CONSTRUCTION COST PER SQ FT AT DERA ISMAIL KHAN

HI
friends, I was wondering and surfing net in search of any clue about construction cost per sq ft at Dera Ismail Khan but could not find anything. Now I plan to update you on monthly basis on this aspect, so that if u need to search it, you find it here.

WHY HAMID MIR IS USING THE INNOCENT AND BEAUTIFUL MALALA YUSAFZAI FOR HIS HIDDEN MOTIVES

Great to see Malala Yousafzai, a 14 year old Pushtun girl from the war torn Swat valley, being nominated for the prestigious international Peace award. Malala Yousafzai is the first Pakistani child who has been nominated for the Peace award on Universal children’s day, albeit she could not win it and this year, a child Michaela Mycroft (17) from South Africa, was rewarded with the Children's Peace Prize.
http://paktribune.com/news/Swat-girl-falls-short-of-getting-world-peace-prize-245347.html
  But it is really heart-wrenching that the hostile hawks in Pakistani media, with hidden motives, have already started using this innocent girl for projecting their own assigned-tasks in reward for huge amounts of dollars. It was really disgusting to see Hamid Mir, anchor of a famous talk show(  Capital Talk ) in Geo News, using her in projecting his new assigned-task of projecting SOFT IMAGE OF UNITED STATES and CHANGING PERCEPTION ABOUT AMERICA. After critically analyzing his last few programs, one can easily make out, what the AGENT is up-to. In his show (regarded as soap opera in Pakistan as it shows the real faces of Pakistani politicians - howling at each others, leaving behind all the norms of a civilized society at their splendid houses and big bullet-proof cars and with the highly-paid host busy in playing a catalytic role - passing cynical smiles after making them fight) 0n 24 November 2011, Hamid Mir interviewed Malala Yusafzai. He asked her about her favourie personalities in politics and alongwith Benazir Bhutto, she also, surprisingly, took the name of US President B.H.Obama but she gave very confused statement and could not support her idea of liking him. Anybody could have easily guessed that she was given a pre-orchestrated script, as the program was telecasted LIVE.   The moment, she took his name and finished conversation, the anchor showed a Fox News video clip showing US president bowing in respect to Saudi King while meeting him.

 Fox News being extreme anti-Obama, criticized him for doing so and said that B.H.Obama is bowing to a Muslim Leader and presenting an image to the Islamic World that he is subservient to them. The presenter went on to say that President Obama "wants them (  the Muslim) to like us and the Muslim world may think that they are winning because of terrorism, that we are a little coward". Albeit, the video was made by Fox News to malign Obama but they were unaware of the fact that this video, if played in Islamic World will completely send an altogether different signal and will considerably increase Obama's ratings. One of the guest on the program, Brigitti Gabriel, on asking about what signal did it send to the Muslim World, said,"It sends the message that Islam is superior to any other master or King or President in the World. That an American President bows to a Muslim King, it also sent a message that terrorism and Jehadism is giving Islam, the respect it should have on the World's stage, to the point that it made an American President, for the first time in history, bow to a Muslim King - something he did not do few days ago in England (to British Queen)".
          Now my simple question is that how did Hamid Mir predicted that Malala is going to take the name of B.H.Obama and then he will be required to jump into the foray, in order to rescue her by showing the softer image of Obama to the Pakistanis by telling them, "Hey-listen, he is not that bad-a-guy, after all he bowed to the Saudi King". Insiders, who has some know-how of how the murkey games in the intelligence world are played, how any form of propaganda is slowly and un-noticeably infused into novice minds and how opinions are formed, can easily guess the now-a-days-mission at Hamid Mir's hands. He has conducted two earlier programs of Us ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, and gave him full opportunity of putting forward American point of view on different burning issues. Claiming to be a big advocate of STOPPING DRONE ATTACKS ON INNOCENT PASHTUNS, he, to everybody's surprise did not ponder on the issue and easily let him evade the question without stating anything clearly.

         But one could not have imagined that he would go to such an extent in his quest for changing Pakistani public perspective about America - his new assigned-task, by using an innocent and novice girl, who has just become a source of pride for the beleaguered Pashtun Nation.                      

DID “WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS” BACKFIRED?

            It was a cool summer night, the gentle breeze blowing across the rugged valley - producing whimsical sounds, the argues-eyed sentries standing so vigilant in their trenches that a slightest shift of a straw in the wind catches their attention; the valley was fast asleep, I was sitting in the open air reading a book, enjoying the scenic valley covered in pitch dark night, listening to ‘RADIO APP KI DUNYA; reminiscing about the pleasant memories of the past and weaving plans for the days when I will be out of this valley. Suddenly the surroundings were tremored and the dreadful silence torn apart by a thunderclap. I jumped over with bated breath, grabbed my rifle and started returning the fire. Miscreants had attacked the camp. Heavy exchange of fire started, bullets’ sound reverberating against the dark mountains and tracer bullets were making wonderful waves in the dark. This exchange continued for about half an hour before the miscreants’ attack was repulsed. The valiant soldiers had made them pay for their mistake of attacking us and they fled with their tales inside their legs. Such were the twists and turns of the chequered life in Waziristan, that in just a fraction of a second, a peaceful night was turned into a violent thunderstorm. It was a lifetime experience and one realizes that inspite of how well one is trained, how brave one considers himself, still live fire falls very heavily on nerves.

            The times were intense and we were at loggerheads with the bellicose miscreants in Waziristan. To keep the morale of sentries high at posts, all and sundry used to remain awake throughout the night and only sleep during daytime. At night our posts located on top of the ridge, under the command of finest JCOs, used to observe the area; thanks to the Sophie Night Sights which convert the pitch dark night into a bright day.

            So much has been written about the subject that it has become talk of the town. But one aspect, which hitherto remained neglected - the purpose of our entering the lawless region of Waziristan. During scribe’s stay there, this inquisitive question was often asked by troops, “what is the purpose of our coming here?” The regurgitated answer used to be, “Winning the Hearts & Minds of the people” as this was the so called aim of Operation Al – Mizan.

            Aim or motive, as we all know, is the basis of any mission or operation; unless one does not have a clear aim in mind, there are all the likely chances that he will go astray. The biggest problem that we initially faced was the lack of aim since we were having no single aim of our presence there. To make the argument a bit clearer, a quick recap of the concatenation of events is given in the ensuing lines, since this scribe got the chance to be there at the start of operation Al-Mizan.

            Army entered the region without having much knowledge of the area, their customs or the understanding of the psyche of Wazirs / Mehsuds - the inhabitants of this difficult mountainous abode. Army entered with the logo of compensating the injustices committed to this area since independence and for bringing a new way of life for these valiant people, who had become a victim of British era’s draconian laws. Army did not let the grass grow under their feet and worked on improving the lives of the local people. Building roads, eliminating ghost schools, establishing free medical camps, providing free medical facilities, sending the local children for free of cast education to the finest schools / colleges throughout the country was the hallmark of Army’s stay for the first few years. Sports competitions and other activities used to be held - where we used to distribute free sports kits to the locals and were partially successful in making them play cricket, volleyball and even some other games, which hitherto were alien activities for most of them. Frequent Medical Camps were established at different locations where costly medicines were distributed, albeit they used to sell these medicines to the local medical stores. Army was indeed working on long term motives but civil population was not patient enough to see these projects being carried out and bring them some happiness in the future.

Work on construction of roads and tracks was immediately started in which hundreds of kilometers of roads were constructed, tube wells bored to give them easy access to clean drinking water, which so far was a distant dream for most of them. These were some of the major projects for the poor and down trodden, which were in need of relief and who were pacific and abnegated violence. Soon Army found a special place in their hearts and people started praising Pakistan Army because they were deprived of their basic needs for centuries and Army tried to provide them some ray of hope. Army’s main focus was on the well-being of their younger generation, so that they may be able to compete with rest of the country and should guide their region towards the path of prosperity. Soon the locals intermingled with the Army.

            At the same time we did few agreements with the militants, so that they should not hamper our efforts and moreover should not give refuge to the fleeing foreign militants, which were coming from Afghanistan in the wake of US attack. While Army was busy in trying to win the hearts and minds of the local population, the militants were having different plans. Our strategy was not that multidimensional vis-à-vis militants, who had a profound one against us. We played a waiting game, sew the seeds of winning over hearts and waited to let the coin spin in our favour, but as ill luck would have it, it went the other way.

            Initially the Army enjoyed cordial relations with civil populace, but the militants adopted a strategy of isolating Army by threatening locals on interacting with us. Locals used to visit our camps for medical help and to get the high quality medicines (Special medicines are allotted for FATA). Once a sick septuagenarian man visited our camp for treatment. All his age and experience was inscribed in deeply etched lines mapping his face, as witness to the quirks of fate of this region. The poor man had to adopt a secret route to reach the camp; as Taliban, after his earlier visit, had warned him not to visit Army in future, otherwise he will have to carry out a suicide attack as repercussion for disobeying orders.

            A principal of a local public school, the only proper functional school in Barwand area, was brutally murdered and his bullet ridden body that took more than hundred bullets was trampled by vehicles. The innocent man was brutally murdered for he was loyal to his area and to his country, whose sole aim was to give better education to the children of his area. They made him an example for the people and warned them of meeting the same fate for maintaining any kind of contact with the Army. Shopkeepers were frightened of dire consequences for selling anything to us and in the process we were slowly but surely being restricted to our camps and were unable to roam around or interact with the people. We had lost support of the people and they stopped visiting us because they were barred from maintaining any kind of contact with us. Locals realized that we will not be able to save them from these brutal terrorists as we were not the permanent ones and were to be replaced some day by our new colleagues.

            It is pertinent to mention here that the dilemma of Pashtuns and specially of the bellicose people of FATA is that; power grows from the barrel of the gun, respect can only be earned if one is at power with them, hearts and minds can only be won, if one is offensive and powerful, they do not have firm belief in policies and politics. If for a moment one goes on the back-foot, they would not hesitate to inflict a big blow on him. People there only respect the powerful, the one who can compete with them or the one whom they think has the capacity to harm them. Unfortunately we could not understand this in time and hence could not nip the evil in the bud. Under the garb of a Peace Pact with Army, the now slain militant leader Baitullah Mehsud organized himself by recruiting new young militants, trained them in far flung areas, aided and abetted Foreign Militants and after realizing that he has enough power to muster his resources and compete with the Army, he backed away from his promise and emerged as the Supreme Commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

            One of the biggest factor in a series of factors that helped him in recruiting a huge number of enthusiastic teenagers was joblessness in the area. The only easy and accessible jobs available for the ignoramus youth of Waziristan were to recruit themselves as militants. This lucrative job was offering them the two biggest incentives needed by a human being to survive– Money to keep their body and soul together and Power to settle their personnel / family scores with rivals. The most easy and rewarding job without the least qualification.

            TTP spread its influence like a jungle fire after almost capturing the entire FATA, they took over the scenic valley of Swat as well with the help of like minded criminals. When the militants were within an ace of capturing other settled areas of NWFP, luckily Army realized and streamlined our aim which hitherto was only “Winning the Hearts and Minds”. We changed our approach from defensive to offensive and corrected our aim of first crushing these militants and saving the innocent people from the clutches of these tyrants and then again start the welfare of people. Army rendered great sacrifices in shape of men and material, which gave civil populace a great surety and hope and the Army has won their support again.

            To conclude, one can say that albeit the aim has not changed but it has been prioritized in the right direction and now inshallah Army will emerge victorious in this prolong and protracted battle.

            May The Almighty save our country and Army from all kinds of intrigues and menaces, Ameen.

AT THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES SARGODHA - PART I

After, enjoying the sound sleep session of the chilly morning of Saturday, going through the newspaper and getting tense by the deepening divide between Islam and the West and the rapid growth of Islamophobia in the West, while having breakfast, I decide to go out for a drive. Leaving the neatly maintained road side lawns, negotiating the dragon teeth and other obstacles erected at the checkpoint, passing through the dusty road - littered by heavy traffic including animal carts that are devoid of even the slightest of road sense, headlights or horn, avoiding few close scratch encounters with CHINGCHEES filled with passengers, I reached a shopping mall, Al-Rehman Plaza. The mall is one of the few signs of Sargodha’s booming economy - fuelled by fertile lands, specially orange farms that produces one of the best and juiciest oranges in the world. A well furnished and brightly lit Mall, which can compete with any other shopping malls in the more developed cities or provincial capitals of Pakistan and hitherto, the only place where affluent people of Sargodha can shop to show their wealth and without getting through the horrors of GOL CHOK (Round), the centre of bazaar and probably the city, where one has to face the horrors of dust and smoke which do noit take a while to suffocate you. There is a Banquet Hall under ground, where usually marriage ceremonies take place. As I reached there, a marriage ceremony was about to get started, I just stopped on the balcony and started watching it, to get to know the culture of the area. The bridegroom, in an affluent SHERWANI and KULLA (sort of turban), looked terribly sedate and very confused, with a very flat face, devoid of expressions- probably was advised by somebody not to smile as one has to remain serious on his own wedding. The main attraction which forced me to become an onlooker, was indeed the DHOL, which was a bit different with more shrilling sound vis-à-vis the one used on our side (D.I.Khan and surroundings), which has a more thumping sound. There was an enthusiastic CHACHA (the word we normally used for an elderly man in a sign of respect to him) in his early fifties - getting wild to the beat of the DHOL and was in a state of euphoria – has added to the amazement of the crowd, he probably was making room for the lavish WALIMA and the poor chicken’s pieces awaiting him. Few other youngsters - dressed in a combination suit of really bright colours, wearing strange ties, the designing of which would have made even designers like ARMAIN and GUCCI proud - jumped into the fray in an attempt to overshadow the energetic CHACHA. They shook like they have been hit by a tremor of a magnitude as strong as 8 on the rector scale, and even Michael Jackson would have copied their moves, if he would have been alive and fortunate enough to watch them. There were no signs of ATTANR (the traditional Pashtun dance) or DREES (as we call it in Sarikee) or LUDDEE (Punjabi Dance), probably meant that Sargodha is lacking any kind of traditional dance or they might have abandoned it in the quest of modernity. Relatives donning in new suits, continuously combing their hairs, were posing in front of the continuous video coverage by two paid camera-men, and also giving WAILS (the five or ten rupee notes kept at the head of the person being WAILED and given to the persons beating the DHOLS, commonly known as MIRASEES, as a kind of SADKA for that individual - I am not aware of any English word for it because the English-speaking people might not practice this and are yet to devise something for this practice) at a time when the camera is focused on them, in order to make every penny worth and recorded in wedding movie.

            One of the noticeable and worrying thing was the clear signs of encroaching Western as well as Extremist Culture that has engulfed our society. Western Culture is infused by the advent of modern fast communication means like internet and cable TV whereas Extremist Culture through our quest to lead Muslim Ummah and in the quest of Strategic Depth inspite of being a Nuclear State. Although Sargodha is situated in the central plains and is at the crossroads of Pashtun-Saraikee (a mix of both cultures prevalent in D.I.Khan and Mianwali) and Pujabi Cultures (it is a kind of mix of all these owing to its location) but as ill luck would have it, it is also getting plagued by both the Western as well as Extremist Cultures and is loosing its own peculiar identity. The dressing of the men and boys in the marriage ceremony was a clear reflection of the transformation of villagers into a more, so called, modern society of paint and tie, albeit the conversion was still at a very novice stage, the fact highlighted by the horrendous bright colours of their suits. May be it was a mix of new Punjabi and Western Culture and we may term it as Punj-West Culture.

            On a Barber shop inside the mall, a notice in Urdu pasted saying, “DARHI BARHAO, MUNCHHAIN KATTAO- SORRY, YAHAN SHAVE NAHIN KARWAEE JATEE” (Grow beard and shave your moustaches, sorry, we do not offer shave services here). Albeit it is indeed the teachings of Islam and there is absolutely nothing wrong in it but notices like these are a reflection of growing extremism in our society at the hands of extremists- hell bent on coercing people to their strict interpretation of Islam. Although here the case was a bit different, the barber in the shop was himself having a beard so might not have been threatened by somebody to erect such kind of notice.

            The moment the BARAT entered the wedding hall, I decided to leave and to avoid plunging again into boredom, decided to post today’s learning on my BLOG. Inhabitants of Sargodha might feel offended by some of it (I hope they will not) but it was just from an outsider’s eye, to whom the culture was kind of alien.

            I will be terribly greatful if somebody puts me right on anything that has been unintentionally misquoted or to add something to it. Have offeres ASAR and MAGHREB prayers here in the mosque and now leaving………..ALLAH HAFEZ & TAKE CARE.

               

THE RUTHLESS GRINDING OF HAPLESS PASHTUNS

The ruthless bombing of innocent Pashtuns in Mohmand Agency, killing 105 people and injuring another 100 is a stark reminder of the plight of innocent civilian Pashtuns, being grinded by the ongoing battle between of wrenching control between State and Talibans. The attack was aimed at a Jirga of Utmankhel tribe that was underway in the Assistant Political Agent’s office, to chalk out a strategy to counter Taliban and plan to restore peace in the region. Taliban, claiming responsibility for the attack, told journalists of telephone that it was aimed at the Jirga of Utmankhel Tribe, which has formed a Local Lashkar to fight them in the area.

            The innocent Pashtuns are between the devil and the deep sea. Today, 23 million Pashtuns live on the Afghan side of the border, while 12 million live in Pakistan, divided by Durand Line – a haphazardly line drawn by Henry Mortimer Durand in 1893, in the wake of Britain’s fears that the Afghans' fight for independence could inspire others. This present misery of Pashtuns started with US’ post 9/11 invasion of Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Government at the time, led by General Musharraf sided with US and Army entered the Tribal areas to eliminate Talibans - escaping from US invasion. Musharraf played a double game with the US and did not want to eliminate Talibans. The intention was to keep them as a strategic weapon for future use in post America’s Afghanistan, to prevent the formation of a pro-Indian government in Afghanistan and to keep the quest of, so called strategic depth, alive. Talibans were given breathing space in the garb of peace pact and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was formed under the aegis of, now slain TTP leader, Baitullah Mehsud. It expanded its influence and control to whole of the FATA, adjoining settled areas of Bannu, D.I.Khan and other settled districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah including the picturesque valley of Swat – the tourist’s heaven in Pakistan. In all this build up, the biggest sufferers were the innocent Pashtuns, who had to live under the tyrant clutches of rapacious and malevolent Taliban and to unwillingly adhere to their version of Islam. All kinds of entertainments and music were banned, including the centuries old tradition of ATTANR - a traditional Pashtun dance to a peculiar beat of DHOL (drum), celebrated in marriage ceremonies and other joyous occasions. Scores of Innocent people, both influential and those who opposed them, were slaughtered mercilessly in the process of firming their hold on the region. The government and security establishment were mere spectators in this ghastly game played with innocent Pashtuns and the situation worsened to the extent that in Kulachi, a town of Southern district of Dera Ismail Khan, the police used to tell locals to register their complaints with the Talibans, as they are helpless and can not support them. Locals were alienated after realizing that the security apparatus is paralysed and can not protect them, so they have to unwillingly side with the Talibans to survive in the area. Every clan and family has to recruit few persons in this militant outfit in order to settle their personal scores with rivals and to survive respectfully. It is pertinent to mention here that the dilemma of Pashtun Culture is that power grows out of the barrel of the gun - respect can only be earned and preserved if one is powerful. Taliban established a proper command and control structure, down to section level, in every city and village. These militants were so glorified that their commanders used to receive red-carpet treatment and became icons and role models for the mostly ignoramus Pashtun teenagers. Lists of their recruits were issued to Police Stations for not meddling with them (Police stations are only in the settled districts of Pakistan). Flocks of teenagers were railroaded by these fiendishly clever tactics to join their ranks and were brain washed to become deadly suicide bombers.

            The tides suddenly turned with the ouster of Gen Musharraf and at last the Army and the Government realized that the Frankenstein is getting out of control.  But it was too late. Now the innocent local population has a new dilemma at hands, coping up with wrath of Fighter-Bombers, Helicopter-Gunships and heavy Artillery. Since most of the local populace disliked Talibans and their activities, they welcomed the Security Forces with open arms. But they were unaware of the horrors of so called ‘cumulative damage’. Army launched a number of operations across FATA and Swat and succeeded to an extent in flushing out the militants to other adjoining areas.

The operations have left the areas in tatters. Rustam Shah Mohmand - a former ambassador of Pakistan and an expert on tribal areas – described the devastation” could not be more heartbreaking”. He paints the devastating picture of the area from one end to the other;” the whole tribal area presents the spectacle of a war zone. Houses blown up, villages decimated, infrastructure no more. Vast swaths of territories are in ruins. Whole villages in Buner have disappeared. Matta and the adjoining areas in Swat present a picture of a powerful cyclone having devastated the whole area. Between Khar and Nawagai, in what once was a most fertile area, villages on both sides of the road have been razed to the ground. Many of the returning IDPs of Bajaur and Dir could not determine where their villages had once stood, to say nothing of their homes. They had to make return journeys to their camps.”

Situation is worse in Orakzai, once a most peaceful area, which has become a latest battle zone and bears the wrath of aerial bombing on daily basis. With tens of thousands of people having left, life has come to a standstill there. The relentless punishment, indiscriminate and merciless, continues with no regard to its horrendous implications. Waziristan, the birth place of ongoing conflict, is no different from the rest. Institutions are shut, public services suspended. Bombing by helicopter-gunships is commonplace. As a matter of fact, it's surprising if, on a particular day, bombs are not dropped and shells not fired. As elsewhere, it is innocent civilians, including women and children, who bear the brunt. Life has almost come to a stop across the tribal area, and parts of Malakand and Dir.

The question is, who to blame for all this mess that has engulfed the whole Pashtun region? Can the Security Forces be blamed? Perhaps the answer is negative, as far as the Field Commanders and foot soldiers fighting on the ground are concerned. ‘Fighting in Built Up Area’ (FIBUA) and that too in own territory instead of enemy’s, is the most difficult of the operation; the troops have to undertake the cleansing operation of the terrorists hiding in the midst of local population. Problems like, friend and foe identification, restricted rules of engagement, difficulty of command and control, unfamiliarity of the area and its alleys, restricted observation and field of fire, difficulty in determining the exact direction of hostile fire and a never ending list of allied problems adds to the complexity of these operations. Once this operation has to be undertaken, it has these inherent problems of cumulative damage.

These innocent Pashtuns have no where to go - they are trapped in this cross fire. They are being grinded by the different policies of Musharraf and the present government. Government and Security Establishment – largely responsible for the growth of militancy in the area – are persuading local elders to form Lashkars against militants. Local residents have responded to these calls by the government and formed a number of Lashkars to fight militants in these areas but these were mercilessly attacked and killed. In February 2008, eight pro-government tribal elders were killed in NWA. In March, the same year, 42 Tribal elders lost their lives to a suicide attack in Darra Adam Khel, close to Peshawar. In October 2008, 136 people sacrificed their lives in Orakzai, when a suicide bomber blew his explosive laden vehicle in the midst of an Anti-Militant Tribal Lashkar. In Bajuar, a Jirga of Salarzai tribe was targeted by suicide bomber in November 2008, killing 22 Tribal elders. On 5 January 2009, 114 people were killed in a suicide attack in Shah Hassan Khel, Lakki Marwat, attack was also aimed at a pro-government Jirga. These are some of the major incidents out of scores of suicide attacks. Hundreds of pro-government locals have been killed for siding with the government and opposing militants across whole of the Pashtun belt. The Security Forces and Government have miserably failed to protect these brave volunteers from the wrath of tyrants.

On the other hand, refusal to government order of joining these Jirgas and Lashkars result in imprisonment and meting out of other harsh punishments. One of the newspaper, quoted Toor Khan – a tribal elder from Mohmand Agency, whose house in Peshawar was attacked by an IED – as saying that his cousin Malik Chandan Khan, an elder of Mohmand Agency, is in the custody of Political Administration for refusing to return to his village, Manzari Cheena, and for attending a Jirga to devise strategy against Taliban. He also revealed that 16 other Elders of the area are also imprisoned as they were not ready to return to their homes in prevailing circumstances and joining the Jirga. 

            Innocent Pashtuns are now weary of burying the dead and treating the wounded. They are being used as scapegoats between the ghastly game played by ISI, RAW, CIA and with backstage performance of other state and non state actors. Now this brave and ancient race is at the crossroad of death and disgrace and is looking for some heavenly help to pull it out of this quagmire.