Qureshi delivers where diplomats fail
VoH Monitoring Desk
NEW YORK, September 14: Long after dust gathers on the US Open trophy that barely eluded Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, the message he sent on a grand stage in New York still will echo loudly. After two sets of riveting tennis during which Pakistan’s Qureshi and India’s Rohan Bopanna came a scant few points short of winning the men’s doubles title Friday, Qureshi was handed the microphone and given a chance to speak words that, in his mind, couldn’t be said strongly enough.

“There’s a bad perception that Pakistan is a terrorist nation,” Qureshi told the crowd in 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium. “We’re a friendly, loving, caring people. We want peace as much as you guys. May God bless us all.” —Reuters Photo

“There’s a bad perception that Pakistan is a terrorist nation,” Qureshi told the crowd in 23,000-seat Arthur Ashe Stadium. “We’re a friendly, loving, caring people. We want peace as much as you guys. May God bless us all.” He received a warm ovation from a crowd that included Bopanna’s parents, who flew from India to New York for the match. And at that moment, it hardly seemed important that Qureshi and Bopanna had lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) to Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, brothers who won their ninth Grand Slam tournament and third US Open title. About a half-hour later, the ambassadors of Bopanna’s India and Qureshi’s Pakistan – neighbouring countries with a decades-long history of war, distrust and tension – placed 5,000-year-old ceremonial cloths over the shoulders of the Bryan brothers, who are donating money through their foundation to help victims of flooding in Pakistan that has affected more than 17 million people. As they’ve been saying all week, Qureshi and Bopanna simply want to send some good news back to their homelands, where good news has been sorely lacking of late. It was one of those moments when an athletic event means something more than a win and a loss. “Sports will always play a certain role,” Pakistani ambassador Abdullah H. Haroon said. “No matter how you look at it, this is bound to improve things. Because this is people to people, this is not governments to governments, which have reservations and other aspects. This is people to people. People have enjoyed it. It has created a tremendous boom.” Bopanna and Qureshi have been playing together since 2003, though the story of their peace partnership – “The Indo-Pak Express,” as they call it – really gathered steam earlier this year when they started wearing sweat shirts with slogans reading “Stop War, Start Tennis” as part of a campaign backed by a group called Peace and Sport.

Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan.AP Photo.

Hardly unnoticed on Friday was that their closing act in New York came on the eve of Sept. 11, with the city in the midst of a fractious debate about whether an Islamic centre and mosque should be built near ground zero, and the country closely following the twists and turns of a Florida pastor’s threat to burn copies of the Quran. “Yes, I’ve been hearing about that,” said Qureshi, who needed three hours to get through customs when he arrived in New York. “For me, you have to understand there are extremists in every religion. But those small groups or activists shouldn’t justify the thinking that everyone is like them. Above all, everybody wants peace. Not everybody is an extremist. That’s my message and hopefully everyone can understand that.” Qureshi said he vividly recalled the moment of the 2001 attacks in New York, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. An up-and-coming tennis player at the time, he had been at a training camp in Holland when he saw events unfold at the World Trade Centre in lower Manhattan. “It was strange but I was going through the channels and I actually thought it was a movie or something,” he recalled. “I switched the channel again and then felt like it was the same movie on a different channel. “I was kind of confused. Everything was mostly in Dutch so I couldn’t really understand. Then I actually realized what had happened. It was a very shocking moment.” On the court, the players put on a show worthy of the message they were sending. There wasn’t a single break of serve in 24 games and the tiebreakers were decided by two and three points.
The Bryans won their 65th career title – improving on their own record. For Bob, it marked the second straight day he’s barely outdone Qureshi. On Thursday, he teamed with Liezel Huber to win the mixed doubles championship.
Bob Bryan said Qureshi’s post-match speech “choked me up.” “I could see him. He was quivering a little bit. He was very choked up,” Bryan said. “Just to give that message to everyone was very heartfelt.” Quite a message, indeed, for a tennis match. “It’s the message it sends that India and Pakistan are playing on the same side,” said India’s ambassador, Hardeep Puri. “The core message that comes through is that you cannot allow relations between two countries to be held hostage by actions of a few. A large majority want peace, want tranquility. They want to live together and get along with their daily lives.” Source:Dawn








Security on high alert for Eid
VoH News Watch
KARACHI, LAHORE, September 11: The Karachi police has deployed over 14,000 personnel in the city under a contingency plan to counter any act of terrorism and other subversive activity to ensure peace on the eve of Eid ul Fitr. The especially deployed police personnel will stationed at all the main Eid congregation places, mosques, Imambargahs, shopping centers, bazaars, markets, parks, the seaside, important government and private buildings, offices, airport, railway stations and bus stands.
HYDERABAD: Internally Displaced Children show hands decorated with Mehindi on the occasion of Eid day

Directives have also been issued to ensure that cars, bikes and other vehicles are parked at a distance from the congregation places. These police personnel are in addition to police commandos who have been deployed at sensitive areas in the city. Moreover, the Pakistan Rangers and Special Branch of Sindh Police are closely coordinating the security measures. A Central Control Room has been setup at the office of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to continuously monitor the situation. The Control room, which can be reached at 021 99213081, receives all the latest reports from the police stations of the city.

Security plan for Lahore:-
In Lahore, the police have finalised a security plan for Eid and over 13,000 policemen are set to remain alert at 2,500 mosques and Imambargahs. A spokesman for DIG Operations Lahore told express 24/7 that around 64 mosques and Imambargahs have been declared sensitive. He added that under the plan, snipers will also be deployed on roof tops and Elite police and rangers will provide them security cover. Speaking to Express News, SP Civil Lines Haider Ashraf said the police have taken all out measures in mobilizing all resources available to avoid any unpleasant incident.
LAHORE: Paramilitary and military forces are high alert during Eid celebrations. Image by: Reuters

Over 3,000 personnel of Islamabad police and Rangers will ensure the security of mosques and other sensitive installations during Eid holidays.
More than 1500 police personnel have been deputed to patrol residential areas since most people travel to their native towns on Eid, leaving their houses empty. On the other hand, On the eve of Eidul Fitr, a fresh rain spell lashed the southern parts of the country, particularly Sindh, where hundreds of makeshift relief camps have been set up, exacerbating an already difficult situation for those displaced by the floods. Those who just returned to their homes will have more problems to deal with, as the rains have, hampered relief efforts. Those who just returned to their homes will have more problems to deal with, as the rains have, hampered relief efforts. “Our life is worse than death. Eid is for the living, but we are neither alive nor dead,” said a solemn 15-year-old Rukhsana in sadness. “We have no clothes, no food, no shoes and no home. My brother is small, he can’t fight the looters who snatch all the food from the aid trucks,” she said.Abandoned by her father after her mother died, the teenage refugee will spend Eid with her grandmother and 10-year-old brother in a makeshift camp, 450 kilometres south of her hometown of Garhi Khairo. For the poor and hungry flood survivors, this year’s holiday offers more rain and little joy. Courtesy: Express Tribune, PPI




Govt to introduce Acid Control and Burn Crime Prevention Bill 2010 soon
VoH News Watch
ISLAMABAD, September 11: The Government is going to introduce an Acid Control and Burn Crime Prevention Bill 2010. Through the Bill, National Acid Control Council would be established to formulate policies of treatment, rehabilitation and to provide legal aid to the acid and burn victims and take necessary steps to implement and monitor these policies. The draft of the Bill has almost been finalised which will soon be forwarded to the Law Ministry and then be presented in the Parliament. The purpose of the Bill is to control the import, production, transportation, boarding, sale and use of acid to prevent the misuse of acid and provide legal support to acid and burn victims. The draft has been prepared by making consultations with all the stakeholders including members of Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), National Commission on Status of Women, UNIFEM and MoWD. All crimes under this Act will be cognisable, non-compound-able and non-bailable. The National Acid Control Council will be established to implement the Act in every province. Moreover, the emphasis was laid upon the fact that there is a dire need to make the provincial Acid Control Committees more effective so as to ensure prevention of sale of acids in their relevant areas of jurisdiction. According to legal experts, there are many provisions in the Pakistan Penal Code, which may address this crime to some extent but the enormity of the consequences faced by the victims needs much more severe penalties than presently available in the law. Moreover, since acid is so readily available in medical and other stores, acid attacks become a relatively cheap and effective way of committing acts of violence against women. So it is necessary to specifically term acid and burn related violence as crime by providing tougher and stricter penalties. According to the proposed draft, the victims of acid attack or burn attack shall be deemed to be person with disability and entitled to benefits and all measures under The Disabled Person (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981, The Nation reports.






Kotli: 20 killed as bus falls into ravine
Monitoring Report
KOTLI, Azad Kahmir, September 10: At least twenty people were killed and 50 injured when a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in Kotli district of Azad Kashmir, Geo News reported on Friday.
The bus was traveling to Dhanwan Goi from Kotli via Tatta Pani, when it fell into ravine. Dead and injured were being shifted to the District Headquarter Hospital Kotli, hildren and women were among the victims. Source: Geo.tv








Happy 'Eid Day' to you all,
Heartiest wishes from VoH
The country has divided into two halves on the question of Eid-ul-Fitr consequently, Eid was observed on 10 th September, 2010. While a major portion of country's population is observing Eid celebrations today on Saturday 11 September, 2010. Muslims observe this mega event at the end of thirty day's fasting, an imprtant factor of Islamic faith right from its rise.
We, the team of Voice of Hunza would like to extend our heartiest wishes to all our valuable readers and saying you all " Happy Eid day" amidst fear, uncertainitites and apprehensions due to constantly deteriorating law and order situation in almost every province of the country. We have not forgotton those all who are in troubles in the wake of floods and land slidings and pray " May lord bring every human being out of poverty, oppression and misery.





Quetta: Minister’s house targeted; three killed
Monitoring Desk

QUETTA,Sep. 09: An explosion took place at the house of the Provincial Minister in Railway Housing Society on Thursday.

Three people have been killed and three others injured in the blast. The blast occurred in the compound of Baluchistan Finance Minister Asim Kurd Gilo's house.
Bodies and injured have been taken to Quetta Civil Hospital. Law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area. Samaa.tv






Government bans five Baloch groups;Police powers for FC in Balochistan; Interior minister says bank accounts of banned groups seized, action to be taken against their members; FC to carry out intelligence-guided operations where state writ challenged
Monitoring Desk
QUETTA, Sep.08: In an explicit assertive move, the federal government has transferred police powers to the Frontier Corps (FC) and banned five Baloch militant groups. The FC’s new powers, extended for a period of three months, will enable it to search and detain people. Talking to reporters in Quetta on Wednesday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the
decisions had been taken during a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to review the law and order situation in Balochistan.
The banned groups are: the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF), the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and the Baloch Mussalah Diffah Tanzim(BMDT). “They (banned groups) will not be allowed to undertake any activity, their offices will be closed and action will be taken against their office bearers,” Malik said, adding that their bank accounts hadalso been seized.He said that any group whose name includedwords such as liberation, army and lashkarwould be banned. “It has been decided to act in order to restore the declining writ of the governmentin certain districts of Balochistan,” the minister said. However, he did not provide the names of the districts.
The interior minister said that the government was not going to launch a crackdown or full-fledged military operation in Balochistan, similar to the one launched in Swat. “The circumstances are different in Balochistan,” Malik said, adding that a small percentage of Baloch outlaws were involved in terrorist activities. Intelligence-guided operation: “It will be a targeted action that will be taken against the outlaws on the basis of real intelligence reports,” he said, adding that police would lead the action and FC would assist it in any district where the writ of the state is challenged. He said that the Balochistan chief minister would have the authority to decide in which area to use the FC. “The force will work under his directives for three months,” he said. He stressed that no steps would be taken without first consulting the Balochistan government.Source: Daily Times

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Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan

Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan
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Mission Statement & Weekly VoH Publishing team


VoH
Voice of Voiceless

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

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


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


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


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



Hunza: Naeem Hamoon
Email: naeemhmn@hotmail.com


Gilgit: Aslam Shah

Email: hunzaishah@gmail.com


Islamabad: Ikramullah Baig
Email: hunza_havenonearth@yahoo.com

Voice of the voiceless!

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

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

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

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





Shamsuddin Muhammad,

Author and Editor,

VoH



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

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