My People

[RabzonKhan]

Donors Pledge $224 Million to Help Pakistan Refugees

By VOA News
21 May 2009

Several nations have pledged $224 million in aid for the huge number of people displaced by Pakistan's military offensive against Taliban insurgents in the northwestern Swat Valley area.

At an international donors' conference in Islamabad Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the aid is critical towards winning the war against terrorists.

The amount includes $110 million promised by the United States earlier this week. The Pakistani government said it needs to raise between $500 million and $600 million to address the crisis.
The United Nations said about 1.5 million people have been displaced by fighting this month alone, in addition to some 500,000 forced from their homes over the past year.

The U.N. is expected to launch a separate appeal on Friday.

The Pakistani government has pledged $100 million in funding for relief efforts and one-time grants of $300 to each displaced family.

In fighting Thursday, Pakistan army officials said fresh clashes between security forces and Taliban insurgents in Swat have left several militants dead, including a key commander.

Officials said five soldiers were also killed, and several others were wounded.

On Wednesday, an army spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, said troops killed 80 militants and captured the key Taliban stronghold of Sultanwas, the main town in Buner district just 100 kilometers from the capital, Islamabad.

The spokesman said the town served as the Taliban's military headquarters and was the first town that the militants captured after entering Buner.

 

[RabzonKhan]

"I have no television, radio, but the villagers her were talking about the fighting in Swat, I knew I had to help," he says.

"It is my duty as a Muslim, as a Pakistani. I have very little."

That’s the spirit!


Mirabadi Village

Wednesday, May 20, 07

The vast majority of Pakistan's almost 1.5 million refugees are living outside of the camps in private accommodation.

We visited some of these people to really see what their living conditions were like and to hear their stories.

The term "private accommodation" conjures up images of families helping each other out, living in nice conditions with a homely atmosphere.

Whilst that might be true for some, for others the living conditions are as challenging as those in the camps.

Mirabadi Village - just outside of Islamabad - is a slum village. It's dusty, with narrow cobbled streets, open sewers and poor house workers. The type, although not Pakistan's poorest, that have little.

But even here amongst the heat and barefoot children are stories of incredible generosity.

Nazimuddin is a labourer, working whenever he can find a job carrying bricks in one of the capital's many construction sites.

If he earns a dollar a day he considers himself lucky.

His house is basic, two rooms and toilet, with an outdoor cooking area.

Crucially, however, he has a basic house next door in his village which was empty
A Pakistani charity, FHRO, based in Swat asked him if he could house refugees.

He jumped at the chance to help.

"I have no television, radio, but the villagers her were talking about the fighting in Swat, I knew I had to help," he says.

"It is my duty as a Muslim, as a Pakistani. I have very little."

It has made a massive difference to Ahsanullah who lives in the house.

They have few facilities. Pakistan's energy crisis means they are without electricity, they use gas to cook with, but even then the cost of gas means the have to use it sparingly.

Ahsanullah fled with his familiy and were placed here by the charity.

"This man has very little, but what he does have he shares with us," he tells me.

Ahsanullah and Nazimuddin are now firm friends. As their children play together I can't help but be struck by just how, in the face of a massive crisis, Pakistanis have united and continue to unite.

 

[RabzonKhan]

Much has to be done, and quickly

Reality check

Friday, May 22, 2009
Shafqat Mahmood

This meeting of the political parties was long overdue. It is a pity that form dictates inviting everyone, even those whose membership consists of a few charlatans and a letter head.

It is to the prime minister's credit that he was able to hammer a consensus out of this motley lot. Mian Nawaz Sharif is also reported to have played a positive role. All praise to them. They have done a service to the nation.

Some minor parties are now quibbling about the government's media spin on the agreement. This is just their naiveté. Why should the ruling party not show its success in the best possible light? This is the first lesson of politics and indeed of life. The fact is that these quibblers have been had. Gilani got all of them to come in to make them a party to the military operation in Malakand. They could have been ignored because even collectively, they amount to nothing. But, he wanted their thumb print on the document.

If they were that incensed with the proceedings or the draft resolution, they could have walked out but they did not. They joy of being there was more important than their public slogans. Now they whine like a girl who goes on a midnight date and then says that people are so cruel, they question my morals.

These parties may put a different construction on the final resolution but there is no ambiguity about its condemnation of the Taliban and support for military action. These specific words may not be there but the intent is unmistakeable.

Terrorism, extremism and sectarianism were condemned and a vow was made to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. Does one have to be a linguist to figure out that this is a clear reference to the barbarians who have been seeking to take control of Malakand? Are they not the ones who challenge the constitution and hold our entire political order to be un-Islamic?

The resolution also emphasises that the writ of the state should be established at all cost. If this is not a support for the military action than what is? Did these people expect that this writ would be established through poetry and flower power?

The real problem for some minor players is that they have been caught out. After virtually supporting the Taliban and rubbishing the military action, they went in there and did not have the guts to go against the broad consensus that had emerged in the conference.

They had hoped that the PML-N would be standing with them but after Nawaz Sharif forcefully spoke for the continuation of the Swat operation until the elimination of terrorism, they were completely isolated. This was the time to take a principled stand and walk but they meekly signed. So much for principles.

Anyway, there are bigger issues to resolve than the moaning of these non-entities. While all eyes are rightly focused on the internally displaced people, there is a host of other issues that need the government's focused attention.

People in some areas, particularly Buner, have begun to return home. This is a good sign but they have to be rehabilitated. Their crops are ruined, their homes damaged and their basic infrastructure shattered. To bring their life to normalcy and rebuild the primary elements of their economy is critical.

If we are unable to do this, and in quick time, we would have conceded to the terrorists what we have won so painstakingly on the battlefield. It is indeed a struggle for hearts and minds and this will not be won just by words.

We must ask those seeking to help us, to put a massive effort in the war zone. We created a special federal agency to rehabilitate people and areas affected by the earthquake. We must do something similar for Malakand and quickly.

In fact, let us make a start by giving every family returning home a reasonable sum of money to rebuild their lives. This should be a straight forward grant and must be distributed through elected councillors and the village elders. At a later stage, but not too late, easy credit can be given to jumpstart the economy. But, right now, every family must be helped.

Second, subsidised food availability should be a priority. Not free, because that creates a different problem. Again, this should be handled through the community. If the right people do not get it or someone makes an extra buck, let the community and its elders take responsibility. The important thing is for the government to ensure that there is no hunger.

The third priority must be to rebuild shattered infrastructure. The terrorists have made a particular point of destroying schools, both of boys and girls. Rebuilding them quickly wherever possible, and starting classes after the summer break, would be a poignant symbol of victory against terror.

These are just some ideas. The important point is that rehabilitation of the war-affected people is as important as the military struggle against terrorism. And this obviously cannot be done, without the structure of the state reasserting itself in these areas. This has to be a concurrent priority with the rehabilitation of the people.

Rebuilding the state structure would not be easy, but without it any military victory against the terrorist would be short-lived. The army can provide basic administration for a while but the civil officials, particularly the police, must come back. It is only when the civil administration starts functioning, that these areas would have been effectively reclaimed from the terrorists.

This is easier said than done because once the civil order collapses it takes a long time to put it back on its feet. A step forward would be to re-establish the old district magistracy system in these areas. This will mean the creation of a one-stop-shop in the district, with all other elements of the state reporting to it. The importance of a single chain of command cannot be over emphasised.

It will facilitate the flow of aid, the rebuilding of infrastructure, the smooth running of family aid programs and other social welfare activities. Most importantly, the office of the district magistrate will create a nucleus to coordinate the resources of the state to maintain law and order. If we expect the nazim system to re-establish the writ of the state in war-torn areas, we may just as well give up.

While this is going on, at least some elements of the army must remain in place to give confidence not only to the people but to the civil structure. Particularly, the police will take heart from the fact that the military is nearby. In the longer term, civil armed forces or militias must be created separately for Swat, Buner and Dir. This will give structure to the popular resistance against terrorism and also give employment to local people.

There is so much to be done and a single column does not have the space to go into all the details, but the strategic heights of what needs to be done are clear. We have to look after the IDPs but we must also take people back home and rehabilitate them. To do so effectively, we need to rebuild the state structure.

The sooner we begin the better.

 

[ajpirzada]

Germany’s assistance to IDPs

KARACHI, May 22 (APP): Germany’s assistance to the internally displaced persons of Swat and other areas of NWFP has reached Rs 2.4 billion. A statement issued here on Friday by the Consulate General of Germany in Karachi said that in response to the displacement of civilian population from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Malakand Division, the Federal Republic of Germany has increased its emergency assistance to Pakistan to a total of Euro 22.6 million.
Stressing his solidarity with the Pakistani people, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, declared that he was concerned about the situation in North-West Pakistan and the fate of the over one million IDPs there.
He said that we must do all we can, together with Pakistan, to help the civilian population which is suffering.

The statement pointed out that during her visit to Pakistan in April 2009, German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wiezcorek-Zeul, met with IDPs on the outskirts of Islamabad to obtain a personal impression of their situation and to underline Germany’s commitment to support them.

Germany emergency assistance addresses the following needs: Euro 12.6 million will be used to support securing the immediate humanitarian needs of displaced people inside and outside of camps in NWFP, including food, shelter, protection and medical care through the United Nations World Food Programme (Euro 5 million), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Euro 6 million ), the International Committee of the Red Cross (Euro 1 million) and Pakistani partners of German non-governmental organisations (Euro 600.000).

The remaining 10 million Euro are provided to support the United Nations Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) Programme. Under this programme, UN agencies and the Government of Pakistan will cooperate to restore and improve social services and local infrastructure in communities hosting refugees and IDPs, the statement added.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Germany’s assistance to IDPs

 

[Bill Longley]

This little girl is daughter of that nation who is dead in its heart. This sweet sister and her family are refugees from Bonair. Taliban and Takfiri Thugs want to take away smile and Hope from eyes of thousands of Daughters like her....
O my Sister We are sorry that we call our selves Pakistanies ....When there are still some people who try to defend Taliban Thugs who have brought these precious tears in your beautifull eyes

We promise we will fight takfir and followers of Takfir till our last drop and protect you and bring hope and smile on you Face.

آللہ کی قسم میری قوم کی بیٹی کی آنکھ کے آنسو آب زم زم سے بھی زیادہ مقدس ہیں۔۔۔ اے بیٹی ہم شرمندا ہیں کہ ہم خارجیون کے شر سے تجھے بچا نہ سکے اور تیری آنکھین ان انمول موتیون سے تر ہو گئیں۔۔۔

 

[ajpirzada]

wat is takfir???
and i cant see the pic. can u please re-do it

 

[Bill Longley]

wat is takfir???
and i cant see the pic. can u please re-do it

brother see the picture at
LOST IDENTITY: NATIONS DAUGHTER

Takfir means Neo Kharjism

plz read wikipedia artical at
Takfir wal-Hijra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The word Takfir means to judge somebody to be a kafir, based on their behavior resembling the behavior of infidels. So to commit Takfir is to claim that a society has deviated from the teachings of Islam, and therefore label it as a kafir society or as an infidel society. Hijra means flight or emigration or leaving; thus, if a society is pronounced to be an infidel society, the members of Takfir wal-Hijra see it as their duty to separate from it and conspire and act to destroy and conquer it.

 

[ajpirzada]

brother see the picture at
LOST IDENTITY: NATIONS DAUGHTER

Takfir means Neo Kharjism

plz read wikipedia artical at
Takfir wal-Hijra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thanks... i was quite confused coz many ppl have been usin this word recently. and i had no clue of wat it meant

thanks for the pic. i have seen this before and may be posted it here as well. u might not believe me but i kept on lookin at this pic for atleast 5 min when i first saw it. its such an innocent pic and really makes one wonder that wat is her fault.. u can see her eyes askin many questions which no one can answer

 

[ajpirzada]

PM visits IDP camps; vows displaced persons’ dignified return
MARDAN, May 22 (APP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday vowed to eradicate extremism and militancy from the country and said efforts continued for the safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their homes. During his visit to the Sheikh Shehzad camp and Sheikh Yasin camp sheltering some 13,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Swat and Boner here, the Prime Minister said, “Following the military operation, no miscreants will ever dare to challenge the writ of the government.”

Addressing a small gathering of affected people under a newly‑built shed, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s resolve to restore peace in the area at the earliest.

He said with government’s efforts, peace and prosperity would soon prevail in the NWFP and tribal areas.

Gilani said he was saddened to see the plight of the affected people and said a handful of miscreants could not be allowed to hold the entire nation hostage.

He said the government was cognizant of the needs of displaced persons and would take every possible step in this regard.

He announced an immediate payment of Rs 25,000 for each affected family.

The Prime Minister later visited the camps and interacted with the displaced women and children. He directed to immediately shift an injured child to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for proper treatment. He said the Bait‑ul‑Maal would take care of the homeless women.

Those who accompanied Prime Minister Gilani included Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Chairman Pakistan Baitul Maal, NWFP Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Provincial ministers for local govt Bashir Bilour, for finance Eng. Muhammad Humayun Khan, for Information Mian Iftikhar and Minister for Health Zahir Ali Shah and Chairman Special Support Group Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmad Khan.

Earlier, Chairman Special Support Group Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmad told APP that electrification of all the camps would be done in a day or two, while for tubewells, boring was being done to ensure unhindered provision of water to the camp inhabitants.

He said special air‑conditioned hospitals had been set up to treat heatstroke patients, while an anti‑diarrheal centre would soon be established.

Lt Gen Nadeem said the federal government had provided a grant of Rs five million to operationalize the Pabbi hospital so as to utilize it for the treatment of displaced persons. He said district medical centres were also being upgraded for the same purpose.

He said people in the camps mostly belonged to Boner and Swat, who would be given six month ration and free transport on their return to their places.

Lt Gen Nadeem said other than the government departments, various non‑governmental organizations, banks and aid agencies including UNHCR had set up their own camps and hospitals to facilitate the displaced people.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )

 

[RabzonKhan]

Rejection of IDPs

Saturday, 23 May, 2009

AS thousands of people continue to flee the battle zones of Malakand division, apprehensions have been expressed by some about the resettlement of IDPs in other parts of the country. This underscores the intensifying tragedy of the IDPs, who are caught between a rock and a hard place with little hope of rescue by either the state or society. The over two million evacuees are not cross-border refugees but people displaced internally as a result of the Taliban-led insurgency and the military response. Indeed, the exodus began in earnest only after residents were told to evacuate in anticipation of the military offensive. Given that this call went out from the government, it was incumbent upon the state to plan for an eventuality of the sort and divert resources towards the protection and rehabilitation of IDPs. Lessons could have been extrapolated from the relief effort in the wake of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, and bodies such as the National Crisis Management Cell put on standby.

It must also be noted that the insurgency and the need for a military response did not materialise unexpectedly. The interlinked issues of the Taliban and militancy had been festering even before the current government took charge. The matter was repeatedly mishandled by both the state and the army: where the former resorted to ill-advised concessions such as the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation, the latter failed to take decisive action in its earlier attempts to secure the area and, indeed, allowed the operations of persons such as Maulana Fazlullah to continue unchecked until matters reached a crisis point.

Meanwhile, other than in areas close to the conflict zone such as Mardan which received the first flood of evacuees, the response of the citizenry has been sluggish. In Karachi and Hyderabad, the issue has been clouded by ethnicity-based politics, while a glaring lack of empathy is evident in much of the country. This is a factor that could further alienate the IDPs, and prove disastrous in the long term. It is imperative that the IDP crisis not only be understood in its full perspective but that the affectees’ rehabilitation and return to their hometowns become the country’s foremost priority.

 

[Bill Longley]

ہم جس قسم کی سٹریٹجی استمال کر رہے ہیں ویسی امپیریل طاقتین استمال کرتی ہیں۔۔۔
ذرا سوچین ایک طرف بہت زیادہ کولیٹرل ڈیمج ہو رہا ہے۔۔۔ جس کی وجہ سے پختون عوام میں فیڈریشن کے خلاف جزبات پیدا ہو رہے ہیں۔۔۔ دوسری طرف ہمارے سیاست دان قومی جزبات کو بڑھا رہے ہیں۔۔۔ سندہ اور پنجاب میں محاجرین کے داخلے پر پابدی لگائی جا رہی ہے۔۔۔ کراچی میں ایم کیو ایم اور جے سندہ قومی محاظ جیسی جماعتون نے دنگا شروع کر رکھا ہے۔۔ پختون مخالف جزبات برھائے جا رہے ہیں۔
دوسری طرف ان پختون مخالف جزبات کا فائیدا لینڈ ، ڈرگ مافیا اور انتحا پسند اٹھا رہے ہیں۔۔۔
وللہ پختونون کو ہاتھون سے نہ نکلنے دین وہی پاکستان کی اصل طاقت ہیں۔۔۔ دشمن جانتا ہے اس ہی لئے ایک پلینگ کے ذریعے پختونون کو متنفر کر رہا ہے۔
پاکستان سب کا ہے۔ کسی مائی کے لال کو یہ حق نہیں پہنچتا کہ وہ پاکستان کے باسیون کو پاکستان میں کسی بھی جگہ بسنے سے روکے۔

کسی کو حق نہیں پہنچتا کہ کسی پاکستانی کی عزت، جان، مال سے کھیلے۔
خدا کی قسم یہ اٹھارا کڑوڑ پاکستانی پوری دنیا کے انسانون سے مہنگے ہیں۔۔۔کیونکہ یہ ہمارے ہیں اور ہم ان سے ہیں۔۔۔

جزبات کی جگہ ٹھنڈے دماغ سے سوچنے کا وقت ہے۔۔ جزبات تباہ تو کر سکتے ہیں مگر بنا نہیں سکتے۔ آئین اپنا وطن بچائین ۔

جہان تک طالبان سے لڑنے کی بات ہے۔۔۔ہان انھیں نیست و نابود کرنا بہت ضروری ہے۔۔۔مگر خیال رہے کہیں افغانستان کی طرح پاکستان میں بھی طالبان تحریک پختون قومی تحریک نہ بن جائے۔۔۔۔

 

[ajpirzada]

Pakistan Navy despatches 10 trucks load of assistance for IDPs
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Navy Women Association (PANWA) on Saturday despatched assistance comprising 10 truck loads to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Malakand Division. Commander North Pakistan Navy Commodore Syed Hassan Mustafa was the chief guest at a simple ceremony to send off the trucks to the Camps for IDPs.

On the occasion, Commodore Syed Hassan Mustafa said that the relief items including food items, water coolers, clothing and other essential items were contributed by the officers, men and women besides the families of the Navy personnel for their country fellows.

He said Pakistan Navy would continue to contribute towards the cause of their Pakistani brothers and sisters in this hour of trial.

He said special relief collection centres have been established at Islamabad and Karachi where men and women of the force besides the general public are making their valuable contributions.

He said efforts are in hand to make this relief operation a complete success.

Later, he formally announced send off of the trucks to their destination.

A number of senior officers of Pakistan Navy besides the office bearers of PANWA were also present in the ceremony.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )

 

[Zob]

PopupWindow


read this link its a really good article i think....

 

[RabzonKhan]

Britain pledges more aid for displaced people

May 24, 2009

LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday reiterated his government’s resolve to support Islamabad’s war on the Taliban and enhancing aid for the internally displaced persons (IDPs). In a statement shortly before the Pakistan army announced its advance in Swat, Brown pledged more aid to support the people displaced by the fighting, and urged other countries to rally to help Islamabad. “The United Kingdom is committed to the success and prosperity of Pakistan and it is right that we — and the whole international community — should support this effort,” Brown said.d. Brown said his government had announced another £10 million in aid for the IDPs on Friday, bringing its contribution to £22 million. “We are ready to do more to help the displaced persons in the most extreme of situations and we want to encourage other countries to do so also,” he said. afp



Chinese aid for IDPs touches $5.4 million

May 24, 2009

BEIJING: To help the Pakistani government meet the daily needs of the rising population of IDPs of Swat and adjoining areas, the Chinese government has announced an additional 30 million Renminbi (RMB/Yuan) in assistance for the affected people, Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khan said on Saturday. He said that China’s total contribution for assistance to the IDPs had now reached $5.4 million. Ambassador of China to Pakistan Luo Zhao Hui had called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Islamabad on Saturday and presented him a cheque of $1 million for PM’s special fund, he said. app

 

[ajpirzada]

Hectic relief activities continuing to ensure solace to IDPs
ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Hectic relief activities are going on to provide some sort of solace to the internally displaced people (IDPs) of Malakand division. After opening of three new points at Takhtbhai, Shergarh and Katlang, the total number of food distribution points in district Mardan has risen to ten.

According to PTV news, 100 trucks loaded with food items arrived at Khawazakhela for distribution in upper parts of Swat. Pakistan army has provided 196 vehicles, including 17 water trailers to boost relief activities in the IDPS camps.

Two field hospitals of Pakistan army with latest facilities are working round the clock. Pakistan navy has sent 86 tonnes of relief goods containing ten trucks.

Pakistan institute of medical sciences will set up a satellite hospital at Pabbi to provide the best medical care to displaced persons.

Population welfare department has set up free medical camps in Kacha Garhi Peshawar, Sheikh Yasin Mardan, Shah Mansoor Swabi, Palosa Charsadda and in Jalozai Nowshehra relief camps.

Relief goods from abroad for the displaced persons have also started poring in. A special plane from Italy carrying relief goods reached Chaklala airbase. The relief goods include blankets, tents, kitchen items, generators, water tanks, water purification units and other items of daily use.

China also announced to provide additional thirty million Chinese Yuans assistance to Pakistan for the internally displaced persons.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Hectic relief activities continuing to ensure solace to IDPs