Eid Mubarak to whole Muslims from heart and soul.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Link Between Operation Against Osama and Death of US Navy SEALS - Khalid Baig
We
have many times heard the story that elephant was killed by ants, but we have
never seen this turning into reality. However if this example is true than on 6
August this proved to be true when one of the best medium transport helicopter
of Americans BOEING-CH-47-CHINOOK crashed in the eastern province Wardak of
Afghanistan, in a narrow pass known as Tangi Joy Zaran (in Pashtu Tangi means a
narrow pass within mountains, perhaps this area is famous with the name of
Tangi because in this narrow pass structures of many destroyed Soviet Union
Tanks, APCs and helicopters are still there as an evidence of Soviet defeat).
Pashtoons known as Taliban destroyed this helicopter by Rocket Propelled Grenade-7
(RPG-7), most astonishing fact is how this all could be possible?
The above mentioned helicopter was
in use of world’s most famous, vigilant and thought as undefeatable US
Commandoes, world knows them with the name of Navy SEALS. Uncountable troops of
these seals are busy in different covert operations (state terrorism of USA) in
more than 100 countries for so-called US interests. Many producers of Hollywood
had produced movies on them packed with action. After watching these movies one
realizes that these navy seals are not human beings but something like
characters of fairy tales who cannot be defeated.
 |
| Helicopter Crashed in Abbottabad Operation |
Under such circumstances why should
not the analysis based upon hypothesis get place in the media and why should
not defense analysis raise the questions that why the commandoes of such great
force went into the Tangi valley without any precautionary measures, where
Taliban killed them with just a single RPG as ants had killed the elephant? While
according to media whenever these commandoes go on any mission than fist of all
their security is considered. Before operation against Osama they built a
compound just like as the one in use by Osama and practiced their for six months
before actually going onto the operation. Moreover pictures were issued showing
that Obama himself is monitoring the Abbotabad Operation from White House,
analysts are still commenting on the sad face of Hilary.
 |
| US Navy Seals |
On the one hand Americans are so
much careful about their soldiers while on the other hand more than two dozens
of navy seals were killed so much easily? There are many reasons behind this
criticism for example US had not explained yet that why these seals went into
Tangi valley, why they were not provided with any Air Cover, why their actual
number is not being disclosed? Just only a news report was issued that a
helicopter carrying 31 personnel including one Afghan translator, seven Afghan
commandoes, while 23 belonged to US Navy Seals. In contrast to this a
journalist from Washington wrote an article “Friends
in Seal Unit Are City’s Double Loss” on an online website. In this article he writes
that there were 38 persons excluding crew of the helicopter out of which 23 were
Navy Seals, here the question is why did USA tell the number was 31 and who
were the rest of them, from which department of US forces he belonged, were
they operatives of CIA? If this hypothesis is true than were these operatives
of CIA alongwith navy seal team-6 were on the operation against some High Value
Target like Osama and their operation ended in failure?
How much Americans are sensitive for
the life of their agents (terrorists) one can imagine this from severe American
reaction after arrest of Raymond Davis in Lahore. This is true that Americans
will destroy the whole city just for saving one of their terrorist/agent and if
the life of more is endangered than these beasts can go to any limit. US
interruption in many countries, terrorism, and most significant the nuclear
attacks over Japan are evidence of Americans brutish nature. But in contrast to
all this on the dreadful incident of Tangi valley US govt. and Pentagon decided
to keep silent, secondly on the fifth day it was reported that Taliban who
destroyed the US helicopter had been killed. Who were they, how were they
identified, and killed? Moreover this was not told as well that when Americans
went to kill these Taliban did they resist or they were also waiting for their
death just like Osama?
 |
| Rocket Propelled Grenade-7 (RPG-7) |
Just like Osama hiding in Abbottabad
who neither did he hear the noise of helicopters at the time of attack nor he
got warned that more than one American helicopters are present on the roof, he
could not even realize severe firing from Navy Seals that what is going to
happen. The sound of bullets having range of 5 kilometers could not awaken
Osama. When Seals arrived on the second floor they saw Osama standing there, just
like fools Osama ran to take up his Kalashnikov and was shot dead by one of the
commandoes. Afterwards neither any Kalashnikov was found from the room nor
anyone asked Americans that how long Osama had been suffering from deafness? (Possibly
noise of blasts of American bombardment over Tora Bora with daisy cutter bombs
and tomahawk cruise missiles had deafened Osama).
The echo of suspicious Osama
operation and tradition of Americans of hiding facts is once again being heard.
The destruction of helicopter in Tangi valley has forced many people to think
and say many things. Look at the newspapers of 7 August, along with the news
report, the analysis of many analysts are attached. Indian TV The News says,
“the presence of 25 navy Seals in a single helicopter is astonishing”.
 |
| Seals indulged in exercises before Abbottabad Operation |
While 20 of them were those who
participated in the operation against Osama. This fact cannot be ignored that
US had issued neither any video of the death of Osama nor any photos. The only
living evidence of this operation were those 20 navy Seals who have been killed
in this helicopter. Now the world will have to accept whatever Pentagon or US
govt. tells them about the death of Osama, however now more suspicions will be
produced that whatever words were uttered from the mouth of these navy seals,
were given to them by Pentagon. After word got assured of death of Osama, all
navy Seals were sent to the Death Valley in the form of Tangi valley but the
death of eyewitnesses of Osama operation is such a suspicious way had jolted
the credibility of USA.
American intellectual Julius
Sequerra has raised many questions about the death of navy seals in his article
and has tried to prove through historical evidence that USA has a tradition of
murdering its own people in order to hide its war crimes. He has raised the
question that had not US soldiers murdered their own colleague Pat Tilman (a
famous football player) in the cold blood in Afghanistan, later own his case
was closed in the name of friendly-fire. What was his crime, just because he
has started saying 9/11 as fraud and self-made story, he had strong arguments
for his stance, other American soldiers were being affected by his arguments
and were losing interest in Afghanistan war? The title of above mentioned
article is,
 |
| Chinook |
Not only this Gordon Duff released
the news of death of navy seals first of all and expressed his suspicions about
the death of Seals in Afghan province Wardak, and condemned American policies
in harsh words, also he expressed that he might be arrested or harmed in any
way after his article is published. His article consists of two headings,
It is obvious in the sensational way
US brought forward the operation against Osama the story of American helicopter
destruction was buried under it. Apparently the helicopter hit the wall of the
compound so its tail remained outside and the central part of the helicopter
was destroyed by US forces. If Gordon Duff has given arguments about destroyed
helicopter than he should have some facts about it, otherwise why will he say
that few navy seals were killed in this crash? Moreover after the harshness in
Pak-America links after Abbottabad Operation, deaths of navy seals team-6 in
such a great number and after reading the analysis of different defense
analysts it seems that USA has worsened links to Pakistan on purpose, so that
word ignores the presence of Osama in Islamabad or his death in 2001 due to poor
Pak-America relations. Now as soon as a journalist has tried to discuss the
destruction of helicopter in Abbottabad operation, as a reaction to divert
attention another case has been opened that Pakistan has given access to Chinese
secret agencies and experts to analyze the downed American helicopter in
Abbottabad operation. Now keep on explaining and rejecting American accuses but
the navy seals who died in this crash will be ignored.
Will
discuss this later. Here I would like to include the initial paragraph of the
Gordon Duff’s article,
Written By Khalid Baig,
Published in Nawa-i-Waqt,
Date: 20 August, 2011.
| Today 31 NATO troops, 20 of them Navy Seals from the Osama bin
Laden operation died in what is reported as a helicopter crash in
Afghanistan.
The chances of this story being true is almost nil. The chances of this
being a staged coverup is over 80%. We believe these people were
murdered to silence them. This is why.
We have solid information on two areas:
1. Osama bin Laden died in 2001 as an active CIA employee and his body was recovered in Afghanistan and taken to “the sand box.” We were told it was frozen. We have so much verification from this, CIA, ISI, US military and top officials. I have a direct confirmation from Bin Laden’s CIA handler who I grilled mercilessly on this. 2. The Abbottabad operation involved numerous American deaths, witnessed, bodies all over, a helicopter crash. (suppressed translated TV interview below) These bodies were recovered by land vehicle from Islamabad and there was NO “successful” bin Laden operation of any kind. There was and has been a CIA safe house in Abbotabad where terror suspects were stored for years. |
Written By Khalid Baig,
Published in Nawa-i-Waqt,
Date: 20 August, 2011.
New Propaganda of America After 100 Days of Operation Against Osama - Khalid Baig
 |
| The picture of Osama at the time of death; Experts have rejected this picture |
How strange it is that right after hundred days of Operation
against Osama (just like an action packed Hollywood movie), Americans realized
that the tail of the helicopter destroyed in Abbottabad might be important for China.
Obviously would have given access to China to this helicopter and would have
allowed Chinese experts to take pictures of this helicopter. First this
hypothesis was published in US sponsored Western media in the form of an accuse
over Pakistan, later on US officials confirmed it as well. This hypothesis or
accuse has been given on such a time when large number of US scholars are not
ready to accept the story of destruction of US Chinook Helicopter in
Afghanistan by Taliban. They claim that these Navy Seals were killed just to remove
any witnesses of Operation against Osama, and they are giving arguments in
favor of their blame against US govt.
American
propaganda was so much effective over the access of Chinese to the remains of
destroyed helicopter that not only Pakistan but also China had been forced to
reject American claims in clear worlds. Because in the other words not only
Pakistan but also China was also accused of theft, (no one is there to question
US bandits). This had effected China’s credibility, perhaps this is why China
took this seriously, and the Chinese foreign ministry which prefers to remain
silent over international affairs, thought it necessary to issue a clarifying
statement. It was also necessary because if through such cheap accuses US wants
to pressurize Pakistan than why it is including China in this drama? When the
China reacted to American allegations, at that time a high priority American
envoy was in China under leadership of Vice President of America to ensure
Chinese that in spite of economical crises Chinese investment in USA is safe
(China is the number one creditor of USA).
Possibly
American allegations against Pakistan might be acceptable for innocent public
of USA and voters (The Presidential Campaign has been started there). However well
educated persons having keen eye over international politics have started
questioning American allegations in spite of accepting them. They are of the view
that if the Navy Seals having conducted successful operation against Osama has
thought it necessary to destroy the central part of the downed helicopter (just
for that no one can get access to stealth technology) than this was their duty
to destroy tail of the helicopter made up with modern technology. Some writers
are of the view that those who planed this operation and took part in it should
not only be questioned but also brought to trial for their criminal negligence.
But who
should be questioned for this? Those who participated in this operation have
been assassinated in eastern province of Afghanistan. America may reject this
claim and keep repeating that all these Seals are safe and on holidays within
America, but a large part of US media is not only ready to accept American
govt. claim but they are not ready to accept story of operation against Osama,
because no identification or pictures has been provided yet. Otherwise why
Gordon Duff had needed to write that;
- Osama bin Laden died in 2001 as an active CIA employee and his body was recovered in Afghanistan and taken to “the sand box.” We were told it was frozen. We have so much verification from this, CIA, ISI, US military and top officials. I have a direct confirmation from Bin Laden’s CIA handler who I grilled mercilessly on this.
- The Abbottabad operation involved numerous American deaths, witnessed, bodies all over, a helicopter crash. (suppressed translated TV interview below) These bodies were recovered by land vehicle from Islamabad and there was NO “successful” bin Laden operation of any kind. There was and has been a CIA safe house in Abbotabad where terror suspects were stored for years.
Further Gordon writes;
When the phony Abbottabad operation came out, I immediately understood what
happened. I also saw much potential good from it other than the tragedy
of the dead Americans from the crash. I wrote of this and see their
deaths as more heroic than many recognize.They died to erase for all time remnants of the Bush era fairly tale of badguy and evildoer Osama bin Laden. Enough good men had died chasing a ghost who lived only in phony video and audio tapes by “Bin Laden Studios” in Tel Aviv and in the continual “boogeyman” rhetoric of professional fear mongers.
Not long afterward, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, another able public servant announced the near defeat of Al Qaeda, another Bush fairly tale.
Al Qaeda has never existed; there are no magic worldwide terror conspiracies other than those run by governments. There are several of those and I have written extensively on these. Google will help you with this if you are curious.
But what actually happened; astonishingly the report of Osama’s presence in Abbottabad paralyzed the nerves of Pakistanis, the news report was unveiled by Americans in such a way that Pakistanis could not think anything except feeling shocked and ashamed. Whatever American defense ministry said we bowed our heads against it, no one dared even to raise a partial question, otherwise this could have been asked, “dear Uncle Sam! Your helicopter has crashed, obviously someone was present in it, someone should have been flying it, where are all of them?” Our media is entrapped in internal affairs and busy in propaganda against Pakistan army, however international defense analysts are raising questions against American claims. Especially the interview of a person named as Muhammad Bashir has been of much importance for them. Muhammad Bashir is the nearest neighbor of alleged Osama compound in Abbottabad. There is only an empty plot in between the house of the Bashir and Osama compound. This interview about the operation was taken by Fariha Idrees anchorperson of News Beat program, in this interview she verified the National Identity Card of Bashir and verified his residency from other residents of Bilal Town. This is the reason that Muhammad Bashir has become the important topic for many international writers.
A long article with the title of
“Pakistan TV Report Contradicts US Claim of Bin Laden's Death”
about the interview of Bashir was posted on OpEdNews.com by Paul Craig Robertson, this article contains the full English translation of the interview of the Muhammad Bashir. It is not possible to copy the whole article, however the summary is; “one of the helicopters kept hovering over the Osama compound, more than a dozen of people got out of it, after this the helicopter flew away. After 20 minutes 2 helicopters came, one kept hovering in the air while the other one landed within the compound. Some people boarded it, but as soon as the helicopter rose in the air a blast was heard and helicopter was on fire and it fell on the ground in the form of burning material.”
The Interview of Bashir
Paul writes that after 24 hours this TV Channel also started supporting the American claim that operation against Osama was successful in spite of no resistance from Osama and his dead has been buried at sea. But his story has so many defects that it could be questioned anytime, but it seems US officials has sent this message to Pakistani media that question against death of Osama will be treated as favor to Osama which means supporter of terrorism, while proving anyone terrorist is not a problem for USA.
If at such time our anchorpersons,
leaders, heads of civil society and intellectuals expressing their knowledge
day and night on TV Channels had kept their nerves and in spite of supporting
US claims had demanded for clear proofs, demanded the dead body of Osama to be
shown, than USA would not have dared to blackmail us in such a cheap ways.
Because the drama of burial of Osama in the sea was staged because there was no
Osama at all. Remind yourself, when the time of execution of Saddam Hussein the
veil from his mouth was removed, just to show the people so that no one
questions that he was not real Saddam, moreover it was necessary to prove to
those forces who had supported USA in attack over Iraq for death of Saddam. But
here whole world was waiting to see the facts about end of Osama. In the search
for Osama USA along with NATO massacred more than 3 million people, the hard-earned
money of US people was wasted in this mission, but when he was arrested, he was
buried secretly in the sea hidden from the whole world. For hurting Muslim
feelings it was included as well that after performing Islamic rituals he has
been buried at sea, so much lie? Such a great fraud? And we accepted it and started
criticizing our army and ISI. After all these propaganda campaigns of Pakistani
media it seems that only Pakistan army is the worst enemy of Pakistanis (shame
on such Yellow journalism). Perhaps America had paid them for this, however
many educated Americans are not ready to accept US govt. lies, as it is
apparent in these lines of Gordon;
The bin Laden killing, the third rate drama of
capturing an unarmed frozen dead guy and throwing him into the ocean had
probably become an albatross around certain high ranking necks.
Norway was no accident, it was a warning too. It has been
containerized, just as the Murdoch espionage issue is now “poor Rupert and the
pie thrower.”These Americans are casualties in a game, one like 9/11, sacrificial pawns, like Britain’s 7/7, all lies, all theatre, all evil.
This is not for public consumption.
There are those who know exactly who I am talking to.
Whether it is Paul Craig of Gordon
Duff, they are unveiling American govt. lies just like many other writers of
USA, whether they are about presence of Osama and death in Abbottabad, mass
death of US Navy Seals in Afghanistan or about the access of Chinese to the
remains of destroyed helicopters. They are demanding answers of many questions
but they have not been given any satisfactory answer. But what are we doing, we
have no time from digging roots of our country???
Written By Khalid Baig,
Published in Daily Nawa-i-Waqt,
Date: 27 August, 2011.
Zulifqar Mirza statements against MQM and Rehman Malik - Video
Please look for following videos on You Tube .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCipwtREQ8Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsZYL7_-hMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7g6RsefFnc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHIgJAHLVjc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avdRucpcuZE
Alternative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmLb-5dmtLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUi9MstPEQY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-aFEUiuUMk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCipwtREQ8Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsZYL7_-hMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7g6RsefFnc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHIgJAHLVjc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avdRucpcuZE
Alternative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmLb-5dmtLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUi9MstPEQY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-aFEUiuUMk
Zulifqar Mirza's Statements ( Resignation in Karachi from All Parties ) - A review
Senior Pakistan People's Party leader Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has announced to resign from all party/government posts.
An important event took place in Karachi when Zulifqar Mirza resigned from all parties and govt posts. He has given some statements against MQM .
He stated, MQM as a terrorist party. He also accused Altaf Hussain for bombing in Muharram. According to him Altaf Hussain want to kill all the pathans. He also stated America as a companion of Altaf Hussain.
He also stated Rehman Malik as 100% liar.
More Articles.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=21678&title=Mirza-quits-all-party,-govt-posts
http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/1-front-top-news/25812-zulfiqar-mirza-resigns-from-party-post-na-membership.html
An important event took place in Karachi when Zulifqar Mirza resigned from all parties and govt posts. He has given some statements against MQM .
He stated, MQM as a terrorist party. He also accused Altaf Hussain for bombing in Muharram. According to him Altaf Hussain want to kill all the pathans. He also stated America as a companion of Altaf Hussain.
He also stated Rehman Malik as 100% liar.
More Articles.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=21678&title=Mirza-quits-all-party,-govt-posts
http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/1-front-top-news/25812-zulfiqar-mirza-resigns-from-party-post-na-membership.html
Friday, August 19, 2011
US army to develop next-generation combat vehicle
WASHINGTON: The US Army said Thursday it had awarded nearly dollar 900 million in contracts to British arms manufacturer BAE Systems and US firm General Dynamics to develop its next-generation ground combat vehicle.
The Pentagon said it had given dollar 450 million to BAE and dollar 440 million to General Dynamics to develop “competitive, affordable and executable designs for a new Army Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)” over the next two years.
The vehicle, which is expected to be able to transport nine infantrymen, is due to be operational by 2018, replacing the aging Bradleys and Strykers, it said in a statement.
The Pentagon, whose budget has doubled since the September 11, 2001 attacks, is bracing for drastic cuts in the coming years as the United States attempts to rein in the spiraling deficit.
The launch of the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program before the severity of the cuts is known allows the Army to ensure it will not die on the chopping block.
“Given the economic environment the nation currently faces, the Army recognizes that it is imperative to continually address requirements as we build a versatile, yet affordable, next-generation infantry fighting vehicle,” Secretary of the Army John McHugh said, according to the statement.
“This is an important milestone in our Army’s modernization program,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.
“GCV is the first combat vehicle designed from inception for an IED (improvised explosive device) environment. It will provide armor protection and the capability to maneuver cross-country with the nine-man infantry squad.”
Pakistan, US spur efforts to expand mutual co-op
ISLAMABAD - The USA and Pakistan have stepped up diplomatic efforts to
find common grounds to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation ahead of
the crucial visit of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to the
United States next month.
According to diplomatic sources, the US and Pakistan have deepened diplomatic engagements to find common grounds to revitalize their bilateral relations to prevent recurrence of incidents such as US unilateral raid on the OBL compound in Abbottabad and arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis.
In this connection, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday called Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and exchanged views on bilateral relations and meaningful regional cooperation.
A Foreign Office statement said that during the tele-conversation, the two leaders had a constructive exchange of views on carrying forward the trajectory of bilateral relations.
They reiterated the importance of US-Pakistan relations and agreed to work closely to enhance mutually beneficial regional cooperation.
These developments have taken place in the wake of hectic diplomatic engagements of the US Ambassador Cameron Munter who had held an important meeting with Hina Rabbani Wednesday last and discussed bilateral relations.
Both the sides had agreed on the need for greater engagement to strengthen the Pakistan-US cooperation in various fields and for enhanced convergence on regional issues in line with the importance of Pak-US strategic relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests.
Earlier, US Ambassador Munter met with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani on August 10 and exchanged views on bilateral relations and future cooperation.
The US government has been demanding lifting of curbs on movements of its diplomatic staff in Pakistan. However, Pakistani authorities believed that these were essential for the national security of the country.
The Pakistani government is seeking to evolve new rules of engagements with the United States to prevent reoccurrence of two major incidents that had not only breached sovereignty of the country but also breached trust between Pakistan and the United States.
According to diplomatic sources, the US and Pakistan have deepened diplomatic engagements to find common grounds to revitalize their bilateral relations to prevent recurrence of incidents such as US unilateral raid on the OBL compound in Abbottabad and arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis.
In this connection, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday called Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and exchanged views on bilateral relations and meaningful regional cooperation.
A Foreign Office statement said that during the tele-conversation, the two leaders had a constructive exchange of views on carrying forward the trajectory of bilateral relations.
They reiterated the importance of US-Pakistan relations and agreed to work closely to enhance mutually beneficial regional cooperation.
These developments have taken place in the wake of hectic diplomatic engagements of the US Ambassador Cameron Munter who had held an important meeting with Hina Rabbani Wednesday last and discussed bilateral relations.
Both the sides had agreed on the need for greater engagement to strengthen the Pakistan-US cooperation in various fields and for enhanced convergence on regional issues in line with the importance of Pak-US strategic relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests.
Earlier, US Ambassador Munter met with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani on August 10 and exchanged views on bilateral relations and future cooperation.
The US government has been demanding lifting of curbs on movements of its diplomatic staff in Pakistan. However, Pakistani authorities believed that these were essential for the national security of the country.
The Pakistani government is seeking to evolve new rules of engagements with the United States to prevent reoccurrence of two major incidents that had not only breached sovereignty of the country but also breached trust between Pakistan and the United States.
Suicide bomber kills 40 in Pakistan mosque
By RIAZ KHAN
Associated Press
PESHAWAR, Pakistan --
A suicide bomber struck a mosque in a Pakistani tribal region
during Friday prayers, officials said, killing at least 40 people and
wounding 85 others in the deadliest attack in the country in recent
weeks.
The attack came during the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, sharing and heightened community spirit for Muslims.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Taliban and other Islamist militants have previously targeted mosques, especially if they believe enemies - such as army soldiers or anti-militant tribesmen - are using the facilities.
The mosque hit Friday is in Ghundi, a village in the Khyber tribal region, a part of Pakistan's tribal belt. Khyber has long been a base for Islamist militants, and the Pakistani army has waged multiple operations aimed at pacifying the region but with limited success.
Khyber also is a key region for the U.S. and NATO, because a large portion of non-lethal supplies heading to U.S. forces in Afghanistan passes through it.
Some 300 people had gathered for prayers Friday afternoon in the Sunni mosque, and many were on their way out when the explosion occurred, local administrator Iqbal Khan said.
"All the evidence we have gathered confirms that it is a suicide attack," said Fazal Khan, another local official who also confirmed the casualty figures. He said witnesses alleged the bomber was a young man.
Saleem Khan, 21, said people panicked after the blast, and that amid the smoke, cries and blood, several ran over him when he fell.
"Whoever did it in the holy month of Ramadan cannot be a Muslim," he said from a hospital bed in the main northwest city of Peshawar. "It is the cruelest thing any Muslim would do."
TV footage from the scene showed a heavily damaged building. Prayer caps, shoes and green prayer mats were scattered across a blood-splattered floor, while ceiling fans were twisted and walls blackened. Men comforted a young boy who wept as he held his hand to his heart.
The attack appeared to be the deadliest since twin bombings in mid-June killed around 40 people in Peshawar. That attack was believed to be part of a wave of bombings staged by militants to retaliate over the U.S. killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in May.
The Pakistani Taliban and their affiliates stage attacks in Pakistan because they oppose Islamabad's alliance with the United States.
Also Friday, two U.S. missiles struck a house in a tribal region that was once a Pakistani Taliban stronghold, killing four people, intelligence officials said.
The strike came as Pakistani-U.S. relations are struggling since the unilateral American raid that killed bin Laden in the northwest Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad. The continued missile attacks, which Pakistan officially opposes, suggests Washington considers the tactic too valuable to give up.
Though Pakistan objects to the covert, CIA-run missile program, it is believed to have aided it at times. The U.S. rarely acknowledges the program.
The two missiles hit a house Friday in Sheen Warsak village in the South Waziristan tribal area, according to two Pakistani intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.
The identities of the dead were not immediately clear. Although U.S. officials insist the vast majority of victims in the strikes are militants, Pakistanis and some human rights activists have said civilians are often caught up in the attacks.
South Waziristan is a lawless stretch of rugged territory that was largely under the control of the Pakistani Taliban until October 2009, when the country's army launched an operation against the insurgents. However, militant activity is still occasionally reported in the region.
It is nearly impossible to independently verify the information from the region because access is heavily restricted.
The attack came during the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, sharing and heightened community spirit for Muslims.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Taliban and other Islamist militants have previously targeted mosques, especially if they believe enemies - such as army soldiers or anti-militant tribesmen - are using the facilities.
The mosque hit Friday is in Ghundi, a village in the Khyber tribal region, a part of Pakistan's tribal belt. Khyber has long been a base for Islamist militants, and the Pakistani army has waged multiple operations aimed at pacifying the region but with limited success.
Khyber also is a key region for the U.S. and NATO, because a large portion of non-lethal supplies heading to U.S. forces in Afghanistan passes through it.
Some 300 people had gathered for prayers Friday afternoon in the Sunni mosque, and many were on their way out when the explosion occurred, local administrator Iqbal Khan said.
"All the evidence we have gathered confirms that it is a suicide attack," said Fazal Khan, another local official who also confirmed the casualty figures. He said witnesses alleged the bomber was a young man.
Saleem Khan, 21, said people panicked after the blast, and that amid the smoke, cries and blood, several ran over him when he fell.
"Whoever did it in the holy month of Ramadan cannot be a Muslim," he said from a hospital bed in the main northwest city of Peshawar. "It is the cruelest thing any Muslim would do."
TV footage from the scene showed a heavily damaged building. Prayer caps, shoes and green prayer mats were scattered across a blood-splattered floor, while ceiling fans were twisted and walls blackened. Men comforted a young boy who wept as he held his hand to his heart.
The attack appeared to be the deadliest since twin bombings in mid-June killed around 40 people in Peshawar. That attack was believed to be part of a wave of bombings staged by militants to retaliate over the U.S. killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in May.
The Pakistani Taliban and their affiliates stage attacks in Pakistan because they oppose Islamabad's alliance with the United States.
Also Friday, two U.S. missiles struck a house in a tribal region that was once a Pakistani Taliban stronghold, killing four people, intelligence officials said.
The strike came as Pakistani-U.S. relations are struggling since the unilateral American raid that killed bin Laden in the northwest Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad. The continued missile attacks, which Pakistan officially opposes, suggests Washington considers the tactic too valuable to give up.
Though Pakistan objects to the covert, CIA-run missile program, it is believed to have aided it at times. The U.S. rarely acknowledges the program.
The two missiles hit a house Friday in Sheen Warsak village in the South Waziristan tribal area, according to two Pakistani intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.
The identities of the dead were not immediately clear. Although U.S. officials insist the vast majority of victims in the strikes are militants, Pakistanis and some human rights activists have said civilians are often caught up in the attacks.
South Waziristan is a lawless stretch of rugged territory that was largely under the control of the Pakistani Taliban until October 2009, when the country's army launched an operation against the insurgents. However, militant activity is still occasionally reported in the region.
It is nearly impossible to independently verify the information from the region because access is heavily restricted.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/19/2366175/suicide-bomber-kills-40-in-pakistan.html#ixzz1VTdVJB4H
Alternate to G-3 Rifles for Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army is using POF delivered G-3 rifles. The weapon is actually
from a rifle category, best suited for aimed shots. It has a longer
range. but who needs long range now, and fire aimed shots. Also rifle is
poor in kicking back on Shoulder. All over the world, Armies hav
shifted to lower calibre: 5.56 mm. The advantages of 5.56 mm calibre
over 7.62 mm (as in G-3) are:
1. Lower calibre means, lighter barrel: so lesser weight of the weapon.
2. Reduction in calibre means ammunition weight is reduced per round, so more bullets, may be carried. Thats why, mags for 5.56 calibres are 30 rounds mag instead of 20 rounds.
3. Lesser propellent in cartridge case, means low weapon recoil: thus better handling qualities.
4. Better handling qualities means, weapon is good in CQB (close quarter battles).
5. Pakistan Army is mostly fighting war in hilly region, where engagement ranges do not exceed 1500 meters. Thus '5.56' is ideally suited.
6. As weapon and its ammo is light weight, so soldier may carry weapons for longer duration, distances, causing less fatigue.
So i think, Pakistan should switch to 5.56 mm calibre.
My vote is for Colt M4 Carbine ( USA).
BY Blackpearl
1. Lower calibre means, lighter barrel: so lesser weight of the weapon.
2. Reduction in calibre means ammunition weight is reduced per round, so more bullets, may be carried. Thats why, mags for 5.56 calibres are 30 rounds mag instead of 20 rounds.
3. Lesser propellent in cartridge case, means low weapon recoil: thus better handling qualities.
4. Better handling qualities means, weapon is good in CQB (close quarter battles).
5. Pakistan Army is mostly fighting war in hilly region, where engagement ranges do not exceed 1500 meters. Thus '5.56' is ideally suited.
6. As weapon and its ammo is light weight, so soldier may carry weapons for longer duration, distances, causing less fatigue.
So i think, Pakistan should switch to 5.56 mm calibre.
My vote is for Colt M4 Carbine ( USA).
BY Blackpearl
Pakistan Armed Forces
Web definitions
- The Pakistani Armed Forces (Urdu: پاک مسلح افواج, Musalah Afwaj-e-Pakistan) are the military forces of Pakistan. They are the seventh largest in the world in terms of active troops. ...
Join The Army - Medical Cadet
JOIN PAKISTAN ARMY AS MEDICAL CADET IN CMH LAHORE AND CMH QUETTA MEDICAL COLLEGES
For more info Visit www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk
| 1. ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS | |||||
| a. AGE | |||||
| 17-21 Years as on 1 Nov 2011 (relaxable for 3 months both in upper and lower age limit). | |||||
| b. Gender | |||||
| Male. | |||||
| c. Marital Status. | |||||
| Unmarried. | |||||
| d. Nationality. | |||||
| Citizens of Pakistan and domicile holders of Azad Kashmir / Gilgit-Baltistan. Upon final selection candidates with dual nationality to surrender nationalities other than Pakistani. | |||||
| e. Physical Standards | |||||
(1) Minimum Height- 5’ - 4” (162.5 cm)
(2) Weight - As per the Body Mass Index
|
|||||
| f. Education | |||||
(1) FSc (Pre-medical) with minimum 70% marks or “A” level passed in Biology, Physics and Chemistry with minimum grade C.
(2)
Candidates from Balochistan, Sind (District Tharparkar, Omar Kot),
Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir and FATA having domicile and local
certificates can apply with 65% marks.
(3)
Candidates possessing foreign qualifications such as ‘O’ Level and ‘A’
Level etc will be required to obtain Equivalence Certificate and
conversion of marks from Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC),
Ministry of Education, Islamabad and attach it with application form.
(4)
Candidates who have passed FSc Part-I Examination with minimum 70%
marks and appeared/are appearing in FSc Part-II/ Final Examination can
also apply on “HOPE Certificates” by the Head of the institutions. Such
candidates must deposit an attested copy of FSc Part II Certificate/
Mark Sheets to PA Directorate (PA-3C) GHQ Rawalpindi within 5
days of announcement of result, otherwise their selection will not be
processed further.
|
|||||
| 2. Ineligibility Conditions | |||||
a. “Not Recommended” twice by ISSB/GHQ Selection Board.
b. Declared medically unfit by CMH/Appeal Medical Board.
c.
Enrolled cadets and recruits withdrawn/ resigned/discharged/ dismissed
from Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) training
academies/institutions on the grounds of discipline, character, medical,
inefficiency, weak profile or declared unsuitable.
d. An individual dismissed/removed from any other government service.
e. Convicted by a Court of Law for an offence involving moral turpitude.
f. The
candidates who already applied for Army Med College Rawalpindi and
screened out / failed in Written / Intelligence / Personality tests will
not be eligible for the Admission in Army Medical Colleges CMH Lahore
and CMH Quetta.
|
|||||
| 3. Registration and Preliminary Selection Procedure. | |||||
| Candidates can either register through Internet on website www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk or by visiting Army Selection and Recruitment Centres (AS&RCs). | |||||
| a. REGISTRATION THROUGH INTERNET | |||||
| A candidate can register on website www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Date and time of test shall be intimated on individual’s e-mail address. Candidates will report on exact date and time given for preliminary test on computerized roll no slip. Date once given will not be changed. Candidates will also bring along documents mentioned in para 6 and will pay prospectus fee on the day of test. Candidates MUST attain working knowledge of computer. | |||||
| b. REGISTRATION AT AS&RCs | |||||
| The candidates may report at nearest AS&RCs for registration / allotment of roll no alongwith necessary documents mentioned in para 6 and the prospectus fee for completion of registration formalities. The candidates will bring these documents on the day of test as well. | |||||
| c. Schedule of Registration / Preliminary Tests. | |||||
Registration and preliminary tests will be held as per the following schedule:-
|
|||||
| d. Important Points | |||||
(1) Entry Test.
Candidates desirous of undertaking MBBS Course as Medical Cadets
through CMH Lahore Medical College and CMH Quetta Medical College must
clear UHS/Provincial entry test before admission.
(2)
Candidates who have already applied for Army Medical College can also
opt for admission in CMH Lahore and CMH Quetta Med Colleges subject to
clearance of UHS/Provincial entry test. These candidates are not
required to appear again for written/intelligence/personality test at
AS&RC.
|
|||||
| e. Physical Tests | |||||
| The candidates must qualify the following physical tests:-
(1) 1.6 Km run 8 ½ Minutes.
(2) Push Ups 15 repetition in 2 Minutes.
(3) Sit Ups 15 repetition in 2 Minutes.
(4) Chin Ups 3 repetition in 2 Minutes.
(5) Ditch Crossing 7’. 4” x 7’. 4” with a depth of 4 feet.
|
|||||
| f. Preliminary Medical Tests | |||||
| The candidates will undergo initial medical test at AS&RCs. | |||||
| 4. FURTHER SELECTION | |||||
| Shortlisted candidates will receive notice for interviews by the GHQ Selection Board at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi through website as well as call up letter. Medical examination of recommended candidates will be carried out at nearby CMHs. Final selection will be made at GHQ on the basis of candidate’s overall performance. | |||||
| 5. Academic/ Military Training | |||||
a. Academic. MBBS Course for duration of 5 years study in CMH Lahore and CMH Quetta Medical Colleges.
b. Military Training. 22 x Weeks Basic Military Training (BMT) at PMA Kakul after completion of final professional examination.
|
|||||
| 6. Documents Required at AS&RCs | |||||
a.
2 x attested photocopy of Matric certificate. In case of ‘O’ Level/’A’
Level, submission of Equivalence certificate issued by IBCC is
mandatory.
b. 2 x attested photocopies of Computerized National Identity Card or Form ‘B’ issued by NADRA.
c.
2 x attested photocopies of FSc Part-I (Pre-Medical) details marks
certificate and “Hope” certificate from Principal of college that the
candidate will get minimum 70% marks in FSc Part-II Examination.
d. 4 x attested passport size photographs.
e.
Candidates who have already cleared FSc Part-II (Pre-Medical) will
produce 2x attested Photocopies of Detail Marks Sheets (DMC).
g.
Candidates will deposit crossed postal orders of Rs 100.00 in favour of
Director General Personnel Administration (DGPA), GHQ Rawalpindi. Pay
Order/Bank Draft will not be accepted.
|
|||||
| 7. BOND | |||||
| Finally selected candidates will be required to sign a bond to serve
the Army for a minimum period of 13 years. The applicability of Bond
will commence on completion of MBBS Degree Course at CMH Lahore and CMH
Quetta Medical Colleges. For further details visit www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk OR nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centres at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit, Hyderabad and Multan | |||||
For more info Visit www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk
Miliary Defination
mil·i·tar·y
noun /ˈmiləˌterē/
- The armed forces of a country
adjective /ˈmiləˌterē/
Of, relating to, or characteristic of soldiers or armed forces- - both leaders condemned the buildup of military activity
Web definitions
- of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare; "military law"
- the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
- characteristic of or associated with soldiers or the military; "military uniforms"
- associated with or performed by members of the armed services as contrasted with civilians; "military police"
- (militarily) with respect to the military; "on a militarily significant scale"
- A military is an organization authorized to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any property or aspect of a military. ...
- The Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), which was previously known as the Joint Army-Navy Nomenclature System (AN System) and the Joint Communications-Electronics Nomenclature System, is a method developed by the U.S. ...
- Armed forces; U.S. armed forces in general, including the Marine Corps; Characteristic of members of the armed forces; Relating to armed forces such as the army, marines, navy and air force (often as distinguished from civilians or police forces); Relating to war; Relating to armies or ground ...
- This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.
- Acronyms used in the datacom and telecom industries.
- Total armed forces: Active, 49,600; Army: 45,000; Navy: 1,000; Air Force: 3,600; Para-Military: 14,000; Reserves: 85,000.
- (historical) - place or facility formerly used for various aspects of or relating to military activity.
- A lower-ranking officer who assists a higher-ranking officer with administrative affairs
- adj. of or for soldiers or an army; of or for armed forces
- All classes of military takeoffs and landings at FAA and FTC facilities.
- Kerosene-type jet fuel intended for use in military aircraft.
- Covers active duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- A military athlete who is any active duty or retired military. Normally events offering this division have separate categories for Active Duty and Retired, but in the event they do not this category is open to both active and retired military.
- A310 MRTT · A330 MRTT
- The most heinous institution ever devised by the mind of Conservative man. The Military is the tool by which the powerful Fat Cats at the top of society use the noble masses of one country to dominate and defeat the noble masses of another country. ...
- The Egyptian Armed forces have a combined troop strength of around 450,000 active personnel. According to the Israeli chair of the former Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuval Steinitz, the Egyptian Air Force has roughly the same number of modern warplanes as the Israeli Air Force ...
- Of, for, or pertaining to the armed forces of a nation.
- This type of customer represents a branch of the military and uses Seagate products in a wide variety of drive applications.
- Avoid this unflattering term for anybody in uniform.
- Subutai · Jebe · Muqali · Negudar · Bo'orchu · Guo Kan · Borokhul · Jelme · Chilaun · Khubilai · Aju · Bayan of the Baarin · Kadan · Burundai · Nogai Khan
Pakistan Army Ranks
| Commissioned Officers |
Jr Commissioned Officers
|
Non Commissioned Officers
|
| General |
Honorary Captain
|
Battalion Havildar
Major
|
| Lieutenant General |
Honorary
Lieutenant
|
Battalion Quartermaster Havildar |
| Major General | Subedar Major | Company Havildar Major |
| Brigadier |
Subedar
|
Company Quartermaster Havildar |
| Colonel | Naib Subedar | Havildar |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Naik | |
| Major | Lance Naik | |
| Captain | ||
| Lieutenant | ||
| Second Lieutenant |
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Happy Independence Day to All Pakistanis
Hello guys,
Happy Independence Day from Pakistan Defence Blog. Please wish Pakistan by commenting.
Happy Independence Day from Pakistan Defence Blog. Please wish Pakistan by commenting.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Army must protect SC from PM: Imran
ISLAMABAD: With much of the political firmament only now beginning to lay down the planks of their next electoral campaigns, one man and his party is already up and running. The question: is the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf a jalopy or a juggernaut?
In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with The News in the run-up to the first of weekly PTI dharnas planned during the month of Ramazan, Chairman Imran Khan, in trademark style, dismissed his critics and talked up the electoral prospects of his PTI.
According to Khan, the PTI’s anti-corruption stance against incumbent politicians and the pro-judiciary platform have converged into a single-point agenda: translating the PTI’s popularity with certain segments of the electorate into votes, and seats, at the next election.
“We are holding this dharna exclusively for the judiciary,” Khan told The News. “The Supreme Court should have been more aggressive in its stance against the government in the latest Hajj scam, as we all expected. But in defence of the court, it is under attack from all sides: from the government’s goons to the ‘friendly’ opposition and the media. What could the Supreme Court have done except back off?”
For Khan, if there is only one force that can actively play a role in ensuring the court’s rules are followed — the Pakistan Army.
“Last year, with the NRO proceedings the army was clearly not willing to go along and that’s why the judges went easy on the corrupt,” Khan explains. “Now the army should use all organs of its power to ensure that the executive falls in line.”
“Today if the SC passes a contempt of court order against Prime Minister Gilani in the Hajj or NICL cases, the army and paramilitary soldiers should be stationed at the Supreme Court building and at the residences of the chief justice and other judges hearing the contempt case so that we don’t see a repeat of the 1997 incident,” Khan said, referring to the infamous storming of the Supreme Court by supporters of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“It is unfortunate and tragic that the SC has backed down and given an easy ruling on the Sohail Ahmed issue,” Khan said. “But this was because it thinks if it were attacked, there would be no one to protect it. Our judiciary cannot be left feeling helpless.”
Khan, though, maintains that he doesn’t support the army’s intervention in politics per se: “The army is as much responsible for the decline of this country as any other party,” Khan says. “In fact, under this army’s watch, thousands of soldiers and ordinary citizens have been killed. The army is responsible.” In Khan’s reckoning the army needs to play a positive role to support democracy now.
Indeed, Khan insists that he’s always been in favour of taking the army to task for its wrongdoings. “After the Abbottabad raid, I was the first one to say the prime minister, the president, and yes, the army chief should all resign. No matter what comes of the investigations, the fact is that the raid took place and heads should roll.”
Though Khan has come to stand for railing against the corruption of the political class, has he directed similarly harsh criticism at corruption within the army’s ranks? “Of course, I have,” he says. “There are no holy cows. Corruption is everywhere, within civilian and military circles alike. It’s a larger problem that manifests itself in different ways. I am against corruption in every sense, and that includes when it’s done by the army.”
Khan is also suspicious of the PML-N’s stance on the judiciary. “If Nawaz wanted, he could have pulled his 80 MNAs out of the assembly and called for early election. But he also doesn’t want rule of law. How many skeletons are lying in his own closet? How can he truly support the independence of judges?” Khan asks.
Khan claims he is the only politician who has declared his assets. “Last year, I paid Rs18.5 Lakh in taxes,” he said. “The details of all my assets are with the Election Commission — each and everything is in my name.
Tell me, how can Nawaz own that estate in Raiwind and pay Rs5,000 in tax? How can Zardari pay no tax and yet be able to charter planes? Something has to be wrong. These crooks are using the law to break the law.”
But having won one National Assembly seat in over fifteen years of politics, how does Khan plan to sweep the upcoming general election?
“Again, thanks to the push from the apex judiciary the election commission has removed 35 million unverified voters from Nadra’s record while around 36 million new voters have been added to the database,” Khan says.
“If the electoral list had 35 million bogus voters, and the PPP and PML-N are in power with 18 million votes collectively, then you can do the math and figure out whether they deserve to be there.”
At least if polls are to be believed, Khan has made substantial ground in recent months. The US-based PEW survey has ranked the PTI chairman as the most popular politician with 78 percent of the people surveyed.
But the polling data runs counter to conventional wisdom among political analysts, which tends to dismiss Khan as a political lightweight and a ‘spoiler’ politician. “Of course, you can spin this in a negative way if you want, but yes, I am going to get the anti-status quo vote. That is my electorate. And it’s an ever-expanding one.”
Khan explains that there are two models of doing politics in Pakistan. “There is constituency-based politics, or movement-based politics. I am following this second model, the [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] model. If you want to succeed in politics in this country and have a genuinely successful movement, you have to follow the Bhutto model.”
And while most accuse Khan of not understanding the nature of constituency politics in a first-past-the-post system, Khan is confident about recruiting strong candidates, including political heavyweights like Jahangir Tareen, Sikander Mohsin and Ishaq Khakwani whom Khan is actively courting.
Yet, at the same time Khan insists he is looking for a different kind of candidate. “Most of our mainstream politicians make money through politics and then use politics to protect that money. I’m not interested in those kinds of politicians,” he says.
Curiously, Khan, long a darling of the media, has begun to feel sidelined.
The ‘Save Pakistan’ rally held in Faisalabad on July 25 was attended by at least 30,000 people, Khan claims. Independent observers suggest a turnout of 10,000-15,000, still a significant number for a politician of Khan’s stature and track record. At the June rally in Multan, Khan managed to draw large number of supporters from rural areas, though his party is mostly considered an urban phenomenon.
Political observers suggest, and Khan agrees, that the media, particularly in Punjab, may be actively downplaying the emerging story of Imran Khan and his increasingly popular PTI. “The tentacles of the PML-N permeate deep into the media establishment,” Imran speculates. “And the PML-N is now actively countering the growing influence of the PTI, including trying to influence news coverage of its activities.” But if the Ramazan dharnas are successful, will Khan use the momentum to lead a ‘long march’ to the Capital? The holy month may then be the moment of truth for Khan’s PTI.
In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with The News in the run-up to the first of weekly PTI dharnas planned during the month of Ramazan, Chairman Imran Khan, in trademark style, dismissed his critics and talked up the electoral prospects of his PTI.
According to Khan, the PTI’s anti-corruption stance against incumbent politicians and the pro-judiciary platform have converged into a single-point agenda: translating the PTI’s popularity with certain segments of the electorate into votes, and seats, at the next election.
“We are holding this dharna exclusively for the judiciary,” Khan told The News. “The Supreme Court should have been more aggressive in its stance against the government in the latest Hajj scam, as we all expected. But in defence of the court, it is under attack from all sides: from the government’s goons to the ‘friendly’ opposition and the media. What could the Supreme Court have done except back off?”
For Khan, if there is only one force that can actively play a role in ensuring the court’s rules are followed — the Pakistan Army.
“Last year, with the NRO proceedings the army was clearly not willing to go along and that’s why the judges went easy on the corrupt,” Khan explains. “Now the army should use all organs of its power to ensure that the executive falls in line.”
“Today if the SC passes a contempt of court order against Prime Minister Gilani in the Hajj or NICL cases, the army and paramilitary soldiers should be stationed at the Supreme Court building and at the residences of the chief justice and other judges hearing the contempt case so that we don’t see a repeat of the 1997 incident,” Khan said, referring to the infamous storming of the Supreme Court by supporters of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
“It is unfortunate and tragic that the SC has backed down and given an easy ruling on the Sohail Ahmed issue,” Khan said. “But this was because it thinks if it were attacked, there would be no one to protect it. Our judiciary cannot be left feeling helpless.”
Khan, though, maintains that he doesn’t support the army’s intervention in politics per se: “The army is as much responsible for the decline of this country as any other party,” Khan says. “In fact, under this army’s watch, thousands of soldiers and ordinary citizens have been killed. The army is responsible.” In Khan’s reckoning the army needs to play a positive role to support democracy now.
Indeed, Khan insists that he’s always been in favour of taking the army to task for its wrongdoings. “After the Abbottabad raid, I was the first one to say the prime minister, the president, and yes, the army chief should all resign. No matter what comes of the investigations, the fact is that the raid took place and heads should roll.”
Though Khan has come to stand for railing against the corruption of the political class, has he directed similarly harsh criticism at corruption within the army’s ranks? “Of course, I have,” he says. “There are no holy cows. Corruption is everywhere, within civilian and military circles alike. It’s a larger problem that manifests itself in different ways. I am against corruption in every sense, and that includes when it’s done by the army.”
Khan is also suspicious of the PML-N’s stance on the judiciary. “If Nawaz wanted, he could have pulled his 80 MNAs out of the assembly and called for early election. But he also doesn’t want rule of law. How many skeletons are lying in his own closet? How can he truly support the independence of judges?” Khan asks.
Khan claims he is the only politician who has declared his assets. “Last year, I paid Rs18.5 Lakh in taxes,” he said. “The details of all my assets are with the Election Commission — each and everything is in my name.
Tell me, how can Nawaz own that estate in Raiwind and pay Rs5,000 in tax? How can Zardari pay no tax and yet be able to charter planes? Something has to be wrong. These crooks are using the law to break the law.”
But having won one National Assembly seat in over fifteen years of politics, how does Khan plan to sweep the upcoming general election?
“Again, thanks to the push from the apex judiciary the election commission has removed 35 million unverified voters from Nadra’s record while around 36 million new voters have been added to the database,” Khan says.
“If the electoral list had 35 million bogus voters, and the PPP and PML-N are in power with 18 million votes collectively, then you can do the math and figure out whether they deserve to be there.”
At least if polls are to be believed, Khan has made substantial ground in recent months. The US-based PEW survey has ranked the PTI chairman as the most popular politician with 78 percent of the people surveyed.
But the polling data runs counter to conventional wisdom among political analysts, which tends to dismiss Khan as a political lightweight and a ‘spoiler’ politician. “Of course, you can spin this in a negative way if you want, but yes, I am going to get the anti-status quo vote. That is my electorate. And it’s an ever-expanding one.”
Khan explains that there are two models of doing politics in Pakistan. “There is constituency-based politics, or movement-based politics. I am following this second model, the [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] model. If you want to succeed in politics in this country and have a genuinely successful movement, you have to follow the Bhutto model.”
And while most accuse Khan of not understanding the nature of constituency politics in a first-past-the-post system, Khan is confident about recruiting strong candidates, including political heavyweights like Jahangir Tareen, Sikander Mohsin and Ishaq Khakwani whom Khan is actively courting.
Yet, at the same time Khan insists he is looking for a different kind of candidate. “Most of our mainstream politicians make money through politics and then use politics to protect that money. I’m not interested in those kinds of politicians,” he says.
Curiously, Khan, long a darling of the media, has begun to feel sidelined.
The ‘Save Pakistan’ rally held in Faisalabad on July 25 was attended by at least 30,000 people, Khan claims. Independent observers suggest a turnout of 10,000-15,000, still a significant number for a politician of Khan’s stature and track record. At the June rally in Multan, Khan managed to draw large number of supporters from rural areas, though his party is mostly considered an urban phenomenon.
Political observers suggest, and Khan agrees, that the media, particularly in Punjab, may be actively downplaying the emerging story of Imran Khan and his increasingly popular PTI. “The tentacles of the PML-N permeate deep into the media establishment,” Imran speculates. “And the PML-N is now actively countering the growing influence of the PTI, including trying to influence news coverage of its activities.” But if the Ramazan dharnas are successful, will Khan use the momentum to lead a ‘long march’ to the Capital? The holy month may then be the moment of truth for Khan’s PTI.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Pakistan's Top Army Officers Discuss Security Situation
Islamabad, Aug 9 (IANS): Top officers of the Pakistan Army have discussed the security situation in the country. The 141st Corps Commanders' Conference Monday was chaired by army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.
The officers were briefed about the ongoing law enforcement operations in Kurram and Mohmand agencies located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
They discussed the security situation in the country in general and Karachi in particular. Spiralling violence in the port city of Karachi over the past few weeks have left over 200 people dead.
Pakistan military had been left embarrassed when US commandos flew into Abbottabad city May 2 and gunned down Osama bin Laden. The Al Qaeda leader was hiding in a mansion that was a short distance away from the Pakistan Military Academy.
There was more cause for concern for the army when in June four Pakistan Army majors were questioned for purported links with a banned group that seeks to oust pro-Western regimes in Muslim lands.
That's besides the arrest of Brigadier Ali Khan from the army headquarters in Rawalpindi in the same month. He is reportedly the highest ranking military officer to be detained for keeping in touch with suspected Islamists.
All five have been linked to Hizb-ut-Tahrir, widely known as HT, which is outlawed in Pakistan but does not engage in militancy.
The group has not overtly supported violence and has no ostensible connections to Al Qaeda but it calls for the restoration of the Caliphate and the overthrow of corrupt and pro-Western governments in Muslim countries.
The officers were briefed about the ongoing law enforcement operations in Kurram and Mohmand agencies located in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
They discussed the security situation in the country in general and Karachi in particular. Spiralling violence in the port city of Karachi over the past few weeks have left over 200 people dead.
Pakistan military had been left embarrassed when US commandos flew into Abbottabad city May 2 and gunned down Osama bin Laden. The Al Qaeda leader was hiding in a mansion that was a short distance away from the Pakistan Military Academy.
There was more cause for concern for the army when in June four Pakistan Army majors were questioned for purported links with a banned group that seeks to oust pro-Western regimes in Muslim lands.
That's besides the arrest of Brigadier Ali Khan from the army headquarters in Rawalpindi in the same month. He is reportedly the highest ranking military officer to be detained for keeping in touch with suspected Islamists.
All five have been linked to Hizb-ut-Tahrir, widely known as HT, which is outlawed in Pakistan but does not engage in militancy.
The group has not overtly supported violence and has no ostensible connections to Al Qaeda but it calls for the restoration of the Caliphate and the overthrow of corrupt and pro-Western governments in Muslim countries.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Submit Article ; Could Indian and Pakistan stay together?
Hello,
This month you can write an article and send it to us at our email by clicking on contact us link at top. Your article with your name would be published at this blog site with your name. You are requested to send articles to this site. Top articles would stay on top but also all fine written articles would be published. Write an article about could India and Pakistan stay together and send it to us with your name and city. Thanks for taking your time.
This month you can write an article and send it to us at our email by clicking on contact us link at top. Your article with your name would be published at this blog site with your name. You are requested to send articles to this site. Top articles would stay on top but also all fine written articles would be published. Write an article about could India and Pakistan stay together and send it to us with your name and city. Thanks for taking your time.
