Breakdown Of Civil Authority in Karachi

Khayaban-e-Shamsheer & Khayaban-e-Hafiz intersection - Photo AR Rafiq

As of 2012 the Khayaban-e-Shamsheer road, one of the main thoroughfares in Karachi's  Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has been designated a one way. Yet no one follows the rule, even the traffic cops aren't enforcing it. The only time there is some of semblance order is when DHA's private police are onsite.

You can try and drive on the right hand side, but at your own risk. You can blame lack of education as the cause of the mess, however when the educated elit who reside in DHA won't follow the law, or obey posted traffic signs then what more can one say or do to enforce the new rule to the broader, and largely illiterate public?

What about the traffic cops? Shouldn't they enforce the law? Why does DHA have to send their organizations police. In fact what need does DHA have in maintaining a private police force when you already have city police for maintaing law and order?

Clearly there's a communication breakdown between the various city and private authorities resulting in rampant lawlessness.

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Mark Zukerberg Ka Eid

I was leaving the house earlier today for a meeting, had my laptop in one hand and the boy who works for us here in Karachi comes out from behind asking me how he can create a Facebook account from his phone.

We had gotten him a second hand laptop to help with his school work (Metric), however it doesn't have WiFi capabilities so he's dependent on his QMobile smart phone for the internet.

Earlier this week he asked me how to upgrade the sound drivers on his laptop, as he had already downloaded several versions via his mobile device, which did not work. It was incredible to learn,  with so little knowledge and exposure to the world and the English language he was able to figure out how to download sound drivers via his mobile device and then transfer it to his laptop.

Then today the fact he knew about Facebook, and even more amazing his classmates at the Gizri Government (Urdu and Sindhi Medium) School down the street talk about Facebook is incredible. Though I'll try and delay helping him with creating a Facebook account until he completes and passes his Metric exams - as Facebook is a distraction he can do without for now :-).

Technology is indeed flattening the world, blurring traditional social and economic barriers. Is that good, well on the face of things definitely, however I can't help but wonder what are, if any the adverse affects of foreign technology being adopted within a society? What do you think?

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Free Will is a Gift...Use it or Loose It...

Most people live life on the path we set for them. Too afraid to explore any other. But once in a while people like you come along and knock down all the obstacles we put in your way. People who realize free will is a gift, you'll never know how to use until you fight for it. I think that's The Chairman's real plan. And maybe, one day, we won't write the plan. You will. -- The Adjustment Bureau 

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I wish to bring to your attention my outrage over the recent developments that are underway in the US Congress following the hearing on Baluchistan by the Oversight and Investigation Sub-committee of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Community on February 8, 2012. Needless to say the fact that a debate is taking place on Capitol Hill which in essence talks of the dismemberment of Pakistan is highly disturbing. This has the potential of having serious repercussions not only for the future of relations between Pakistan and the United States but also for the stability of the region which in turn can have serious global implications.

In this regard, I would like to point to the following:

Baluchistan is an integral part of the Pakistani federation. Pakistan is a democracy conducting itself in accordance with international law. Pakistan’s elected Parliament and the Provincial Assembly of Baluchistan, the independent judiciary, a vigorous media and a thriving civil society are all avenues for expression and seeking redress of grievances, political and economic.

The Government of Pakistan is committed to protecting fundamental rights and freedoms in all parts of Pakistan, including Baluchistan, and has initiated an extensive package of constitutional and other reforms to empower all citizens in the continuing consolidation of democracy.

Last November, a reforms package for the province of Baluchistan was unanimously passed by the Parliament of Pakistan which inter-alia states the following:

• Return of political exiles to Pakistan will be facilitated (except those known to be involved in terrorist activities)
• Trace all missing citizens, facilitating their immediate release
• Ending construction of military cantonments within the cities. Army will leave the cities and hand over security to the Frontier Constabulary (FC). The FC will also replace the Army in SUI, the city which provides gas to the entire country.
• The FC’s law-enforcement role to be under the chief minister, powers conferred under the customs act to be withdrawn and the coastguard to perform its primary duty of checking arms and narcotics smuggling
• Rs120 billion to be given as gas royalty by the Federal government to the province
• There will be ownership of Baloch citizens in oil and gas companies
• Consent of the Baluchistan legislature in launch of all mega development projects
• 10 percent of profits to be allocated for development of areas with natural resources
• Constitutional matters to be settled by Constitutional Reforms Committee of Parliament
• Restructuring of National Finance Commission Award criteria to benefit maximum number of people within the province
• Judicial probe to be held into killings of Akbar Bugti and other Baloch leaders
• Release of all political workers except those charged with heinous crimes
• Political dialogue with all stakeholders is being conducted
• End of all security operations targeting the Baloch except actions against terrorism
• The Federal Government to immediately give 20 per cent from its 30 per cent shares in
• Saindak project to the province, which will exclusively own it on completion and after
• withdrawal of the foreign company
• Judicial probe into the allotment of land at Gwadar
• Special quota in HEC scholarships to ensure access of education
• 5,000 additional jobs at the earliest
• Parliament Committee on National Security to monitor package implementation

Res

In January 2012, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik constituted a task force for the implementation of Balochistan package. The interior secretary would head the task force while additional secretaries of ministries concerned would be its members. According to Interior Ministry, keeping in view the complaints from various quarters, a close monitoring system is needed to be evolved to check progress of the implementation by ministries and departments concerned. It is, therefore decided that the concerned ministries would prepare their suggestions to evolve a system to make it more expeditious and result-oriented mechanism for the implementation of package.

The Interior Minister was informed that many matters relating to provincial government have not yet been implemented and they need immediate attention of the provincial government. Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Coast Guards have been strictly prohibited from intercepting any vehicle on the RCD highway. Now they will not stop any vehicle and take it to road side with the purpose of checking. The interior secretary has been asked to ensure this from the IG FC and DG Coast Guard.

The other decisions taken at the meeting pertained to follow up of the policy of the government that all contractual employees recently recruited under the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan in the federal government departments would stand regularised from January 20. The federal government had asked the provincial government to regularise all the employees recruited under the package and being funded by the federal government.

It is unfortunate that the Congressional hearing was marked by a blatant disregard for history and inflammatory use of selective facts. It is deeply regrettable that the legislature of a country that calls itself a friend of Pakistan should allow itself to be used as a platform by those advocating the dismemberment of Pakistan. This kind of exercise constitutes interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

The hearing will be detrimental to building mutual trust and confidence and will add to suspicions in Pakistan about the US’ motives in the region and concerning Pakistan. The bilateral relationship and the joint Pakistan-US fight against terrorism will be major casualties at a sensitive moment when the two countries need to focus the most on defeating this common enemy.”

(Details of the Baluchistan package are placed below for use by the Community)