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Lahore

Lahore, a centre for the arts and learning in the early 20th century, has been the custodian of a plural, vibrant culture for decades. Its walled city, unlike several other old settlements, has continued to survive despite the expansion of the city. So have its peculiar features: its dialects, cuisine, community linkages and, of course, rich festivals such as Basant. As the capital of Punjab, Lahore used to celebrate Basant — the arrival of spring — in a colourful manner.

Since the medieval times, Basant was acknowledged and celebrated by the Chishti saints. Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi turned it into an act of devotion, and Amir Khusrau’s songs captured the multi-layered evolution of this festival.

Punjabi poets such as Shah Hussain gave a Sufi flavour to it. Hussain, in one of his kaafis, says: “The Beloved holds the string in his hand, and I am His kite.” The festival offered a meaning to all and sundry: from playful kids to lovers and Sufis; from profit-seekers who developed livelihoods around the festival to the community as a whole.

Basant was celebrated by all communities prior to Partition: Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs treated it as a Lahori festival with an identity linked to the city. In this milieu, Allama Iqbal was known to be an avid kite flier. But the post-1947 rise of clerics meant that inclusive cultural practices were to be treated with suspicion. For many decades, the Pakistani mullahs have ranted against Basant as an “unIslamic” festival and one that endangered public morality.

Unfazed by these fatwas, Lahoris continued with the festival. It even received state patronage on various occasions. A citizen of Lahore, Mian Yousaf Salahuddin (the grandson of Iqbal), turned his old Lahore haveli into a cultural hub and, over time, Basant celebrations became an international attraction. By the 1990s, proactive civil servants turned Basant into a great regional festival. Lahore’s then deputy commissioner, Kamran Lashari, provided full backing to the holding of this event in the 1990s. That was perhaps the time when Basant also became most controversial due to its scale and the increased hazards of unregulated kite-flying in which metallic or chemical-coated string was used.

The use of this string instead of the traditional dor caused many deaths each year and the local government was unable to enforce regulations on its usage. The metallic wire would get entangled in electricity cables in the old city, leading to electrocution. The courts intervened and asked the Punjab government to ban the festival in 2007.

Ironically, the banning of Basant did not take place in the name of religion but through a public interest litigation. However, the ideological opponents of Basant have been happy with the outcome and have created an uproar each time someone raised the question of reviving Basant after putting safety measures in place. But Lahore is a poorer place now. It is devoid of this public celebration, especially for thousands of impoverished workers in the old city and neighbouring towns where Basant was celebrated with great fervour.

The last time a major Basant controversy erupted was when Punjab’s constitutional head was the slain governor, Salman Taseer. He was keen on the festival restarting in his tenure and he also asked the provincial government to introduce the required measures. But the court ban could not be undone. Thus, in 2009, he held a Basant festival in the lawns of the Governor House and made it an open house for Lahoris. Little did he know that, in a couple of years, a bigot would kill him for his secular and tolerant views.

Like several other realities of Pakistan, Basant deaths are a governance failure. Local governments tasked with the mandate to enforce social regulation are no longer there. Pervez Musharraf had introduced a system of devolved governance, which was undone by the ruling PPP and its allies and now no political party wants to revive them. With local participation, the use of inappropriate kite-flying materials could be checked and controlled.

But the PML-N, the ruling party in Punjab with a conservative support base, and an even more conservative judiciary have truncated a cultural continuum. It is a separate matter that terror outfits which celebrate
death in the name of religion and preach violence are free to operate while a people’s festival is under intense judicial scrutiny and executive control.

Such are the ironies of contemporary Pakistan. The rich and the powerful organise their private parties with great fanfare in well-manicured gardens, while the ordinary people have to be content with doses of public safety and disguised religiosity.

Lahore’s true spring will return the day the Basant ban is removed and its pluralism is rescued from further vandalism in the name of “public interest”.

A picture worth a million words

Real Revolution.

Jashan

Delirious fans savour Asia Cup win

A cricket fan in Lahore waves the Pakistan flag as he celebrates victory with others after the final of the Asia Cup, 

KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday celebrated a nail-biting victory in the Asia Cup after a two-run win over Bangladesh that was hailed as providing some much-needed relief to the country.
Pakistan clinched only their second Asia Cup title in Dhaka late Thursday, sending delirious fans pouring onto the streets in major cities to celebrate, though some missed the action on the field because of power cuts.
“Our cricket team gives us joy, otherwise we’re obsessed with problems of inflation, loadshedding (power cuts) and lack of security,” said fan Tehmina Siddiqui, celebrating in Karachi’s upmarket Clifton area.
Congratulatory messages from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other political leaders praised the team effort, captain Misbah-ul Haq’s leadership and new Australian coach Dav Whatmore.
Despite orders from the prime minister for no power cuts during Sunday’s match against arch-rivals India and Thursday’s final, fans still complained of outages at home.
“We had to come out and watch the matches on big screens in the streets as power outages were as frequent as ever,” complained Raza Elahi, a pupil at middle school.
Former players were delighted, having been sceptical that Pakistan would perform well after being routed 4-0 by England in a one-day series last month.
“It’s a wonderful performance,” said Moin Khan, who was captain when Pakistan won their first Asia Cup, in 2000, also in Dhaka.
“Our players have given the nation great joy and we are proud of them.”
Congratulations to our team for winning the title,” said chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who also had warm words for Bangladesh.
“They beat India and Sri Lanka in the tournament and proved a tough opponent,” he said.
Bangladesh proved that “they are no more the minnows of cricket”, said Qasim.
“I hope they will carry on the good work and be reckoned as one of the major forces in Asia and the world.”
Former captain and director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Javed Miandad, said the dramatic win was testament to the side’s never-say-die attitude.
“It’s a great win and showed the fighting abilities of the team, but the hosts played very well,” said Miandad, a member of Pakistan’s World Cup winning team in 1992.
But another former captain, Rashid Latif, cautioned that Pakistan must not run away with themselves and should “sit down and analyse our weaknesses”
.

Baloch ruling elite’s lifestyle outshines that of Arab royals

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani owns a safety and security firm and a mining company with a capital investment of Rs106.5 million. 

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan is considered to be a neglected province where a majority of population lacks basic amenities, but the ruling elite of the province has an entirely different story.
Many members of the club have pieces of land greater in size than some small towns of the country, using precious vehicles rarely seen even in big cities and having more glamorous lifestyle than even royal families of the Arab world.
According to a statement of assets and liabilities submitted to the Election Commission for 2010-2011, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani uses a luxury sport utility vehicle (Hummer H2) gifted by an unnamed friend from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a Harley Davidson motorcycle brought to Pakistan after a waiver on customs duty. The price of Hummer and motorcycle has been cited as Rs180 million and Rs3.2 million, respectively. He has two other vehicles, including a land cruiser.
He owns a safety and security firm and a mining company with a capital investment of Rs106.5 million. He also owns over 30 properties valued at Rs150 million in his own and wife’s name.
The Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs, Mir Zafar Ullah Khan, owns 24,338 acres of land, most of which he has inherited and is yet to be distributed. He has Rs51 million in two bank accounts and owns Rs20.7 million house.
The Minister for Building, Agha Irfan Karim, owns four properties, including a farm house, 150 acres of agricultural land and a house in Quetta, but has not mentioned the price, just writing “not evaluated” in the remarks column against the detail of immovable property.
He owns two diamond-studded Rolex wrist watches, two more with gold and silver, 10 diamond-studded cufflinks and 200 tola of gold.
Pir Abdul Qadir Algilani owns 3,200 acres of land in Kalat and Lasbella, and an under-construction farm in Lasbella on 400 acres. His other properties include a two-acre hut in Gaddani. The Pir also has Rs33 million. He has mentioned investment in stocks, too, in his statement.
His other properties include two coal mines, three manganese mines, one cooper mine and one iron ore mine in his own and his wife’s name.
Pir Abdul Qadir has 300 guns issued by the Ordnance depot of the GHQ as his mother’s inheritance from Khan of Kalat, her father. He also owns antiques and gems of unspecified quantity and value.
The Minister for Fisheries, Mir Hammal Kalmati, owns assets worth Rs238 million. He owns seven properties worth Rs238 million and has over Rs28 million in bank accounts.
However, in contrast to most of the cabinet members in Balochistan, the Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Tahir Mehmood Khan, has assets of Rs86.5 million in Quetta. He has jewellery valued at Rs1.5 million and Rs63,600 in two bank
accounts.
Jan Ali Changezi has no immovable property in or outside Pakistan. The total worth of assets, including furniture, jewellery and cash in hand and bank, comes to Rs1.6 million.
Muhammad Ismael Gujjar owns property worth Rs19.65 million. He has not mentioned the value of a dairy farm, eight commercial vehicles and two unspecified Pakistan-made cars of 2011 models and one Japan-made car of 2007 model. He has around Rs400,000 in two bank accounts.
Sardar Masood Ali Khan owns assets worth Rs235 million, including commercial and residential property, and 500 grams of gold ornaments. He owns no car.
The total worth of Mohammad Younas Mullazai’s assets, including a house and a commercial plot, is Rs5.5 million. He too owns no car.
Ali Madad Jattak has put at Rs7.3 million the value of his house and 18,000 sq feet land he had purchased after selling livestock — 48 camels, 23 cows and buffalos and 525 goats and sheep valued at Rs15.34 million. He has Rs0.5 million in cash and owns no
car.
Ainullah Shams owns a house, agricultural land and open plots worth Rs 12.6 million, but has no bank account and owns no car.
The most valuable thing under possession of Molvi Abdul Samad is his car worth Rs350,000 followed by the share in a house mentioned as Rs50,000. He has put the value of furniture in his use at Rs200,00 and holds the same amount in cash as well. He has Rs3,800 in his bank account.
Syed Matiullah Agha has Rs9.1 million in his bank accounts. He has put the value of his four properties, including agricultural land and plots, at Rs4.5 million. He has an automobile engineering business in Karachi and owns a shop in his village. He also does not own a car.
Asfandyar Khan Kakar has an open plot in Pishin he purchased in an unspecified year for Rs2.8 million, with a present market value of Rs7 million. He has Rs575,315 in two bank accounts, but has no car
.

SASTA PATROL

Pakistan plans allowing petrol imports from India

NEW DELHI: The Pakistani government is expected to bring out a notification next month allowing import of certain goods, including petrol and food items from India, Energy Secretary Ejaz Chaudhry said on Friday.

Pakistan agreed last November to open up more trade with India by replacing a list of items its bigger neighbour can sell across the border with a shorter list of items that cannot be traded — a move regarded as key to improving commercial ties.

Pakistan has agreed in principle to grant access to imports from India under the Most Favoured Nation status, but has yet to fully implement the change.

“We have granted the Most Favoured Nation status to India. Our cabinet has approved it,” Chaudhry told reporters in the Indian capital.

“Our commerce ministry is in the final stage of documentation of a notification to bring out certain items from negative list, including petrol,” he said. “The notification should be out in 14 to 15 days.”

Pakistan currently bans imports of Indian gasoline. It allowed diesel imports from India in 2009, but no Indian supplies were sent in the face of preferential prices offered by Pakistan’s allies such as Kuwait.

India’s oil minister S Jaipal Reddy said in January that the country was examining a proposal to export petroleum products and gasoline to neighbouring Pakistan.

Chaudhry said Pakistan was aiming to build its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which it hopes to commission in the second-half of the next year.

Four-to-five companies, including global oil major Royal Dutch Shell and South Korea’s Daewoo, have shown interest in supplying LNG to Pakistan under a tender seeking 500 million cubic feet a day (MCFD) gas, he said.

The government plans to award the tender in one month, Chaudhry said.

Will Pakistan Become a Desolate Tract?

On 19^th September 2020, a massive crowd gathered at the Minto Park where the political leadership in coalition with the Difa-i-Pakistan council held a rally. A thirsty famine-struck crowd listened to, “We will not allow India to continue this! We will defeat them and will not allow them to violate the Indus Water Treaty by trying to sabotage our river waters by constructing dams. The Indians would not be left alone with our water. Jihad is the only justice for this Nuclear Islamic State.” The crowd cheered with enthusiasm “Pakistan Zindabad, Leadership Zindabad, and Indians Murdabad.”
As I write this article today I can picture Pakistan all dried up and turned into a desolate tract by 2020. I can hear the booming voices of the politicians screaming out aloud that India has made us lifeless without water. The rivers are all dried up and one can see the gypsies comfortably making the river bed as their home.

One could see that the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with India was a blessing in disguise for the Pakistani state as it helped to manage the conflict at hand. The treaty divided the western and eastern rivers between Pakistan and India. It brought in the concept of water sharing, dispute settlement mechanism and Basin administration fund.  The treaty provided the lower riparian state with a network of canals, barrages and dams. It provided the Pakistani state with two of the largest dams Mangla and Tarbela. Until now the treaty has been hailed as a big accomplishment between both the kin states as it withstood the test of time but now it has come under a lot of strain due to a decline of water flow in the Indus River system. When Pakistan and India became separate entities in 1947, the Indus Basin had sufficient water for everyone. Half of the Indus waters were flowing into the Arabian Sea almost unused then. So did India drank all the water or was Pakistan so thirsty that it gulped down all the river water?
The demand of water has risen due to unbridled population growth whereas its supply has become less. The declining of the river waters is a serious issue. Due to a change in the climate, the glaciers are fast receding due to which the water levels are also declining.  Asian Development Bank has labeled Pakistan as the world’s most water stressed state with the shortage becoming acute by 2020.
The successive Pakistani governments have ignored the water problem which has culminated into a serious situation. Today the country faces water and power shortage but, shockingly, the policy makers have never given water the status of a core national interest. Thus, India has been working fast for conserving water whereas Pakistan had been stuck on the vital projects like the Kalabagh Dam.
The blessings of the treaty include our mega dams. But in light of climate, population and unlimited Indian dam construction, the Indus Water Treaty needs to be revised. Unlike the Indians, the Pakistani side did little for conserving water. India has not only utilized its own river waters but has also focused on the western waters feeding Pakistan. What the government is doing about this precarious situation is only putting the blame on Indians. Water is a serious problem – more than the Zulfiqar/Benazir Bhutto murders, memogate and mehrangate issues.  Thus, the government better wake up from its slumber and the rallies of difa-i-Pakistan should focus more on conserving water rather than inciting the masses against either the US or India.

 

Coconut Milk Coffee Ice Cream

Coconut milk is one of the best substitutes around for dairy when you need something with enough fat to do the job of cream. I have been eating coconut milk based ice cream for several years now and find that it does satisfy when I need that ice cream fix without any dairy. It is a good base for many flavors, especially coffee. In my neck of the woods, this brilliant idea is no secret: a few grocery stores in my area sell coconut milk ice cream and a local ice cream parlor,Full Tilt, always carries a few flavors. With the fortune of having my own ice cream maker, I like to make my own so I can use the sweeteners I like best and experiment with my own flavors.

Misbah's tenure as ODI, T20 captain may end after Asia Cup

Misbah-ul-Haq's tenure as captain of the Pakistan one-day and T20 squads is likely to come to an end after the ongoing Asia Cup tournament in Bangladesh, with Shahid Afridi and M Hafeez's names being floated as replacements.

Well-informed sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and close to the national selection committee said on Wednesday that regardless of whether Pakistan win or lose in the Asia Cup final, Misbah would not be retained as captain of the ODI and T20 squads after the tournament. "Pakistan's next assignment after the Asia Cup is the tour to Sri Lanka from late May in which they play three Tests, five ODIs and two T20 matches," one source said. "And all indications are that the board and selectors feel that it is time for Misbah to be restricted to leading the Test team while a new captain will be announced for the ODI and T20 teams," the source said.

He said the board will be taking a lot of inputs from new coach, Dav Whatmore after the Asia Cup before taking a decision on the captaincy and on the prospect of having separate Test and limited overs squads. Misbah had been leading Pakistan in all three formats of the game since last year after the board under former previous chairman, Ijaz Butt sacked Afridi as captain of the ODI and T20 teams after the tour to the West Indies in May.  A source said that there were also strong indications that after the Asia Cup some players including Misbah, Younus Khan, Umar Gul and others might be restricted to playing Test cricket while a new look ODI and T20 squads would be formed.

"There is a feeling that Pakistan need to have ODI and T20 squads with more young players and fresh faces as there is little likelihood of some seniors continuing to play in prime form until the 2015 World Cup," the source said.

The source said so far Whatmore had a restricted role in team selection since he had just taken over but is expected to play a more decisive role after the Asia Cup. "There will be a lot more input from Whatmore and other coaching staff when the squad for the Sri Lankan tour is announced," the source said.

Misbah has faced a lot of criticism over his performances and captaincy in the ODIs and T20 matches after Pakistan were swept aside by England recently. Even before the England series, Misbah was not a popular choice to lead the ODI and T20 squads.

"The main issue facing the PCB, selectors and Whatmore will be if they replace Misbah and also decide to sideline Younis and other seniors for the ODI and T20 squads than who will lead Pakistan in these two formats," the source said.

"The problem is that choices for candidates to lead the Pakistan ODI and T20 squads are very limited with M Hafeez, Shoaib Malik among the main contenders," he said. The source said one should also not rule out the possibility of Kamran Akmal also being given a chance to make a comeback to the ODI and T20 squads after the Asia Cup in a more important role.

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Sweet time

Maryam Arif: Sweet: Cupcakes

HE WROTE A LETTER TO SWISS COURTS

اب تک ہماری جمھوری حکومت سپریم کورٹ کی احکامات ماننے کیلیئے تیار نھیں تھی کہ سویٹزرلینڈ کے حکام کو خط لکھا جائے جھاں ان سے کہا جائے کہ سابق وزیر اعظم بینظیر بھٹو اور انکے خاوند اور موجودہ صدر پاکستان جناب آصف علی زرداری کے خلاف بدعنوانی کے کیسز دوبارہ کھولے جائیں۔ ان کیسز میں دونوں پر الزم ہے کہ انھونے کروڑوں ڈالر کی کمائی کی جس کا کوئی قانونی ذریعہ آمدن نھیں۔

لیکن وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی نے بالآخر یہ خط لکہ دیا ہے اور اسکی کاپی ہمارے پاس موجود ہے جسے ہم منظر عام پر لارہے ہیں۔

اس کے بعد یہ نہ کہا جائے کہ پاکستان میں ایک ناکام جمھوریت اور ناکام سیاستدان ہیں۔ یہ بھی نہ کہا جائے کہ ہمارے سیاستدان جمھوریت کے جھوٹے مجاہد ہیں اور یہ کہ جمھوریت پاکستان میں نھیں پنپ سکتی جب تک یہ ناکام سیاستدان اور تاحیات حکمران حکومت اور اپوزیشن میں بیٹھے ہیں اور ایک دوسرے کی خفیہ حمایت کررہے ہیں جیسا کہ ان لوگوں نے بیسویں ترمیم پاس کرکے کیا ہے۔ اس ترمیم میں پاکستان اور پاکستانیوں کا کوئی فائدہ نھیں ہے۔ اس ترمیم میں صرف ان ناکام سیاستدانوں کے مفادات کو تحفظ دیا گیا ہے۔ اگر اس میں پاکستانیوں کا کوئی فائدہ ہوتا تو یہ ناکام سیاستدان روز اس کی تعریف میں تقریریں فرماں رہے ہوتے۔ یہ بھی نہ کہا جائے کہ جمھوریت بھترین انتقام ہے اور یہ انتقام پاکستانیوں سے لیا جارہا ہے۔

In a bid to develop Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf a party ready to govern the country, PTI chief Imran Khan, has appointed Dr Azeem Ibrahim as his strategic policy adviser.
Ibrahim’s main task will be to devise policies which can be implemented as soon as Khan takes office, it said.
Born in Scotland, Dr Ibrahim, a PhD from Cambridge University, was named as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2009 by the LSDP European Social Think Tank. He has been advising leaders worldwide for last 10 years.
Imran Khan expressed his delight over the appointment saying it is welcoming to have someone with Azeem’s experience at the heart of our operation.
Azeem, also a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute for Social Policy Understanding said he felt pleasant to be given this opportunity to serve the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Haqqani's Memo And Boabdil's Memo

If it is forgiven today, wait for the Indus River to turn red with Pakistani blood. If the government can violate the constitution so audaciously to destroy the country, why can’t our military do the same to save Pakistan?


In 1487, Abu Abdallah Mohammad was the 22nd sultan of the great city of Alhambra. Known to the Spaniards as Boabdil, his tiny physique also won him the nickname el chico.

In that year, he sought foreign help against his father and uncle.

He wrote a memo to Ferdinand and Isabelle, the most powerful sovereigns in the region, to seek help and promised assistance in helping them take over Spain.

He offered to make his emirate a tributary kingdom under Ferdinand and Isabella.

His wish was granted. But within five years, in 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella turned to Alhambra and forced Abu Abdallah, or Boabdil, to surrender and leave for exile.

Boabdil was the author of the treacherous memo. The name of his prime minister was Yusuf.

Under another Yusuf, a memo was written last year to a foreign power, seeking help to weaken Pakistan’s military and intelligence. In exchange, a promise was made to make Pakistan a denuclearized vassal of that foreign power.

Five hundred years after Boabdil’s memo, history is being repeated. Another memo has been written on identical terms.

The only difference is that the Pakistani memo has been exposed.

But even then the courts and opinion makers are playing games, while the Pakistani military watches.

A compromise or a deal on the Memo would fatally damage Pakistan. There is no turning back now. The ghosts of Agartala still haunt us after 40 years.

Treason-democracy-elections-rebellion-civil war-invasion-defeat-dismemberment-humiliation! Memo is today’s Agartala. If it is forgiven today, the dreaded sequence would turn Indus River red with Pakistani blood. The war would annihilate us as it did in 1971. Pakistani media must wake up and see how history is repeating itself.

The Pakistani nation must clearly understand that a sinister web of treachery is being woven against Pakistan and ISI by the government and its allies in political parties and media. The Memo case has almost been killed. Now the Asghar Khan/Mehran Bank case has been revived. The authors of The Memo wanted this case revived to divert attention away from The Memo and to take revenge from the military.

The links and timings between memo case and the Mehran Bank case are stunningly clear. Also, the missing person's case is also being used as a tool to settle scores against ISI. The traitors, snakes and idiots have all joined hands to attack, humiliate and destroy the last defense wall of Pakistan. Memo is a reality just as the Agartala conspiracy was. But back then, too, the political parties joined hands against our military and protected the main accused, the Husain Haqqani of that time, Sheikh Mujeeb.

The result was elections and war and breakup.

History is being repeated today. Political parties and media are ignoring The Memo, attacking ISI and demanding elections when Pakistan is encircled for war.

Shame on our politicians, media, judges and the ulema of this nation who have willingly decided to ignore and bury The Memo. Those who compromise their honor, freedom and faith deserve to be invaded.

For God sake, wake up.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has already declared NRO unconstitutional. The court has also declared voting lists as bogus. These were the voting lists that brought this government to power in 2008.

What is the moral standing of a government that has come to power through unconstitutional and bogus means?

If the government can violate the constitution so audaciously to destroy the country, why can’t our military do the same to save Pakistan? Overthrowing the government is no more a legal or constitutional issue. It is a national duty and patriotism.

This article, edited by PakNationalists.net, is based on series of text messages and Facebook status updates by Zaid Hamid, a Pakistani analyst.  

WOW...what an idea to get in.

Meesha shafi who is currently busy shooting in India for her new Hollywood flick is countered by her ex- Farhad Humayun. Lahore court issued arrest warrants against Meesha Shafi and Mehmood Rehman on Monday for allegedly stealing equipment from the studio of farhad.

According to Pakistan Today, Farhad, the founding member and drummer of the band Overload, had accused the two of stealing equipment from his studio. The couple confessed to the crime in court, the source added.

It is pertinent to mention that Meesha was the lead vocalist and Mehmood the lead guitarist of Farhad's band, and the couple parted ways with the band last year due to creative and practical differences.

Aitzaz close to get Revenge

Pleading before the seven-strong bench of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing contempt case against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Aitezaz Ahsan Wednesday said his client never said the judicial order should not be implemented.
Clarifying his point before the apex court’s panel that began contempt proceedings against the PM Gilani, Barrister Aitezaz said his client just has this viewpoint that the apex court’s ruling cannot be put into action for the time being.
Heading the bench, Justice Nasirul Mulk queried, ‘The court wrote in its order that the verdict should summarily be implemented?’
Ahsan replied the charge sheet against the PM Gilani is of negative nature.
So, in this case, delaying the implementation is not tantamount to non-implementation?, asked Justice Mulk. 
Aitezaz said the PM Gilani received show cause-notice on January 16 and the judicial order dated January 10 was addressed to the Attorney General, adding the AG did not tell the court as a witness that he delivered the judicial order to the premier.
The Prime Minister’s counsel further argued that Jan. 16 order has it that the AG after the delivery of the order, gave statement that he had nothing new to tell.
Do you want to give the impression that you were not delivered the order, asked Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. 
Replying to this, Aitezaz said the AG is up to prove it, adding, “The AG should have stated this on oath before the court; and, in this case, he will have to face my cross-question.”
Aitezaz continued that it is not aptly written in January 19 interim order that PM’s counsel emphasized on the immunity of the President under Article-248, adding, “The matter relating the immunity under Article-248-I will come under discussion only when you have the issue of President or governor before you.”

SALE SALE SALE

PTCL has decided to upgrade 1Mbps DSL broadband package holders to 2Mbps till May 31st, 2012 for free.

After the expiry of the promotional period, normal tariff of 2 Mbps “Rs. 1,499” will be applicable.

Price for 1Mbps DSL broadband is now Rs. 1,250.

It merits mentioning here that you can downgrade back to 1Mbps during the promotional period (if upgraded automatically) or you can opt not to be upgraded if asked, however, after May 31st – if not downgraded – you will be charged usual 2Mbps rates.

PTCL said this promotion will not be applicable for:

• Broadband student package holders.
• Those customers who are currently on packages like double up, double impact and triple play packages
• Those customers who opted out of the promotion last year,
• Those customers whose line currently does not support 2 Mbps speeds.

Below are the PTCL Broadband packages available for customers:

• 1Mb     @ Rs 1,250
• 2Mb     @ Rs 1,499
• 4Mb     @ Rs 1,999
• 6Mb     @ Rs 4,999
• 8Mb     @ Rs 6,999
• 10Mb   @ Rs 9,999

Encouraging Effort but this is Pakistan

Ghazi Muhammad Abdullah, a fifteen year old school boy, has sent a list of 780,000 adult websites which he thinks should be blocked in accordance with Supreme Court’s orders but are still accessible to general internet users in Pakistan.

Abdullah told me that he has sent this list to PTA only because authority had asked him for a list of adult websites. He quotes an authority letter sent to him by Director General, Law and Regulations, as saying:

If there is any specific website that you wish to bring into the knowledge of PTA, it is requested that PTA may be informed of the same accordingly for further necessary action at our end.

Earlier, Abdullah had written letters to PTA, Ministry of Information Technology and Chief Justice of Pakistan to get adult websites blocked in Pakistan. After his repeated requests, and hack attempts on PTA and Supreme Court website PTA decided in principle to ban adult websites in Pakistan and issued directive for ISPs to block access to adult websites.

It was recently revealed that Pakistan ISPs have blocked 13,000 adult websites, while there are more still accessible, according to Abdullah.

Without detailing the criteria or selection process of adult websites, Abdullah, in an email, told me that he prepared this list of 780,000 adult websites with help of friends having expertise in computers. He wished not to disclose their names.

It merits mentioning here that Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan is willing to block access to any number of websites, though they have concerns regarding the overhead involved in process. This is why they are advocating proposed national URL filtering system.