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.

Slide of the PPP

While I don't support the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), it carries the most points for representing all sections of the Pakistani society, unlike any other political organization. So there is always a tinge of hope, despite its flaws, that the PPP survive these self-inflicted wounds. While the relationship between the Pakistan establishment and the military hierarchy has always been troublesome with the latter playing a dubious role at best, the current situation of dire proportions is a result of President Zardari's incredibly lethargic and bogged mind.

The PPP's fortunes have been depleting since it came to power. Being a 'populist' party, it intentionally (and criminally) stood on the wrong side of history when it came to the judicial movement. Such a scar would be bad enough. But Zardari pressed ahead with the 'National Reconciliation Ordinance' (NRO) - a law meant to help a few get away from corruption charges - mostly it is said, to save his own skin in the future. NRO was always. It's most 'noble' objectives could have been achieved in an egalitarian, across-the-board stance, assisting all those thousands languishing in jails without verdicts on their crimes.

The PPP can make a come-back - but it'll need more inspiring leadership - one that takes a stance at the right time, rather than one that's always forced to make a choice.

War of Attrition

While it's not exactly a war of attrition, there is little choice but to see the fight against the Taliban and the Pakistan state reach a logical end with control of all territory under the country's security forces and laws.

There will be many more terrorist attacks by the Taliban such as the one in the university in Islamabad. However, by attacking soft targets, the Taliban have shown their desperation. Universities across Pakistan have closed for the rest of the week as a result. However, the hardening perception against the Taliban only adds to the determination that this fight should continue till these terrorists are wiped out or made subservient to the laws of the Pakistan Constitution.

Till this is done, we'll just have to take the blows as they come.

Kerry-Lugar Bill: The cat out of the bag

President Zardari's been called a whole lot of things. Manipulative. Conniving. Corrupt. Devious. Shrewd.

Perhaps no one has felt the blows of these alleged traits more than the Pakistan Armed Forces after the passage of the Kerry-Lugar Bill. KLB will provide $1.5 Billion in annual assistance for five years to Pakistan. The problem however, for 'beggars who want to be choosers', is that KLB writes stipulations and conditions that need to be met for Congress to approve this aid every year. While there has been a lot of bru-ha-ha over these conditions in the Pakistan media calling the bill, drafted, signed and approved in a foreign land, as an act of 'selling the nation's sovereignty', the entity that has come out all guns blazing is the Pakistan Army.

The bill asks for various assurances that are more or less already in place. However, what disturbs the khakis is that the bill presses for an assurance that the Pakistan Army is under 'civilian control'. While this stipulation is a blatant act of reaching well into the sovereign realm of Pakistan the objective is something the 'civilian' governments of Pakistan have always had an impossible time in achieving.

The Army has called the shots in areas like the nuclear program, Kashmir policy as well as the policy for Afghanistan. It does not want to see an end to its jurisdiction in these areas.

Thus no surprise to see the armed establishment display horror at the passage of the Kerry-Lugar Bill that in no uncertain terms, delves into the sacred realm of the armed forces.

The opposition parties in Paksitan may cry foul, but the opposition that currently matters, PML-N is offering criticism that intentionally have no sting. It's leader Nawaz Sharif is safely away in London, away from the centers of storm. He thinks he is in a win-win situation. He failed to subdue the Army despite the 75% majority in parliament during his last stint in power. He now sees Zardari attempting it by bringing in the American 'carrot-and-stick' approach.

The Zardari-Army standoff cannot persist for too long. One of them will have to bow out or bow down. Nawaz would be happy with either, though I would assume he may be hoping that the Army, even if victorious, ends up significantly weakened in this stand-off.

The Pakistan parliament has asked that the 'disputed conditions' be scraped out. The American Congress has no real need to listen. The cat is out of the bag. The Army will unlikely stand for this and will make a move.

The contemptuous figure of Zardari has put his hand in the lion's den. While realizing that the center of power should be in the hands of the parliament, it would be a cruel twist if the current situation eventually results in a ubiquitous thief posthumously turning into a hero (after achieving 'martyrdom').

Waltz with Bashir

Waltz with Bashir. Just saw the film. The gut of the film is gut-wrenching. Perhaps because of the association so many more Palestineans than Israelis (my roomate and neighbors were Palestinian) I immediately took this film in the political context. But that personal bias only enhances my appreciation of this film and the people who made it.

Tim O'Brian un-peeling his journeys in Vietnam leads to this sense of alienation and loss. Perhaps I've forgotten many aspects from "The things they carried", but "Waltz..." leads you, rather hallucinates you and draws you to face a horrific tragedy that has been suppressed.

The Shatila and Sabra massacres being identified with pictures of Jewish Warsaw ghettos being cleaned by Nazis is meant to make a statement. "Waltz...", (as Ariel Sharon is no more) is a late but necessary movie - not for the world but for the Israelis. The narrator having 'forgotten' and failing to recollect the sequence of events, either willfully or through mental obstructions, reveals a nation trying to survive yet not lose its sense of self-conscious and more importantly humanity. The hidden/suppressed guilt of the documentary film maker is really a cry of a people of a nation who feel they cannot be seen to be weak and crying over a tragedy it was complicit in. Yet, it is a trauma that needs an outlet.

Then the sequences reminiscent of "Apocalypse Now" with cowboy-rock star soldiers was spectacular. How does one explain a war? Do you think that Vietnam's greatest cinematic gift is how it denied the celebration of war, of war heroes and rendered victory parades an exercise in the bizarre? It unburdened world's history and its consciousness from the tales of chivalry, of valiant warriors and their bravery in the battlefields.

Sure, we will still get lots of the old stuff, but post-Vietnam cinema has changed everything. Waltz with Bashir is another brilliant why.

[Response to an email to a friend.]

The Entrepreneur

They may not be geniuses. They may not win the Nobel prize. They may not score the most number of runs, nor top the rich and famous. They may not drip with poetics or create the next scientific breakthroughs. They are not philosophers or historians who wish to piece together the external with the internal and make sense of it all in the mind.

But entrepreneurs are the pulse, the heartbeat and spirit of a people. Never resting, always attempting new visions, embarking on new un-ventured journeys, struggling and grappling, connecting ideas with reality and generating new social patterns and forcing better, refined systems, these are just some traits of entrepreneurs that deserve our salutations.

Minorities attacked

Minorities don't seem to have it any better under the new government dispensation despite the commonly held view that the current government lead by the PPP courts most of their votes.

The attacks on Christian communities in the outlying areas of the Punjab reveals the breakdown in the government's ability to grapple with criminals using religious motivations to secure land and/or money. The police show their incompetence in the face of religious bigotry espoused by some Muslims and no one really seems to want to take these cases through the courts of law.

I hope at some point the PPP or other parties who have sincere concerns about the minority groups in Pakistan gain the courage to eradicate the source of the problem - that being the laws that favor the majority at the expense of the minority.