What's Happy about this New Year???

These are the ending moments of this year when I am writing this blog post, my cell phone is full with the “happy new year” messages, my email box have lots of mails with same subject, my face book time line shows me many wishes to me. However I think what's happy about this New Year. For last 3 days, again and again, myself force me to remember 22nd October, 2009. Many of you must be thinking “why?” It was the day when I became unemployed. I got a call and I came to know that my services are no more required. Till that day I used to be a Home tutor.

“Why today I am remembering this sad incident? “The answer is KARACHI. I feel pain in my chest, and I mean pain real pain, whenever I think about the burning took place in the economic hub of Pakistan, the attack at the biggest whole sale market of Pakistan. This made thousands of people unemployed. I know how it feels to be suddenly unemployed but believe me I cannot say that I know the real pain of being unemployed. I was a home tutor for myself, I was not supposed to share my revenue with any one at my home, Alhamdulillah I have been doing very well when I was not teaching and now days again I am doing good, all thanks to Allah who enabled my family to look after me.

That is why I don't know the real pain of being unemployed. Just imagine that you have to support a whole family and you became unemployed and worst factor is that you yourself were not behind this all mess. Some idiot burnt your workplace and make you, almost, economically incapable. For a moment think yourself as a shop owner at the Bolton market, Karachi. Till Sunday you were a well off, a millionaire and now you are at road. Just imagine how it feels.
Hundreds of shops and workplaces turned into Ashes, thousands of people become jobless, and a loss which cannot be measured, as per a rough calculations the lose is far more than billion. Just thinking about this I feel pain in my chest, and I am not writing it to create charm but its fact I feel pain in my chest but this pain is nothing in front of the problem or pain of those who actually suffered it.

Now let's come to the positive side. I know what happened is really sad and the pain is far beyond the imagination of a common man. Nevertheless its chance to relive the success story, rebuilt what you have lost, try to come up again with a new aim, but the real thing is, don't loose heart Karachi. These people have always been helping hand, I can remember what these people did when earth quick took place, its time for them to be repaid they were the biggest donors at that time. I know that government is making a so called try as always. However there is someone who never keep credit of any one, Allah Almighty is the one authority who pays when you really deserve.

I believe its time for us to help them all and trust in Almighty Allah who will definitely help us all, especially those who really need it. As far as I am concerned I am ready to help as much as I can because I believe the long distance I covered only after taking first step. I am ready to take that one step.

Another thing which is making me angry along with making sad. The people who were there at that time to provide the security, the security forces, police and rangers remain quiet, when this final act of this play was being staged. Not a single tear gas was fired, not a single bullet came out of their gun at that time when the things were going out of control. Such discrimination in the behavior, from May 2007 to December 2009, what a drastic “improvement”. I demand all those men on duty at that time must be dismissed and punished in a way that it become a warning lesson. Each and every one behind this act should be hanged in public. And we must keep peace among ourselves and rather than going for strike we should work more now to gain what we have lost. Because it has been the greatest loss of our history as Mr. Anjum Nisar, Member of Karachi Chamber of Commerce:

it was no doubt the 9/11 for the economy of Pakistan.

At the end i would like to wish Happy New Year though apparently there is nothing Happy about it considering what we are going through. But we can make it Happy just by hopping for the Happiness and working to attain the happiness.

Picture Curtesy: The Nation

Special package for blast victims shortly: Zardari

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that terrorism is a curse for the nation and the government is making its all-out efforts to eliminate this evil from the country. He said restoration of peace was essential for prosperity and economic development of Pakistan.

The President was talking to a delegation of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCl) led by Siraj Qassim Teli, which called on him at Bilawal House, said a statement issued by Bilawal House media cell here on Wednesday.

The delegation apprised the President about the losses suffered by the business and trade community, in the aftermath of gory incident of blast in Karachi on Youm-e-Ashur.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives as well as economic loss to thousands of retailers, whole-sellers, traders and businessmen in Karachi.

He said incidents of looting and arson have doubled the grief and he expressed full sympathies with all the victims.

President Asif Ali Zardari said the government was fully aware about the agony of victims and advised the government to utilize all available resources to help the victims.

He stated that he would personally talk to Prime Minister Gilani to announce a special package for the affectees of this unfortunate incident.

The President also appreciated setting up of a special fund by the business community for the purpose of collecting donations from businessmen and philanthropists at the national level in order to help the victims. He said it was collective duty of the entire nation to heal the wounds of victims of Karachi blast.

The members of KCCl delegation who attended the meeting included Abdul Majeed, Haji Mohammad, Zubair Ahmed Motiwala, Tahir Khalique, Haroon Farooqi, and Abdul Majid Memon.

Earlier, the president visited Liaqat National Hospital and enquired after the heath of Karachi blast victims.

Altaf demands setting up fund for fire-hit shopkeepers

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday called upon the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), to establish a special fund for shopkeepers, whose shops were gutted in the aftermath of blast in Ashura procession near Light House at MA Jinnah Road on Monday.

This he said during telephonic conversations with Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal and Naib Nazim Mrs. Nasreen Jaleel, said a statement issued by MQM here.

Altaf Hussain termed the fire at markets in the aftermath of blast in mourning procession on Monday as a planned conspiracy.

He advised the Nazim and Naib Nazim Karachi that a special fund be set up by the CDGK and a separate account be also opened in this regard. He appealed to the philanthropists to donate in the proposed fund so that the affected shopkeepers be provided maximum possible assistance.

He also reiterated his demand of 50 per cent of the total loss of affected shopkeepers be paid to them immediately, while the remaining 50 per cent be provided to them in the shape of long-term loans.

Dutch to use full body scanners for US flights

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Netherlands announced Wednesday it will immediately begin using full body scanners for flights heading to the United States, issuing a report that called the failed Christmas Day airline bombing a "professional" al-Qaida terror attack.

A top Dutch official said a scanner of that type may have stopped Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from boarding Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Friday carrying undetected explosives. Law enforcement officials say the 23-year-old Nigerian tried but failed to detonate the explosives on a plane carrying over 300 people.

"It is not exaggerating to say the world has escaped a disaster," Interior Minister Guusje Ter Horst told a news conference, referring to it as "another al-Qaida attack."

The Dutch minister said U.S. had not wanted these scanners to be used previously because of privacy concerns but said there was now agreement with Washington authorities that "all possible measures will be used on flights to the U.S."

A key European legislator urged the European Union to begin rapidly installing the new equipment across the 27-nation bloc, but no other European nations immediately followed the Dutch move.

Body scanners that peer underneath clothing have been available for years, but privacy advocates say they are a "virtual strip search" because they display an image of the body onto a computer screen.

Ian Dowty, a lawyer with Action on Rights of the Child, said allowing minors to pass through the scanners violates child pornography laws.

"It shows genitalia," he told The Associated Press. "As far as English law is concerned ... it's unlawful if it's indecent."

For that reason, British authorities have exempted under-18s from body scan trials at places including Paddington Station in London as well as Heathrow and Manchester airports.

New software, however, eliminates that problem by projecting a stylized image rather than an actual picture onto a computer screen, highlighting the area of the body where objects are concealed in pockets or under the clothing.

Ter Horst, the Dutch minister, the scanners likely would have alerted security guards to the materials concealed in Abdulmutallab's underwear and prevented him from boarding the Northwest flight.

"Our view now is that the use of millimeter wave scanners would certainly have helped detect that he had something on his body, but you can never give 100 percent guarantees," Ter Horst said.

In its preliminary report, the Dutch government called the plan to blow up the Detroit-bound aircraft "professional" but said its execution was "amateurish."

Ter Horst said Abdulmutallab apparently assembled the explosive device, including 80 grams of Pentrite, or PETN, in the aircraft toilet, then planned to detonate it with a syringe of chemicals. She said the explosives appeared to have been professionally prepared and had been given to Abdulmutallab, but did not elaborate.

"The approach in this case shows — despite the failure of the attack — a fairly professional approach," the investigation summary stated. "Pentrite is a very powerful conventional explosive, which is not easy to produce yourself."

"If you want to detonate it, you have to do that another way than he did. That is why we talk about amateurism," Ter Horst said.

Abdulmutallab arrived in Amsterdam on Friday from Lagos, Nigeria on a KLM flight. After a layover of less than three hours in the international departure hall, he passed through a security check at the gate in Amsterdam, including a hand baggage scan and a metal detector, and headed to the Northwest flight. He did not pass through a full-body scanner.

Abdulmutallab was carrying a valid Nigerian passport and had a valid U.S. visa, the Dutch said. His name also did not appear on any Dutch list of terror suspects.

"No suspicious matters which would give reason to classify the person involved as a high-risk passenger were identified during the security check," Ter Horst said.

Erik Ackerboom, head of the Dutch counterterrorism bureau, dismissed suggestions that Abdulmutallab should have aroused suspicion when he paid for a round-trip ticket from Lagos to Detroit in cash and had no check-in luggage.

Paying cash in Africa is not unusual, he said, and the lack of suitcases "wasn't a reason for alarm."

Abdulmutallab, charged with trying to destroy an aircraft, is being held at the federal prison in Milan, Michigan.

Amsterdam's Schiphol has 15 body scanners, each costing more than $200,000. But until now neither the European Union nor the U.S. have approved the routine use of the scanners at European airports.

At least two scanners in Amsterdam have been experimentally using the less-invasive software since late November and the Dutch said those will be put into use immediately. All other scanners will be upgraded within three weeks.

In the U.S., 40 of the machines are being operated in at least 19 U.S. airports.

Six machines are being used for primary screenings at six U.S. airports: Albuquerque, N.M.; Las Vegas; Miami; San Francisco; Salt Lake City; and Tulsa, Okla. Passengers go through the scans instead of a metal detector, although they can elect to receive a pat-down search from a security officer instead.

The remainder of the machines are being used at 13 U.S. airports for secondary screening of passengers who set off a metal detector. But those travelers can also opt for a pat-down instead.

Last year the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted against using the scanners and called for further study, allowing Schiphol to conduct a pilot test of the scanners on European flights.

But opposition faded Wednesday when a key assembly member said the newest types "pose no privacy risk." Peter van Dalen, vice-chairman of the assembly's transport committee said, a recent demonstration at Schiphol lifted any doubts that the equipment violates the privacy of air passengers.

A Dutch digital rights group, Bits of Freedom, said the decision to introduce the scanners on short notice was a fear-driven overreaction.

"The chance of someone being a victim of a terrorist attack in the air is a lot smaller than the chance of being struck by lightning," the group wrote in an open letter to the Dutch Justice Ministry.

Meanwhile, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a man tried to board a commercial airliner in the Somali capital of Mogadishu last month carrying powdered chemicals, liquid and a syringe in a case bearing chilling similarities to the Detroit airliner plot.

The Somali man — whose name has not yet been released — was arrested by African Union peacekeeping troops before the Nov. 13 Daallo Airlines flight took off. It had been scheduled to travel from Mogadishu to the northern Somali city of Hargeisa, then to Djibouti and Dubai. A Somali police spokesman, Abdulahi Hassan Barise, said the suspect is in Somali custody.

"We don't know whether he's linked with al-Qaida or other foreign organizations, but his actions were the acts of a terrorist. We caught him red-handed," said Barise.

President Barack Obama has demanded a preliminary report by Thursday from U.S. security authorities on what went wrong in the Detroit airliner case. Obama said the intelligence community should have been able to piece together information that would have raised "red flags" and possibly prevented Abdulmutallab from boarding the airliner.

"There was a mix of human and systemic failures that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security," Obama told reporters in Hawaii, calling the intelligence shortcomings "totally unacceptable."

Abdulmutallab had been placed in one expansive database, but he never made it onto more restrictive lists that would have caught the attention of U.S. counterterrorist screeners, despite his father's warnings to U.S. Embassy officials in Nigeria last month. Those warnings also did not result in Abdulmutallab's U.S. visa being revoked.

U.S. investigators said Abdulmutallab told them he received training and instructions from al-Qaida operatives in Yemen — which lies across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia.

America+Israel+India+Al Qaeda and Target is Pakistan

America+Israel+India+Al Qaeda and Target is Pakistan

Oil prices slightly fell in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR: Oil prices fell slightly Wednesday in Asia amid a surprise rise in U.S. weekly crude inventory ahead of the release of government data.

Benchmark crude for February delivery was down 10 cents to $78.77 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract added 10 cents to settle at $78.87 on Tuesday.

Oil has gained for five straight days but traded lower early Wednesday after the American Petroleum Institute reported an increase of 1.725 million barrels in U.S. inventories last week, said Clarence Chu, a trader with Hudson Capital Energy in Singapore.

The rise contradicted market expectations of a drop of 2 million barrels and all eyes are now on the Energy Information Administration weekly data due to be released later Wednesday, he said. The more comprehensive EIA data last week showed crude stocks were down 4.9 million barrels.

Futures contracts for oil, natural gas and heating oil have all become more expensive this month as snow storms blanketed parts of the U.S. and a sharp drop in supplies of crude and other fuels surprised traders.

Despite the year-end rally, analysts have said that oil prices may fall next month as current levels were unsustainable.

In other Nymex trading in January contracts, heating oil rose 0.1 cent to $2.1038 gallon while gasoline added 0.24 cent to $2.013 a gallon.

In London, Brent crude for February delivery fell 4 cents to $77.60 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Remittances surge by 30% in past five months: Tarin

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance, Shaukat Tarin, has said that the trend of remittances received in last five months of current fiscal year showed an increase of around 30 percent over the similar period in the last fiscal year.

Addressing a MoU signing ceremony between PRI and PIA held at State Bank of Pakistan, here, he urged the overseas Pakistanis to make sure that they are transferring their hard-earned income through official channels into Pakistan.

He said that strategic alliance between Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would contribute towards the enhancement of remittance flows through official channels and help the Government to achieve the goal of formalizing the remittance market in the country.

The Finance Minister said that he was confident that PRI would usher in a new era in the realm of workers’ remittances and reach the ultimate destination of highest efficiency and maximum satisfaction levels.

Treatment from Quran

   Assalamo Aleikum    from attached file, surah Muhammad SAW wala ilaaj shuru karein, medical treatment bhi jaari rakhain. Allah paak shifaa dain,ameen.   Alhamdulillah I have seen patients being cured from cancer and hepatitis. In cases, in which patients were not fully cured, there was at least improvement in general condition,

Twenty five to Thirty thousands unemployed due to Karachi Violence

According to report of Geo news around Twenty five to Thirty thousands people are unemployed due to the Violence of yesterday after the Suicide Bombing on M.A Jinnah Road Karachi. In Rs estimated loss is Rs 30 Billion.

After the attack of Karachi Violence took place in different places after which many plaza,s and shops where burnt which destroyed businesses of many people. the people watched their shops burning in front of their eyes. in the yesterday attack more than 40 people where martyred. Government must take quick steps now to help these Twenty five to Thirty thousands to again grow their businesses again and also take hard steps to counter the terrorism and the Violence.

In Search of Snow: Road to Malam Jabba

Next day I woke up quite early and the reason was the same, I needed hot water to take bath. After getting ready we all had our break fast consisting of bread and jam which we bought from Lahore. When we came out of hotel our fellows were waiting for us. . Our destination of the day was Malam Jaba. I was praying that the rout must be clear and I somehow find which I was looking for.

We were told that teachers and the Jialas have left for Malam Jaba. T last the van alike jeep arrived but this time conductor was asking for higher fare than the last day. We decided to go for another jeep. Now the journey began again to make it adventurous I was hanging with the jeep rather than sitting inside. After a while we were out of the populated area and now the road was taking some twist and turns and it was like an anaconda wrapped on a mountain. The sceneries were really amazing and I was praising Almighty Allah for such beautiful creation for a blessing which he gave me to see and enjoy what he has created for us.

After covering a distance our jeep was stopped at place to cool down the engine. All of us came out of the jeep and had some walk, clicked some photos, and had cucumbers as it was the only thing to eat at there at that time. There was a small waterfall, and in the stream there was an attractive object spinning. It was a plate and in its center there was an iron rod, on the top of the rod different things were tied. It was an interesting thing to watch when it spins with the flow of the water coming from waterfall. Another strange thing, I noticed there and it was the way of decoration of the people of that particular area. On both sides of so called road there were wrappers, tetra packs of juices, and many other things were hanging on a thread.

When our jeep was ready to move after taking some rest, our journey started again. During this journey to Malam Jaba I was able to saw an object which I was starving to see since I was in Swat, and it was Motor Cycle. After a while I was feeling bit cold and the reason for this change was the nearness of the thing which I was in search of, yes I was very close to snow at that time. The people we saw on the way used to wave for us or we started to wave for them. Nevertheless I was lost in something else, I was so happy to see snow so close to me.

We finally reached Malam Jaba trough a curly road. The first thing, I did there was to move to PTDC rest house, Malam Jabba. I really wanted to go to the washroom. The security guard did not allow me to get in and asked me to go to the Mosque there was a washroom in the premises of Mosque. The Mosque was not in a good condition. God knows that I have never seen such a ruined mosque in my whole life.

After getting rid of my problem I was heading towards the main spot. I came to know that the teaches are going back to Bahrain and Jialas couldn't make it. Principal Sb met and told us that it's a great place to enjoy. There is no problem of cellular network signals and many “Ladies & Gentlemen” are there. In his statement there was a significant stress on the word LADIES. At that time the second thing which I was starving to see was also there. After motorcycle, girl was the second thing which I wanted to see. There were many girls and they were a bits more modern than the kind of girls we have imagined in the area of Swat so the first thing came into my mind was “these are all tourists and none of them is from the interior Swat”.

This whole tour brought a change in my views, and the night before this Malam Jaba trip; my friends tried to make fun of mine due to this new ideology. The newest view of mine at that time was:

I never respect the so called modern girls and I don't even give value to them, but this tour of Swat has changed my views. I still don't respect them, but yes now I value them.

In Media

December 10, 2009 My post was suggested by Munir's Blog in "Take Back The Take – Take Control Of Technology To End Violence Against Women"
November 30, 2009 My post was suggested by Ronin in "‘Take Back the Tech’ - A social responsibility"
November 28 , 2009 I got quoted in the article "Pakistan: Take Back The Tech Campaign" on Global Voices.
November 27, 2009 My post was suggested by CIO Pakistan in "@rai_azlan Reviews the LUMS Marketing Colloquium"

Karachi the city of lights will live on whatever our enemy do

Karachi the city of Lights will live on whatever our enemy do but our Karachi will keep on shinning. The Raw funded TTP terrorists has targeted Shia Muslims this time on MA Jinnah Road on day of Ashura to get multiple objectives. one of the big objective they tried to get was creating Sectarian Violence between Shia and Sunni,s but Alhamdulilah they are not succeeded in it.

As we have discussed before as well that the main reason of these attacks  Is American Presence in Afghanistan and Indian presence as well under the Umbrella of Americans who are heavily funding these TTP terrorists. These TTP terrorists takes name of Islam but they kills Muslims they have never attacked any American or Indian. They are using 18 to 22 years boys by brain washing them to do suicide attacks with Indian weapon and Money. Pakistan need to look towards its Foreign Policy of Afghanistan to counter Terrorism.

99 percent fires in Karachi under control:Nazim

KARACHI: Karachi Nazim has said that the blazes in Karachi wholesale markets have been putout to most extent, while the law and order situation in the metropolis has also been under total control.  

Talking to ARY News Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal said the firefighters have extinguished 99 percent blazes however due to presence of inflammable material in shops the fires reignite again.

Mustafa Kamal paid tribute to the people of Karachi and said the people have foiled a conspiracy of sectarian riots in the city with their unity. He said the fire incidents in markets inflicted billions of rupees losses and called for investigations into the arson incidents.

Karachi: 2500 shops gutted in arson attacks

KARACHI: Around 2500 shops have been gutted in arson incidents in the business district of Karachi after Youm-e-Ashur suicide attack at a mourning procession in the metropolis that killed 40 people and injured several others.

The fire tenders still fighting blazes raging in the area located largest wholesale markets of the country.

Several vehicles were also set on fire after the bombing.

A traders body leader Fahim Noori has said the traders have suffered rs 20 to 30 billion losses in arson attacks in which 1500 to 3000 shops were set on fire by the miscreants.

Talking to ARY News on phone Fahim Noori posed question the authorities, who provide such dangerous inflammable material to the miscreants, which rapidly spread the fire.

President Karachi Chamber has called a meeting this afternoon to set strategy, he said.

Divide and Rule.

It might be one of the oldest way of controlling the masses by dividing them into certain class or sect. The people of this region are facing this factor for a very long time. British is said to be the ruler who officially used it in this region to keep a strong hold over here for as long as it can. It is another story that how we gained the freedom after facing a twin edge sword.

It was 10th Moharam today, it is said to be one of the most important date of Islamic/Lunar calendar, and most of the important incidents took place on this date over a long period of time. However the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain (R.A) and his companions gave this date a significant red color, and this color is the symbol of the blood shed. It was a great act of bravery by Hazrat Imam Husain (R.A) to stand against an unjust ruler, a ruler who was totally incapable to hold the position which he was claiming for. No doubt the, the chapter of Karbala gave another life to Islam.

Today when I switched on the TV a bad news was already waiting for me. Blast at M.A. Jinnah road, Karachi, it was the main Procession of Ashoor (10th Muharam) held by the Shia Muslims, and this gathering was ruined by the loud and clear voice and effect of blast. About 50 injured and near 25 deaths are the so far outcome of this act of cowardness and cruelty. We all know a single loss of life as a loss of many lives. Such acts of terrorism are performed by the people who are unaware of what a religion called and what it teaches.

It might have been a try to create rioting between Shis and Sunnis as these two brothers have always been very rowdy towards one another. I maintain it was a try to “divide and rule”. It is not for the first time such attempt been made. Tight security measures in the days of Muharam are a proof that there is a chance of miss hap and there is a history of such acts.

All credit goes to Zia ul Haq, he was not only the founder of Taliban but also he used “divide and rule” formula to keep his position and his uniform safe. He was the one who divided the Muslims in Shia and Sunni and put us in a meaningless fight. He made us Brailwi and Deobandi to create an air of confusion. What else I can mention over here his whole era which is better known as darkest era of Pakistani history is full with such divides and we all know how he ruled.

Today these terrorist figures are following the steps of their God Father by creating an air full of a gas which creates hate among the people. Who creates discrimination among two Muslim brothers on the grounds of sect, e.g. Shia and Sunni. It's the time that we must open our eyes and not only to face but also defeat this common enemy. As far as our own contradictions are concerned we can fight on them later but the need of hour is to create a sense of harmony, brotherhood and unity among all the Pakistanis, especially Muslims who are ready to be classified in the terms of sect.

Picture Courtesy: Dawn

Americans only allowed to land on one Air port in Pakistan

Government of Pakistan has banned the enterance of Americans in Pakistan from all the air ports except Benazir Bhutto International air port of Islamabad. American can now only Enter into Pakistan from this Airport. It was reported by The Nation.

This step is taken by Government of Pakistan after the increasting anger in Public on the report of Intelligence agencies. This may be due to pressure of Pakistan army and ISI that Goverment has taken this step. Pakistani public anger towards America is increasing due to Americans wrong activities in Pakistan and also due to Increasing Terrorism. 

21 militants killed in SWaziristan, Orakzai

WANA: At least 21 militants have reportedly been killed in renewed clashes with security forces and local tribal lashkar in South Waziristan and Orakzai agencies on Monday, reported ARY NEWS Monday.

Nine tribal volunteers and two security personnel were also killed in the battles occurred in wee hours, the channel added.

In South Waziristan, 15 militants were killed in a clash with security forces at Bush Narai area that also resulted in death of two forces’ personnel and left three others injured.

Meanwhile, nine volunteers and six militants were killed in a clash between terrorists and local tribal lashkar in Surkhel area of lower Orakzai agency, it added.

Suspect shot to death in Bahawalpur

BAHAWALPUR: Police on Monday shot dead an alleged suspect while attempting to intrude on a police building, ARY NEWS reported.

The person was warned thrice by the security guards when he was trying to enter police building climbing over the wall in suspicious manner. Following the non-compliance by the man, police guards opened fire to kill him on the spot.

The suspect has not yet identified, the channel reported

Indian Nuclear Weapons a big danger to the world

International media keeps on speaking about the Nuclear Weapons of Pakistan that they are unsafe but they never talked about the safety of Indian nuclear weapons are they safe? Check the video Indian Nuclear Weapons a big danger to the world.

No danger on Sunday flight — just an ill passenger

ROMULUS, Mich. – Armed officers on Sunday rushed aboard the same Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight that was attacked on Christmas Day, but the perceived threat wasn't much of a danger — just an ill traveler who spent too much time in the bathroom.

Coming so soon after a Nigerian was accused of trying to blow up a plane, authorities quickly responded to an emergency call from the crew on Flight 253 from Amsterdam. Some of the 256 passengers were rattled while others apparently weren't aware of the incident.

Tim Jeronimus, 13, said he was "a bit nervous" when officers entered, and his 11-year-old sister, Emma, said she was scared.

Their mother, Jane Jeronimus, said the captain told passengers that no arrival gates were available.

"I said to my husband, 'That's not true,'" she later recalled inside the terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Airport police and border officers then entered the cabin to remove the man from the plane.

Passengers were safely evacuated, and luggage was lined up on the ground for inspection by bomb-sniffing dogs.

The passenger, also a Nigerian, was a businessman who was sick and posed no security threat, said two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident.

The traveler in question had "spent a lengthy time in the restroom," FBI spokeswoman Sandra Berchtold said.

"This raised concerns so an alert was raised. ... The investigation shows that this was a non-serious incident and all is clear at this point," she said.

The passenger was released after questioning, Berchtold said.

The man used the bathroom several times during the trip and refused to come out as the plane was preparing to land, said Lester Robinson, head of the Wayne County Airport Authority.

"The guy didn't want to stay in his seat," said Henna Solamaa, a traveler from Finland who was aboard the Airbus 330 on Sunday.

Passengers apparently saw no cause for concern until the man got up to go to the bathroom after crew members told passengers to stay in their seats for the last hour of the flight. Witnesses said people seemed more concerned that somebody was defying crew orders, not that the man seemed suspicious.

Tim Jeronimus said crew members banged on the bathroom door several times, and the passenger refused to get out.

The Jeronimus family was sitting near the passenger. They were returning home to Ann Arbor, Mich., from a visit with relatives in the Netherlands.

Just two days earlier, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, attempted to destroy a plane by igniting an explosive on his body shortly before arrival in Detroit, the FBI says. Passengers pounced on him to extinguish the flames.

That scare has led to new security rules that were a factor in Sunday's incident. Passengers were told to stay in their seats and keep their laps clear for the final hour.

"Even if you're sick, you have to pay respect to what the flight crew is saying," said Robert Ficano, Wayne County chief executive.

Gregory Tucker, 42, of The Hague, Netherlands, said he didn't see or hear any disruption.

"It didn't seem particularly effective," Tucker said of the new security rules.

Hitesh Desai said he was anxious throughout the incident.

"It does feel surreal that this is happening," Desai, 45, of Rochester Hills, Mich., said later.

House backers of public insurance option may yield

WASHINGTON – Two House Democrats who favor a government insurance plan, a central element of health care legislation passed in their chamber, acknowledged Sunday it might have to be sacrificed as negotiators work out a final agreement with the Senate.

Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House and one who had appealed to President Barack Obama not to yield on the public plan, set out conditions for yielding himself.

Asked during rounds on the Sunday news shows whether he could vote for a final bill that does not embrace a public plan, Clyburn said: "Yes, sir, I can."

Clyburn added: "We want a public option to do basically three things: Create more choice for insurers, create more competition for insurance companies, and to contain costs. So if we can come up with a process by which these three things can be done, then I'm all for it. Whether or not we label it a public option or not is of no consequence."

While insisting "it's not dead," Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said he recognizes realities in the Senate, where Democrats had to scrape up every vote from their side even to pass a bill without a government plan to compete in the private insurance marketplace.

"Before the House was to give up the public option, we would want to be persuaded that there are other mechanisms in whatever bill comes out that will keep down premiums," said Van Hollen, appearing to sketch out a bottom line without a government plan necessarily included. "We've got to make sure that the final product is affordable."

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., underscored the divisions Democrats will need to bridge when negotiators from the House and Senate meet next month to reconcile the two bills. He said there will need to be more give on the House side than the Senate, which took weeks to find the 60 votes needed for passage.

"If we are going to have a final law, it will look a lot more like the Senate version than the House version," Menendez asserted.

The Senate's Christmas Eve achievement brought the nation closer than it's been for generations to a new order in health insurance, one that would eventually require nearly all Americans to get coverage, help many pay for it and restrict onerous insurance company practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing sickness.

But nothing will change for anyone until the House and Senate can settle on common legislation, pass it and send it to Obama to sign.

The high stakes have both parties hoping they can find a few converts from the other side. Nearly every Republican in Congress has opposed the measures.

"If some of the Republicans would come forward with suggestions — offer a vote or two, or three or four — to take away the need to have every last one of the 60 Democrats, you'd have a much better bill in accordance with the tradition of the Congress, especially the Senate, on bipartisanship," said Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, himself a party switcher.

Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina voiced similar hope, to opposite ends — "a few Democrats to stand up in the House that maybe didn't before and help us stop this thing."

DeMint, Van Hollen, Menendez and Specter spoke on "Fox News Sunday." Clyburn was on CBS' "Face the Nation" and CNN's "State of the Union."

Zaid Hamid Youm Allama Iqbal Special on Dunya News

Zaid Hamid Lecture on Youm Allama Iqbal Special Aired on Dunya News.

Defeated Mentality

This noon when I was listening to the speech of Mr. Zardari I was in the company of many X-perts. I must say Mr. Zardari tried very hard to copy Z.A. Bhutto but like every field of life copy do not work in politics either, may be because of the reason that in politics situation is more important than the personality. President was trying to give many messages in an aggressive way. Till now the whole mainstream media is trying to decode the message of Mr president, but so far every analyst come up with a new translation of what Zardari said.

A few of them unanimously says that he was targeting the GHQ specifically as well as the establishment in particular. He mentioned some non state factors who are trying to rule this government out. I don't know who are these non state actors, it cant be judiciary as it's a state's organization, if he want to describe media in these words than I don't think media is as strong factor which can remove a government, and now the third thing which come in my mind is Army but how come a supreme commander of armed forces can call army as a non state actor.

To me Mr. Zardari was totally confused while he was proving his point and declaring that he is ready to face everything. I think it's the right time when all main figures of this game of chess must sit together and talk to resolve the issue. Because, if there is going to be any collapse between authorities it will end in nothing but a disaster.

One more thing which was very common rapidly heard in that speech was “I”. It was totally a ridicules thing for me to take credit of every single thing which was a result of a joint effort, circumstances or either an accident. We all know who was behind the NFC Awards “success”, friends of Democratic Pakistan was not a “crime” committed by Zardari, it was an initiative of “Mushi”, Zardari was not the one who won the battle in Swat, and last but not the least it is not Zardari who is going to build new dams.

To me being a “federal symbol” he was supposed to use the word of “we” or “our government”. While he was counting his so called accomplishments, an X-pert who was sitting with me and listening to the speech carefully, said “ you know when a leader is making speech it means he is either going or the countdown has begun”.

I don't know why, but this one line of Mr. Xpert influenced my whole opinion. Apparently President was really charged and aggressive and talking about all the conspiracies against him and the government, but to me; all the words were the production of a defited mentality. The whole government is confused on the drop scene of NRO, and trying different things like showing Sindh card, threatening to counter any act to harm the democracy.

In fact there is no strategy in the pocket of PPP to coup the whole situation, and in coming days there can be some serious thing happen. At that time it will not be easy for them to counter the whole situation and the Sindh card may act as a last resort. I think it's a time when prescient should think like a president of Pakistan, rather than a Sindhi “mazloom”, or a chairperson of PPP. Its time to decide and proof that it is not a defeated mentality.

Picture Courtesy: Associated Press of Pakistan

Pakistan released 100 Indian fisherman

Pakistan has released 100 Indian fisherman yesterday who where caught for violating the Pakistani sea space. These Fisherman are released on humanitarian grounds by Pakistan but India not shown any positive response to it yet. there are thousands of innocent Pakistani's in Indian Jails who are in jails from decades some even from 1965. i watched tv interview of a mother whose son went to India for watching Cricket series but never came back as he was arrested in India. watching that mother condition even brought tears in my eyes.

Even if sometimes some people are released by India they are so much torchered that they become mentally ill. many times dead bodies comes back from India. while releasing the terrorist Kashmir Singh and stopping the death orders of  Terrorist Sarbjeet Singh are signs of Pakistan big heart. India must also think about it.

Indian army attacks Muharram Jalooses in Occupied Kashmir

Indian army attacks different Muharram Jalooses in Kashmir that where held on 7th and 8th Muharram. Indian Soldiers attack the Jalooses in Sri Nagar, Kupvara, Hundvara and many other places and torchered the people and detained hundred of Kashmiri,s. People raised slogans of La ilaha illallah when Indian army attacked the Jaloos in Sri Nagar.

Indian army fired in air and tear gases to break the Jalooses. Jalooses of 9th and 10th Muharram are also banned by Indian Puppet Government of Occupied Kashmir which is also a slap on face of Indian so called democracy that they have actually attacked the religious freedom of Kashmir.

US drone strike kills three in N Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: A pilotless US drone aircraft attacked a suspected militant target in North Waziristan tribal region on Saturday, killing three people, officials said.

Two missiles hit a house in Sedgae village and Babar Raghzai area of North Waziristan in the attack. Two people were wounded, the officials said.

The U.S. has launched numerous missile strikes inside Pakistan’s territory, killing hundreds of civilians and dozens of suspected militants as well. Pakistan publicly protests the strikes but is believed to secretly aid them.

Earlier today, at least 10 people were killed in an exchange of fire between militants from the Ansarul Islam and Lashkar-i-Islam organisations in the Khyber agency.

Armed supporters of the two groups had taken positions and were using heavy weapons in order to target rival hideouts in the Tirrah Valley.

At least two houses were also destroyed in the clashes. Hundreds have been killed in bloody clashes between the two groups in the past five years.

Meanwhile, in Mohmand, 10 militants were killed and several injured during an exchange of fire with security forces in the Safi tehsil.

Car bomb blast in Karachi wounds 19

KARACHI: At least 19 people were injured as a blast occurred in Paposh Nagar area of the metropolis, ARY NEWS reported Saturday.

The bomb was planted in a car parked at Khilafat Chowk, SSP Javed Baloch told a private news channel.

The explosion took place as Muharram procession was passing through Paposh Nagar.

Two Rangers personnel and a woman are also among injured.

Rescue teams and ambulances arrived at the scene and ferried the injured to hospitals. Thirteen injured, including a woman, children and two security men were brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, MS Dr. Mashhood Zafar told reporters.

Heavy contingent of police and rangers arrived at the blast site and cordoned off the area.

Police authorities said the explosive device was planted on the road, and not in the car. The weight of the explosives was about 5kgs, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Wasim Ahmed said.

However, bomb disposable squad said blast could have been occurred due to blow up of car cylinder.

Indian Home Minister Chidambaram Declares Jihad = Terrorism

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram has declared Jihad as Terrorism. He was addressing to Indian Intelligence Bureau and in his lecture of 40 minutes he made very objectionable comments against Jihad. He said that Jihad objective is war against non Muslims.

He declared Jihad the main reason and inventing of Terrorism speaking against Islamic point of view about Jihad. The word comes from the word Jahda which means to strive and struggle and in Islamic context it means to struggle in way of Islam. Jihad never means killing any non muslim. Holy Quran also makes clear that killing any innocent is Haram whether he is Muslim or Non Muslim. Jihad with sword means to fight against Injustice not to kill innocents. Holy Quran says Whoever kills any innocent human being its like he killed the whole of humanity. i can show you hundreds of verses like it in Quran and sayings of Prophet Muhammad saw.

Mr Chidambaram you must read the Quran and Sayings of Holy Prophet Saw about Jihad before passing any comments against Jihad. and try to watch the main reasons of terrorism instead of blaming Islam.

Brasstacks with Zaid Hamid on Quaid Azam

Special Episode of Brasstacks with Zaid Hamid on Quaid Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. who was Quaid azam, his achievements and did he wanted to make Pakistan an Islamic state?

3 Fatah activists killed in Israeli raid

NABLUS, West Bank – Palestinian officials say Israeli troops have killed three activists of the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Anan Attireh, deputy governor of the West Bank's Nablus district, says Israeli forces opened fire while storming the homes of the men in the city of Nablus.

The Israeli military declined immediate comment.

Saturday's operation in Nablus' old city came two days after Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli in a West Bank ambush.

The West Bank has been relatively calm, and army raids against Fatah activists are unusual. Abbas and Israel have instead focused on a common foe, the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Jamaica: No guide lights when jet overshot runway

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Offshore lights that guide pilots into Jamaica's main airport had been knocked out for more than a month when an American Airlines jet landed in driving rain and overshot the runway, injuring most of the 154 people on board, officials said Friday.

An underwater electrical fault in November disrupted the 1,300-foot (400-meter) stretch of white lights on a sandbar stretching into the Caribbean Sea, according to Norman Manley International Airport operations director Stanley Smith. Pilots have been regularly advised about the outage, and the runway itself was fully lit, he said.

"The airport has been fully operational since (the outage) ... so we wouldn't presume that would be a cause. But clearly the investigation is still preliminary," airport vice president Mark Williams told The Associated Press.

American Airlines Flight 331 skidded off the runway as it landed in heavy rain Tuesday night, arriving from Washington's Reagan National Airport by way of Miami. The Boeing 737-800's fuselage cracked open, the left main landing gear collapsed and the nose was crushed as the plane lurched to a halt at the ocean's edge.

All 154 people aboard survived. Ninety-two were taken to hospitals, with no injuries considered life-threatening. The U.S. State Department said 76 of the passengers were Americans.

Jamaican and U.S. authorities are continuing their investigation, including whether the pilot could have avoided the accident by aborting the landing and circling for another attempt.

The Kingston airport has one runway with two designations, depending on the direction of a plane's approach. Lights leading to the other end of the runway were functioning, but wind conditions made that approach less desirable, Smith said.

The approach lights are not expected to be operating again until next month. Large planes began arriving at Norman Manley again on Thursday after being diverted to Montego Bay for two days.

Smith said there have been no other incidents of landing problems since the approach lights went out in November.

American Airlines spokeswoman Martha Pantin declined to comment on runway conditions because the investigation is still being conducted. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board's press office was closed for Christmas.

Jamaican officials expect the probe to be concluded by Sunday, though Civil Aviation Authority director general Oscar Derby told Radio Jamaica he did not know when its conclusions would be released.

___

Katz reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Campbell from Kingston.

Vitamins for health

  Vitamins for health   Vitamins and minerals are vital for good health. We normally get our supply of vitamins and minerals from our diet, although the sun stimulates the body to make the vitamin D we need. Vitamins help make sure your body's cells work properly, by controlling the

Sadqa ...?

 

Vatican to review security after papal knock-down

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican will review security procedures after a woman jumped a barrier and rushed at Pope Benedict XVI for the second time in two years, this time managing to knock him down before being pulled away by guards, the Vatican spokesman said Friday.

Benedict, 82, wasn't hurt and delivered his traditional Christmas Day greetings in 65 languages from the loggia overlooking St. Peter's Square. While a bit unsteady at first, he also delivered a short speech about the world's trouble spots without problem.

The incident in St. Peter's Basilica raised fresh questions about security for the pontiff, however, after officials said the woman involved had jumped the barrier at the 2008 Midnight Mass in a failed bid to get to the pope. She even wore the same red-hooded sweat shirt.

Italian officials also remarked on the odd similarity of the breach to an assault two weeks ago on Premier Silvio Berlusconi by a man with a history of psychological problems. The attack in Milan broke the premier's nose and two teeth.

The Vatican identified the woman involved in Thursday night's incident as Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss-Italian national with psychiatric problems who was immediately taken to a clinic for treatment. Interior Ministry officials said she lived in Switzerland and the ANSA news agency said she had traveled to Rome specifically for the Mass as she did last year.

In the 2008 case, Maiolo never managed to reach the pope and was quietly tackled by security. During Thursday night's service, she launched herself over the barricade as Benedict walked down the aisle at the start of Christmas Eve service. As security guards wrestled her to the ground, she grabbed onto Benedict's vestments, bringing him down with her.

Virtually anyone can get into a papal Mass: tickets are required but are easy to get if requested in advance. Identification cards are not necessary to gain entrance, although visitors must pass through a metal detector.

The Rev. Federico Lombardi said it's not realistic to think the Vatican can ensure 100 percent security for the pope considering he is regularly surrounded by tens of thousands of people for his weekly audiences, Masses, papal greetings and other events.

"It seems that they intervened at the earliest possible moment in a situation in which 'zero risk' cannot be achieved," he said.

The Vatican's security officials will nonetheless review the episode and "try to learn from experience," Lombardi told The Associated Press.

It was the first time a potential attacker has come into direct contact with Benedict during his nearly five-year papacy. Security analysts have frequently warned the pope is too exposed in his public appearances, but Lombardi noted that they are a necessary part of the job.

"People want to see him up close, and he's pleased to see them closely too," Lombardi said. "A zero risk doesn't seem realistic in a situation in which there's a direct rapport with the people."

While Benedict was unhurt in the fall, a retired Vatican diplomat, French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, fell and fractured his hip in the commotion. He will be operated on in the coming days at Rome's Gemelli hospital, said Nicola Cerbino, a hospital spokesman.

Etchegaray, emeritus archbishop of Marseille who headed the Vatican's justice and peace and charity offices before retiring, was seen leaving the basilica in a wheelchair after the fall. Despite the fracture, his condition was "good," Lombardi said.

The cardinal received several high-ranking visitors Friday at his hospital bedside, including Benedict's personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, and the retired Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who reported Etchegaray was "serene as always and hopes after this little operation to return home soon to continue his work," ANSA quoted Sodano as saying.

Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno remarked on the "strange" coincidence in the recent security breaches, saying "We need in some way to be more vigilant over all, because in an open and globalized world, the number of unbalanced people and their aggressiveness can increase."

Nevertheless, since the incident occurred on Vatican territory, it is up to Vatican judicial authorities to decide whether and how to proceed with any possible charges against Maiolo. Lombardi said he didn't know how the matter would be handled but noted that the Vatican justice system is usually "very benevolent."

There have been other security breaches at the Vatican.

In 2007, during an open-air audience in St. Peter's Square, a mentally unstable German man jumped a security barrier and grabbed the back of the pope's open car before being swarmed by security guards.

Then there was the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in 1981. John Paul suffered a severe abdominal wound as he rode in an open jeep at the start of his weekly audience in the Vatican piazza.

The pope is protected by a combination of Swiss Guards, Vatican police and Italian police. When he moves around St. Peter's Square during his weekly Wednesday audience, he does so in an uncovered white jeep; when he travels overseas or outside the Vatican, he usually uses one outfitted with bulletproof glass.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., the Vatican has tightened security at events where the pope is present. All visitors must pass by police to get into the square, with those entering the basilica going through metal detectors or being scanned by metal-detecting wands.

However, Sister Samira, an Indian aide to Vatican officials who attended the service and saw the incident, said she is never searched by security when she attends papal Masses, and said the same holds true for other people in religious garb.

Benedict has been remarkably healthy during his pontificate, keeping to a busy schedule and traveling around the world.

But in July, he broke his wrist during a late-night fall while vacationing in an Alpine chalet and had to have minor surgery and wear a cast for a month — an episode that highlights the risk he ran in Thursday's tumble.

Benedict celebrated this year's Christmas Eve Mass two hours earlier than the usual midnight starting time in a move by the Vatican to ease the pontiff's busy holiday schedule.

His next major appearance is scheduled for Sunday, when he joins homeless people at a Rome soup kitchen for lunch. In addition, he is due to preside over a vespers service on Dec. 31, celebrate Mass on New Year's Day and another one to mark Epiphany on Jan. 6, and then baptize babies in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 10.

Thousands of pilgrims from around the world descended on the traditional birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem for the most upbeat Christmas celebrations the Palestinian town has seen in years.

Hundreds of worshippers packed St. Catherine's Church on Manger Square for morning mass. Most were local Palestinian Christians, and the mass was celebrated in Arabic.

Some 47,000 Filipinos who fled their homes in anticipation of the eruption of the Mayon volcano shared rations of noodles, fried fish and fruit to celebrate Christmas in evacuation centers. Children opened donated presents and clowns entertained the crowds, as the government tried to keep the evacuees from slipping back to their homes.