Bits and Pieces

my ramblings on technology, politics and life...

آو ہم سب، ایک ہو جائیں

۶۰ کا عشرہ پاکستان کی تاریخ کا سنہرا دور تھا کہ جب یہاں صنعتی انقلاب اپنے عروج پر تھا، وطنِ عزیز کو آج بھی وسائل اور با صلاحیت لوگوں کی کمی نہیں، بس ہم کو پھرسے اسے اپنی چاہتوں اور کامیابیوں کا محور بنانے کی ضرورت ہے۔ حکمراں تو خیر سب کے سب بکے ہوئے ہیں اور وہ اس سر زمیں کو انجانے میں نہیں بلکہ دانستہ اندھیروں میں دھکیل رہے ہیں کہ ان کو اسی کام کی اجرت ملتی ہے، ہم میں سے بھی مگر کتنے ہیں جو پاکستانی ہونے پر فخر کرتے ہیں؟

چاند تاروں سے سجی،
میری سوچوں سے حسیں،
سچے خوابوں کی زمیں،
تیری میری سرزمیں۔

Fail: DIB's site only works in IE

just got off the phone with Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) support and they so conveniently tell me to use IE to use their Internet Banking (http://www.dibpak.com). The only trouble is, I am on a mac and wouldn't use IE even if I was on windows. How long would it take for the gentlemen running these institutions (Banks, FBR, etc) to understand that their beloved IE is dead, specially IE6 which even MS doesn't recommend anymore? perhaps never!

Finally Some Spine - Gen Kayani slams US allegations

from The Nation
Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani categorically ruled out the allegations of White House and Pentagon leveled against Pakistan and its main premier intelligence agency – Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) – supporting Haqqani network. Military Chief rejected the statement of US Joint Chief of Staff Committee Admiral Mike Mullen in which he had stated that Pakistan was supporting Haqqani Network for militancy in Afghanistan. He said Admiral Mike Mullen statement after positive talk in Spain was deplorable. Admiral Mullen allegations were baseless, General Kiyani said, adding that, Mullen knows very well that how many countries have links with Haqqani network. Nothing would be gotten by blaming Pakistan, he stated.

Glad the COAS is finally showing some signs that he serves Pakistan. Also, US government's lunacy baffles me, they are such hypocrites. I was watching Rambo 3 the other day and it was so proudly dedicated to The Gallant People of Afghanistan. Now they are fighting the same gallant Afghans and since they can't beat them, they have chosen Pakistan to use as their shock absorber. This cartoon summarizes the issue very effectively:

Maxim_cartoon_33041

(taken from: The Nation's Daily Cartoon)

Dear US: Learn to admit your failures! Afghanistan has turned out to be a Vietnam for you and now you don't know how to escape it.

Feeling disgusted by BBC headline

Saw this (from my twitter feed) a bit earlier today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14998394

the headline says: "Death penalty for seven Pakistanis who killed teenagers"

notice how BBC is trying to highlight nationality of the convicted only. I have a few problems with that:

  • The headline feels odd, it could easily have been "Death penalty for seven who killed teenagers", it's short and comprehensive. Why was it so important to highlight the nationality of the convicted, thereby making all Pakistanis look like barbarians? Do criminals and terrorists have any faith/nationality/heritage? No, they don't.
  • If they were so hung up on mentioning the nationalities, why not appreciate the Pakistani court that upheld justice, something like "Death penalty by Pakistani court for seven who killed teenagers", that would have had a positive effect (for a change for BBC)
  • And if they still are totally in pain to mention the nationality of the convicted, then they should mention all nationalities, so the headline would have been "Death penalty by Pakistani Court for seven Pakistanis who killed Pakistani teenagers"
I am disgusted and hurt by this reporting standard. Pakistan desperately needs some positive portrayal, we Pakistanis have been trying hard to do that too, but the most international media take particular pleasure in negatively highlighting our faith and nationality. In fact, the problems in Pakistan are really not as bad as portrayed by some media companies like BBC.