Imran Khan and the three kids at the rally

It was sometime in 2009.  We were criss-crossing around a vast Lahore metropolis visiting PTI camps put up to begin the party membership drive.  Khan wanted to personally meet the party workers and offers words of encouragement.  Several hours later, only half the camp visits were done and another half still left to go.  It was nearing midnight.  Right after our lone vehicle crossed the Allama Iqbal bridge and entered Chah Miran, the traffic came to a complete halt and remained jam packed and unmoved for over an hour.  Somehow the conversation turned to upcoming political rallies.  Khan chided one of the provincial leaders in the car for not making a greater effort to ensure media coverage of a successful rally recently held.  

Than on a lighter note, Khan began to recount how just a few weeks earlier, a provincial general secretary (GS) of PTI had insisted Khan take part in a rally the GS wanted to showcase.  The GS picked Khan from the airport and all along talked about the event he had organized and how Khan would be impressed with the turn out.  It was a long drive but Khan said he kept patient thinking it must be a massive crowd and the long drive would be worth it.  

"When we got to the venue, there were only three kids waving PTI flags," said Khan shaking his head with a faint smile of disbelief. 

Every time I see a PTI rally today, bursting with crowds that dwarf large open venues, I always remember this story Imran Khan told us.  

For one thing, I do not know of any person anywhere who has nothing more to gain from life but works like he has nothing to lose.  

As a consequence, the guy's wife left him, taking away his kids.  I wondered then, if (at that time) after 14 years of grueling political struggle, of losing his family, with 180 million people mocking him, of all analysts declaring him a failure over and over again, I wondered if, when after all Khan saw at the promised mass rally were those three kids, he questioned his resolve to continue?  Or when he was stuck in traffic that refused to move, did he wonder about the value of his efforts?  

Today when the nation has been infected by Imran Khan's quest to bring change and has captured the nation's imagination singing the mantra of a new country, it is very easy to see it as a validation of all his efforts.  Soon it may even become inconvenient to mention the years of seemingly hopeless struggles.  

But I hope when in the future when his feats are re-told, it will focus not on all the challenges he overcame, but on the battering he took while attempting to win.  

Conventional wisdom may break down the resolve to continue pursuing a struggle after 14 years.  To call it a day.  But I know that when Imran Khan saw those three kids at that rally, the only thought in his mind was:  

"This country is ripe for change!"

Belief in ones self is the most valuable lesson Khan can give to Pakistanis.  Aside from an electoral victory of course! 

Shaheed Bhagat Singh

“The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation here after, but to make the best use of it here below; and not to realise truth, beauty and good only in contemplation, but also in the actual experience of daily life; social progress depends not upon the ennoblement of the few but on the enrichment of democracy; universal brotherhood can be achieved only when there is an equality of opportunity - of opportunity in the social, political and individual life.— from Bhagat Singh's prison diary, p. 124” 
― Bhagat Singh, The Jail Notebook And Other Writings

Here's a guy on the verge of receiving capital punishment, a dead man walking, and instead of destroying his dignity and integrity like so many have done either in old age or on their death bed by shunning all that makes sense in favor of all that doesn't, this 23 year-old man mocks the fabricated fear of the afterlife by celebrating reason as he awaits the hangman's noose while scribbling away in jail in the city of Lahore.  

Water, the source for Prices

It's a little strange hearing folks from different countries citing drought as a reason for poor crops or lack of output.  It highlights the benefits Pakistani farmers have in many cases with the irrigation system. 

When I was farming, I'd worry about the tube well breaking down and the lack of electricity exacerbated the poor corn crops of 2011, but by and large, the availability of water was certain. 

When I speak to farmers or traders from Argentina or Southwest United States, drought/lack of water is not an unheard of phenomenon.  In fact, it's almost expected.  Prices for different products shoot up.  The lack of water still moves the world, like in many ways it did the ancient Egyptians and Harrapans.  

On the other hand, I recently read about the Swarna variety of rice - it's cheap and whats more, a new breed is capable of growing even after being submerged in flood waters for 15 days.  

Hazaras and Turis Australia Bound

There are a lot of cab drivers from Kurram Agency in Dubai, specifically from Parachinar.  Being Turi Shia, they tend to be quite 'pro-Pakistan Army' as they've been at the receiving end of sectarian violence.  For them, the enemy and dangers won't go away after NATO leaves.  Their enemies are people who speak their own language, read their own Koran and pray in the same direction.

Like the Hazaras of Quetta, they have also begun seeking safer pastures.  One of the cab drivers said that the first 200 Parachinaris have made it to Australia after heading to an Indonesian island close by and illegally entering Aussie waters.  They are lured by dreams of jobs, a passport in 3 years and more importantly living in a place where they will not be open targets for believing in a different form of religion.  He expects droves of his fellows to follow suit.

Thirst for oil

The power crisis reflects how the traditional political forces have used up all the possibilities to delay the inevitable:  switching to hydro-based or locally generated options to generate electricity.  The economics has caught up with them.  The thirst for commissions through a preference to import oil will be punished come election time.

Bol: A Review and a Thank You to Shoman

Sometimes the prevalent brutality of reality subdues our senses for long enough to declare barbaric actions as legitimate.  Barbaric laws as legal necessities.  Allow this status quo to brew and grow for generations and centuries and it results in a stymied populace perpetually terrorizing itself through doctrinal teachings that classify and rank human beings.  Bol not only rejects the age-old foundations for grading humans based on gender, but provides inspiration to a self-terrorized society about the beautiful possibilities that emerge if we choose to speak up and break the shackles inherited from the past. 

Shoaib Mansoor (Shoman) knows how to paint a story in all its hues without losing the end picture if you will.  His previous works are a homage, a reverence and a celebration of dance, poetry, music and art.  His foray into film with Khuda Kay Liyay gave the impression that Shoman was not content with making great music or entertaining television serials.  He wanted to take on a society that was increasingly duplicitous and constantly bending to the whims of obscurantism and willing to bury its beautiful heritage.  With Bol he has again come out all guns blazing.  Shoman isn't merely showing the mirror to society but goes for the jugular in a nihilist barrage against a decadent order represented by Hakim Syed Shafaatullah played by Manzar Sehbai. 

Shafaatullah's inherited but hopelessly dwindling business in herbal medicine in an era where exposure to medical science had won over the sick contrasts with his attempts to maintain a secluded, pure existence at home.  His daughters cannot leave home much less work.  However, his unmet desire to father a male child infuriates him and the frustration is taken out against the females of his household. 

In many ways it is a reflection of contemporary Pakistani Muslim society which cannot cope with the brutal truths of science and seeks remedies in the shrubs of faith.  When that doesn't work economically weak individuals, groups and minorities are made scapegoats and used to create a mirage of power for the majority. 

But this is a movie, not a post-modern feminist narrative.  Furthermore, it is a Pakistani movie in an era when desperate attempts to resuscitate the film industry have yet to deliver results.  Shoman continues to carry this national burden along with his socio-political message inserted in an entertainment medium.  How does a single director take up these challenges within a three hour time frame while not losing the audience? Enter Shafqat Cheema playing the role of Saqa Kanjar from the Old Lahore red light district where moral standards are turned head over heals with female children valued and males seen as a burden.  Apart from infusing the film with heavy doses of comical entertainment, the character simultaneously sets up as the foil to Hakim Shafaatullah.  While the preference for female children as future money earning prostitutes offer a resounding contrast, it also highlights the middle-class urban religious moral standards where women are only be perceived in two categories: either as heavenly pure or slutty whores.  These extreme ends give comfort to morals of mortals.  So Syed Shafaatullah can digest sleeping with a dancing girl but refuses to allow his daughters to find a clerical job since that would be morally confusing.

Today's Pakistan is society in a flux where everyday honor killings have become an acceptable norm.  The demonic of codes of honor have become the moral standards which need to be met for living a dignified life.  Thus, Saifi, the eunuch child of Shafaatullah, meets a fate often read in the headlines of daily papers.  Shoman deliberately refuses to grant audience the ease of moral extremes and constantly forces them into the grey unknowns of life where the purity of human emotions and desires prove to be more resilient and worthy of admiration than edicts and mechanical structures of faith.  When Humaima Malik declares she has committed murder, but not sinned, we are forced to question the concepts of crime and punishment in theological jurisprudence.  The sequence of sin equaling a crime necessitating punishment is broken.  A sin may not be a crime, and so negating the need for punishment. 

There are several flaws one can point to in the film.  Atif Aslam's role was under-utilized.  Cinematography was weak.  At times Humaima's dialogue turns preachy and may have been better and more powerful if left unsaid - but then again, the title of the movie suggests otherwise. 

Shoman's ability to hit the nerves sets him apart from from many a famous director and script writer.  He could achieve far greater success and fame if he stuck to merely entertaining audiences.  But Shoman uses cinema with all its potential to plant the seeds of change.  Khuday Kay Liyay was one of the three most successful films of all time.  To this day, its music and message cause headaches as they confront the conservative orders of society.  Bol goes several steps further.  Sometime from now, the National College of Arts or other institutions teaching film studies, will be analyzing these films that carry within them both the analysis of a nation as well as a positive vision for the future. 

Hasan Dars: A poet I never knew

I read about the passing of the poet Hasan Dars and am bewildered by the knowledge that I never came across him or his poetry before. 


I wish I had read him when he was alive.  The sprinkled translations I've read remind of the the modernist persian poets. 

Oothan valay tur jaan gay

Hazrat Umar Khayam understood it the best.  Here it is sung.

A matter of mere perception

Unless the perception of Pakistanis is harnessed in favor of the fight against terrorists and miscreants, no matter how many ‘high value targets’ are killed, the entire exercise to bring law and order will go in vain. Recall how radically the national opinion in Swat changed after Sufi Muhammad rejected the Pakistan Constitution followed by the video of the flogging. The Swat operation was given a chance of success once the it became an issue of Pakistan’s laws vs. a lunatics. Similarly, unless this war is completely perceived to be Pakistan’s – ie between Pakistanis who want the supremacy of the Constitution and those who want their want to prop up a pre-tribal society, no matter how convincing an argument presented against terrorism, it will fail. Like it has miserably failed the past ten years. Rather than seek more of the same, in greater magnitude, a radical break from all previous alliances is necessary to bring about the all important perception that no one can carry a weapon much less use it outside the security forces.

Win the hearts and minds by ridding ourselves of the perception that this war is being fought at behest of someone. We will always be in a better position to tackle terrorism even if turns into a mini-civil war. But what exists now is a war of attrition where the foreign powers have the option to wipe their hands clean without any obligation or much fear of consequences. We have no such option and will always live with the consequences. Better those consequences are determined by our own unilateral action.

A clean break in policy

Mere tweaking of policies in the hope of altering the downward spiral of the nation's trajectory are an exercise in vain. Only a clean break from the past 30 years of policies can offer a way forward.

Pakistan's civilian leadership remains happily passive to a swirl of events.  Perhaps they are waiting for the military to buckle under pressure and willingly agree to become subservient to the civilian leadership.  Or, perhaps the civilian leadership is hoping they will never have to tackle the terrorist onslaught and the military's monster is best left for the military to destroy.

Regardless, a dire situation with no upturn in sight. 

PTI's Dharna against Drone Attacks

PTI has successfully latched onto an issue that it can own with the holding of the second dharna against drone strikes in Karachi. 

The basic premise is sound:  The policy of entangling oneself with the US in Afghanistan will continue to have an escalating blow back for Pakistan.  35,000 Pakistanis have been murdered since 9/11 and terrorism rises every day.  The policy has failed.  Repeating the same will only exacerbate the situation. 


So a need to come up with alternatives.  Going against drone attacks is a no-brainer as almost everyone agrees that they not only enraging more people as a vast majority of those killed have nothing to do with the perpetrators of terrorist attacks.  Even more importantly, no country should be allowed to attack national territory.  So it's very easy to sway public opinion on side against drone attacks. 


Normally, whenever Chairman Khan took a stance on an issue, other parties jumped in and spoke louder than him for the same stance hijacking the issue.  This time, 'Dharna against Drone Attacks' is all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.  It's a stance with only upsides to it. 

More than likely, the drone attacks will cause more harm than good, and PTI will be there to reap the political rewards having lead for a change in policy on this issue.  A compromised political leadership, a military leadership financially entangled with foreign aid all function to isolate the establishment players.  PTI can only gain from this. 

Posing for the firing squads

One cannot dispute the single-minded resolve of the people across the Mediterranean Arab world for change.  The droves that come out of their homes everyday and face the firing squads are no less sincere in their desire for seeking change than 18th century French or the revolutionaries of Iran. 

I find poetry conveniently missing in the reporting of massacres of protesters in the global media.  There are only brief moments in generations that revolutionary movements occur.  Time knocks on the Mediterranean.  Unfortunately, perhaps the TV, Film and Media industries prefer revolutions nicely scripted through paid writers instead of leaving them in the hands of those posing for the firing squads. 

Punjabi Months

1. Po [December]
2. Maagh [Jan]
3. Phagan [Feb]
4. Chaiter [March]
5. Baisaakh [April]
6. Jaytth [May]
7. Haarr [June]
8. Saavan [July]
9. Bhaadroun [August]
10. As-suu [Sept]
11. Kat-aa [October]
12. Magar [Novermber]

Mickey Mouse Revolutions?

The revolutions of Arabia are, not surprisingly, turning out to be mickey mouse revolutions at best.  Egypt is firmly in the grip of the military dictators who are attempting to cushion the blows of the young against an old order.  Libyan nationalists, hoping to secure a different future find themselves, again not surprisingly, stuck between a senile old leader trying to wipe them out and NATO air strikes meant to convey who controls the ace card as well as invite the side willing to sign a Faustian pact vis a vis oil contracts.  Bahrain is now occupied by the defender of the two holy mosques.  The Yemeni leader is willing to leave but only after handpicking his successor.

Attempts to stage manage the aspirations of the people who seek change seem to be an exercise in vain. But regional an international forces would much like to see a mere facade of the new with cosmetic changes rather than what the protesters demand.  
More things change...

Post Cricket Semi-Final Analysis by Sabzi Mandi Vendors

"Sister-fuckers!"

"They lost a match that was won!"

"Sons of thieves!"

"Sister-fuckers!"

Gaddafi's last stand

As Tunisia and Egypt went down to anti-government protesters, the message for the rest of the Middle Eastern regimes was to stand up and fight it out.  Unfortunately, this is no longer an age when media and channels of communications can be curtailed. 

However, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen are next in line for the battles for regime change.  Bahraini leadership seems to have over-played its violent hand and now the opposition looks like it has won the upper hand.  Back in 1994, I was privy to some of the ethnic strife when I'd travel through the congested areas around the Yateem Center.  Apparently much of Bahrain's police force was recruited from Pakistani Punjabis - who were often targeted by the majority community.  The sunni royalty of Bahrain will probably give up most of it's power to the majority group(s) in exchange for ensuring that Iran has negative impact on future policy decisions.  For a regime that will inevitably fall, the other oil rich Arab states in the region are going to press the Bahraini royalty to do them a favor and gain something out of the fall. 

Gaddafi's Libya is crushing the Benghazi rebellion seeking a full-fledged battle.  It reflects how these protesters are not seeking a compromise.  Both sides know it's a 'do-or-die' scenario, a zero-sum game.  There is no notion of 'truth-and-reconciliation' commissions being formed.  The successes of Tunisia, Egypt and eventually Bahrain, is proving to be contagious. 

Although so far Egypt and Tunisia seem like a case of 'aasman say utra, khajuur main atka' (i.e. out of the pan and into the fire) so far, the middle class which has lead these movements will nevertheless find common ground in other nations as well.  Right now, it's only a 'half-victory' at best.  But it's unlikely that the ruling elites will be able to convince the people to accept a change of face in return for maintaining a status quo for too long. 

If Gaddafi fails to remain in power despite causing a bloodbath, it will signal serious trouble for Algeria and more importantly, other oil-rich Arab states. 

Developing a mindset for tourism

The pitfalls from a lack of vision can be seen in the lost opportunities in the tourism sector of Pakistan.  This is an industry that first and foremost requires a mindset not merely of tolerance and acceptability of others, but a desire to see others arrive and spend their wealth in the national economy. 

There is an overabundance of historical, social, religious and most of all scenic sites in the country which can be showcased to entice foreign currencies from around the world. 

Historical centers of Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism are located here.  Millions from India would welcome the move to open the borders for visits to Hinglaj.  Religious tourism has proven to be a bonanza for the Saudi authorities and Pakistan need not shy away from advertising itself as a center for many religious events. The massive Tablighi Ijtima could also be marketed globally and may even rival the events in Arabia. 

If despite the villainous image of the Pharoah in the Holy Koran, Egyptians still cherish their ancient civilizations and earning billions of dollars annually off of them, and if Iranians are inspired by the pre-Islamic Kings of the Shahnama-e-Firdousi, it is embarrassing to see Pakistan deny its historical and religious venues from generating money. 

To be fair, it is not the preference for any one religion which has wrecked the desire to own the nation's heritage.  It is the general lack of a mindset for appreciating a past of this land and the people it has raised over thousands of years.  The decaying walls of the Shalimar Garden, its littered fountains, the underground tunnels once said to be used by the Mughal Kings closed due to the piled garbage dump of the locality all reveal a disregard and a subconscious disdain for the past. 

There are nations forced to stretch their wildest imaginations in order to sell the importance of their nation and culture.  And there are those like Pakistan who are afflicted with amnesia when it comes to the rich history of its lands.  Perhaps if its leaders saw the tremendous money-making and money-milking potential in tourism, there would a plunge for promoting this industry.  Granted times are rough, but there are enough emotions attached to Hazrat Guru Nanak and Sati Devi and rock formations of the fasting Buddha and the annual Tablighi bashes to convince the pious to ignore the threats and pay homage to the divine venues of Pakistan. 

Imanae Malik haunts Doctors Hospital

Negligence on part of doctors at Lahore's 'most expensive' hospital, known as 'Doctors Hospital', has ruffled, if not shaken those who are performing the duty of saving lives.

The negligence leading to the death of the child Imanae (website: www.imanae.co.uk) has already resulted in the closure of the pharmacy at the hospital for selling 'fake drugs' and not handling temperature sensitive drugs correctly.  The fight against malpractice is lead by the parents of the unfortunate child.  However, holding the mighty accountable is a responsibility of everyone. 

Those who own and run Doctors Hospital are among the wealthiest individuals in the profession.  They are currently running a counter campaign on local television channels in which selected poor patients are (suddenly though not surprisingly) being given free-of-cost treatment to help alleviate the abrasive criticism from the death of Imanae Malik.

However, what is required is an independent body that oversees and enforces at least some of the basic criteria and standards of those practicing medicine.  Doctors will make mistakes.  Doctors, like any other professional, will mostly be concerned about what they are making in financial gains.  Moral behavior will be hard to regulate.

However, there is no excuse for having 'fake' medications or not storing them properly.  Nor is it difficult to ensure that quacks and those who do not have degrees be prevented from practicing (something that may have contributed to Imanae's death).  Such small things can easily be controlled.  And be the first step toward preventing future losses.

NRO Beneficiaries

For what it's worth:

The accused (and their accusations)

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Law and Justice under the direction of the prime minister on Saturday released official lists containing names of government servants and others who benefited from the NRO.

These include: (NAB-Punjab & NAB Rawalpindi) Govt servants & others

1. Muhammad Ahmad Sadiq, Ex-Principal Secretary to PM (Assets beyond means); 2. Javaid Ahmad Qureshi, Chief Secretary (Fraud in ZCL’s contracts) ; 3. Anwar Hussain, SDO Gepco, Wapda and 2 LS Gepco, Wapda; 4. Saif Ullah LS; 5. Syed Sultan Ali Shah LS (Accused persons demanded illegal gratification for TW connections); 6.Muhammad Arshad, Line Superintendent Wapda City Sub-Division, Sammundri, Faisalabad (Non deposit of Rs 1,19,670); 7. Syed Ehsan Ali Shah LS Wapda (Corruption/ bribery); 8. Munawar Hussain Asstt Divisional Engr PTCL; 9. Muhammad Ashfaq Naz asstt Engr; 10. Muhammad Shahid PTCL Exch Samanabad (Misused complainant’s telephone as PCO through forgery and fraud Amount Rs0.827M); 11. Mirza Saeed Ahmed, Line Supdtt; 12. Akbar Ali, LS; 13. Allah Wassaya, M/Reader (Misuse of authority causing loss to govt exchequer (Rs0.442M); 14. Hakim Din, Registration Clerk; 15. Sardar Ali, Clerk Nadra Kasur; 16. Nadir Khan (Issuance of forged NIC); 17. Naeem-ud-Din, Ex-UDC 16 Military Estate Officer Sialkot Cantt (Misappropriation of Rs0.71M through 37 Treasury receipt); 18. Hanif Ahmad Rahi, Assistant Audit Officer, Defence Audit, Sargodha (Raid Trap Case); 19. Abbas Ali Senior Auditor; 20. Muhammad Safdar Hussain, Senior Auditor; 21. Abuzur Jaffri (Absconder )Ex-Cameraman, Wild Life Deptt, Punjab ; 22 Muneer-ud-Din Chaudhry ,Ex-Sr. Auditor; 23. Abdul Razzaq Bhatti, Asst Superintendent; 24. Mehar Sajjad Ahmed, Ex Counter Clerk F-12; 25. Mirza Muhammad Ayub, Ex-Accounts Officer

; 26. Muhammad Iqbal Shah, Ex-Accounts Officer; 27. Mukhtar Ahmed Accounts Officer (Retd); 28. Malik Shahamat Ali accounts Officer (Retd); 29. Mian Abdul Rehman, Ex-Accounts Officer (r); 30. Muhammad Shafique, Ex Asst A/c Offr 31. Syed Javed Hassan, Ex-Senior Auditor; 32. Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Ex-J/Auditor; 33. Irshad Hussain, Ex-Senior Auditor; 34. Tariq Mehmood Typist (BPS-5), AG Office Lahore in Abuzar Jaffri case (Misappropriation of govt funds (Rs59M)(Rs2.6M); 35. CH. Nazir Ahmed, Disstt Food Controller ; 36 M. Safiullah Awan, Food Grain Supervisor; 37. Muhammad Hussain, Office Superintendent; 38. M. Farooq Khan, Ex-Distt Food Controller (Misuse of authority Causing loss of Rs2.4M to exchequer in allocation of wheat quota to flour mills); 39. Dr Shahzad Munawar (Textile Quota); 40. Amjad Hussain Sandhal, Suspended Tehsildar, Ex Land Acquisition collector; 41. Syed Zahir Hussain; 42. Ghulam Mustafa; 43 Muhammad Hanif; 44. Sidiq Muhammad; 45 Sameer Amjad (Misuse of authority/Corruption in acquisition of land); 46. Muhammad Siddique, SE Public Health Engineer, circle Sahiwal (Assets); 47. Muhammad Asad Lali, Ex-LAC Motorways NHA ( Misuse of authority); 48. Rasheed Ahmed Patwari, Tech & Distt Lodhran (Assets Case); 49. Mirza Sher Muhammad, Ex-Accountant (BS- 14) SSP office Muzaffargarh (Assets Case); 50. Seth Nisar Ahmad (Misappropriation of Customs duty); 51. Murid Ahmad Baloch, Ex-XEN Pak PWD (Assets Case); 52. Zahid Mahmood, Ex-Senior Assistant State Life Insurance Corp, Faisalabad (Misappropriation and forgery); 53. Afzaal Hussain Qazi, Appraiser Customs Dry Port Sambrial, Sailkot(Misappropriation); 54. Shaukat Hussain Shah, Purchases Inspector (PI) PASSCO Lahore Misappropriation of wheat); 55. Maqbool Ahmad, Assistant Purchase Insp (Misappropriation of wheat); 56 Amanullah Sidhu, Project Manager; 57. Hameed-ur-Rehman, Zonal Head; 58. Noor Jamal XEN PWD, Multan and others (Assets beyond means); 59. Sardar Muhammad Naseem, Ex-Junior Clerk, DC Officer Lahore (Assets beyond means) Ishtiaq Ahmed Awan; 60. Muhammad Usman, Ex-UDC (Embezzlement in refund vouchers); 61. Arshad Mehmood LDC Income Tax Multan (Embezzlement in refund vouchers); 62. Muhammad Akhtar; 63. Waheed-ur-Rehman; (Embezzlement in refund vouchers)64. Ishtiaq Ahmad Awan, (Co-accused in Malik Mushtaq Ahmad Awan, Ex-MPA case); 65. Ahmad Raiz Sheikh, Ex Deputy Director FIA; 66. Mr. Hussain Haqqani ex-Secretary (Information & Broadcasting)( Co accused in Ms BB Case of TV channel) : 67. Brig (R) Aslam Hayat Qureshi ex-Secretary Commerce ( Co accused in ARY Gold case); 68. Mr AR Siddiqui ex-Chairman CB (Co accused in AAZ & BB Cases); 69. Saeed Mehdi ex-Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ( Co accused in Polo ground case) ; 70. Javed Talat ex-Secretary Finance; 71. Salman Farooqi ex-Secretary Commerce; 72. Rehman A. Malik, Ex-Addl DG FIA; 73. Ibrar Hussain Junior Auditor CMA; 74. Inam ur Rehman Sehri, Ex-SP Railways; 75. Ch. Muhammad Aslam Ex-DC CDA; 76. Muhammad Amin, ex-DC CDA; 77. Shaukat Ali Ex-DC CDA; 78. Abdul Ghafoor Dogar, Ex-Secretary CDA; 79. Mushtaq Ahmed Baloch, Ex-AD CDA; 80. Muhammad Ismail Ex-Sub Engineer CDA; 81. Ahmed Khan Ex-DC CDA; 82. Atta Ullah Khan Ex-Account officer CDA; 83. Muhammad Farooq, Ex-Patwari CDA; 84. Muzamil Hussain Ex-Patwari CDA; 85. Dawood Khan, Copy Clerk CDA; 86. Muhammad Iqbal, Ex DD Planning CDA; 87. Habib Ullah Tasnim, Asst. Manager, Central Army Press, GHQ; 88. Muhammad Saeed Ex-Asst. Store Keeper, Central Army Press, GHQ; 89. Mohi ud Din Jameeli, Ex-DG Services CDA; 90. Muhammad Ashfaq, Ex-DD CDA; 91. Raheel J. Qureshi, OGDC; 92. Muhammad Farooq, Official of GPO; 93. Salim Raza Official of GPO; 94. Muhammad Anwar Official of GPO; 95. Muhammad Akhtar Official of GPO; 96. Arshad Mehmood Official of GPO; 97. Raja Zahid Hussain Ex-Tehsildar Rwp; 98. Abul Naeem Khan Ex DG ML&C; 99. Sh. Muhammad Amin Ex SSD MEO, Rwp; 100. Abdul Hayee Qamar, AD Land ML&C

101. Qazi Naeem Ahmed Ex DG ML&C; 102. Abdul Ghafoor Khan; 103. Muhammad Ali; 104. Sharif Alma Padri; 105. Muhammad Zaheer Khan Ex-Chairman SLIC; 106 Iqbal Ahmed Ex-DG NHA; 107. Raees M. Irshad, Ex CE CAA; 108. Ghulam Qadir Lakhan Official of CAA; 109. Shafique Siddiqi Official of CAA; 110. Ahmed Hussain GM (W) CAA; 111 Iqbal Bangash GM(W) CAA; 112. Khurshid Anwar Dy. Manager CAA; 113. M. Akbar Suptd CAA; 114. AD Abbasi Div. Accountant; 115. Kh Farooq Ahmed Jr. Accountant; 116. Rafique Shad Corporate Manager; 117. Ikram Ul Haq Mirza, Ex-Deputy Manager CAA, Rawalpindi; 118. Jaffar Muhammad, Ex. Ed OGDC; 119. Khalid Subhani, Ex-GM OGDC; 120. Capt (R) Nazir Ahmed Ex-Chief Procurement; 121. Najam ul Hassan Ex-Manager OGDC; 122. Muhammad Ishaq; 123. Muzaffar Ul Hassan Ex-Asstt Manager; 124. Capt (Retd) Naseer Ahmed Ex-Secretary; 125. Shahid Ahmed, DG OGDC; 126. Qammar Hussain Shah Ex-Principal Project OGDC; 127. M. Isreal Khan Ex-Dy Chief; 128. Bashir Ahmed Bhatti Ex-Manager OGDC; 129 Murid Ahmed Baloch, Ex-XEN; 130. Sadaqat Ali, Sub Engineer PWD; 131. Khalid Mehmood Nasir, Ex-Sub Engineer PWD; 132. M. Akram Rao, AEE PWD; 133. Rashif Mujeeb siddique, Ex-Div Accounts officer; 134 M. Aslam Shahid Ex-Cashier; 135 Zahid Ullah Khan, Ex-AEE PWD; 136. Zakim Khan Mahsood, XEN MES; 137. Sadiq Ali Khan, EX-MD USC; 138. Sikandar Ali Abbasi; 139. Din Muhammad; 140. Ahmed Yar Gondal Ex-Sub-Engineer; 141. Amin Jan Deputy GM PTCL; 142. Peer Mukarram Ul Haq EX-PCP; 143. Usman Ghani Khatri, Privatization Commission of Pakistan; 144. Brig (R) Imtiaz Ahmed 145. Adnan A. Khawaja; 146. Nadeem Imtiaz; 147. Ch. Shaukat Ali, Ex-Chairman Zila Council (Zila Council Fraud case); 148. Haji Kabir Khan ex-MNA (Zila Council Fraud case); 149. Ch Zulfiqar Ali, Ex-Chairman Zila Council/ex-MPA (Zila Council Fraud case); 150. Muhammad Jehangir Badar, Ex-MNA/Federal Minister (Assets Corruption in SSGC); 151. Malik Mushtaq Ahmad Awan, Ex-MPA (Embezzlement in Octroi contracts); 152. Rana Nazir Ahmad, Ex-MNA/Minister (Assets case Misuse of authority); 153. Mian Muhammad Rashid, Ex-MPA (Assets/illegal appointment); 154. Mrs Nusrat Bhutto, Ex-MNA (Assets case); 155. Tariq Anees, Ex-MPA (Assets beyond means); 156. Ch Abdul Hameed, Ex-MNA/Mayor Sargodha (Assets beyond means); 157. Mian Tariq Mehmood, Ex-MPA of Gujrat; 158. Haji Muhammad Nawaz Khokhar, Ex-MNA/Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan;

159. Asif Ali Zardari ex-MNA ( Received kickbacks from SGS PSI Company, Grant of license to ARY Gold which caused loss to govt, Corruption in purchase of URSUS Tractors under Awami Tractor Scheme, Illegal award of contract to Cotechna for pre-shipment, Assets beyond means Case, Received Kickbacks from Sajjad Ahmed (late) ex Chairman Pak Steel Mills, Illegal construction of Polo ground at PM House, Money Laundering SGS Swiss Case);

160. Nawab M Yousaf Talpur Ex-MNA (Co accused in URSUS Tractors Case);

161. Anwar Saifullah Khan ex-MNA/Federal Minister (Misuse of authority in allocating LPG/Appointments); 162. Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, ex-Federal Minister for Commerce and Industry; 163. Sardar Mansoor Laghari, Ex-MNA, (Corruption in Utility Stores Corporation) Sadiq Ali Khan.

Govt servants & others (NAB Sindh)

164. Muhammad Usman Farooqui Ex-Chairman, Pakistan Steel Mills ( Caused loss to PSM through illegal disposal of 15.93MT of ends cuts, Procurement of Ferro Sillicon at higher rates);165. Mashkoor Ahmed Usman; 166. Aurangzeb; 167. Moin Ul Arfeen, Dir (Finance) PSM; 168. Akhtar H. Askari; 169. Kher M. Kalochi (Purchases on exorbitant prices for PSM); 170. Syed Iqtedar Rasool; 171. Qaiser Raza; 172. Irfanuddin; 173. Hasanuddin; 174. Qurtabn Ali Jatoi; 175. Mushtaque Ali Jatoi (Caused loss to PSM through import of PIG Iron); 176. Yousuf Jamal Salee; 177. Moin Ul Arfeen Dir (Finance) PSM; 178. Abdul Sattar Dero, GM PQA; 179. Pir Deedar Ahmed Sarhandi AVP, HBL, HO, Karachi; 180. Muhammad Younus Dalia Ex-President of HBL; 181. Rehman Malik S/o Feroz Din Ex-DG FIA & others; 182. Muhammad Sharif Qureshi,

183. Moeen Ashraf; 184. Sajjad Haider; 185. Muhammad Nawaz Butt collector Customs, Karachi; 186. Imtiaz Ali Taj CE M/s Charly Ent; 187. Khalid Aziz Examining Officer Customs; 188. Mumtaz Ali Changezi, Assistant collector Custom

189. Imtiaz Ali Taj; 190. M. Nawaz Butt; 191. Khalid Aziz; 192. Nayyar Bari, Ex-DG Textile Quota (17 Cases); 193. Anees Alam Ex-DD EPB (20 cases) (Illegal allotment of textile quota. B forgery/fraud. C Obtain illegal benefits in connivance with exporters); 194. Akram Alam ex-DG Textile Quota (11 cases);195. Syed Arifeen Ex-Dir (Textile Quota, 9 case); 196. (M.B) Moula Bux Abbasi S/o Nabi Bux Abbasi Ex-Chairman, NBP (Corruption and corrupt practices/loan default) ; 197. Agha Ishrat Ali, Assistant Director FIA and others (Assets beyond means); 198. Siraj Saleem Shamusuddin, Additional Secretary (Retd) (Illegal appointment); 199. Muhammad Salman Farooqui, Ex-Secretary (Retd) Commerce (a: Illegal allotment of textile quota. B, forgery/fraud. C, Obtain illegal benefits in connivance with exporters); 200. Chaudhary Muhammad Sharif, EX-Deputy Director (immigration ) FIA ( Assets beyond means); 201. Javed Iqbal Mirza, Ex-Addl Commissioner Income Tax, Karachi (Assets beyond known sources of income); 202. Aftab Ahmed, Ex-DMD, KW& SB, Karachi (Misuse of authority in awarding contracts); 203. Fareed Ahmed Soomro, KW&SB (Misuse of authority in awarding contracts; 204. Shadab Musrat, KW&SB; 205. Abrar Ahmed, Commissioner Income Tax, CBR (Assets beyond known sources of income); 206. Javed Bukhari, Ex-Chairman, PACO; 207. Muzzamal Niazi; 208. Irshad Ahmed Shaikh, Ex-DG PAQ and Co-accused; 209. Pir Bux Solangi, Assistant Executive Engineer, PQA; 210. Abdul Sattar Mandokhel, Businessman; 211. SM Atta ur Rehman, Ex-GM PQA; 212. Sahib Dad Mengal, Ex-DGM (BWSS & Engr) PQA; 213. Hamza Khan Gabol, Asstt Executive Engineer, PAQ; 214. Manzoor Ahmed Bhutto, Assistant Engr; 215. Engineer Telephone Pano Aqil; 216. Shamsuddin; 217. Ayaz Ahmed; 218. Mukhtiar Ahmed; 219. Muhammad Ali; 220. Abdul Aziz; 221. Rasheed Muhammad Qureshi; 222. Noor Muhammad Kaka (Inspector FIA); 223. Maj (R) Muhammad Rashed Khan, Ex-Administrator ETPB (SZ) Karachi and others; 224. Maqsood Ahmed, Ex-Manager (Sales & Dispatch) Thatta Cement; 225. Riaz ul Hassan Rizvi, ex-Sales Manager TCCL; 226. Ali Qaswar Bokhari, Additional Director FIA HQ Islamabad; 227. Ramesh M. Udeshi, Ex-Secretary Land Utilization Department, BOR; 228. Ghulam Abbas Soomro; 229. Khan Muhammad Qureshi; 230. RB Rahoo (KPT lands case); 231. Agha Siraj Ahmad Durrani, Ex-Minister for Education, Sindh (Misuse of authority).

NWFP

Govt servants (NAB)

232. Syed Zahir Shah ex-DG Peshawar Development Authority.

(Politicians) 233. Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Ex-Chief Minister NWFP (Misuse of authority/illegal allotment of plots/Assets Case); 234. Ghani-ur-Rehman, Ex-Provincial Minister NWFP (Assets beyond means); 235. Haji Gulsher Khan, Ex-Senator (Misuse of authority/acquisition of land); 236. Habibullah Khan Kundi, Ex-Provincial Minister NWFP (Misuse of authority/acquisition).

Balochistan

Govt servants

237. Muhammad Younas Butt, Supdt Custom, Check Post Mand; 238. IP Sherdad Khan; 239. IP Sajid Hussain; 240. IP Riaz Malik; 241. IP Muhammad Sarwar; 242. Abdul Hameed Siddiqui; 243. Muhammad Iqbal, Senior Store Manager, Utility Store Corporation; 244. Zamarak Khan, District Engineer, Water Supply Cell, UNHCR, Quetta; 245. Sh Manzoor Ali, Re Officer Wadpa; 246. Hafiz Matiullah, Assistant Revenue Officer, Wapda, Pashin; 247. Muhammad Iqbal, Office Supdt.

Politicians

248. Mir Baz Muhammad Khetran, Ex-Federal Minister (Misappropriation of govt funds allocated for Peoples Works Programmes).

Projected winners of Gilgit-Baltistan Elections

The elections for the Northern Areas are taking place today.  These regions were left stranded since 1948 due to the UN Kashmir resolution calling for a plebiscite that would decide the fate of the region.  However, the people of Gilgit and Baltistan are non-Kashmiris.  The region is said to have been incorporated into the Kashmir princely province by the British colonial rulers.  Due to the UN resolution, Pakistan refrained from tampering with any major adjustment by providing a provincial status to the region.  These elections, the first for the people of the area, will be a major policy change. 

All the major political parties are contesting the elections.  Whereas the Punjab bye-elections have been delayed under the excuse of 'security threats', the locals appear quite eager to exercise their right to vote and advance their region's right to eventually become the fifth province of Pakistan.

While the People's Party has had a huge dip in fortunes due to it's rather suicidal stances on the judicial movement and the infamous NRO, the PPP will likely come out on top at the elections today in Gilgit-Baltistan.  For one thing, the PPP has traditionally done well among the minority groups.  The GB region is predominantly known to be of the Shia and/or Ismaili Muslim communities.  Secondly, these groups are fervent opponents of the Taliban - of any kind.  The unambiguous stance against the Taliban adopted by political parties like the PPP and the MQM will serve them well.  The latter may find some support base as the region is mostly composed of 'middle class' elements.

On the other hand, parties who are either based on individual land-lords, or oppose the military stance against the Taliban in one way or another, or are seen failing to represent the minorities of the nation, will most likely receive a sound thumping.  Irrespective of the outcome, the electoral process in the region should force many of the one-point agenda political parties with 'uniform' policies to realign their vision.  The elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, though numerically insignificant, will go a long way in forcing to innovate the banal ideological frameworks of most of Pakistan's political forces.