Another Wave of Violence in Karachi

The recent call for strike from MQM and JSQM has sparked a new round of terror in the city. People faced inconvenience and hardship in the absence of public and private transport on Saturday following a strike call by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM). A wave of fear pervaded the city following violent incidents of Friday night that had left half a dozen vehicles burnt and at least four people, including a woman, dead.
According to MQM Deputy Parliamentary Leader in National Assembly Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi their entire motive is to prevent the entry of terrorist in Karachi in guise of IDPS.But the way this whole thing has unfolded makes it look like something fishy is going on. One example of it is a propaganda pamphlet distributed by the above mention parties in which it is claimed the influx of the IDPs is aimed at converting the Sindhi population into a minority in their own province. It also said that the mass influx would render a large number of local people jobless."To avert this influx, people of Sind should register their protest on May 23 by keeping their business closed," the handbill said.
My only question is how can you stop a Pakistani from travelling anywhere in Pakistan? If one does that then doesn’t that mean that they do not want Pakistan, the country, to exist?

May God Help us All

Today I visited one of the IDP camps in Peshawar. It was an experience I cannot forget. People in their own country have become refugee. People who were living in proper houses are forced to live in tents.Pashton women who are so careful when it comes to cover their bodies whenever they are in public are forced to sit under the open sky in this gruelling heat. Who is responsible for all this, is the blame lies with the Taliban who have no clue what Islam is all about or is it an operational failure from the government side. Whoever is responsible for the current crisis the price is being paid by a common man? More than 2.3 million people are forced to leave their homes. As far as the conditions in the camps are concerned one can only pray that this nightmare should come to an end as soon as possible.
Currently in the camps the biggest issue is of food, water and shelter. The tents which have been provided don’t have any ventilation or opening in them. The air inside the tents becomes intensely hot and one cannot sit inside during the day time .Secondly in this hot weather people need continues supply of drinking water which is at the moment is in acute shortage. Secondly due to the unavailability of fire wood people are facing difficulty to cook food. Though the supplies are coming on daily basis but they are not enough to meet the demand .The support is only provided by UN and WFP.There is no sign of any government aid agency.
There is no electricity in these camps for some odd reasons. Due to the unavailability of doctors and specially lady doctors. There are some reports that due to unavailability of lady doctors some delivery cases were handled by men. I am not saying that this operation should not have been started in the first place my only objection is that at least satisfactory arrangements should have been made to help these people.
In the end I would like to pay tribute to all those young people who have come from all areas of Pakistan to assist their brothers and sisters .I salute you all. These young men and women shows that we stand united in this tough times. May God bless you all.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD PAINDABAD

Swat Crisis

According to latest news there had been significant increase in the Taliban casualties and considerable ground has been occupied by Pakistani Army. Security Forces have cleared Sultanwas after intense clashes while 80 terrorists were killed during clearance of the area, Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abass said in a media briefing on Operation Rah-e-Rast, here on Wednesday. The Director General ISPR said that during the clearance of Sultanwas, the security forces encountered seven IEDs which were effectively defused. Sultanwas was main stronghold of terrorist-miscreants in Buner, where they have made concrete underground bunkers and ammunition dumps.
Meanwhile in Washington addressing to Congress Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said United States (US) not only supports the democratic government of Pakistan but it also is in favour of military offensive against the militants besides making long-term investments in the Pakistani people. She said “We’re supporting the Pakistani military as they take on the extremists who confront their country’s stability,’ she said. ‘We’re making long-term investments in Pakistan’s people and the democratically elected government through targeted humanitarian assistance.”
On the other hand according to my sources in Islamabad ,number of people coming to refugee camps are increasing and to date more than six hundred thousand people have been registered but the actual numbers are at least twice of what have been reported. In other words we are looking at a displaced population of 1.2 million .According to many aid agencies it is the largest displacement of people Pakistan has suffered as result of manmade conflict. The situation in the camps is quite worse. There is no sign that government is making any efforts to improve the condition. Most of the camps are run by local humanitarian organisations and people. Due to the unavailability of tents people are sleeping on the ground as a result of which various skin diseases are spreading in the camps. According to some reports in some camps due to the unavailability of lady doctors delivery cases has been handled by male doctors.
The camps are vey cramped ,they have been pitched up on the planes and the weather at the moment is very hot. These condition will become worse as soon as the monsoon rains kicks in. Majority of these camps are situated in areas which will be flooded in the coming monsoon season and that could further deteriorate the situation.

Swat Crisis

According to latest news there had been significant increase in the Taliban casualties and considerable ground has been occupied by Pakistani Army. Security Forces have cleared Sultanwas after intense clashes while 80 terrorists were killed during clearance of the area, Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abass said in a media briefing on Operation Rah-e-Rast, here on Wednesday. The Director General ISPR said that during the clearance of Sultanwas, the security forces encountered seven IEDs which were effectively defused. Sultanwas was main stronghold of terrorist-miscreants in Buner, where they have made concrete underground bunkers and ammunition dumps.
Meanwhile in Washington addressing to Congress Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said United States (US) not only supports the democratic government of Pakistan but it also is in favour of military offensive against the militants besides making long-term investments in the Pakistani people. She said “We’re supporting the Pakistani military as they take on the extremists who confront their country’s stability,’ she said. ‘We’re making long-term investments in Pakistan’s people and the democratically elected government through targeted humanitarian assistance.”
On the other hand according to my sources in Islamabad ,number of people coming to refugee camps are increasing and to date more than six hundred thousand people have been registered but the actual numbers are at least twice of what have been reported. In other words we are looking at a displaced population of 1.2 million .According to many aid agencies it is the largest displacement of people Pakistan has suffered as result of manmade conflict. The situation in the camps is quite worse. There is no sign that government is making any efforts to improve the condition. Most of the camps are run by local humanitarian organisations and people. Due to the unavailability of tents people are sleeping on the ground as a result of which various skin diseases are spreading in the camps. According to some reports in some camps due to the unavailability of lady doctors delivery cases has been handled by male doctors.
The camps are vey cramped ,they have been pitched up on the planes and the weather at the moment is very hot. These condition will become worse as soon as the monsoon rains kicks in. Majority of these camps are situated in areas which will be flooded in the coming monsoon season and that could further deteriorate the situation.