Zong users of Islamabad and Rawalpindi now can make free on-net (zong to zong) call for 7 Rs plus tax / day. get a discount by subscribing to this offer for one week. if you want to subscribe to this offer for one day, send isb to 522 for Rs 7+tax/day , or for weekly subscription send [...]

Pakistan needs rule of law and de-politicisation of police. Those engaging criminal offences like hate speech, threats and incitement to violence, and vigilante violence must be charged, tried, prosecuted, and punished. We will not allow people in public office or public positions, like political parties and traders’ unions to go around supporting hate-campaigns and violence. Please sign this petition demanding an end to violence against religious communities in Pakistan

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STOP VIOLENCE AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PAKISTAN’S RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

The President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Yusuf Raza Gilani
Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ch. Nisar Ali Khan
Chief Minister of Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N
President Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran Malik Shahid Ghafoor Paracha

We urge you to intervene and stop the killing of Pakistan’s religious communities, including Sunni (Barelvi), Shia (including Hazara) and Ahmedi communities that are facing a virtual genocide simply for following their religious beliefs and practices.

You are no doubt familiar with Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s speech to the Constituent Assembly on Aug 11, 1947, in which he said: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed –that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

The recent attacks on the 12 Rabiul Awal processions in various cities around Pakistan (including Gujranwala, Mansehra, Gojar Khan, Mirpur, Khairpur and Karachi) are evidence of the menace of bigotry and intolerance. The government must act with all of its might to put a stop to this. It needs to be done NOW.

The evil lurks in the belly of the so-called Diffa-e-Pakistan Council, a coalition comprising several ‘religious parties’ including some banned organsiations whose views dont resonate with the majority but are able to use their armed status and street power to attack others with impunity. The activities of this coalition need to be curtailed before it becomes the Destroy Pakistan Council.

Many of those involved in the DPC are also active in the hate-campaign against the Ahmadiyya community. Most recently, hate-mongers have proposed the demolition of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya’s Aiwan e Tawheed building in Satellite Town Rawalpindi. We express our disappointment at the participation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders in an anti-Ahmedi rally of Jan 29, 2012, attended by Member of Punjab Assembly Zia ullah Shah and traders union leader Sharjeel Mir (nominee for a PML-N ticket). It is also shocking that a leader of the traders community at this occasion made a threatening speech against the Ahmedi community.

We strongly condemn these threats of violence, and urge the establishment of a code of ethics, across the board that prohibits any political party supporting those who victimize others.

The Government, both at the Federal and Provincial levels, must take immediate action against violence, threats and intimidation, including those in the name of religion.

A witness protection plan must be instituted and the police empowered, enabled and de-politicised to act against those who violate basic human rights in Pakistan.

The full force of the law must be employed to ensure that no one attacks or threatens members of any community simply for following their religious beliefs and practices.

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Sincerely,

[Your name]

Mobilink JAZZ announces LBC (Location Based Charging) Offers for a number of cities of Pakistan.The offer is available to the residents of the following cities:

Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Murree, Gujjar Khan, Taxila, Wah, Sheikupura
Pattoki, Kasur, Nankana [...]

Mia Bloom is an Associate Professor of Women’s Studies and International Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. Her focus is on terrorism through her fellowship at the International Center for the Study of Terrorism and her work specializes in Middle Eastern conflicts as well as rape in war. Mia’s studies have been featured on numerous media outlets, including CNN and CSPAN, and has been interviewed by Nightline’s Ted Koppel and PBS’ Jim Lehrer. Mia’s most recent work focuses on exposing the emergent occurrence of women and child terrorists. Her book, Bombshell: The Many Faces of Women Terrorists, brings these growing problems to light, analyzing the root causes and the direction of modern terrorism today.

Peter van Uhm is the Netherlands’ chief of defense, but that does not mean he is pro-war. At TEDxAmsterdam he explains how his career is one shaped by a love of peace, not a desire for bloodshed — and why we need armies if we want peace.

News for software developers who want to sell their software locally online! Wi-tribe has just announced the beta launch of wi-tribe Bazaar – Pakistan’s first Buy and Sell software portal – as a platform where Pakistani software developers can sell and monetize their software. The portal, as all things wi-tribe, is slick and the User Interface is very simple to use. This is in beta so developers are warned that there might be a few bugs – and these should be reported so that they can be fixed.

The basic categories that they have defined in the portal include:

• Anti-virus & anti-spam
• Business
• Communication
• Games
• Graphics
• Internet & Networking
• Mobile Applications
• PC Widgets
• Systems Utilities

So all a software developer has to do is fill in the details in the online application form, mention the price, provide a description, the OS the app runs on and send it to w-tribe alongwith a sign up fee of Rs. 1000. According to the information on the portal, wi-tribe will get a contract to the developer within 7 days. In accordance with the contract, the developer will get 65% of all revenues minus taxes. There are some pre-requisites though. The software must have had a minimum of 100 downloads and should have been on the portal for at least 3 months. The shopping experience for buyers is very simple – add to shopping cart, use the scratch card and download! You can also create a wish list if you are not sure how many products you want to end up buying.

According to Ali Fahd, Director Marketing wi-tribe, the wi-tribe Bazaar is powered by wi-tribe scratch cards, allowing the purchase of software through scratch cards available at over 600 locations throughout Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Faisalabad. There is no hassle or requirement of credit cards or other e-commerce payment methods. Understanding the Pakistani market, they are aware of the fact that consumers in Pakistan are familiar with scratch cards and use them frequently for various services. So why not software?

“wi-tribe Bazaar is our effort to support, encourage and proliferate the local IT industry and software developers in particular,” says Ali Fahd. “We understand that there are a lot of developers with products that they would like to sell in the local market. We are also aware of the challenges in monetizing software and applications (apps) in Pakistan. With wi-tribe Bazaar, software developers will enjoy a significant portion of the revenue share as the main beneficiary. The software and apps can be priced at Rs.100, Rs.250, Rs.500 or Rs.1,000 by the developer. wi-tribe Bazaar also offers hundreds of free applications, which will support developers in building and reaching a larger market.”

Currently, wi-tribe Bazaar supports Windows Desktop and Mobile Apps for Android, Blackberry and Symbian. It is a robust platform for selling any windows software and mobile applications such as games, system utilities, wallpapers and customized themes. The platform is open to all types of developers who would like to bring either their commercial product or even a final year university project to their target market, says Ali Fahd.

wi-tribe state that they are only acting as a catalyst by providing the platform. To help build a local ecosystem of software and apps, wi-tribe has taken a conscious decision to open the platform to all – not just to wi-tribe users. They will aggressively market the wi-tribe bazaar in Pakistan.

Test drive the beta version at http://bazaar.wi-tribe.pk.

Provide feedback on the Bazaar to support.bazaar@wi-tribe.pk.

PTCL leads PTA’s 2011 Broadband QoS survey

Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) is leading all operators in the country by providing to consumers the highest quality Broadband Internet service, according to the second nationwide Quality of Service (QoS) 2011 survey conducted by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Released last week, the PTA survey places PTCL in category A (more than 95%) at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta, and in category B (more than 80%) at Karachi for the 1Mbps wire-line broadband service.

Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) is leading all operators in the country by providing to consumers the highest quality Broadband Internet service, according to the second nationwide Quality of Service (QoS) 2011 survey conducted by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Released last week, the PTA survey places PTCL in category A (more than 95%) at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta, and in category B (more than 80%) at Karachi for the 1Mbps wire-line broadband service.

The survey was carried out in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Muzaffarabad for categories of 512Kbps and 1Mbps in both wire-line and wireless broadband services offered by different operators.

The survey measures operators’ overall performance based on PTA’s key performance indicators (KPIs), including service availability, download and upload bandwidth speed, round-trip time, and service retain-ability.

“Pakistan is the world’s 4th fastest growing broadband market, and PTCL is the country’s single largest broadband service provider with 95% market share,” said Senior Executive Vice President, Naveed Saeed. “In line with the Government’s vision for Broadband growth in Pakistan, we are leading the country’s broadband revolution from the front by making this technology affordable through lowered entry barriers; by geographically bringing the service within the reach of a common user across the country; and by continuous improvements in customer care.”

The PTA terms Broadband as “a significant economic stimulus for any country”, and PTCL DSL is spearheading its exponential growth in Pakistan with a footprint in over 1,100 cities and towns. PTCL is the world’s first operator to introduce “UltraNet” using VDSL2 bonding technology with speeds up to 50mbps on a copper network; and it has deployed the Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology.

Last year, PTCL again became the world’s first operator to commercially launch 3G EVDO Rev B service. In the form of EVO NITRO, it gives consumers the market’s maximum speed of 9.3MBPs. PTCL has Pakistan’s largest and fastest growing 3G EVDO wireless broadband network, with connectivity and roaming in nearly 200 cities.

“PTCL is one of the most progressive data connectivity providers of the world and Broadband is now a driver for Pakistan’s national GDP,” said Mr. Saeed. “We have a responsibility to develop Pakistan’s technology and data network for establishing the echo system conducive for our country’s economic growth and social uplift, and PTCL is fully primed to facilitate that.”

The first to bring to Pakistan EVO dongles with Internet connectivity, PTCL has followed by launching its innovative 3G EVO Wi-Fi Cloud to connect multiple Wi-Fi devices simultaneously and the first ever PTCL 3G Android EVO Tab with built-in wireless broadband offering Internet connectivity on the go.

This month, PTCL launched Pakistan’s first 3G enabled Android Smartphone, IVIO Icon Pro that offers dual support for both EVDO and GSM/CDMA network.

Via: PTCL Media Center

© Pakistan Live News

The Make A Difference Movie – The Teddy Stallard Story – by Mary Robinson Reynolds | The MasterMinding Maven® – Full Length Version.

start to make a difference today – start with clicking on the link!

Rawalpindi – January 27, 2012:
The 29th Undergraduate Convocation of the Army Medical College Rawalpindi was held today. 

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff Awarded degrees to 175 graduates of 30th MBBS and 9th BDS Courses.
While congratulating the passing out graduates, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said that the tireless efforts of the teachers in

The other day JuD held a rally in Satellite Town near Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. The purpose of this rally was to protest against the unconstitutional activities of Ahmadis. Ahmadis are the most peaceful community on earth. Do you think I exaggerate by calling them ‘the most peaceful community on earth’? If so; please see [...]

By Ali Arqam:

Zulfiqar Mirza’s theatrics, Altaf Hussain’s histrionics, rabble-rouser Qureshi’s anti climax (of Nuclear Arsenal under threat episode), Munawwar Hasan’s  ‘No one loves me’ rants, Fazlur Rehman’s alarm bells of Islam in danger, the new theatrical production is a rally by JuD for “Difa-e-Pakistan”. Welcome to Karachi fairgrounds.

First swearing Mirza damned MQM for posing threat to Pakistan’s integrity, then Altaf Hussain waved the map of so called balkanization of Pakistan. Thereafter, Imran came with a life line for Pakistan (he will only share the details when he will come to power) then Munawwar Hasan called on the bearded and hijabis to save Pakistan. Most recently Fazlur Rehman brandished a red flag and now Hafiz Saeed of JuD,  Ahmad Ludhianvi of ASWJ and others have jumped on the bandwagon to defend state of Pakistan.

This new religio-political alliance ‘Difa-e-Pakistan’ has been founded amid rising tensions between Pakistan with United states over negotiations for a role in post-US withdrawal Afghanistan; and in the aftermath of NATO Air strikes killing Pakistan Army soldiers. It aims to keep Pakistan clear of US and her allies’ footprint. Pakistani nationalists’ narrative keeps the anti-US indignation alive assuming that this will lead to Pakistan’s central place in Afghanistan negotiations. To keep the momentum, it also fights on its favourite terrain by declaring again and again that India is an existential threat.

That is why, the patron in chief of Difa-e-Pakistan council, Jamatud Dawaa (JuD) and its pouplar anti-India slogans like “India ka Jo yaar hei ghaddar hei”, “Bharat ko Pasandida mulk kehne walo, apne pasandida mulk chaley jao”  etc  are writings on the walls of Karachi,almost in every locality. The turf wars between various political and religious groups can be traced through the walls, buildings and electric poles, which have slogans and flags of that particular group in control of the territory sprayed and hoisted over all of them. But it seems JuD is an exception. MQM strongholds in Baldia, Orangi Town as well as People’s  Aman committee home territory, Lyari, and also ANP influenced areas have JuD slogans on the white washed walls for their propaganda. Thus reaffirming how divided and intolerant we are to each other; and yet unified against the eternal foes.

The deep state’s orchestrated “perceived threat narrative” has its pluggers in political and religious parties and media, who on the domestic and international front, have adequate stuff to disseminate and regurgitate. The right wing religious allies’ need an internal adversary as well to highlight ”perceived threat narrative” at domestic front. On political front, JUD targets the secular political parties, while on the religious front, it targets lesser Muslims such as Shias and Ahmedis, and less “pure” Pakistanis i.e the Christians and the Hindus.

JuD has chose Satellite town in Rawalpindi to hold an anti-Ahmedi demonstration and its counterpart ASWJ or the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba has heightened its activites by killing people from Shia sect in Karachi on daily basis.

But persecution of minority sects whether Shias or Ahmedis by these forces goes unheeded. The proponents of Difa-e-Pakistan take no issue of killings of less “patriotic” elements by the national security institutions in Balochistan, Swat and FATA, the same way their criminal actions against internal adversaries too are ignored.

It is feared that the forthcoming show by difa-e-Pakistan council in Karachi fairground along with the brags and blusters of the infuriated mullahs will bring worst for the already besieged Shia community.

Reporting from Karachi, exclusively for Pak Tea House.

Did you feel a bit strange reading this title? I felt strange even as I wrote it.

I was watching television as it documented festivities gaining momentum on the approach of twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal. Rabi-ul-Awwal, the twelfth, is supposedly Prophet Muhammed SAW’s birthday.

The television narrated that there was a bit boost in sales of framed Quranic Verses, Asma-e-Husna and Asma-e-Nabi SAW as Rabi-ul-Awwal proceeded. People believe that adorning walls with these wall-hangings is a source of blessings in homes.

There are also those who believe (I do not, but for the sake of argument, let us all believe that it is true) that reciting Darood Shareef (Salutations) upon the Holy Prophet SAW, inspires the Prophet’s presence. That is, the Prophet SAW himself arrives in that gathering where the Darood Shareef is being recited, although he cannot be seen, and for this reason people stand up in his honor and greeting. Their belief is so resolute that they even position a special chair for him to sit and attend the gathering.

Generally, all this is done in the drawing-room of the house, where generally there are also pictures hanging on the walls for which the very same Prophet SAW said,

Narrated Syedna Ayesha RA: I bought a cushion with pictures on it. When Allah’s Apostle saw it, he kept standing at the door and did not enter the house. I noticed the sign of disgust on his face, so I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I repent to Allah and His Apostle, (Please let me know) what sin I have done.” Allah’s Apostle said, “What about this cushion?” I replied, “I bought it for you to sit and recline on.” Allah’s Apostle said, “The painters (i.e. owners) of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, ‘Put life in what you have created (i.e. painted).’” The Prophet added, “The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.” [Hadith Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, N. 318]

And this is the same drawing room where our girls and boys will dance on the dholki nights of our wedding celebrations!

Consider a wedding set for Rabi-ul-Awwal. In the morning we are going to hold a gathering of Milad and Darood Shareef. And we will set that special chair for our Holy Prophet SAW to visit us and honor our gathering in honor of him. The evening is scheduled for a dholki. Now what about that chair? Are we going to remove that chair? Or do we hope for the Prophet SAW to stay on and attend our other festivities as well?

Is our Prophet SAW welcome to our wedding celebrations as well?

My next worry is another dilemma. A Jew once taunted Syedna Salman Farsi RA regarding the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammed SAW. He said maliciously, ‘We have heard that your Prophet even teaches you how to use the bathroom’. Syedna Salman Farsi RA, instead of crackling down under peer pressure, replied with great pride in the affirmative and defended the great concern, mercy and completion of humanitarian teachings by the Holy Prophet SAW under Divine decree.

The completion of religion by Allah SWT, at the hands of Prophet Muhammed SAW, is marked by the specific Holy Verse,

“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you and approved Al-Islam as a Deen (way of life for you).” [The Holy Quran, (5) Surah Al-Maidah, Excerpt of Verse 3]

Islamic beliefs, worships, mutual dealings, character and life style has been explicitly spelled out in religion. I fail to understand that how come the mention of celebrating birthdays, and that too of the Holy Prophet SAW, got skipped in the entire treasury of the Holy Quran, Ahadith and Fiqh…

Did the Sahaba RA not love or honor the Prophet SAW as we do? Why is there no single narration of his family or friends celebrating his birthday even once in his lifetime? Why is there no mention of celebrating anyone’s birthday at all for that matter?

That is because celebrating birthdays is just not our style.

Not our children’s and not the Prophet’s. I am saying so specifically because when it is said that celebrating Milad is a Bidah, first of all people go all ‘Hawww’ and then they say ‘While we celebrate our children’s birthdays, why not of the Prophet?’ and then they quickly make their children’s birthdays kosher by mentioning that we do not play songs but Naats. On the note of a very wild analogy, but that is like eating dates in a disco…

Celebrating birthdays is not our style because Islam is a very sensible religion. It recommends celebration upon achievements, and not glorifying biological facts and the gone-by past. How is growing another year older a human achievement? It is the Grace of Allah SWT that our timeline in this world has continued another year and we were given more time to score points for the Eternal Life. And if we are celebrating ‘being born’, that is also not our achievement. It is our mother’s. However, we were celebrated when we were born, can we now please move on? It was great when I passed Grade 1. It was my right to celebrate. But imagine if I begin to celebrate passing Grade 1 every year…

There is much which we can celebrate in our lives; birth (Aqeeqa), wedding (Valima). Eid-e-Ramazan, Eid-e-Qurbani, Bismillah of Holy Quran, Ameen of Holy Quran, academic achievements, social achievements, political achievements and so on. However, the greatest achievement which Allah SWT recommends us to celebrate is,

“Say: ‘It is the grace and mercy of Allah (that He has sent this Quran), so let the people rejoice over it, for it is better than (the worldly riches) they are collecting.’” [The Holy Quran, (10) Surah Younus, Verse 58]

In our society, this is usually known as the Ameen of the child who has completed the recitation of The Holy Quran. It is indeed commendable for a child to have completed the recitation of the Holy Quran in Arabic, just like it was commendable for a child to have passed Grade 1. Do we stop after Grade 1 and not proceed to higher classes? What about understanding the Holy Quran by translation and tafseer? What about implementing its commandments in our lives? What about conveying its message to others because many of its chapters begin with ‘O’ Mankind…’? Is it the job of Maulvi Sahab only? No, the Holy Quran claims these five rights upon every individual Muslim.

Then again, compare the celebration quality and quantity we hold for our birthdays and Ameens. We go to Mc Donalds (although I am not for it any day) for birthday celebrations and suddenly remember the simplicity of Islam with dates and chuharae at our humble homes for celebrating Ameen. Does Allah SWT not understand our priorities and values? We fool none other than our own selves, for as we sow, so shall we reap.

As the discussion has gone deep and far, I am yet contemplating the answer for the questioning thought…what will we do with the chair we had set out for Prophet Muhammed SAW? We were celebrating the Prophet’s birthday in the morning and now there is a dholki scheduled for the evening. If we continue to keep the chair, it means we are extending the invitation, and if we remove it…but we cannot be so rude! So do you think our dholkis are legitimate enough to be attended by our Prophet SAW himself, or do we have some events, dresses and cassettes to hide from him?

I will end with a history clarification and correction. The date of birth of Prophet Muhammed SAW has a difference of opinion, with one opinion that of being twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal, but his date of death is confirmedly known to be twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal! What now? Should twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal be celebrated or mourned now? I think it was Allah SWT’s intricate design of events to be so, in order to eradicate anniversary culture, but we are determined people. We will simply ignore this unwanted and spoil-sport information and our youngsters will continue to celebrate twelfth of Rabi-ul-Awwal on Rawalpindi chowks, dancing to Naats recited upon tunes of Indian songs, wearing green bandanas inscribed with Kalimah-e-Shahadah.

Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route. 
~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld

Rawalpindi, 2012.