Islamabad horrific suicide bombing

Pakistan mourns its history’s worst-ever horrendous suicide bombing deep inside the highly protected Blue Area of its citadel of power, the federal capital, Islamabad.

The suicide bomber skillfully timing the deadliest attack chose just after the Iftar time, when he rammed a truck laden with hundreds of kilograms of high-quality explosives into the entrance of the Hotel Marriott, turning the last Iftari of the faithful at the hotel into a nightmare, as the blast rocking entire Islamabad completely devastated the six-storey hotel, leaving over 50 dead and 257 persons injured besides scores of vehicles charred and buildings in the vicinity of two kilometers damaged. The analysts with one voice declared that the perpetrators of such dastardly acts taking innocent lives in the holy month of Ramazan could never be called Muslim.

Do you think that by making foolproof security arrangements, this suicide attack could have been averted? How true is the official claim of this suicide bombing not the result of any security lapse? What are the motives behind these suicide attacks? What in your opinion basically triggers these suicides attacks? What immediate actions the government should take for combating suicide bombings?

Let us know your valuable views, please.

U.S. Elections 2008

White House hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama clashed once again on combating terrorism on the Pak-Afghan border in their second of three debates.

Democrat Obama, replying to a question from an audience, said, “If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act and we will take them out.”

“We will kill bin Laden,” vowed the Illinois senator. “We will crush Al-Qaeda, that has to be our biggest national security priority.” In response, his Republican rival McCain said Obama had “announced that he will attack Pakistan.” Quoting early 20th Century US president Theodore Roosevelt, McCain said the commander-in-chief should “talk softly, but carry a big stick.” “Senator Obama likes to talk aloud,” said McCain, arguing Obama’s strategy would gain no allies in Pakistan. A cross border attack would instead rally Pakistani public opinion against the United States, he said. “We need to get them to work with us and turn against the Taliban and others.”

In response, Obama noted that McCain had once sang a ditty at a campaign meeting with the words “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” and charged that the Republican had also “called for the annihilation of North Korea.” “That is not an example of speaking softly,” said Obama. “We have a difficult situation in Pakistan. I believe that part of the reason we have a difficult situation is because we made a bad judgment going into Iraq in the first place when we hadn’t finished the job of hunting down bin Laden and crushing al-Qaeda.

“So what happened was we got distracted, we diverted resources, and ultimately bin Laden escaped.” He said the terrorists were now raiding American troops in Afghanistan and were stronger now than at any time since 2001.

“And that’s why I think it’s so important for us to reverse course, because that’s the central front on terrorism. They are plotting to kill Americans right now. As Robert Gates, the defence secretary, said, the war against terrorism began in that region and that’s where it will end.” He argued “part of the reason it’s so important for us to end the war in Iraq is to be able to get more troops into Afghanistan.

“But I do believe that we have to change our policies with Pakistan. We can’t coddle, as we did, a dictator, give him billions of dollars and then he’s making peace treaties with the Taliban and militants. What I’ve said is we’re going to encourage democracy in Pakistan, expand our non-military aid to Pakistan so that they have more of a stake in working with us, but insisting that they go after these militants.”

We would welcome your comments or opinion about U.S. Presidential Elections 2008. What impact will this election have on global politics? Do you think that ongoing war on terror could decide the future course of U.S. foreign policy? The US is presently squeezed by a grim economic crisis, will it affect Presidential polls? Is it Obama v. McCain war and who is going to win the election?

Government announces Ramzan Relief Package!

Government has announced that a subsidy of Rs. 1.70 billion will be provided to people under the Ramazan Package.

Giving details of the package, Federal Minister for Finance, Naveed Qamar has said that package will provide subsidized commodities at Utility Stores across the country.

Effective from September 1, about 1300 items will be sold at a discount ranging between 5 to 10 percent.

In addition to these, the government will be providing special relief on basic commodities such as flour and ghee, which will be sold at Rs 15 and Rs 110 per kilogram.

Qamar said Utility Stores would remain open with extended hours throughout the month, including holidays.

He also said that government has come up with targeted consumer monitoring measures to check hoarding and any potential misuse of the package during the holy month.

Don’t you think that government should provide subsidy on more essential items? Will the government be able to take effective measures to control rising prices of essential items in the wake of approaching month of Ramzan?

We welcome your comments and suggestions!

Pakistan atomic program is getting controversial?

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan has said centrifuges were sent to North Korea in 2000. Dr. Khan said, “Any question regarding this should be put to President Musharraf and demanded to form a national commission to investigate the allegations leveled against him.” He made these remarks in a meeting with his lawyer Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffery who called on him at his residence. Dr. A.Q. Khan said he has been kept under illegal detention. He further said he was given a pre-written statement and asked to read it out on television with an assurance that this would correct everything. “However, no such thing happened and now I will not stay silent anymore.” The nuclear scientist termed the statement of Director General, Strategic Plans Division a bundle of lies. “I did not reveal anything new but repeated all that was written in president Musharraf’s own book.” Dr. Qadeer said he was not well and would not talk to media anymore. Question is: Whose statement is true and whose false? Being a highly sensitive issue as it is, don’t you think discussing this issue would have implications on the country’s politics as well as its relations with outside world? Is the atomic programme becoming controversial? We will appreciate your opinion.

Price of petroleum products increased in Pakistan

The prices of petroleum products – Petrol, HOBC, CNG and Light Diesel – have once again been increased in Pakistan.

The price of petrol has been enhanced to Rs. 75.69, Diesel Rs. 55.15 and Kerosene Oil to Rs. 49.73, while consumers will have to pay additional Rs. 13 for CNG. The increased prices could have adverse impact on national economy and affect not only common man but traders and transporters also.

If prices of petroleum products continue to surge, the era, when horse carriages and carts were used, could come back.

We would like to have your say; will current oil price-hike have any adverse impacts on prices of basic food items? We would like to hear from you on this vital issue.

AD NEWS PAKISTAN – Voice Of New Generation

Power saving strategy announced

 The federal cabinet has decided that all major commercial centres and shopping plazas would be closed at 9 pm from June 1 to the end of August to help overcome the problem of load-shedding.

The cabinet also revived the policy to advance the watches by one hour for three months from June 1 to take advantage of the daylight. The industrial units were being asked to stagger their weekly holidays while shops would be encouraged to have weekly holiday on Friday instead of Sunday.

The cabinet also decided that air conditioners in all the government offices would remain off from 8.00 am to 11.00 am. Wapda would not provide electricity for neon signs.
Do you think these steps would help in saving the electricity? How these power saving steps would affect business and trade activities? Write your comments.