakistan. Hopefully we will bring the offenders to justice,” he said. He underlined that the non-state actors who attacked Mumbai had succeeded in derailing the India-Pak peace process, but hoped India’s “mature democracy” would show “foresight” in taking forward the resumed talks. However, the “non-state actors managed to stall it for some time”, he said. “Now I think it is back on track and hopefully will go forward,” the president said, insisting that Pakistan wanted to be friends with all its neighbours.
Turmoil: Zardari said his government would complete its five-year term and survive the political turmoil.About India-US ties, he said, “We complement those ties. When India was going with civil nuclear deal with the US, we did not oppose it, so we did not mind that our friends have influence on other friends and we expect the same from others.” Zardari praised the ongoing China-Pakistan anti-terror drill in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.
Evil forces: He said Pakistan would not only cooperate with China in the fight against the “three evil forces” – separatism, extremism and terrorism – but also share intelligence with it. Earlier, speaking at the pavilions that showcase Pakistan and China’s historical growth and development through millennia, the president said that Pakistan and China’s relations were thousands of years old dating back to when Buddhism flourished in parts of the world that now constitute Pakistan.Agencies







China attaches great importance to its trade ties with Pakistan: Wen Jiabao

Monitoring desk
BEIJING, July 10 (APP, Agencies) - Chinese government attaches great importance to its trade ties with Pakistan which not only benefit peoples of both the countries, but also have strategic significance to the long-term development of the two economies. These views were expressed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari here Thursday. He suggested both sides draw up a plan for trade cooperation, and take effective measures to offer reliable policy, financial and security guarantees to major bilateral infrastructure projects.

CHINA: A file photo of president of Asif Ali Zardari and the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meeting in country's capital. Image by: Life

Wen also encouraged both countries to enhance personnel, information and technology exchanges among enterprises, and make full play of the China-Pakistan free trade area to boost trade cooperation. Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations. Wen said China is willing to take the opportunity of the 60th anniversary to propel bilateral relations to a new stage. President Zardari, who is on his fifth China tour since taking office in September 2008, said his frequent visits to China revealed the importance his government attached to developing relations with China and his affection of the Chinese people. He extended gratitude to China’s support and help to his country over the years, adding Pakistan would like to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure construction and culture, and join hands to fight terrorism. Earlier, Jia Qinglin, Chairman of Chinese People Political Consultative Conference, a top advisory body during the meeting with President Zardari said that China has always valued its relationship with Pakistan, and treats the bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective. Jia applauded the Pakistani government’s firm support in issues concerning China’s core interests, saying that China would work with Pakistan to cement traditional friendship and act on all consensuses reached by the two sides.
Jia hoped the two nations would work together to push forward the bilateral strategic
partnership of cooperation, in a bid to benefit the two peoples and promote regional peace and prosperity. Jia said the CPPCC attached great importance to friendly cooperation with Pakistan, and would work with Pakistan’s parliament to expand personnel exchanges, especially between the youth from both nations. He hoped the two sides would make full preparation for celebrating the 60th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties. President Zardari said Pakistan firmly adheres to the one-China policy and holds the policy of carrying forward friendship with China from generation to generation. He agreed that Pakistan would make joint efforts with China to increase cooperation in various sectors to push forward bilateral ties. President Zardari arrived in Beijing Tuesday evening on a five-day working visit to China. He will leave for Shanghai Friday, and visit the Pakistani and Chinese Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.







UN releases Pak FM letter on BB’s murder
Monitoring desk
NEW YORK, July 09: The spokesman of the United Nations Thursday ruled out reopening of the inquiry report into the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto. Talking to journalists here, the UN spokesman said the report of the UN Commission will be given a shape of a legal document.
He said the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has full confidence in the president of the UN Commission that undertook the probe. The UN spokesman said the letter of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will be responded.










LHC stops NAB from taking action against Sharifs
Monitoring Report
LAHORE, July 9: The Lahore High Court has stopped the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from taking any action against Sharif family.

The Sharif family has moved the Lahore High Court (LHC), Rawalpindi Bench, for the recovery of their forfeited property and financial assets taken into possession by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during 2001-02 while the Sharif brothers were under trial. Through their petitions before the LHC, the Sharif family adopted before the court that NAB has no justification, whatsoever, to keep these things under its possession after the Supreme Court and a bench of the Lahore High Court set aside the sentences earlier awarded to Mian Nawaz Sharif. The Nation








Water row deepens between Sindh, Punjab; Govt decides to restructure IRSA
VoH Watch
HYDERABAD, July 9:(On line) The dispute between Sindh and Punjab on their share of water deepened on Thursday as the chief ministers of two provinces refused to make any compromise on the issue.

The tension began when Indus River System Authority (IRSA) acting chairman Shafqat Masud asked the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to reopen the Chashma-Jhelum link canal to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Punjab, using his discretionary powers despite objections by other IRSA members. Sindh would not relinquish its share of water; this was decided at a top level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here on Thursday, reported a private TV channel.The meeting reviewed the water distribution dispute. The meeting also condemned the opening of Chashma-Jhelum link canal. The meeting said that Sindh will have negative affect because of the decisions of the IRSA. The opening of link canal will affect province's agriculture and economy. The concern was also shown on the delay of the release of funds by the federal government for the projects in Sindh.Later, Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif told newsmen that that his government would also not make any compromise on Punjab's share of water.

1 Responses to National News Updates of the Week [July 09-16]

  1. Anonymous Says:
  2. I being a general person is of opinion the ensuing trust deficiet among provinces over injustices being done by one against another either expelicitly or implicitly proving a catalyst for realization of being subjugated by the only province. In Balochistan, what provincial government is doing is not satisfactory to us. How can we expect planners sitting on moving chairs in airconditioned rooms really realize problem of us. Please include some thing over Balochistan. Thanks, o Khudaie Paman

     

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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
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Co-editor: Inam Karim
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Reporting Team
Karachi: Sartaj Karim
Email: sartaj_compaq@hotmail.com



Hunza: Naeem Hamoon
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Gilgit: Aslam Shah

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Islamabad: Ikramullah Baig
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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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