PTI government initiating new tourism projects

The PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is starting new projects for the promotion of tourism in the province and in this connection a modern ferry service is being started in River Indus and River Kabul. This was told to chairman, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan at a meeting in Chief Minister's House. 

The PTI chief was told the provincial government had already purchased a ferry, which has seat capacity of 50 passengers. The service would be operated in D I Khan, Khairbabad (Kund) and Nowshera while similar ferry service on the pattern of developed countries would also start in other rivers of the province. Under the tourism promotion scheme, a special train service would also be operated between Nowshera to Attock Khurd. The meeting was told that the ferry service will also prove helpful in seeing the rare-specie of dolphin in Indus and special tour would also be arranged for this purpose. 

Furthermore, the meeting was told that new tourist spots have been discovered in Naaran, Kaghan, Galiyat, Swat, Dir and Chitral, which would be opened for tourists to lessen pressure on the existing tourist spots in the province. Speaking on the occasion, PTI chief, Imran Khan, stressed taking special measures for the protection of environment and discouraging of trees, forests and constructions in the tourists attractive areas. 

The meeting decided that for taking steps for arresting environmental pollution in the already existing tourist spots and hiring of the services of national and international experts for the development of new tourism spots and their protection from pollution. The provincial government would make efforts for provision of facilities to tourists and instead of the construction of hotels, houses and guest houses near the natural pools and springs would establish tent villages to prevent the pollution of environment. 

The authorities of tourism department told the meeting that with the co-operation of youth they are initiating new schemes for the promotion of tourism. Under which the participants of tours will be provided opportunity to precious species of birds and young volunteers will collect plastic bags, empty bottles and cans from the tourist spots and maintain their natural beauty. Similarly, youth will also participate in cycle rallies, hiking and races and all such activities would be organised in the tourists' spots. 

On this occasion, Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak said that the revival of tourism related activities and promotion will not only stabilize the economy of the province, but also help attracting youth towards healthy activities. For keeping youth of the province busy in social, cultural, educational and extra-curricular activities seven "Youth Centres" have been established at divisional level for highlighting their talents. For these centres advisory councils have also been constituted at divisional level, which will be comprised of youth organisations, officials of youth affairs, elected public representatives and players. 

The PTI chief was further told that sites for the establishment of Youth Centres have been identified at divisional level and funds have also been arranged. The centres will be become functional by September 30, 2013. These centres will organize seminars, workshops and debates and will provide an opportunity for the youth to attend healthy activities. PTI chief said that the volunteers of PTI will also be included in these centres. He said that playgrounds and stadiums would be established in all 69 tehsils of the province and the conditions of the already existing stadiums would be improved. 

Mursi’s Ouster | A Stab To The Heart

Eyes are teary, hearts are weary, strength is fading, hopes are shaking and the souls undergo a massive torment. While completely disregarding the paradigm of the Muslim Brotherhood and their ilk, we weep nonetheless for their strife and feel equally affected by their plight. For decades of Egypt’s recent past, we despised its political situation where corrupt, autocratic foreign puppets were at the helm of affairs actively combating and persecuting an Islamist revival. Finally after a long and hard fought struggle; the Brotherhood successfully installed in Egypt’s presidency a benevolent personality that changed such treacherous policies.

However, the pawns (the army generals and the opposition) of the international ‘world order’ led primarily by an anti-Islamist secular intelligentsia would not let these developments come to pass. President Morsi’s ouster is intensely severe; an eye tearing, heart aching, enraging, demoralizing, dispiriting, dismal event; a set back to the Ummah; so bleak, lonesome, and despondent. It crushes the aspirations of a nation that had ‘elected’ Mursi to become president. For the second time, the Algerian experiment was used against Islamists who manipulated the democratic process to their favor. We are resolute in this dark hour to show solidarity with our brethren who fight our common cause and face our common foe.

As Muslims we raise our arms to Allah SWT our lord to ease our way through the crisis.

Oh Allah! Mark our revenge against our foe and grant us victory.

In retrospect we analyze valid reasons for his ouster, which of his shortcomings brought about this unfortunate end? The sole charge faced against him is inefficiency in governance. His critics flared arguments that the state of the economy did not live up to expectations. Although the Egyptian economy is in a dreadful state, however it is not Mursi who brought about this situation. To begin with, he did not become president in the best economic conditions; pivotal problems existed prior to his election. The reasons behind the major factors (including currency weakness, capital flight and crumbling state finances) of Egypt’s inactive economy owe not to the Mursi era which lasted a mere 12 months, but have come in existence over the long years of corrupt regimes particularly the Mubarak era which spanned over the last couple of decades.

Therefore, it is naive to believe that the economic downfall would arise in the duration of only a year and more so to expect a magical change by Morsi in this short time. Besides, any government which comes to replace Morsi will face and fail amidst similar problems. Furthermore, the government under Mursi does have a few remarkable milestones to claim in the economic field. This includes the March 2013 Egyptian Central Bank report, which shows that the overall balance of payment deficit went down from $11.2 billion to $2.1 billion. (1)

So in reality, his ouster was not due to a deteriorating economy, rather the charge sheet against president Morsi from the perspective of the army that sacked his government include his bold stance against Iran, his permission to the Egyptian youth to take part in the Syrian Jihad, and most importantly his anti-Israel stance with a simultaneous support of armed Palestinian resistance. Morsi’s major crisis came when violence between Israel and Hamas restarted after the targeted killing of a Hamas military commander by Israeli forces on November 14th. In a stark contrast  from his predecessor Hosni Mubarak, Morsi supported Hamas’ position outright, blaming Israeli forces for the violence and excessive civilian casualties. Morsi, as a Muslim Brotherhood leader, has not even referred to Israel by name in his time in office, nor met with any Israelis. Al Jazeera footage showed Palestinians in Gaza waving Egyptian flags in celebration. (2)

This calamity came through division more than any other factor. The Islamists were on no common grounds each thinking and acting independently. Where some like the Jama’a Islamiyaa took a passive stance, others like the Salafist Al-Noor party and the Sheikh at Al-Azhar joined the ranks of the leftists, and the Army. This left a weak and lonely Muslim Brotherhood standing firm behind its president in refusing to accept the military coup. Although no resistance of any kind was enforced against the military’s intervention for the Ikhwan had only verbally and politically defied the military takeover, mass arrests of notable leaders of both the Muslim brotherhood and other personalities and groups who allied themselves with the outgoing president. Most prominent of these arrests were of Mursi and Hazim Abu Ismail. Many killings of leaders and activists of the brotherhood also took place.

This sacking of the government and the mass arrests complicate matters quite seriously, at least in the short run. It implies the complete sidelining and isolation of Islamists in Egypt.  The future seems very uncertain and carries little hope. It also subjugates the causes of neighboring countries which more or less are affiliated with Islamism. The struggles being fought in Syria and Gaza now become doubtful. There is now also little hope for the advocates of such an ideology to find success in Egypt. More so than anything else, these recent events were a mere conspiracy against Islamism.

Coming back to the issue at hand; our differences with the Ikhwan remain invariable; however, their recent experience in Egypt has once again exposed the reality of ‘democracy’ and the true face of democracy worshippers. The events once again explain that it wasn't ever the sincerity with the ‘democratic’ doctrine that drove the seekers of democracy, its’ the hatred against Islam causing havoc. ‘Democracy’, to its die hard believers as well is a disposable vessel. When democracy serves the aim, it is demanded; when it doesn't and rather threatens such aims, it is disposed off.

Hang in there, it isn’t the end yet! True that democracy isn’t meant for us the Muslims. However, solidarity with our Muslim Brethren of Egypt against the Islam hating wicked foreign empowered rogues at the moment is obligatory.

The need of the hour is to act with maturity and to appear united as one entity keeping aside, for a while, the mutual differences. There will be ample time in which the right methodology may be explained. The time is to show the world that the concerns of Muslim activists are one and so are there aims regardless of the methodology. This also is peak time to expose the reality of the west and their secularist/liberal puppetry that chants for it. This responsibility lies on our shoulders; our Ummah awaits its youth, scholars, and activists for wise action. Jump in, you are the most needed!

90 days of PTI performance: A long list of achievements

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan had stated before the May 11 elections: “Why do you assume that the PTI will also fail, because other political parties have failed?” Actions would speak louder than words would be what Imran Khan sounded so sure of. First ninety days’ period was set as a benchmark by Imran Khan for others to judge the performance of the PTI government.

These 90 days of PTI came to an end on August 31, so it is desirable to have a look what has been the performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Austerity in running the state affairs coupled with curbing the misuse of state resources by top government functionaries that had plagued the previous governments was a promise that the PTI had made to this nation. Barring the minimum security required, no minister, including the Chief Minister, in the KP government takes any protocol vehicles and staff during movement. The incident of state helicopter ride taken by the Chief Minister KP and followed by payment for the fuel used for the trip set the example for top political leadership and bureaucracy in the province that the PTI government would have zero tolerance for the misuse of scarce and precious state resources. No other incident of such nature was reported afterwards even by the most vigilant media.

A plan to commercialize state guesthouses to mitigate unnecessary government expenses is in the pipeline.

Elimination of corruption at top level was the target set by the PTI for the first 90 days of its government. The PTI achieved this target; suffice it to say that not a single scandal, not to speak of a mega one, has piped up in the watchful media with all media eyes set on the KP government on this count.

Nor has the PTI government left any chance of the surfacing of any corruption scandal in future by putting into operation the Right to Information (RTI) Ordinance which ranks 76th among 90 countries that have RTI laws including many of the so-called first world countries.

The KP’s RTI law has scored 143 and is positioned at top global RTI rankings. Under the new law any citizen can make a request to the government on a simple paper or through an email, without any fee, requiring information about all government departments, the KP legislature, chief minister’s secretariat, governor’s secretariat, lower courts, and even to private bodies funded by government and private bodies providing public services.

The applicant under RTI Ordinance is not even required to disclose the reason for demanding such information. No more effective step for curbing corruption was imaginable when the typical measures of carrots with sticks and surprise raids followed by rather showy suspensions of functionaries by political lordships had miserably failed in the past.

The potential Snowdens within the KP government have been given legal cover as no action can now be taken against them for blowing the lid off the internal wrongdoings in the public interest.

The accountability bill draft has already been prepared and released for public comment, which will soon be translated into a law.

Accountability bill envisions a strong independent Accountability Commission which would be able to hold even the chief executive accountable.

Education and Health, though among the most important government functions, have been the most neglected ones in Pakistan since its establishment. Reforms in both fields were kick-started with the unprecedented high budget allocations by the PTI government.

Health reforms package already approved with the hallmarks of giving government hospitals autonomy on the pattern of UK model and a special focus on Mother Child Healthcare.

Mobile lady doctor service has been launched to make health services available to remote and hitherto inaccessible areas of KP.

Education reforms package has also been approved. Doing away with multiple evaluation systems at elementary level and introducing a uniform curriculum is what PTI government in KP is working very hard on.

Biometric attendance system has been planned and its pilot project is already complete. Deliberations are at the final stage on a mega initiative to construct the necessary facilities in primary and elementary schools in KP and equipping them appropriately, which requires billions of rupees, by involving overseas Pakistanis.

Consultations on launching of new international standard universities in KP with public-private partnership are also under way and concrete plans will soon be released. Local monitoring and management of schools and health units has been envisaged.

Another promise of PTI about to be fulfilled within weeks is the promulgation of a fully empowered local government system law. Final draft of local government system has been prepared, the salient features of which have already been debated publicly.

Party-based elections at district and tehsil levels, formation of village councils with powers of dispute resolution in petty disputes and offences, decentralized management of education, health, police; all these measures will prove to be a catalyst of change that PTI has been promising to bring about throughout the election year.

Online FIR has been a dream that has come true in KP. Out of 309 complaints from July 1 till August 20, 44 were converted into FIRs and in some instances decades old criminal disputes of the people were resolved merely by registering online complaints. One such instance was also reported by BBC. All the necessary facilities were provided to Peshawar High Court to materialize the operation of Mobile Courts which have already disposed of their initial cases.

To enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies in their counter-terrorism operations, necessary weaponry has been ordered, the FC has been recalled from other parts of the country and the establishment of a provincial intelligence agency has been announced.

Multiple initiatives like land record computerization, Peshawar Mass Transit System project, micro-hydel projects, e-governance project, clean and green Peshawar project, establishment of KP revenue authority etc. are at different stages of planning and execution.

Conflict of interest law, the right to service law, e-governance and e-businesses laws, the public-private partnership law and the vassal law are in final stages and would soon be promulgated. The KP government has won the right to govern for five years, but the early days’ performance, initiatives and plans are very important to set the direction of the new government.

The PTI government might not have achieved perfection, but it has sincerely made an all-out effort to cleanse the proverbial Aegean’s stables that had been dirtied for decades in the KP. The writer is the newly appointed central deputy secretary information, PTI. Email: aiddi11@gmail.com

 Source: 90 days of PTI performance: A long list of achievements

By Adnan Randhawa

"IMRAN KHAN : A PRAYER FOR PAKISTAN" ; Translated article from french newspaper

IMRAN KHAN : A PRAYER FOR

PAKISTAN 

Cricket's world former champion, international playboy, wants to be Prime Minister. After fifteen years of struggle in political world, he's about to achieve.

The pipers and drummers beating a frenzied pace, speakers blaring Pakistani pop and rap. The crowd presses against the gates of the cricket stadium despite the baton of the officers attempting to control the crowd. Gujar Khan's stadium is in a lost village in Punjab, its an dusty field surrounded by rickety bleachers, but the 20.000 or 30.000 people didn't come to see a match. Imran Khan captain of the team that had won Pakistan's only World Cup in 1992, he no longer plays cricket. He embarked on a sport more ferocious : politics. 


The former playboy, with his rock star look, who haunted the London nightclubs with wife at this time, Jemina Goldsmith, a British-Jewish millionaire, now frequent the electorate ultra-fundamentalists and tries to gather Pakistan's Taliban modern wing. He exchanged the jet-set for help poor people, in a country where nearly a quarter of the 180 million people undergo regularly famine. Imran Khan divorced his wife in 2004, seeing rarely his children, who went back to London with their mother, he travels around the country in a protected car. His aim : become the Prime Minister.
The party he founded, Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice in Pakistan PTI) was a minor party in the nation politics for fifteen years. Where the families parties almost alternate in power, between military coup and murders. Although admired for his status as sportsman, Imran was seen for a long time as a political marginal, even as a populist with a unstable policies and changing alliances. But his struggle against the corruption and his free hospital, eventually emerged his personality. His party's gatherings have attracted recently more than 100.00 people in Karachi and Lahore, and commentators suggest a possible tsunami in the general elections scheduled for later this year or early 2013.
This Friday, Imran Khan's gigantic posters are displaced each 100 meters on the road to Gujar Khan. Overcrowded buses, full of Imran 's supporters took this road in order to attend the gathering. A convoy got strafed by a political rival through the village. There were two serious injuries. The same day, further south in Punjab, a family council decided to put to death a newly married couple, because they get married without parental consent. Further East, a U.S drone attack killed 16 people in the province of Waziristan. “It's a violent country, that's why a complete break from the system as propose by Imran raised so much hope” explains, one of former cricketer's assistant also philosopher.
In the stadium, the crowd suddenly becomes agitated. Protected by his escort which had difficulty to find his way, Imran climbs rickety containers that serve as carpeted platform. The announcer's voice ignites. It heralds the arrival of “Khan Tsunami”, the man who wants to clean up Pakistani politics. To see the fervour of his slogan cheering in chorus, we can believe that he has a chance...
The next day, the calm is back, Imran Khan back to his villa designed by his former wife, top of Islamabad's hills, backed by Himalayas beautiful foothills. Despite of his age (59), Imran Khan kept his athletic body and a polite attitude but a little bit rude as best British schools former student and then of Oxford's student. However, his eyes shine, his breath becomes faster when he talks about his political hopes.
PARIS Match : You were seen as an outsider, what did you do to change people minds ?
Imran Khan : The determination is very important in politics, you have to believe that at the end the result would be in your favour. It's like in cricket : you can lose a lot of matches, but as long as you believe that there is a chance, you are not defeated. I started playing cricket when I was 9, and I always confident about that a day I ll win the World Cup. Pakistani team had a lot of difficulties but at the end we won. I think that because of cricket I got the discipline and strength needed to persevere during my fifteen years of struggle, since I have founded my party. 
However, how do you explain this sudden success of your party in a few months ?
Since fifteen years, I struggling against the growing corruption by this country leaders. The leaders of traditional parties, Bhutto's clan (former Prime Minister; murdered in 2007) and Nawaz Sharif (another former Prime Minister) are true Mafia. They stole billions of dollars, proved. Nobody trusts them any more. In 2010, when there were a flood in Pakistan, I was the only one to who people accepted to donate money because they trusted me. Because they knew I was the only one who would really help those people in need. Since, we got more and more memberships.
PM : What alternative do you offer ? In what your are more credible ?
IK : On the corruption its obvious. I had published my heritage as in Western countries, I am also the one who had shown his tax card. The others amass fortunes that they send to abroad, I have made my fortune in abroad but I repatriated to Pakistan. In addition to, I have no personal fortune. This villa, I built it by selling my England's house.
“America suppose to be our ally but their drones attack us each week, my people are humiliated ”.
PM :Who are your members ?
IK : we use internet a lot, that's why we got a lot of young people and from big cities. In the provinces, feudal system is still there, and local lords strictly control the electorate, as they were managing animals. But things are changing. Even in countryside, we are creating a groundswell. Our party has a million registered members, and we are expecting to quadruple their number in three coming months. Anyway, it will be our only way to win and break the status quo : by changing everything. That's why we started calling me 'Tsunami khan”.
PM : because of your anti-political 's critiques, some consider you as an agent linked with Army to maintain the control. 
IK : It is not true, I am independent of Army and of ISI (very powerful secret service). Moreover, I opened an investigation in order to expose them, to prove that they had paid millions of dollars to competing parties. If I become Prime Minister, I will ensure that the Army respects the Constitution and finally stop influencing politics. If the Army is so empowered today, it is because the absence of a civilian leadership. 
PM : You are accused to be a populist, you want vote of fundamentalist, you want to be their ally with radical parties and you criticize America. What would be your program if you are elected ?
IK : I am not populist, I am rational. The American have failed in Afghanistan and NATO has to go. In Pakistan, we suffered 40.000 dead since the beginning of the “war against terrorism”, and for what ? The Pakistanis have never been so humiliated in their history. Our citizens are arrested without trial, imprisoned at Guantanamo.
PM : However, many describe Pakistan as “the most dangerous country in the world”, seen as a supporter of Taliban and many other militias in a hidden war against India, armed with nuclear weapons. Do you think that this country can covert up without Washington's support ?
Yes, and in any case, the conditions could not be worse now. Concerning India; I am in favour of sincere negotiations that would resolve once and for all the status of Kashmir (region contested by the two countries). I was always against nuclear power and when we reach a real solution, I will support a bilateral nuclear disarmament. Regarding the Taliban, it is largely a non-issue. Islam is a religion of moderation. There is let say 5% of extremist ideologues who have thrived because of U.S violence. The rest are just frustrated Afghans and Pakistanis because they invade their country or attack them. If drones attacks ended, the Pakistani Army 's operations in the tribal areas on the border, and terrorism would ended to. 

PM : Is that true that you divorced your wife, because it was impossible for you to win by being married to a British ?
IK : My schedule as Politician is very tight, that probably not helped in a couple life, but Jemima and I divorced for personal reasons. We are still close even if she had remake her life separately and me to. We are still in touch and our sons (Suleiman and Kasim, 16 and 14) come often here to see me. Jemima led a demonstration when I was imprisoned, she also came to Pakistan a few months ago for a rally that I have organised against drone attacks.
PM : You can be elected head of a conservator country without being married ?

IK : I think so. Anyway, if the question is 'Should I get married to become Prime Minister ?” Then the answer is no. I am ready to do everything to help my country, really everything? But I am not willing to get married just to win elections (laughs).

PM : Do you fear for you security ? Politics is dangerous au Pakistan ?
IK : It's dangerous, sometimes vicious. I am attacked, slander. And my party is gaining power, it's irritating Mafia. Of course, there are risks of terrorism acts or murder. I am told to take more precautions. But that won't stop me. I believe in destiny and I have a job to do. I am not afraid of death. 

CM KP RAID ON POLICE STATION

خیبرپختونخوا کے وزیر اعلیٰ پرویزخٹک اتوارکے روزبغیراطلاع دیے پشاورشہرکے تھانہ بھانہ ماڑی پہنچ گئے ۔وزیراعلیٰ جب پہنچے توتھانے میں ایس ایچ او ،محرراوردیگرسٹاف غیرحاضرتھا۔تھانے میں داخل ہوتے ہی وزیراعلیٰ نے حوالات میں بند ایک معمرشخص سے ملاقات کی جسے لین دین کے معاملے میں تھانے میں بند کیاگیاتھا۔وزیراعلیٰ نے مذکورہ شخص سے بات چیت کرنے کے بعداس کی ضمانت کیلئے احکامات جاری کیے ۔وزیراعلیٰ نے ایس ایچ اوکومعطل کرنے اورمحررکے خلاف انکوائری کے احکامات جاری کیے ۔ایس ایچ او چھٹی پرتھالیکن تھانے میں اس کاکوئی ریکارڈ موجود نہیں تھا۔انہوں نے علاقے کے ایس پی اسماعیل کوہدایت کی کہ وہ روایتی تھانہ کلچرکوختم کرے، لوگوں کے ساتھ انصاف کرے اورکسی کے ساتھ زیادتی نہ ہونے پائے ۔انہوں نے کہاکہ وہ تسلسل کے ساتھ اپنے پولیس سٹیشنوں کی انسپیکشن کریں ۔یادرہے کہ اس سے پہلے وزیراعلیٰ نے آج ایک پُرہجوم پریس کانفرنس کے دوران واضح کردیاتھاکہ وہ اب دفترمیں کم نظرآئیں گے اورمختلف جگہوں پربغیراطلاع کے چھاپے کریں گے تاکہ عوام کے مسائل حل کیے جاسکیں۔

تھانہ بھانہ ماڑی کے دورے کے موقع پر پولیس حکام نے وزیراعلیٰ پرویزخٹک کوپولیس کے مسائل سے آگاہ کیا۔پولیس افسران نے وزیراعلیٰ کوبتایاکہ بعض اوقات وہ لوگ جوظلم وزیادتی کاشکارہوتے ہیں وہ مقدمہ درج کرانے سے گریزکرتے ہیں حالانکہ پولیس ان کی مددکرناچاہتی ہے جس کے جواب میں وزیراعلیٰ نے انہیں کہاکہ مسئلہ پولیس اورعوام کے درمیان اعتمادکے فقدان کاہے ۔جب یہ اعتمادقائم ہوجائے گاعوام بھی پولیس کواپناساتھی اورمحافظ سمجھیں گے ۔ انہوں نے کہاکہ صوبائی حکومت پولیس کوہرقسم کی سہولیات فراہم کرے گی اورقانون پرعملدرآمدکرنے والے افسران اوراہلکاروں کی حوصلہ افزائی کی جائے گی ۔انہوں نے کہاکہ پولیس کوعوام کوتحفظ فراہم کرنے کے سا تھ ساتھ ان کے دل بھی جیتنے چاہئیں تاہم قانون شکن عناصرکے ساتھ کسی قسم کی رعایت نہیں کی جانی چاہئیے۔وزیراعلیٰ نے تھانے کے دورے کے موقع پرایک ایک دستاویزکاتفصیلی معائینہ کیا۔پولیس کے رجسٹرچیک کیے اوراہلکاروں سے درجنوں سوالات کیے۔

اتوارکی شام پولیس اہلکاروں اورافسران کیلئے وزیراعلیٰ پرویزخٹک کو مطمئن کرناانتہائی دشوارثابت ہوا کیونکہ وزیراعلیٰ کے چُبتے ہوئے سوالات نے کئی اہلکاروں کوپریشان کردیا۔وزیراعلیٰ ہرمعاملے میں باخبراورایک قدم آگے تھے۔