Posted on 14 February 2012 by Tea Server
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission has decided to give voting rights to overseas Pakistanis in general elections. The landmark decision would enable 3.7 million overseas Pakistanis to participate in elections. A high level meeting of the commission held here on Tuesday with EC Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan in the chair. The meeting was also attended by [...]
Posted on 13 February 2012 by Tea Server
Charges Framed-PM Willfully Flouted Orders: Supreme Court
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NADEEM MALIK Senate Elections Almost Secured For PPP: For All Practical Purposes, Supreme Court Proceedings postponed till Last Week of February, So PPP’s 42 Seat on March 2 Senate Elections are Guaranteed. Prime Minister Gilani can Opt to Resign after the Senate Vote and either a New PPP Prime Minister or uncement of General Elections would make the Contempt Court Irrelevant. Aitzaz Ahsan and Babar Awan are Going to Get the PPP Senate Tickets.
| PM SHOULD WRITE LETTER TO SWISS COURTS
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| SUPREME COURT SHOULD POSTPONE CASE TILL SENATE ELECTIONS
7 votes |
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| SUPREME COURT SHOULD TAKE A FIRM POSITION TO FRAME CHARGES
64 votes |
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| PRIME MINISTER SHOULD BECOME SIYASI SHAHEED DEFYING COURTS
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Nadeem Malik’s Photos
The Supreme Court should have the power to get its decisions implemented otherwi…se there is no point to take up so many issues and put everything on hold. Impartial, Transparent and Timely Decisions. No Favours. No Fears. Cost of Delay is Loss of Pakistan.See More
By: Nadeem Malik
BBC Urdu – پاکستان – تین برس میں باون ہزار امریکیوں کو ویزے جاری
www.bbc.co.ukسنہ دو ہزار آٹھ سے سنہ دو ہزار گیارہ تک واشنگٹن میں پاکستانی سفارتخانے نے باون ہزار سے زائد امریکیوں کو ویزے جاری کیے۔
Filed under: CURRENT AFFAIRS
Posted on 13 February 2012 by Tea Server
PT Report Chitral, February 12: While Pakistan’s government dangerously dangles between the Supreme Court and Presidency, preparations for general elections are already half way through. Several candidates have expressed their desire to contest elections. According to Chitral News, Ex president PPP Zainul Abeddin had some time back announced contesting for both the NA and PA [...]
Posted on 02 February 2012 by Tea Server
http://www.awaztoday.com/playshow/19642/Islamabad-Tonight-1st-February-2012.aspx
http://www.zemtv.com/2012/02/01/islamabad-tonight-on-aaj-news-shaikh-rasheed-interview-1st-febuary-2012/
http://www.friendskorner.com/forum/f247/video-islamabad-tonight-nadeem-malik-1st-february-2011-shaikh-rasheed-262541/
http://www.pakistanherald.com/Program/Islamabad-Tonight-February-01-2012-Nadeem-Malik-9558
ISLAMABAD TONIGHT
WITH NADEEM MALIK
01-02-2012
TOPIC- PAKISTAN POLITICS
GUEST- SHEIKH RASHEED AHMED
SHEIKH RASHEED AHMED OF AML WAS THE ONLY GUEST ON THE SHOW
He said that Molana Fazal Ur Rehman and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed statements in Pakistan should be considered. He said that right after the senate elections general elections will be announced in the country. He said that the next budget will be the first rigging of the elections. He said that the kind of promises will be made in the budget which next government will not be able to fulfill. He said that PML-N has been trapped once again. He said that there is a big difference between the thought of Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif. He said that Mian Shahbaz Sharif likes to play on the front foot. He said that PML-n was afraid that military might take over the government. He said that there was no chance of military of taking over the government.
He said that once PML-N joined the government it should have not come out. He said that if Ishaq Dar would have been the finance minister of the country the corruption was not going to be so rampant.
He said that the backing off from memogate has put a bad mark on the reputation on the military. He said that it is hard for him to understand general Kyani and that Kyani only talks in a year as much he talks in a day. He said that his assumptions about general Kyani have always failed. He said that he thought that general Kyani will not take extension as COAS but he did. He said that in his opinion memogate is a reality because he knows general Kyani. He said that memogate was a very serious matter for the military but he does not know why they backed off.
He said that people voted for five years but now they want change. He said that people are disappointed from the politicians, military and judiciary and are sick and tired of them. He said that it is true that military told Musharaf not to come to Pakistan.
He said that he does not believe that military is supporting to any political party. He said that some people have joined PTI just because they think that military is in the support of this party. He said that he will let people know that who is good and who is bad. He said that there is no difference between the government and opposition. He said that people of Pakistan are dying and that 85% parliamentarians do not live in their constituencies.
He said that he went to the meeting of Difa-e-Pakistan on the call of general Gul Hameed. He said that when an organization is banned it goes underground and take guns in their hands.
He said that from 40 to 50 pharmaceutical factories belong to the politicians. He said that the medicines of UNCEF have no warranties in Pakistan. He said that he claims that the polio drops given to children in Pakistan are counterfeit.
He said that today it is time of politics of interests and not of diplomacy. He said that he predicts that the next will be a hung parliament in the country than the current one. He said that PPPP in the rural areas and PML-N in Lahore will take some seats. He said that if a wave is drawn PTI can do a clean sweep in the next elections. He said that ANP will be finished after the next elections. He said that he does not see any role of ANP in the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa politics after the next elections.
He said that PTI will take seats in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa but he does not say that PTI will form a government in the province. He said that there will be no change in the number of MQM seats in the province of Sindh. He said that Peoples Party will face a shock in the interior of the Sindh but yet to have to see that who will fill the vacuum.
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Filed under: CURRENT AFFAIRS
Posted on 19 January 2012 by Tea Server
Ah, to think of the games of chance or strategy that keep us so entertained and enthralled.
Played for fun, stakes or mere pride, the allure of the games of chance arises from the unique mixture of skill and luck required for success. As all of us addicted to such games, for occasional monetary considerations, are all too aware that fate is a very fickle mistress indeed.
Disguised as luck she flirts without any inhibition, first enticing, then inviting and finally possessing. Whether it’s a board game or cards, this lady is equally adept at controlling the roll of the dice or the shuffle of the deck and in deciding the outcome. And as any punter would tell you on his honor, or whatever is left of it, once in the clutches of this particular belle dame san’s mercy it’s impossible to break free.
The advantage then, of sorts, as far as these games are concerned is that the loss of either or all of honor, pride or wealth can be blamed on the whim of the goddess Fortuna.
Unfortunately this is not the case with strategy games. Win or loss here has to do with the skills of the players. Take chess, that ultimately consummate strategy game. Based on the timeless principles of war those sixty four squares contain millions of possible permutations of moves.
Between well versed equals it’s a fascinating battle of wits to set and spring traps and counter traps. Such matches are mostly settled when in brutal endgame a series of pieces are sacrificed by both side to achieve that crucial aim of checkmating the opposing king. All other pieces can be sacrificed in order to either protect one’s own king or checkmate that of the opposition’s. All moves in chess are therefore incidental to this one grand design.
The current Pakistani political situation is akin a deadly game of chess, being played out with very high stakes. On one side we have our ruling coalition and on the other side the Kiyani & Pasha duo in the vanguard. The ruling coalition is defending while the opponents are on the offensive . However as grand masters well know the most difficult task in chess is to break down a well constructed defense.
The memo gate and covert support for PTI are frontal attacks designed to provoke the government into some rash reaction, thereby breaking its defense. However Zardari & co have put up a masterly exhibition of defensive moves. Having secured their vulnerable flanks with the Presidential immunity, a wide alliance of political parties and a tacit understanding with PML against teaming up with the army, they are now simply biding their time. The upcoming senate elections are what they are aiming for. Winning the majority of senate seats up for elections, as expected, will considerably strengthen their position.
They have correctly assessed that the army traditionally only moves against the civilian government when there is a mass civilian street agitation to act as a smokescreen for its true intentions, a power grab. They have neutralized this aspect by giving PTI complete leeway in terms of holding mass rallies and studiously avoiding any semblance of counter agitation. With meaningful choice finally available in the upcoming elections, most of the Pakistani voters would prefer to bring change by ballot.
The only option left in such a situation to the opponents is to undertake a series of risky gambits, something which they have have now resorted to.
Thus this move of the NRO case. Our constitution’s article 248 clearly grants the President, and Governors, immunity from all civil and criminal proceedings during the term of their offices. This means that in order to initiate such proceeding the President first has to be impeached by the parliament. As per article 47 this requires a two third majority of the combined total votes of the National Assembly and the Senate.
To all those remotely interested in due process of law, please remember the cases of Presidents Nixon and Clinton. Nixon resigned because impeachment was a certainty. He subsequently only escaped a trial as President Ford pardoned him. Dear Clinton actually went through the impeachment proceedings which failed to garner the required votes. No subsequent criminal charges could therefore be levied on him.
On purely legal grounds therefore the NRO case has no merit. But then stranger things have happened in Pakistan. Let’s hope the writ of law is upheld by the guardians of law.
Make no mistake, these coming three months are going to be among the most critical ones in the political history of Pakistan. If senate elections are held on time, then early general elections will be the governments first priority. Both these events should go a long way in establishing the credibility of the election process as a means of managing change.
I sincerely hope that Messrs. Kiyani & Pasha show maturity and do not opt for some rash action in order to force an endgame before March. Any such move is going to have a devastating and possibly fatal impact on the prospects of political stability and national unity.
But fingers crossed all the same. Fate, like most beautiful females, has a latent cruel streak. We can only hope that she is in a benevolent mood and does not spring a nasty surprise on us.
For the first time in our history a civilian setup has managed to sustain a confrontation of this manner for such a period of time. The credit for this should also go to all the opposition political parties. Whatever their individual merits or demerits this time they have avoided the temptation of openly siding with the army.
Whatever the outcome of this match the President and the Prime Minister have managed to contain the influence of the chiefs of Army and ISI, and ensured that the parliament and judiciary remain very relevant. The judiciary has emerged stronger and is likely to challenge the government shortly, as it should, but then that is liable to be a much more civilized confrontation.
So hats off to you, messrs Zardari and Gillani. Please take a bow, you have earned it. Corrupt, inept, greedy and God only knows what else you may be but without a shadow of doubt you are fighting the good fight, for all the wrong reasons. But then that is a minor irritation when seen in the bigger context. And looking at the chessboard, and the position of the pieces, you are indeed masters of the game.
Posted on 16 January 2012 by Tea Server
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| Photo Credit: SANA News Agency |
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| Photo Credit: Reuters |
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| Photo Credit: The Nation |
Posted on 15 January 2012 by Tea Server
In this background, the reference really is a request to determine whether or not the national assembly resolution had any merit or whether it was a contempt of court. The reference also establishes the principle that the judgment of the Supreme Court has greater meaning and weight than a resolution of the national assembly. In order to understand the case it is important to know the background.
Here are some clippings from Nation and Express newspapers and Wikipedia:
Nawab Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Kasuri’s father, was killed in 1974. Kasuri himself was the complainant for the murder case registered against Bhutto, who was eventually hanged in 1979. In April this year, 32 years after Bhutto’s death, President Asif Zardari filed a reference under Article 186 of the Constitution to the Supreme Court to reopen the murder trial.
Bhutto was convicted in a murder case and sentenced to death by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in 1979 during the dictatorship of the then army chief General Ziaul Haq. He was executed on April 4, 1979 by then military dictatorship.
A five-member bench of the LHC, headed by Maulvi Mushtaq Ahmad, had held the Bhutto trial for five months and awarded death sentence to him on March 18, 1978. The Bhutto family had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. A seven-member bench upheld his death sentence in its February 6, 1979, verdict with a bare 4-to-3 majority. His review petition was also dismissed on March 24, 1979. Bhutto was hanged at the Central Jail, Rawalpindi, on April 4, 1979.
Sheikh Anwarul Haq is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan [September 23, 1977 - March 25, 1981]. He is often considered ‘ill-famed’ for giving legitimacy to General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq’s martial law and for upholding the decision of the Lahore High Court which sentenced Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to death for the authorization of the murder of a political opponent. Four Supreme Court judges headed by Chief Justice Anwarul Haq upheld the murder conviction of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. On 25 March 1981, S. Anwarul Haq became the first Justice and only Chief Justice to refuse taking the oath under the military imposed PCO and resigned on conscientious grounds.
Prime Minister Bhutto began facing considerable criticism and increasing unpopularity as his term progressed, the democratic socialists alliance who had previously allied with Bhutto began to diminish as time progresses. Initially targeting leader of the opposition Vali Khan and his opposition National Awami Party (NAP), also a socialist party. Despite the ideological similarity of the two parties, the clash of egos both inside and outside the National Assembly became increasingly fierce, starting with the Federal government’s decision to oust the NAP provincial government in Balochistan Province for alleged secessionist activities and culminating in the banning of the party and arrest of much of its leadership after the death of a close lieutenant of Bhutto’s, Hayat Sherpao, in a bomb blast in the frontier town of Peshawar.
Dissidence also increased within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the murder of a leading dissident Ahmed Raza Kasuri‘s father led to public outrage and intra-party hostility as Bhutto was accused of masterminding the crime. Powerful PPP leaders such as Ghulam Mustafa Khar openly condemned Bhutto and called for protests against his regime. The political crisis in the NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Balochistan intensified as civil liberties remained suspended, and an estimated 100,000 troops deployed there were accused of abusing human rights and killing large numbers of civilians.
On January 8, 1977 a large number of opposition political parties grouped to form the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). Bhutto called fresh elections, and PNA participated fully in those elections. They managed to contest the elections jointly even though there were grave splits on opinions and views within the party. The PNA faced defeat but did not accept the results, alleging that the election was rigged. They proceeded to boycott the provincial elections. Despite this, there was a high voter turnout in the national elections; however, as provincial elections were held amidst low voter turnout and an opposition boycott, the PNA declared the newly-elected Bhutto government as illegitimate.
All the opposition leaders called for the overthrow of Bhutto’s regime. Political and civil disorder intensified, which led to more unrest. Bhutto imposed martial law in major cities including Karachi, Lahore and Hyderabad. However, Mr. Bhutto accepted that there were major irregularities in the election in a number of constituencies and a compromise agreement between Bhutto and opposition to hold fresh election in some constituencies was ultimately reported. This compromise theory was however probably a later day addition as a major PPP armed rally was in the offing.
Zia planned a the Coup d’état carefully as he knew Bhutto had integral intelligence in the Pakistan Armed Forces, and many officers, including Chief of Air Staff General Zulfiqar Ali Khan and Major-General Tajammul Hussain Malik, GOC of 23rd Mountain Division, Major-General Naseerullah Babar, DG of Directorate-General for the Military Intelligence (DGMO) and Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, were loyal to Bhutto.
To remove this intelligence, Zia secretly contracted with the active duty British SAS army officers to maintain a staff course for the Army personnel while Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Shariff quietly removed naval personnel loyal to Bhutto and his government from the Navy’s active duty. Zia ordered Bhutto’s loyal officers to attend a staff and command course and none of the officers were allowed to leave the course until the midnight. Meanwhile, Zia with his close officers, including Admiral Mohammad Shariff, then-Chaiman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, arranged the coup in the evening. On July 5, 1977, before the announcement of any agreement, Bhutto and members of his cabinet were arrested by troops of Military Police under the order of Zia by the evening.
Bhutto’s last personal appearance and utterances in the supreme court were not merely a long defence of his conduct he also made some matters clear. He mentioned the words of “heir” for his son “Mir Murtaza Bhutto”. He made some remark which indicated that he has views similar to a Sunni, though he was Shia albeit a non-practicing one. He also effectively cast doubt on the reliability of star witnesses against him i.e. Masood Mahmood who was a UK-trained lawyer and not merely a police officer and FSF chief. He mentioned repeatedly Lahori Ahmedi connection of Masood Mahmood in his testimony. He repeatedly brought the subject of his maltreatment in the death cell. Bhutto made it abundantly clear, even though indirectly that he wanted either freedom or death, not something in between, and appreciated Khar and his lawyer Yahya Bakhtiar.
During Bhutto’s five years in Pakistan’s helm, Bhutto had retained an emotional hold on the poor masses who had voted him overwhelmingly in 1970s general elections. At the same time, however, Bhutto had many enemies. The [socialist economics] and nationalization of major private industries during his first two years on office had badly upsets the Business circles… An ill-considered decision to take over the wheat-milling, rice-husking, sugar mills, and cotton-ginning, industries in July of 1976 had angered the small business owners and traders. Both leftists— socialists and communists, intellectuals, students, and trade unionists— felt betrayed by Bhutto’s shift to centre-right wing conservative economics policies and by his growing collaboration with powerful feudal lords, Pakistan’s traditional power brokers. After 1976, Bhutto’s aggressive authoritarian personal style and often high-handed way of dealing with political rivals, dissidents, and opponents had also alienated many….
Posted on 14 January 2012 by Tea Server
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the government should hold general elections as early as possible in order to avoid ‘mishap’ in the country, DawnNews reported. Sharif said that coalition partners of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government were equally responsible for the crisis in the country. “Wisdom demands [...]
Posted on 14 December 2011 by Tea Server
By Saad Hafiz:
As another anniversary of the disintegration of Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh approaches, I am reminded of the eventful period from 1965 to 1971 I spent as a student in the former East Pakistan.
We arrived in Dacca (Dhaka) just before the September 1965 Indo-Pak War. Pakistan’s military strategy in 1965 which manifested itself once again in 1971 effectively meant that the defense of East Pakistan lay in a victory or stalemate on the Western front. This strategy limited the physical impact of the war on East Pakistan as the main concentration of firepower and land and air engagements took place in the West. However, the West Pakistan centric military strategy employed in the 1965 war was the beginning of a sense of isolation and abandonment in East Pakistan which became more pronounced as events unfolded leading to the eventual secession of East Pakistan.
There are many explanations given for the failure of national building in Pakistan and the genesis of Bangladesh such as the flawed decision by Mr. Jinnah in 1948 to impose Urdu as the only national language which resulted in the language riots and the student martyrs of 1952; the high handedness near colonial attitude of the West Pakistani mostly Punjabi officers serving in the East towards the Bengali population: the inherent sensitivity and nationalism of East Pakistanis and further back in the creation of Pakistan which overlooked the cultural differences between the non-contiguous parts of Pakistan with just religion as the binding force.
My view is that the primary cause of national disintegration was the political alienation of the Bengali population and the economic imbalance between the two provinces which was heavily skewed in favour of West Pakistan. Bengalis like other national groups in Pakistan, quite rightly demanded an equitable participation in the national decision-making process and in the economic progress that the country had made in the 1960s.
What the Bengalis got instead was a oppressive central government controlled by the West Pakistani oligarchy, a local leadership made up of stooges like Governor Monem Khan who controlled the mostly bogus electoral process until the “free elections” of 1970 and finally when all else failed a military solution to a political problem.
The Awami League Six-Point program had started to pick up momentum when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was acquitted in the seemingly fishy and unproven Agartala conspiracy case of 1968. The local press published the transcripts of the trial which covered in graphic detail the torture by Military Intelligence of Bengali service personnel arrested and tried with Sheikh Mujib. The Agartala coverage contributed to a worsening of the always tenuous relations between Bengali and non-Bengali inhabitants of East Pakistan, which became fraught with suspicion leading to outright hatred.
As we know, the final nail in the coffin of a united Pakistan was the inability of the West Pakistani military leadership allegedly supported by Mr. Bhutto to accept the Awami League victory in the 1970 General Elections. The roles played by the troika comprising General Yahya, Mr. Bhutto and Sheikh Mujib in the 1971 tragedy have been well documented depending on the viewpoint of those writing the history of the period.
What can be said is that the murder and mayhem that followed the elections which destroyed the lives of many Bengalis and non-Bengalis alike could have been avoided by statesmanship and sagacity sadly lacking in the leadership at the time. I also think some of the political causes of the separation of Pakistan could have been addressed and misgivings removed over time if democracy which involved consensus, parliamentary sovereignty and judicial independence had been allowed to continue uninterrupted.
It seems that a truncated Pakistan has not learnt a lesson from the systemic failure that contributed to its disintegration. Pakistan remains a national security state which continues to look to military adventurers as saviours instead of building and nurturing democratic institutions; the country’s political leadership plays second fiddle to the military; national groups like the Baloch are driven to demand independence; militancy and intolerance thrives and India is still considered a mortal enemy.
Bangladesh has done better in the recent past in sustaining democratic change but the legacy of violence that preceded the creation of the country occasionally rears it head with war crime trials grabbing the headlines forty years after Independence.
Posted on 27 November 2011 by Tea Server
By Habib R. Sulemani
Pakistan has started a big and difficult journey on the ‘Cyber Highway.’ Today some 450 cities and towns of Pakistan are connected to the World Wide Web and more connections are expected. Looking at the discussions in the corridors of power, it seems as e-commerce and e-governments are evolving out of the tradition — almost all of the main government departments, organisations and institutions have now their own websites and the concept of “paper free office” will become a reality very soon.
During the 2000 presidential elections in the United States of America (USA), the Internet was used as a tool for electoral campaigns for the first time in history, and it is really amazing that within two years’ time it was fallowed in Pakistan, where in the general elections of 2002, some political parties used this new tool (Internet) for their election campaigns, and now are also using it for political gains. Indeed it is a big change in the approach of politicians and policy makers. From this point, it is crystal clear that Internet’s role in the next elections will become vital, because, the cyber community or ‘netizens’ are increasing rapidly in number.
Not only in Pakistan but also throughout the Third World countries Internet has opened many doors of opportunities. For the conservative traditionalists, it has made life difficult but for the majority, especially the young ones, it has provided a chance to achieve their dreams. They think it a blessing which has exposed everything to them. Many activists, religious and political leaders have chosen to use the net to help and strengthen their fellows or followers.
There were cyber-communities but now virtual countries have also taken birth. Thus a new style of politics has started in the world we live in today. Each day, more and more people are reaching out to join the cyber world. Our behaviour, everyday life and the entire sociology are changing at this primary stage of the 21st century. Thus there are many a great challenges to the mankind as a whole. The Internet has played a vital part making the people aware about human rights, peace, environmental issues, terrorism, and other social problems. It has provided a new way for businessmen to reach their wanted markets.
Once there was a trend to become ‘doctor’ or ‘engineer’. Then came the ‘MBA-boom’ and now there is the information technology (IT) euphoria. Everywhere IT institutions are mushrooming and big cities are special targets for those who want to make smart money out of this boom. Thus bogus IT institutes and ‘plaza universities’ are emerging rapidly. These fake educational institutes (without proper facilities and non-qualified staff) are making huge money as the MBA institutions set a trend for them. Thus half literate so-called ‘IT specialists’ are coming out of these institutions, adding to the unemployed lot of the country. Therefore, all of the changes in our society can’t be viewed favourably.
The Internet is both dangerous and helpful just like any tool or instrument. To avoid any misshape, social awareness about this new medium is a must. Copyrights and security problems, especially cyber crimes are emerging on the surface. After some unpleasant events, Pakistan has finally formed a ‘cyber police’ to counter heinous crimes committed through the Internet. It is said that recently some ‘al-Qaeda’ suspects were caught only because of their ‘cyber activities’.
Pakistan has taken a good initiative in the direction of information technology but there is a long way to go. Today there is this impression that the aggressive start of Prof Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman as a federal minister of science and technology has become slow now. This is a challenge for his young successor Awais Leghari. A failure in the field of IT will have dire consequences for the future of this nation. If the government wants to see Pakistan on the ‘cyber map’ of the world like India, then it should do some basic things:-
• The government must attract investors in cyber (IT) projects.
• Make sure that quality IT education is provided to the students who are paying heavy fees.
• Keep a check on fake institutions and the rule and regulations of the Higher Education Authority must be followed strictly.
• Telephone and Internet services should be available at every corner of the country and there should be reduction in the rates/bills. For the far-flung rural parts of the country, like Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan etc, there must be a special rebate in the bills so that the poor are practically involved in e-business and other cyber activities to change their lifestyle.
• The ministries and other government-owned organisations should maintain and regularly updated their websites so that there is a good impression on the visitors especially from foreign countries.
• Computers and other IT related tools should be available at cheap rates so that common people’s reach is made possible to the new way of life.
(Note: this article was going to be a paper on sociology of cyber age in Pakistan, but The News International, Islamabad, published it as a column on October 23, 2003 with the headline: Pakistan on the cyber map. It relates to our country’s current situation even today.–The Terrorland Team)
