Tablighi Jamaat Markaz, Raiwind is a terrorist sanctuary : Rehman Malik

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has declared Tablighi Jamaat Markaz, Raiwind as a breeding-ground of extremism and terrorism.

"All terrorists at some point remained part of the Tablighi Jamaat and attended training camps after brainwashing at Riawind." said Senator Rehman Malik while addressing at the security think-tank International Institute of Strategic Studies on the topic of "Countering Extremism in South Asia".

Parnell bowls perfect length by embracing Islam

Wayne Parnell, the South African Left-Arm Pacer and a specialist of Yorkers, has delivered his life-time best delivery by converting to Islam. 

Parnell confirmed in a statement that he converted to Islamic faith in January this year and is considering to change his name to Waleed.

Proteas team manager Muhammed Moosajee, said Parnell's Muslim teammates Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir had not influenced his decision to convert from Christianity. 

Moreover, the South African national team players have been very impressed by the discipline and strict adherence that Hashim Amla showed to his religion, by refusing to participate in celebrations with them that involved liquor, staying steadfast in his daily prayers even while on tour, and refusing to wear the kit sponsored by South African beer brand Castle Lager.

IG Gilgit-Baltistan Police has gone missing in Shangrilla : Attorney General

The Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar ul Haq has told the Supreme Court of Pakistan that IG Gilgit-Baltistan Police, Hussain Asghar went missing in Shangrila Resort, Skardu.

A six-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, was told by Attorney General Molvi Anwar ul Haq and DG FIA, that Inspector General Gilgit-Baltistan Police Hussain Asghar was boating in Shangrila on July 26 but since then, there has not been any contact with him, neither could any telephonic contact could be made.

However, from independent sources, it has been learnt that IG Gilgit-Baltistan Police Hussain Asghar has gone missing while playing 'Hide and Seek' in Shangrila Resort, Skardu with Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah and Chief Secretary of Baltistan.

According to the sources Asghar has been made a fool by Mehdi Shah, who asked him to hide until he count to a "Zillion". But, it is important to note that Mehdi Shah does not know English, and thus he can't count to a zillion.

Sheikh Rashid wants to become 'Meera Patti'

Chief of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has finally decided to get marry and become 'Meera Patti'.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has finally decided to get bound in a marital relation with famous Movie Star Meera, he also withes to hold the matrimonial ceremony in Lal Haveli.

However, Meera's reaction has not been known yet....

US economy on the verge of collapse

Looks like another super power is going to pay for it's Afghanistan misadventure, i.e. big losses  were observed on Wall Street, as the deadline approaches for US lawmakers to strike a deal to avoid a disastrous default. 

The White House along with Democrats and their Republican rivals continue to bicker over a deficit-slashing plan that would allow a hike in the US debt ceiling, despite the government running out of money to pay its bills before 2nd August deadline.

The House of Representatives is due to take up Republican Speaker John Boehner's plan for raising the $14.3 trillion debt limit, although it will likely fail due to a White House veto threat.

In anticipation of this, lawmakers are hunting for a compromise to avert a debt default, which threatens to have a devastating effect on global markets and the world economy.

"The scary part of the story is the fact that markets have not priced-in the US defaulting on its debt," said CMC Markets analyst Ben Le Brun.

"Should the unthinkable happen in the next week then a throwback to the chaos of 2008 would again become a reality," he told.

However, he added: "Should the majority of opinion be correct and the US does avoid a default, global markets do appear as if they are positioned for a relief rally of sorts."

The troubles sent Wall Street stocks lower for a third consecutive day, with the Dow plunging 1.59 percent, the S&P 500 2.03 percent lower and the Nasdaq diving 2.65 percent.

Moreover, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in September, fell 45 cents to $96.95 per barrel.

Update 1st August: The US House of Representatives has approved a last-gasp deal to raise the US borrowing limit in a decisive step toward averting a catastrophic debt default.

A day before the deadline to lift the debt ceiling, the passage by the Republican-controlled House of the $2.1 trillion deficit-cutting plan hammered out over the weekend cleared the way for the Senate to approve it.

India gushes over Hina

Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has won instant fans in India, with her photo adorning the front pages of most Indian newspapers amid high interest in her arrival. Looks like, the whole India gushes over her and she might get a call from Bollywood soon.

"Pak Puts On Its Best Face," noted The Times of India, the biggest-selling English-language daily, while mass circulation Hindi newspaper Navbharat Times said India was "sweating over model-like minister."

"Pak bomb lands in India," joked the Mumbai Mirror tabloid in a tongue-in-cheek reference to the history of wars between the countries and attacks by Pakistani militant groups on Indian soil.

The Mail Today tabloid devoted extensive space to her choice of outfit as she flew in to New Delhi airport. 

"The 34-year-old minister scored full marks on the fashion front when she was spotted at the Delhi airport in a monotone outfit of blue — the colour of the season," it said.

"Tasteful accessories — Roberto Cavalli sunglasses, oversized Hermes Birkin bag and classic pearl jewellery — added a hint of glamour to her look," it added.

The Telegraph newspaper meanwhile compared fresh-faced Khar, a married mother of two who caused a stir at home after being photographed in tight jeans, with her elderly counterpart S.M. Krishna.

"In the unkind world of adjectives, the odds are stacked against SMK and in favour of HRK," it said, using the ministers’ initials. "Khar carries with ease descriptions such as ‘stunning’ and ‘petite’." Krishna, a 79-year-old who takes great pride in his tailored suits, might face a tough job attracting attention later Wednesday when the two pose for photographs at the start of their talks.

"All eyes on glamorous Pak minister," said the Rediff website. "She is clearly being looked at as a perfect combination of beauty and brains." The Indian Twittersphere was also ablaze with commentary on the Pakistani envoy, who has taken over from Shah Mehmood Qureshi who drew criticism in the Indian media over his strong language last time he met Krishna.

Journalist and author Seema Goswami saw a link between the monsoonal downpour that struck the Indian capital and the generally fawning coverage of Khar.

"Even the Delhi skies are drooling," she wrote.

The Foreign Ministers of the nuclear-armed neighbours are holding their first talks in a year, looking to breathe fresh life into a peace process still stifled by the trauma of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Observers expect little to emerge from the meeting beyond some modest confidence-building measures connected to relatively uncontentious issues such as cross-border trade and people-to-people contacts.

However, the direction in which Hina Rabbani Khar's popularity graph is heading, she might be contacted for a lead role in a Bollywood movie.

Katrina eyes PM seat, as she claims qualification equal to Gandhi

Glamorous actress Katrina Kaif has hinted that she is interested in doing politics, and said that she is proud of being half Asian, like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is also half Indian, half Italian.

"Am I supposed to be ashamed that I am half Asian, half European? I mean, no! Rahul Gandhi is half Indian, half Italian. So? I am very proud of what I am, because it is very useful in international politics these days. If my popularity and dual-ethnicity can server India? I would love to serve in what ever capacity I can? If Rahul Gandhi can get a benefit, and is foreseen as a future PM, why wouldn't I?"

Amir King Khan new World Welter Weight Champion

Famous boxer Amir Khan has become the World Light Welter Weight Champion by knocking out Zab Judah of United States at Las Vegas.

Amir Khan said he was under pressure in the first round but become confident in the other rounds. Amir Khan said defeating Juda was his aim.

Amir’s father Sajjad Khan said his son lifted the World Title with the prayers of the whole Pakistani nation.

Christian Taliban haunts Norway

Norwegian Christian Taliban / Free Mason / Neo-Nazi, Anders Behring Breivik has admitted responsibility of the massacre at a youth camp in Norway and a bombing in the capital, Oslo.

At least eighty five people were gunned down as Breivik ran amok on Utoeya island on Friday, hours after he bombed seven in Oslo.

Breivik who has links with right-wing anti-Muslim extremists described his actions as "gruesome but necessary", and said "one believer is better than a million benefiters".

In his video posted prior to the attacks, Breivik has repeatedly referred to the Knights Templar and to Free-Masonism, multiculturalism and Muslim immigration.

Dr Fai's arrest is US avenge over the capture of CIA agents

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Executive Director of the US-based Kashmir American Council. After the Raymond Davis and Dr Shakeel Afridi episodes, it is very much obvious that the US policy makers’ have tried to settle their old scores with Pakistan under the cover of this arrest.

The US has sent a clear message, that if the US spies are not allowed to work freely in Pakistan. Then the Kashmir cause will surely suffer on US soil.

Whatever be the reality, the arrest of Dr Fai would add another strain to the already worsening relationship between the US and Pakistan.

US Justice Department officials said that Dr Fai was busy in efforts to push the Kashmiri cause in Washington with Pakistani funding over a decade-long. The US Justice Department alleged in a statement that Washington based Kashmir American Council headed by Dr Fai, is actually run by elements of the Pakistani government. According to FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Mc Junkin, Dr Fai and another man Zaheer Ahmad were being funded by the Pakistani government through its spy agency ISI. US Department of Justice blamed that Dr Fai’s handlers in Pakistan showered millions of dollars upon the Council to promote the Kashmiri cause among US politicians and other decision-makers in Washington.

FBI agent Sarah Webb Linden said in documents filed in federal court in Virginia, “Dr Fai has received at least $4 million from the Pakistani government since the 1990’s through Zaheer and his funding network in Pakistan. During all this period Dr Fai has received approximately $500,000 to $700,000 per year from the government of Pakistan.”

The arrest of Dr Fai in Washington is certainly a vibrant part of the same malicious campaign against the security agencies of Pakistan which started from the so-called Mumbai Attacks. Since very after the Mumbai attacks the hostile elements in USA and India have been alleging that ISI is involved in Mumbai terrorist attacks. Thanks to the Chicago Court which in the light of confession made by David Coleman Headley announced that leadership of Pakistan’s ISI had nothing to do with the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks but unluckily the  perpetrators of Dr Fai’s arrest have forgotten the truth exposed by the Chicago Court.

India must get rid of Shudar Psyche : Hillary Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged India to get rid of 'Shudar Psyche' and become more assertive in Asia, reflecting US desire for New Delhi to stop thinking like a low-cast Hindu.

Speaking in the Indian city of Chennai — a southern trading port looking out towards east Asia — Clinton argued that India needed to play a bolder leadership role in building security and prosperity in the region.

“India’s leadership has the potential to positively shape the future of the Asia-Pacific... and we encourage you to stop thinking like a traditional low-cast Hindu, and act boldly as well,” she said in Chennai.

Washington has actively courted India, regarding the country as a natural ally because of the two countries’ shared belief in democracy, human rights and market-oriented economic policies.

“This is not a time when any of us can afford to be shy at the expense of being bold,” she added. “This is a time to seize the emerging opportunities of the 21st century. This is a time to lead.”Update 23rd July: In a clear rebuff to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's stand that India should take a lead in Asia, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan does not want a "Chaudhry" in the region.

Opium cultivation can increase government revenue : Chairman Islamic Ideology Council

Chairman Islamic Ideology Council Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani has asked the government to allow opium-poppy cultivation (a flower processed chemically to produce heroin) for increase in revenue.

Maulana was of the view that Pakistan's economy is in ICU, and government improve it by hook or by crook. 

Maulana Sherani said "Pakistan's economic situation is grave, and being an agricultural country we shall encourage the cultivation of high price crops like opium-poppy and tobacco. As a first step the government shall lift ban on opium-poppy cultivation, it will boast the much needed cash inflow."

Maulana further said "If the government needs any fatwa in this regard, then myself or JUI-F will surely help."

Taliban are good guys : UN

The United Nation Security Council has declared fourteen Taliban as good guys, and asked them to preach goodness, friendship and harmony in Afghanistan. The UN Security Council has also regretted on being harsh with the Taliban in the past.

Those listed by a special sanctions committee as the "best people in the world" also include four members of a seventy-strong High Peace Council set up by Afghan authorities last September to pave the way for talks, the German UN mission announced in a statement.

The Peace Council members are Arsalan Rahmani Daulat, a former Taliban deputy higher education minister, Habibullah Fawzi, a former Taliban diplomat in Saudi Arabia, Sayeedur Rahman Haqani, former Taliban deputy minister for mines and industries and later for public works, and Faqir Mohammad.

President Hamid Karzai's office has called the creation of the council a significant step toward peace and harmony in the world and especially Afghanistan. But the Taliban have so far scoffed at the idea of talks, saying all foreign forces must first become peaceful in Afghanistan.

In a statement, Germany's UN Ambassador Peter Wittig said "The international community recognizes efforts made by members of the High Peace Council to work toward peace, stability and reconciliation. All Afghans are encouraged to join the Taliban movement. The message is clear: we regret our mistake of being harsh with you."

Altaf calls partition of India a blunder but wants to partition Sindh

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain calls the partition of India a blunder, but wants to partition Sindh and create Urdustan a separate province for the Muhajirs.

According to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the slogan to turn Karachi into Urdustan or Muhajiristan province is the voice of millions of people of the city who have been deprived of their rights despite the fact that Karachi generates 70 percent of the country’s total revenue.

"These Muhajir people have been deprived of their rights," said Waseem Aftab, a member of the MQM’s Rabita Committee, when asked that the people in Orangi Town had been seen raising the slogan for a Karachi province.

"When you (PPP) deprive the people of their rights from every corner then a stage arrives when the people start raising voice for a separate province," he said, adding: "It is the voice of millions of people who have been living in pathetic conditions for the last three years."

"The PPP has created a rural-urban divide by taking such steps and the government abolished the Sindh Local Government System-2001 just because the city witnessed development under this system and mostly Urdu-speaking people benefited from it," he said.
 

"The PPP has given a message that they do not respect the mandate of the MQM."

Waseem said that the MQM had tried its level best that such voice for a separate province would not be raised but every step of the PPP only brought sheer frustration among the people.

"If there could be Hazara, Seraikistan, Bhawalpur, Potwar and other provinces then these deprived people can also raise voice for Urdustan province," he maintained.

Observers however feel that MQM doesn't have any moral ground for demanding the partition of Sindh and creation of Urdustan. Because it was the Altaf Hussain himself who criticized partition of India in the strongest of manners.

Addressing a conference in India MQM Chief Altaf Hussain said "The division of (Indian) subcontinent is the greatest greatest blunder in the history of mankind. It was not the division of land, but the division of blood".

No doubt Altaf Hussain likes bloodshed, his Jinahpur misadventure is one example, and now he wants another bloody partition of land to create Urdustan.

Cold is cold, whether it is in summer or winter : Aslam Raisani

Chief Minister Baluchistan Nawab Aslam Raisani has said that "Cold is cold, whether it is in summer or winter" (Urdu: سردی سردی ہوتی ہے، چاہے ونٹر ہو یا گرمی ہو) (Roman Urdu: Sardi sardi hoti hay, chahay winter ho ya garmi ho). He was answering a query by a journalist about Gawadar being declared the provincial winter capital.

 

Similarly, on a previous occasion he has presented the theory that "Degree is a degree, whether it is original or fake" (Urdu: ڈگری ڈگری ہوتی ہے، چاہے اصلی ہو یا نقلی ہو) (Roman Urdu: Degree degree hoti hay, chahay asli ho ya naqli ho).

Ijaz Butt's nuts are loose : Afridi's Spokesman

Former Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi's legal counsel and spokesman, Syed Ali Zaffar, said that Mr. Ijaz Butt's nuts are loose, and he always speaks without thinking about the consequences.

Commenting on Ijaz Butt's statement that "Shahid Afridi is not a captaincy material", Ali Zaffar said "Ijaz Butt's statement that Shahid Afridi will not captain the Pakistan team again is not only very irresponsible but is like an order or direction to the governing council members (who choose the captain in consultation with the board chairman) and to the selection committee not to even consider him. In this regard, Mr Butt is usurping the authority of the governing council members and selection committee and is clearly acting illegally."

Ali Zaffar futher said, "Afridi can take him to court if he so chooses. I will however add that I have had no discussion with Afridi in this regard. Mr Ijaz Butt's nuts are loose as he virtually enjoys dictatorial powers."

Altaf Hussain's insult is the insult of the founders of Paksitan : Muhajir Rabita Council

The General Secretary of Muhajir Rabita Council Arshad Siddqui has said Zulfiqar Mirza had insulted the founders of Pakistan by calling MQM Chief Altaf Hussain a criminal. Therefore, Zulfiqar Mirza should come on the media and apologize to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain.

Arshad Siddiqui said that the apology from Rehman Malik is not acceptable and MQM workers want Zulfiqar Mirza to apologize to the MQM chief.

He said that President Asif Ali Zardari should take immediate action and remove Zulfiqar Mirza from his post and if the President did not remove Mirza than he would be responsible for the ensuing situation.

PPP government ready to celebrate after crossing the Rs 3 trillion corruption mark

Pakistan Peoples Party lead Federal Government is all set to kick off celebrations across the country, after costing the nation more than Rs. 3000 billion in only three years of rule. This is indeed a record breaking achievement and an indication of consistency, Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) Advisory Committee Chairman Adil Gilani told the media.

Mr. Adil Gilani said these corruption figures do not include the loot and plunder of the national wealth in the mega scandals like Pakistan Steel Mills scam, NICL plunder, Haj swindle, rental power plants fraud and many more.

The trends of surveys and studies conducted by the Transparency International Pakistan show gradual increase in corruption in Pakistan during the last three years, Gilani said and added this fact could be confirmed from the country’s ranking in TI Corruption Perception Index. “Conservative figure for last three years are more than a trillion rupees per annum with 15-20 percent annual increase,” Gilani said.

He said that the height of corruption in Pakistan during the last three years could be judged from its position sliding down incredibly from 47th in 2008 to 42nd in 2009 and 34th in 2010.

The TIP executive explained that in 2009, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) corruption was at least Rs500 billion as per the statement of the then finance minister Shaukat Tareen whereas the state enterprises like PIA, Wapda, Pakistan Steel Mills and Railways eat up Rs300 billion of taxpayers. In 2009, he explained that the TIP reported the increase in corruption in the last three years by 400 percent and quoted the figure of Rs195 billion in 2009, which increased to Rs225 billion in 2010 as the money that went in petty corruption.

The total corruption in the above three categories alone, according to Gilani, makes the figure of corrupted money over Rs3,000 billion during the last three years.

However, Gilani clarified that these huge corruption figures do not include the massive corruption in the land department and government procurements in entities like National Highway Authority, Oil and Gas Development Corporation Limited, Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Limited, Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, National Insurance Corporation Limited, Pepco, Erra, SVBP, NBP, CDA, Ministry of Defence, Defence Housing Authority, National Logistics Cell, PSO, PNSC, Cantonment Boards, etc.

The roller-coaster relation between Pakistan and US

The latest dip in Pak-US relations and the consequent suspension of $800 million US military aid to Pakistan is the seventh such instance during the last 56 years, meaning thereby that an impasse has greeted the roller-coaster relationship between the two countries after every eight years since 1955.

Practical cooperation between the Pakistan and US had commenced with the inking of the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) or the Baghdad Pact in February 1955.

Pakistan had basically signed the Baghdad Pact after the US had promised it ‘generous’ military and economic aid packages. The Baghdad Pact was aimed at containing the former USSR from developing a line of strong states along its south-western borders. This resulted in nearly $50 million in military grants, $19 million in defence support assistance and $ five million in cash or commercial purchases between 1955 and 1965 from US.

The first time when the US military aid to Pakistan was suspended, was during the 1965 Pak-India War. The second time it happened in 1971 when Pakistan and India were again at the battlefront. In 1972, after the then US President Nixon had visited China for the first time - a tour facilitated by Pakistan - Islamabad started receiving money again from Washington DC as probably 'service charges'.

In April 1979, the United States cut off its military assistance to Pakistan for the third time under the 1977 Symington Amendment to the US Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This halt was triggered by the US concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear program.

In December 1979, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the US offered $400 million worth of military aid to Pakistan. The offer was turned down by the General Ziaul Haq’s, as he called it 'peanuts'.

In 1981, Pakistan and the United States agreed on a $3.2 billion military and economic assistance program aimed at helping Pakistan deal with the heightened threat to security in the region and its development needs.

Accepting Pakistan’s assurances that it did not intend to make a nuclear bomb, the US Congress waived restrictions under the Symington Amendment on military assistance to Pakistan and in March 1986, the two countries agreed on a second multi-year (1988-93) $4 billion economic development and security assistance program.

The US aid had basically swelled from $60 million in economic and development assistance in 1979 to more than $600 million a year in the mid-1980s. The military aid was in addition to the $3.1 billion economic assistance for Islamabad.

But before the ink of Geneva agreement for Soviet with drawl from Afghanistan dried in 1990, US military assistance was again suspended under the provisions of the Pressler Amendment. However, in 1995, the Brown Amendment authorized a one-time delivery of US military equipment worth $368 million to Pakistan.

The Pak-US relations again deteriorated after Pakistan conducted its May 28, 1998 nuclear tests. Sanctions resulted under the Glenn Amendment and curbs were imposed on the provision of credits, military sales, economic assistance and loans to Pakistan.

The dethroning of former two-time premier Nawaz Sharif by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 gave the US government another ‘valid excuse’ to invoke new sanctions on Pakistan under the Foreign Appropriations Act. Only funds for the refugee and counter-narcotics assistance were given after Musharraf’s October 1999 adventure. 

It is imperative to note that between 2002 and 2010, Pakistan has received approximately $18 billion in military and economic aid from the United States. In February 2010, the Obama administration had requested for an additional $3 billion in aid for Pakistan, taking the total US assistance figures to $20.7 billion.

However, the US has again suspended Pakistan aid mainly due to the exclusion of US trainers from Pakistan.

Girlfriends are responsible for 70% killings in Karachi : Rehman Malik

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has revealed that the reported figure of deaths in Karachi due to target killing is not accurate. He said that when it is reported that 100 people were killed due to target killing investigations would reveal that only 30 were its victims while 70 others died due to their girlfriends.

Loadshedding to continue for one more decade : Chairman WAPDA

Chairman WAPDA Shakeel Durrani said that electricity loadshedding will continue for one more decade.

Chairman WAPDA told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water and Power that the difference between demand and supply can only be eliminated after a decade. However, he was not sure about the increase in electricity demand during the same period.