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Smoking Kills

“And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire and that is easy for Allah” [Qur'an 4:29]

“And do not throw yourselves into destruction.” [Qur'an 2:195]

Smoking has turned out to be far more lethal than suicide bombings for Pakistan over the years. According to The Network, a consumer rights’ protection organization, around 100,000 people die of tobacco-related diseases annually in Pakistan, while the number of lives claimed by suicide bombings over the last nine years comes to around 6,000.
Panelists at a discussion on smoking prevention and control on Monday had a unanimous opinion that until the current anti-smoking laws were enforced, smoking-free-Pakistan would be a distance dream.

Presenting a recent Asian Development Bank report, The Network’s Advocacy and Research Coordinator Dr. Anwar Rafay said Pakistan had lost 5,704 lives to around 332 suicide bombings, which it witnessed since 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US.
He said the country currently had around 25 million smokers, while the annual tobacco-related deaths were 98,640.

According to him, National Health Survey of Pakistan, 1990-94, and Pakistan Health Education Survey, 1999, stated 55 per cent of households had at least one smoker but the recent data had now shown that the problem had worsened. TN representatives said 40 per cent of men and nine per cent of women in the country smoked tobacco. He further said the annual per capita consumption of tobacco in the country was 392 cigarettes per adult annually.

He said media and anti-smoking advocates should collaborate for forcing government into implementing Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Guidelines and the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers’ Health Ordinance, 2002.

Dr. Anwar alleged tobacco industry carried out hidden promotional activities despite strict ban. He said recently, his organization highlighted promotional activities of a tobacco giant in the flood-affected areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa under the garb of corporate social responsibility, but its coverage on media caused Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to step in and order prompt halt to the activities. He praised journalists for helping The Network make Pakistan smoking-free and wanted them to do more for the cause.

Another speaker said around 12,000 new children in the age bracket of 6 to 15 began tobacco intake every day. He said tobacco companies should not be encouraged by media even if they did something for humanitarian grounds because it would indirectly promote them.

NEW FORM OF SMOKING : SHISHA …A DELICIOUS KILLER!!!

Recently however, shisha has rapidly gained popularity in Yemen, especially among qat chewers. “Yemenis smoked the mada’a in the past, but shisha is now a major fad in Yemeni society.“The health ministry and official information should really establish a health education curriculum in schools and public places about the effects of smoking shisha and other tobacco products. Kids start smoking shisha to imitate celebrities and to be fashionable,”

“One shisha smoking session is equivalent to smoking 60 cigarettes,” said Dr. Ahmed al-Motarreb, a specialist in heart disease at the cardiac center of the Al-Thawra Hospital in Sana’a. “I advise smokers to stop immediately, because it damages the body by causing wrinkled skin, sexual impotence and many chronic diseases. The reason behind the increase in the shisha smoking phenomenon is that people do not take the health risks seriously.”   Research published in the Journal of Periodontology (Nov. 2005) found that the effects of water pipe smoking are the same as that of cigarette smoking.The prevalence of periodontal (gum tissue) diseases in the study was 30 percent among shisha smokers, 24 percent in cigarette smokers and eight percent in non-smokers.  “Research from this study shows that the relative risk for periodontal disease increased five-fold in water pipe and 3.8-fold in cigarette smokers, compared to non-smokers,” said Dr. Kenneth A. Krebs, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Sheesha Smoking

There is a myth that hookah smoking is safer than smoking cigarettes because the hookah smoke is filtered through water before it is inhaled. But recent studies have found that hookah smokers actually inhale more nicotine than do cigarette smokers because of the massive volume of smoke they inhale…According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) advisory, a typical one-hour session of hookah smoking exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single cigarette. Even after passing through the water, the tobacco smoke produced still contains high levels of toxic compounds, including carbon monoxide, heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens).Hookahs are marketed as being a safe alternative to cigarettes. This claim is false. The water does not filter out many of the toxins. In fact, hookah smoke has been shown to contain concentrations of toxins, such as carbon monoxide, nicotine, “tar,” and heavy metals, that are as high or higher than are seen with cigarette smoke. Several types of cancer, including lung cancer, have been linked to hookah smoking. Hookah is also linked to other unique risks not associated with cigarette smoking. For example, infectious diseases including tuberculosis (which can infect the lungs or other parts of the body), aspergillus (a fungus that can cause serious lung infections), and helicobacter (which can cause stomach ulcers) may be spread by sharing the pipe or through the way the tobacco is prepared.
Researchers found increased levels of nicotine and cotinine (a byproduct of nicotine) in the blood plasma, saliva and urine of shisha smokers, which is further evidence that water pipe smoking affects the periodontal tissues in the same way as cigarette smoking.  Abdel-Hafiz al-Khameri, a professor of psychology at the University of Sana’a and the head of the Human Development Foundation, said that stress is a major psychological factor driving people to smoke the shisha.“Many young adults resort to chewing qat and smoking shisha to kill time. Shisha and qat help them temporarily escape from their financial and emotional problems.Finally , I can say that Smoking shisha (Arabic water pipes, sometimes known as hookahs) brings the same risks as smoking cigarettes. It can lead to lung cancer and many other health problems. Smoking can also affect your mental health.so THINK before its too late !!!!

Ramzan Inflation Bomb Blasts

Soon as soon ramzan is coming in other words we say the month of profiteering are coming , normally in ramaza in every nation and country reduce the price goods during the ramzan but in Pakistan people make ramazn for get profit and consider this month “ the month of profiteering “

People of Pakistan already face very difficulties with increasing price of petroleum good and spiraling inflation. How can mange the budget of poor and middle class families

Govt . is not able to control the price of good specially is ramzan ?Rising prices have always been a major problem for the people of Pakistan. Unfortunately, however, the problem only seems to aggravate further in Ramadan ever year.Ramzan is said to be the month of blessings but rising prices of each and every commodity make this a month full of troubles and worries.

It is painful for people of the poor and middle classes due to rising inflation in the country.

Lets play with public

Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) reported the prices of perishable food items rose by 20.76% that is right after the increase of 16.36% in the prices of electricity and fuel over the last year [period: July – June 2010]. Average inflation in food prices is 14.48% and inflation in non-perishable items counted 13.64%

The above mentioned figures are the reflection of yearly increase in prices but let us see how prices are indicating that the holy month of Ramadan is coming. A week before a national business newspaper conducted a survey.

As per survey the price of gram floor [Basin] has increased from PKR 60 to 70 / kg. The price of Sugar has increased from PKR 60 to 70. The price of Dalda Ghee rose to PKR 725 from 680 / 5kg. The price of tomato has risen to PKR 40 from 25 / kg. The price of onion has risen to PKR 40 from 25 / kg. The price of Mango has risen to PKR 70 from PKR 50 / kg. Even the increase is on popup over all items that shall be in demand in the month of Ramadan.

I can not count more because this is not something that you can not witness once you reach the markets. But this situation is nothing but a dilemma of our national planning over common commodity prices and their availability. I know people expect us to write solutions of national problems. But what solution I can write. If sugar is in the stocks of the mills so get it out and if it is not available so buy it from international market that is even cheaper once duties shall be exempted. The same is the strategy for all that matters.

Even it is not the part of today’s topic but I remember when our ministers said a month before that the electricity crisis is not because of the government’s mismanagement. They quoted it an outcome of natural shortage of water in our reservoirs.

Ramadan is the holy month. It is a pure blessing of Allah but what if the blessing is being ruined by the people on surface. What we can say to the government who manage mismanagement. Are we as qualified people behind anyone? The one who sells dresses [even master them on low cost] sells expensive on Eid ul Fitar. Everyone is chasing for earnings.

Ramzan Inflation

We have a lot of poor people in the country who can not make their both end meets. We have people in the country who keeps fast and after breaking it keeps hunger. I know it is hard to absorb but it is not solely the government that make them hurt but we are also not so responsible in many regards.

Regardless of this crying attitude of ours over inflation many of us shall spend thousands on preparation of Eid. In a city where a person buys a dress of five to twenty thousand for Eid, we have some families that need the same amount to manage their month on minimum standard. We can say that we equally give 2.5% Zakat so we have a right to do so. But people ask your heart. Can we?

Today I am not talking about the measures government can take to coupe inflation but let me talk about my responsibility. Let me talk about your responsibility. Believe me the happiness of wearing expensive dress, shoes, bangles etc. is not more than feeding people in their stressed economic life style. It is far better when it is the month of Ramadan. You can go to the market and buy expensive KURTA for Alwida Juma and Eid Prayer but God can even hear you in the simplest basic getup.

Everyone knows his buying power. Get together, cut your budgets of buying on Ramadan & Eid and make a pool of money within your lanes, localities etc. that can work for those who are even deprive of the basic. This is the solution in hand.

Our Govt is not worthy of any solution regarding any social problem. It is our duty and our social responsibility to help those who are deprive of basic needs.

Law & Order

Various untoward incidents of bomb explosions at the public places, perpetration of suicide bombings by extremist elements bathed in religion and dogmatism and firing of bullets on the innocent civilians by the miscreants bear out that volatile law and order situation is gravely affecting social, political, economic and religious fabric of Pakistan. This unwanted state of affairs has given birth to uncertainty and frustration which are acting as blight in our society. No public place is secure, no religious institution is sacrosanct and no spiritual or political congregation is safe.Talented people are leaving the Land of the Pure for good because their fate is in the doldrums due to uncertainty of jobs and insecurity to their life and property. Thus menace of “Brain Drain” is continuously depriving the country of the intellectuals that are the true assets of the country to resolve its intricate problems.

Our tourism industry is in the doldrums due to security concerns. Despite scenic beauty of hilly areas, glistening peaks, towering mountains, gushing rivers, archeological sites, and historical monuments ,the PTDC and the Tourism Ministry have badly failed to catch the attention of the foreign tourists because no one will take risk to visit a country where indigenous population is not secure and its rulers address public gatherings behind bullet proof screens. Pakistan has a lot of investment potential which could not be fully tapped because of violent incidents. Therefore, the economy of Pakistan is in the shambles. The investors fear of sinking their investment due to unending terrorist incidents.

The worst victims of law and order as well as poor economy are always the poor. Their vulnerability to shocks is more than others. Therefore, it is imperative that any analysis of the impact of law and order on economic situation must start with the most vulnerable in the society. In other words, no study of economic situation is complete without taking account of at least three interrelated economic indicators of poverty, unemployment, inflation, particularly food inflation.

Our study has seen positive correlations between crime and major economic variables: when there are negative trends in the economy (increase in inflation, poverty, unemployment, and decline in investment) there are negative trends in law and order (increase in crime rate).

The role of police force is vital for maintaining law and order situation in the country.

Since 9/11 and the consequent US/NATO military action in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s troubled northwestern frontier has come under increasing pressure from militant and terrorist organizations operating in the area. Pakistan’s deficient and flawed law enforcement capacity in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the adjacent North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have helped Pakistani Taliban and other terrorist groups expand their influence and strongly challenge the state’s writ. Outgunned and outfinanced, on average 400 police officers have been killed every year in terrorist attacks since 2005. Controversial and haphazard Pakistani military action in the area has led to more instability, and limited resistance in FATA has now become a growing ethnic insurgency. As is clear from the turmoil in the NWFP’s Swat district, any army action can provide no more than a breathing space to the state; only police and law enforcement actions can help the state reestablish its writ and stabilize the area. A timely police action can be more effective in quelling emergent insurgencies. My research into the 2007 Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) crisis in Islamabad, where a strong military operation led to hundreds of deaths and dozens of retaliatory suicide attacks, also indicates that: (a) an effective police action in time (2004–05) could have avoided the later bloody clash and (b) the police lacked authority and the permission of the state and its important institutions to legally pursue the rebel clerics in the mosque (during the 2004–07 timeframe).

The police infrastructure is one of Pakistan’s most poorly managed organizations. It is aptly described as ill-equipped, poorly trained, deeply politicized, and chronically corrupt. It has performed well in certain operations; overall, however, that is a rare phenomenon. Arguably, the primary reason for this state of affairs is the government’s persistent failure to invest in law enforcement reform and modernization. It is ironic that despite frequent internal crises since its inception in 1947, ranging from ethnic confrontations and sectarian battles to a sharp rise in criminal activity and growing insurgencies, both political and military policymakers have never given this sector top priority. Hence, poor police performance in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency is not surprising. The fact that the police successfully challenged some militant religious groups in Punjab and tackled an insurgency-like situation in Karachi in the late 1990s shows that they do have the potential to deliver the desired results when political support is present and resources are provided.

The Sialkot incident was yet another example of a society calling its protectors for help in the face of a sorry state of human rights and rule of law. This episode of barbaric killings was not the first of its kind. There have been quite a few attempts of similar nature in the past 12 months, especially in Karachi where the people had literally assumed the role of law enforcers as well as the judiciary. There was a need for serious action back then which, unfortunately, was never taken and which ultimately culminated in the demise of two brothers in Sialkot.
However, what was most depressing at Sialkot was the silent presence of law enforcers alongside a violent crowd. It depicts not only the weakness of the Police Department, but also their indifferent attitude towards the law. In fact, their silent presence encouraged the crowd to commit the barbaric act of public killing and hanging. The police simply did not try to enforce the law and for that they ought to be punished. The Police Order 2002 which governs their duties highlights penalties that can be imposed for gross negligence that cost the lives of two young men.
According to Police Order 2002, it is the duty of the police to provide protection and maintain public peace. Section 3(d) of the said order, in this respect is attention-grabbing. It enjoins upon the police to “…aid individuals who are in danger of physical harm.” With such clearly laid down rules, it was nothing but wilful defiance on the part of the police which caused the deaths. Also, their silence in the midst of criminal activity implicates them in the crime. Section 107 of Pakistan Penal Code is directly applicable in this regard on “a person who intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing.” Both the laws taken together clearly signify breach of law by the police officers.
According to Section 80 of the Police Order, function of the Provincial Public Safety and the Police Complaints Commission is to take action against the omissions committed. It is under a statutory duty to do so, on its own accord, if the case is of severe nature, and order a competent authority to probe the matter. But to the dismay of fair-minded people of the country, no action was taken, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had to take up the matter.
A still gloomier picture appears when the incident is seen in the light of the punishment that has been prescribed for the police neglect. According to Section 155 of Police Order, if an officer is found to have breached his duty, he can be, at maximum, imprisoned with fine for no more than three years. Considering the gravity of the criminal acts, this punishment would hardly fulfil the demands of justice and in no way constitutes deterrence.
More importantly, investigation is the main course to decide the fate of the guilty officer. But the slow pace of investigation, inability and ill will of the investigating officer or the team usually overshadows the proceedings that could provide an easy escape to the culprit. While the judicial inquiry into the Sialkot murders has been completed, the Police Department does not appear to show any seriousness in conducting its own inquiry.
This incident highlights a signal failure of our police not only in the light of local law, but also the international code to which Pakistan subscribes. The United Nations has provided a Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (adopted by General Assembly resolution 34/169 of December 17, 1979) which sets out the basic standards for policing agencies across the world and relates to all law enforcement officers who exercise powers of arrest and detention. It requires them to recognise the rights set out in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international conventions. Under its Article 5, a law enforcer is restrained from “tolerating any act of torture”, while discharging his duties.
This grave violation brings out the need for reform in the system and revitalisation of the existing bodies established to check the police conduct such as Provincial Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission. It is necessary to establish a system which is easily accessible and neutral. In the UK, the Police Reform Act established the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which investigates the most serious complaints and allegations of misconduct against the police in England and Wales, as well as handles appeals from people who are not satisfied with the way the police have dealt with their complaint. More importantly, IPCC is self-governing, making its decisions entirely independently of the police, government and complainants. These measures provide for a powerful legal regulatory framework making the police accountable for their actions. There is a stark need to introduce some changes on the same lines in Pakistan.
Hence, the need of the hour is to introduce and implement a more coherent code for police accountability to eliminate the recurrence of such despicable acts in the future. The Sialkot act requires serious attention of the authorities and a strong reprimand of the officials whose criminal omission allowed the people to take law into their own hands. Indeed, now is the time to set an example and take appropriate steps to put an end to such wrongdoings!

Despite my opposition and discomfort in ‘finding a girlfriend’ in an alien land, my cousin introduced me to a friend’s friend – Maheen*.

My first interaction with this girl was through the cell phone, or text messages to be more precise. After this introduction, we didn’t talk till one fine day in the middle of the night my phone rang. It was two in the morning and I could barely open my eyes, but out of courtesy I attended Maheen’s phone call.

“Hi, what’s up? I hope I haven’t disturbed you?”she said.
“No, it’s okay…” I murmured.
“I have set up a plan to meet you tomorrow, but don’t call or text me unless I do so, because if my bhai catches me he will kill you.” she advised me.

Totally perplexed, I listened to her plan quietly. I was astonished and scared that I was prone to be killed by someone’s brother without having ever met her.

“I can’t come alone. My friend, Zahra will come with me. Do you have a male friend who is single and ready to give her company?” she asked.
“Er… okay, I will manage.” I said, feeling simultaneously amused and confused.
“Fair enough. I will see you tomorrow then, and yes, do get me a Ufone card because I am running out of balance. I love you. Bye!”

I kept sitting silent for a long time, and then asked my cousin who I should take with me to give company to the girl’s chaperon/friend? He ‘arranged’ for another friend of his, Sherdil who was ‘very popular’ among the females in his college. The idea of being surrounded by so many strangers gave me butterflies in my stomach. I pleaded with my cousins to pull me out of this weird situation, but they told me to put up with it.

The next day, accompanied by this Sherdil guy, we went to pick Maheen and her friend up from college. As I approached the college gate, Maheen sent me a missed call. I was confused and called her back immediately.

“You didn’t get me my balance loaded!” she blurted over the phone. Feeling embarrassed, I told her I would do so once we were off to lunch.

We waited for around 25 minutes outside her college, when two girls appeared from nowhere wearing burqas. I was once again bewildered to see them. They sat in our car and took their burqas off, and I was introduced to Maheen, and another lady.

We then drove off looking for food. As we stepped out at a restaurant, Maheen’s phone rang and I saw her going pale as she talked on the phone.
“Are you alright?” I asked her.
“It was my mother, she told me that my bhai is off to pick me up from college!” she cried.

Sherdil had a bright idea:
“You can go and drop Maheen back to college, while Zahra and I can go for lunch if you guys don’t mind?”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I agreed at once.

Feeling angry yet sympathetic to the poor girl’s plight, I drove back to drop her to college.  On the way, Maheen kept crying and pushed me to drive faster and faster. I got so worried to see her crying so bitterly, I ended up breaking a signal.

What next?
A traffic cop in appeared from nowhere and asked for my driving license. By this point I was infuriated. I gave some money to Maheen and she headed back to college in a rickshaw, and then I called my cousins to help me with the cops. That day I took an oath never to even think of going on a date in Pakistan again.
*names of individuals have been changed to protect their identities.

Pakistan

‘War is a necessary evil’; no man of reason can deny this assertion. The historical role of War as one of the driving forces of society is undeniable, also admitted by high profile skeptics and peace-loving statesmen, such as Bertrand Russell and Arnold Toynbee. Their conclusion, too, supports the thesis that War is unavoidable in the flow of human history. Moreover, the reports of both ancient and modern chroniclers justify the phenomenon of War as a living organ of human civilization. We can, therefore, suggest it in the light of our historical knowledge that War, too, has a positive side in addition to its bleak face.

Objectively speaking, War is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. However, War oftentimes contradicts its original character and proves an end in addition to a means. And this happens when nations desire deliverance from domestic disunity and polarization. Modern instance of War’s adoption as an end being United States’ invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

The solution of Pakistan’s internal problem lies in the fact of the necessity of battling a “common” national enemy. That common enemy of Pakistan is, in fact, neither USA nor Taliban, but the conventional archrival, India. Pakistan’s story of rivalry and struggle for existence has its seeds in the bowls of the Partition factor; therefore, the anguish and enmity of Pakistanis are solely directed towards the Hindu India. It is a natural outcome of the millennial hostility of two mutually distinct—in fact diametrically opposed—nations, the Muslims and the Hindus, who shared about a thousand years the same piece of land to develop an internally dichotomous culture.

The present proposition also forms the nucleus of the thesis of many Pakistani intellectuals who are well-versed in the Hindu-Muslim history of struggle. And every sane student of history knows that there is no other solution of Pakistani problem than uniting ourselves to fight a “common national enemy”. If you cast even a cursory look into human past, you will come to know that mankind has almost always sought solution for their domestic problems in fighting a national enemy—whatever the definition of the word ‘nation’ in a given age. The call to fight a national enemy always makes people forget minor differences in order to get united on national front. Ibn Khaldoon terms this psychological behavior of human race as “Asbiyyah”, the Affiliation of the Self!

The verdict of Time itself says that nothing other than a major war against a historico-ideological enemy, namely India, can salvage Pakistani nation in the wake of current uncertainty and chaos. Whatever good you have to offer today, nothing is going to deliver and galvanize the disorganized and frustrated people of Pakistan. War with India is not a doctrine of destruction or annihilation, as many may put it, but a dynamic path to revival and survival. Critics have a huge choice of precedents to quote against the thesis of the present writer, such as the two World Wars, Gulf Wars, Soviet-Afghan War and the collapse of USSR. However, equally potent examples in the favor of the present thesis can be cited from the same ancient and modern history. USSR collapsed because there was yet another, mightier international power to claim the suzerainty of the world politics. Presently, it is only the United States of America, the strongest country on earth, that is free from the fear of being attacked on its soil. However, they still spend on defense a big share of their national budget, namely more than any other nation on the globe. I do not think their think tanks are fools sitting in comfortable offices to chatter and waste national money.

Pacifist statesmen pick and choose any events of their like from the national history of Pakistan to annul the thesis of the inevitability of war with India. The Fall of Dhakka, for instance, is their favorite subject to scare the people of Pakistan with a warning of similar future results in case of another adventurism. However, they always forget that the Fall of Dhakka was not a purely military tragedy, nor a failure of Pakistan’s military might. 16 December 1971 was indeed a day of national tragedy deeply rooted into the very bowls of Pakistan’s politico-economic system. This politico-economic system was in fact framed by a dictator, Ayyub Khan, to cater his own vested interests. Moreover, it was the failure of a longstanding government doctrine, namely “Defense of East from West”, which never proved redemptive.
The good news is that Pakistan is still intact and Two-Nation Theory is still alive and relevant.

Pakistan is blessed with a strong, extremely disciplined army that has never been found reluctant to protect and guarantee the ideological boundaries of the Motherland. What we require at present is a better working political system with better individuals in it. Better individuals with superior leadership qualities can only—and only—pop up in the system of an anti-Indian atmosphere, for such patriotism is the product of the psychological factor of “Asbiyyah”. Mr. Bhutto, for instance, rose to highest national standing in the post-dismemberment politics from the very anti-Indian sentiment. The other efficacious ground for the unity of the nation can be sought in religion. But, it is beyond doubt that the very idea of a uniformed, pragmatic religion has been frustrated by clerics and religious extremists in recent times. Therefore, I strongly commend that the solution of our domestic problems can be sought in fighting a national-historical enemy to harvest the after-produce of such a purifying campaign!

SYED MUHAMMAD WAQAS

Director General Bab-ul-Ilm Research Foundation, Pakistan (www.birf.weebly.com)

Hina Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: According to sources, The government has decided to appoint Hina Rabbani Khar as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has sent advice to President Asif Ali Zardari for the appointment of Khar as Foreign Minister.
The decision was taken keeping in view the level of Khar’s comptency and recent interaction at the Foreign Office, sources at the Prime Minister House said .
Khar is expected to take charge as soon as a notification is issued in this regard. She is currently Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
States Times Sources said the decision was taken for the upcoming talks between foreign ministers of Pakistan and India.
The talks are expected to be held by the month of July, with a final date yet to be announced.
The foreign ministers’ meeting will be preceded by preparatory talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir.

Misuse of Mobile Phones in Pakistan

Talk to friends whole night free, good night package browse or download from internet midnight to morning in 5 rupees, crazing night packages, night SMS packages, etc these are the cellular companies night packages for the users to talk with their friends. These are the packages to attract the student community.

Its reality that all over the world cellular companies give special discount rate offers during off peak hours when traffic is low. But the night packages and offers in Pakistan are too much. Every cellular company offers lots of packages at night timings and also on weekend, which are now spoiling the character as well as health of students.

Everyone knows the reality of night mobile packages in Pakistan. There is a trend developed among young generation to talk with opposite gender (boyfriends/girlfriends) via night packages, which was obviously developed by cellular companies. It was in observation that students talking on mobile phones whole night as usually the timings of these packages start after midnight. Here one thing is very important that the advertisements of late night packages of different companies are very much attractive to students and promoting girlfriend/boyfriend culture in Pakistan, which is not our culture.
Prof. Dr Muhammad Irfan said that late night packages are spoiling the character of students as first they started to talk with boyfriend/girlfriend on different kind of matters and topics but after the few days talking they haven’t anything new to discuss. Then they talk on the matters which they should never talk with each other, at that time they lift the curtain on all the limitations.

Bilal a physiatrist said that late night packages are responsible for many mental and physical diseases among students. He further said “sleepless nights are very unhealthy for human body and this may cause serious mental disorder among students if they keep using late night calling packages”. He believed that late night talking on mobile phones with opposite gender surely lead them to adult talking and it also very much harmful for their physical health.

Last year a resolution was unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly about the banning of late night packages which was tabled by Ms. Samina Khawar Hayat. But there is no action was observed in this regard. Government and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority should do some actions regarding it. The advertising campaigns of these packages should be revived according to our culture and teachings.
What parents should do to control their children from the harmful affects of mobile phone packages. First of all one of the important thing is that, parents should always keep busy their children in healthy activities. When they are free from study provide facilities about the healthy leisure activities like different sports, family parties, gatherings and function, going to parks, etc. Parents should set the schedule of their children in such a way that have lots of leisure activities with studies. When students busy in healthy activities they obviously not have time to waste in futile love on cell phones.

Some parents think that children should not take cell phones. But it would fell them in complexity and depression because now every student has mobile phone and they should also feel that their parents have not faith on them. It doesn’t mean to give mobile phones to your school going child. Parents should make sure that students should not take mobiles with them during study hours. Parents should keep an eye on there children mobile activities, but don’t be a mobile inspector but just like a friend check there mobile contacts, received calls and text messages or without taking it in their notice. Parents should always guide their children regarding this in a friendly manner not like a dictator.

According to the widely circulated gossip, residents of these buildings located in various districts of the holy city, especially on the outskirts, say they vacated their dwellings after supernatural forces had harmed them.

There are divergent views among local residents with regard to the rumors. However, most of their views seem to confirm the existence of something mysterious at these buildings.

These have forced the owners of a number of such buildings and plots of lands to sell them at much lower rates.

There are also reports that some realtors are allegedly behind these rumors.

Local resident Muhammad Bazaid said it was easy to identify abandoned buildings that are allegedly possessed.

“Some buildings and estates in the city are known to be possessed by jinns. People used to say that,” he said, while noting that this situation is being exploited by some realtors.

“They are behind spreading of these rumors and are thus instrumental in lowering prices of these properties. They then try to buy them at prices much lower than the market value,” he said.

Majdi Habeeb, another local resident, told Arab News that there are some abandoned buildings and enclosures in the city. They are reportedly abandoned after being possessed by jinns.

“There are rumors that these forces either attacked the inhabitants or frightened them by making noises, causing fires and so forth, forcing them to leave the place,” he said.

“When I visited the house of a relative in an undeveloped district in the city, I found an abandoned house in the neighborhood. I saw the lights were on and the windows open. When I asked about it, the neighbor told me the occupants of the house were forced to abandon it recently due to an ‘unbearable situation,’” he said.

There were eyewitness reports of residents having stones thrown at them from their house, he said, adding that they also found some giant cats moving around and howling excessively.

He said they failed to drive them out and at last they abandoned the house after being advised by some sheikhs not to provoke the jinns further.

“When the neighbors abandoned the house, they asked us to monitor the situation at their house after their departure. But the situation is still the same,” Habeeb said.

Turki Al-Hussein recounts a similar experience with one of his neighbors. “The other day, I saw my neighbor and his family leaving their old house at midnight. They were in a bewildered state. When I asked them why they were leaving, they said people would not believe them if they gave the real reason,” he said.

Al-Hussein added that people in the neighborhood later decided to conduct a search at the house. “When some of the neighbors entered inside the house, stones were hurled at them. There were also some big cats and birds such as owls hovering above their head. They also heard some strange noises and that forced them to run away from the house,” he said, adding that the building was then abandoned and its gates locked with chains.

Autographs

An autograph may be defined as “any manuscript handwritten by its author; a handwritten signature especially the signature of a famous or admired person.

The origins of autographs can be traced back to sixth century ancient Greece however none survive from this period, in fact The earliest autograph, signature of a famous person is probably the Spanish national hero and military leader El Cid dated 1096 three years before his death.
.Autographs of most of the great Renaissance figures, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Ariosto. Still exist however autograph material was to become more prevalent during the 18th century with examples such as George Washington president of the USA or the composer Mozart’s manuscripts.
A signed letter is more desirable than an autograph as usually the letter contains aspects of the person’s life and work which is why they are so collectable.

Autograph collation today
The hobby of collecting autographs is known as philography
A Philographist or autograph hunter may well focus in one specialised area and only collect signatures and associated paraphernalia from say, sports events, personalities, writers, political figures, art, film, music, world leaders, space travel or conflict etc.
Autograph collation is an ever popular and rewarding occupation for the professional and amateur alike, the objective being to aspire to obtaining complete sets from each area of their subject in the case of say Cricket the 1948 Ashes series, the ink autographs of both England and Australians teams on one official programme, bat or scorecard used at the event would be more desirable than a mismatch.
Is it a genuine autograph?
There are numerous forged autographs for sale all over the world not least on the internet and it is a case of buyer beware.
Autograph collectors often request from the vendor certificates of authenticity it stands to reason that if the seller of a forged item is offering a COA that the certificate is also worthless. It is not a good idea to rely on either guarantees or certificates.
If a purchaser decides to accept a certificate of authenticity they should ensure that it contains full contact details, dates, venues, and verifiable reputable organisations of which the vendor is responsible to, these details should be followed up with the named organisation.
PADA, the UACC and AFTAL publish websites from where you can check a listed dealer’s credibility.
Ascertaining the validity of a carefully crafted fake autograph is a complex matter which is almost impossible for the amateur and the results cannot always be definitive even when a professional opinion is requested.
One basic method used by unscrupulous vendors is the reprint. This is a photocopy of an actual autographed photo, usually printed from a home computer on to photographic copying paper, this should be declared as a reprint or as preprinted, it is not an authentic autograph and is pretty worthless, unless an existing photo has been autographed later onto the outside surface.
More sophisticated forgers will target a certain era say 1880s they will use blank pages from books of the same period, then having researched and recreated the inks used at that time they will endeavor to create the replica autograph now using the correct materials, obviously if the copy writing is well researched and applied it is very difficult to detect by an autograph expert but not so by a forensic technician, the technician will be able to age the paper and ink and also to date the document even when accelerated aging has taken place.

Collectors should be careful of signatures which may be found on a small piece of card when the bogus card is attached to an authentic piece of memorabilia.
Frequently secretaries will sign autograph material on behalf of the celebrity creating what is known as a proxy signature. Fortunately it is often well publicized that this is a trait of that particular subject.
A number of famous people including American presidents Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt have in the past convincingly rubber stamped their “signatures “the result would not be considered a collectable.
SEE AUTHENTICITY CHECK LIST
View with magnifying glass X10 under direct light)

Seek out a genuine example of the signature from internet comparison sites and use this as your datum point. The main criteria are to know what the signature looks like.
Move the underside of your wrist or finger over the paper and expect to feel a slight irregularity when you touch the outline of the signature, examine the signature with a magnifying glass (+10) and search for any rising in the area of the signature. If you cannot determine the texture of the raised ink above surface of the paper it is likely to be a copy.
Examine the ink pattern, look for squeezing at the edges which would indicate stamping, this is usually fairly easy to determine. A shaded purple colour ink can also indicate stamping.
Compare the autograph with your example, turn the page at 90 degree angle and examine the autographs, then at 180 degrees, doing this will show a different perspective of the writing comparison, anomalies will stand out and be easier to spot.
Autographs which are mechanically created are identified by their smoothness and uniform ink deposit throughout the signature. A genuine pen signed autograph will show under magnification, a different diameter of stroke, the rate of the wet ink flow as the nib angles, scratch marks, clear areas within the stroke, and the continuous flow of the pen over the paper. A stop and start movement within a stroke would show a hesitant copying technique, you must see that the line flow is uninterrupted and the pen stays mainly on the paper if it is interrupted it will show in stroke breaks.
Comparison of pen lifts which are absent from the genuine subject are a sure fire method to determine a fake, these are typical of a forgery in which the writer pauses to check his handiwork.
Look for a lack of feathered beginning and ending strokes, a fake will tend to have blunt stops and starts.
A lack of certainty in direction may show abrupt movements creating a kinked appearance to a line which should flow smoothly
When a nib pen is used expect to see light hairline upstrokes and heavy shaded down stokes in a genuine signature, this will not be so noticeable if a ball point pen is used
Consider the time factors if for example an autograph dated around 1950 is signed with a felt pen it is a fake as felt pens did not exist at this time and the autograph should be signed in ink or pencil. The Papermate flair felt tip was not manufactured until the early ‘60s, commercial ball point pens became available in 1943 and so on. Research is the key.
Signed memorabilia such as a football shirt or cricket cap can be hard to assess as the ink tends to soak into the fabric giving a smudge like appearance which is difficult to validate, the only way to be sure is to be there at the signing or rely on provenance from a reputable dealer.
If the asking price for an item of memorabilia is way below a realistic valuation don’t bother purchasing as it’s probably a fake.
The more signatures there are on a piece, the more mistakes there are to spot. Compare an autograph sheet with half a dozen genuine signatures with one containing fakes and it easy to spot the real ones.
Consider the characteristics of period the autograph purports to belong to, examine the paper used, does the magnified make up match the type used in that era. The specification of the paper may give valuable clues as to the approximate age parameters of the autograph.
Since biblical times vellum or parchment was the type of paper in use this changed around 1850 to the use of wood, cotton or linen pulp, so if you are lucky enough to have the autograph of William Pitt (died 1806) it should be signed on vellum type of paper, Charles Dickens (died 1870) could be either or Alfred Tennyson (died 1892) most probably signed on a wood pulp type paper.
Don’t forget that paper can be matched using cut out pages from writings of a similar time.
Examine ink colour, does the make up under magnification match the characteristics of the period, iron gall ink was popular from about the 12th century up until new technologies made it obsolete around 1850, this ink is bluish black, over time it fades to dull brown. It is a corrosive ink and over time can damage the paper it is used on. Since the early 1900s Indian ink (carbon) has become the popular one manufactured in a range of colours.
Micro-spectrophotometry is a non-destructive method of analysing ink using ultraviolet of infrared light, the spectrum of the ink on the document can be compared with a range of standard inks, this can authentic the ink but not the author. However it does narrow things down and makes for a more informed decision.
Think about how, when, why an autograph originated and in what numbers it is available, if the seller has a number of copies of a rare autograph you must ask yourself why?
Never ever enter a private auction sale; always look for transparency on the internet
Written by Selby

Facebook and Google in the ring

Facebook vs Google

Google announced Tuesday the launch of a new social network, called Google +, or Google Plus, which aims to take on Facebook. As our sources reported:

Google made a huge announcement this tuesday, launching Google +, or Google Plus, its long-awaited version of a social network to rival Facebook.

Google’s been trying to crack the social market for years, running into false starts with content-sharing services Wave and Buzz. (The former fizzled and the latter set off a privacy complaints that ended with a lawsuit and an FTC settlement.) Many have been waiting for Google’s big push into social since it rolled out its +1 button in March, especially as Facebook gets cozy with its search rival, Microsoft.

And then, today, Google announced +. The site bears a striking resemblance to Facebook, with streaming feeds and specialized groups of friends. In fact, Google + gathers many of the features of existing social networks.

The network has five basic components: Circles, Sparks, Hangouts, Instant Uploads and Huddle. It also requires a Google profile, meaning you’ll need to provide Google, at minimum, with a name and a photo.

Circles lets you group your contacts — e.g. friends, work, family. Like Facebook, this features lets you share information with groups of contacts instead of hitting everyone with your latest update at once. Sparks acts like an RSS reader or Facebook news feed, letting you input things you’re interested in and pushing relevant content to you. Hangouts features live group video chats, aiming to foster spontaneous meetings with up to 10 people. You can also alert certain groups of friends when you’re hanging out.

Instant Uploads takes care of the increasingly important mobile aspect of social networking, automatically posting users’ phone pictures and videos to a private album. From there, users can decide if and with whom they want to share their media. You also have the option to add location data to every Google + post.

And Huddle is a group texting feature — similar to Beluga, which Facebook acquired in March — that lets you have a group chat through your phone.

Some analysts are asking whether Google expansion into the social media sphere is a bad move. TechCruch guest contributor Semil Shah asked the same question:

Today’s soft-launch of Google’s new social galaxy, Google+, raises one interesting question: Can Google, a massive, multinational, cash-rich, consumer technology company with multiple successful productivity applications and services, take its dough out of the oven and bake a social network into their bread?

-Jago News-