I got call yesterday from someone who witnessed first hand these events. That person is a Sindhi-Baloch and is a permanent resident of Dera.
He informed me that there was an attack on FC convoy in which one man, presumably of the FC, was killed. In retaliation, FC men indiscriminately started firing towards the local people, who were running halter shelter to save their lives after the bomb blast. Instead of understanding the situation FC started firing and killing. One of the relatives of my friend, who related this incidence to me, was also shot dead inside his own shop which happens to be nearby the place of bomb attack. In total, 25 men were killed by FC men. Many more are injured. I think Tribune should carry out more research as the numbers of dead might as well increase.
In a sad tone my friend told me that he did not object to the presence of FC in his province before this incident. But from now on he demands, like all residents of embattled province of Balochistan, that these killer FC men be brought to justice. But he also told me that he cannot imagine our crooked Army and Court officials to take a stand against FC. So the sufferers would remain the poor and the down trodden of Balochistan.
I would like to hear the version of Pak Army / FC about this incidence.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
How Amazon.com has improved my life
Few years back I was desperately trying to purchase my first ever DSLR (Digital Professional camera) of Nikon. As it was way too expensive in Pakistan, I considered purchasing it from USA via my cousin, which would then be brought to Pakistan by anyone who would be coming here. For this end, I had accumulated Rs.50,000, a handsome amount by my standards. In USA, much to my chagrin, the rates were similar to those in Pakistan. It was then that my good cousin, an American citizen by birth, asked me to check out the prices at Amazon.com, a website she claimed had the most competitive edge in the market. Despite reservations I checked the prices for Nikon D70s model and to my delight the rates were really very competitive – best anywhere I had seen. I clicked and ordered the camera and my love affair with photography continued. And it still does. Since then, not surprisingly, I have been hooked to Amazon website, arguably the world’s largest online retail store.
Living in America or Canada helps when you want to purchase goods from Amazon.com. If you don’t live there, at least you should have friends or relatives who live there and who appear in Pakistan from time to time. The idea being that you can just order about anything to their addresses in USA or Canada, receive the goods there and when they return to Pakistan, you can have your items delivered, without the agony of paying extra bucks for transportation to Pakistan. I have noted, for all the goods and without any exception, that Pakistan is considered as a country where the rates for delivery are the highest – at par with unstable states like Somalia or Libya. This clearly means that the items delivered to these and some other states do not reach their destination in proper condition as described by the seller so these sellers have to transport their goods using elite services like DHL or UPS. Hence the costs. Therefore, since that day in 2006, I have ordered all accessories (camera or otherwise), bags, shirts, beauty creams and all my books from Amazon.com to one of the three addresses in USA. From there these items are brought down to my home in Karachi by anyone who is unfortunate enough to be the first one coming! This time around I ordered 15 books, some of them really bulky, in second hand condition (good to acceptable but never torn) from Amazon.com to my friend’s house in Chicago. He later ordered 7 of them to Florida address of another friend of mine whose mother was coming to Pakistan for a wedding. I received my books gratefully without paying an extra penny as transportation costs. (Delivery of a book within USA costs USD 3.99 no matter what the size or origin of the book within the States. Same book’s postage might cost you anywhere between 20 to 40 USD, if ordered on a Pakistani address.)
Tips for purchasing from Amazon.com
Search the item thoroughly. Then read what customers have to say about the product. Also check the product rating based on consumer ratings. Then, if the product is very expensive, say a camera, then check out various sites detailing tech specs of that product. Back to Amazon.com, check out who’s selling the product. Amazon.com has a rating system for all its suppliers and provides each seller a star based rating from which a customer can decide which seller to go for. I always consider 96% rated or above seller to be worth going for. This ensures great delivery time, lowest possible costs and if something is wrong with the product or the packaging, it may be returned easily and replaced without hassle.
Take this as an example: I recently ordered a Lonely Planet traveler diary notebook from a seller whose rating was 96%. The seller informed me that my diary would reach latest by 14th Feb, 2011. My friend informed me on 19th Feb, 2011, that my product hadn’t arrived yet. Using claim form at Amazon I complained to the website. Within next 24 hours I received apology from the supplier, who told me that my USD 5.0 (rate for the book + postage) have been refunded to my account. They further told me to keep the book for free if it still arrived (They won’t charge because it was a late delivery). What a brilliant service that was. I have mentioned this instance of honesty and excellent supply chain system to all who know me and via this blog I am mentioning it to all who have read it. Purchasing wasn’t that easy before Amazon paved the way. And today, before I drop down to local shops, I check book reviews and rates from the website. Many a times, a book selling for over Rs.3000 (used but like new) in Karachi’s elite bookstore have been purchased by my on Amazon.com for less than Rs.800. No wonder, I now have probably the best collection of National Geographic photography books this side of Suez Canal!
Ameer Hamza is now collecting Travel Safari Vests, Travel Backpacks and all the travel books written in English anywhere in the world. For this end, he has annoyed his friends and a cousin in USA to a great extent.
Living in America or Canada helps when you want to purchase goods from Amazon.com. If you don’t live there, at least you should have friends or relatives who live there and who appear in Pakistan from time to time. The idea being that you can just order about anything to their addresses in USA or Canada, receive the goods there and when they return to Pakistan, you can have your items delivered, without the agony of paying extra bucks for transportation to Pakistan. I have noted, for all the goods and without any exception, that Pakistan is considered as a country where the rates for delivery are the highest – at par with unstable states like Somalia or Libya. This clearly means that the items delivered to these and some other states do not reach their destination in proper condition as described by the seller so these sellers have to transport their goods using elite services like DHL or UPS. Hence the costs. Therefore, since that day in 2006, I have ordered all accessories (camera or otherwise), bags, shirts, beauty creams and all my books from Amazon.com to one of the three addresses in USA. From there these items are brought down to my home in Karachi by anyone who is unfortunate enough to be the first one coming! This time around I ordered 15 books, some of them really bulky, in second hand condition (good to acceptable but never torn) from Amazon.com to my friend’s house in Chicago. He later ordered 7 of them to Florida address of another friend of mine whose mother was coming to Pakistan for a wedding. I received my books gratefully without paying an extra penny as transportation costs. (Delivery of a book within USA costs USD 3.99 no matter what the size or origin of the book within the States. Same book’s postage might cost you anywhere between 20 to 40 USD, if ordered on a Pakistani address.)
Tips for purchasing from Amazon.com
Search the item thoroughly. Then read what customers have to say about the product. Also check the product rating based on consumer ratings. Then, if the product is very expensive, say a camera, then check out various sites detailing tech specs of that product. Back to Amazon.com, check out who’s selling the product. Amazon.com has a rating system for all its suppliers and provides each seller a star based rating from which a customer can decide which seller to go for. I always consider 96% rated or above seller to be worth going for. This ensures great delivery time, lowest possible costs and if something is wrong with the product or the packaging, it may be returned easily and replaced without hassle.
Take this as an example: I recently ordered a Lonely Planet traveler diary notebook from a seller whose rating was 96%. The seller informed me that my diary would reach latest by 14th Feb, 2011. My friend informed me on 19th Feb, 2011, that my product hadn’t arrived yet. Using claim form at Amazon I complained to the website. Within next 24 hours I received apology from the supplier, who told me that my USD 5.0 (rate for the book + postage) have been refunded to my account. They further told me to keep the book for free if it still arrived (They won’t charge because it was a late delivery). What a brilliant service that was. I have mentioned this instance of honesty and excellent supply chain system to all who know me and via this blog I am mentioning it to all who have read it. Purchasing wasn’t that easy before Amazon paved the way. And today, before I drop down to local shops, I check book reviews and rates from the website. Many a times, a book selling for over Rs.3000 (used but like new) in Karachi’s elite bookstore have been purchased by my on Amazon.com for less than Rs.800. No wonder, I now have probably the best collection of National Geographic photography books this side of Suez Canal!
Ameer Hamza is now collecting Travel Safari Vests, Travel Backpacks and all the travel books written in English anywhere in the world. For this end, he has annoyed his friends and a cousin in USA to a great extent.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arab.....?
Tunisia down. Egypt down. At least the USA and Israel friendly president is gone, not the US friendly army. But someone has gone after 30 years. That alone should make Egyptians very happy indeed. Now Libya is in full swing. Over 200 protesters have been shot dead within these last 3 days or so. Al Jazeera website is reporting that foreign mercenaries, using high grade weapons, may be involved in indiscriminate shootings at the funeral yesterday. There is a point here: No good Muslim soldier or policeman would ever dare fire at the Muslim funeral. But a Christian or a Jew just might. I think this report is credible enough to demand world attention. After all, Mr. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, the Libyan President, has been an American stooge since last so many years one can't just keep count on him. And his most strange habit of keeping women guards, pitching his tents wherever he travels to and his Ukranian nurse having big breasts, is all too well known now. But what should be very clear is that far from being an American enemy number 1, he is their friend. For their sake, he has kept his own people below poverty line, sold out his vast oil reserves to dubious Western companies, and has betrayed the trust of his fellow Muslims. For this alone this man and his entire cabinet should be dismissed and a trial held. I am really surprised that still there are people left - and they appear to be in thousands - who can still demand revolution. They are dying, falling like soldiers in a Hollywood movie, asking for a change. Libya's President must be very angry for he has surely ordered every protester dead. They are not shooting rubber bullets anymore, if we understand running commentary over Al Jazeera tweets, they are shooting real bullets and killing everyone in their way. This is a great tumultuous time for the embattled Middle East and the greatest puppet of them all, King of Saudi Arab (a Najdi not a Hashmite, mind you) must be very much concerned for his own throne, which was gifted to his ancestors by the scheming British spies displacing Ottoman overlords. Now it is a reversal time. USA, Israel and Europe, whose friends these bloody dictators have been all the way, are now being replaced. And I am sure CIA, MI6,7,5 or Mossad would be looking for newer, fresher puppets to replace the old stooges.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Killing our intelligence agents is not an option
I agree with the people who suggest that Raymond Davis killed our intelligence agent operatives, who have been noting his movements within the densely populated Mozang area of Lahore. The question is: What was this so-called American diplomat with the wrong number plate and unlicensed gun doing in that area? What on Earth this diplomat was thinking? Are all Pakistanis fool. They don't know what law is. I mean he killed those two men, took their photographs from his camera and was about to run away when police came about. Agreed, we are almost a banana state with the very green banana president. But this is not how things work out. You have killed our men and you shall pay with the blood. This is cold blooded murder.
Let us go back to the events of the day and see why he may have killed them. My opinion in this is as follows: These two men, probably belonging to IB or ISI and surely not from MI, have been noting his movements in the city of Lahore and perhaps in Peshawar. They must have known that he was trying to make contacts with perhaps some terrorist outfits to carry out sabotage of important structures within the city. Please note that few weeks ago our Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani had very clearly told the Americans they must not try to destabilize his country and he had pointed out the bombing at Data Darbar in Lahore to whip the communal anger between the followers of Barelvi and Deobandi school of thought as an example. Probably this man now called Davis (and I hope it is his real name) was into some sort of terrorism plot being hatched or previously hatched to destabilize Pakistan. And he had been documented by these two bike riders (probably also photographed). Now, that he had seen them he shot them in what has been properly described as cold blooded murder by our government and court. If Davis had not killed them probably his career as the defense contractor (?) would have been over, atleast in Pakistan. So he killed them and would have thought of it as a non-issue but unfortunate for him people of Pakistan are not yet dead. They got hold of him. I still wonder why did they not kill him there and then, by sticks and stones or whatever. Why wait for the court when you know who the killer is. Perhaps, we still have some belief left in the wisdom of the courts. Perhaps. Now read below what these killers of humanity are upto.
These American mercenaries (freelance killers of common men and women) are found on almost all the places where Americans want to rule and want to dictate terms. Their largest numbers are now found in three Muslim countries: Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These same freelancers are found in Sudan, Indonesia, Saudi Arab, Syria and Egypt, where they have often outsourced torture. These contractors, part of the growing Billion dollar business, have freedom to act as they like. They have been previously charged for raping young girls in Iraq and in Japan. Cases were proved but nothing came from it. Let us see whether our courts and our FO has the ball to hold on to this case. If they hold the American pressure, they will bring honour to the nation. But if this man is allowed to run away, Zardari & Co. will be in deep trouble.
Now the scenario which may develop:
1) Best case: He is hanged and his body handed over to the American embassy. Americans block Pakistan aid. Gen. Kiyani calls off all wars and stops all NATO items going to Afghanistan, thus putting brakes to American war in Afghanistan.
2) Worst case: Davis is allowed to leave at midnight. Nation wakes up and realizes they have been short changed. Complete strike across country. Chaos reigns. Someone tries to blow up American embassy in Islamabad and someone else tries to blow up the main gate of American consulate in Karachi.
Let me tell you one thing. For sure these lads killed by this American bastard were civilian spies belonging perhaps to IB. And if Davis is let out by Zardari govt. General Kiyani won't be happy. So it is better that Zardari and Gilani just allow courts to function properly. Americans would pay millions in bribe to get him out because it is not about one American in Pakistani jail, it is about one white macho American being tried by the democratically elected Banana state. What shame that would be for the overlords in Washington. Obama surely is counting his days in office!
Let us go back to the events of the day and see why he may have killed them. My opinion in this is as follows: These two men, probably belonging to IB or ISI and surely not from MI, have been noting his movements in the city of Lahore and perhaps in Peshawar. They must have known that he was trying to make contacts with perhaps some terrorist outfits to carry out sabotage of important structures within the city. Please note that few weeks ago our Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani had very clearly told the Americans they must not try to destabilize his country and he had pointed out the bombing at Data Darbar in Lahore to whip the communal anger between the followers of Barelvi and Deobandi school of thought as an example. Probably this man now called Davis (and I hope it is his real name) was into some sort of terrorism plot being hatched or previously hatched to destabilize Pakistan. And he had been documented by these two bike riders (probably also photographed). Now, that he had seen them he shot them in what has been properly described as cold blooded murder by our government and court. If Davis had not killed them probably his career as the defense contractor (?) would have been over, atleast in Pakistan. So he killed them and would have thought of it as a non-issue but unfortunate for him people of Pakistan are not yet dead. They got hold of him. I still wonder why did they not kill him there and then, by sticks and stones or whatever. Why wait for the court when you know who the killer is. Perhaps, we still have some belief left in the wisdom of the courts. Perhaps. Now read below what these killers of humanity are upto.
These American mercenaries (freelance killers of common men and women) are found on almost all the places where Americans want to rule and want to dictate terms. Their largest numbers are now found in three Muslim countries: Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. These same freelancers are found in Sudan, Indonesia, Saudi Arab, Syria and Egypt, where they have often outsourced torture. These contractors, part of the growing Billion dollar business, have freedom to act as they like. They have been previously charged for raping young girls in Iraq and in Japan. Cases were proved but nothing came from it. Let us see whether our courts and our FO has the ball to hold on to this case. If they hold the American pressure, they will bring honour to the nation. But if this man is allowed to run away, Zardari & Co. will be in deep trouble.
Now the scenario which may develop:
1) Best case: He is hanged and his body handed over to the American embassy. Americans block Pakistan aid. Gen. Kiyani calls off all wars and stops all NATO items going to Afghanistan, thus putting brakes to American war in Afghanistan.
2) Worst case: Davis is allowed to leave at midnight. Nation wakes up and realizes they have been short changed. Complete strike across country. Chaos reigns. Someone tries to blow up American embassy in Islamabad and someone else tries to blow up the main gate of American consulate in Karachi.
Let me tell you one thing. For sure these lads killed by this American bastard were civilian spies belonging perhaps to IB. And if Davis is let out by Zardari govt. General Kiyani won't be happy. So it is better that Zardari and Gilani just allow courts to function properly. Americans would pay millions in bribe to get him out because it is not about one American in Pakistani jail, it is about one white macho American being tried by the democratically elected Banana state. What shame that would be for the overlords in Washington. Obama surely is counting his days in office!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Davis to be released soon: FO
Yes sir, I will personally drop your citizen and killer of my citizens at your doorstep. I am sorry we had to keep him for so long just for killing our useless Pakistanis. In any case Pakistanis are killed by your good drones. I am sorry and so is my President for holding your Highly Honourable Citizen. Please don’t worry about our courts. And just forget our media and our people. Sorry again.
(I imagine our worthless minister for nothing, Mr. Rehman Malik saying such things to US delegation which visited Pakistan yesterday to demand immediate release of this CIA agent.)
Well done, Democracy.
(I imagine our worthless minister for nothing, Mr. Rehman Malik saying such things to US delegation which visited Pakistan yesterday to demand immediate release of this CIA agent.)
Well done, Democracy.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Hingol National Park, Balochistan
Sometimes you have to climb high to get an idea of what the things below look like. Photography is not always done on the flat land. You dive or you climb to capture the fascination of this world. Same thing here happened. I had to go deep into the river valley and then climb these mud mountains to get the view. It was well worth the effort.
Portrait: Baloch, Hingol
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan and yet it is most under-rated and underdeveloped. Gen. Musharraf, during his reign as President of the country, built roads' network and extensively developed Gawadar Port but also deployed his army to kill Bughti, most charismatic of the Nawabs. This caused widespread resentment amongst the people of this province which has only grown in recent years.
This young man, hailing from Hingol national park, told me that he has never ever seen the main road (a mere 80 Km from where this shot was taken). Similar people live in this national park and off course he did not know about Musharraf or Zardari or the presently running Baloch freedom movement.
This young man, hailing from Hingol national park, told me that he has never ever seen the main road (a mere 80 Km from where this shot was taken). Similar people live in this national park and off course he did not know about Musharraf or Zardari or the presently running Baloch freedom movement.
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