- Dissecting a ‘leak’ – Mansoor Ijaz vs Pakistan:→ Brig (r) Shuakat Qadir does a hack job on Mansoor Ijaz going all out in defending the Army, Haqqani & also Zardari. With so much already being piled up against Mansoor Ijaz [Text of Mansoor Ijaz rejoinder] I’m glad this mud-slinging fest has emerged, thats the beauty of media, it exposes liars and lottas Something smells funny, I’d just like to know the exact text of Zardari’s memo to Adm Mullen & US…. im ready to bet Zardari would have have easily rattled against the Army to save his own ass LINK → [Discuss]
Meeting Under Secretary Maria Otero at the US Consulate in Karachi
On 3rd November a small group of social & print media bloggers were invited to the US Consul General’s Residence in Karachi for a small luncheon discussion with the visiting US Under Secretary Maria Otero.
Maria Otero, is a well spoken representative of the US, coordinating U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, human rights, and labor; environment, oceans, health and science; population, refugees, and migration; and monitoring and combating trafficking in persons.
The discussion was interesting, everyone had a chance to put their point of view across, My issues were focused on
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Azm-e-Alishan: South Asia Relief
Azm-e-Alishan – Behtar Pakistan interviews Dr. Awab Alvi and Faisal Kapadia and our SA Relief effort
Our Right to Know
About the same time as Secretary Clinton and other powerful members of the ‘Company Bahadur’ were landing at Islamabad airport last week, a US citizen was quietly assuming his responsibilities as the Governor State Bank of Pakistan. There are others who enjoy the unique distinction of being Pakistan’s ambassadors in their own countries. A week earlier the Governor of Sindh a British subject, in complete violation of the university rules awarded an honorary PhD degree to a fellow British citizen, who also doubles as the Interior Minister of Pakistan. The Leader of MQM has taken oath of loyalty to the Queen of England, her heirs and successors, while the Auditor General of Pakistan is a Canadian citizen. Dozens of other constitutional appointment holders including an estimated 30-40% of all Parliamentarians possess foreign nationalities and owe their loyalties to other countries.
This is despite Article 63 (1) of the constitution which clearly states that a person shall be disqualified from beingelected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), if he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state. It took some 150 years before the East India Company could begin to place British officers in position of authority in India. It took much lesser for the new imperial order to do so in Pakistan.
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Mera Vote Meri Taqat
At the Islamabad Innovation Lab, a team envisioned a new technology called “Mera Vote, Meri Taqat”. It has been created to promote awareness for voters. It is a fact that only 36 million people are registered by ECP & NADRA to be eligible to vote, while 56 million aren’t.
Mera Vote Meri Taqat targets a voter awareness campaign to over a potential 99 million cell phone users in Pakistan engaging them in a dialogue to make them aware of the voting process and thier fundamental right to vote
This is more or less a concept project, which requires fine tuning and details development, to test the concept and a few initial questions SMS [in Pakistan] to 9900 with the keyword “VOTE” then watch the magic happen, more work needs to be done before this is ready for public consumption. Watch the Out of Bounds discussion her
- How Shahbaz Sharif "Lost his Mojo":→ As Shahbaz Sharif launches himself into the poetic rendition of Habib Jalib's famous poem – Main Nahin Manta, the irony was inescapable. It was as if he was rebelling against himself. It was a desperate attempt to sell himself as a revolutionary, but no one was buying it. Three years of alignment with the status quo had taken its toll. Shahbaz Sharif had lost his mojo, sacrificed at the altar of expediency. The Khadim of Punjab had been dethroned – LINK → [Discuss]
- US is Pakistan’s impossible to please mother-in-law, woman tells Clinton:→ At an event to honor Secretary of State Mrs Hilary Clinton a women stands up to say “We all know that the whole of Pakistan is facing the brunt of whatever is happening and trying to cooperate with the U.S., and somehow the U.S. is like a mother-in-law which is just not satisfied with us,” said Shamama “We are trying to please you, and every time you come and visit us you have a new idea and tell us, ‘You are not doing enough and need to work harder,’” – LINK → [Discuss]
- Pakistan’s ascension to the UN Security Council: $$$ Cha-Ching! for PPP:→ Ahsan Butt aka Five Rupee blogger, explains as to why Pakistan's election into the UN security council potentially means more money in the till for Pakistan. There is evidence that UNSC membership reduces the number of conditions included in IMF programs. The size of the loan, however, is not affected by UNSC membership. With a corrupt PPP leadership reduced IMF sanctions could mean more $$$ for Zardari to play with – LINK → [Discuss]
Canadian popstar Kristie Yung sings in Urdu to pay tribute to Alamgir
Alamgir, the man who is regarded as one of the pioneers of pop music in Pakistan, was diagnosed with complete renal failure since 2004 and has been undergoing regular dialysis for the past many years, and has been waiting for a kidney donor which is a three year waiting list he now needs his fans’ help and support.
“I’m trying to raise funds for my treatment and if God wills the people of Pakistan will respond as they always have, with love,” exclaims Alamgir in an interview to Express Tribune.
As a step forward Canadian popstar Kristie Yung records a song in Urdu giving tribute to Alamgir and when you purchase the song from iTunes all proceeds from this song will be given to Alamgir’s Health Fund.
- Who Watches the Watchmen? on Drone Warfare:→ A though provoking post by Kulsom from Changing up Pakistan she writes … the issue of drones goes beyond the issue of legality. It touches on the progression of warfare as a whole. Arguably the foundation of international law, is really being compromised in favor of the arbitrarily defined “greater good.” This is not to say that human beings do not play a significant role in today’s conflicts. But is the “automation” of warfare something that should concern us. As we become more detached and more removed, are we losing touch with the humanity of warfare. Civilian casualties become dots on a computer screen, the collateral damage of the “best worst option.” And we in turn become increasingly distanced from the reasons why we engage in conflict in the first place. nevertheless. Who does watch the watchmen? – LINK → [2 Comments]
- 2013 Elections, not Senate, the real prize by Zahid Ibrahim:→ Zahid Ibrahim strategically analyzes the political manipulations in the run up to the 2012 Senate elections – a definite MUST READ for anyone trying to decipher the Senate elections mystery … The major loser in the March 2012 Senate elections will be PML-Q, which will face a near wipeout. The big winner will be the PPP, who is set to gain almost a near-majority in the 104-member Senate. The PML-N is expected to increase its senators from seven to 13, whereas ANP will make similar gains, from six to 10 senators. The MQM will remain at its current strength of six senators. The dissolution of the Punjab Assembly would delay the constitution of the Senate, at least to the extent of the election of 12-13 senators by the Punjab Assembly, perhaps even more, but for the PML-N it will mean losing its government in Punjab – LINK → [Discuss]
- TED introduces 10 new podcasts on iTunes:→ Subscribing to one of the specially curated podcast channels means you will receive a weekly talk recommended by the TED team in the category of your choice: Art, Business, Education, Health, Kids + Family, Music, News + Politics, Science + Medicine, Society + Culture and Technology. Definitely a must have selection for any avid podcast listener http://itunes.com/TED – LINK → [Discuss]
US considered Cyber Attacking Libya & Pakistan
The New York Times is reporting that the United States nearly chose to use “cyber weaponry” just before the American-led strikes against Libya in March by hacking into the Libyan government’s air defense control systems. While the exact techniques remain classified, the goal would have been to break through the firewalls of the Libyan government’s computer networks to sever military communications links and prevent the early-warning radars from gathering information and relaying it to missile batteries aiming at NATO warplanes. But it is reported that the commanding officers balked at the idea fearing that it might set a precedent for other nations, in particular Russia or China
It is then reported that the military commanders again contemplated on using Cyberattack tactics during the Navy Seals raid in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden on May 2.
Naked Security: It is unclear exactly why the US didn’t proceed, but it appears several factors influenced the decision.
Some are suggesting that the urgency of the invasion may not have left an appropriate amount of time for the network attacks to proceed. Gaddafi’s troops were advancing quickly on the rebels, and breaking into their military networks would not have been as simple as it appears in the movies.
Another factor was a US law known as the War Powers Resolution. The President has limited powers to declare war without the approval of the US Congress. Would a cyber attack be construed as assistance to the NATO mission, or an act of war?
- TTP must give up arms before talks says Rehman "Dakait" Malik:→ In other news "Dr" Rehman Dakait has said that TTP must give up their "arms" before talks ….. He had told reporters “The minimum agenda is that they give up arms and come forward and then there will be talks. But if they think they will keep Kalashnikovs in their hands and also hold talks, that will not happen,” Dr. Dakait – can you please give 'wazahat' [clarification] on your statement as such a statement coming from an irresponsible statesman needs more clarity – it is vague if you meant "arms" as in hands & fingers because TTP may gladly oblige but did you accidentally mean arms as in Klashinkovs …. I bet you did .. but then again you are known to fudge the truth, so please help us out WILL 'YA – LINK → [Discuss]
- Sermons Alone wont work – Babar Sattar talks about the ruling on Karachi Violence:→ Babar Sattar drills holes into the Supreme Court ruling on the Karachi violence – it is high on rhetoric, light on (relevant) substance. The Karachi suo motu case has affixed responsibility for the violence, death and destruction in the city on the federal and provincial governments, political parties and individuals perpetrating crimes. And while it has issued directions to ensure that individual offenders are effectively prosecuted, it has neither endeavoured to hold political parties accountable for their abetment of crimes nor provided for the prosecution and punishment of public office holders for their malfeasance and nonfeasance. A more thoughtful verdict could have achieved all of this. – LINK → [Discuss]
