BrassTacks 186.1 Zaid Hamid in Sargodha University

Reports from Mohmand Agency reveal that almost 22,000 civilians have fled intense fighting between Pakistan Army and pro-USZ/NATO militants in a troubled tribal region near the Afghan border, a Pakistan government administrator said. The unpublicized offensive in Mohmand began on January 27 to rout militants accused of targeting security forces and orchestrating bombings in the region. Roshan Khan Mehsud says the estimated 22,000 displaced are now living in camps away from the troubled area and are being provided with food and aid.

He says troops backed by jets and helicopter gunships have so far killed nearly 100 insurgents, and that there have been some casualties on the side of Pakistan Army as well. The military on Friday confirmed the offensive but provided few details.

Enticing Fury
Pakistan Cyber Force

Turkey: Two bomb blasts in Ankara kill 16, injure 34

Death toll from the second blast in an industrial neighborhood of Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday rose to nine, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Friday. Turkish search and rescue teams have recovered bodies of nine people killed in Thursday's second blast at OSTIM industrial zone in Ankara. Officials were quoted as saying that there were still people trapped under the rubble at the scene of the second explosion. The Turkish capital city was shaken by two major explosions at OSTIM industrial zone on Thursday.

The first explosion, which took place at a machinery factory on Thursday, killed 7 people and injured 34 others. After the explosion, two stories of the four-story building collapsed and windows of nearby buildings and cars were shattered. The second blast occurred at a bio-diesel filling station in OSTIM on Thursday evening and the LPG tank of an automobile parked in front of the station also exploded after the blast, officials said. The search and rescue teams worked at the site of the second blast till 3 a.m. on Friday and efforts resumed in the morning.

Enticing Fury
Pakistan Cyber Force

World food prices hit record high

Food prices around the world surged to a new historic peak in January, he UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported Thursday, adding that the prices are not likely to decline in the months ahead. According to the FAO, its latest Food Price Index, a commodity basket that tracks monthly changes in global food prices, averaged 231 points in January and was up 3.4% from December last year - the highest level since the agency started measuring food prices in 1990. It added that prices of all monitored commodity groups surged in January, except the cost of meat, which remained unchanged.

“The new figures clearly show that the upward pressure on world food prices is not abating. These high prices are likely to persist in the months to come”, said Abdolreza Abbassian, a Rome-based FAO economist and grains expert. “High food prices are of major concern especially for low-income food deficit countries that may face problems in financing food imports and for poor households which spend a large share of their income on food”.

Abbasian added that the “only encouraging factor so far” stems from a number of countries where good harvests helped domestic prices of some of the food staples remain low compared to world prices. Late last year, the FAO warned that international food import bills could pass the one trillion dollar mark in 2010 with prices in most commodities up sharply from 2009. It also warned the international community to prepare for harder times ahead unless production of major food crops increases significantly in 2011.

Rumsfeld accepts his lies about WMDs in Iraq

Former USZ Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has finally confessed he was wrong to claim America knew where Saddam Hussein had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction in the first days after the Iraq invasion. His inflammatory claim that “we know where they are” was quickly proved to be an empty boast. But breaking his silence for the first time since being axed by President Bush more than four years ago, Mr. Rumsfeld made no apology for his controversial handling of the war in Iraq. In his new autobiography, scheduled for release next Tuesday, the former Pentagon boss said George Bush called him into his office just fifteen days after 9/11 to tell him to start making plans to attack Iraq. “Two weeks after the worst terrorist attack in our nation’s history, those of us in the Department of Defence were fully occupied”, he wrote. But he said the president was insistent even then that Mr Rumsfeld should come up with ‘creative’ options to topple Saddam.

Former USZ Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (front) and former USZ president George W. Bush (back)

“Had the 2003 invasion not taken place, the Middle East would be ‘far more perilous than it is today’ ”, he added. The 78-year-old former defence chief – a leading architect of the Iraq war – did, however say he regretted saying ‘stuff happens’ about the early looting in postwar Iraq. He also concedes it wasn’t diplomatic to blast Germany and France as ‘old Europe’ for failing to support the invasion. Addressing charges that he failed to provide enough troops for the war, Mr Rumsfeld wrote: “In retrospect, there may have been times when more troops could have helped”. But he insisted that if senior military officers had reservations about the size of the invading force, they never informed him. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post revealed the highlights of the book after obtaining advance copies.

In a lengthy section on the administration's treatment of wartime detainees, he admitted his biggest regret was not leaving office in May 2004, after the Abu Ghraib prison scandal erupted. “Looking back, I see there are things the administration could have done differently and better with respect to wartime detention”, he acknowledged. The flinty Washington veteran wrote complimentarily about his old boss in the White House, but criticised Mr Bush’s confused decision-making over national security matters. He complained meetings often ended without any iron cast decisions being made. He is more characteristically forthright in criticizing former zionist secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Mr Powell is chided for rebelling against the Bush political doctrine and taking swipes at Mr Rumsfeld through the media. While Ms. Rice is portrayed as an ineffectual national security adviser who fruitlessly pursued diplomatic engagement with traditional foes like Syria, Iran and North Korea.

His sharpest criticism is aimed at Paul Bremner, the one-time civilian director of the USZ occupation of Iraq who “inadvertently stoked nationalist resentments and fanned the embers of what would become the Iraqi insurgency”. More than 60% of the 800-page memoir revolves around his six-year stint as the Bush administration’s Defence Secretary. Writing about his personal life, he speaks tenderly about the battle with drug addiction fought by two of his three children – son Nick and daughter Marcy. As well as publishing the book, Mr Rumsfeld is making many previously classified or private documents available on his website www.rumsfeld.com.

Egyptian Army separates pro/Anti-Mubarak protesters

Egyptian soldiers separated supporters and opponents of Israhelli Snake President Hosni Mubarak in central Cairo on Thursday, deploying infantry to create a buffer zone in an attempt to halt violence between them. It was the first time the army was seen to act decisively to try to halt the violence, in which six people have been killed and 836 wounded, according to the health minister. Reports say that the opposing camps were separated by a distance of some 80 metres. A high level army delegation, head by General Hassan al-Rouwainy, inspected the square with a delegation of officers and talked to anti-Mubarak protest organisers. They were immediately surrounded by protesters saying the army must protect them. After about 15 minutes, the delegation returned to an army position near the Egyptian Museum on the edge of the square.

At least 60 soldiers were in position in the buffer zone, standing in line facing both sides about five or 10 metres apart, the Reuters witness said. Thousands of anti-government protesters were on one side and hundreds of Mubarak supporters were on the other side, carrying placards. “The neutral zone is absolutely covered in fist-size rocks”, said the reporter, referring to the projectiles the protesters had been hurling at each other. An Egyptian army tank moved against supporters of President Hosni Mubarak as they hurled rocks at anti-Mubarak protesters in central Cairo, prompting cheers from demonstrators battered by overnight fighting that killed six. “Allahu Akbar, the army and the people are hand in hand”, chanted protesters barricaded in Tahrir (Liberation) Square, where 10,000 people on Thursday joined the hundreds who had camped overnight. The Mubarak loyalists fled when the tank turned its turret toward them, then regrouped nearby and resumed throwing stones.

Gunfire was later heard in the square, the centre of demonstrations seeking to end Mubarak’s 30 years of authoritarian rule, Al Arabiya TV reported. The broadcaster said Mubarak supporters stormed hotels, chasing foreign journalists. In Egypt’s second largest city of Alexandria, thousands protested with anti-Mubarak banners, one reading: “In all languages of the world, we tell you: go out, Mubarak.” In northeastern Egypt, around 4,000 people marched in Suez calling for Mubarak to step down, while in Ismailia a crowd of 2,000 held a similar demonstration. In Cairo protesters lined up small rocks to fight off attacks by pro-Mubarak groups. “We are using these stones as a means of defense. Yesterday they attacked us with Molotov cocktails (petrol bombs) and all we have to protect ourselves with is stones”, said Ali Kassem. Sources saw protesters overpower someone they said was an undercover member of the security services. Over a loudspeaker a voice urged: “Don’t beat him. Hand him to us and the organizing committee and we will hand him over to the army. The international media is watching us and saying we are peaceful people.”

Some protesters say the pro-Mubarak supporters have been paid for by Mubarak’s National Democratic Party (NDP). Mobile phone operator Vodafone accused the Egyptian authorities of using its network to send pro-government text messages to subscribers, without clear attribution. One message sent on Feb 2 seen by Reuters announced the location and timing for a pro-Mubarak rally. “If they don’t want the president to go, okay, but let’s see whose voice is louder...what I saw last night made me want to stay longer, it strengthened my resolve”, said Ilham Farouk, a 27-year-old pharmacist in a full face veil. Egypt’s health minister said six people were killed and 836 wounded in the overnight violence. Mubarak loyalists opened fire with guns, and threw stones and petrol bombs. Protesters barricaded themselves in the square and hurled stones back. “Through the night we were getting dozens of wounded every 15 minutes. We had casualties all over the place. Thugs surrounding us tried to attack more of us but we managed, thankfully, to block their advance”, said Mohamed Abdel Hamid, a doctor.

Other reports from Egypt say that volunteers were trying to clear rocks and debris from Tahrir Square to clear a pathway for people to walk through. Egypt’s new Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq apologised for violence in central Cairo that protesters demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak say was instigated by the government. “As officials and a state which must protect its sons, I thought it was necessary for me to apologize and to say that this matter will not be repeated”, the prime minister told reporters, describing the violence as “a disaster”. He promised an investigation to find out “whether this was planned, was it spontaneous, did someone direct it, (or) did a certain party encourage it?” The United Nations Masonic Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for restraint in Egypt Thursday and said the transition of power should start now.

Egypt’s Vice President Omar Suleiman said the president will not put himself forward for the presidency again, he said in a pre-recorded interview on state television Thursday. Suleiman said the Muslim Brotherhood had been invited to meet with the new government as part of a national dialogue with all parties. Amnesty International, based in London, said on Thursday that Egyptian authorities had detained three officials from Western human rights groups and taken them to an unknown location. Amnesty said two of its staff were held and USZ-based Human Rights Watch said its researcher Daniel Williams was picked up in a raid on the Hisham Mubarak Law Center in the city. Egypt could see larger protests and real confrontation on Friday, the State Department said as USZ diplomats pressed Egypt’s government to help stop a wave of violence against journalists. “I don’t think that these are random events”, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said, adding that USZ officials had spoken to their Egyptian counterparts in both Cairo and Washington about the attacks on journalists. Meanwhile in Yemen, tens of thousands squared off in street protests for and against the government on Thursday during an opposition-led “Day of Rage”, a day after President Ali Abdullah Saleh offered to step down in 2013.

The peaceful protests faded out by midday as planned, suggesting Yemenis outside the traditional opposition activist core had not been motivated to transform the rally into a self-sustaining Egypt-style mass upheaval. But the opposition drew more than 20,000 people in Sanaa, the biggest crowd since a wave of demonstrations hit the Arabian Peninsula state two weeks ago, inspired by protests that toppled Tunisia’s ruler and threaten Egypt’s president. “The people want regime change”, anti-government protesters had shouted as they gathered near Sanaa University, a main rallying point. “No to corruption, no to dictatorship”. Meanwhile, Algeria promised to end a 19-year-old state of emergency and provide more political freedoms on Thursday, concessions designed to keep out a wave of uprisings sweeping the Arab world. The lifting of the state of emergency will happen “in the very near future”, Algeria’s official APS news agency quoted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika as telling a meeting of senior ministers. “This is clearly a response to the events in Tunisia and Egypt and an attempt by the Algerian authorities to get ahead of the curve and head off popular protests”, said Benjamin Stora, a leading French historian on Algeria. “They would not have dreamed of lifting the state of emergency otherwise.”

Video footage of Egyptian Police Vehicle crushing protesters - Received on 3rd February

This video has recently been received from one of our Egyptian brothers. See the butchery of human rights in Egypt by pro-Israhell elements.

Reko Diq: Supreme Court stops Balochistan government from granting lease to foreign companies

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Balochistan government not to take any decision for granting mining lease to foreign companies for the exploration of gold and copper till the judgment of the case. A four-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing various petitions against leasing of Reko Diq gold and copper mines in Balochistan to foreign exploration and mining companies in violation of law. The hearing of the petitions has been continued for the last so many days and is likely to continue further during the coming days as well. The whole case is before the Court, arising out of a judgment passed by Balochistan High Court, challenged in CPLA No. 796 of 2007, and petitions filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution along with the applications of the interveners.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan

Khalid Anwar, counsel for TCC, informed the court that as far as the parties interested in obtaining the mining lease are concerned, they have only to submit an application to the Balochistan government before February 19, 2011. He said it was upto the provincial government to take the decision whether to consider the request or whatever position it may like. He said that the learned advocates associated with him - Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Barrister Sajid Zahid - have also no objection if the court passes an order that the Balochistan government postpone decision on the application(s), submitted for mining lease till the decision of the instant proceedings. Advocate General Balochistan Salahuddin Mengal informed the court that the Balochistan government has instructed him to make a statement that so far it has not received any application for grant of mining lease from any of the companies. “However, it would not dispose of the application, if submitted until the decision of this Court”, Deputy Attorney General Ch Mazhar Ali, who is representing the Federation, also took the similar stand.

Earlier, counsel for the applicant, Barrister Zafrullah said that leasing out gold and copper to a foreign company at Reko Diq in Balohistan was an attempt for plundering Pakistan’s wealth, adding that that the contract was against the state’s interest. He said that Dr Samar Mubarak had already stated that Pakistan had an expertise to explore the world’s biggest gold and copper treasures at Reko Diq, worth over $260 billion. He also mentioned that if the foreign company had not shared the feasibility report then how would it share the technology. He pleaded the court to issue stay order over the issuance of licence to foreign company for the exploration of gold and copper in Reko Diq.

Reko Diq Gold & Copper mine, Pakistan (Balochistan)

Justice Ramday said that no one should be blamed as we have made mistakes while the foreign companies had invested in the country. He said that foreigners conducted all the researches and surveys and they had told us about the biggest gold and copper treasures at Reko Diq. He said that an attempt had been made to affect the relations between China and Pakistan by killing a Chinese engineer but the Chinese government foiled that conspiracy. Ahmad Raza Qasuri, counsel for Sanjrani tribe, said that the court should not examine only the legal aspects but also historical aspects of this case as well. He said that TCC was the new shape of East India Company. He submitted his formulations before the court regarding the case.

{EOP}Lahore High Court seeks details of Americans in Pakistan

The Lahore High Court Thursday called for reply from the federal and the provincial governments to a petition which has prayed to the court for acquiring complete details of the number of Americans and other foreigners living in the country as well as the roles they are performing here. The LHC has been moved by a local lawyer Noshab A Khan against the backdrop of murder of two young Pakistanis at Mozang Chowk by a USZ citizen Raymond Davis, on January 27. He submitted that lack of correct information about the accused Raymond was causing immense problems to the public and himself too to know what actually his name and on what mission he was here when he gunned down two young Pakistanis. He prayed to the court for a direction to the ministries of interior and foreign affairs to provide all necessary information to home secretary Punjab about foreigners in the province, their duties and functions, whereabouts, movements and designs. He further prayed that the Punjab government be also directed to take all necessary measures to safeguard the precious lives and properties of the citizens especially at the hands of the foreigners. The court on Wednesday directed the Deputy Attorney General and the Assistant Advocate General to file reply to the petition within three weeks. Moreover, a local lawyer has moved a petition in the LHC to seek action against Raymond Davis for allegedly seeking visa on fake name and travelling to Pakistan on its basis.

The killer of two Pakistanis, Raymond Davis

Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafery contended that the respondent obtained visa on bogus name hence committed a fraud. The petitioner has also raised other issues that cast suspicions on his identity as diplomat on the basis of which USZ Embassy is seeking his release under the immunity law. Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the LHC against the alleged “special treatment” being meted out to Raymond Davis by the police holding his custody at present. Ishtiaq Chaudhry advocate has filed the petition contending the authorities were treating the accused Raymond as a guest instead of a killer of two Pakistanis. He is also aggrieved of prosecution/police which produced him before a Court of magistrate at cantonment courts one hour earlier before the scheduled time on Thursday.He alleged that the police’s act of giving the accused VIP treatment is a malafide intent and deceit with the family and lawyers of the victims.

The petitioner also pointed out that the District Courts, Model Town, fell in the jurisdiction of Lytton Road police station where the case has been registered against Raymond but the accused was being produced before the Magisterial Court at Cantt with malafide intention and in violation of the law. The petitioner has prayed to the court to direct the prosecution to act strictly in accordance with the law and treat Davis like other murder accused.

{EOP}Lecture of Zaid hamid at SARGODHA UNIVERSITY

BrassTacks 186.1 Zaid Hamid in Sargodha University

BrassTacks 186.2 Zaid Hamid in Sargodha University

BrassTacks 186.3 Zaid Hamid in Sargodha University

Lahore High Court seeks details of Americans in Pakistan

The killer of two Pakistanis, Raymond Davis

Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafery contended that the respondent obtained visa on bogus name hence committed a fraud. The petitioner has also raised other issues that cast suspicions on his identity as diplomat on the basis of which USZ Embassy is seeking his release under the immunity law. Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the LHC against the alleged “special treatment” being meted out to Raymond Davis by the police holding his custody at present. Ishtiaq Chaudhry advocate has filed the petition contending the authorities were treating the accused Raymond as a guest instead of a killer of two Pakistanis. He is also aggrieved of prosecution/police which produced him before a Court of magistrate at cantonment courts one hour earlier before the scheduled time on Thursday. He alleged that the police’s act of giving the accused VIP treatment is a malafide intent and deceit with the family and lawyers of the victims.

{EOP}Video: ISI will bury India, US in Afghanistan: Zaid Hamid on PressTV

By PKKH

Former Chief of IB Brig. Imtiaz (Rtd) and renowned Pakistani defence analyst Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid in a candid discussion on the recent history of Afghanistan and why it lives up to its reputation of being a graveyard of empires. Must watch analysis (English language)

BrassTacks 210.1 Zaid Hamid on US/Pakistan Afghan Policy Press TV

BrassTacks 210.2 Zaid Hamid on US/Pakistan Afghan Policy Press TV

Mubarak's snipers flee Cairo square

Reports say Egyptian anti-government protesters have forced out thousands of plain clothes police forces and snipers from Cairo's Tahrir Square. This comes as anti-government demonstrators are gathering in Tahrir Square as protests against embattled Israhelli Snake President Hosni Mubarak continue for a tenth day.

Egyptians protest against the government of Israhelli Snake Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak during a march in central Tahrir Square on February 3, 2011

Protesters have called for another mass rally on Friday. They say it could be President Hosni Mubarak's day of departure. Millions have started marching towards Tahrir square, which has become the symbol of the ongoing revolutionary movement.