YouTube Open in Pakistan

US COURT ORDER GOOGLE TO OWNS YOUTUBE

AND TO REMOVE ANTI-ISLAM  FILM FROM THE SITE.

The video-sharing website named YouTube had been blocked in Pakistan since September 2012 over its failure to take down the innocence of Muslims movie that sparked furious protests around the world. But now A US appeals court on Wednesday order Google, which owns YouTube, to remove the anti-Islam film after a law suit brought by an actress who says she was tricked into appearing in it. Pakistani technology think-tank Bytes for all said that with the removal of the crude movie, regarded as highly blasphemous by many Muslims the government of Pakistan had no reason to maintain the ban.

Pakistanis think that now the government of Pakistan has been left with no excuse to continue blocking access to YouTube, but the ban on YouTube has got more to do with the government’s desires and efforts to impose censorship, content filtering and moral policing and we are fighting against them in court through a constitutional petition. There was no immediate response from our government.

The American made “Innocence of Muslims”, which depicted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), triggered protest across the Pakistan that left more than 20 people dead. Free speech campaigners in Pakistan have complained of creeping censorship in the name of protecting religion or preventing obscenity. In November 2011, the telecommunications authority tried to ban nearly 1700 obscene, words from text message, which included innocuous terms such as “Lotion”, athlete’s foot and idiot in 2010 Pakistan shut down Facebook for nearly two weeks over alleged blasphemy. But it continues to restrict hundreds of online links. 

PAK-CHINA DEFENCE TIES

DEFENCE TIES BETWEEN CHINA & PAKISTAN

Pakistan and China have decided to strengthen their defence ties. This was announced during a meeting between both the defence ministers in GHQ yesterday. The meeting was followed by delegation-level bilateral talks. During this meeting issues of mutual interest, regional security and measures to enhance bilateral defence collaboration were discussed. The Chinese defence minister paid rich tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan Army for peace and stability in the region. Pakistan and China enjoy deep – rooted brotherly relations and Pakistan’s friendship with China was a cornerstone of its foreign policy. We have unique ties with China which are unparalleled in contemporary era and interstate relations. Sino-Pak relations are based on solid footings, excellent cooperation and convergence of views on global and regional issues. Such visit are testimony to our desire to further strengthen our relations.

Sino-Pakistan has different forums of interactions and bilateral mechanisms like strategic dialogue, consular consultations and counter-terrorism consultations to further the strategic partnership. The Chinese side expressed the hope to further enhance the cooperation in all areas of importance to both countries. Pakistan supports one China Policy on issues of Taiwan, Tibet, Xingiang and Human Rights. Both sides also greatly focused on promoting economic integration development and trade. The defence minister highlighted the importance of China-Pakistan corridor which would transform the regional economy.

MAULANA & MUFTIES IN PAKISTAN

VISION OF MAULANA & MUFTIES IN PAKISTAN

Our beloved country in 1947 , our nation has been confused about the role of religion in the affairs of the state. This confusion is mainly because of religious parties coming into politics and taking a hard, hawkish stand. Ironically many religious scholars were against Jinnah and the Pakistan movement. Most of the basic principles of Islam like equality, justice and others were not the main focus of the so-called religious scholars; rather they emphasized the jihad factor, without educating the people about the fact that jihad has a boundary rules and regulations.

The vision of Unites States about Afghanistan gave a chance to many of t he Maulanas and Muftis to come to the frontline and play with the religious sentiments of the people, provoking them to take up arms and fight a jihad in Afghanistan. The torchbearers of Islam  used the loudspeakers in the mosques to hypnotize the masses and tell them that their religious duty is to leave their homes and wage a war against the US forces in Afghanistan.

Young boys and girls studying in the madrassas were very vulnerable to these religious scholars who actually manipulated them and used them for the glory of Islam. One of these religious scholars is Maulana Abdul Aziz, a very famous name in Islamabad. He was the head of a mosque in Islamabad. In 2006 and 2007 the maulana actually took physical steps with the help of his young religious force and violated the law of the state by raiding various neighborhoods beating police personnel and trying to implement Islam (peace) through violent means.

Last month this maulana was nominated the Taliban’s committee member by his like-minded friends in the Taliban side. In view of this, there is no difference between the maulana and the Taliban since both of them want to implement sharia through the use of force. But has  peace ever been implemented or can it ever be implemented through the use of force?

Can we survive in the international area by breaking relations with the US or the west and by having a rigid and violent stance towards them? In this regards, the grand mufti from Egypt has given  a fatwa that Muslims living in –non Muslims countries can participate in the business of alcohol and that women and men have equal right in Islam. The women who are working in offices and should they be allowed to become doctors and lawyers?

Maulana with due respect this nation is very passionate about religion and people do follow him. 

SEVERE ACCIDENT IN INDIAN NAVY

TWO INDIAN SAILORS MISSING, SOME INJURED IN INDIA NAVY ACCIDENT

Two sailors were missing and another seven were injured after smoke was detected aboard a submarine off Mumbai according to the report in the latest accident to hit the Indian force.

the seven sailors suffered smoke inhalation and were airlifted from the submarine for treatment. The submarine was on a routine training sortie off Mumbai’s coast when smoke was detected. Measures were taken to contain it. All the sailors are currently undergoing treatment under the supervision of a team of doctors but another two crew have not yet been found on the board the submarine which was now returning to port in Mumbai.

The incident comes after 18 naval crew were killed in August last year when the fully-armed Russian-built exploded in flames and sank in a military shipyard in Mumbai.

The disaster was thought to be the Indian Navy’s worst since the sinking of a frigate by a Pakistani submarine during a war with its neighbour in 1971.

The seven injured sailors fell unconscious after a leak in the submarine’s battery compartment during the training exercise near Mumbai harbor.

Last month another submarine armed and with a full crew rang aground while returning to Mumbai harbor. But there is No loss of life on damage fortunately.

The Indian navy has 14 submarines, but only between seven and nine are operational at any one time because of regular repair and refitting.

Russia is still the biggest military supplier to India, but relations have been strained by major delays and cost overruns with a refurbished aircraft carrier. 

HIGH RISK OF CONTAMINATED WATER

THERE IS HIGH RISK FOR THE PEOPLE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATED WATER

People in Pakistan are at high risk of gastroenteritis, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, acute respiratory infection as well as Blue Baby Syndrome, as safe drinking water is available  to only 15% people in the urban and 18% in rural areas.

The quality of drinking water supply is poor, with bacterial contamination, arsenic, fluoride and nitrate being the factors of major concern. The vast majority of the population does not have access to safe drinking water due to which incidence of water borne disease is  increasing rapidly.

High population growth rate, urbanization, industrialization and new environmental constraints are aggravating the problem.

It has been estimated that water, sanitation and hygiene related disease cost Pakistan’s economy about Rs. 112 billion per year in terms of health costs and lost earning.

Situation is even worse for the rural areas of the country where 88 percent of the population lack access to safe drinking water.

While the filtration plants installed in the capital are supplying highly unsafe water contaminated mainly with microbial contamination. 

US CAMPAIGN AGAINST HAQANI NETWORK

US INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN AGAINST HAQANI NETWORK

The United States has intensified its drive against the Taliban linked Haqani network in an attempt to deal a lasting blow to the militants in Afghanistan before foreign combat forces depart this years.

The effort is taking  on added urgency as the clock ticks down on a NATO combat mission in Afghanistan asset to end in December, whether Pakistan will take action against a group. The Obama administration has created a special u nit based in Kabul to coordinate efforts against the militant group, according to the US officials with the matter.

It was not immediately clear whether the intensified focus on the Haqanis has led to increased strikes on the group by the US military or the CIA which operates drones over Pakistan’s tribal areas. It remains to be seen this late in the NATO combat mission how much damages the United States can inflict on the Haqani Network, which has proven resilient and uses Pakistan’s tribal areas along the Afghan border, including the North Waziristan region, as a sanctuary.

It was announced from the White House  on Tuesday and ordered by the US President to the Pentagon to prepare for possible complete withdrawal of troops following Afghan president’s refusal to sin g a bilateral security pact. The Haqani network, which professes obedience to Taliban leader Mullah Omar is believed to have been  involved in some of the Afghan war. 

NATO PLAN PULLOUT TROOPS

NATO PLAN FOR ALL AFGHAN OPTION INCLUDING PULLOUT

NATO must plan for all options, including a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, but prefers an agreement with Kabul on a continued troop presence, according to the head of the military alliance.

But if there is no US-Afghan agreement, there can be no NATO – Afghan deal and if there is no agreement there will be no NATO troops in Afghanistan after 2014.

The deal would lay down the legal basis for continued US and NATO troops presence in the form of a training mission post 2014.

It is expected to number up to 12000 troops, mostly American and is seen as an important guarantee of continued US and NATO support during a difficult transition period.

In 2011, Washington withdraw all its forces from Iraq when it could not secure an agreement with Baghadad and there are fears a similar outcome in Afghanistan could leave the way clear for the Taliban to return to power.

Several Afghan presidential candidates have indicated they would sign and the deal has also been endorsed by a council of tribal elders. On the other hand, it is said that Washington was not certain a future government would do the deal.