Police Raids FAST-National University Lahore Campus

About 100+ Computers & Management Sciences Students alongwith Faculty Members of FAST-National University (including many Ph.D) started their peacfull protest against imposition of Emergency in Pakistan by Chief of Army Staff General (Retd.) Parvez Musharraf.

 But as soon as the protest started and students & faculty members started to gather near main entrance of a huge purpose built campus of the University, Police raided the University.

As per very latest from inside the campus, Police has entered inside the campus building and have so far arrested 3 students and deployed heavy numbers of sergeants inside and outside the University.

 FAST-National University of Computers & Emerging Sciences is the top notch CS University of Pakistan and is rated amongst the best in South Asia. Graduates of FAST-NUCES are working in Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Dell, Sun to name a few.

University Website : FAST National University of Computers & Emerging Sciences

Update – Coverage of Event by National & International Media

BBC Urdu Service

Protest in The News International

Covered by The Dawn

The Post

Daily Times

The world’s top 10 most liveable cities

What is your wild guess? Which cities are in your opinion would there be in your list of most liveable cities? Quality of Life & Quality of Living being the decisive criterion.

If you have any American City in your list? Stop making a list! quit the website. Thank you for your time.

Londoners, am sorry, your city could be beautiful to you but not to Monocle Magazine.

Parasites – Ooops, I mean Paris People, you must be living in one of the most fashionable city, city known for its many things & the city of Eiffel Towers – but sorry if you have your feelings hurt that your city is not in the list.

Here is the list with a lil introduction.

For complete survey with pictures Click Here

# 10 Madrid

Culturally, Madrid was long regarded as stuffy as compared to hip Barcelona. But it has undergone a renaissance. It now attracts more international theatre, dance & music, and will be seat of the new Royal Spanish Ballet.

# 9 Honolulu

The sport may live and breathe here on the southeastern coast of the island of Oahu, but Honolulu is no longer a far-flung destination for surfers and vacationers. Bridging the oceanic gap between California and Asia, Honolulu now fits the definition of a global city – a palm- fringed metropolis with a population as diverse as its flora.

# 8 Stockholm

There is something special about the cool, ordered, mature beauty of Stockholm. And beauty, for sure, is one of Stockholm’s trump cards: the beauty of its people, of its buildings, of its waters and parks. But there are other reasons for Stockholmers to be proud of their city.

# 7 Sydney

The perpetual blue sky, the harbour, the stunning beaches, the bushland humming with wildlife… Sydney’s natural beauty is relentless. The city bewitches its citizens, who react by prancing to the beach with a cappuccino or lounging in a café with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand. Sydney is showing off. Again.

# 6 Helsinki

Today, Helsinki is a western city. Over the past decade the European fashion chains have arrived, while smart bars have replaced the old beer cafés. However, the city retains a distinctly Finnish quality. The fashion, music, film and art scenes are blooming, and the Nordic welfare model guarantees a high quality of life for virtually everyone.

#5 Vienna

Mittel-European grandeur meets modernity in the new Vienna. The Austrian capital, famous for its rich cultural heritage, also has a progressive eco- friendly municipal government. Smart white and red trams cover 30 routes, and the metro is punctual, smooth and clean. 

#4 Tokyo

Integrated transport, breathtaking technology, great service and the best bars make this our top big city. The real Tokyo for the most part confounds expectations. Visitors are rarely prepared for the other side of the city, so unlike its raucous alter ego: the quietness of the subway, the peaceful residential streets, the old-fashionedness of the place 

#3 Zurich

In Zürich, small and perfectly formed has turned out to be both a blessing and a curse. Those who have never been there imagine this Swiss finance capital to be inhabited by grey men wearing ill-fitting suits, shuttling the world’s money around while living off fondue. Perhaps this was the case 20 years ago, but today it couldn’t be further from the truth

#2 Copenhagen

A new wave of Danish architects, designers and chefs, plus some joined-up thinking by city officials, has seen Copenhagen reborn to the extent that locals now refer to it as the gateway to mainland Europe.

and

# 1 Munich

After much tire-kicking, data-sifting and deliberation, Munich emerged as Monocle magazine’s most liveable city in the world. A winning combination of investment in infrastructure, high-quality housing, low crime, liberal politics, strong media and general feeling of Gemütlichkeit make it a city that should inspire others

Article can be accessed – International Herald Tribune

Dutch MP calls for a ban on Holy Quran

A Dutch member of parliament has called for the Quran to be banned in the Netherlands, describing it as a “fascist book” which calls on people to kill non-believers and rape women.
 
Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, called for the ban in a letter published in De Volkskrant newspaper.

In his letter, Wilders compares the Muslim holy book to Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler’s autobiography, and said the Quran has “no place in our constitutional state”.
 
“I have been saying this for years: there is no such thing as a moderate Islam,” Wilders wrote.
 
Wilders’ Freedom Party holds nine seats in the Netherlands’ 150 seat parliament.

Call for ban

Wilders also said several chapters in the Quran “call on Muslims to oppress, persecute or kill Christians, Jews, dissidents and non-believers, to beat and rape women and to establish an Islamic state by force”.

The publication of the letter comes after a weekend attack on Eshan Jami, a young Dutch politician, who established a group to support people who have renounced Islam.

Jami, who was not visibly injured in the attack, is now under police protection as is Wilders.

“Ban this wretched book like Mein Kampf is banned! Send a signal to Jami’s attackers and other Islamic radicals that the Quran cannot be used in the Netherlands as an inspiration or an excuse for violence,” Wilders said.

Wilders acknowledged that his plan would not receive majority support in the Dutch parliament.

“I am fed up with Islam in the Netherlands: no more Muslim immigrants allowed. I am fed up with the worship of Allah and Muhammad in the Netherlands: no more mosques,” his letter concluded.
Source: Al-Jazeera TV Network

Emergency to be Imposed in Pakistan?

Varoius media news, various information sources have suggested that Emergency shall be imposed in Pakistan mid-night today. Almost all newspapers of the country have reported the same.

Hereunder are a few headlines of leading newspapers:

Daily Jang : “If emergency isn’t successful, martial law shall be imposed”

Daily Nawa -e- Waqt: “Government in discussion with allies to impose Emergency”

Daily Express: “Emergency to be imposed – Presidential order is ready”

Daily Awaz: “Political orphans are asking for emergency for last 1 year – Emergency shall be challenged in Courts – Benazir Bhutto”

Daily Pakistan: “Emergency shall be imposed in the country today – Ch. Shujaat Hussain”

and the most interesting of all

Daily Times: President Musharraf is shown in Uniform in Headline and its written “My Dear Countrymen….”

 There are also news that US Secretary of State Ms. C. Rice called President Musharraf regarding the same for about 17 minutes early morning today around 2 AM Pakistan Standard Time.

 Source: Various Newspapers

M2 Motorway stuffed with expired stocks

A couple of days ago (04-August-2007), I alongwith my family, had to go to Islamabad from Lahore and then back on same day. I have always found journey on Motorway (M-II) a bit boring, dull and have never attracted me a great deal, rather I prefer to use GT Road. But due to some reasons, mainly to avoid jumps, jerks and to have a smooth journey we chose to travel via Motorway.

 As usual, people often stops at an eye catching, filled with natural beauty stop-over in Bhera, we also did the same. We bought newly launched Mirinda in Apple flavor from that restaurant – I felt the taste a bit awkward, a bit different from that to which I am used to in Lahore. Another family member also agreed that it looks a bit too different, all of a sudden when I looked at the expiry date, it read 16-Jul-2007. SHOCK!!

 We went to complain it to the restaurant manager, after examining it carefully (as if we were not supposed to report it to him) he replaced the bottles and asked the guy on duty to off-load all the stock in freezers. I thought that it was un-noticed and lack of quality control played a bit of role – hence didn’t feel much bothered.

On our way back, we stopped on the same spot but on the other side of the highway – my wife and sister bought a large bottle of mineral water made by PEPSI (Aquafina) – fortunately they didn’t open the seal and I went to their table as they had to go to get some snacks. I for no reason, just tried to check the expiry and it read 06-Jun-2007.

I got a bit angry and went to the manager that what is it going on here? In routine he went to the duty boy and checked other stock and they read the same expiry date. Instead of being sorry, he was behaving as they haven’t done nothing wrong. I asked for the replacement, they gave me the Nestle’s Pure Life, when I tried to read its expiry and manufacturing/botteled date, expiry, batch #  – nothing was there!

 Is there anyone who can report it to the concerned authorities? or is there anything which we can do in this regard? Is there any court where we can raise our voices? Is there any law that protects the consumer rights? Anything that can be done to stop this practise? They are charging as much as double than the market value and providing expired stocks, counterfeits. Instead of being sorry, they behave as they haven’t done anything wrong – buy or do not buy, that does not bother them at all!

CAS rejects WADA appeal over Pakistan Fast Bowling Duo

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: World sport’s highest tribunal has rejected an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency to reinstate a ban on Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Monday it has no jurisdiction to rule in the dispute between WADA and the Pakistan Cricket Board, which overturned Akhtar’s one-year ban and Asif’s two-year ban for doping.

The decision means the two fast bowlers can continue to compete in matches. They tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October.

CAS said it reached its conclusion “with some considerable regret.” The PCB’s statutes would have to contain a direct reference to the tribunal for it to be able to act in the case, CAS said.

With this decision – a chapter of doping has finally (hopefully) closed for Shoaib Akhter & Muhammad Asif – both bowlers missed ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in which Pakistan suffered a humiliating loss from cricket minnows Ireland, which followed the tragic death/murder of their coach late Bob Woolmer.

Courtesy: International Herald Tribune

Supreme Court Orders Abrar to Modify

As I feared at the time of Abrar’s new Album’s Launch that it will get a ban or will go into a controversy.

Supreme Court today has ordered Abrar ul Haq to modify the song and remove the words ‘Parveen‘ & ‘Namkeen‘. Court in its ordered has said that new generation listens keenly to Abrar’s Songs, so Abrar should be very careful with the wordings & lyrics using in his songs and he should produce songs which are positive in nature.

Pakistani Bloggers to be watched?

I, a while ago was checking blogstats. Came across a comment whose IP address said pie(.)net(.)pk. PIE is a state run authority to monitor cyber activities across Pakistan. On searching further, I came across following information.

IP Address belongs to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited.
Domain as mentioned earlier is pie(.)net(.)pk
City is Karachi
Region is Sindh
Country is Pakistan

I suspect that I am personally being very pessimist but as always, one should also consider darker side of things as well.

Yesterday, GEO News website was hacked by some persons and was filled with nasty and filthy remarks for President Parvez Musharraf.

Today, when I came back home after dropping my family members, I sat down with my father outside main door of my house on a cement bench, and started reading newspaper, like I do, almost daily. On the last page of Lahore’s Jang, I saw a news that Government has now decided to watch News Websites of Newspapers & TV Channels.

The same day, some one from Pakistan Internet Exchange has visited my blog – which for sure rings a bell. I don’t know but I am sensing something is going to happen to such blogs, websites which utter things that are not acceptable to our Government and sooner or later there is going to be a crack down on such bloggers, writers, hosts etc.

I again & again tried to go through my blog that I shouldn’t leave any contact information which can be traced to my location. Thanks to my company that I am not using Pakistan’s Internet Services so that I can not be tracked with IP address.

Is it just my fear or something is in the air?

Bomb Blast in Peshawar

BBC Reports a bomb blast in Provincial Capital of NWFP Peshawar’s Hotel Marhaba on Naz Cinema Road. Atleast 15 have died and severals are injured. Blast took place near centuries old mosque Masjid Mahabat Khan.

 Eye Witnesses say that more than dozens have injured. Naz Cinema Road is one of the most busiest economic center of Peshawar.

French News Agency has reported 17 casualities. AFP Reports that 6 are injured.

News Courtesy : BBC Urdu Service

Update 1

Atleast 24 are now confirmed dead and 30+ are injured.

Court News from Pakistan

News related to court matters gathered through various sources are below.

Petition against Parvez Elahi & Sheikh Rasheed submitted in Lahore High Court

A petition against Chaudhary Parvez Elahi (Chief Minister Punjab) and Sheikh Rasheed (Minister of Railways) has been filed in Lahore High Court. Both of them addressed a rally in Islamabad on 12-May-2007 and specifically targetted their voices against Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary. Supplicant has written in his petition that Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhar is still the Chief Justice of Pakistan and as per constitution no one is allowed to directly address Chief Justice of Pakistan.  Both Mr. Elahi & Mr. Rasheed have been accused of Contempt of Court.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani sworn in as Acting CJ of Sindh High Court

Senior Judge of Sindh High Court, Mr. Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani has been sworn in as Acting Chief Justice of Sindh High Court in Karachi. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, Mr. Justice Sabeeh ud Din Ahmed is on a foreign tour of 1 week.

Proceeding of Suo Moto Action of Hammad Raza’s Murder

Supreme Court of Pakistan, yesterday took suo moto action over murder of Mr. Hammad Raza, Additional Registrar of Supreme Court of Pakistan. Mr. Hammad Raza was killed in his home yesterday early morning.

Full Court Bench of Supreme Court to start its proceedings today

Full Court Bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan would start its proceedings on 23+ petitions filed against the filing of reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary. Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary is also amongst the persons who have filed such petition. President and Army Chief of Pakistan, General Parvez Musharraf sent this reference to Supreme Judicial Council on 9th March, 2007. Its pity that in our country – Chief Justice is asking for Justice and Chief of Army Staff is insecure. 

Some more news from Supreme Court of Pakistan

Full Court Bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan has upheld the stay order issued by a bench earlier constituted to halt Supreme Judicial Council. Full Court Bench has issued an order that unless there is a decision of CJP’s petition is announced – SJC is advised to stop its proceedings.

Supreme Court has also said that apex court itself is monitoring the investigations of the murder of Hammad Raza.

How do astronauts use toilets in space?

An interesting read sent to me by a colleague. I always thought that instead of taking normal food, astronauts/cosmonauts consume some sort of special food, may it be multivitamins et al.

Courtesy : BBC News

A tour of a space facility in the US apparently prompted Prince Philip to ask how astronauts deal with “natural functions” in space. So how exactly do they go to the toilet (or should that be the loo)?

It’s all to do with air flow. On earth, in the West at least, your standard toilet is a water-flush affair, that takes waste and washes it down a pipe.

The lack of gravity on the shuttle and the space station mean a water-flush system is not an option. You don’t need a particularly vivid imagination to see the potential problems.

Instead, on the shuttle, urine and faeces are carried away by rapid flow of air.

The unisex toilet resembles a conventional loo, but with straps over the feet and bars over the thighs to make sure that the astronauts don’t drift off mid-go. The seat is designed so the astronaut’s bottom can be perfectly flush to make a good seal.

The good news for fans of convenience is that, on the shuttle at least, urinating standing up is possible. A funnel-on-a-hose contraption is included so that astronauts – both male and female – can urinate standing up. Or sitting down if they prefer. They just attach it to the toilet using a pivoting bracket.

The system separates solid and liquid waste. Solids are compressed and remain on-board to be unloaded after landing. Liquids are released into space. Nasa hopes one day to recycle waste productively.

Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada have said such recycling will be key to tackling any future mission to Mars in order to feed the astronauts.

The air used in the space shuttle’s toilet system has to be filtered to get rid of the smell and bacteria before it is returned to the living area.

Incinerated waste

On the International Space Station, the fundamental principle is similar. The fan-powered air-flow toilet system stores waste. Urine is sucked up and stored in 20 litre containers which are dumped into the Progress resupply craft. The ship is later ejected into the atmosphere, where it burns up.

For solid waste, a plastic bag covered in holes is placed inside the toilet. Air is sucked through the holes so everything ends up in the bag. The elasticised top closes and the bag is pushed into a metal container. A new bag is popped in for the next visitor. Again the waste heads off to Progress.

Space toilets have come a long way. In the book The Right Stuff and its film adaptation, an astronaut on an early mission feels the need to urinate during a massively delayed take-off. With no facilities provided – and no adult nappies, as used today during take-off and landing – he is eventually allowed to urinate in his suit, causing his sensors to go haywire.

And Prince Philip is among good company in wondering how astronauts attend to their bodily functions.

A spokesman for Nasa confirms it is a question much asked by children and journalists alike.

Microsoft, Google Battle on

Received this in a daily e-newsletter.

Gartner: Microsoft after Google’s advertising jugular
[Linda Tucci, Senior News Writer]
ltucci(at)techtarget(dot)com

The battle between Microsoft and Google Inc. took a lively turn last
week, when reports surfaced and then were quickly batted down that
Microsoft was once again in merger talks with search firm Yahoo Inc.

Whether the discussions are happening or not, any doubts that
Microsoft — not Google — is the company on the offensive can be
dismissed, said David Mitchell Smith, an analyst at Gartner Inc. in
Stamford, Conn.

“Microsoft is clearly going after Google’s core business,
advertising,” Smith said. “Google is trying to distract Microsoft, so
a company with its resources can’t apply 100% of its focus on the
attack.”

The chatter in recent months has been that Google is going after
Microsoft where it hurts — in the realm of work. Last year’s
acquisition of Writely by Google shows that office applications –
albeit Web-based, free and available at the click of a mouse — are
of interest to the Mountain View, Calif.-based search engine firm.

Continue reading on Tech Target

Hammad Raza – Target Killing?

Widow of Hammad Raza, the deceased additional registrar of Supreme Court of Pakistan, has said that his husband is a victim of target killing by the state. Shabana Hammad told BBC that 2 persons entered their house in Sector G-10/2 of Islamabad and were looking for Hammad Raza.

She has categorically rejected that persons entered were dacoit. Killers knocked at the bedroom, when door was opened they instantally killed Hammad Raza and within a minute or two they were gone.

Hammad Raza belonged to the District Management Group (DMG) of Civil Services of Pakistan. Hammad Raza was one of the main persons who were interrogated by agencies to find any evidence to support the notorious reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary.

Shabana Hammad, who is british nationlist have also sought help from British High Commission in Islamabad.

Justice (R) Tariq Mehmood, a lawyer representing Chief Justice of Pakistan, has said that Hammad Raza was an important cogent evidence of Chief Justice of Pakistan. He also said that government agencies were pressurising Hammad Raza to say anything that goes against Chief Justice of Pakistan but he refused to do so.

Last night, Hammad was buried in graveyard of Lahore.

Courtesy: BBC Urdu Service

Police was not weaponized on Bloody Saturday

Various reports and inside information have now proved that Police wasn’t weaponized on Last Saturday in Karachi – A Saturday, when MQM had to play its filthy game, it was ordered that police should not be equipped with any weapons.

A plan made by Karachi Police for May 12, 2007 suggests that it was feared that on 12th May 2007, city can face suicide bombing, bomb blasts, firing and even attacks on political leaders. Astonishingly it was ordered that Police would not be given any type of weapon.

Such a security plan was sent by Karachi Police’s chief Azhar Farooqi with signatures of SSP Security Karachi, Dr. Muhammad Amin Yousaf Zai. It was distributed to all TPOs, Police Stations, SHOs. BBC holds a copy of the plan.

In the plan, it was instructed that police should hold its position as early as 5 AM on 12-May-2007. BUT, POLICE would only be given bamboo sticks along with rifles which can only fire tear gas. It is written in the security plan that police wouldn’t be given any wepaon what so ever. However, it was advised to the Town Police Officers that wherever they feel it necessary they should bear utmost care in providing weapons to Police. But its worth mentioning that when city was burning, roads were blocked and filled with deadbodies – Town Police Officers didn’t feel it necessary to provide any weapon.

News Courtesy : BBC Urdu Service

However, BBC doesn’t mention that if such instructions were also given to Rangers or not – Rangers are the paramilitary forces. Rangers were also deployed alongwith police to safeguard the city.

Musharraf’s leadership challenged in court

ISLAMABAD ( 2007-05-14 17:46:37 ) : Opposition alliance petitioned the Supreme Court on Monday, calling for the removal of President Pervez Musharraf from office as well as from his position as army chief.

The move by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, President of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance, came amid a deepening judicial crisis that represents the greatest challenge to Musharraf’s authority since he took power in a military coup in 1999.

“We have challenged both of Musharraf’s positions because he is not capable of holding either office,” Shahid Shamsi, a spokesman for Ahmed, told Reuters.

In his petition, Ahmed pleaded that President Musharraf be dismissed from the army because he had violated his oath by taking part in politics while remaining in uniform.

He said President Musharraf had also disqualified himself from holding the office of president by “dragging the army into politics”.

President Musharraf promised to stand down as army chief by the end of 2004 as part of a deal with MMA but later backed out of his commitment.

Constitutionally, he is due to quit the army by the end of December this year, but is believed to be reluctant to do so.

President Musharraf is expected to stand for a second term as president in September or October and wants to be re-elected by the national and provincial assemblies before they are dissolved for elections due around the turn of the year.

Many analysts say Musharraf’s move to suspend the country’s Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March might be motivated by a desire to have a more pliable man at the head of judiciary in case of a constitutional challenge to his plans.

Courtesy : Aaj TV