Another ridiculous speech by President of Pakistan!

On 27^th December 2010, the 3^rd death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto at Noderro, President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari spoke to the Peoples Party members and his nation. He uttered many statements in the favor of his party and many achievements accomplished in his on going tenure. I am describing some of his words regarding a few issues which he totally affirmed in wrong side and absurd manners.

He stated in his speech last year that some big powers are trying to conceal the evidences of the murder of Benazir Bhutto and this year he announced that Bait ullah Masood is the murderer of Benazir Bhutto. He also said that blood is blood revenge but I am not taking reprisal and he is still alive, He is not in Khaibar Paktoon khawa and I am still quiet in this matter, I ask to Mr. President why he had affirmed such kind of fallacious statements, who are the big powers and why they are concealing the evidences, all know what is the reality, He said this statement which is quite different than last year avowal, next year he will again change his declaration and after five years completion of PPP Government, this mystery would be still as today. Asif Ali Zardari is the President of Pakistan and he is the super power now in the country so which supremacies are involved in this secrecy either India, America, and someone else. It is a question which I think, never be solved.

Another hot issue was going on when PPP took over charge in this country that is restoration of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudary because Musharraf had done abolition of his command, Mr. President announced clearly that he had revived Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudary to his seat because his spouse Benazir Bhutto desired for that. But the reality is very dissimilar to his speech, He was against to restore him, he clearly stated that he don’t want monkeys to my back. Who were in the long march for the reinstatement of Chief Justice and which political party was with lawyers? All know the facts, and today, he was captivating all praise to him for Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudary.

In Punjab, He had ordered for Governor Raj and all are well known about Mr. Salman Tasser and his personality. He fully tried to banish the authorities of Muslim League (N) in Punjab province but they are very strong in that area so he was not succeeded in his goal in the past, Now he is declaring that he is with them and is accepting all their demands and keeping his Government with their complete suggestions, I think he is ridiculing himself.

Now if I take Musharraf’s exile in his dialogues, he is wrong again in his statements, what a funny and absurd story! He claimed that he expelled him after taking government in Pakistan because Musharraf claimed that he would not allow anybody as politician or democracy in Pakistan. Everyone knows evidences when Mr. Pervaiz Kiyani granted him Role of Honor in Army, then he decided to go from Pakistan, Now if Mr. Asif Ali Zardari was claiming for this achievement.

These are really astonishing proclamations whereas reality is totally different. I think Mr. President should perform some legitimacy so that next year he would be not a bizarre all around the world.

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Another Pakistani Crisis!

Now-a-days, Pakistan is facing many crises like Power load shedding, Gas shortage, Wheat paucity, Sugar crisis, Vegetables scarcity and many more. Every person is facing dearness in his homeland as he never thinks about it. This is a huge blow for Pakistan, its economy and its people are waiting for such response which his leaders may grant for him. Newspapers are full of reports regarding of suicides, rapes, begging & selling children, these are all the social problems which Pakistani nation is suffering from.

If you look other side of picture, Pakistani leaders are raiding the Pakistani resources which should be spent on the welfare and prosperity of Pakistan & its nation. But they are filling their pockets and having no other jobs. Pakistani public is on the roads, blazes shops and buses against the Power shortage, having no employment at industries, huge dearness in the country so that a poor man cannot bear expenses of his family, sugar & wheat fake dearth, but the Government takes no action against their action, strike. Pakistani leaders now-a-days are pulling legs one another, Peoples Party (PPP) is being separate, Muslim League (N) is independent and waiting for their turn, Muslim League (Q) and ANP are being together, MQM is not behind them and side by side with their policies and matters.

Every party is now trying to break the government of PPP and ends their tenure but their needs are not fulfilled yet, PPP is in complete control in the country. Rich person is so affluent and earns in very rapid mode whereas a deprived person is so miserable about his family and is forced to sell his body parts like kidneys, sell his children. In rural areas, rape cases are very common and committing suicides are rapidly increasing day by day because of unfortunate resources and opportunities.

I am really distressing after reading or listening such types of news which is happening in Pakistan. Who is responsible for that? Students are having no jobs after completing their studies; business men are facing the music due to shortage of every thing and high rise of petrol prices, electricity, Sui Gas and many more commodities.

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Drones attacks, Drones attacks …. What is going on in Pakistan!

Two days ago, I had switched TV for listening the news; I heard the news regarding drones attacks in Pakistan. What is going on? Why it happened always, it has become a routine matter now in Pakistan and nobody has pointed out for that. I condemn it personally because it is a cruelty act by the American and its government and also Pakistan’s government is involved in such kind of brutality operation. If you consider that America would win the war against Taliban’s, I think it is not so simple to think, it is better to take some negotiations with them for their demands instead of killing them and crushing some innocent people also which are never involved in such kind of terrorist activity. Drones attack is done by a spy plane and it is just a controlled by a machine and with the camera, Americans army see the people and where they think these are terrorist, they attack on them and eradicate their lives from this world.

These are very humiliating and disgusting proceedings, which they are doing. There are many reactions against the drones attacks on them, first of all, the Pakistani people condemn them and strike against this activity. Some of Pakistani politicians also take part in this thump, the Pakistani public is affected by this strike, their business and economy, and both are also disturbed.

Rests of people in the world also criticize these shameful and mortifying policies of both governments, in this way, all the world is being disturbed. But the Taliban’s reactions are as worst as you never think about that. They do such kind of activities which a common man never imagines about his homeland. They do suicide bombing in Pakistan targeting specially army and government areas. Many people are slaughtered including women, innocent children. Government just condemn this suicide bombing but does not take any action against them, they have no time to negotiate with them why they are doing this, they are just collecting the dollars from Americans and sell many people in drones attacks. When drones attacks will be eliminated. Who will do it? Nobody can answer it.

We are waiting for some revolution in the Pakistan; waiting for some honest person who will work for his homeland, public is striving on that time when the dearness and unemployment are wiped out. There are so many public issues for which government is not taking steps for those ones, for example, load shedding of Power and Sui Gas is a permanent issue, the prices of Oil, Wheat, Rice, Cotton, Sugar, Fruits, pulses and many commodities are high up to sky that a poor man cannot bear that, then what he should do for the nourishment of his family. He kills his family and commits suicide. That is story of him, who is responsible, nobody can claim for his crime, these are all the reactions of drones’ attacks.

I request to my Government to take it seriously and save their homeland otherwise in coming years, Pakistan would be eliminated from the World Map, we can pray for our country.

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Link Exchange!

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• Mauie : Living a Sugar Free Sweet Life
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How we can save Pakistan from Terrorism?

How can we save Pakistan from these kinds of incidents which are occurring since last decade and our government is helpless in this matter, They have no idea how to manage the country or how to save people from these incidents? They are filling their pockets only and they have no job except one, If somebody stands or decides something favoring to the Pakistan or Pakistan's nation, they either kill him or offer to refrain from his deed, Is there any solution of these issues? Like Iran, can revolution come in our country? Is there anyone who can make a big change in our homeland?

In 2007, 1,503 terrorist attacks and clashes, including all the suicide attacks, target killings and assassinations, resulted in 3,448 casualties and 5,353 injuries, according to the PIPS security report. These casualties figure 128 percent and 491.7 percent higher as compared with 2006 and 2005, respectively. The report states that Pakistan faced 60 suicide attacks (mostly targeted at security forces) during 2007, which killed at least 770, besides injuring another 1,574 people. PIPS report shows visible increase in suicide attacks after Lal Masjid operation.

In 2008, the country saw 2,148 terrorist attacks, which caused 2,267 fatalities and 4,558 injuries. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in its annual report indicated that there were at least 67 suicide attacks across PakistanPakistan since 2002 rose to 140 (till December 21, 2008) while 56 bombers had struck in 2007. killing 973 people and injuring 2,318. Further, a source in the investigation agencies disclosed that the total number of suicide blasts in

In 2009, the worst of any year, 2,586 terrorist, insurgent and sectarian-related incidents were reported that killed 3,021 people and injured 7,334, according to the "Pakistan Security Report 2009" published by PIPS. These casualties figure 48 percent higher as compared to 2008. On the other hand, the rate of suicide attacks surged by one third to 87 bombings that killed 1,300 people and injured 3,600.

A list of terrorist attacks in Pakistan since 1st January, 2010 is given;

• January 1 At least 105 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle in a crowd watching a volleyball game in Lakki Marwat, North-West Frontier Province.

• January 3 In the north-western Pakistani town of Hangu, a former provincial minister and two other people were killed in a roadside bomb attack, police have said. The blast reportedly killed Ghani-ur Rehman, his driver and his bodyguard. The minister was reported as being a former North-West Frontier Province education minister, for the area.

• January 6 In Pakistani-administered Kashmir, at least three soldiers were killed and another 11 injured after a bomb attack occurred outside an army barracks, police say. No group has claimed responsibility as of yet.

• January 8 In Karachi unknown gunmen went on the rampage killing at least 7 people within the area, police say. The gunmen were apparently targeting ethnic Balochis in parts of the city. The armed men were reportedly riding motorcycles as they were carrying out their attack on the civilians.

• January 9 A suicide bomber detonated himself and wounded seven policemen in the village of Adezai, Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province.

• January 11 Five bullet-riddled bodies were found in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. This latest attack appears to be part of a renewed war among rival political factions, officials claim. Since the start of this year, when a dead political activist was discovered, at least 31 people are known to have been murdered in targeted killings. Political violence has reportedly intensified in the city of Karachi.

• January 16 At least two soldiers have been injured after a suicide bomber attacked a military convoy in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, police say.

• January 20 A politician and member, for the Awami National Party, Aurangzeb Khan, was seriously injured after a bomb blast occurred in Peshawar. Three others are also known to have been injured, police say.

• January 23 A suicide bomber killed five people including children outside a police station in Gomal, Tank District.

• January 30 A suspected suicide bomber killed at least 16 people and wounded 20 others, when he attacked a checkpoint, in the North-Western Pakistani town of Khar.

• February 1 In Karachi, ethnic and political clashes resulted in the target killings of least 26 people. These latest clashes come as dozens more have been killed in similar attacks over the past few weeks, across the city.

• February 3 At least 10 people were killed, including three US soldiers, when a bomb blast hit a convoy near a school in the north-west region of Pakistan. Three schoolgirls were also among the dead and it is believed that this blast injured up to another 70 people, within the area.

• February 5 Karachi: At least 13 dead and 50 injured from 10 kg blast in mini bus near Nursery Road. The injured taken to government Jinnah hospital. After 2 hours the second planted bomb blasted at motorcycle stand emergency gate of government Jinnah hospital killing 10 injuring dozens and rescuers also. Relatives of the first blast victims were present in the Emergency Ward. Later a 3rd bomb was found in a TV set in the hospital.

• February 9 A senior Pakistani politician was attacked by militants in the city of Rawalpindi, in the Punjab province. The politician, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, survived this attack however 3 of his security guards were killed, police have said.

• February 10 At least 15 security personnel, a brigadier and a pilot among them, and seven civilians lost their lives in a gun attack, a suicide bombing and a helicopter crash in Khyber Agency in the northwestern province. The brigadier was killed and two other officers, a major and a lieutenant, were injured when Taliban insurgents ambushed an army rescue party searching for bodies of the pilot and a gunner of a helicopter gunship which had crashed in the Tirah valley.

• February 11 Two bomb explosions occurred in north-western Pakistan, near a police compound. In these bombings it is has been reported that at least 12 people were killed and another 20 were injured. Unconfirmed reports have claimed that these bombings were caused by suicide bombers.

• February 18 A bomb attack in a crowded market selling hashish, in north western Pakistan, has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and has wounded more than 100 others. The blast had occurred in the Kyber tribal region of Pakistan, in an area where the Taliban are know to have a strong presence. The bomb had reportedly detonated near a mosque in the Tirah valley of the Kyber region, officials have said.

• February 22 Two Sikh men were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the tribal regions of north-west Pakistan. They were later beheaded by their kidnappers, their bodies were then found in the Khyber and Orakzai areas, officials claim. At least 5 people were killed and many others injured, after a bomb attack occurred in Mingora, the main city in the Swat region of north-west Pakistan. The target for this attack appears to have been an army convoy and it has been confirmed that two of those killed were soldiers.

• February 24 Four civilians were killed in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, after Taliban militants fired a rocket into a residential area. Witnesses claim that a two-storey house was also destroyed in this attack. Officials are now claiming that this explosion was caused by a gas leak however local residents still insist that rockets were used against them and that these devices caused the explosion.

• February 27 A suicide bomber targeted a police station in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The attack killed at least three police officers and 13 other people were wounded as a result of this explosion, some are said to be in a critical condition. The blast also damaged a nearby mosque, as well as part of the police station. It has been reported that many more people could be trapped under the debris caused by this blast. No group as of yet has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

• March 5 In the Hangu district of north-west Pakistan, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of vehicles travelling from the Hangu district to the Kurram region. The bomber allegedly detonated next to a bus full of passengers. In this bombing it has been reported that at least 12 people were killed and that another 25 were injured. No-one has yet said that they carried out this attack.

• March 8 A suicide bomb attack has killed at least 13 people in Lahore and wounded more than 60 others. The bomber reportedly rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a building that housed an anti-terrorist wing of the federal investigative agency. The explosion was so large it allegedly brought down the two-storey building, correspondents have said. A nearby religious school was also known to have been damaged in this bombing and passer- by, including children are believed to be among the dead and the injured.

• March 10 Unidentified gunmen have attacked the office of a Western aid agency, in the Mansehra district of Pakistan, which is only 40 miles north of the capital Islamabad. It is known that 6 people were killed in this assault and it has been reported that there was also an explosion as well as firing inside the building when the militants stormed into the agency. One aid worker has claimed that the gunmen have now engaged in a battle with police inside the building. The agency has also claimed that seven members of staff had been injured in this attack.

• March 11 A suicide bomber's explosive vest detonated prematurely, as he was trying to target a convoy of security forces, along the boundary between Peshawar and the Khyber tribal region. In the explosion it is known that 5 people were killed and that a dozen others were injured. Some of the injured are reportedly in a critical condition, officials have claimed.

• March 12 Two suicide bomb attacks in the Pakistani city of Lahore has resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people and has wounded 100 others. Both of these bomb attacks reportedly targeted military vehicles, as they were passing through a crowded area. The blasts occurred within 15–20 seconds of each other. It is known that at least 9 soldiers were killed in these two suicide bombings. These two blasts occurred very close to the RA bazaar, which is in a busy residential and shopping area where the army and security agencies have facilities. Later on however several other smaller blasts occurred across the city. These smaller blasts were reportedly designed to cause confusion and there were no reports of any serious injuries due to their effects. No group has yet said that it had carried out the bombings although the Pakistani Taliban are strong suspects.

• March 13 A suicide bomber targeted a rickshaw near to a security checkpoint. The bombing occurred near the city of Mingora, which is the main city in the Swat Valley. In this bombing it is known that at least 10 people were killed and that another 37 were wounded. The bomber was reportedly trying to enter a government facility used by the police and security forces however he blew himself up after being stopped by the police. This attack follows threats by the Taliban militants, as they intend to deploy thousands of suicide bombers in retaliation for an army offensive.

• March 16 A blast occurred near Chandni Chowk in Garden area of Karachi on Tuesday, killing one woman and injuring three others, including children.

• March 17 Militants attacked a security checkpoint in North-west Pakistan, on the southern outskirts of the city Peshawar. In this rocket and gun attack it is known that five security personnel were killed. More than a dozen militants were reportedly involved in this assault which apparently occurred upon Peshawar's border with the Khyber district, within the country. No group has of yet, said that it had carried out the attack.

• March 18 Loud blast heard near Lahore airport. A loud blast is reported to have been heard near Allama Iqbal International airport, Geo News reported Thursday. Chaotic activity was witnessed at the airport immediately after the blast, creating panic in the surrounding area sources said.

• March 21 At least 3 people were killed and another 14 were wounded after a bicycle bomb exploded in Quetta, the capital town of Balochistan. The bomb reportedly detonated just as a police vehicle was passing nearby and it is known that at least two police personnel were among the dead. The blast was so powerful that it apparently rattled several nearby buildings, shops and vehicles.

• March 22 A roadside bomb has killed one person and injured three others, in the city of Quetta, located in southwestern Pakistan. The bomb was reportedly planted beside a rickshaw near a busy intersection, a senior police officer has said.

• March 28 A bomb planted near a music shop exploded in a bazaar and wounded five people, as well as destroying the shop in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. It is known that two nearby grocery shops were also damaged in this blast. No group has claimed responsibility although Taliban militants are suspected to be behind this bombing.

• March 31 Militants stormed into a Pakistan army camp in the Khyber region after a car bomb explosion blew a hole in one of the walls to the compound. In this attack it has been reported that at least 6 Pakistani soldiers were killed and that another 15 were injured. The Pakistan army reported that 25 militants were also killed in this attack however this claim cannot be independently verified.

• April 5 At least 43 people were killed and more than 50 others were wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a political party rally in the Lower Dir district of north-western Pakistan. The bomber had reportedly detonated his explosives near to the stage of this outdoor rally, as hundreds of people were attending the event. The Lower Dir district was the scene of a major offensive against the Taliban by the Pakistani Army only last year. In the city of Peshawar in north-western Pakistan, unknown militants attacked the U.S consulate. It has been reported that at least 7 people were killed in this attack, the number of injuries however has not been specified as of yet. The dead included 4 militants and 3 security personnel. It has also been reported that several explosions occurred in the area and that some buildings collapsed as a result of these blasts. Shortly after these explosions a gun battle followed between the militants and the police forces at the scene of these attacks. Officials have claimed that the attack was well organised but say order has now been restored to the area. The Pakistani Taliban later claimed responsibility for this attack and admitted that the U.S consulate was the target for this attack.

• April 7 One person was killed after a bomb attached to a tanker carrying fuel to NATO forces in Afghanistan detonated in the Khyber tribal region of Pakistan. The victim was reportedly riding in the van from behind and it is known that 4 other people were also wounded in this attack. In a separate incident with the capital city of Islamabad, an explosion occurred within the parking lot of a market place. The explosion caused minor damage in the area however no casualties were reported due to the effects of this blast.

• April 8 Militants attacked and bombed three girl's schools, which were located on the outskirts of the Pakistani city, Peshawar. Nobody was killed or injured in these bombings however damage was inflicted upon the schools. The Pakistani Taliban have been blamed for these recent attacks and the education minister has accused them of trying to spread panic across the country. The militants had reportedly planted the explosive materials near to the schools before detonating them later on.

Who is responsible for all these attacks? Our leaders? Foreign agencies? America? India? Taliban? Al-Qaeda?

Who...........................?

A woman gave birth in Ricksha due to police blocked roads for Zardari and his convoy to pass!

The woman was being driven to hospital in the city of Quetta on Thursday evening when police blocked roads for Zardari and his convoy to pass. The woman’s brother Mohammad Yaseen said the rickshaw he had hired to take his sister to the Civil Hospital was stopped by policemen near the Askari Park.

“We waited for around two hours. And despite repeated requests the policemen did not allow us to go to the hospital,” he told this correspondent. “We pleaded with the policemen as it was an emergency but they refused citing orders that no one should be allowed to move until the president passed,” the brother told reporters.

“The baby (named Asif Khan) was born in the rickshaw, surrounded by vehicles stuck in the traffic jam. At that time police officials allowed us to return,” he said.

The President also announced Rs500,000 for the family (Why?). However, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani showed a non-serious approach on the issue. Gilani commented something on the lines of “bachay ko jehan paida hona hoga wahin ho jay ga” (child can born where ever he/she wants to). CM Raisani was of the opinion that the poor lady should have been traveled through an ambulance instead of a rickshaw, as if ambulances are allowed to penetrate through VIP blockades. I wish the families of Gilani and Raisani should go through similar situation.

Water war with India?

At the moment, India and Pakistan lack a legal forum to sort out issues of water scarcity. The tension relating to water resources held by India has heated up again and Pakistan has complained that India is holding back the waters of rivers flowing from Indian-administered Kashmir. Some analysts have termed this as a clear violation of the Indus Water Treaty.

In a sense, the availability of less water from the rivers is a security issue for Pakistan as it could put the country’s very survival at stake. The media in Pakistan and the general public, too, appear convinced that India is withholding the waters in violation of the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan's Prime Minister also wanted for dialogues not for water war with their archival rivals. On the other hand, the Indian perception is that Pakistan is assuming that India had restricted the flow, and that this assumption was incorrect as the water level was low the previous year as well.

Pakistan has unlimited amount of river & rainwater, except that they do not know how to exploit it. Yearly water flow in Indus alone is about 170 MAF. Rivers Jhelum & Chenab carry about a quarter of that amount. Hence Pakistan has about 300 MAF of water flowing down the rivers. This does not include tremendous amount of water, which comes down with Monsoon downpour. Indus has about ten times more water than Colorado River in US and three times more water than Nile in Egypt. Anybody with that amount of water in the rivers should be awash with water. What is missing is will to do anything worthwhile to manage water resources. Successive military governments are to be blamed. Most monies are appropriated to build up the military. Monies for economic projects are always in short supply. Hence these projects are lower on priority. For example, with looming water shortage, the Kalabagh Dam is still stuck in a controversy. The missing element is the unfair water distribution policy. Leaders favor Pakistani Punjab as it has more muscle in the military and at the central government. This leaves other provinces angry, annoyed and ready to revolt. For the military rulers it is easy to raise the bogey of India stealing water to incense the public. India’s plan to build hydroelectric projects on rivers allocated to Pakistan in Kashmir is big news in Pakistan. The leaders know fully well that the Indus Water Treaty clearly gives India right to use the Rivers Indus, Jhelum & Chenab to generate electricity and draw water for personal use. They ignore that part. They also know that every electricity generation project requires significant water storage so that electricity generation could continue uninterrupted during the lean months. The same right is given to Pakistan. It is that right that has become of dispute.

From a legal point of view, this argument is interesting as it actually raises the issue of jurisdiction and the scope of the Indus Water Treaty itself. The Indus Water Treaty does not deal directly with the issue of water scarcity. In fact, when the treaty (signed in 1960) was being negotiated, a future possibility of water scarcity was not a priority or a leading concern for the negotiators.

Hence, we find that there is no provision perse that provides a mechanism to both the countries if climate-based water scarcity occurs. The critical provisions of the Indus Water Treaty simply say that India and Pakistan were obliged to “let flow” the river waters without interfering.

Hence any obstruction by India would be seen as an outright breach of the treaty by Pakistan.

Despite speculations by the Pakistani side there is no specific evidence brought forth so far that India is actually obstructing the flow or is diverting the waters. The Indian argument remains that reservoirs such as the Wullar Barrage and others are built within the regulatory framework of the treaty itself. Pakistan, naturally, has a different view and in one case Pakistan was seeking third-party resolution through a neutral expert who did not support fully the Pakistani version.

If the Indian version is correct then the issue cannot be addressed within the framework of the Indus Water Treaty and, in that case, Pakistan is pursuing a remedy in the wrong direction.The question remains as to who determines whether the reduced amount of water flowing into the rivers of Pakistan from the Indian side is because of obstructions or on account of climatic water scarcity. For that both countries would need to agree on an independent and a separate framework or neutral experts’ assessment. The determination by such a panel would make matters clearer for Pakistani and Indian policymakers who could then follow a bilateral remedial course of action.

The argument is also advanced that even if the water flowing into Pakistani rivers is less due to genuine climatic water scarcity, India cannot escape responsibility as a state to maintain and manage the water resources that it exercises control over. India’s responsibility comes under the general framework of international law that calls on the upper riparian state to take the necessary measures to minimise water scarcity.

In Europe and elsewhere, water scarcity has promoted trans-boundary water cooperation instead of inciting war over this issue. The UN Convention on Uses of International Water Courses 1997 obliges states to conserve, manage and protect international water courses. Pakistan and India are not party to the said convention but the latter nevertheless offers a comprehensive framework for trans boundary water cooperation.

If this issue is not handled technically without a legal mechanism, then it has the potential to further aggravate tensions between India and Pakistan as it will be clubbed with the Kashmir dispute. Further, a reduced water flow could be perceived as India’s ploy to put additional pressure on Pakistan and, in that event, the response would be equally unmeasured and misdirected.

Finally, whether India is actually blocking the water or the decrease in water flow is due to scarcity and climatic change, needs objective and transparent determination by experts. This determination of the real reason should be agreed to beforehand through a bilateral agreement confined to fact-finding. If the finding is that the reduced flow of water is due to obstructions, then Pakistan could take action under the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty immediately.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is genuine water scarcity then the issue is outside the jurisdiction of the Indus Water Treaty and needs to be sorted out by both states on a bilateral basis. India, in that case, should undertake its obligations under international law for proper water conservation and management and share the details with Pakistan through a mutually agreed mechanism.

The aftermath of Dr Aafia Siddiqui's conviction

THE aftermath of Dr aafia siddiqui’s conviction nearly two weeks ago in a New York courtroom has seen several protests. On Feb 13, students from universities all over Islamabad congregated at Aapbara Chowk and demanded her release, while pointing out the silence of human rights groups. A day earlier, Lahore’s Liberty Chowk saw students and faculty members of several educational institutions come together to protest against Dr Aafia’s continued detention. Many other protests have been witnessed since the verdict was announced. While the facts of Dr Aafia’s case remain shrouded in secrecy, the transformation of her case from one of suspected terrorism to Pakistan’s cause célèbre is undeniable. No other female figure facing serious criminal charges has ever garnered so much public outpouring of support in Pakistan’s recent history. More notable is the wide spectrum of groups supporting her cause. The recent protests have illustrated the breadth of her allure, driving groups as diverse as the Tanzeem-i-Jihad and students from elite schools to the streets of major urban areas. From women in burka on the streets of Karachi chanting “down with the US” to jeansclad members of student action committees at Liberty Chowk, aafia siddiqui seems to have captured the collective heart of the Pakistani nation.
This ability to unite such a diverse group of Pakistanis behind her makes her appeal worthy of analysis. It is rare indeed for those frequenting elite private universities to have a platform in common with the burka-clad members of organisations such as the Tanzeem-iJihad.
While the human rights violations in her case are the obvious explanation for such unity among the Pakistani public it is not the only factor. Human rights violations are rampant in Pakistan but are routinely ignored and do not provoke much public outcry. Indeed, the alleged torturer of 12-year-old Shazia Masih who is believed to have died of violence inflic ted on her was released on bail without generating much of an outcry. Thousands continue to languish in the country’s jails without being afforded hearings.
How then does aafia siddiqui’s case appeal to the public? If anything, she has flouted conventions dear to Pakistani culture. She is divorced from her first husband with whom she has children. She then went on to remarry. Ordinarily, this alone would be considered enough to render a woman morally suspect in the eyes of Islamist groups whose teachings and literature uphold dutiful wives and mothers.
Indeed, groups like the Jamaat-iIslami and Tanzeem-i-Jihad would normally have problems with the idea of a young woman like Dr aafia siddiqui travelling all over the world, as she did, without being accompanied by a male relation or mahram. Also problematic would have been the fact that she attended a Jewish-funded educational institution and did not live with her family while completing her education.
As the emblem of Pakistani womanhood, one that is being venerated and defended around the country, aafia siddiqui’s unfettered popularity represents perhaps the emergence of a new kind of female rebel. While she may have lived the life of a liberated western woman, attending American universities, working routinely with men, the visible image she presents is quite useful in allowing her to evade criticism.
Ironically the most magnetic aspect of Dr Aafia’s appeal lies in the most harmful allegations levelled against her. Simply put, while it is entirely likely that the stories alleging that Dr Aafia grabbed an unattended assault rifle and shot at her American interrogator are untrue, the possibility of their being correct titillates every Pakistani wanting to defy the US.
Undoubtedly, aafia siddiqui is a rebel. Born to a middle-class family she chose a male-dominated career and earned a PhD degree in a field where women are severely unrepresented. She abandoned a conventional life as a mother taking her children to and from school and looking after her husband and home to marry someone who was known to be an Al Qaeda member. She was arrested, disappeared in extremely suspicious circumstances and resurfaced in Afghanistan, leading to several ques tions. Even more questions remain about her guilt or innocence but her elevation to the status of an icon bears deeper consideration by all diverse groups supporting her cause.
The most pressing of these questions is whether similar attention and unquestioning sympathy would have been afforded to a Pakistani woman who had similarly thwarted convention but was persecuted by Pakistani authorities rather than the American ones. There is much valour even in the dream of defying the US but should such defiance be the only mark of heroism in our society? Concern for human rights, due process and justice are venerated principles that apply universally and indeed unequivocally to aafia siddiqui’s case but they also do so to all other cases of justice denied which may not vindicate a country’s suffering pride but whose victims are equally tortured and helpless.