PPP’s turn for Carmella Conroy’s Iftar

As part of her farewell get-togethers, the out-going US Consul General Carmella Conroy hosted another political Iftar for the PPP’s provincial leadership on Tuesday.
Khalid Kharal, Munir Ahmed Khan, Tahir Khaleeq, Aurangzeb Burki, Mateen Ali Anjum and Tanvir Hussain were prominent among the gathering.
On Monday, she had hosted the PML-N leadership.

Shahbaz asks British govt to protect Pakistanis

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives of three Pakistanis in UK and termed it tragic and condemnable.
The CM has demanded of the British government to fulfil its responsibilities with regard to protection of life and property of the expatriate Pakistanis and deterrent punishment should be awarded to the murderers.
Shahbaz Sharif urged that the federal government should also play its role in this regard.
He expressed his sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed that may Allah Almighty grant them courage and strength to bear the irreparable loss.
Also British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thomson called on President PML-N Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.
They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. Nawaz Sharif expressed his concern over the riots in England, and grieved over deaths. He hoped that the British government would be able to control the situation.
Adam Thomson assured the PML-N leaders that his government would ensure protection of people’s life and property.

Pak Embassy in Egypt still in slumber

In a blatant violation of Premier Gilani’s orders, the Pakistani Ambassador has become a hurdle in the evacuation of Pakistanis from the riot-torn Egyptian capital Cairo since the lady is dillydallying through various messages to the foreign office back home, confided diplomatic sources.
Premier Gilani had issued evacuation directives on February 1 when the clashes between pro and anti-Mubarak Egyptians had not started, but now the options to peaceful exit are thinning out quickly, while Pakistan’s embassy is still in slumber.
As per the sources, these Pakistanis can only be evacuated on Saturday (tomorrow) or Sunday at the possible earliest because of two reasons. On Friday (today), both agitating quarters, that is, pro and anti-Mubarak Egyptians, have already announced that they both would stage one-million man march each; subsequently if it happens, this will bring two million people on the streets of Cairo, which would virtually clog every artery of the city. Secondly, today is a holiday, and the Pakistani Embassy cannot secure landing rights of the national airline till the highest offices of both countries talk to each other, which is a distant possibility.
Seeing this apathy of the Pakistan Embassy amid situation which is getting tense with every passing hour and day, about 100 Pakistanis had managed to flee the strife-stricken country using their own sources or have been airlifted by their employers, while still over 700 have been freshly registered with the diplomatic office till Thursday. Till Tuesday, the number was 800.
The sources further told The Nation that Ambassador Seema Naqvi had written to letter to the Foreign Office on Thursday morning that the government should charge money from the passengers since India and the US had done so instead of giving the stranded Pakistanis a free-ride back home. However, she did not quote examples of other countries, like Turkey, which valued their nationals more than a few thousand bucks. However, she changed her stance by the evening by asserting that the affording and non-affording should be bifurcated.
Gilani had also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador of Pakistan in Cairo to facilitate and arrange the required logistics for ensuring that all Pakistani national’s are evacuated from Egypt, who may be feeling insecure in the given circumstances in Egypt and wanted to return home.
Till Tuesday, the Ambassador was acting like an incorrigible optimist and repeatedly asserted the situation would get better and the evacuation was delayed.
While talking to The Nation on Thursday, the Ambassador Seema Naqvi was not as cheerful as she was on February 1, and was apparently pretty certain that evacuation would be done “as the chance happens since the Embassy is at it.” However, she did mention that the situation was pretty tense for every Pakistani, and there was nothing certain about the curfew hours during which neither a flight could land, or leave. “Secondly, people have to come from Alexandria as well, and with Egyptians marking the ‘Day of Departure’ in two million, it is not an easy job,” she added.
Naqvi hoped that evacuation would be possible on either mornings of Saturday or Sunday. “Nothing is in my hands since the situation is changing,” said the uncertain Ambassador in certain terms.
When quizzed about landing rights to be given by the Egyptian authorities, she gave two statements. First, “We have already moved the letter to seek landing rights for PIA flights, and still waiting for permission.” Secondly, no need for permission since other flights are continuing to land and depart.” This shows perhaps, the landing rights are still to be acquired by the Embassy.
However, she accepted that she did write a letter to the Foreign Office asking for direction to charge money from the passengers. “Now they would not be charged,” she was quick to add.
Despite all this, she asserted that the time had not been lost, and she had not run out of the options. Perhaps, she seemed to be waiting for a messiah of her own to save the Pakistanis, whom she deemed to be safe!
Meanwhile, the Pakistanis have bitterly criticised the Pakistan Embassy in Cairo, Foreign Office and the Ministry for its slow and flawed response.

Pak embassy slow in responding to Egypt crisis

Despite Premier Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s directive for evacuating stranded Pakistanis in the troubled capital of Egypt since options to survive are thinning out quickly, Pakistan’s embassy seemed to be in slumber yet, diplomatic sources confided with The Nation on Tuesday night.
The Ambassador is interested in waiting for two to three days more prior to evacuating the expatriate nationals.
This seems to be getting tenser since the Egyptian protesters has called for an indefinite general strike and they are planning to mark ‘million man march’ since the start of deadly anti-government protests. They have also decided to begin an open ended general strike for the weeks to come till the incumbent President Hosni Mubarak steps down. Pakistanis fear that there is every possibility that these protestors can indulge in street fights, and start killing people.
Seeing this, Gilani on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Defence to dispatch a special aircraft to Cairo to repatriate the families and non-essential staff of Pakistan Embassy and all Pakistani nationals including some stranded tourists who wish to leave Egypt because of the prevailing security situation there. Furthermore, he has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador of Pakistan in Cairo to facilitate and arrange the required logistics for ensuring that all Pakistani national’s are evacuated from Egypt, who may be feeling insecure in the given circumstances in Egypt and wishes to return home.
The diplomatic sources have mentioned that around 800 persons have got themselves registered with the embassy for evacuation. This number includes Pakistanis working there, students under the cultural exchange programme, and around 150 diplomatic persons and their families. However, these figures have been refuted by Pakistan’s Ambassador Seema Naqvi, who asserted that only 450 Pakistanis had shown their intentions for evacuation, while there were only 100 diplomatic personnel and their family members.
While talking to this scribe from her residence in Cairo, she was playing cool and advised others to stay in the same state since summary from Pakistan directing for evacuation was awaited, which could take two to three days. “There is a possibility that the situation will be ‘clear’ by then,” hoped the lady while talking in plain Urdu in reply to questions phrased in English language. When quizzed whether this ‘summary-summary to and fro game plan’ could jeopardise the lives of hundreds of Pakistanis, she maintained that it was not time consuming since the situation had not aggravated to such an extent when the Pakistanis could not be evacuated. “There has to be a procedure, which involves money and infrastructure, and it has to be approved by the authorities concerned. I believe the situation is not that bad to act out of wits,” asserted the lady, while acting as a cool player in tense situation.
While mentioning that she had herself initiated the summary, the Ambassador repeatedly stated that whenever it would be required, the evacuation plan would be carried out. “We have seen the last two to three days of tense situation, but all Pakistanis are safe, and there is no immediate emergency as such,” she said though simultaneously admitting that an emergency was impending since people could run short of food stocks and money. “Preparations have been finalised, and there is no need to panic. We will see for two to three days before going for the last straw,” maintained the Ambassador, who happens to be wife of a former diplomat.
When questioned about an impending siege of the presidential palace, and surrounding areas by the angry protestors, and this would clog roads to the airport, consequently blocking traffic options and hampering evacuation, an incorrigible optimist Naqvi stated that it was a distant possibility.

Sikhs for joining hands against Indians ‘Brahmans’

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, while addressing the Sikh yatrees, has said poverty, ignorance and unemployment are our common enemies inviting us to wage a war jointly against these, and as neighbours, we will foil the designs of anti-prosperity elements.
“Today we are facing shortage of water in both Punjabs, that is, Indian as well as Pakistan’s, and if we want to see our homeland prosperous and green, we will have to march forward jointly to resolve this issue. If shortage of water is created, it will be an enmity with hundreds of million of people, which can be very dangerous for this region,” he observed, while quoting Baba Guru Nanak, who had termed the homeland as ‘mother’ and water as ‘father’. “The home is incomplete without mother and father,” opined the CM.
He was addressing an international seminar on the subject of “Pani Bina Punjab Kithay” (Whither Punjab sans water) on the occasion of 542nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Jee held under the aegis of the Dayal Singh Research and Cultural Forum at a local hotel here on Thursday. Chairman Evacuee Property Trust Board Syed Asif Hashmi, Director DSR&CF Ihsan H. Nadiem, Dr. Preetpal Singh, Dr Jasbir Kaur, Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa and Pradhan of Perbandhak Committee on Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Sardar Sham Singh also addressed the seminar.
Earlier, Sikh representatives called for joining hands against the Brahmans for securing water for both Punjabs, and were of the considered opinion that Sikhism had close connection with ever-flowing rivers.
Addressing the seminar, Shahbaz Sharif said provision of facilities to Sikh yatrees was the responsibility of both provincial and federal governments, and assured them every year better facilities would be provided. He also announced the installation of road lights from Manawalla to Nankana Sahib next year before the arrival of Sikh yatrees. He mentioned that he wanted that when the Sikhs would go back, they should take alongwith them good sentiments about Pakistani and Punjabi brothers. He said like previous year, he had also got an opportunity to meet Sikh yatrees this year as well, which was a matter of pleasure for him.
The CM said that Baba Guru Nanak Jee was respectable for both Sikhs and Muslims as he preached religious tolerance, which was direly needed at present. He said the ideology of Baba Guru Nanak Jee was based on high moral values, spiritualism, love for humanity, creation of peaceful society, brotherhood and tolerance as the Guru was against hatred and enmities, and for this, the Guru travelled for spreading the message of peace, while taking along him a Muslim Babey Mardaney.
The CM concluded his speech with slogans of Pakistan Zindabad (Long Live Pakistan) and Muslim-Sikh Dosti Zindabad. He also talked about his ancestral village Jaati Umra in India, and his family house there.
Dr. Preetpal Singh pointed out problems being faced by the Punjabis of India because of inequitable water distribution by ‘Brahmans sitting in Delhi’. He was of the view that problem of water-shortage was deteriorating with every passing day because of ever-dipping water-table and lack of rain water.
Manmohan Singh was of the considered opinion that the Brahmans had looted water-share of the Punjab, and they were taking decisions while sitting in New Delhi sans any realisation of problems faced by the Indian Punjabis. “If there is extra water in flood season, they (Brahmans) open gates to destroy Pakistan’s Punjab,” he averred, while adding that the Sikhs were hoodwinked by Hindus at the time of partition. “Let us sit together, join hands, and through Sikh-Muslim unity launch joint fight against Brahmans,” he demanded, while pointing out Indian atrocities against Muslims of India where the Muslim women were raped during Gujrat carnage.
Sardar Manmohan Singh observed that Punjabis, living on both sides of the divide, were living like orphans because of shortage of water. “The Indians have occupied Kashmir, and now they are tunnelling water to Rajasthan without giving even a drop to Indian Punjabis,” he said, adding that the Indian radio was airing venomous propaganda and poisoning minds of Sindhis that the Pakistani Punjab was stealing their share of water, which was not the case. He asked the Pakistani govt for taking steps to thwart the campaign.
Indian educationist Dr Jasbir Kaur underlined the need for water for agriculturalists of India and Pakistan.