AJK, POLITICS AND POLITICIANS

By

Aqeel Butt  (Luton UK),  10 June 2011

 

Firstly, the ‘sovereign’ country of ‘Azad’ Jammu & Kashmir is run by its foreign masters. Secondly, in terms of credibility, so called AJK politicians are so week and powerless that a simple Pakistani minister of Kashmir Affairs is capable of turning the whole AJK government upside down. The upcoming gener......al elections is another episode of the same old political and power gain drama fantasised by the foolish, fooling and fooled politicians of tiny and confused state of AJK.

In the past 63 years our selfish and corrupt politicians completely failed to establish even a single reputable institution in their so called AJK acquiring about 4000 square miles. Can you think of any reputable and internationally recognised school, college, university, hospital or any other institution in AJK? Till today, we could not even start our own national radio station forget TV station. After 63 years, there is no industry in AJK at all apart from a nominal presence in Mirpur district only. It is very shameful that we have a good size dam called Mangla Dam, but we purchase our electricity from Pakistan owned WAPDA on very expensive rates with absolutely no subsidy. We produce the thermohydral electricity with our water resources and then gift it along with precious waters of River Jhelum and Punch to Pakistan for almost free hence we import almost every commodity including food from Pakistan. That is why our cost of living in AJK is 10-15% more than the people of Pakistan. Similarly, our job prospects are almost NIL in AJK, whereas there is a big influx of our youth to Pakistan as well as Middle East, Europe, UK and beyond in search of jobs and prosperity. We need not to blame others but our own leadership have always treacherously traded their principles with their foreign masters in return of Mazafarabad based corrupt and ‘kathputli’ governance. Surprisingly, the leadership of Indian Occupied Kashmir did no different.

Similarly, can you count any top level bureaucrat, army, air force or navy commander from AJK background in the history of Pakistan? The list of our 'achievements' goes on, however, on contrary our AJK politicians are still pleading ignorance and are busy fooling their own public, wasting their precious resources and dividing them further into bratheries. Unfortunately, this is the kind of tailored democracy we have inherited in AJK.

These days, the politicians are busy playing political music chair game whereas the public is busy celebrating the 'election festival' but hardly anyone cares and speaks up about the real issues the people of AJK face in their day to day life.

To tackle with the above problems and to compete with the technological advanced and civilised world of the twenty first century a complete overhauling is desperately required. I believe, only highly educated youth of AJK can bring a change in the society if given a sincere leadership. I am not sure, if our youth is ready to bring a change and have such leadership available to guide them

Cut on AJK Budget Threats National Security: Marvi Memon

By: Jalaluddin Mughal

Muzaffarabad: Member of National Assembly  Standing Committee for Jammu Kashmir & Giligat Biltastan  Marvi Memon have advised Pakistan Government to resolve Azad Jammu and Kashmir related financial issues as it is a threat to national security, integrity and reputation of Pakistan on Kashmir policy.After her 3 days visit to AJK, she reported to PM Gillani  and PAC to look into AJK related issues as it is the basic demand for people and Government of AJK.

Report submitted to the PM and PAC containing more than 20 recommendations reflects the demands of Kashmiries as they have strong observations upon delay in reconstruction and development projects due to funds deficient.

She informed the government that the role of ERRA is viewed with suspicion by the people of AJK despite the efforts made by them to try and create opportunity out of adversity at time of 2005 earthquake. ERRA should present the whole account details before National Assembly on fifth commemoration of earth quake.The 3 city master plans are far from execution let alone negotiated satisfactorily as per the locals. Apprehensions about terms and conditions delays need immediate handling by relevant stakeholders with Chinese.HEC should look into the matter related to cut on grant of AJK University as it will effect on development projects as well as student scholarships.

As per Marvi’s recommendations, for the AJK ADP the Rs 1.815b not released during 2009-10 are additionally required over and above the normal ADP 2010-11 to clear the matured liabilities immediately. Enhancement in ADP 2010-11 is required from Rs 6b to at least the demanded Rs 11b to meet the deficit of Rs 5b approved by AJK Assembly. Special grant of Rs 245m for MLAs debited to ADP 2009-10 should be provided in addition to normal AJK ADP because PM’s special grants are never deducted from existing ADP allocations. Project Review Board for Pyara Kashmir project approvals needs to be resolved since delay of 5 months has caused considerable national security risk already.

The AJK Council outstanding of Rs 1.59 b to AJK government needs to be settled as well. The compensation of Rs 5 billion to AJK for Mangla rising as well as WAPDA dues of Rs 40 crore is still outstanding. The net hydral profit of AJK is justified for all hydrel projects and needs to be given, she demands.

She is of opinion to provide fund for 50 % increase in Police and other Government employs salaries should be raised at same level as rest of Pakistan especially neighboring Punjab.

She urges that resolutions condemning Indian atrocities in IHK recently need to be tabled and a special session of National Assembly needs to be requisitioned to discuss these to give it the international and domestic priority as it deserves. The inefficiency of the Kashmir Committee is a subject much discussed at the people’s level in AJK and this is a dangerous sign. Certainly its accountability is required.


(Writer is associated with Press For Peace as Field Director .Email: jalaluddin.mughal@pressforpeace.org.uk)

Prince Charles Invites World to Follow Islam's Way to Save the Environment

London (09 June 2010)- Prince Charles invited Wednesday the world to follow Islam's steps to save the environment.

“Islam has always taught this and to ignore that lesson is to default on our contract with creation”, insisted the Prince during the meeting initiated by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, of which he is Patron.


The Prince of Wales deplored the lack of spiritual dimension in the contemporary economic model, founded on consumerism.


Quoting the Islamic teachings that call for harmony between man and Nature, Prince Charles stressed that the Holy Qu'ran explicitly describes Nature as possessing an “intelligibility”.

"The inconvenient truth is that we share this planet with the rest of creation for a very good reason - and that is, we cannot exist on our own without the intricately balanced web of life around us" said the Prince of Wales, who was speaking before an audience of distinguished guests, including Morocco's Endowments and Islamic Affairs Minister, Ahmed Taoufiq, who attended the conference upon High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful.

“My understanding of Islam is that it warns that to deny the reality of our  inner being leads to an inner darkness which can quickly extend outwards into  the world of Nature,”  he said, adding: “if we ignore the calling of the soul, then  we destroy Nature.”


“From what I know of the Qu'ran, again and again it describes the natural world as the handiwork of a unitary benevolent power”, he noted, before stressing that The Qu'ran explicitly describes Nature as possessing an “intelligibility” and that there is no separation between Man and Nature,  precisely because there is no separation between the natural world and God.

He argued that Islam “offers a completely integrated view of the Universe where religion and science, mind and matter are all part of one living, conscious whole”.


The Heir of the Throne of England added that the “Golden Age of Islam” (Ninth and Tenth Centuries), “gave rise to a spectacular flowering of  scientific advancement, but all of it was underpinned by an age-old  philosophical understanding of reality and grounded in a profound spirituality,  which included a deep reverence for the Natural world”.


Muslim Scholars had “an integrated vision of the world, reflecting the timeless truth that all life is rooted in the unity of the Creator”, he said,  adding: “this is the testimony of faith”.


He stressed the importance of the notion of Tawhid, which implies “the  oneness of all things within the embrace of the Divine unity”.


“Islamic writers express it so well”, he said quoting Ibn Khaldoun, who taught that “all creatures are subject to a regular and orderly system”.

The Prince of Wales went on to say that the traditional way of life within Islam is very clear about the “centre” that holds the relationship together.


“From what I know of its core teachings and commentaries, the important principle we must keep in mind is that there are limits to the abundance of Nature”.   


“These are not arbitrary limits, they are the limits imposed by God and, as such”, he explained, observing the faithful are commanded not to transgress those limits.
Moreover, the Prince stressed that the Islamic world “is the custodian of one of the greatest treasuries of accumulated wisdom and spiritual knowledge available to humanity”.      


“It is both Islam's noble heritage and a priceless gift to the rest of the world”, he said, conceding that such wisdom is, so often, obscured by the dominant drive towards Western materialism.


He said he was confident that the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies could help to establish a global forum on “Islam and the Environment” and many more very practical, traditional approaches like these could become more widely applied.

(http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/home/prince_charles_invit/view)


(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285332/Follow-Islamic-way-save-world-Charles-urges-environmentalists.html)

Chinese company ‘dumping’ waste in Neelum River

By Tariq Naqash 
Sunday, 06 Jun, 2010

MUZAFFARABAD, June 5: An official body dealing with the reconstruction of Muzaffarabad has taken exception to the alleged dumping of earth into River Neelum by a Chinese construction company, something which is being committed with impunity by many other contractors for long notwithstanding its hazardous impact on environment on the one hand and life of Mangla Dam on the other. 

When contacted by Dawn on Wednesday, Brig (retired) Shiraz Baig, project director of Muzaffarabad City Development Project (MCDP), confirmed that he had sought explanation from the China International Water and Electric Corporation through a letter after receiving reports to this effect from some quarters. 

“They have, however, denied the charge saying since they maintain record of (the movement of) all of their dumper trucks no such infringement has been committed by them,” he said. 

However, an official of the AJK Environment Protection Agency (EPA) told Dawn that he had himself spotted several trucks unloading mounds of earth directly into the river near the Allama Iqbal Bridge in the dead of Monday night. 

“I was taken aback by seeing a queue of trucks unloading mounds of earth and debris in the river and when I asked the drivers to stop they advised me to talk to their contractor,” assistant director Shafique Abbasi said. 

“This is a criminal act, having serious repercussions for our environment as well as the life of Mangla Dam,” he said. 

Ironically, sources told Dawn, the EPA high ups had not initiated any action against the violators reportedly because the dumping work had been sublet by the Chinese company to a local contractor linked with the ruling elite. 

In response to question, Mr Baig told that the Muzaffarabad Development Authority had identified a dumping site along the Tahli Mandi Road and he wondered why the debris and earth was not being unloaded there. 

“Indeed, it’s a serious issue and we will ensure its prevention,” he vowed. 

Interestingly, the place from where earth was dumped into River Neelum bore visible signs of commission of unlawful act even after two days on Wednesday. 

In reply to a question, Mr Abbasi disclosed that the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) had not submitted the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the MCDP to the EPA – a prerequisite for the formal commencement of any project –notwithstanding a reminder in September 2009. 

However, he said the EIA of Bagh City Development Project (BCDP) and Rawalakot City Development Project (RCDP) had lately been submitted by their heads concerned. 

All the three projects are being executed by two Chinese companies under Erra’s Urban Development Programme at a cost of $353 million. Of this amount, $300 million are being provided by the Chinese government as a soft loan. 

In June last year a road contractor and four of his workers were arrested by the police for dumping debris and excavated earth in River Jhelum in violation of a ban imposed by the EPA, though they had to be released shortly afterwards. 

Around same time, similar complaints were reported from the Neelum valley road, being rebuilt by another Chinese company.

(Source Daily Dawn: http://www.dawn.com)

Kashmir is for?

By Shams Rehman


Is Kashmir an Integral Part of Pakistan or India?

The very fact that students belonging to two South Asian countries claiming ‘Kashmir’ shows that at present it does not form part of any. For if it did then there would not be a need to have this debate. However, at the same time the contesting claims point towards the existence of a dispute. The students of Pakistani and Indian societies are debating the claims of their countries of origin here because the perspectives on Kashmir of the Indian and Pakistani generations of these students and their parents have been formulated and shaped by the ‘official’ and ‘national’ discourse on Kashmir transmitted and constructed into national rhetoric by the respective establishments through state owned and/or controlled mediums of opinion making including educational curriculum and print and electronic media till recently. Of course it also shows that they are interested in human issues and wish to resolve this issue for the betterment of the people in their respective countries and beyond.

Coming back to the claims of the two governments over Kashmir, they are rooted in the British Colonial framework, United Nations Resolutions and historical realities concerning geographical proximity, cultural affinities and religious associations of the state people. The popular politics in Kashmir was also to affect and be affected by the events.

Colonialism: British and Princely India

It was indeed the East India Company that laid the foundations of a distinct political entity which has since evolved to be commonly and popularly known as the Kashmir State on 16th March 1846. On this day the Company handed over for ever in the independent possession of Maharaja Gulab Singh and his heirs all the territories that were officially named as ‘The State of Jammu and Kashmir and Tibet Ha’ (or sometimes Frontier Illaqas) but have since become commonly known as Kashmir or Kashmir state.

Since the Company emerged as the main power and about a decade later was taken over by the British Crown, it became (at least at the ruling levels) the source of legislation, use of force, enforcement of decisions and political demarcations.

In this context the boundaries of ‘The State of Jammu, Kashmir and Tibet Ha’ or ‘The State of Jammu, Kashmir and Frontier Illaqas’ were drawn and the sovriegnity of Maharaja Gulab Singh and its male body heirs was recognised by the British and accepted by the neighbouring states including Punjab from whose occupation British took the territories of Kashmir state and handed over to Maharaja Gulab Singh.

Gulab Singh and three of his generations ruled Kashmir till the invasion of India and Pakistan in October 1947. The contesting claims regarding who invaded first and with what motives have been debated for all these years. Once again the official discourse of India and Pakistan renders the other responsible for the Kashmir problem and problems in Kashmir based on their claim over Kashmir.

Before the departure of British, Kashmir formed a princely state with full internal autonomy of course not without some bumps and disagreements. Nevertheless legally no other state power or authority had any jurisdiction over the 84,000 sq. Miles of territory and its population – the State Subjects. The Kashmir state like over 500 other states of various size and magnitude did NOT form a part of the British India. It was a constituent part of the Princely India.

The mechanism formulated by the departing British Colonial rulers to grant freedom to the peoples of British and Princely India was not one and the same. The principle of Muslim majority forming Pakistan applied only and solely to the areas under direct rule of British known as British India. The states which were over 560 of which Kashmir was one of the largest became independent under the following clause (b) of the Act.

“the suzerainty of His Majesty over the Indian States lapses, and with it, all treaties and agreements in force at the date of the passing of this Act between His Majesty and the rulers of Indian States, all functions exercisable by His Majesty at that date with respect to Indian States, all obligations of His Majesty existing at that date towards Indian States or the rulers thereof, and all powers, rights, authority or jurisdiction exercisable by His Majesty at that date in or in relation to Indian States by treaty, grant, usage, sufferance or otherwise;”

In a press conference on 4th June 1947 Mountbatten the last Viceroy presented the status and destination of the states in the following framework:

1. Indian States were independent in treaty relations with Britain

2. On 15 August 1947 the paramountancy of British crown was to lapse

3. Consequently the princely states would assume independent status

4. The states would be free to choose one or other constituent assembly

( For details see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Independence_Act_1947)

While it is also evident from history that Mountbatten advised Maharaja of Kashmir to not opt for independence however this advice was not constitutionally obligatory or legally binding for the Maharaja of Kashmir.

Several smaller states joined India or Pakistan but there were some who did not choose the course prescribed by Mountbatten etc. Hyderabad for example, aspired for independence where a Muslim ruler ruled majority of non-Muslim population and the Muslim ruler of Jonagarh acceded to Pakistan despite its non Muslim majority population.

In this context had Hari Singh, had the last Maharaja of Kashmir decided to go with India there would not been a valid reason for Pakistan to challenge that at least legally. For according to the stated policy of Muslim League the state rulers had the right to decide their future. However, Kashmiri Maharaja did not opt for India or Pakistan. He decided to remain independent and on 12th August 1947 he sent a telegram to the rulers (to be) of India and Pakistan offering stand till agreement which meant the existing arrangements between the Kashmir state and British India (now India and Pakistan) to be continued. While Pakistan accepted the offer, India asked for more time for further considerations. As alluded above there are contested claims about the invasion in Kashmir and what drove the Indian and Pakistani civil militants of Jan Sang and Tribals groups followed by regular armies to attack the state. Pakistan claims that the Muslim population revolted against maharaja and tribals went to help their endangered Muslim brethren while India argues that Kashmiri ruler invited India for help that was sent only after Hari Singh signed the accession document. India also claims that on the basis of this document Kashmir became the integral part of the Indian Union. This claims is then blended in the Indian official discourse through politicised myths, heritage and history which ‘proves’ that Kashmir has always been a natural hence integral part and the ‘crown of the secular body’ of India.

Pakistan on the other hand has primarily built its case on ‘two Nation Theory’ and the UN resolutions. The two nation theory was a term coined to mean the partition of the British India on the basis of Muslim majority areas becoming Pakistan. Since this principle was applicable solely and exclusively to the British India of which Kashmir was not a part in any sense of the world the Pakistani claims on Kashmir on these bases have no legal status.

United Nations and Kashmir

The case of Kashmir was taken to UN by the Indian government on 1st January 1948. After several rounds of consultations, deliberations, research and discussions India and Pakistan agreed upon ceasefire and working on a mechanism for peaceful and democratic resolution of Kashmir question. [It is worth mentioning here of the claims of pro independence campaigners that initially the UN Commission for Kashmir was named as ‘United Nations Commission for Jammu and Kashmir’ (UNCJK). However, its name was changed into ‘United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan’ (UNCIP)] at the requests of Pakistani representatives.]

The details of the deliberations were summarised in the first resolution of UN Commission for India and Pakistan passed on 13th August 1948. In addition to agreeing on ceasefire, this resolution asks Pakistan to take all of her civilians and military personnel and non resident Pakistanis out of Kashmir before India was to withdraw a bulk of her armies after which Kashmiris will decide the future of the state through a plebiscite. This never happened. Pakistan claims that India did not withdraw her armies and India argues that withdrawal of her armies was to follow the withdrawal of Pakistan armies that never happened. However, gradually Indian argument changed into the claim that after the accession of Hari Singh followed by the rectification by the Kashmir Assembly headed by the National Conference, Kashmir became integral part of India.

The Kashmiri Perspective

Both of the above discourses dominated the internal Kashmiri political landscape across the division line for some years. A Majority of the people supporting National Conference on one side and Muslim Conference on the other (at least in the Indian occupied Valley and the Pakistani occupied ‘Azad ‘ (free) Kashmir) waited with great optimism for the International community to make Indian and Pakistani rulers to give Kashmiris the right to determine their future. However, after clashes between the aspirations of Kashmiris for independence and of the Indian and Pakistani rulers for accession as early as 1953 when Indian government deposed the head of Kashmiri Government in IOK and Pakistani government did the same in IOK, the optimism began to give way to scepticism and revolt. By late 1960s it was evolved into the language of national liberation personified in one Maqbool Bhatt. In late 1960s Maqbool Bhatt, 29, denounced the UN as a club of the ruling classes whose decisions reflected the class and national interests of the ruling classes of the big and powerful nations of the world. He was born in a village of Kashmir Valley, educated in Peshawar and emerged as the most attractive voice for the younger generation of Kashmiris in Mirpur where anti-Mangla Dam Construction Campaign paved the way for Plebiscite Front which he joined before choosing the path of armed struggle in 1968. While Pakistan imprisoned and tortured Maqbool Bhatt and his associates and India executed him on 11th February 1984, the world remained almost indifferent to this largely peaceful resistance with Ganga Hijacking and Killing of Indian diplomat in Birmingham as few exceptions . By now the politics of resistance however had become a reality that could no longer be ignored on either side of the division line in Kashmir. But this reality was not the one and same across the divide. It was composed of different components some of which were to be contesting and competing with each other. For example Islam has emerged as the defining factor in the resistance against the Indian occupation in IOK whereas the politics of independence in POK is clearly defined by the nationalist and socialistic rhetoric. The situation presents a similar scenario that existed in the united Kashmir in 1940s when the National Conference and Muslim Conference the then resistance forces became also divided as the torch bearer of secularism and Islam respectively. Having said that, one must not overlook the ‘mainstream’ Kashmiri politics on both sides of the division. Although forced to operate within the Indian and Pakistani constitutional framework a significant shift can be noted towards greater autonomy that irritates the extremist religious forces in the Indian and Pakistani nationalist discourse which brand even these autonomy voices as ‘separatists’. The JKPDF’s ‘self governance’ and JKNC’s greater autonomy demands along with that of AJKPML and AJK Muslim Conference’s rhetoric of being ‘Riyasati’ Parties are only few examples.

Generally speaking, the independence politics it has grown stronger in all parts of Kashmir especially in the Valley, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan as well as amongst the diaspora Kashmiris despite constant bullying, harassment, suppression and oppression of the Indian and Pakistani states and the indifference of the international community.

Today, the Kashmiri perspective on Kashmir can be summarised as follow:

1. The state was formed through the Amritsar Treaty that handed over forever in the INDEPENDENT POSSESSION of Maharaja Gulab Singh and his male body heirs.

2. Maharaja Gulab Sing became the sovereign and guarded the state as such

3. Responding to the State for State people Movement, the Maharaja brought about the State Subject legislation in 1920s that defined citizenship of the state separate and away from British India ( later Pakistan and India);

4. Responding to popular politics of 1930s, the Kashmiri monarchy agreed to initiate modern democratic set up by holding multiparty elections for the first (partially) elected legislative assembly through limited franchise in 1934;

5. The leadership of two major and most popular Kashmiri parties of National Conference and Muslim Conference was reached to an agreement for further reforms in the governance in Kashmir by introducing multiparty government to be elected through one person one vote system with Maharaja to be remained as the figure head;

6. States had the legal and constitutional right to remain independent

7. Maharaja of Kashmir decided to remain independent according to the provisions in the British Indian declaration for the princely states;

8. Maharaja asked the Indian and Pakistani governments for a standstill agreement for peace and progress

9. Accession with India was conditional and temporal linked with peace to be restored before people deciding on the future of the state;

10. The case of Kashmir was taken to UN by the Indian government two months after the accession by Maharaja of Kashmir with India;

11. The first resolution by the UN Commission on 13th August 1848 recognised the unfettered right of Kashmiri people (the state subjects) to self-determination including and with the right to independence;

12. The presence of both India and Pakistan in all its civil and military forms is illegal after them failing to fulfil their legal responsibilities of protecting rights of Kashmiri citizens, withdrawal of their forces and have the future of Kashmir determined through a fair and democratic plebiscite ;

13. Under their illegal occupation, both India and Pakistan while hold some form of elections but without the participation of pro independence Kashmiris rendering the democratic looking process undemocratic and in fact colonial like;

14. While there are voices in some parts of Kashmir that disassociate themselves from the Kashmiri identity because they claim that it has become synonymous to the valley or Islam and there are voices within the resistance movement with exclusionist agenda , this situation is not peculiar to Kashmir. Almost all countries of the world with multiple identities (nations-states) face this challenge including India, Pakistan and Britain. Majority of pro-independence Kashmiris accept the diversity argument but they denounce the official discourse of India and Pakistan which rejects the independent Kashmir demands because of the multiple and pluralist nature of the Kashmiri state and society as irrelevant and irrational.

15. The fact that despite feeding the bulk of their hard earned and hard borrowed capital to the war machinery of mass destruction, India and Pakistan have failed to capture Kashmir and aspirations for independence have grown stronger under both armies, shows that Indian and Pakistani occupation in Kashmir is the major cause not only of the poverty, deprivation and under development but also the extremism and hatred in the Indian and Pakistani societies from where it spilled over to Kashmir and to the world through diaspora.

16. Both India and Pakistan are not in Kashmir for the protection of Kashmiris from the ‘other’ but for the resources of Kashmir mainly water but also minerals and forests. The mass migration especially from ‘Azad’ Kashmir to UK, Europe, America, Canada and Middle East has also added the foreign exchange and access to the political and economic markets and power corridors as reasons for not leaving Kashmir.

17. The governments of India and Pakistan are unlikely to give Kashmiris the right to decide their future independently unless there is a pressure from the citizens of India, Pakistan and the wider countries of South Asia and world for resolving Kashmir tangle through a fair and democratic manner.

18. Therefore, in the final argument Kashmir is not an issue of being integral part of any of the occupying countries or that of ‘property ownership’. It is an issue of universally recognised, accepted and acknowledged human and democratic right of over 16 million people across the divided state and Kashmiri diaspora around the world. All people who care for human rights, peace, democracy, freedom, independence, self determination, tolerance, liberty, equality, integration, respect, progress, prosperity and development must support the right of Kashmiri people to self determination without any restrictions whatsoever. In other words Kashmir is for Kashmiris – all of them including the Kashiris of the valley and state subjects of the divided state.

The writer is a Researcher based in the UK.

Turtles’ genocide on the rise in Pakistan

By

Sarfraz Ali

The genocide of turtles in the waters of Sindh is on the rise, posing threat to the generation of this wildlife.

The turtles are being soled in the markets of Karachi at high prices as their demand is very high. The contractors in Karachi have set links to people in Lower Sindh for catch of turtle from waters.

The local people provide turtles to them at low prices, who sell them at high rates and thus are minting money.

It is reported that people catch turtles from canals and then keep them at their own water ponds for growth. The turtles are caught from Phuleli and other canals of Thatta, Hyderabad and Badin.

The Wildlife Department Sindh is not paying any heed for the protection of turtle generation in the lower Sindh. It is reported that these turtles are used for making medicines while people also eat their meat.

Two species of marine turtles nest on the Karachi coast, the green turtle (chelonia mydas) and the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The main threats are commercial trade in turtle skin, shell, medicines and cosmetics, and destruction of eggs by predators, especially feral domestic dogs. 

Other dangers to turtles come from poachers, accidental capture in fishing nets, and extensive coastal development, which results in human disturbance at the nesting sites and pollution. 

However, WWF-P is striving to protect endangered marine turtles and conserve their critical nesting sites. The many freshwater ponds and small lakes have dried in Sindh, decreasing the growth of turtles. 

The threatened species of turtles are sold across Sindh as there are no checks to stop their illegal trade.

Furthermore, the flow of pollutants including industrial effluent in Keenjhar Lake also pose serious threat to turtles, therefore, urgent steps are required to be taken to conserve them.

(Writer is associated with Press For Peace as  Director Media ,He could be accessed at: sarfraz1168@gmail.com)

Government urged to resolve Problems of Women in Conflict zones

Lahore( PR), April 29, 2010: Representatives from Khyber Pukhtunkhwa; Baluchistan; Sindh; AJ&K; Gilgit Balistan and Punjab met for a two day consultation on Women, Conflict and Security. The event was organized by ASR Women Resource Center, Lahore. The discussion highlighted both inter and intra state conflicts and the impact of these on women. Women living within these conflict zones/areas shared the experiences of living within the conflicts highlighted women’s vulnerability.

It was highlighted by different speakers that women living on the edges of the unresolved territorial dispute with India are particularly vulnerable at several levels especially since these areas have been sites of war. Even in peace times they have to contend with the dangers of border policing and land mines etc. This not only impacts on women living on the Line of   Control (LOC) and Working Borders but also on the hard borders dividing Pakistan and India.  

The discussion observed that Baluchistan has suffered direct military action by the State and in the recent past several thousand people have been internally displaced and several thousand ‘disappeared’ including 300 women. Female family members also face the constant challenge of looking for male members of their families and themselves being vulnerable to arrest. Rape and other gender based violence as a result of these conflicts rarely get attention.

 Khyber Pukhtunkhwa has been the site of intense conflict in the recent past and over the last year been a war zone. The situation of internally displaced women, the specificities of the vulnerability and insecurity of women living in war zones has not been given adequate attention and nor have processes been initiated that would facilitate rehabilitation physically, economically, psychologically and a life without fear. Sindh and particularly Karachi is increasingly caught in a spiral of conflicts whether ethnic or because of territorial interests of contending groups. Again women tend to be the most vulnerable either directly or as these conflicts impact on their economic and psychological wellbeing.

However the experiences, voices and opinions of women are seldom included in peace negotiations, resolutions and reconstruction either by the state or by contesting forces and communities. This despite Pakistan’s commitment to the Platform for Action ratified at the UN Conference for Women in 1995; the National Plan of Action of 1998 in which this issue is addressed and the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security to which Pakistan is in agreement.

The participants resolved that Pakistan must address this issue with urgency. Women must be involved in all peace processes and resolutions and women rights must never be subsumed in the interest of expediency. Only this will ensure a lasting peace and ensure a just, peaceful and equitable Pakistan.

Amjad Iqbal Malik graduated from Bedfordshire University

CORNERS OF POLITICAL MISADVENTURES

By T.H  Shah

 

T.H. Shah

Nottingham ( T.H. Shah):Thanks to numerous international political shifts and geopolitical scenario of South Asia, Pakistan’s foreign policy confronted many vicissitudes like military adventures with India, Russian inroad on Afghanistan and Pakistan’s involvement in Capitalist camp, Sino-Indo war in its vicinity, and of the late is its participation in war against terrorism. The pattern of Islamabad’s policy within the context of all these factors is reflection of dissonance with the ground realities. The on-going carnage being inflicted by Drone attacks in tribal areas and also by military operations display injudicious political management. Throughout human history, it’s the first instance to observe that the inland army is pitted against the people of its own land claiming scores of innocent lives including women and children.

Behind the smokescreen of this tumultuous political and economic scene, is the remoteness of national interest with the determination of foreign policy. Instead of safeguarding the national interest, vested interests have kept haunting the overall objective of our relations with the foreign powers on account of which the rulers in any interval of time continued feathering their own nests; and the result is the possession of the piles of wealth by these rulers in foreign banks whether they coming from military or civil top-brass. After Asif Ali Zardari scandal of Surrey Palace, former president Rtd. General Pervez Musharraff is reported to have bought Richmond Palace worth fifteen millions pounds in the County of Surrey in London. Where came from this money is the question can be answered in the light of political and military intrigues during his political regimen. Moreover, most of our political leaders are owner of big estates and business in Dubai as well as in European countries. When having a look on NRO, facts become self-evident, for, in the name of political reconciliation those gone scot-free who looted the wealth of this country making teeming millions hapless and helpless.

Economic stability and prosperity of the people is one of the important determinants of foreign policy. The current scenario is indication of system failure in this regard because country is enmeshed in heavy foreign debts, worst balance of payments, inflation and growing poverty.

The necessaries of life going out of people’s access due to decrease in their purchasing power; industry and agriculture are on the downhill at the hands of energy crisis. Apart from financial support from other international development agencies, it is surprising to say that Pakistan is recipient of heavy foreign aid in the name of war against terrorism which comes in billion and trillion rupees, but where this huge sum of money disappears is unknown. If this aid is spent on development projects, welfare of the people, then why poverty is rampant? Reason is the formulation of policy according to the needs of privileged social groups in society. These social groups can be categorized into military and political cliques. Whether it is inflation or energy crisis, disappearance of basic necessaries of life such as sugar, flour and oil etc. these cliques remain unaffected in their cocoons.

Since very inception of Pakistan, military and political cliques have framed social and political system on such pattern which suits their own needs under any circumstances. Military establishment has its own education, health, finance and residential system where civilian are treated with worst discrimination. Children of the poor can not conceive of getting education or medical treatment due to heavy expenditures. From civilians only the affluent rush there for qualitative treatment and services both in health and education. Same is case with political ruling elites who got such a luxurious life style which is inconceivable by political leaders of developed countries. These sections of society have willingly developed such a social system for the common people of the country in which the children of the poor born to serve the affluent. Education and health system provided for the destitute is absolutely outmode and unable to prepare them for dealing with the requirements of modern age. In far-flung areas of Sindh and in the constituency of President Asif Ali Zardari himself, the generations of poor people are destined to live miserable life; these people are deprived of the facilities of health, education and water; and political cliques of these territories have nothing to do with their life except their vote. These people don’t know the value of their vote and unknowingly cast it to continue the state of constant slavedom. This situation is common almost in all rural areas where strong feudal hold prevails.

The body politics of Pakistan revolves round handful of political and military groups whose sole object is to fill their lockers in overseas banks with unfairly earned wealth by exploitation of the poor. Newly nominated finance minister Mr. Hafeez Pasha said that to persuade the overseas Pakistanis to invest in their country is one of his top priorities; but the question arise the billionaires rulers would like to deposit their own wealth in the banks of this poor country? When these rulers divulge their assets before the Election Commission after spending millions of rupees for winning elections, then one cannot help laughing at the poverty of these affluent. For the reinstatement of Chief Justice, the lawyers made many people killed in country-wide strikes, but on an unavailability of sugar, flour, gas and electricity no one bother to come forward to raise voice against this injustice. On the threshold of justice and corridors of power, instead of protecting the rights of people, war of musical chairs seems full in swing. Same rulers who could be seen lamenting over autocratic rule of President Musharraff, state terrorism, poverty, and Drone attacks on tribal areas have become silent spectators now. The nature of parliamentary proceedings sound focussed on the problems of privileged political groups because NRO, seventeen and eight amendment etc. has nothing to do with the problems of the common people.

The land of Pakistan is rich in all resources, and by generating electricity from fierce blowing winds in sandy planes of Sindh, scorching heat of sun and underneath coal in Thur, each and every corner of the country can be made lit. But by doing so can be brought about revolution in the lives of the poor who if come out of the morass of problems will not spare the rulers. In United Kingdom, there is not hydro power station and natural gas, in spite of this there is no single house even in rural areas not deprived of gas and electricity. Its main cause is equitable education system and friendly-oriented socio-economic and political policies for which are pining for the downtrodden peoples of Pakistan.

(The Writer is associated with Press For Peace(PFP) as Director Research. He could be accessed

at: shah@pressforpeace.org.uk )

Tags: Muzaffrabad PaK

Power cuts in Mirpur ignite violent protests

By Tariq Naqash 
Thursday, 25 Mar, 2010

MUZAFFARABAD, March 24: A massive protest against prolonged loadshedding in Mirpur city on Wednesday escalated into pitched battles with police, causing injuries to dozens of people and damage to public and private properties. 

The demonstration was part of a complete shutter down and wheel jam strike. The protest over power outages of upto 18 hours a day was called by a citizens’ action forum of the lakeside city in southern Azad Kashmir.

The protesters initially assembled at Chowk-i-Shaheedan, where a number of leaders delivered fiery speeches, accusing the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) of discriminating against the people of Mirpur “by subjecting them to unscheduled and non-stop loadshedding.”

Warning that they could not tolerate such a treatment, they demanded that their district should be exempted from loadshedding.

The protesters then started a march on the Mangla Road to express indignation outside the Mangla powerhouse, located some 14 kilometres away from the town centre.

However, they came across barricades, erected by the administration, near Sukhiyan village and as they tried to move beyond the obstacles they had to face the wrath of police who after being pelted with stones resorted to use of teargas and baton charge. 

Resultantly, several persons from both sides were injured. Police alleged that the demonstrators also torched a Water and Power Develo-pment Authority vehicle at the scene. 

A group of protesters, which succeeded in making it to the other side of the barrier, was however stopped and pushed back by strong police contingents, amid intense tear gas shelling and baton charge as they moved closer to the powerhouse. 

Back in Mirpur, the angry protestors continued to play hide and seek with the police during which they also torched cables and some other stock in an electricity department’s complaint office as well as an education department vehicle. 

Mirpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab said the demonstrators had breached an understanding with the administration that they would not go beyond a certain point. 

“The police were compelled to resort to use of tear gas shelling and a mild baton charge to prevent them from nearing the sensitive installation,” he said, referring to the powerhouse. 

He said talks would be held with Wapda to reduce the duration of loadshedding. 

Earlier in the day, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider also took serious stock of unscheduled and prolonged loadshedding in Mirpur, and asked the central government and Wapda to exempt the residents of Mirpur from power outages in view of the great sacrifices rendered by them for progress and prosperity of Pakistan.(Source www,dawn.com)

Internet threatens rare species, conservationists warn

The internet has emerged as one of the biggest threats to endangered species, according to conservationists who are meeting in Doha, Qatar.

Campaigners say it is easier than ever before to buy and sell anything from live baby lions to polar bear pelts on online auction sites and chatrooms.

The findings were presented at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

Several proposals to give endangered species more protection were defeated.

Delegates will vote on changes to the trade in ivory later this week.

Web effect

"The internet is becoming the dominant factor overall in the global trade in protected species," Paul Todd of the International Fund for Animal Welfare was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

He said thousands of endangered species are regularly traded on the internet, as buyers and sellers take advantage of the anonymity - and vast global market - the world wide web can offer.

Those trying to police illegal sales say the size of problem is almost impossible to estimate. They say the US is the biggest market, but that Europe, China, Russia and Australia also play a large part.

On Sunday, delegates voted to ban all international trade in a rare type of Iranian salamander, the Kaiser's spotted newt, which the World Wildlife Fund says has been devastated by the internet trade.

But more high-profile attempts to ban trade in polar bears, bluefin tuna and rare corals have all failed, leaving environmental activists dismayed, the BBC's Stephanie Hancock reports from Doha.

A proposal from the US and Sweden to regulate the trade in red and pink coral - which is crafted into expensive jewellery and sold extensively on the web - was defeated.

Delegates voted the idea down mostly over concerns the increased regulations might impact poor fishing communities.

(Source BBC News)

Rare Birds spotted in Mangla Lake

CIVIL DICTATORSHIP IN POLITICAL PARTIES

By T.H.Shah

“The political parties created democracy and modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the political parties”   (Schattschneider)

Dictatorship came under plumb criticism with the emergence of democracy as it lays emphasis upon social justice, rule of law and supremacy of human rights without any discrimination. Even in countries with modicum of political consciousness in peoples, dictatorship is regarded as abhorrence. The dawn of democracy has also waned the monarchical rules in the world; and where incumbent has reduced it to the figurehead only with ceremonial powers; whereas in England emotional attachment and conventional nature of the people has lent justification for the existence of monarchy. It is parliament, indeed, stands to be all in all. When roots of democracy become strong, then it gives rise to stability of political and social institutions, efficient dispensation of justice; the values ultimately make welfare state as is the case with most of the developed countries of the world.

Democracy inter per se is nothing without political force which stems from the masses. When rein of power remains in the hands of the masses, vigilant and conscious in political sense, democratic norms and values are always in constant bloom. On the contrary, when the masses are stricken with poverty, deprivation, unemployment and shorn of even the basic necessaries of life, then democracy makes the state El Dorado for vested interests. Same is the case with Pakistan where demagogues trumpet establishment of democracy, but still dictatorship exists in a different guise. Though at present, coups d'état seems dormant, but the squalor of civil dictatorship has enslaved the political system in Pakistan.

The mouthpiece of political forces in democracy is political parties who on winning elections become responsible to administer the whole governmental enterprise. History of democracy is in a sense the history of political struggle by political parties whether in western countries or Islamic countries like to be put moderately. Strong and robust political parties able to ensure representation of citizen and formulation of welfare-oriented policies in a state are inevitable to democracy. The actors in policy formulation and political sages recognise the centrality of political parties to the democracy because the political institutions are able to measure up to the public expectations only if they are well-entrenched in a democratic environment. When political parties become aloof from the citizens and elected leaders restricts themselves in their political cocoons, then happen decline of democratic values resulting extremist and hawkish elements in the society. Political parties in Pakistan have never been in harmony with the democratic model and their failure has given birth to the issues like non-representation of common masses in political system, decline of liberal democratic values, and everywhere the image of the society is misrepresented in political and social sense along with stagnancy in economic development. The political parties in developed European countries resemble with true democratic model. These may have relatives or kith and kin, but their mode of working is set towards the pursuit of democratic values in the society; these values imply economic justice, protection of environment, alleviation of poverty, judicial justice, gender equality, and in total the provision of equal opportunities of development to all the peoples within the state.

The picture is reverse in Pakistan where the whole structure of political parties is designed within the parameters of family members like Pakistan People Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Motehida Qumi Movement (MQM) known to be the most prominent for being in power. Same situation prevails in the rest of political factions or groups characterised with the membership of their own bloods. This evil in political parties has stayed since very inception of the establishment of Pakistan. Feudal nawabs, choudhries, khans, Bhuttos, Wattos, legharis, mazaris, doltanas, tawanas and many other have been overcastted the political system sustaining the status quo in the form of civil dictatorship sidelining the common peoples who still have no say in politics except manipulation of their vote due to ignorance. The plight of the poor in the constituencies the political demagogues belong to is miserable as these political manipulators have willingly barred the avenues for their people that may lead to development and prosperity. The worst injustice, to me, is being done to education system especially in rural areas where schools and education exist in name only while the progenies of these civil dictators are studying in European countries. Education is one of the most important prerequisites of democracy and it has not been given due attention because these civil dictators know well that education will make the peoples free mentally and financially as well and that it will result the breakdown of political slavedom.

Strange phenomenon is the continuous trumpeting of establishing democracy in the country while the political parties by themselves are barren of democratic spirit. No one has even seen internal elections within the political parties, no code of political ethics can be found but same faces same slogans aiming at corruption, nepotism and favouritism. At time when economy is on the downhill, water resources are diminishing leading to energy crisis, debt trap, is widening and country is besieged with the war against terrorism, civil dictators of political parties are engaged in musical chairs being quite oblivious to the gruesome crisis the whole nation is enmeshed. Apart from other social and political ills, the worst is NRO suffice to unveil the so-called supporters of democracy. As basic necessaries of life are disappearing, the people have started missing the halcyon days of the military regimes which in a way ensured the availability of foodstuffs in the market.

The civil dictators of political parties are adept in contriving political structure suiting their own interests regardless of the wears and tears of such individualistic policies upon the peoples’ destiny. Their political regimens is survivable with the ignorance of the masses; when the masses becomes educated, politically aware, no NRO, or Mesak-e-Jamhooriat, eight amendment will be able to withstand against the political accountability of the peoples as mostly happens in Europe and United States.

(Writer is PFP Director research:tajammulhs@gmail.com)