Over to You Begum Bhutto
Nasim Zehra
 
Begum Nusrat Bhutto's death has forced us all to re-focus on the almost forgotten icon of Pakistan's democracy. As the Bhuttos, especially Sanam and Fatima Bhutto and the rest deal with the pain of both Begum Nusrat Bhutto's death and tragic life, inevitably family bickering, power struggle and politicking will also accompany Begum Bhutto's last rites. But there is a larger canvas that deserves recall.
 
Prolonged illness had caused both Begum Nusrat Bhutto's fading away and her unsung departure from Pakistan's public space. Equally the woman who bravely and resolutely led the resistance against Pakistan's most toxic dictatorship, this former first lady, the head of the PPP's woman's wing and subsequently the party's chairperson and also a senior Minister, has largely been absent from Pakistan's political narrative. Among the few known written accounts of Begum Bhutto role in Pakistan's democratic politics are the ones written by the widely respect Bashir Riaz, now a chronicler of the Bhutto politics.
 
The news of her death in Dubai has jolted us all into vividly recalling Begum Bhutto's determined acts of bravery and defiance against dictatorship while also recognizing the fact that post Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, it was this iconic figure who carved out the path of resistance and party's survival and subsequently of a collective democratic struggle in the shape of the MRD, that her equally brave daughter followed.
 
Until repeated tragedy broke her and she went into exile with her daughter Begum Bhutto remained active on the domestic and international scene. In June 1993 when she led, on then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's invitation, Pakistan's delegation to the World Human Rights' Conference to Vienna, Begum Bhutto held her own with dignified ferocity. As delegates some of us  witnessed her  taking up the case of the Kashmiris with great conviction. In fact she strongly chided the Foreign Office team for "trying to water down" her own text of the speech condemning Indian atrocities in the Valley. From the podium, in a hall full of delegates Begum Bhutto, shouted down the Indian delegates, who sought a right of reply to her very hard hitting speech. And  when the Indian press raced towards her as she walked off away from the podium and asked her question about Pakistan's politics , she hit back saying" Do not try and divide us, here for the Kashmir cause we are all one."
 
Begum Bhutto, the unsung conqueror of fear when confronted with the malevolence of the then Pakistani State including sections of the Pakistani judiciary, in the shape of a her husband's removal, his arrest, his trial, her and her family's displacement and exile, her husband's judicial murder, his hanging and his burial in the darkness of the night.  She bore the brunt of repeated pain and finally after the violent deaths of her two young sons and subsequent intra-family pressures, Alzheimer's pulled away Begum Bhutto from  public life. Burdened with these unbearable tragedies, fate intervened with this  memory-losing illness, as if  to ease her pain.
 
Begum Bhutto, the mother of all resistance endured pain of an oceanic proportions and in her death one is tempted to fight with fate…why so much more than her fair share , one would ask ! But equally we need to be mindful that many acts of the Pakistani State have been no less callous. Begum Bhutto and many others rose to the challenge, were tall figures, have left us and our children a legacy of resistance and struggle that we will always be proud of, even if deeply pained, but no less we must always remember some of these havoc wreaking acts of the State, that not only destroyed individuals but also contributed to the hijacking of the Pakistani potential and of a bright future.
 
For Pakistan the costs of dictatorship have been devastating. While there are many commentators on Pakistan talk of the economic benefits of stable dictatorships, how do we ignore the mounting and de-stablizing costs of the long shadows of military dictatorships?  Dictatorship derailed the only accountable system of governance known to the human civilization. Also these dictatorships have contributed to the creation of much, although now gradually challenged, of our public narrative.. weaving tales of conspiracy, of victim-hood, of divisiveness and of hate.

 We have to retrieve ourselves. The only way is a democratic system, that holds us accountable. ZAB was pulled up by political forces, he even arrived at  an agreement with the Opposition, but Zia's ambitions and army misguided nationalism empowered by a vindictive capitalist class which saw itself wronged by Bhutto drove us away from what would have been a semblance of a functioning national management system.


One of the legacies of dark dictatorships have been how we have lose the moments, lose our stars in their prime and are left to lament them. Here is the irony..while the State contributed to what was unparrelleled suffering in the long and twisted annals of Pakistan's power history, now in death we are extolling her, reporting her, analyzing her, bereaving her. Other great men like Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Dr Abdus Salaam banished from Pakistan in their prime, we eulogized after they died.
 
That's what our past power politics has done to us. It's been a weave of compromises, patch-work of contradictions drained of any public morality. But that's is what early military interventions made politicians do. In her time Begum Nusrat Bhutto came out to wage a genuine resistance struggle. What happened subsequently we all know. Zia led the charge of the abiding power brokers and crassly injected low level maniuplation tools to intimidate and break the PPP. Politicians then learnt to respond and also tragically ape the abiding power brokers.
 
Rising above all other divides, the woman to whom the credit for laying down the foundations of Pakistan's most difficult and yet the most principled struggle against dictatorship goes, must be given her due place in Pakistan's democratic history.
This is how a Nation's story, a Nation's narrative and soul are nurtured. She is one reason why Pakistanis, in the context of democratic struggles, must feel ten feet tall. But as for the yield of today's democracy, it is largely an indictment against the current politician.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Editor,
Tariq Khattak, Islamabad, Pakistan.
GSM = 0300-9599007 and  0333-9599007
Email: Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com

Thanks for participating.
Kindly suggest improvements.
Please let us know:
I.      If you want to receive individual emails
II.      Receive one mail with all activity in it
III.      Do not want to receive any mail at all

REQUESTS:
1) Please directly contact sender for personal/individual correspondence.
2) Try to discuss issues that will catch attention of many readers.
3) Please avoid sending messages in any language other than English
4) Avoid sending messages addressed to many recipients.
5) Do not send messages aimed at personal publicity.
6) Please do not send personal/other links unless necessary.
7) The Group is not obliged to publish printed news,
very short/long comments and objectionable material.
8) Every mail cannot be published; it will overload Mailboxes
of our valued members.
9) Try to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, Unsympathetic and/or Unpleasant.

x==x==x==x==x==x

Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

 

Proper research in agriculture to boost food quality, quantity

Islamabad:
The Pakistan Society Watch (PSW) on Monday demanded of the government to
allocate additional funds for agricultural research to ensure food
security in country.

Agricultural research should get due attention which can improve yields
and reduce poverty among rural populations, said Mian Shahid, Chairman of
PSW.

He said that government should ensure participation of private sector and
the civil society in research programmes to ensure better results.

Mian Shahid said that agricultural advances have a multiplier effect on
the rest of the economy. Sizable investment in agricultural research will
lead us to improvements in food quality and food safety, he said.

He said that governments, international lenders and private sector is not
very keen about developing agriculture which is a reason behind prevailing
food insecurity.

Pakistan had few finance ministers from rural background which is also a
reason behind sluggish rural growth.

Limited social and physical infrastructure is also contributing to poor
technology adoption rates among farmers, Mian Shahid who is also CEO of
Saudi Pak Insurance Co. said.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Editor,
Tariq Khattak, Islamabad, Pakistan.
GSM = 0300-9599007 and  0333-9599007
Email: Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com

Thanks for participating.
Kindly suggest improvements.
Please let us know:
I.      If you want to receive individual emails
II.      Receive one mail with all activity in it
III.      Do not want to receive any mail at all

REQUESTS:
1) Please directly contact sender for personal/individual correspondence.
2) Try to discuss issues that will catch attention of many readers.
3) Please avoid sending messages in any language other than English
4) Avoid sending messages addressed to many recipients.
5) Do not send messages aimed at personal publicity.
6) Please do not send personal/other links unless necessary.
7) The Group is not obliged to publish printed news,
very short/long comments and objectionable material.
8) Every mail cannot be published; it will overload Mailboxes
of our valued members.
9) Try to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, Unsympathetic and/or Unpleasant.

x==x==x==x==x==x

Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.


Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___
 

Dear Media colleagues, please find attached (and below) in English and Urdu a press release from United Nations Pakistan on UN Day, 24 October 2011. Also attached herewith the message of the UN Secretary-General (English and Urdu) for your attention and placement.

Best regards,



UNITED NATIONS MARKS 64 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH PAKISTAN


(Islamabad 24 October 2011):  "The mission of the United Nations is to build a better world, to leave no one behind, and to stand for the poorest and most vulnerable in the name of global peace and social justice," said United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, on UN Day 2011.

In Pakistan, United Nations works together in solidarity with the people of Pakistan through 19 UN agencies and offices and with 3,000 national staff, addressing both development and humanitarian issues.

The United Nations programmes in Pakistan support national efforts to end poverty, address socio-economic challenges and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Promotion of human rights and equality cuts across all UN programmes. The UN works closely with the Government, civil society organizations and humanitarian partners on the ground to help save lives affected by natural disasters, to assist those men, women, boys and girls displaced, and to equip and empower them to prepare for future calamities, including support to Afghan refugees. All UN work from relief to recovery and development is done alongside the people of Pakistan. National organizations, both governmental and non governmental, implement many UN supported programmes, with strong ownership of the Pakistani people.

"UN day is an appropriate occasion to pay tribute to the people of Pakistan for their longstanding partnership with the United Nations in peacekeeping, development and the recent emergency relief efforts," said Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, "Pakistan has contributed significantly to peacekeeping efforts around the world and is an active participant in many key areas of work of the United Nations, including its strong leadership in UN reform both globally and in Pakistan. Pakistan's election to the UN Security Council is a testimony to the country's important role in the international stage." Pakkala said.

For half a century, Pakistan has made invaluable contributions to maintaining international peace and security through deploying UN peacekeepers.  More than 130,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served worldwide for the cause of helping humanity.

Pakistan plays a crucial role in South Asia to facilitate regional cooperation for economic growth, peace and coexistence.

In recent years, the people of Pakistan have endured mega disasters from the 2005 earthquake to the devastating 2010 floods. Again, the 2011 monsoon rains triggered flooding affecting 5.4 million people and compounding existing vulnerabilities due to last year's devastating floods that affected more than 18 million people across Pakistan.

On this UN day the United Nations renews its commitment to the people of Pakistan to work together in responding to crisis, support recovery from crises and rebuild communities, as well as support equitable and inclusive development. The United Nations calls for the global community to extend necessary support to the Pakistan Floods 2011 Rapid Response Plan that seeks US$357 million to enable the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to support the Government in addressing emergency needs of food, water and sanitation, health care and shelter for up to 5.4 million people. The United Nations estimates 1.4 million women and girls of childbearing age in the 8 most severely affected districts in Sindh would require immediate access to lifesaving health services as well as psycho-social and protection support. The Rapid Response Plan is currently funded at only US$70 million. This funding gap will have to be filled urgently.

To date, the UN and its humanitarian partners have distributed nearly 321,000 tents and tarpaulins and approximately 300,000 sets of household goods to flood affected people.  More than 1.2 million people have received medicines and medical care, and 1 million people have received food. The UN also provided close to 600,000 people with access to safe drinking water.

"For the past 64 years and for years to come the United Nations remains steadfast in our commitment to be of service to the people of Pakistan in development, relief and recovery efforts. The 19 UN organizations working in Pakistan represent an enormous wealth of technical expertise and global good practices that is at the disposal of the people of Pakistan." said Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan.

*******************************************

For more information and media assistance please call : Ishrat Rizvi, National Information Officer, 0300 8553790

To download more information and resource documents about United Nations Day -2011 please visit http://www.un.org/en/events/unday/2011

اقوام متحدہ اور پاکستان ۔ باہمی شراکت داری کے 64سال

 

24اکتوبر 2011ءاسلام آباد : اقوام متحدہ کے سیکرٹری جنرل بان کیمون نے اقوام متحدہ کے عالمی دن 2011ءکے موقع پر اپنے پیغام میں کہا ہے کہ" بہتر اور خوشحال دُنیا کی تعمیر، سب کو ساتھ لے کر چلنااور عالمی امن اورسماجی انصاف کا علم بلند کرتے ہوئے غریبوں اور مسائل کے شکارلوگوں کے شانہ بشانہ کھڑا ہونا، اقوام متحدہ کا اولین مشن رہاہے۔ "

 

اقوام متحدہ پاکستانی عوام سے اظہاریکجہتی کرتے ہوئے پاکستا ن میں اپنے 19اداروں، متعلقہ دفاتر اورعملے کے 3 ہزار اراکین کےساتھ انسانی اور ترقیاتی مسائل کے حل کے لیے کوشا ں ہے۔

 

پاکستان میں اقوام متحدہ کے جاری پروگرام غربت کے خاتمے، سماجی و اقتصادی چیلنجوں کے حل اورملینیئم ترقیاتی اہداف کے حصول کے لیے قومی کوششوں میں معاونت فراہم کررہے ہیں۔اقوام متحدہ کے تمام پروگراموں میں انسانی حقوق اور مساوات کے فروغ کے لیے کام کیا جارہاہے۔ اقوام متحدہ قدرتی آفات سے متاثرہ افراد کی زندگیوں کو محفوظ بنانے، بے گھرہونے والے مرد و خواتین ، لڑکوں اور لڑکیوں بشمول افغان پناہ گزینوں کی مدد کرنے اور مستقبل میں ایسی آفات سے نمٹنے کے لیےانھیں ضروری سازو سامان سے لیس کرنے اور بااختیار بنانے کے لیے حکومت، سول سوسائیٹیوں اور انسانی بہبود کی دیگر تنظیموں کے ساتھ مل کر کام کررہا ہے۔ امداد سے بحالی اور تعمیر وترقی تک کا یہ سارا کام پاکستانی عوام کے تعاون سے کیا جاتا ہے۔ پاکستانی عوام کی حمایت کے ساتھ سرکاری و غیر سرکاری قومی تنظیمیں اقوام متحدہ کے تعاون سے چلنے والے بہت سے پروگراموں پر عملدآمد کراتی ہیں۔

 

پاکستان میں موجود اقوام متحدہ کے نمائندے اورانسانی بہبود کے کو آرڈینیٹر ٹیمو پکالا نے کہا کہ" میں اقوام متحدہ کے عالمی دن کے موقع پر پاکستانی عوام کو خراج تحسین پیش کر تا ہوں جنھوں نے اقوام متحدہ کے ساتھ اپنی طویل شراکت کے دوران دُنیا میں قیام امن ، تعمیرو ترقی اور حالیہ ہنگامی امدادی کوششوں میں بھرپورتعاون کیا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پاکستان نے دُنیا بھر میں قیام ِامن کے لیے نمایاں خدمات انجام دی  ہیں اور اس کی ولولہ انگیز قیادت نے پاکستان اور عالمی سطح پر اقوام متحدہ کی اصلاحات کے لیے فعال کردار ادا کیا ہے۔ اقوام متحدہ کی سیکورٹی کونسل کے لیے پاکستان کا انتخاب بین الاقوامی طور پر پاکستان کے اِس اہم کردار کا منہ بولتا ثبوت ہے۔"

 

پاکستان نے نصف صدی تک دُنیا بھر میں امن مشن کے لیے اپنی افواج بھیج کرکے عالمی امن اور سیکورٹی کو برقرار رکھنے کے لیے گرانقدر خدمات انجام دی ہیں۔آج  افواج پاکستان کے 130,000سے زائد نو جوان دُنیا کے مختلف حصوں میں انسانیت کی خدمت میں مصروف عمل ہیں۔

 

پاکستان جنوبی ایشیاءمیں معاشی ترقی، امن اور بقائے باہمی کے سلسلے میں علاقائی تعاون کے فروغ کے لیے اہم کردار ادا کررہا ہے۔

 

حالیہ برسوں میں پاکستانی عوام کو2005ءمیں زلزلے اور 2010ءمیں سیلاب جیسی بڑی قدرتی آفات کا سامنا کرنا پڑا۔ بعد ازاں2011میں مون سون کی بارشوں کے باعث آنے والے سیلاب سے 5.4ملین سے زائد افراد متاثر ہوئے ۔اسی طرح گزشتہ سال آنے والے ہولناک سیلاب سے بھی پاکستان بھر میں 18ملین سے زائد افراد متاثر ہوئے  جس کی وجہ سے ایسے متاثرین کی تعداد میں بے تحاشا اضافہ ہوگیا ۔

 

اقوام متحدہ کے عالمی دن کے موقع پر اقوام متحدہ اِن قدرتی آفات سے متاثرہ افراد کی بحالی اور تعمیرو ترقی کے لیے پاکستان کے لوگوں کے ساتھ مل کر کام کرنے کے عزم کی تجدید کرتا ہے اور عالمی برادری سے اپیل کرتا ہے کہ وہ 2011ءکے سیلاب متاثرین کی فوری بحالی کے اقدام کے لیے درکار 357ملین ڈالر کی فراہمی کے لیے تعاون کریں تاکہ اقوام متحدہ اور اس سے وابستہ انسانی بہبود کی دوسری تنظیمیں 5.4ملین سے زائد افراد کو خوراک، پانی و صفائی،حفظان ِ صحت کی سہولیات اور محفوظ پناہ گاہوں فراہم کرنے میں حکومت پاکستان کی مدد کرنے کے قابل ہوسکیں۔ اقوام متحدہ کے تخمینے کے مطابق سندھ کے انتہائی متاثرہ 8اضلاع میں 1.4ملین خواتین اور لڑکیوں کوزندگی بچانے کے لیے صحت کی سہولیات تک رسائی کے ساتھ ساتھ نفسیاتی و سماجی اور تحفظ کی فوری ضرورت ہے۔  فوری بحالی کے اقدام کے اِس منصوبے کے تحت اَب تک صرف 70ملین ڈالر جمع کیے جاسکے ہیں۔ فنڈنگ کے اس خلاء کو فوری طورپر پورا کرنے کی ضرورت ہے۔

 

 اَب تک اقوام متحدہ اوراس کی شراکت دار تنظیمیں سیلاب متاثرین میں تقریبا ً321,000 خیمے و ترپال اور30 لاکھ کے قریب گھریلو استعمال کی اشیاءتقسیم کرچکی ہیں۔ 1.2ملین سے زائد افراد طبی سہولیات اور ادویات حاصل کرچکے ہیں اور ایک ملین افراد کو غذائی اشیاءفراہم کی گئی ہیں۔ اقوام متحدہ نے اندازاً6لاکھ افراد کو پینے کے صاف پانی تک رسائی بھی فراہم کی ہے۔

 

پاکستان میں اقوام متحدہ کے نمائندے اورانسانی بہبود کے کو آرڈینیٹرٹیمو پکالا نے مزید کہا کہ "اقوام متحدہ 64سال سے پاکستانی عوام کی فلاح و بہبود کے لیے اہم کردار ادا کررہا ہے اور آئندہ بھی یہاں کے عوام کی تعمیر و ترقی، امداد اور بحالی کے لیے ایسے اقدام کرتا رہے گا۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پاکستان میں خدمات انجام دینے والے اقوام متحدہ کے 19ادارے تکنیکی مہارت اور انسانی ہمدردی کے جذبے سے سرشار  ہوکرپاکستانی عوام کی خدمت کررہے ہیں۔"

 










--
Ishrat Rizvi    
National Information Officer
United Nations Information Centre 
Islamabad
Office: (92 51) 8355720
Cell   : (92 300) 8553790

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Editor,
Tariq Khattak, Islamabad, Pakistan.
GSM = 0300-9599007 and  0333-9599007
Email: Tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com

Thanks for participating.
Kindly suggest improvements.
Please let us know:
I.      If you want to receive individual emails
II.      Receive one mail with all activity in it
III.      Do not want to receive any mail at all

REQUESTS:
1) Please directly contact sender for personal/individual correspondence.
2) Try to discuss issues that will catch attention of many readers.
3) Please avoid sending messages in any language other than English
4) Avoid sending messages addressed to many recipients.
5) Do not send messages aimed at personal publicity.
6) Please do not send personal/other links unless necessary.
7) The Group is not obliged to publish printed news,
very short/long comments and objectionable material.
8) Every mail cannot be published; it will overload Mailboxes
of our valued members.
9) Try to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable, Unsympathetic and/or Unpleasant.

x==x==x==x==x==x

Please note that,
It is a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum; everyone is allowed to share anything. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. (Nor can print and electronic media). If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Thanks a lot.
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___