DAILY JANG UPDATE: Malala Yousafzai

NYT VIDEO: Interview with 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai

A Schoolgirl’s Odyssey...Living Under the Taliban in Swat, Pakistan

Taliban shoots 14-year-old ‘infidel’

http://www.washingtonpost.com

A 14-year-old Pakistani activist who won international acclaim for speaking out for girls denied education under the Taliban was shot and seriously wounded Tuesday on her way home from school, authorities said.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on ninth-grader Malala Yousafzai, who officials said was shot in the head by at least one gunman who approached a school bus in Mingora, a city in the scenic Swat valley in the country’s northwest. Yousafzai was flown by helicopter to a military hospital in Peshawar, where officials said a bullet was lodged near her spine. Surgeons were unable to operate immediately because of swelling in her skull. President Asif Ali Zardari directed that Yousufzai be sent abroad for medical care, a government spokesman said. A seventh-grade girl was shot in the leg, according to local police. Taliban insurgents controlled Swat for two years until a massive military operation drove them out in May 2009, but sporadic attacks have continued in the area. Yousafzai became known in early 2009, when she wrote a diary about Taliban atrocities under a pen name for the BBC’s Urdu service. In 2011, the Pakistani government awarded her a 1 million rupee ($10,500) prize and a peace award for her bravery in raising her voice for children’s rights and girls’ education when few others in Pakistan dared to. Yousafzai also was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011. The seventh-grader who was wounded in the leg said she and her classmates were leaving school when the attack occurred. “Two bearded armed men stopped our school van and asked for Malala and opened fire from behind the van,” the girl, named Shazia, said from the hospital where she and Yousafzai were first taken. Ihsanullah Ihsan, chief spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said in calls to the media that the militant group targeted Yousafzai because she generated “negative propaganda” about Muslims. “She considers President Obama as her ideal. Malala is the symbol of the infidels and obscenity,” Ihsan said. Political leaders condemned the attack. “We have to fight the mind-set that is involved in this. We have to condemn it,” Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf told the Pakistani Senate. “Malala is like my daughter and yours, too. If that mind-set prevails, then whose daughter would be safe?” Yousafzai also is an advocate for literacy in the Swat valley. She started her diary when the Taliban banned girls’ education and bombed hundreds of schools, mostly those for girls, in Swat. Her father, Zia Uddin Yousafzai, is an educator and a member of Swat’s peace jirga, or tribal gathering. “She is all right,” he said in an interview. “Please pray for her early recovery and health.” After being forced out of Swat, Pakistani Taliban fighters relocated to the Afghan border region near the eastern Afghan provinces of Konar and Nurestan. They are blamed for attacks on Pakistani forces from across the border. “This is a highly condemnable act of terror and an attempt to silence a brave voice,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain, a spokesman for the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, said. In her diary, Yousafzai wrote about her fears and growing Taliban influence. One morning, she wore her favorite pink dress. “During the morning assembly we were told not to wear colorful clothes as the Taliban would object to it,” she wrote. In another entry, she wrote: “On my way from school to home I heard a man saying, ‘I will kill you.’ ” I hastened my pace and after a while I looked back if the man was still coming behind me. But to my utter relief he was talking on his mobile and must have been threatening someone else . . . .”

Malala likely to be sent abroad for treatment

The government is likely to send Malala Yousafzai to abroad for medical treatment.

President Asif Ali Zardari ordered the authorities concerned to make sure arrangements for the treatment of Yousafzai. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has directed authorities to make arrangements for shifting Malala Yousafzai to abroad for medical treatment. Earlier, doctors at the Military Combined Hospital (CMH) have termed next three days as critical for the health of 14-year old Malala Yousafzai, who was attacked by the Pakistani Taliban in Swat earlier in the day. The minister ordered Interior Secretary to finalize all paper work for sending the peace-activist to foreign. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also announced to provide her treatment from abroad. According to the reports, the doctors have recommended that the girl be sent abroad for treatment. The doctors said surgery was not possible due to swelling and a bullet had moved into her spine through her head. A bullet was still in her head and would be removed through a surgery. Malala Yousafzai along with another girl was injured in an armed attack in Saydu Sharif while returning from school in a vehicle.

‘Attackers identify Malala before shooting’

Malala Yousafzai’s friend, who also received bullet wounds in a shooting incident, said that the assailants identified Malala before opening fire. Talking to Geo news, a schoolfellow of Malala said that they were on their way home from school when some unidentified assailants forced their vehicle to stop, telling the driver that some of the girls he was carrying in the car belonged to them. The driver replied that no one is allowed to look at them after which the assailants asked the school girls on gunpoint to identify Malala and then opened fire, injuring Malala Yousafzai and the two school-mates with her.

Woh Jo Bachiyoan Sae Bhee Dar Gae by Kishwar Naheed

Malala Yousuf Zai Exclusive Interview-29 Jan 2012

Attack on Malala: Iftikhar for crackdown on Taliban across Pakistan

Minister for Information Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mian Iftikhar Hussain Tuesday said that Malala Yousafzai was attacked for her dynamic role towards promoting peace and obtainment of education and that it is high time a crackdown on Taliban be launched in North Waziristan and other parts of Pakistan. Addressing a press conference here, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said according to initial medical report the condition of Malala, the 14-year old girl, is now out of danger. Admiring Malala Yousafzai's campaign for the promotion of peace and education, the KP Minister assured that any harm drawing near her would be thwarted and a Jihad against terrorism would continue. Mian Iftikhar said he had been advised to confine his activities within the capital city of Islamabad in view of terror threats. "It is high time a crackdown on terrorist elements be launched in Waziristan and signals for such an action have also been made by the Federation," he asserted, adding Pakistan, NATO, US and Afghanistan will have to launch a joint offensive for stamping out terrorism from the region.

Governor assures best treatment facilities to Malala and her colleague

RADIO PAKISTAN

The Governor has expressed best wishes for Malala and her colleague and assured provision of best treatment facilities to them.The Governor Barrister Masood Kausar while expressing his best wishes for Malala and her colleague and assured provision of best treatment facilities to them. The Governor also expressed sympathies with the affected families and prayed for early recovery of the injured. Barrister Masood Kausar thanked Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for taking personal interest in providing helicopter facility to shift the award winner Malala Yousafzai to Peshawar.

The medical board has proposed treatment of Malala Yousafzai abroad

RADIO PAKISTAN

The medical board has proposed treatment of Malala Yousafzai abroad and Interior Secretary has been directed to make arrangements in this regard

Peace Award winner 14-year old Malala Yousafzai and another girl were injured when their vehicle was attacked in Swat on Tuesday. She was rushed to District Headquarters Hospital in Saidu Sharif for initiate medical treatment. Later she was shifted to CMH Peshawar. According to doctors‚ she received two bullets‚ in the head and neck. Malala Yousafzai championed the cause of peace in Swat by blogging for the BBC under a pseudonym "Gul Makai." In her blogs‚ she highlighted the atrocities of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Swat. For her courageous and outstanding services for peace under extremely hostile conditions‚ she was conferred with first National Peace Award by the Prime Minister in 2011. She was also nominated for International Children's Peace Prize by Kids Rights Foundation in Amsterdam. President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the attack on school van in Mingora‚ Swat‚ by unidentified gunmen today which injured schoolgirls including the winner of National Peace Award Ms. Malala Yousufzai. The President while expressing his concerns about the well-being of Malala Yousafzai directed the concerned authorities to provide best possible medical assistance to the injured girls. He directed that Ms. Malala and other injured girl be brought to the best hospital in the country on immediate basis‚ if needed. The President in his message also said that the terrorist would never be able to shaken the resolve of the nation through such dastardly acts and nation would continue its fight against militants till its logical conclusion. The President said that young girls like Malala Yousafzai symbolize the quest for knowledge of the girls of swat and other areas of Khyber Patkhtunkhwa. He said that the Government was determined to provide every possible support to the women of the area in their search for knowledge and education. ============================= Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf held a telephonic conversation with the father of Malala Yousafzai and expressed concerns over the attack. He strongly condemned the incident and assured him that the government will bear all the medical expenses on their treatment. He also informed him that he had directed the hospital authorities to extend best medical treatment to Malala as well as her friends who were injured in the attack. The Prime Minister also directed the Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtun Khwa Raheem Daad Khan to rush to Peshawar to convey the feelings of the President‚ Prime Minister‚ Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‚ Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari. Amin Faheem is carrying bouquets for Malala Yousafzai and her friends on their behalf. The Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardar condemned the attack on Malala Yousufzai and prayed for her early recovery. He called for all those still living in denial to wake up and stand united against the threats Pakistan faces from with in. National Assembly has also condemned the attack on Malala Yousufzai and her companions. ============================== Speaking in the Senate‚ Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf also condemned the attack on Malala. He directed the provincial government to arrest the terrorists involved in the attack. National Assembly has also condemned the attack on Malala Yousufzai and her companions. Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kausar‚ Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti‚ PML-N President Nawaz Sharif‚ MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and other political leaders have also condemned the attack. ============================= Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has condemned the disgusting attack on the life of Malala Yousufzai and has prayed for her and her family. He said TTP is enemy of Pakistan‚ Islam and humanity. The PPP chairman called for all those still living in denial to wake up and stand united against the threats Pakistan faces from within. ============================ Interior Minister Rehman Malik has directed Secretary Interior for making arrangements for medical treatment of Malala Yousufzai abroad. He also directed Secretary Interior to make arrangements for sending her abroad for medical treatment in accordance with the advice of the doctors. ========================== Governor KPK Barrister Masood Kausar visited CMH Peshawar on Tuesday evening and enquired about the health of Malala Yusufzai. He conveyed good wishes to her on behalf of the President Asif Ali Zardari‚ Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He also prayed for her early recovery. According to doctors‚ medical checkup of Malala Yusufzai has been completed and the next two to three days are very crucial for her. ========================= President Asif Ali Zardari has directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to make arrangement for the provision of air ambulance to Malala Yousufzai. He said that she should be shifted to the nearest health facility. =========================== National Broadcasting Service of Radio Pakistan devoted a one hour programme to the unfortunate incident of attack on Malala Yousafzai‚ featuring her contribution towards promotion of knowledge in the face of various odds. Taking part in the programme‚ prominent politician Afzal Khan Lala said such incident would not weaken resolve of the people against terrorism and extremism. He paid tributes to Malala for her courageous role in the promotion of education and awareness. He also urged the Government and the authorities concerned to take measures to prevent such incidents in future. Callers from different areas of the country including Swat also condemned the incident and said an attempt has been made to silence voice of a girl who was waging a struggle for promotion of education through pen and spoke against extremist tendencies.

Malala Yousafzai in Pictures after Taliban attacked her

Malala Yousafzai IS A BRAVE DAUGHTER OF PASHTUNISTAN,SHE IS A FIGHTER,SHE WILL WIN THIS FIGHT TOO

Taliban claim gun attack at Malala Yousafzai

Malala and two other schoolgirls were injured when unknown attackers opened fire at them in Swat. Gunmen shot and wounded a teenage Pakistani children s rights activist as she boarded a school bus on Tuesday in Swat area, police said. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has accepted responsibility for the attack. Spokesman of TTP Ehsanullah Ehsan said Malala was attacked because she has been spreading negtive propaganda against the Taliban. Malala Yousafzai, 14, won international recognition for highlighting Taliban atrocities in Swat by blogging for the BBC. She received the first ever national peace award from the Pakistani government last year and was nominated for the International Children s Peace Prize by advocacy group Kids Rights Foundation in 2011. "Malala was getting into her school bus after school when two gunmen opened fire on her, injuring her and one of her friends," local police official Rasool Shah told AFP. Provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed the shooting in Mingora, the main town of Swat, and blamed the attack on terrorists. Yousafzai was shot in the forehead and will be taken to the northwestern city of Peshawar for further treatment but is stable, said Doctor Taj Mohammed at the Saidu Sharif Medical Complex in Mingora.

Bilawal Bhutto condemned the attack on Malala

Bilawal, in a statement, also condemned the attack on Malala and said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was an enemy of Pakistan, Islam and humanity. He called for those living in denial to wake up and stand united against the internal threats faced by Pakistan.

President, PM condemn attack on Malala Yousafzai

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, condemned the Taliban attack on National Peace Award winner Malala Yousafzai on Tuesday.President Zardari, while expressing concerns about Malala’s well-being, directed the concerned authorities to provide best possible medical assistance to the injured girls. He added that the terrorists would never be able to shake the resolve of the nation through such dastardly acts and the nation will continue to fight against militants till its logical conclusion. Bilawal, in a statement, also condemned the attack on Malala and said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was an enemy of Pakistan, Islam and humanity. He called for those living in denial to wake up and stand united against the internal threats faced by Pakistan.Terming the attack an act of a “sick mindset”, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who had given Malala the peace award, said that such acts of terrorism were a reflection of barbarity, devoid of humanity and Islamic teachings. The MQM chief termed the incident “blatant terrorism” and called for the perpetrators behind the act to be brought to justice. He appealed to the president, prime minister and Interior Minister Rehman Malik to take serious notice of the attack and take action against those involved.

گل مکئی پر حملے کے بعد مینگورہ سکتے میں

بی بی سی اردو سروس کے لیے گل مکئی کے نام سے سوات سے ڈائریاں لکھنے والی طالبہ ملال ہ

یوسفزئی پر حملے کے بعد مینگورہ شہر سکتے کے عالم میں ہے اور لوگ ایک مرتبہ پھر طالبان کے خوف میں مبتلا ہو گئے ہیں۔

سوات سے صحافی انور شاہ نے بی بی سی اردو سروس کو بتایا ہے کہ شہر میں شدید خوف ہراس کا عالم، لوگوں میں غم و غصے کے جذبات ہیں اور مینگورہ کے بازار میں بڑی تعداد میں فوج اور پولیس کے اہلکاروں کو تعینات کر دیا گیا ہے۔ ے ڈرائیور عثمان علی تھے۔ انھوں نے انور شاہ کو بتایا کہ دو نامعلوم موٹر سائیکل سواروں نے انھیں راستے میں رکنے کا اشارہ کیا اور پوچھا کہ کیا یہ وین خوشحال پبلک سکول کی ہے۔ ڈرائیور عثمان علی نے ان موٹر سائیکل سواروں سے کہا کہ وہ سکول جا کر پوچھیں اور وین کی رفتار تیز کر دی اس اثناء میں فائرنگ کی آواز گونجنے لگی جس سن کر ڈرائیور نے وین کی رفتار مزید بڑھا دی۔ وین کی رفتار تیز ہوتے ہی لڑکیوں نے چیخنا چلانا شروع کر دیا اور بتایا کہ ملالہ اور ان کی ساتھی شازیہ کے جسموں سے خون بہہ رہا ہے۔ عثمان علی وین کو سیدھا ہسپتال لےگئے جہاں انھیں پتا چلا کہ ملالہ کے گلے میں اور شازیہ کے دائیں بازو میں گولی لگی ہے۔ انور شاہ نے بتایا کہ یہ واقع شریف آباد میں پیش آیا اور وہیں قریب ہی فوج کی چیک پوسٹ قائم ہے۔ لوگوں کو اس بات پر بھی حیرت ہے کہ دن دہاڑے فوجی چیک پوسٹ کے قریب کس طرح دہشت گرد یہ حملہ کر کے فرار بھی ہو گئے۔ انور شاہ کا کہنا ہے کہ لوگ ایک مرتبہ پھر اس خوف کا شکار ہو گئے ہیں کہ سوات طالبان کے ہاتھوں میں جا رہا ہے۔

PM Ashraf condemns attack on Malala Yousafzai

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack on a school van, carrying Pakistan's youngest Peace Award winner Malala Yousafzai and directed that the injured children be evacuated to Peshawar for better treatment. The attack occurred when young Malala was returning from school in a van, causing injuries to other students as well by unknown culprits. The Prime Minister directed immediate dispatch of a helicopter to evacuate the injured to Peshawar and to investigate the matter, besides providing best possible treatment to the other injured. Malala was awarded the first National Peace Award for Youth for her courageous stance for promotion of education and peace under extremely hostile conditions in Malakand Division. She earned fame by playing a leading role in promoting peace in the restive Swat region through her writing and feature stories. She was also one of the top-five contenders, from amongst 148 children from all over the world, for the International Peace Prize in South Africa. She became the first recipient of the National Peace Award for Youth on 19 December 2011.

Altaf flays murderous attack on Malala

LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid Altaf Hussain has strongly condemned the terrorists’ murderous attack on the vehicle of the award winner Malala Yusufzai. In a statement issued here, Altaf Hussain said that the firing on innocent girl students was inhuman and the elements involved in it deserve no leniency. He said that Malala Yusufzai have been playing a role for the promotion of education in Swat with courage and determination and the attack on her was in fact the attack on learning. Altaf Hussain has demanded from the President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Interior Minister, Rahman Malik to take serious notice of the attack on the vehicle of Malala and the brute terrorists involved in this incident should be brought to book and given exemplary punishments. He also expressed his deep sympathy with the injured Malala and the other two girl students and prayed for their early recovery.

Malalai Yusufzai: Young activist attacked in Pakistan's Swat

A 14-year-old rights activist who has campaigned for girls' education has been shot and injured in the Swat Valley in north-west Pakistan. Malalai Yusufzai

was attacked on her way home from school in Mingora, the region's main town. Nominated for an international peace award, she came to public attention in 2009 by writing a diary for BBC Urdu about life under the Taliban. Taliban militants overran Swat before being ejected by the army that year. It is unclear if Malalai was the target of the attack. She was travelling with at least one other girl when she was shot. Initial reports say she and the other girl are out of danger.

ننګیاله ملاله یوسفزۍ په وژونکي برید کې سخته ژوبله Malala Yousufzai

د سوات ملاله یوسفزۍ چې د ماشومانو نړیوالې جایزې ته نومول شوې او د پاکستان د حکومت له خوا ورته د ملاله یوسفزۍ په نامه د امن اېوارډ اخیستونکې نن په سوات کې د وسله والو په یوه برید کې ډېره سخته ژوبله شوېده. له دې سره د هغې د سکول درې نورې انجونه هم ژوبلې دي.

راپورونه وايي چې پر هغې د مینګورې په سیدو شریف کې ډزې شوې چې له خپلو نورو همځولو سره د سکول په یوه ګاړي کې سوره وه، په دغه برید کې د هغې د سکول درې نورې انجونه هم ژوبلې دي. راپورونه وايي چې د ننګیالې ملالې پر سر او غاړه کې ګولۍ لګېدلې دي. ملاله یوسفزۍ له هغې وروسته په نړیواله او قامي کچه شهرت وموندلو چې کله په سوات کې اورپکو طالبانو د سکولونو ورانولو لړۍ روانه کړه او په تېره د انجونو په زدکړو یې بندیز ولګاوه نو ملالې د تعلیم ضد دغه کړنو پر خلاف په واړه عمر قلم ته لاس کړ او تر خپله وسه یې په هر ځای کې خپل غږ پورته کړی دی. ملالۍ د ۲۰۰۹ م کال په اوږدو کې د بي بي سي اردو پر ویباڼې په سوات کې د هرې ورځې پېښې لیکلې او هلته به یې د طالبانو او پاکستاني پوځ ترمنځ پر نښتو تبصرې کولې چې څنګه د ښکلو سردرو د وطن اوسېدونکي سواتیان تر ظلمه او وحشته لاندې ژوند تېروي. ملالې یوسفزۍ ته په بیا بیا وسله والو طالبانو د مرګ دړکې ورکړې وې.

Swat: Malala Yousafzai injured in attack

The young winner of National Peace Award and children's rights activist Malala Yousafzai along with two other girls was injured when unknown opened fire on her vehicle in Swat Tuesday, Geo News reported. According to police, Malala along with two other schoolgirls was injured when unknown attackers opened fire on her vehicle after identifying Malala. The girls were on their way back from school. Sources told that Malala was hit by two bullets and is currently being operated in Sedu Sharif Hospital. It is important to mention that Malala had been receiving threats to her life, after which she was provided with a special car and unarmed security personnel. The international children's advocacy group Kids Rights Foundation included Malala among the nominees for the International Children's Peace Prize, making her the first Pakistani girl nominated for the award. For her courageous and outstanding services for the promotion of peace under extremely hostile conditions in Swat, she was awarded the first National Peace Award by the Pakistani government on 19 December 2011.

Malala Yousufzai injured in firing incident

Winner of the National Peace Award, Malala Yousufzai was injured along with two other women when unidentified men opened fire on her car in Swat, Express News reported Tuesday.

Yousufzai was shifted to Saidu Teaching Hospital, where doctors declared that she was out of danger. As the news made rounds, hundreds of people flocked outside the hospital, willing to donate blood to Yousufzai. Two bullets hit Yousufzai and she received wounds on her neck. According to Express News correspondent Shireenzada, unidenfitied men approached the car in which Yousufzai was seated and asked the girls sitting with her to identify Yousufzai. When the girls, including Yousufzai, showed reluctance in answering, the gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on her car. The Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has taken a notice of the incident. Hailing from Mingora, the 14-year-old Yousufzai struggled for restoring peace in Swat and education for girls in the region for which she was awarded the National Peace Award by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. When the Taliban had banned education for females in the district, she kept a diary for the British Broadcasting Corporation and wrote about the misdeeds of militants. Yousufzai also remained a speaker for the Child Assembly in Swat, which works for child rights in the district. Later on, she was awarded the first National Peace Award by the government of Pakistan on December 19, 2011 for rendering courageous services to promote peace during the mayhem.

Bilawal Bhutto : Real goal of democracy to be democratization of resources

RADIO PAKISTAN

Speaking at World Forum for Democracy‚ Chairman PPP has said Pakistan had long history of struggle for universal values of democracy

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‚ Chairman Pakistan Peoples' Party has said that real goal of democracy has to be democratization of wealth‚ resources and markets in order to bring peace and stability in Islamic World and elsewhere. He was speaking at a lunch debate at World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg‚ France on Tuesday morning. The forum brings together reformers and global leaders to identify democratic responses to the economic‚ social and political challenges affecting the societies of the day. Speaking at the lunch debate he further said that Pakistan had long history of struggle for universal values of democracy. While paying glowing tributes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto‚ he said that she left everlasting impressions by laying down her life at long and hard struggle for democracy in Pakistan. While admitting that democracy is nascent in Pakistan‚ he assured the world that Pakistan shares democratic values with it. He impressed upon the participants that Universal values of democracy should be respected at all costs irrespective of national and transient interests. He unequivocally declared that only democracy could provide full public consensus for counter-terrorism efforts. He also highlighted the need of a thriving civil society and free media for free growth of democracy. He also said that regional peace is vital for trade and prosperity. The others who participated in the debate‚ included; Ms. Asma Mehfouz an activist and blogger from Egypt‚ Mr. Ahmad Al-Senussi member of National Transition Council of Libya and Mr. Ali Ferzat a poltical cartoonist. Those who attended‚ included high profile personalities like Secretary General UN Ban Ki Moon‚ Head of Government of Morocco and former Prime Minister of Canada. Earlier‚ he met Mr. Frederico Mayor former Director General UNESCO and President of Foundation for Culture of Peace‚ on the side-lines of the Forum. He also met Mr. Masahiro Kawai Dean and CEO Asian Development Bank. He lauded the role of the Bank in various development projects in Pakistan. He hoped that the ADB would consider providing more assistance to Pakistan‚ especially in Energy Sector. Later‚ in the afternoon‚ he met Head of the Government of Morocco Mr. Abdelilah Benkirne‚ Mr. Keith Whitmore President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland‚ Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former Prime Minister and foreign minister of Norway . While talking to the Head of Government of Morocco‚ he remarked that the fruits of Arab Spring could best be enjoyed by avoiding outside interference. He said that outside interference brings ethnic and sectarian division‚ which does not allow democracies to be stable and useful for the people.

Afghanistan: A long, hard war

EDITORIAL

Sunday saw the US cross the 11-year mark of its war in Afghanistan directly after the September 11 attacks. This has been the longest ever war that the US has engaged in, yielding little in terms of acceptable results with hardly anything to show to the US public, which is quite literally baying for blood now that the US economy is in a shambles. To add insult to injury, the insurgents, who are still a very strong force in the country, are openly mocking NATO and US troops by saying that they are “fleeing” their country in “disgrace” and “humiliation”. This outcome can hardly be called a surprise; anyone familiar with the history of Afghanistan since its independence in the 18th century will be able to vouch for the fact that any invading force — and there have been many — has been met with stiff resistance from the tribal culture and mountain warriors who have fought until the last man standing, defeating empires and never being conquered or vanquished for long. Former President Bush, in his ‘infinite wisdom’, tried to swat a fly with a sledgehammer when he ordered his troops to invade the rugged, mountainous country. At that time al Qaeda was a much smaller ragtag band of jihadists, hardly a fraction of what it is now. The Bush administration made one very profound mistake: it did not differentiate between al Qaeda and the Taliban and attacked both with equal zeal. While the Taliban regime was brutal and unpopular, the whole country was made the US’s battleground. Unfamiliar with the tradition of Pashtunwali (the Pashtun code) by which the tribal Afghan refuses to hand over guests no matter what the consequences, the US started a protracted war with an entire country, hoping to win through sheer shock and awe tactics, only to suffer for many years to come. Even in lining up its allies the US was not handed a favourable deal: Pakistan, its frontline ally, publicly agreed to fighting alongside the US but, as is widely known, preferred establishing its hegemony in the region through ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan, providing safe havens to many of the Afghan Taliban. All this has cost the US dearly. The final withdrawal date for NATO troops in Afghanistan is somewhere at the end of 2014. To meet this target, foreign troops have been training and equipping the Afghan National Army and police to take charge when they leave. Instances of army and police personnel turning on their NATO ‘mentors’ are becoming more frequent, with loyalties switching sides and Taliban insurgents threatening those army and police officials who do not. In the game of intimidation, it seems the terrorists will win. If the Afghan Army disintegrates after all US hopes have been pinned on it, there is little doubt that the entire country will spiral into a bloody civil war, which may be much worse than the one before the Taliban took power in 1996 because now many Pashtuns are not in favour of the jihadists. It is very likely that the near future may see an intra-Pashtun war within a wider civil war. Meanwhile the Taliban have started escalating their attacks against NATO troops to show the world that they remain undefeated. Needless to say, the spillover effect of continuing conflict in Afghanistan will be devastating for Pakistan too. Our own homegrown terrorists, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have found safe havens with the Afghan Taliban, fighting their war with the Pakistani state from the safety of Afghanistan. It is in Pakistan’s best interests that it strive to find the middle ground for peace. The US will leave but we will be the ones left to manage the blowback of an Afghan civil war and emboldened TTP insurgents bent on spilling blood.

Pakistan seeks 845,000 tonnes of oil products for Nov-Feb

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Pakistan State Oil is seeking up to 845,000 tonnes of oil products for delivery from November 2012 to February 2013, about 50 percent more than it bought for September to December delivery, a tender document showed on Tuesday. The state-owned firm is looking for 455,000 tonnes of high sulphur fuel oil, 110,000 tonnes of low sulphur fuel oil and 280,000 tonnes of motor gasoline, the document showed. The tender closes on Oct. 19 and is valid until Oct. 26. PSO bought less than half its total requirements for September to December delivery, skipping gasoil and low sulphur fuel oil purchases because of a dip in demand. Gasoil appetite has dropped in the country due to increased rainfall, which has boosted hydropower generation, traders have said. The company last bought 260,000 tonnes of high sulphur fuel oil from Bakri Trading and Vitol at premiums of about $25 to $26 a tonne above Middle East quotes. It also purchased 280,000 tonnes of 87-octane gasoline from Gunvor, Trafigura, Total, Oman Trading and Gulf Petrochem at premiums of $93-$106 a tonne.

AYUB KHAN’S MARTIAL LAW

On October 8, 1958, President Iskandar Mirza, imposed Martial Law in the whole country pending the scheduled decisions to hold national elections and break up of One Unit of West Pakistan which was almost unanimously passed by the One Unit Assembly. Iskandar Mira had no chances and he used the armed forces to clamp down Martial Law in the country for political reasons. Earlier, Iskandar Mirza manipulated the events with late Khan of Kalat promising to revive his princely Kalat State if he organized some protest. He did protest and at the end of the day, he was arrested with an announcement from the Presidency that there was a revolt against Pakistan and Khan Kalat tried to secede from Pakistan by organizing an armed rebellion which was quelled by the units of Pakistan Army in Kalat. Exactly after three weeks, Ayub Khan removed Iskandar Mirza from the Office of President and boarded him to a London flight where he remained in forced exile. Ayub Khan’s Martial Law was not imposed to save Pakistan, rather it was meant to defer the decision to hold general elections and also revive historical federating units of Pakistan. Ayub Khan’s Martial Law was not well received in Bengal, Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP. Only groups of vested interests belonging to Punjab and the Urdu Speaking people from India extended unqualified support to him to consolidate his military rule in the initial period. It was the beginning of military intervention in political and state affairs of Pakistan taking arbitrary decision in all spheres of human activities. Ayub Khan was a military dictator and he held all the powers in his personality. In a way, it was a highly personalized rule with the support of the Pakistan Army. Balochistan was in full revolt and people were protesting against the Martial Law and demanding implementation of the Assembly resolution reviving historic Federating Units of Pakistan. On the contrary, the military rulers used One Unit in disfranchising majority people of Bengal by imposing the principle of parity which was rejected by the Bengal people. There was bloody agitation in Bengal against the one man military rule and the people defied curfew in millions manned by the armed forces of Pakistan. It was a clear signal to the military establishment that Bengal is ungovernable and the establishment will have to surrender the will of the Bengali people only after massive bloodshed and Indian intervention. According to historical notes, a former Chief Justice of Pakistan was sent as an emissary to the Bengali leadership to leave Pakistan which Bengal leaders reportedly rejected saying that they are in complete majority why should the secede from Pakistan. They minority should secede Pakistan. Thus there was a deadlock in the behind the scene negotiations culminating in military action in Bengal. Ayub Khan handed over power to the Army Chief General Yahya Khan in a military coup and not to his Bengali Vice President as per the constitution of Pakistan framed by the military dictator. Thus the foundation of breakup of Pakistan was laid during the military regime of Ayub Khan and it was implemented by another military dictator General Yahya. Political agitation picked up momentum in West Pakistan as people hated the false claim of decade of development. Instead, the people from Sindh, KPK and Balochistan intensified their agitation for revival of the historic federating Units disbanding the One Unit which was not needed as Bengal was abandoned by the Pakistani establishment during the last days of agitation against Ayub Khan. The first military intervention had brought total disaster for Pakistan as a State destroying its all democratic institutions. A super man was allowed to rule the country and to this date a section of naïve politicians are still in search of a superman to take country out of the present mess dislodging the democratic and political forces using dubious means.