In Pakistan Shooting, Malala's Friends Also Bear Scars

http://www.wnyc.org

On Oct. 9, in Mingora, Pakistan, in the country's picturesque Swat Valley, Kainat Riaz left her high school and climbed into the back of a small van. The bright-eyed 16-year-old sat near another schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai.

At just 15, Malala, an outspoken critic of the Taliban, had already earned a name in her country — and internationally — for her courage. Kainat says there was a lot of chatter in the six-seat van as it shuttled the girls home. Then, in the middle of a busy road, the van suddenly stopped, and a masked gunman got into the vehicle. "We saw a gun in his hand. [We] were terrified, and we started shouting," Kainat says. "He told us to be quiet. We were afraid. He asked us who Malala was." Kainat says no one said a thing, but they all looked at Malala. "I think he himself knew Malala," she says, "because he fired his gun at her. She fell over, and there was blood coming from her ear; it all happened very fast." The gunman shot Malala in the head and the neck, and kept firing. In the frenzy, Kainat was also shot. So too was 13-year-old Shazia Ramazan, who had been sitting next to Malala, her good friend. "All the girls started crying and shouting, and we tried to lift Malala, to help her, to get her out of the van," Shazia says. The gunman and an accomplice escaped through a small alley, and the Taliban claimed responsibility. Malala survived and is now recovering at a hospital in Birmingham, England, that specializes in war injuries. Shazia, a slight girl with a quick smile, shows the bullet wound in her left hand. Another bullet hit her right arm. Sitting on a daybed at her parents' home, Shazia seems remarkably composed, although both she and Kainat say they could not sleep for several nights after the shooting. The two girls now have police, armed with machine guns, posted around the clock outside their homes in Mingora. Security was stepped up throughout Mingora after the shooting. Now there are many checkpoints, snarling traffic on the city's narrow, congested streets. This is a far cry from a few years ago, when the Swat Valley was a peaceful, idyllic area, often referred to as the Switzerland of Pakistan. The sheer beauty of its soaring verdant hills and deep valleys drew tourists from all over the world. Then Taliban militants began moving into the area in 2009, imposing their strict interpretation of Islam. Eventually, Pakistan's military launched a major operation, and claimed it had flushed out the militants. Ahmed Shah, a close friend of Malala's family, says after that, the people of Swat enjoyed some peace. "For the last year the situation was good, it really was peaceful," Shah says. "But after the [shooting] of Malala, the people are very fearful; they think that those people might come again." Shah says there have been a couple of other recent attacks against people who have also publicly spoken out against the Taliban, and many people are worried militants are filtering back into Swat. Kamran Rehman Khan, the most senior government official in Swat, says the security forces and intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the situation. He says they are taking all available measures to make sure another incident like the shooting doesn't occur, but the danger is still present. "Nothing is guaranteed in this world, [even] with all the security ... We still get people who sneak in and do crimes," Khan says. Khan says militants are likely infiltrating Swat across the border with Afghanistan, but says some local residents might also be providing help. "We do understand that there are sympathizers here," he says. "Because of maybe their ideology or maybe their misperceptions, [people] do provide help. We are trying to get hold of those people." Khan maintains that Swat is one of the safest places in Pakistan. Still, reminders of Malala's shooting are never far away in Mingora. The young girl's face is on posters and billboards, and there are now special days and charities named in her honor.

Germany to help Afghanistan beyond 2014

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has told his Afghan counterpart, Zalmay Rassoul, that Germany will continue to provide aid beyond NATO's 2014 withdrawal. Westerwelle made the pledge during Rassoul's visit to Berlin. The German foreign minister told Rassoul that Germany "would not leave Afghanistan in the lurch." More than 4,000 German troops are currently stationed with the Western military alliance NATO in Afghanistan. Westerwelle's remark coincided with a New York Times report that some 10,000 US soldiers and thousands of troops from other countries will remain beyond 2014. 'Cautiously optimistic' German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told a conference of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary caucus in Berlin on Monday that he was cautiously optimistic of gradual improvements in security in Afghanistan. "What is decisive is not what happens at the beginning of 2015," de Maizere said. The key test would be developments over the next five to eight years, he added. De Maizere admitted that the 350,000 Afghan defense personnel were by Western standards "not well equipped." But, he said, with training over next two years, improvements in Afghan capabilities and equipment would become visible. Already, Afghan troops were covering the bulk of security operations, he added. Niebel: aid work to continue Development Minister Dirk Niebel of the liberal Free Democrats, the junior coalition partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's government, told the CDU parliamentarians that German assistance in Afghanistan would be proceed intensively. "We assume that the security situation beyond 2014 will not deteriorate significantly," Niebel said. A former senior CDU figure, Tanja Gönner, who now heads the German GIZ aid agency said NATO's planned withdrawal was worrying civilian development workers within Afghanistan. They wondered how they would get surgical care and even evacuation in the case of emergencies, Gönner said. Currently, they could go to a NATO field clinic. The GIZ employs 360 German and 1,500 local Afghan helpers in Afghanistan.

Pakistan plans to hold national elections in May

Associated Press

Pakistan plans to hold landmark national elections in May, the country's information minister said Tuesday. The vote would mark the first time a civilian government completed a full five-year term in the country and transferred power through the ballot box. Previous governments have either been deposed in army coups or dismissed by presidents allied with the generals. That history has led to fervent speculation in the past few years about whether the government would make it to the finish line this time around. Despite repeated predictions that the government would be forced to call early elections because of political pressure, it now appears the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party will serve out its full term, which expires in March. Elections must be held within 90 days after the end of the term under the guidance of an interim government installed by the ruling coalition. "God willing, the elections will be held in May," Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore. The government has repeatedly said elections will be held on time, but Kaira's comments were the first indication of an actual timeframe. The army remains the most powerful institution in Pakistan, but the past few years have seen an erosion of its authority as it has been bogged down in a bloody war against the Pakistani Taliban. The country's civilian politicians and judges have taken advantage of this scenario to carve out more power for themselves — a struggle that has often been accompanied by controversy. An international human rights organization criticized Pakistan's top judges on Tuesday for trying to prevent media criticism of the judiciary by threatening contempt of court proceedings, which can bring prison terms. "Judges sworn to uphold the rule of law should not be using their broad contempt powers to muzzle criticism by the media," said Brad Adams, Asia director at U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. "Judges have no special immunity from criticism. Unless they want to be seen as instruments of coercion and censorship, they should immediately revoke these curbs on free expression," Adams said. Private media outlets have mushroomed in Pakistan in recent years, bringing greater criticism of all branches of government. The high courts in Islamabad and Lahore have both issued orders to stop the broadcast of television programs critical of the judiciary within the past two months, said the New York-based group. "No branch of government, including the courts, should be immune from public opinion in a democratic society," Adams said. "Pakistan's judges have demonstrated the independence to hold the government accountable. But their credibility will be lost so long as they fight against scrutiny and accountability of the judiciary itself." The Pakistani Taliban have also targeted the media. The militant group claimed responsibility Tuesday for a failed assassination attempt against a prominent Pakistani TV anchor. Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said the group targeted Geo TV's Hamid Mir because he was "promoting secular forces." The bomb was found underneath Mir's car in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Monday and was defused by police. The Taliban threatened Mir and other journalists last month because the group was unhappy with their coverage of a schoolgirl activist shot by the militants. The Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai in the head for criticizing the militants and promoting girls' education. She is currently recovering in Britain. Ahsan, the Taliban spokesman, said they will target Mir again and other journalists opposed by the militants. He spoke to The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Pakistani Fish seller’s catchy tuna may hit No1

http://www.thesun.co.uk

Trader's song could be new 'Gangnam Style'

“Come on ladies, come on ladies, have-a, have-a look, one pound fish. Very very good, very very cheap, one pound fish.” Once you’ve heard it you can’t get it out of your head — and it might just be the Christmas No1. The One Pound Fish Song is the creation of market stall trader Muhammad Shahid Nazir who has just reeled in a record deal with Warner Music.He was spotted after a YouTube video of him singing at an east London market notched up more than 3.6million views. Not bad for a guy who was rejected by the X Factor panel. Now Warner Music execs reckon he could be as big as Gangnam Style star Psy — and are pitting him against the winner of X Factor for the most remembered hit of the year. Alesha Dixon and US boy band Mindless Behaviour have both recorded versions of the song and Rio Ferdinand has tweeted that he’s a fan. In Queen’s Market, Upton Park, 31-year-old Shahid seems like an unlikely pop star in tracksuit bottoms and old beanie. But the moment he starts to sing we are suddenly surrounded by a sea of fans.Yolanda Riley, 20, travelled from Ashford in Kent just to meet him. She says: “I am obsessed with his song, I had to meet him. “He smelt like fish but he was amazing. I’m so happy now.” Shahid says the attention is not unusual. He explains: “People have come from Australia, the US, Canada and all over Europe. They don’t come here to work or shop, they come for One Pound Fish Man.” Shahid moved to the UK just over a year ago with only a bag and the hope of making enough money to send to his wife and four children in Pakistan. On his first day working on the fish stall, Shahid’s boss told him to shout to the customers to get their attention. He didn’t like shouting so made up a song. Shahid explains: “My customers said to me, ‘Your song is very good, so catchy’. They said, ‘You should be a pop star, you should go on X Factor’.” He appeared on this year’s live auditions. Guest judge Rita Ora voted for him to go to Boot Camp but regulars Tulisa, Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh turned him down. They could be left feeling pretty silly if Shahid achieves his dream of getting the Christmas No1 — beating the eventual winner of the talent contest. Producers are working on a dance mix of his song, which will be his first single. But even if he achieves the success of his hero, Psy, there is no chance of him forgetting his plaice. Shahid says: “I love this stall and these fish. I will always work here. “None of this would have happened without the fish.”

Pakistan: Country’s exports heading towards total collapse

Overall exports of Pakistan are heading towards total collapse; textile industry is the only hope for the revival of country’s economy which is currently jolted by the energy crisis and liquidity crunch, said Asghar Ali, Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association. Asghar Ali termed energy shortage and lack of finances the main reasons behind this decline. Elaborating he said that billions of rupees of textile exports were stuck up on account of exporter’s refunds of Sales tax, duty draw back and DLTL refund regime with various Government departments creating liquidity crunch. He said that Duty Drawback (Custom Rebate) has not been paid over the last three years and refund claims over Rs. 2 billion are pending just with the Model Collectorate Faisalabad, about 14 to 15 billion of rupees of exporters in Sales tax claims are blocked. Exporters are paying 1% SED (Special Excise Duty) on their inputs; however the same is not being refunded to the exporters. The amount of pending refund claims comes to around Rs. 3 billion which is not being sanctioned to the exporters since 2007, Also a large number of refund claims of duty drawback on polyester filament yarn are pending with Model Collectorate Customs Faisalabad since 2009. Polyester Filament Yarn is an important alternate raw material /input in manufacturing of exportable textile goods. Duty Drawback is admissible on Polyester Staple Fiber but Polyester Filament Yarn has been ignored. Polyester Staple Fiber and Polyester Filament Yarn both are products of Polyester. PTEA Chairman said that Pakistani exports were already under pressure due to prevailing economic financial, industrial crisis in the country as well as persistent law and order situation and the energy crisis which were badly affecting the industrial and trade activities, the productivity output and workers employment, he said. Textile export sector is a major forex earning sector to the tune of ten billion dollar plus per year. Textile exports of the country are crumbling and the industry and business were squeezing due to non availability of funds, he claimed. PTEA leaders urged the government to plan a strategy to solve economic issues to meet the challenges of global world. They demanded immediate payment of blocked refunds to enhance textile exports.

Pakistan government will decide on NWaziristan operation

US Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson said Tuesday the decision to conduct an operation in North Waziristan Agency (SWA) was Pakistan’s internal matter and would be made by the country’s government. Olson added that both the US and Pakistan were in agreement in regard to eliminating terrorism. The US Ambassador further said that steps taken to ensure peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan were appreciable. Commenting on anti-Pakistan video games, Ambassador Olson said they had nothing to do with the US government.

UNESCO to celebrate Malala’s stand on girls’ right to edu on Dec 10

statesman.com

The UN Agency tasked with promoting education will stage a high-level advocacy event aimed at mobilising a "deeper commitment" to educating girls and celebrating the "courage of young girls like Malala Yousufzai," it was announced in Paris on Sunday. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, made the announcement in her message marking the International Day for the Elimination of violence Against Women 2012, but gave no further details. Bokova said, "The world was shocked by the brutal attack on October 9th against Malala Yousafzai, a fourteen year old girl, shot for claiming her right and that of other girls to an education. "This attack has shined the spotlight on the prevalence of violence against girls and women. The story of Malala Yousafzai is sadly far from unique. Across the world, girls and women face violence as they try to exercise their basic rights, including that of education. Sexual harassment and assault, bullying and psychological violence, corporal punishment -- all of these types of violence remain prevalent. Violence, and its threat, is one of the key factors forcing girls to drop out of school. "This is a violation of individual human rights that undermines the health of all society. UNESCO is working to eliminate all forms of violence -- physical, psychological and economic. We start by promoting the right to education for all girls and women in societies across the world, including especially in and after conflict situations. We act also at the global level... "UNESCO also supports the fight against the scourge of human trafficking. This global threat affects an estimated 2.4 million victims every year -- 80 percent of whom are women, 75 percent under the age of 25 years old. All countries are concerned, as places of origin, transit, and/or destination. "Education must stand at the forefront of the fight against trafficking, building on comprehensive efforts that bring together education, communication and media and policy-making in receiving, transit and sending countries.

Medical college, IT university to be set up in FATA

APP

The government is taking several steps for promoting quality education in underdeveloped areas including Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to ensure their development. As part of such efforts the government has planned to establish a medical college at Bajaur Agency and an Information Technology university at Kurram Agency, said official sources. Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions Engineer Shaukatullah termed the establishing a medical college in FATA as a `Hallmark" of the federal government, adding it is of great importance for students of the area, who were missing this facility. The minister said that an Information Technology University will also be established at Parachinar in Kurram Agency. He said the present government is giving all due attention to address problems being faced by people of FATA with the primary aim to provide them maximum facilities. He said the Ministry of SAFRON had initiated various projects for the welfare of the FATA masses. He said that after the establishment of educational institutions, the people of these areas would get modern education at their doorsteps. All these developments were part of a special package of the federal government for FATA, the minister added.

Bilawal Bhutto to step in ‘electoral politics’ from Larkana on Dec 27

http://www.brecorder.com

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will launch his electoral political career on the date of his mother Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary - December 27 – this year and lead election campaign with the help of senior party leaders in upcoming general elections. According to sources, Bilawal would step in electoral politics from Larkana on December 27 and in the start of next year he would tour several districts across the country along with party’s central leadership and hold meetings with party leaders and members of Central Working Committee (CWC). President Zardari is said to be intending to launch his son’s formal political career in forthcoming general elections. The sources said President Zardari wants to give responsibility for crucial matters to Bilawal who is likely to start his entry into politics from Lyari, Karachi. For this purpose, the President has constituted a committee comprising former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Jahangir Badr, Amin Fahim, Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Manzoor Wattoo, Qaim Ali Shah, Faryal Talpur and eight other senior party members to assist Bilawal. The sources said the committee, along with the party chairman, will map out strategy to be adopted during the upcoming elections. The President has also directed the senior leaders to initiate public relations campaign immediately and all federal and provincial ministers, MNAs, MPAs and senators must ensure their presence at least two days per week in offices in all cities, districts, tehsils, towns and wards. They have been directed to contact people and try to solve their problems. A PPP leader on condition of anonymity said Bilawal, Asifa and Bakhtawar would become the face of the party in the forthcoming general elections. He said after the death of their mother, they have to assume this mantle for the party’s sake. He said Bakhtawar is 22 years old and is not interested in politics while 19 year old Asifa is too young to address public rallies. The PPP is left with no choice but to field Bilawal in active politics, the leader said. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may field Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of Nawaz Sharif, to muster support in the upcoming general elections as she enjoys a good reputation among the PML (Q) who were previously part of the PML (N). She may well be able to play an important role in bringing back senior leaders of PML-Q Forward Block, sources added. PML-Q Sindh President Ghous Bux Mehar, who was removed as minister for privatization recently, is also being supported by likeminded Parliamentarians in Sindh Assembly, who are reportedly busy in creating a new Forward Bloc. Sources said that Forward Bloc of PML-Q is also in touch with Begum Kulsoom Nawaz for seat adjustment in the forthcoming general elections. Ghous Bux Mehar and likeminded members are considering other options too and are in touch with other parties besides PML-N. They are assessing the whole political situation before taking a final decision. Major differences emerged between Mehar and Shujaat over the controversial Sindh People’s Local Government System 2012. In this regard, viewpoint of PML-Q Forward Bloc and PML-N on Local Government System 2012 in Sindh is almost the same. Though PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain joined hands with rival PPP to save his party, but defections of the MPs continue unabated. The party earlier received a massive blow when its Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa chapter president Amir Muqam switched to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). When contacted, PML-N leader Siddiq-ul-Farooq told Business Recorder that Begum Kulsoom Nawaz played a very important role in the past and she can play a constructive role in bringing back the Forward Block members of PML-Q. He also claimed that a large number of senior PML-Q leaders are in touch with PML-N and they may join the party anytime soon.

Pakistan: Appointment of judges

Editorial: THE FRONTIER POST

The federation’s decision that President Asif Ali Zardari would move the Supreme Court in a reference under Article 186 invoking the SC’s advisory jurisdiction on the question of seniority for the appointment of members of superior judiciary, seems a skilful move to settle once for all as to who among the Judicial Council, the Parliamentary Committee and Presidency is authorized to appoint judges at the Supreme Court and high courts on the basis of their seniority that is determined by the judiciary. The earlier the presidential reference comes to the SC the better. The controversy arose with the decision to elevate the chief justice of the IHC, Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman, to the Supreme Court and both the Judicial Commission and Parliamentary Committee decided to elevate Justice Mohammad Anwar Kasi as the IHC chief justice as the senior-most judge of this court. But when the summary appeared before President Zardari for routine signing, it came to be known that Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan was senior to Justice Kasi and, therefore, qualifies to succeed Justice Rahman as the IHC chief justice. The new situation brewed the controversy in the context as to whether the president should apply his mind on such appointments or sign on the dotted lines. This was in the wake of this anomalous situation that the Presidency decided to assert its decision-taking constitutional authority. The Presidency seems to have a strong case because when seen in the context of the judges seniority list, compiled by the judiciary itself, Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan and not Justice Mohammad Anwar Kasi is the senior-most judge of the IHC after its chief justice who has been elevated to the SC. What seems more uncharacteristic in the whole episode is the acquiescing role of the Parliamentary Committee which was required to bring under scrutiny the Judicial Commission’s recommendations but apparently affixed its signatures on what the Judicial Committee held in the case. This eventually gave birth to a dilemma for the Presidency within the meaning of the 18th and 19th Amendments to the Constitution and the Presidency returned the recommendations to the Judicial Commission with an observation that it should reconsider its nominations because the commission which had finalized the names was not constituted properly either. The controversy was over the composition of the 11-member Judicial Commission in which Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi sat in place of senior judge Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan who was not present in Pakistan when it met. The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution was an attempt to remove some deficiencies in the new mode for appointments in the superior judiciary, introduced vide the Eighteenth Amendment, in the light of the Supreme Court order dated October 21, 2010. The important question is in what way the new method for inductions in the upper judiciary is better than the old one. It was in the Al Jihad Trust case of 1996 that the Supreme Court elaborated the meaning of the word “consultation” as contained in Article 177 and 193 dealing with appointment of high court judges. The court held that “the consultation should be effective, meaningful, purposive, consensus oriented and leaving no room for complaint of arbitrariness or unfair play. The opinion of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the chief justice of a high court on to the fitness and suitability of a candidate for judgeship may, thus, be accepted only in the absence of very sound reasons to be recorded by the president or the executive. This makes the Presidency’s resolve to return the recommendations sound. The framers of the 1973 Constitution, the fountainhead of all state powers, intended to give the executive discretion in the appointment of judges. That is why they used the word ‘consultation’ and not ‘advice’ in Article 177 as well as Article 193 and did not provide either that the consultation would be binding. And this is hardly surprising, because the appointment of judges is an executive function and consultation with the judiciary was meant to assess the fitness of a person to become a member of the superior judiciary. However, this and all other issues would undergo a judicial review and the presidential reference appears to be move to settle all such issues once and for all. The apex court is, nevertheless, requested no solicit the opinion of as many amicus curie as possible in resolving the issue or issues.

Malala leads TIME’s Person of the Year list

Radio Pakistan

Malala Yousufzai has even outnumbered a lot of world leaders including President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Malala Yousufzai of Pakistan has topped TIME Magazine's Person of the Year 2012 list. As many as 433 people voted in favour of Malala‚ while just 68 voted against her. Malala has even outnumbered a lot of world leaders including President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Malala is number six on US Magazine "Foreign Policy's" list of one hundred top global figures. She is ahead of President Obama who is number seven in the list.

Courts ‘muzzling media’ in Pakistan, says HRW

Pakistan’s judges are using contempt of court laws to stop the media from criticising the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday, warning they risked being seen as “instruments of coercion and censorship”. High courts in Islamabad and the eastern city of Lahore have issued a series of orders in recent months seeking to block television shows critical of judges, the New York-based campaign group said. Last month a judge in Islamabad ordered Pakistan’s media regulator to stop television channels broadcasting programmes in which the “person of the honourable chief justice of Pakistan and other honourable judges of the superior court are criticised, ridiculed, and defamed,” HRW said. Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, said judges should not enjoy special immunity from criticism. “Unless they want to be seen as instruments of coercion and censorship, they should immediately revoke these curbs on free expression,” he said. Pakistan’s judges have been no strangers to controversy in recent years. As part of a long-running tussle over corruption allegations against President Asif Ali Zardari, the Supreme Court in June threw then-prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani out of office after finding him guilty of contempt. The move was criticised by some as a “judicial coup”. “Pakistan’s judges have demonstrated the independence to hold the government accountable,” Adams said. “But their credibility will be lost so long as they fight against scrutiny and accountability of the judiciary itself.”

Taliban say they tried to kill Pakistani TV anchor

Associated Press

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against a prominent Pakistani TV anchor. Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said Tuesday that the group targeted Geo TV's Hamid Mir because he was "promoting secular forces." A bomb was found underneath Mir's car in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Monday and was defused by police. The Taliban threatened Mir and other journalists last month because the group was unhappy with their coverage of a schoolgirl activist shot by the militants. The Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai in the head for criticizing the militants and promoting girls' education. She is currently recovering in Britain. Ahsan, the Taliban spokesman, said they will target Mir again and other journalists opposed by the militants.

Pashto Sharabi songs...za yam sharabi ,Sharabi Janana

President Zardari seeks report on violent incidents during Muharram

Radio Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari has asked the Interior Minister Rehman Malik to submit a comprehensive report on the sporadic incidents of violence in D.I. Khan and Rawalpindi during the 10 days of Muharram. The president said these incidents seemed to mar the arrangements made for ensuring sectarian peace and harmony during Ashura. Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said the President also commended the efforts made by the government for peace during Ashura. Howsoever such unfortunate and condemnable sporadic incidents of violence cannot detract the overall atmosphere of peace that was witnessed during Ashura. For this the Ministry of Interior and Minister Rahman Malik‚ the law enforcing agencies‚ the provincial governments and all those who worked hard to ensure peace deserve to be complimented. He also commended the common citizens‚ volunteers and religious ulema for the part played by them in maintaining peace and ensuring the safety of the people who were in the state of mourning during the Ashura. The President particularly appreciated the successes made in timely detection of gory plots of sectarian and militant violence in different parts of the country that helped prevent potentially huge human and material losses during Ashura mourning and said that they deserved special commendation. The President also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and said the blood of innocent people shed while performing religious obligations would never go in vain. He urged the people from all walks of life not to be provoked and to maintain unity in confronting the common enemy‚ whether militants or religious zealots‚ who stirred sectarian violence and never felt any qualms in killing innocent people in the name of religion while not sparing even women and the children.

Afghan’s Shiite minority fears a return to old ostracism

For the past week, the Afghan capital has been draped with black cloth arches and festooned with huge colored banners. Mournful, pounding chants pour from loudspeakers across the city, filling the air with slow martial intensity. The dramatic display is all part of Muharram and the 10-day Shiite festival that commemorates the slaying of Imam Hussein, a 7th-century holy figure and early champion of Islam. But it is also a symbol of the growing religious and political freedom that Afghanistan’s long-ostracized Shiites have had in the past decade. Now, as Western military forces prepare to leave the country by 2014, Afghan Shiites, most of whom are from the Hazara ethnic minority, fear that their window of opportunity may slam shut again, leaving larger rival ethnic groups as well as Taliban insurgents, who are radical Sunni Muslims, dominating power. “Everything we have achieved, our ability to come out and participate in society, has been in the shade of the international community and forces,” said Mohammed Alizada, a Hazara Shiite who was elected to parliament in 2009. “We are very concerned that once they leave, the fundamentalists will reemerge, ethnic issues will return, and we will lose what we have gained.” There are more immediate fears, as well. Sectarian violence, historically absent from Afghan society, has been intensifying in next-door Pakistan and spilling across the border. During last year’s Muharram festival, two Shiite shrines in Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif were bombed, killing more than 80 people. Shiite leaders say the Kabul attack was carried out by Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, an outlawed Sunni militant group based in Pakistan. Tensions increased palpably in Kabul on Saturday, the climactic 10th day of Muharram known as Ashura, when groups of young men beat their chests and whip themselves with chains and knives in penance for the death of Hussein, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad. No terrorist attacks were reported, and Afghan officials attended Muharram ceremonies under heavy security. But at Kabul University, clashes erupted between groups of students after an Ashura ceremony in a dormitory. Police said people were pelted with stones and thrown out of windows. They reported that dozens were wounded and at least 30 arrested. ‘Now we have full freedom’ Afghan Sunnis, who make up about 80 percent of the populace, generally tolerate Shiites and observe Muharram in a quieter way, praying and giving charity to the poor. At other times of year, Afghans of all backgrounds flock to majestic Shiite shrines to meditate, feed pigeons or celebrate the Persian new year in the spring. “We are all Muslims, and Hussein died in the struggle to bring our religion to the world,” said Hajji Nawroz, 75, a contented soul who ladles out free soup at his stand outside a blue-tiled shrine. “During Taliban time, we could not celebrate or talk about these things, but now we have full freedom,” he said. “Our boys are coming out more now to beat themselves.” In West Kabul, the heart of the Hazara community, a heady, almost frenzied atmosphere has been growing all week. Every bus, taxi and motorbike sports banners flapping from bamboo poles, and every corner has a charity stand, known as an imambargah, where volunteers give away glasses of hot milk and loudspeakers blast recorded dirges, with a slow and ominous cadence, late into the night. But this year, the arches and banners and chants have reached farther than ever across the city, arousing new resentment from the Sunni populace. There has been sharp public criticism of the flagellation rite, Sunni clerics have denounced the elaborate festivities as offensive to Islam, and President Hamid Karzai has asked the Shiite community to celebrate calmly and avoid antagonizing others. The hostility also stems from another concern: the widespread belief that Iran, Afghanistan’s Shiite neighbor to the west, is promoting Shiism and bolstering Hazara leadership as a way to gain cultural and political influence. Several years ago, Iran funded the construction of a large religious university here, and Karzai was heavily criticized for reportedly accepting large cash donations from Tehran. Hazaras, an Asiatic minority from the mountainous north, have long been Afghanistan’s poorest ethnic group, relegated to menial labor and often ridiculed. During the civil war of the early 1990s, many fled to Iran, while their militia leaders in Kabul fought Pashtun and Tajik rivals with cruel ferocity. More fled during the repressive reign of the Taliban that followed. Yet many Hazaras who returned from Iran after the Taliban regime was overthrown in 2001 say they were exploited and ostracized there and want nothing to do with any Iranian designs on Afghanistan. They said Iranian Persians tended to look down on them, much as Afghan ethnic Pash­tuns and Tajiks have traditionally done here. ‘They hate us’ “They hate us,” said Roya Sultani, a teacher who helped organize a Muharram prayer service for Shiite girls on Thursday. She said she spent years in Iran, and that people there often insulted Afghan exiles because of their Hazara origins. “They call themselves Muslims, but they are cruel and only thinking of their own interests.” During the past 10 years, Afghan Hazaras have gained a small but significant toehold on power, winning seats in parliament and beginning to outgrow their longtime dependence on a few ethnic strongmen. Younger Hazaras, especially girls, who are freer to mingle in public than those from other ethnic groups, have taken advantage of new educational and job opportunities in post-Taliban democracy. But Sultani, like others, said she was also worried about what would become of her community after Western forces withdraw. The specter of renewed ethnic violence haunts the community, and Hazaras, still vulnerable despite the show of religious bravado that has consumed the capital this week, fear they would bear the brunt of it. “Today we can celebrate freely, and we feel secure,” Sultani said during the prayer service. A dozen girls in black robes crowded in to listen, while others chanted mournful poems or cleaned wheat to make bread for the poor. “If NATO leaves Afghanistan, we don’t know what will happen. Once we were afraid of the Taliban. Now we are afraid for the future.”

Afghanistan: No Amnesty For Taliban Crimes, Says HRW

http://www.albanytribune.com

The Afghan government should not grant Taliban representatives amnesty from prosecution for serious crimes as part of talks with the insurgent group, Human Rights Watch said Sunday. On November 17, 2012, the chairman of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, Salahuddin Rabbani, told journalists that Taliban officials who join peace negotiations with the Afghan government will receive immunity from prosecution and will have their names removed from the United Nations sanctions. “Future government talks with the Taliban should not hinge upon denying justice to victims of war crimes and other abuses,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “Afghanistan’s civilians should not be forced to choose between justice and peace.” Last week, the Pakistani government released nine imprisoned Taliban officials after the High Peace Council requested their release during a visit to Pakistan. More of the estimated 50 Taliban members in prison in Pakistan are expected to be released at the council’s request in the future. Rabbani has described those released as including, “Afghan citizens who expressed their willingness to work for peace.” Providing immunity from prosecution for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious human rights abuses violates international law. International treaties, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which Afghanistan has ratified, and customary international humanitarian law, require parties to a conflict to ensure alleged perpetrators of serious crimes are prosecuted. Those responsible for war crimes and other serious abuses on both sides should be investigated and prosecuted. Afghanistan has a troubling history of providing amnesty for war crimes. In 2007 a coalition of powerful warlords and their supporters in the parliament were able to pass the National Stability and Reconciliation Law. This law seeks to prevent the prosecution of individuals responsible for large-scale human rights abuses in the preceding decades. The law states that all those who were engaged in armed conflict before the formation of the Interim Administration in Afghanistan in December 2001 shall “enjoy all their legal rights and shall not be prosecuted.” It provides that those engaged in current hostilities will be granted immunity if they agree to reconciliation with the government, effectively providing amnesty for future crimes. President Hamid Karzai, who had previously promised not to sign the National Stability and Reconciliation Law, quietly permitted it to be published in the government’s official gazette and to enter into force in early 2010. Human Rights Watch at that time urged the repeal of the law, calling it “an invitation for future human rights abuses” and expressing concern that its extension to those currently engaged in hostilities “allows insurgent commanders to get away with mass murder.” The official adoption of the law passed largely unremarked by the international community, leading to concerns that Afghanistan’s international partners were prepared to tolerate impunity for war crimes. “The High Peace Council’s call for immunity shows the dire predictions about the amnesty law coming true,” Adams said. “Amnesty for war crimes does not need to be, and should not be, a precondition for talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.” The UN, Human Rights Watch, and others have collected considerable information implicating Taliban members in war crimes, including attacks targeting civilians, indiscriminate attacks by suicide bombers and pressure-plate mines, summary executions, and use of children in combat including as suicide bombers. Commanders who ordered unlawful attacks, or who knew or should have known about serious abuses by their forces but made no effort to stop them, are subject to prosecution for war crimes. The Taliban has a code of conduct for its fighters, which in some ways reflects international law on armed conflict. It includes provisions for protection of civilians, stating that all Taliban members “with all their power must be careful with regard to the lives of the common people,” and that those who fail to do so shall be punished. It also prohibits use of children as fighters. Taliban spokesmen frequently deny claims that its members commit violations of international law. For example, the Taliban in October stated that “our Mujahedeen never place live landmines in any part of the country but each mine is controlled by a remote and detonated on military targets only.” On November 6 the Taliban issued a statement saying that it “assures the nation that it will never forgive the civilian slayers whosoever they may be.” “Why is the High Peace Council rushing to offer amnesty to Taliban officials when even the Taliban’s own code of conduct and statements acknowledge that targeting civilians is illegal?” Adams said. “The High Peace Council cannot ignore the demands of justice.”

Bahrain police tear gas Shiite protesters

Bahraini police fired tear gas at Shiite protesters on Tuesday, as they tried to reach the site of month-long anti-regime demonstrations that were brutally suppressed by the government last year. Witnesses said hundreds of demonstrators tried to march from the village of Deih, one kilometre (0.6 miles) away, to the former Pearl Square, now razed and turned into a junction, before being confronted by police. Police also fired stun grenades at the crowds, who gathered to pray before beginning their demonstration, according to witnesses. The interior ministry said on its Twitter page that police confronted a "group of vandals" on the Budaiya artery, after they "blocked the road, hurled petrol bombs, and terrified passers-by". Demonstrations have shaken Bahrain since it crushed a Shiite-led uprising against the ruling Sunni regime in March last year. The kingdom came under strong criticism from international rights groups over the deadly crackdown. Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet and strategically situated across the Gulf from Shiite Iran, has continued to see sporadic demonstrations, though mostly outside Manama. According to the International Federation for Human Rights, a total of 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since the violence began on February 14, 2011. The United States last week expressed concern about rising violence in Bahrain, one year after an inquiry report was issued on the violence, saying the country needed to put more of its recommendations into effect.

Malala sixth on 'global thinkers' list

http://www.hindustantimes.com

Pakistan's teenaged rights activist

Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for standing up against the terror outfit and pushing for education for girls, has been ranked sixth by Foreign Policy magazine in its top 100 global thinkers list. Aung San Suu Kyi, who continues her struggle for democracy in Myanmar, is ranked first on the list which also features former US president Bill Clinton and secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is ranked fifth, while US President Barack Obama is seventh. The list comprises people who have strived for excellence in their respective fields, Geo News reported. Apart from Malala, former Pakistani ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, his wife Farahnaz Ispahani and blogger Sana Saleem, a well-known campaigner for women's rights in Pakistan, also feature on the list. The 15-year-old Malala has been encouraging fellow Pakistanis to stand up to the Taliban, who have been trying to push girls out of classrooms. She was shot at in October but has since recovered. Malala was going to school in a van in the Swat Valley in Pakistan's northwest when Taliban rebels stopped the vehicle and asked other girls to identify who Malala was. After shooting two other classmates girls, they fired at Malala, striking her in the head and neck. Malala was flown to Birmingham where she was treated at a hospital. The Indians in the list include Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who features way below at the 77th place. Describing Nitish Kumar, the magazine says: "Like Haiti, Somalia, and Mississippi, India's Bihar state has been called many unflattering names; it's often referred to as the country's 'bleakest state' and the 'jungle Raj' for its colonial levels of poverty and corruption." "Many viewed it as one of the most dysfunctional corners of a country world famous for government dysfunction. Much of that began to change, however, when a low-key bureaucrat from a local centre-left party, Nitish Kumar, won the 2005 election and set out to clean up a wasteland where 100 million people are squeezed into a territory smaller than Arkansas." Other people of Indian origin in the list include Raj Chetty, a Harvard University economist, noted author Salman Rushdie, novelist Pankaj Mishra, Canadian Ricken Patel of the civic organization Avaaz, and entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa.

Russia criticizes France over supporting insurgents in Syria

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has censured the French government for supporting the insurgents in Syria. “The question is how right it is to… decide to support another political force if that political force is in direct confrontation with the officially recognized government of another country,” Medvedev said prior to a visit to the French capital Paris on Monday. “And from the point of view of international law, it seems to me that is absolutely unacceptable.” France became the first European country to recognize Syria’s opposition coalition on November 13. Paris said it would look into the issue of arming the insurgents against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “The desire to change a political regime in another state through recognition of some political force as the sole sovereign representative seems to me not entirely civilized,” the Russian premier stated. Medvedev also defended the Russian military cooperation with Syria and said, “All we have delivered are arms for defense against external aggression.” He underlined the fact that it is up to Syrian people to decide about the future of Syria, reiterating President Vladimir Putin’s statements that Russia will take a neutral stance on the situation in Syria. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil that began in Syria in March 2011.

U.S. Warns Protests Could "Break Apart" Bahrain, Topple Regime

http://www.democracynow.org

The Obama administration is quietly warning that Bahrain’s ongoing internal unrest could lead to the overthrow of the ruling Sunni monarchy. Protests have continued in Bahrain for nearly two years despite a U.S. backed-crackdown that has seen the use of military forces from neighboring Gulf regimes, the jailing and beating of opposition activists, and the recent ban of all public demonstrations. In a briefing to reporters last week, two State Department officials warned that Bahrain could "break apart" if the protests continue, an outcome they say would be beneficial to Iran while detrimental to the "enormous [U.S.] security interests" in Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The officials gave the briefing on the condition they not be identified by name. The White House says it is calling on Bahrain to heed the calls of an independent commission that urged political reforms one year ago. At the United Nations, a spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized Bahrain’s recent moves against the opposition, including revoking the citizenship of 31 political figures as well as sentencing medics who treated wounded protesters to three months behind bars. Rupert Colville: "The High Commissioner urges the government to reconsider this decision, which stands in clear violation of Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that, 'Everyone has the right to a nationality' and, 'No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality.' The High Commissioner is also concerned by the sentencing of 23 medical professionals on the 21st of November, and reiterates her call on the authorities to release all individuals who have been detained or sentenced simply for exercising their right to demonstrate peacefully." The United Nations says it will send a fact-finding mission to assess human rights conditions in Bahrain early next month.

Afghanistan War: U.S. Troop Presence After 2014 May Total 10,000

The White House is considering a plan to leave around 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to the report, Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, has proposed to keep between 6,000 and 15,000 U.S. troops in the country following the end of combat operations in 2014. The plan would significantly differ from the way the U.S. approached its withdrawal from Iraq -- where America's complete withdrawal has often been blamed for instability. The New York Times reports that Gen. Allen is expected to submit his plan to draw down the 66,000 American troops who are currently stationed in the country as one of his last acts as top commander in Afghanistan. The WSJ report explains that according to the new plan, Americans who remain in Afghanistan after 2014 would conduct training and counterterrorism programs with Afghan soldiers. Any presence by Americans in Afghanistan past 2014 would require the approval of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, though Karzai likely wants U.S. troops to fall under the jurisdiction of Afghan court. Similar demands led to the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. According to Foreign Policy, the 10,000 troops that would remain Afghanistan undre this plan would be far fewer than the "25,000 troops that Pentagon water-cooler wisdom dictated," and "one-third smaller than what some military experts suggest the post-transition mission needs." The issue of how to draw down from Afghanistan has already become a political issue, the NYT notes, as Democrats prefer a steady reduction, while Republicans believe fast reductions could lead to further instability. Gen. Allen is expected to submit several proposals on how the U.S. will approach post-2014 Afghanistan, though his future has recently come into question for his role in the email scandal involving Gen. David Petraeus.

Bilawal Bhutto to enter into politics before elections?

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is intent on launching his son Bilawal's formal political career before the general election early next year though he will not achieve the minimum age of 25 for contesting polls till September 2013. Zardari plans to launch the political career of Bilawal, the nominal head of the ruling PPP, by May next year when the general election would be held, the Dawn newspaper reported today, quoting its sources. However, Bilawal will be eligible to contest an election only when he turns 25 in September next year. The move has been influenced by the way in which the PPP's fortunes are closely linked to the family of the party's founder, late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. A PPP member of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament from Sindh claimed that just like it was "unimaginable" for the Congress in India to go into elections without a Gandhi leading its campaign, it was unthinkable for PPP leaders to disassociate themselves from the Bhuttos. "Whether somebody likes it or not, Bilawal (and his sisters) Asifa and Bakhtawar are the face of the party. The PPP is synonymous with the Bhuttos, and after the untimely death of their mother (former premier Benazir Bhutto), they have to don this mantle for the party's cause," the lawmaker was quoted as saying. "It's an association that not even President Zardari can challenge. A Bhutto addressing an election rally always creates an extra amount of energy among voters, which the party cannot afford to lose with elections round the corner," he said. The PPP Parliamentarian said 22-year-old Bakhtawar does not take much interest in politics and 19-year-old Asifa was too young to address public rallies. Thus, he said, the PPP was left "with no choice but to field Bilawal in active politics." Bilawal's sisters would make "appearances in the run-up" to the polls. Media reports have said a group of PPP leaders, including close aides of Zardari and key federal ministers, are currently grooming Bilawal and briefing him on party affairs. The Dawn reported this group's task had been made easier as over the last year, Bilawal has started taking an interest in politics. Yesterday, Bilawal was prominently featured on state-run media at the Developing Eight Summit, sitting a short distance from Zardari, though he holds no official position in the government. A speech delivered by Bilawal on Tuesday to a group of students at a meeting on "Pakistan: Leaders of Tomorrow" had more thought put into it than was realised by people, the report said. "Do you really think it was just an off-the-cuff speech," said a PPP source. "It was a 4,000-plus words speech that highlighted every single issue of the country both on the domestic and international level. This series of public interactions to selected students from universities all over the country is the launch of his political life." During the speech, Bilawal talked about Pakistan's fight against militancy, the PPP-led government's achievements and his willingness to work even with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan. Another unnamed parliamentarian said familial links have deep roots in Pakistani politics and would stay for a long time to come. "Can the PML-N contest elections without the Sharif brothers as the party's Premier candidates, or can someone else besides Asfandyar Wali Khan lead the Awami National Party?" the PPP leader asked.

'Next general election in Pak to be held on time'

http://zeenews.india.com

The Pakistan People’s Party-led government will complete its five-year term and the next general election will be held on time, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Monday. Only elements "who had been contesting elections with others' backing" are now talking about delaying the polls after losing that support, he said during an interaction with journalists here. Kaira, a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, said the law and order situation in the country was much better than that in 2008, when the last general election was held. Therefore, the polls could not be delayed on the pretext of a poor law and order situation, he said. He noted that during his speech at a recent rally at Malikwal in Punjab, the President had clearly said that the government would complete its constitutional term and the general election would be held on time. The PPP-led government is set to complete its term in March next year and polls are expected to be held before May.

Learning From Lincoln

By ALBERT R. HUNT

Before scheduling any budget negotiations at the White House, on Capitol Hill or at Camp David, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders should go see Steven Spielberg’s classic new film, “Lincoln.” It’s the best movie about Washington politics I’ve seen. The centerpiece is the American icon, Abraham Lincoln; it brilliantly captures him doing what politicians are supposed to do, and today too often avoid: compromising, calculating, horse trading, dealing and preventing the perfect from becoming the enemy of a good objective. In 1865, the issue was getting the votes to pass the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, banning slavery. Today’s fiscal negotiations seem trivial by comparison. Yet achieving success requires the same ingredients: bargaining, bartering, bluffing and cutting a few dubious deals. This is what Americans too often forget about Washington: Our representatives are hired by the voters not to be priests or philosophers, but to be politicians. There is no greater hero than Lincoln; we extol his courage, his eloquence, his resilience and his sense of humor. Rarely is his political cunning celebrated. That was the quality that enabled his final great triumph, the end of slavery. This essential attribute is exquisitely captured by Mr. Spielberg and the actor Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln, resolute, consummately political, tortured and ambitious; a visionary who uses a story or a joke to defuse tense situations. When it’s suggested that the vote on the amendment in the House is in the hands of God, the president observes, “I don’t envy his task.” As with big issues in Washington, then as now, the drama is about choices with consequences: a re-elected Lincoln decides to push the anti-slavery amendment at the risk of prolonging the Civil War. There are compelling figures: William Seward, his secretary of state and shrewd political confidant; Thaddeus Stevens, the fiery abolitionist who tempers his principles to achieve the legislative goal, and craven and cowardly congressmen. Mainly it’s about political leadership. To persuade some, Lincoln appeals to nobler instincts about the evils of racial hatred. With others, he does what’s necessary. With the outcome in the balance, three fixers brought in to help are told: “You will procure me the votes.” This is the way presidents, most recently from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, get their way: maintaining a core principle and tactical flexibility. Joseph A. Califano Jr., who, as a young man, was President Lyndon B. Johnson’s point man on domestic legislation, remembers this quality as the essence of L.B.J. In 1968, the Fair Housing Bill was stalled in the Senate. The president, Mr. Califano recalls, was told by Senator Walter Mondale that they were hopelessly one vote short of breaking a filibuster. On the list of opponents, Mr. Johnson spotted Senator Bob Bartlett, an Alaska Democrat, and remembered that he wanted a big maritime agency project. Mr. Johnson called the Alaskan, and ordered the agency to give him the project. Mr. Bartlett voted to end the filibuster, and the measure outlawing discrimination in housing was approved. A Model Cities bill intended to benefit large urban areas was resisted by Senator Edmund Muskie, a Maine Democrat. Mr. Johnson directed Mr. Califano to include a city from Maine, even though the state didn’t have any large metropolitan areas. “What city?” the aide asked. “Any goddamn city he wants,” L.B.J. replied. “Johnson knew everybody’s price,” Mr. Califano said. “He knew what he had to give to get what he wanted, and he never gave more. But he was always willing to give.” That is the mind-set required for the current fiscal negotiations. On the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, Mr. Obama starts with a strong hand. The presidential campaign wasn’t edifying; it was rife with attack ads and vague promises. An exception is the tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 a year; on Jan. 1, the marginal top rate on these incomes is scheduled to revert to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. Mr. Obama campaigned on the wealthy paying more. His Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, was opposed to any increase and wanted to cut tax rates for the affluent. Mr. Obama’s position prevailed. House Republicans did not get a similar mandate, though they retain their majority. Democrats got more votes nationally in House races, and the tax increase for the rich was an issue in very few contests. With some fits and starts, odds are that in the next several weeks the White House and Congress will get a short-term deal to avoid the Jan. 1 deadline that would result in across-the-board tax increases and automatic spending cuts. Much more problematic next year is reaching a grand bargain that provides a short-term stimulus and addresses long-term chronic deficits. There would have to be concessions, trade-offs and favors bestowed for votes. Politicians might look to 1865 as a model for this uphill quest. Last week, the president hosted Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Day-Lewis for a showing of “Lincoln” at the White House. He’d do well to go to another screening of the film, and this time invite John A. Boehner, the Republican House speaker.

Peshawar emerges as polio reservoir

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has decided to focus its anti-polio efforts in the province on Peshawar as the city has turned out to be a reservoir of the crippling virus. Also, the department has asked vaccinators to record the number of children missing vaccination against polio unlike the past when only the children immunised were reported. According to an official, Health Secretary Ishfaq Khan recently chaired a meeting, which ordered the start of special anti-polio vaccination campaigns in 42 high-risk union councils of Peshawar after learning that at least 10 new polio cases reported in the province’s five districts had originated in the capital city. Of these cases, three were from Mardan, two each from Swabi and Charsadda and one each from Upper Dir and Haripur. The official said participants also agreed that the scheduled immunisation campaigns in Peshawar would begin three to four days before the rest of the districts in the province so that monitoring teams could record the children, who missed vaccination. According to him, the health secretary directed the executive district officers (health) to activate the Union Council Polio Eradication Committees (UPECs) in their respective areas before using them for social mobilisation and monitoring of immunisation campaigns to reach the children missing vaccination. Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah, technical focal person for immunisation programme at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, told Dawn that the anti-polio strategy had undergone a paradigm shift. “We’ve moved from reporting children covered by vaccinators to registering those missed by them so they could be accessed through the members of UPECs, including local elders, politicians and public representatives, for vaccination against polio,” he said. Dr Imtiaz said the children, who remained unvaccinated either for certain misconceptions or being missed by vaccinators, must be reached at all costs as they posed threats to millions of immunised children. He said a three-day campaign, which began on November 18, targeted 2.7 million children in high-risk UCs in the province due to shortage of vaccine. According to him, the government had planned to vaccinate five million children in the province but couldn’t do so due to availability of only 1.4 million doses against the required six million. The immunisation programme official said the authorities had to restrict the campaign to 404 of the province’s total 986 UCs and was further reducing list of high-risk UCs to 250 to conduct quality campaigns. He said the health secretary had issued directions for strengthening the short internal additional doses campaigns to increase the children’s immunity and ensure the elimination of virus. “We’ve planned to carry out four immunisation campaigns in the province during the next six months,” he said. Dr Shah said the Health Department had decided to run an effective campaign in low transmission season what could be the last campaign in the province. He said it had also been decided that each scheduled immunisation campaign in the province during the low transmission season (from January to May) would be followed by another targeted campaign in the high-risk UCs within 10 days. “The making of effective strategies for coverage of missed children between the campaigns has been ordered,” he said. The immunisation programme official said the campaign had begun in high-risk UCs in the province, except Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu and DI Khan, where campaigns had been deferred due to the start of Muharram. He said anti-polio campaigns would be carried out in four sensitive districts from Nov 29.

Malala is set to make Britain her permanent home

The teenage girl shot by the Taliban for speaking out against militants in Pakistan is expected to make Britain her permanent home. Malala Yousufzai, 15, is being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after having a bullet removed from her spine. Her parents and two brothers flew to Britain last month so that they could be with her. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237715/Malala-Yousafzai-make-permanent-home-Britain-speaking-Taliban.html#ixzz2D86COEqF Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Pakistan: Jinnah College tragedy

The Frontier Post

On the surface of it, too many deaths happened in the terrorist blasts just in the few days of Muharram to worry about the death of a college girl who was already a heart patient and died of cardiac arrest. The college student mentioned above, nevertheless, had just reached her college, Jinnah College for Women in Peshawar, in the morning when she complained of chest pain. Within moments she had a full blown heart attack. The girls of that college are not allowed mobile phones in the college premises, so they could not phone for help. None of the teachers made the call, as the principal had even banned the teachers from making calls when in the college. The principal, Neelofar Zeb, did not make the call because she was not there. She reached the university campus within fifteen minutes but by then the girl was already lifeless. The principal, nevertheless, took the dead girl to the hospital, maybe, just to confirm the death, as her staff had already informed her of the tragedy on phone Some may agree and others may not on the ban on girls carrying mobile phones to college. It is a social issue and we better not touch upon it. However, what is not understandable is that even the teachers did not have the permission to make emergency calls. Also, while the principal had placed a ban on calls, she had not made alternative arrangements in case of life threatening situations. What strikes as more alarming is that a college which houses between sixteen hundred to two thousand students should not have a properly designated experienced and practicing nurse on the post to deal with such emergency situations. An in-touch nurse is needed in such situations before more expert help can arrive or the sick is transported to the hospital. The said collegehas a certified nurse but one who is not practicing and is actually appointed as Bio lab assistant. What is more alarming is that the college works under the management of the University of Peshawar, which has a sixty-year experience of running scores of faculties, and also the College of Home Economics. The Jinnah College incident is worrisome as it casts doubt on the arrangement in faculties and colleges run by the UoP management. There is a mushroom growth of public and private sector schools, colleges and universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of the country and it is now a moot point as to how the conditions in these educational institutions are in this regard. The incident should be a wakeup call for heads of education ministries, education boards, vice chancellors of universities, principals of colleges, headmasters and headmistresses of schools. All these are responsible for the wellbeing of students during study time. It is incumbent upon them to make sure that they make all possible arrangements in this regard. They must, also, see to it that they have special plans for students who have life threatening health problems or suffer from some handicap. Heads of education institutions should also make sure that when they place restrictions upon students and teachers, they have made alternate arrangements for emergencies. The heads of education institutions should remember that they do not sit in their offices to rule but rather to chaperon students. It is a heavy responsibility because they have the future of the nation in their hands.

India asks Pakistan to defer interior minister Rehman Malik's visit

timesofindia

Internationalization of the landmark Indo-Pak visa agreement will be delayed as India has asked Pakistan to postpone interior minister Rehman Malik's proposed visit here on November 22-23. "The dates proposed by the Pakistani side are not suitable to us, so the visit of Rehman Malik stands postponed. Fresh set of dates will be discussed later," home minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters here. During Malik's proposed visit, the two sides had planned to operationalise the new liberalised Indo-Pak visa pact replacing a 38-year-old restrictive visa agreement and paving the way for time-bound visa approval and greater people-to-people contact and trade. Though New Delhi has cited the coming winter session of Parliament as the reason for its inability to host Malik this week as Shinde would be busy being the leader of Lok Sabha, Islamabad's failure to punish those involved in 26/11 appears to be the key reason. Sources said since the fourth anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack falls three days after the proposed visit of the Pakistani leader, home ministry officials seem to have advised against hosting Malik. Malik has been accused of failing to keep his promises on acting against perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack which claimed 166 lives. Trial against LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other accused of 26/11 case at a Rawalpindi court has been very slow and New Delhi's request for voice samples of handlers of the terrorists is yet to be acceded by Islamabad and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed continues to roam freely in Pakistan, they said. "Under such a situation, it is not prudent to host the Pakistani interior minister on the eve of the fourth anniversary of 26/11 attack," the sources said. The message was conveyed to Pakistan through diplomatic channels. India has not yet suggested new dates for Rehman's visit.

Pakistani Military Chief Talks About Peace Process With Afghan Leader

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani military chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani have met in Kabul to discuss the Afghan peace process. The meeting followed last week's release of Afghan Taliban prisoners in Pakistan. A statement by the Afghan president's office says "their discussions were frank, cordial and in depth." In a sign of increasing cooperation between the two neighbors, Kayani assured Karzai of Islamabad's firm support for peace in Afghanistan. The two agreed to follow-up discussions and talked about "the necessary future steps" in the Afghan peace process. Kabul accuses Islamabad of sheltering Taliban leaders but is also reaching out to its eastern neighbor to push the insurgents towards the negotiation table before international forces leave Afghanistan in 2014.

Child labor promotes abuse in Afghanistan

Experts say the increase in sexual abuse against children in Afghanistan is due to a lax judicial system that fails to prosecute pedophiles. They also attribute it to a system that allows child labor.

Right on time for International Children's Day, the Afghan government has addressed the situation of six million Afghan children - around 15 million under the age of 15 - whose living conditions have been described as "critical." The children are forced into child labor and often fall victim to sexual abuse. There has been a lot of talk about the recent case of a three-year-old child in the northern province of Takhar being sexually abused or the 22-year-old man raping a five-year-old in the neighboring province Balkh around the same time. Child labor

Ustad Sharafuddin Azimi, a professor of psychology at the University of Kabul, says a huge number of abused children are also forced into child labor. They work under unprotected conditions with no one to stand up for them.In Afghanistan, it is not uncommon to see children as young as three years old selling goods on streets or working in brick factories. In many cases, children are the sole breadwinners of their families. Azimi urges the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs to become active and end child labor. In the western province of Herat, over 70 cases of sexual abuse against minors were reported this year alone. The estimated number of unreported cases is much higher. Azimi would also like to see the government do more to crack down on sex crime offenders. He says the death penalty should be used in such cases. "The fact that the laws are not consistently implemented has led to an increase in sexual abuse against children," he says. " We hear of new cases on a daily basis. But no one is ever brought to justice. No one is prosecuted - no one is hanged." The laxity of the law encourages offenders because they know they will not be punished, according to Azimi. Lax criminal prosecution Ministry spokesman Ali Eftekhari says the government is aware of the problem and aims to tackle it."We have to provide for these families access to education and vocational training," he says. "If they have a future financially, they will be able to offer their children a future as well." The Afghan organization "Taghir Karwan" (Campaign for Change), an outspoken critic of child abuse, also demands greater government action. The organization believes offenders must be prosecuted. "If someone violates a child or abuses one, the police are obliged to prosecute that person and not let that person go, no matter how much power or influence the offender has," says Mohammad Rahim Jami of the Campaign for Change. Not only the police, but the state prosecutor and the whole justice system must do its work 100 percent, he adds. A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai confirmed on November 20 that 10 hard criminals will be hanged - among them pedophiles who have sexually abused children.

Morphology of Karachi

by Tariq Mahmud

The recurring violence in Karachi has raised some basic questions about the state and society of Pakistan. Like any burgeoning port city, Karachi has some distinct characteristics - a fast growing population and demographic diversity. It is because of this diversity that the problem of lawlessness is perceived to be ethnic. Irrespective of their ethnic origin, Karachiites have a distinct common identity like the people of any other region of Pakistan. A third generation Pashtun, Punjabi or Baloch has more in common with the people of his neighbourhood in the city than with his relatives living in Mardan, Gujranwala, or Khuzdar. Shahid Khan Afridi, for example, in essence is a brand of Karachi, rather than a manifest of Darra Adam Khel. His diction, mannerism, tastes and nuances have been nurtured by this city. There is seamless coexistence at the street and societal level. Even when ethnic communities are associated with distinct professions, they complement each other. When a thoughtless strike call brings a Pashtun's coaster to a halt, it denies an 'Urdu speaking' wage earner access to his workplace.So where lies the problem? There are thousands of acres of state land in and around Karachi that is neither measured nor mapped in accordance with the finer details of the 'land settlement manual'. These tracts are along the prime alignments of National Highway, Super Highway, towards the Northern bypass, Kemari and Hub. Survey numbers are attached to un-surveyed land which has not been properly classified and yet it is set out for the dole. This land is not delineated in accordance with the standard procedures. In the colony districts of Punjab, usable state land is diligently measured and subjected to precise 'Killabandi' mapped and made part of the permanent revenue record. It is effectively protected, manned and monitored through a multi-tiered revenue machinery. Records maintained by the Directorate of Land Survey in Karachi and the field Tapedar are at times different. Powerful groups, with the collusion of state functionaries and political patronage, have stolen some of this land over the years. Beds of Malir and Lyari rivers are no exception. Vast available tracts of land were a boon when there was a need to set up large projects like the Pakistan Steel Mill and Port Qasim, but are a bane after the increase in population. I have been closely associated with the ambitious Lyari Expressway project, an important component of which was land acquisition and resettlement. A significant area required for the project included mosques, madrassas and shops. These were well guarded, but had no clear title of ownership. This problem of uncertainty of title in different parts of the city is compounded by the 'Paggari System' in which property changes hands based on who has street power. The history of the Italian Mafia was similar. The surrender of vast tracts of land by the church and in turn its poor management and poor protection resulted in the growing influence of the Sicilian Mafia in the later part of the 19th century. When the authorities failed to enforce law, criminals and armed gangs began to rule these streets and began to get involved in drug trafficking, extortion and serial killings. The phenomenon assumed a transnational character when it spilled over to New York and Chicago through the Italian diaspora. Karachi's conundrum is also in many ways a failure of governance over a long period of time. Various tiers of the state machinery have quite often had different objectives. Political leaders have failed to see the bigger picture because of short term political gains. The administration and law-enforcement agencies have acquired a culture of appeasement. The only way to resolve the problems is a return to proper governance. A depoliticized police will have to comb the narrow streets and enforce their writ. A detailed mapping and manning of land must be initiated. A permanent mechanism must be put in place to protect and retrieve state land from not just the land grabbers but also state organizations, autonomous bodies and housing societies. Above all, there is a need for soul searching by the major political stakeholders of the city. They must adopt an inclusive approach and understand that Karachi is larger than their expediencies. The writer is a public policy analyst and a former federal secretary

Zardari: Need to change mindset which attacked Malala

President Asif Ali Zardari

addressed the Pakistan Leaders of Tomorrow conference and said the people of the country were fighting a mindset. The president stated that Pakistan was fighting a war against those who had ruined the security of the country and would continue to do so until peace was restored. The president called upon the young leaders in attendance to challenge this mindset in order to look after themselves and future generations. President Zardari emphasised that it was critical to change the mindset which attacked Malala Yousafzai. The president stated that a non controversial leader was one who had not taken any decisions. “I am open to all criticism and am the one tolerating the most,” he said. Following his address, the president fielded questions from those in attendance. He answered questions pertaining to Dr Aafia, security and Pakistan’s condemnation of the anti-Islam film and the crisis in Gaza.

Malala most deserving of Nobel

By:Mahmood Elahi, Ottawa

To bring hope to opressed women, Malala should be awarded Nobel Peace Prize. By risking her life for the love of education, 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai has shown courage of conviction and she deserves the prize for her efforts.

The Taliban, who are opposed to any education for women, tried to assassinate her. Luckily, she survived. But the battle for women’s right to education is not over. To succeed, Malala will need the support of the world. By awarding the Nobel, the world will provide her with a tool to fight the cause of education and justice. Since Malala is still a minor, and a bit young to handle such a huge prize, the Nobel committee should use the prize money to create an endowment to support the spread of women’s education in Pakistan. In fact, other countries should be invited to contribute to the fund for building girls’ schools and colleges and grant scholarships to girls inside Pakistan.

British Islamists to Issue Fatwa Malala

A new British-based Islamist group

plans to meet in Islamabad to issue a religious decree against a Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban, accusing her of supporting "occupying" U.S. forces. The move against Malala Yousufzai, 15, is likely to provoke outrage. In the days following her shooting in October, she became an international icon and world leaders pledged to support her campaign for girls' education. "There will be a fatwa issued regarding Malala Yousufzai taking into account the full story of her injury including her public statements in support of the occupying U.S. army in the region and mocking of key symbols of Islam such as hijab and jihad," said Abu Baraa, a senior member of Shariah4Pakistan. The group, whose website features a blog below a photograph of Yousufzai in a hospital bed titled "Don't Believe The Crocodile Tears for Malala Yousufzai", is associated with some of Britain's most hardline Islamists. Anjem Choudary, a prominent radical cleric in Britain, said the fatwa could be issued on November 30 at Lal Masjid, one of Pakistan's most notorious mosques, where a 2007 army raid crushed a Taliban-style movement controlling the compound.

Bilawal Bhutto seeks political support to fight terrorism

RADIO PAKISTAN

Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

was addressing second 'Pakistan Leaders of Tomorrow' conference in Islamabad . He was addressing second 'Pakistan Leaders of Tomorrow' conference in Islamabad this afternoon. In a very inspiring speech‚ Chairman of the PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called upon all political parties to get united to fight terrorism for the sake of safe and secure future of the country. He pointed out that ANP has suffered from terrorism like PPP and despite our past differences with the MQM‚ we have been willing to put these difference aside and unite against this common enemy. He said we have to protect Jinnah's Pakistan from the threat of the Taliban. He said PML(N) has been part of our coalition before and it was partly because of the support from the party that we built the necessary consensus in the country that allowed us to end Taliban rule in Swat and raise the flag of pakistan there once again. Bilawal said he was certain Nawaz Sharif is genuinely an ally in supporting democracy in the country. He welcomed Imran Khans decision to finally take part in the next general election. He expressed the confidence that his inclusion will have a positive impact of politics of the country. Bilawal said he was even certain we can build consensus with the religious parties including Jamat-e-Islami. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari categorically stated that we are opposed to drone strikes. He pointed out that had these been carried out with the connivance of the Government then the then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi‚ who is currently in PTI‚ should have resigned on the same issue. He said after the Osama raid‚ the PPP and the President of Pakistan were one of the few political parties to stand by our generals and our soldiers. Even Nawaz Sharif was calling for our military and intelligence leadership to be sacked. President Zardari was defending our military leadership and defending Pakistan. He said the President Zardari stood by the armed forces of Pakistan and lived up to his title of commander in chief. Now even the Americans accept that Pakistan did not know that Osama was in Abbottabad. Bilawal said it was the PPP Government that made the super power apologizes after the Salala incident.

Zardari: 'If you are not controversial, you haven't done anything substantial'

The Express Tribune

If you are not controversial, then you have not done anything substantial, said President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday. The president was addressing a youth conference held in the federal capital. Speaking about the burden of being a leader, the president said good leadership is a result of personal sacrifice. “This is the path my wife and I followed,” he said. He also said that leader is not one who thinks he is a leader, but one who is considered so by others. Speaking about the role of youth in nation building, the president said that as the people of Pakistan, we are fighting a negative state of mind and the youth of this country is a challenge to that mindset. Commending each and every Pakistani for being patriotic, Zardari said the country is faced with life threatening challenges. Ushering the conference to a Q&A session, Zardari told his young audience that he, as the president of Pakistan, wants to be questioned by the future leaders as he is always open to criticism. Responding to a question regarding repatriation of Aafia Siddiqui, the president said the government has asked the lawyer to continue arguing the case. “We don’t have any prisoners exchange treaty with the US and we cannot do anything in that regard but ask her lawyer to stick to her case,” he explained. On a question about people committing suicide because of poverty, Zardari said his government introduced the Benazir Income Support Program through which deserving Pakistanis get a monthly stipend.

Pakistan, British army chiefs arrive in Kabul

http://www.pajhwok.com

Pakistan army chief, Gen. Pervez Kiyani, and his British counterpart Sir David Richard arrived in Kabul on Tuesday for talks with Afghan defence officials. A government official, who did not want to be named, confided to Pajhwok Afghan News the two sides would confer on the current security situation in Afghanistan and other issues of common interest. Earlier in the day, Ministry of Defence spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi told reporters the Pakistan British army chiefs were due in Kabul. However, he stopped short of giving the date or agenda.

President Zardari takes notice of PIA emergency landings

Radi Pakistan

President Asif Ali Zardari has taken strong notice of recent reports about various emergency landings by PIA flights. He has directed the Chairman PIA and Civil Aviation Authority to conduct a thorough inquiry into these incidents and submit a comprehensive report within three days. He has also directed the concerned authorities to ensure that no such incident takes place in future. Spokesperson of the President Farhatullah Babar said that besides calling for a detailed report‚ the President has also called for a meeting to get a comprehensive briefing on the issue.

Malala chosen for bravery award

Malala Yousafzai, who became the face of Pakistan's struggle against the Taliban, has been awarded for her bravery and commitment to education for girls in adverse conditions in Swat. The award was given out by World Peace and Prosperity Foundation Chairman Prince Ali Khan, at the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords on Monday night. Malala is being treated at a British hospital after she was shot in the head by Taliban militants. The award was received on her behalf by Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK, S Zulfiqar Gardezi. "It is Malala or her family who should have received the award. In their absence, I will pass it on to her," he said. Malala was flown to the UK on Oct 15 and admitted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham where she is recovering. Other recipients of award included a Bishop of London, a distinguished British Muslim Psychiatrist, a distinguished Turkish academic and MP, and eight year old Josh Altman, European Chess Bronze medalist. Prince Ali Khan, Founder Chairman of the World Peace and Prosperity Foundation said the Foundation was aimed at recognising outstanding work in various walks of life and to promote world peace and prosperity.

Blasphemy: IHC dismisses FIR against Rimsha Masih

The Islamabad High Court (IHC), while hearing the blasphemy case against 14-year-old Christian girl Rimsha Masih on Tuesday, ordered to dismiss the FIR against her, Geo News reported. While announcing the verdict, Chief Justice IHC Iqbal Hameed ur Rehman remarked that it is a highly sensitive matter and one must be extremely careful while leveling such charges against any one. Fake allegations should not be leveled against any Muslim or non-Muslim Chief Justice IHC, in the 15-page judgement, said no one has seen Rimsha burning any pages. The verdict also included references from the holy Quran. The IHC had reserved its verdict last week on an application seeking dismissal of the Rimsha Masih case. Rimsha Masih was arrested on August 16 from a suburban area of Islamabad after she was accused of burning papers from the holy Quran, and later charged of blasphemy. Later after the investigations, it was found that the cleric Khalid Jadoon Chishti had concocted the case against her, who was then arrested. After Rimsha was released on bail on September 8, she and her family were shifted to an undisclosed location for security reasons.