June 5, 2013
Sharif takes oath for third term as PM
Finally Pakistan Muslim League leader Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister by lawmakers in National Assembly. It was a very hot day. Hundreds of Sharif's workers occupied the Press Gallery and roughed up poor hacks. I tried to get into official media enclosure and in the process cut my new white cotton shirt after I was pushed and entangled myself into the sharp edged aluminium door handle. Traffic was messed up in the morning by huge number of visitors to Parliament House. Assembly parking was jammed pack so drove to the Supreme Court paring and walked back in extreme heat. On the way back both heels of my shoes were broken. What a memorable day?
PS: That's why I like casuals more and had wore dress trousers, shirt and shoes after a long long time.
June 1, 2013
New parliament sworn in
Another 15 minutes to close office today. Reported about oath taking of lawmakers in the National Assembly. It is 40 degree C outside, but office on stand by power is just like heaven. CNG pumps are still closed and water supply to patchy. Got a tanker full of water today. Electricity loadshedding is exacerbating the misery in this hot weather. Today felt sad seeing someone going to work on foot due to closure of CNG, wanted to give ride, but he got lucky and got a ride before I reached near him.
March 16, 09
Long March
The long march is finally over as it achieved its goal by traveling only 50 miles out of eastern city of Lahore. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in a dawn address to the nation announced that chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges sacked by former military government of General (retired) Pervez Musharraf will be restored on March 21.
Lawyers joined by opposition parties had given the call for a 1,500-kilometer long march from the southern port city of Karachi to capital Islamabad between March 12-16. To crush the protest, the government imposed a nationwide rally ban and arrested scores of lawyers and political workers and blocked all main roads in the country with shipping containers to prevent the protesters from reaching the capital.
It seems that the sheer number of people participating in the long march overwhelmed the government of highly unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari and after pressures from military and allies US and Britain he finally gave in. US and Britain were particularly worried over the growing political unrest in Pakistan which posed a big risk to the stability of the country possessing nuclear weapons.
March 10, 09
Long March
So another long march by lawyers is coming to Islamabad, but with more vengeance than the last year. Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz are also supporting the march and mobilizing their Pakistan Muslim League (N) supporters. The government seems to be very anxious about thousands of people gathering in Islamabad and then staging an open-ended sit in protest to press for the reinstatement of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges sacked by former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
There are fears that the protest could turn violent or some suicide bomber might attack the gathering to cause further destabilization in the country already afflicted by the aftermaths of the November's Mumbai attacks and this month's daredevil attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.
The developments in the coming days are going to leave a deep impact on the polity of this country, lets pray things turn out well in the end.
Feb 17, 09
Swat peace deal
Once again the government of North West Frontier Province has entered into a deal with hardline Islamic militants in northwestern Swat valley and Malakand division. It promised to impose Islamic Sharia justice system in the region, which has turned into a bloody battlefield, in return for assurance from the militants that they will give up violence and attacks on government and military. Peace deals with the militants have fallen apart in Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan and another deal with influential Swat cleric last year could not materialise due to differences over judiciary.
I am not very excited by the new peace deal as it is between Soofi Mohammad led hardliners and the government and not between firebrand cleric Maulana Fazlullah who has led a violent campaign to impose Sharia and is known as Mullah Radio as he runs a network of illegal FM radio channels to spread his propaganda. Already there are talks of president not signing the Sharia regulation till complete peace is restored and government's writ is established in the valley, so it appears to be another doomed peace deal.
Feb 8, 09
Musharraf still rules?
I was very disturbed after reading reports in February 6 newspapers about former military dictator Pervez Musharraf. The retired general has recently returned from the United States where he delivered lectures in various states and newspapers reports were saying that the general had a good time there and made a fortune from lectures.
Well I was not disturbed over it. It was mentioned in the reports that Musharraf is still living in the Army House, the official residence of the chief of the army staff, or the head of the Pakistani military. Musharraf retired from military in late 2007 and resigned a president in August last year, but still enjoying the official residence.
Musharraf is building a huge mansion in the opulent outskirts of Islamabad which seems to be a never ending construction project.
His continued stay in the army house, despite his retirement, clearly shows that he is enjoying the facility only due to American government which ensured a safe passage for him out of the power and to save the skin of the dictator who served them well, they seem to have impressed upon the current army chief not to evict Musharraf from army house.
God bless our country.
December 25, 08
The diary
I have been thinking for a long time to start writing about the daily happenings and h
ow I feel about them. So here I go.
Today is Christmas day and it is a quite morning at the office. Drive to office was smooth as it is a public holiday and very few cars on road. Decided to drive past ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) headquarters, which I normally avoid because it is on terrorists hit list.
Televisions showing Pakistan Military Academy cadets assuming guards duty at the tomb of founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhmmad Ali Jinnah in Karachi. May be anyone of them thinking about how many times the army has violated Quaid's principles and taken over their own country.
Every other day there is a bomb blast, a missile strike by US drones and now India is trying to put us on mat after Mumbai terrorist attacks. people ask why all this is happening to Pakistan? The answer is simple. Look around and see what's right in your vicinity. Above all there seems to be no urgency anywhere to make the wrongs rights starting from the basics.
We are a nuclear weapons state, but always feeling insecure. Foreign forces are intruding into our territory with their drones and missiles and killing people, but our government has gone silent after routine protest statements. The government's in Islamabad, whether civilian or military, are dependent upon Washington and do the sentry duty in return for a few bucks to run the country.
It is a very cold day. I am feeling a bit sleepy at the moment. Just wrote a news about building collapse in Sukkur. It is unfortunate the people are dying due to faulty construction. So far seven deaths have been confirmed. The building control departments just approve any construction plan after accepting bribes.
I am looking for a Wordpress plugin to organise diary entries. Meanwhile going to prepare another cup of hot tea.
After finishing office have to get hair trimmed and do shopping at Metro. Tomorrow after finishing the office going to Faisalabad to attend the wedding of my first cousin.
Sharif takes oath for third term as PM
Finally Pakistan Muslim League leader Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister by lawmakers in National Assembly. It was a very hot day. Hundreds of Sharif's workers occupied the Press Gallery and roughed up poor hacks. I tried to get into official media enclosure and in the process cut my new white cotton shirt after I was pushed and entangled myself into the sharp edged aluminium door handle. Traffic was messed up in the morning by huge number of visitors to Parliament House. Assembly parking was jammed pack so drove to the Supreme Court paring and walked back in extreme heat. On the way back both heels of my shoes were broken. What a memorable day?
PS: That's why I like casuals more and had wore dress trousers, shirt and shoes after a long long time.
June 1, 2013
New parliament sworn in
Another 15 minutes to close office today. Reported about oath taking of lawmakers in the National Assembly. It is 40 degree C outside, but office on stand by power is just like heaven. CNG pumps are still closed and water supply to patchy. Got a tanker full of water today. Electricity loadshedding is exacerbating the misery in this hot weather. Today felt sad seeing someone going to work on foot due to closure of CNG, wanted to give ride, but he got lucky and got a ride before I reached near him.
March 16, 09
Long March
The long march is finally over as it achieved its goal by traveling only 50 miles out of eastern city of Lahore. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in a dawn address to the nation announced that chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges sacked by former military government of General (retired) Pervez Musharraf will be restored on March 21.
Lawyers joined by opposition parties had given the call for a 1,500-kilometer long march from the southern port city of Karachi to capital Islamabad between March 12-16. To crush the protest, the government imposed a nationwide rally ban and arrested scores of lawyers and political workers and blocked all main roads in the country with shipping containers to prevent the protesters from reaching the capital.
It seems that the sheer number of people participating in the long march overwhelmed the government of highly unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari and after pressures from military and allies US and Britain he finally gave in. US and Britain were particularly worried over the growing political unrest in Pakistan which posed a big risk to the stability of the country possessing nuclear weapons.
March 10, 09
Long March
So another long march by lawyers is coming to Islamabad, but with more vengeance than the last year. Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz are also supporting the march and mobilizing their Pakistan Muslim League (N) supporters. The government seems to be very anxious about thousands of people gathering in Islamabad and then staging an open-ended sit in protest to press for the reinstatement of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges sacked by former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
There are fears that the protest could turn violent or some suicide bomber might attack the gathering to cause further destabilization in the country already afflicted by the aftermaths of the November's Mumbai attacks and this month's daredevil attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.
The developments in the coming days are going to leave a deep impact on the polity of this country, lets pray things turn out well in the end.
Feb 17, 09
Swat peace deal
Once again the government of North West Frontier Province has entered into a deal with hardline Islamic militants in northwestern Swat valley and Malakand division. It promised to impose Islamic Sharia justice system in the region, which has turned into a bloody battlefield, in return for assurance from the militants that they will give up violence and attacks on government and military. Peace deals with the militants have fallen apart in Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan and another deal with influential Swat cleric last year could not materialise due to differences over judiciary.
I am not very excited by the new peace deal as it is between Soofi Mohammad led hardliners and the government and not between firebrand cleric Maulana Fazlullah who has led a violent campaign to impose Sharia and is known as Mullah Radio as he runs a network of illegal FM radio channels to spread his propaganda. Already there are talks of president not signing the Sharia regulation till complete peace is restored and government's writ is established in the valley, so it appears to be another doomed peace deal.
Feb 8, 09
Musharraf still rules?
I was very disturbed after reading reports in February 6 newspapers about former military dictator Pervez Musharraf. The retired general has recently returned from the United States where he delivered lectures in various states and newspapers reports were saying that the general had a good time there and made a fortune from lectures.
Well I was not disturbed over it. It was mentioned in the reports that Musharraf is still living in the Army House, the official residence of the chief of the army staff, or the head of the Pakistani military. Musharraf retired from military in late 2007 and resigned a president in August last year, but still enjoying the official residence.
Musharraf is building a huge mansion in the opulent outskirts of Islamabad which seems to be a never ending construction project.
His continued stay in the army house, despite his retirement, clearly shows that he is enjoying the facility only due to American government which ensured a safe passage for him out of the power and to save the skin of the dictator who served them well, they seem to have impressed upon the current army chief not to evict Musharraf from army house.
God bless our country.
December 25, 08
The diary
I have been thinking for a long time to start writing about the daily happenings and h
ow I feel about them. So here I go.Today is Christmas day and it is a quite morning at the office. Drive to office was smooth as it is a public holiday and very few cars on road. Decided to drive past ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) headquarters, which I normally avoid because it is on terrorists hit list.
Televisions showing Pakistan Military Academy cadets assuming guards duty at the tomb of founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhmmad Ali Jinnah in Karachi. May be anyone of them thinking about how many times the army has violated Quaid's principles and taken over their own country.
Every other day there is a bomb blast, a missile strike by US drones and now India is trying to put us on mat after Mumbai terrorist attacks. people ask why all this is happening to Pakistan? The answer is simple. Look around and see what's right in your vicinity. Above all there seems to be no urgency anywhere to make the wrongs rights starting from the basics.
We are a nuclear weapons state, but always feeling insecure. Foreign forces are intruding into our territory with their drones and missiles and killing people, but our government has gone silent after routine protest statements. The government's in Islamabad, whether civilian or military, are dependent upon Washington and do the sentry duty in return for a few bucks to run the country.
It is a very cold day. I am feeling a bit sleepy at the moment. Just wrote a news about building collapse in Sukkur. It is unfortunate the people are dying due to faulty construction. So far seven deaths have been confirmed. The building control departments just approve any construction plan after accepting bribes.
I am looking for a Wordpress plugin to organise diary entries. Meanwhile going to prepare another cup of hot tea.
After finishing office have to get hair trimmed and do shopping at Metro. Tomorrow after finishing the office going to Faisalabad to attend the wedding of my first cousin.
Comments
It was really a bad and dusty road from police lines to Metro. I hate driving on dusty and bumpy roads with stupid fellow motorists who spread too much dirt while driving recklessly on bumpy patches. And it was a government office white Suzuki Cultus with Lahore licence plate which was creating all the mess. Good for the official and his family who were in the car as they do not have to pay for the repairs or clean the car themselves.
SHOPPING
The drive and the shopping for too tiresome for me and I went to bed after reaching home around Senenish. Woke up again around 10ish and ate supper. Again went to market to buy something and bring water.
PACKING
Now I am thinking to start packing. It is going to be too hectic, but I am looking forward to the best part and that is driving and music on motorway.
NEWS CHANNELS
News channels are first giving the news that Nawaz Sharif met Pervez Elahi in Dubai, then soon they went on denying it. Don't know how all the channels got the same news wrong, or must be mindlessly copying news from other channels without confirmation.
I know many such characters who just create news from nowhere. Even one reporter flashed the news and fed it to other reporters that two journalists had been killed in Red Mosque firing in Islamabad in July 2007. The other reporters without confirming it from actual sources i.e police and hospital starting giving it to their channels. The news cameraman they were reporting dead on that day, is still alive, though disabled after he got three bullets into his body.
JOURNALISTS SAFETY
It is no surprise as none of Pakistani news organisation is known to conduct safety training for their staff. News photographers and cameramen are now too often caught in the crossfire in pursuit of best and closest shots. Nobody has told them to first find a secure place for themselves and then shoot. Perhaps their employers just want news at any cost, even at the cost of the lives of their employees. We were told during the security training that if there is danger to a journalists life, his first priority should be to secure himself to a safer location and then do the reporting part.
Left the bed at 6.45am, 15 minutes before alarm rang. Slept for nearly four hours. Some time wasted in finding a fresh pair of socks. Stomach got upset from yesterday's lunch from Zinnos.
TRAVEL PLANS
Planning to leave for Faisalabad after lunch and checking up my car. Also forgot my cash at home, so will also hit an ATM on the way in order to fill the gas. Petrol tank topped up two days ago.