"The shoe was not...a Ferragamo...no..."
On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal released an op-ed by President Asif Ali Zardari defending his Europe tour, a trip that garnered tremendous criticism and even resulted in shoes being lobbed in his direction.
Yes, shoes. Nice throwback to Bush in Iraq in 2008, don’t you think?
In the article “written” by Zardari, he noted,
As the floods hit the country, I faced a dilemma as head of state. I could stay in Pakistan and support the prime minister in our response to the floods, or I could continue with a scheduled visit abroad. I chose to use my travels to mobilize foreign assistance—money, supplies, food, tents, medical care, engineers, clean water and medicine—for our people. Some have criticized my decision, saying it represented aloofness, but I felt that I had to choose substance over symbolism.
To an extent, I agree with the-aide-writing-as-Zardari. If he had stayed in Pakistan instead of jetting off to Europe, would that have made an enormous difference to the government’s response, or lack thereof, to the floods? Probably not.
He went on to add,
I might have benefited personally from the political symbolism of being in the country at the time of natural disaster. But hungry people can’t eat symbols. The situation demanded action, and I acted to mobilize the world.
Mister President, I agree with fellow bloggers that media attention on your trip has been overblown and took away from the much more serious issues at hand. But I am not sure a Europe jaunt was the necessary step in “mobilizing the world.” Couldn’t a phone call have sufficed? Skype? A few smiley faces and lol’s can go a long way these days.
But regardless of our feelings toward Zardari’s trip, the series of developments prior to and upon his return are even more frustrating. After the GEO and ARY television networks aired the shoe-hurling incident against Zardari, the two stations’ signals were reportedly “blacked out” in parts of Sindh. Geo’s managing director Azhar Abbas told CNN, “Activists of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party are threatening cable operators to take Geo off the air as well as cut cables of operators in Karachi and interior Sindh.” Copies of the Jang group’s daily Urdu newspaper, the Daily Jang, were also set on fire, and when a group of PPP activists surrounded Geo’s building Tuesday, “law enforcement groups did nothing to stop them.”
While the threat of media groups is a dangerous phenomenon, it is also exacerbated by these outlets’ responses, which sensationalize reports and further this cycle. All the while, the attention that should be dedicated to the 14 million affected by the floods in Pakistan is diverted to far less important things. So shame on you. Shame on all of you.
[...] you think? In the article “written” by Zardari, […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan aloofness, ary television, asif ali zardari, assistance money, bush in iraq, enormous [...]
“ Sind and PuktunKhwa by opposing “Flood breaker Kalabagh Dam” , want to make Pakistan a failed state”.
With the large number of deaths and destruction due to floods, continuous shortage of electricity in the country and continuous shortage of water at the time of need in rest of year has made the lives of people of Pakistan completely intoleratable. Now every one has started questioning the role of state and governments for bringing their lives in such a miserable condition, therefore it is necessary to analyze the root causes for all these miseries and painful condition from which people of Pakistan are suffering.
Kalabagh Dam:
Pending Kalabagh and other dams are main root cause for most of the problems of people of Pakistan, but in fact its situation and location just makes it the future pumping heart of Pakistani nation, due to its importance and ability to solve the most of the problems of People of Pakistan, enemies of Pakistan are very proactive in making opposition to this dam ,and the enemies of Pakistan are making use of tactics of ethnocentrism and provincialism for opposing this dam, so that people of Pakistan can never ever be able to solve their problems.
Civilized nations of the world build and maintain large reservoirs of currency in banks, fuel oil in tanks, gas in pressurized tanks, food and other items of needs in ware houses and cold storages, but the enemies of Pakistan are not allowing the storage of water in dams which is one of the most basic necessity of humans, plants and animals, and just want that there should be no water management and development on the only and sole life line of Pakistan which is River Indus and they just want that its water should continue to waste in the sea. These enemies are very proactive in two provinces of Pakistan, one is Sindh and other is PuktoonKhwa.
Sindh:
Some facts about this province are:
Sindh producing more crops each year with more consumption of water at the same time making propaganda that Punjab is stealing water.
Sindh producing rice crop in most of its arid and barren areas with no rain fall but still there is shortage of water and making propaganda that Punjab is stealing water.
Sindh increasing irrigated land in Badin and at the same time making propaganda that there is intrusion of sea in Badin as Punjab is stealing water.
Sindh wasting one crore acre feet of water in sea but still there is shortage of water and making propaganda that Punjab is stealing water.
Sindh opposing any project on River Indus like Kalabagh Dam and any other project but still demanding more water.
Yes, there is shortage of water for Chasma Jehlum Link Canal, For Kalabagh Dam, for Thal Canal,and as a whole For Punjab,
but there is lot of water to waste in Arabian sea at Thatta and Badin,
There is lot of water to grow rice in the Larkana so much that ruins of Moen Jo Daro are suffering from problem of water logging, the problem from which these ruins have not suffered during last 4500 years.
There is lot of Indus water to waste in Manchar Lake, Kurlee Lake so much that now there is need to waste the water of these lakes in sea.
There is lot of water to sink coastal areas of Badin and Thatta under Indus water.
There is lot of water so much that we are pouring sweet water on saline Mangroo plants of sea.
Had ample water being availabe , sindh would have been able to grow more crop.but will not allow other provinces of Pakistan to take one bucket of water and will not allow to grow one straw of grass, Simple is that.
The credit stands with Sindh that despite obtaining ample water and ample crops its always ready to victimize and malign punjab, Kalabagh Dam, Thal Canal,and Chasma Jehlum canal , its making good use of politics of balckmailing and water.
Preservation and storage of water in Kalabagh Dam will increase agriculture land,generation of electricity ,and will prevent wastage of sweet water and fertile sand in the sea .
Advanced nations of the world are recycling and treating drain water for reuse while politician and Government of Sindh is wasting and polluting sweet water into the sea.
USA and India have large number of rivers and fresh water reservoirs but instead of wasting their water in sea they are using saline water of sea for agriculture and other purposes but we Pakistanies have just one river and even then we are wasting that one by the foolish politicians and Government of Sindh.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are using water of Dead Sea by desalination for their use so much that dead sea is drying and drying day by day but we pakistanies are wasting our sweet water into sea and making that saline what a unique type of crime and foolish act.
Only by taking out water from sea can stop sea intrusion and by discarding more and more sweet water into sea will aggravate the problem of so called sea intrusion.
On one side there is shortage of water in Pakistan on other side in Sindh there is wastage of water,cultivation of crops such as rice,sugar can and banana which are highly dependent on water and at the same time demanding wastage of water in sea and objecting even on preservation of water in Kalabagh, on use of water for agriculture in Punjab, if there is shortage of water then why sindh is cultivating rice,bannana and sugar can which are highly water dependent, if Punjab is not giving water then from where the water of Kulree ,Mancahr lakes have arrived, if Punjab is not giving water then how from Larkana to Thatta area is suffering from problem of water logging.
Sindh wants punjab to obey its desire for wastage of water as it is mentioned in 1991 water agreement, Punjab Should stop people living along river Indus from Kalabagh to Sadiqabad not to use water for irrigation because Provincialism is more important than Humanity.
As Sindh,balochistan and pukhtunkhwa are against Kalabagh Dam
because as per Sindh LOGIC Thar Coal is better than Kalabagh as Kalabagh will emmit BLACK SMOKE and Thar Coal will emmit fresh air full of Oxygen.
And as per Balouchistan Vision GAS and coal extracted from Balouchistan are one of the most clean source of energy and Kalabagh will pollute air and land resouces and people will drown in Kalabagh and no one is dying in the coal caves of Balochistan.
And as per PuktunKhwa wisdom Royalty of Tarballa is so important that Pakistan can be broken for that but Kalabgh dam is not good looking as it is in Punjab.
All provinces want Provincial autonomy but Punjab should open or close its canals , iirigate its land and construct Dams as per desire of other provinces and after asking from other provinces Because it is necessary for unity and prosperity of Pakistan as when there will be no agriculture,no electricity and no water then Pakistan will be more united and more prosperous.
Failure of Punjab Govertnment:
Government of Punjab has chronically failed in protecting the rights of people of Punjab. Which is evident from the fact that it has not made any efforts for the construction of Kalabagh Dam while Govt of Sind is very proactive even in wasting the water of river Indus in Arabian sea.If Punjab govt can not protect the rights of people living alongside river Indus,it will be better to separate out those areas from Punjab,so that those people can protect their rights themselves. From NFC award it is evident that Punjab Govt has sacrificed the rights of people just for pleasing those who always hate punjab. Moreover Punjab Govt has not raised any concern about the suffering of people of Punjab in Baluchistan,Karachi and Sind. Thar coal project will have adverse effects on each and every living organism,atmosphere,enviroment in Punjab but Punjab Govt foolish leaders has not shown any concern about that project.
Due to incompetent Punjab Government , situation has so much deteriorated that other provinces which are very vocal about Provincial autonomy are interfering in the affairs of Punjab by violating provincial autonomy of Punjab , for example Sindh Province Government and Assembly has started to give suggestions to Punjab that which Canal should be kept opened or closed, which Dam (hydrel project ) should be constructed or not, and which land of Punjab should be cultivated or not, while Punjab Government is completely silent about such interference, while Sindh Government is busy in wasting River Indus water in Arabian sea which is a sin and crime against humanity but Punjab government is making no objection about such wastage.
Punjab gopvernment and its water experts are also responsible for wastage of water in Sindh,
As they never questioned or monitored that why Sweet water of Indus is being discarded in sea, which infact will be injurious and harmful for saline fishes and plants of sea.
In Karachi it is very common observation that sea fishes do not survive in sweet water even for Minutes.
Punjab Government never questioned from Sindh Government that why they are wasting sweet water for saline plants of Mangroos which very finely grow in saline water as on coastal areas of Karachi there is no sweet water but highly dense forest of Mangroos are present there even in front of Karachi Port Trust.
Punjab never questioned from Sindh why large agricultuure area of Sindh about 38 % is suffering from water logging.
Punjab never questioned from Sindh why Sindh is demanding sweet water for coastal areas while there are so many varities of both wheat and other plant which even can grow in saline land.
Politicians of other provinces want to make Punjab a crippled province but foolish government of Punjab is not able to comprehend that, a sick ,crippled punjab wil be a liability and not an asset for Pakistan. Allowing and accepting wastage of River Indus water in sea in 1991 by Province of Sindh is a fatal and non forgivable crime of Punjab Government.
Accepting wastage of River water in sea is like accepting wastage of wheat,rice,sugar and cotton in the sea.
Lethargic Federal Government:
Instead of understanding the mentality of enemies of PAKISTAN, Federal government is waiting for the consensus on issue of water and dams, which is simply impossible, because these enemies will never agree on any point which will be for the welfare of people of Pakistan.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to direct Sindh not to commit crime by polluting river Indus water by wasting it in saline sea water.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to direct Sindh not to waste water in province which is causing water logging in Sindh and causing damage to land.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to direct Punjab and Sindh goverment for construction of Dams like Kalabagh to preserve water and generation of electricity.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to make laws against polluting of River water as Sindh is polluting River water.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to make laws against wasting of River water as Sindh is polluting River water.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to make laws against polluting of water,land and air as Sindh is planning to do by polluting these by smoke of Thar coal.
Sindh Government should make arrangement for more and more extraction of water from sea and desalination of sea water and use of sweet water in saline land should be completely restricted, its very strange that Karachi city government is trying to install plants of desalination for obtaining sweet water from sea for city while Sindh Government is wasting sweet water of Indus about one crore Acre feet water in the sea what a foolish act and what a crime against humanity.
Those who adovcate wastage of River Indus in sea and oppose PRESERVATION AND STORAGE OF water at Kalabagh are infact the enemies of Pakistan.
Logic that river water will stop the intrusion of sea is the most foolish Idea, on one side there is ONE MIGHTY SEA AND on other side there is a just one river coming from arid zone,The river will infact rise the level of sea ultimately leading to sea to spread on land and will further cause water logging and salinity of land.
The main forest of Mangroves of Sindh coastal areas are located in Karachi but Sindh is not providing even drinking water to citizens of Karachi.
If there is problem of salinity and sea intrusion on coastal areas of Sindh, there is need to eastablish salt Industry in that area instead of agriculture while by wastage of river water in sea we are wasting sweet water and also wasting salt of the land which is an important mineral and pouring river water in sea there will be just further rise in sea water and more intrusion of sea water in all coastal areas.
The simple logic is that those who do not want dams like Kalabagh to be built, they are enemies of the country or at least don’t want Pakistan to have vibrant economy and social peace. The forces and lobbies that opposed Pakistan and those that are stuck up in their narrow grooves of provincialism would not like Pakistan to become an economically viable country. The weak economy foments societal discontent and political instability. That is the spectacle that patriotic Pakistanis have been witnessing since the inception of Pakistan.
Disease of Provincialism in Politicians of NWFP and Sindh is mainly responsible for floods,power and water shortage mayhem and the resultant chaos in the society due to tormenting blackouts and long power outrages and death due to floods.
Written by: M.AKRAM KHAN NIAZI.
Karachi,Pakistan.
Wow.
Hahahaha! The Shoe Hurler – the Remix!
I’m surprised that video wasn’t deleted off YouTube.
Media played a very negative and destructive role for last couple of years. Majority of media personals sided with Taliban, they provided every sort of assistance to them, second they sided with establishment, third they defamed politicians without any evidence, defamed them insulted and ridiculed them. Some sections of media no doubt exerted full efforts to weaken democracy and openly invited army and judges to interfere. For last two years their every story proved wrong for example seven thousand marines are coming to Islamabad proved wrong with the approval of Kerry Lugar billl Pakistan will surrender her sovereignty , proved wrong. Then blak waters are everywhere proved wrong . Now once again media is portraying such things which are bringing bad name to Pakistan as a hype created by media regarding fake shoe thrown incident. He was vilified by the national media and to add insult to injury, the self coined shoe-throwing incident in Birmingham served as the icing on the cake for our media as it was something honorable. One can check the level of patriotism of our media and also check that how our media is feeding disinformation since a long time.
Mobilize the world? The world *hates* us. Everyone from white Americans to the Chinese regards us as stupid, aggressive, fools. Unfortunately, there is something to their position. . . .
Yeah, I’m self-hating these days. But not without reason.
It greatly saddens me to see the helplessness of the poor and the government doing little – if anything – to help. What does a poor soul in Pakistan have to begin with? And then for those few possessions to be washed forever away?? Asthaghfirallah! This is what we should recite every moment, for apparently we must have greatly wronged for such constant and consistent tragedies to befall the peoples of our dear Pakistan! Ask yourself how you would feel if you had no food or water for days; if the best you could do was find some plastic to hide under – 2 or 3 families together! Asthaghfiralllah! Send money, send supplies, provide hope, but SINCERELY pray for our people. Only God can provide the level of security and prosperity we need now. I sent money, I have sent clothes, I will continue to do so as long as I possibly can – but how can I provide solace, patience, tolerance to a Mother whose son was washed away in front of her? How can I tell a Father not to worry for tomorrow will bring happier times, when his children beg for food and their dreams have been reduced to rubbles? Only God can provide the help we really need – that our souls need. Therefore, please help the needy with donations of everything, but PRAY, PRAY, PRAY from the depths of your heart for these days to be the worst and for us to do right by the victims – any victim. And be grateful and thank God for what you have – what may seem insufficient to you, is really valuable to others. May God provide us with the wisdom, love and tolerance to be among those that do good for others for no other reasons except to acquire His pleasure.
Very true,
Please Make duas, make duas, weep before ALLAH for Mercy and Protection.
AH
I dislike the theory of Mr. president that he was in Tour de Europa for helping the people in home. mr. president can appeal for international helf from home and make a trip to flood affected area which can boost the hope of affected people. Travelling with family in europe and making smile and shaking hand with “Firringhi” leader of west in front of camera, is just a SLAP to common men of Pakistan mostly to those unlucky people who lost everything in this megadisastar…. hmmmm…..importantly showed the rest of the world about the loyality of countries leadershis towards the own people
DAILY TIMES
August 12, 2010
Floods and Kalabagh Dam
Sir: I can recall Prime Minister (PM) Gilani’s first speech in parliament, when he categorically rejected the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. Later, it was
observed that he appeared very political about the subject. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also refused to reject the scheme. Now PM Gilani has come up with an even more
surprising stance that the destruction caused by the floods could have been averted had the dam been in place.
It is baffling to see that the PM thinks
that the amount of floodwater is just six million acre feet (MAF), which is the capacity of the Kalabagh Dam. The volume of floodwater runs up to 1.2 million
cusecs (more than 100 MAF). What does PM Gilani propose for the rest of the 94 MAF of water? Moreover, the disaster would have aggravated if the water had
flown upstream due to the dam on the Indus River.
In addition, to collect water from a flood (which is a rare occurrence in Pakistan), the country’s leadership
is prepared to destroy the Indus delta permanently. I humbly request the PM to avoid making such statements in public that perplex the people rather than
giving them courage to face the calamity.
MUNAWAR HASSAN
Islamabad
I know Pakistan needs secure military. Time prompt irrigation
systems along. Water treatment plants: no there available. The
governments have continue to ignore this. No there was drought 3yrs ago. Cycle yes more rain which nature element.
Disappointed upon, insufficient nature of Zardari. Angers me
making Pakistan look poverty and uneconomic. No time stop
the political vacuum which. Steals for all of us PPP what have to
say for. The blight of Pakistan decry were poor nation. No correct this make us sufficient able to stop. The next rains just
importance. Zardari wealth angers me as many whom. Robbed
Pakistan including Zia his son owns homes in France and Qatar.
Just honor the Quran assist your fellow brother. We seek a strong Pakistan the present. Horrible reality of corruption!