Yes—the people of Baltistan are unique in many ways

November 15, 2024

By Hina Haroon

In today’s world, where people seem to care less—where people don’t even know who lives next door—where people only care about themselves—where hospitality is dying, we have people who welcome you with an open heart, with a smile on their face, and who care about you. People who make you feel at home. From a known person to a stranger, they will welcome you with a smile, offer you something to eat, and greet you like their own family. I am talking about the people of Baltistan—the open-hearted people with love and hospitality rooted in their blood.

As someone who loves to explore the northern part of the country, my heart goes out to the people of Baltistan. Earlier this year, I did my first trek with the travel company Guide to Adventure Pakistan, and it was an absolute pleasure. Since then, I have a special place in my heart for everyone I have met.

This month, when I decided to go back to experience the beautiful autumn, little did I know that I was a guest of the Baltis who would melt my heart again. As beautiful as Khaplu and Skardu are in autumn, the people there are even more beautiful inside and out.

I explored different places in Skardu and Khaplu, and in each place, I met various people who didn’t seem like strangers at all. They were helpful, and they were there to feed us the best food. I remember coming to Deosai, near Satpara-lake a small fish place that is usually full of locals and tourists, but this time of the season, my family and I were the only people there. We checked if the place was open, and luckily, it was. The owner was so sweet and asked us to wait while he made us some amazing fish. He offered us tea, and considering it was cold, he asked if we would like to sit inside, which was very sweet of him. The fish and pakoras were so on point that I could go again and again just to have them. I meant it.

As I said earlier, no one can beat the hospitality of the Baltis. I remember coming back to Skardu after Khaplu—I will come back to Khaplu as well. Right when we were entering Skardu, there was a small fruit vendor from whom we bought some apples. Before we made a purchase, they cut us an apple, sliced it up, and welcomed us to the land of Skardu. He said, “Apka Skardu ke zameen pe khush aamadid” (Welcome to the land of Skardu). After the purchase, he said to us, “Allah apka safar salamat rakhay” (May Allah keep your trip safe). These are the small gestures that are nowhere to be found in this era, and this just melted my heart. So many prayers for the shopkeeper.

Let’s talk about Khaplu a bit. If there’s one place that has my heart, it’s Khaplu—a small town 2-3 hours away from Skardu. Man, that town has my heart. As beautiful as it looks in autumn, that place has some kind of peace. The moment you step into Khaplu, you feel it—you feel it in your heart. That place makes your heart smile as if you were meant to be there. I could stay there forever, as long as I can. If you ever visit Khaplu, which you must, you will understand what I am talking about. The people are so nice there; they will smile at you, the kids will wave, and every person you see will greet you with “salam.” A few places that are a must-visit in Khaplu are Khaplu Fort, Chaqchan Mosque, Khanqa (which is still under construction but a must-visit just to see the beautiful wooden carvings that have been done so far), and Thoqsikhar.

If you wonder where I stayed, then my recommendation will always be Karakoram Lodge Khaplu. Located in the upper part of Khaplu, it offers a breathtaking view of the valley, the Shyok River, and the majestic Karakoram Mountains, along with a wide garden where you can have a cup of tea. One thing I can say is that the staff there is so good. They take care of you like their family—they will make sure that you have your dinner and lunch on time. It is indeed the best place to stay in Khaplu; you will feel it like home, and I kid you not, you won’t feel like leaving.

Coming to the end, I must say that after meeting all these people, you will feel that humanity is not all dead. The simplicity of the Baltis will make your heart smile. I can go on and on, but honestly, I have enough words to describe how amazing these people are.

More men in uniform laid their lives for the motherland

November 14, 2024

Monitoring Desk: On 14 Nov 2024, on the reported presence of terrorists, planning to target innocent civilians in Harnai District, security forces under Major Muhammad Haseeb were immediately mobilized to sanitize the area.

Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and resultantly three terrorists were sent to hell. However, during the operation, an improvised explosive device exploded on the leading vehicle of security forces, resultantly, Major Muhammad Haseeb (age: 28 years, resident of District Multan), a brave officer, who was leading his troops from the front, along with Havildar Noor Ahmed (age: 38 years, resident of District Barkhan), having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat.

Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging the peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.

Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) continues to crack down against drug smuggling

November 14, 2024

Monitoring Desk: Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) continues to crack down against drug smuggling in educational institutions and various cities. Four suspects were arrested in six operations. 41.232 kg of drugs worth over Rs 4.4 million were recovered in operations. Operations in educational institutions 1 kg of hashish was recovered from the accused in Baldia Town, Karachi.

The arrested accused confessed to selling drugs to students of educational institutions. In other ANF operations, 584 grams of heroin was recovered from the trolley bag of a passenger going to Bahrain at Lahore International Airport. 24 kg of hashish was recovered from a parcel sent to Karachi and Lahore from a courier office in Peshawar. 4.8 kg of hashish was recovered from a parcel sent from Peshawar at a courier office in Karachi. 48 grams of weed were recovered from a parcel sent from the UK at a courier office in Rawalpindi. 4.800 kg of opium and 6 kg of hashish were recovered from the secret compartments of a vehicle on the M-1 Motorway, Islamabad. 2 accused were arrested. Cases have been registered against the arrested accused under the Narcotics Control Act and an investigation has been initiated. Spokesperson ANF

PM Shehbaz Sharif in Cop29 Baku and Lahore in ICU in Mayo Hospital

November 13, 2024

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Baku discussed setting up an internationally-determined contributions (IDC) framework to redefine the global climate funding mechanisms.

Addressing a roundtable discussion on climate finance on the margins of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku on Tuesday, Sharif demanded an equitable mechanism to ensure historic emitters contribute fairly, through financial and technical support to developing countries facing the brunt of climate impacts.

He was talking about such important issues when his hometown—Lahore tops the global index as the most polluted city in the world and Swiss group IQAir, which draws data from 14 regional monitoring stations, rated Lahore the world’s most polluted city many times in last 20 days. Lahore is the provincial headquarter of Punjab province and Sharif was Chief Minister of this province from February 1997 to October 1999, June 2008 to February 2009, and March 2009 to March 2013. His son was chief minister of the same province for a brief period while his eldest brother Mian Nawaz Sharif was Chief Minister from April 1985 to August 1990. Now the daughter of Nawaz Sharif has been the Chief Minister of Punjab since February 2024. Since 1985, Punjab has been ruled by the Sharif family often. What happened to Lahore which was historically popular as a city of gardens is known by everybody who lives in Lahore. Massive urbanization, constructing housing societies after cutting trees, converting green lands into grey lands, and allowing unplanned and unchecked growth in Lahore could be some of the milestones of disaster that Lahore is facing today. Even now Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) project spreading across 46 kilometers is in full gear that is the world’s largest riverfront housing project. It is an undeniable fact that Lahore is a victim of the land mafia and urban developers who left no land empty between Indian borders to Gujranwala.

According to the available data from City Traffic Police Lahore, there are a total of about 6.2 million vehicles and 4.2 million motorcycles are present only in Lahore city. You can gauge the sheer number of vehicles in Lahore by comparing the number of 19.6 million vehicles in the entire province of Punjab. Just imagine the heat and emissions these automobiles are producing in Lahore city.

Sharif believes that the commitment to the climate must be accompanied by an equitable mechanism that ensures historic emitters contribute fairly, through financial and technical support to developing countries facing the brunt of climate impacts. Using the same viewpoint, shall developer mafias not contribute to helping Lahore survive as a living city? The IDC proposal seeks to establish a structured mechanism to track and measure the delivery of climate finance commitments to developing nations. Under the IDC, the emitters would be accountable for fulfilling their commitments to mitigation and adaptation. Will people who have ruled Lahore for 4 years be accountable for fulfilling their commitments for mitigating the mess they have left behind in Lahore?

As Shehbaz rightfully told the participants Pakistan is home to 7,000 glaciers that contributed 60 to 70% of water in the Indus River flow. As he understands the value of water and also knows that water resources are shrinking, should his government not stop massive construction over river Ravi and remolding of nullahs (natural hilly and mountainous water channels) in Islamabad and elsewhere areas under the command of his Punjab and central government?

Sharif further said that rising temperatures and the consequences of these changes are glaringly visible and Pakistan is the most affected country. As he understands the situation should not his government immediately announce a ban on converting green lands into grey lands by cutting trees?

He told the gathering that accelerated glacial melt had led to the formation of more than 3,000 glacial lakes in the Northern Areas of Pakistan which are posing a great threat. Among these, he said, about 33 lakes were estimated to be at risk of outburst flooding, putting the lives of over 7 million people in danger. He is right that glacial melt is creating lakes that are a threat to the population downward. However, massive constructions of hotels, motels, and resorts around lakes in northern areas by people from the plains (builders have been allowed to buy huge lands in northern areas in the last 20 years) would definitely add trouble to the situation and would help to raise the temperature of these areas due to every increasing vehicular traffic and population moving from cities of Punjab and KP.

This is a very grave situation and demands urgent action and ‘The Glaciers 2025 Initiative’ provides a unique opportunity; to direct global attention to this crisis and drive coordinated efforts to stem the glacial melt. Will the ‘Glaciers 2025 Initiative’ be implemented in Pakistan as well?

A retired officer who served in Lahore Development Authority (LDA) from a public job in Lahore commented on the situation:

“PM Sharif talked so well and so intelligently and he proved that he knows environmental disasters and the impact of climate change, Sadly, he was sharing his mind in Cop29 Baku when his city (Lahore) was at death bed in Mayo Hospital Lahore. Whenever we (officers) told higher authorities that Lahore would die if we did not change our development policies, our high-ups, particularly ruling politicians not only rejected our research reports rather laughed at us stating that we (urban development experts) are bookish and have no idea that nature changes itself with man-made developments. Alas, we could not tell them that nature does not change but takes revenge when its chest is overloaded with concrete and iron bars”.

Banking scams, Cybersecurity and the usage of VPN in Pakistan

November 12, 2024

DND Report

Have you already been a victim of data theft from your cell phone? Have you already lost your hard-earned money from your bank account because someone accessed your bank data and then accessed your bank account? Have you encountered a threatening situation in which someone accessed your social media accounts and then posted dangerous comments against the state institutions, or social or religious norms?

If you have faced any such situation in the past, check whether you are using an unsecured, free-to-use Virtual Private Network (VPN) or not. Yes, the level of harm is less when you are using bonafide, secured, registered VPN services but remember ‘there is no free lunch’ available in the cyber world and free-to-use VPN software is malware and they can steal your vital information such as passwords, bank data, and bank access points. Online bank fraud essentially happens when a cybercriminal can steal an individual’s digital details and gain access to the associated bank accounts or credit cards. They then use this to their advantage, either siphoning money out of the victim’s account directly or otherwise perpetrating other types of financial fraud. Despite banks taking more and more steps to secure their digital services and protect their client’s accounts, the increasing sophistication of these attacks makes it exceedingly tricky to identify when these frauds are being carried out through VPN and difficult to find their DNS servers.

According to US-based cybersecurity experts such as Ryan Toohil and Jory MacKay, some premium VPN providers offer legitimate protection; but free, misleading, and fraudulent VPNs are putting millions of cyber users at risk. According to their research, nearly 50% of US citizens use free VPN services, and two-thirds of those users encounter security problems such as social media accounts, data theft, and bank fraud. In 2022, the FBI issued a warning about a ransomware group specifically targeting users of VPNs with weak security.

European universities have already banned connecting any device with university servers that have VPN software because European IT experts believe that some VPN providers collect the data of users and then sell them to third-party and freeware kind of VPN apps not only stealing data but rather infecting devices (cell phones/computers etc) and even servers they are connected with..

A cybersecurity report titled ‘What Are the Risks of Using a VPN?‘ claims:

Here are some major risks of downloading and using a scam VPN.

Hackers could infect your device with malware. Scammers use fake VPNs to trick you into downloading malware that bombards you with ads or directs you to malicious websites.
Scammers could spy on you to steal your passwords and personal data. Some scam VPNs come with spyware — malicious programs that can leak your private information and online activity.
Fraudsters could take over your online and financial accounts. Some scam VPNs target your passwords and login information, giving hackers control of your online, social media, and financial accounts.

In simple words, VPNs instead of protecting your privacy actually put you in danger of compromised security. Therefore, you must avoid using VPN services and if you really want to use them then you must use only paid services of VPN because free VPN providers make their money by tracking and selling your browsing history and personal data.

There are about 138 million internet users in Pakistan, of which about 41 million people use unregistered and registered VPNs to hide their identity. There is no doubt that Pakistan tops the list of immoral and pornography-watching countries in the world. By using VPNs, these people hide their identities and connect to foreign servers to access Pakistani cyberspace. Unverified VPNs are being used frequently in Pakistan, which pose severe threats to their privacy, cyber security, and the country’s cyber laws while using registered VPNs is also not without risks because this allows foreign companies to bypass the laws of the land of Pakistan.

Banning unregistered VPNs in Pakistan is an important step that will help ensure the security and safety of users and this ban will help prevent the use of illegal and insecure VPN services, which can often lead to financial scams, terrorism, and other criminal activities.

According to cybersecurity experts, this ban will improve cyber security in Pakistan, as individuals or groups using unregistered VPNs conduct various illegal activities on the Internet to evade the country’s laws and put themselves in vulnerable situations that even they cannot imagine.

About Pakistan’s political polarization, banning unverified VPNs will also prevent false propaganda and chaos on social media and other online platforms in the country, which pose a major threat to public peace and tranquility. Through this ban, the government will be able to improve Pakistan’s Internet environment while remaining safe and law-abiding.

It may be mentioned that there is an alarming increase in the rate of watching illegal content by using VPN services in Pakistan. This practice is one of the factors in the rise of sexual crimes against children, causing lifetime effects on them. Despite the freedom of the Internet, more steps are needed at the government level to limit access to this type of content in Pakistan.

In addition, the implementation of technological solutions and social responsibility is also necessary for internet security and the prevention of unwanted content in Pakistan. Pakistan has made significant progress in the field of cyber security and recent years has increased its capabilities to counter cyber-attacks worldwide. The government has enacted strict laws against cybercrimes and provided advanced training to various agencies to deal with cyber-attacks. Along with this, Pakistan has introduced advanced technologies to strengthen its IT infrastructure, which has resulted in significant improvements in the cyber security sector. Through the creation of the National Cyber Security Task Force, the government has put in place a robust system to deal with cyber threats, which is helping to improve Pakistan’s cyber security ranking globally. The biggest example of progress in the field of cyber security is that Pakistan has been included in Tier 1 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in the Global Cyber Security Index Report 2024. Tier 1, is the highest of the five tiers. Today, In the last report of the Global Cyber Security Index, Pakistan was ranked 79^th globally which is higher than any other country in South Asia.

There is no harm in changing strategy in Balochistan to bring peace

November 10, 2024

DND Report

There is no doubt left that Quetta Railway Station’s suicide bombing targeted personnel of security forces who were leaving Quetta for their homes. The collateral damage was civilians who were also present at the Railway platform.

This incident was a continuation of a ‘tragedy’ that is surely foreign-sponsored but executed by sons and daughters of the motherland who had been victims of indoctrination planned and managed by those who do not want to see Pakistan’s prosperity. There is a long list of reasons why certain powers do not want peace in Balochistan but all such motives are linked with the geopolitical positioning of Balochistan which is on the crossroads of South Asia-Central Asia and Asia Minor.

On 28 August 2024, different parts of Balochistan were targeted by terrorists and at least 50 people including 10 soldiers and four law enforcement agencies’ personnel embraced martyrdom. In Musakhel, 23 people from Punjab were pulled out of a bus and after checking their identity documents were shot dead. The victims included truck drivers carrying coal and fruit to Punjab via the Loralai – D G Khan Highway. As many as 35 trucks and other vehicles were set on fire. While in coordinated attacks by militants aimed at security forces and civilians hailing from Punjab, two suicide bombers, one of them a woman, targeted the Frontier Corps camp in Bela. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks.

One can say that foreign powers do not want a stable region to halt Chinese inroad in the region that otherwise successfully links China mainland to Central Asia but its linkage to Indo Pacific at Gwadar through Afghanistan via Balochistan is strategically important and that is why China is also looking long route of China-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan—Turkmenistan and Iran anchoring at Chahbahar. However, one should not forget that this route has long been in use but is not viable for huge cargo traffic. There is another theory that a volatile Balochistan suits all those who do not want the success of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is the shortest possible route for China to reach the Indo-Pacific. There is no doubt that these above-mentioned theories have logic and reasons to believe, however, the overall prosperity of mineral-rich Balochistan is not in favor of those also who want to slice Iranian Balochistan and Pakistani Balochistan and create an independent land that would serve the cause of those who had been helping separatists of Iranian Balochistan in past and created separatists organizations like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in Pakistani Balochistan and Jundallah, a Sunni Islamist militant group in the Sistan and Balochistan Province in southeastern Iran. Tehran successfully crushed Jundallah in 2010 after Abdolmalek Rigi was hanged to death in Evin Prison in Tehran.

Since the early 1970s, the separatist movement has been part of the politics of Balochistan and separatist leaders had European cities as their ‘retreat resorts’ so separatism is neither a new phenomenon in Balochistan nor something extraordinary, and research of the last 50 years surely name actors who do not want peace and prosperity in Balochistan. However, this phenomenon was mitigated through political dialogues, using state power and pleasing powerful personalities of the province but the soil became ripe again after the assassination of Sardar Akbar Khan Bugti who was blown to death by security forces in August 2006. This event was a jackpot for India as well as for some Western countries that took no time to fund and plan insurgency in Balochistan. A reckless, ill-planned, and avoidable action surely helped enemies to poison Baloch youth against Pakistan. Since then security forces and Punjabis are at the target of locally indoctrinated youth through foreign funds to destabilize Pakistan.

According to unofficial data, over 3000 personnel of security forces and citizens from Punjab had been targeted by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in the last 10 years which had already claimed responsibility for the Quetta Railway Station suicide bombing. Moreover, the latest target of separatists are Chinese citizens and BLA reportedly coordinates with other terrorist outfits such as TTP to target Chinese as well as security forces not only in Balochistan but also in KPK province. In the last month, 20-plus laborers were killed in a brutal rocket attack in the Duki mines and all of them were laborers from KP and Punjab. These incidents are not isolated; they are symptomatic of a deeply embedded plan to disrupt Balochistan. Targeting civilians and law enforcement personnel alike, these acts of terror do nothing but deepen the suffering of the Baloch people, adding bloodshed to an already strained society and they represent nothing just insanity. Sane elements within Baloch society also voice that BLA’s actions are not a form of resistance but a tragic diversion from the path to peace, damaging any chance for constructive dialogue and only serving to strengthen the very forces that perpetuate this cycle of violence and mistrust.

As always, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other politicians denounced terrorism after Quetta Railway Station suicide blast but words alone are insufficient now as Balochistan is burning. PM Shehbaz Sharif should learn from his brother former PM Nawaz Sharif who brought peace to Balochistan when Balochistan was burning Nawaz Sharif through his effective team having personalities like Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua turned the table in favor of the state. Janjua was appointed as Corps Commander of the XII Corps when burning Pakistani flags was a norm but he closely worked with the then CM Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch in stabilizing Balochistan and supervised firsthand counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations against a variety of militant groups but reached out of youth at the same time and initiated dialogue not only with political groups rather with civil society as well as journalists of Balochistan. From sectarian militias to alleged Indian-sponsored separatist groups, Janjua had been a witness to some of the most vicious interference in Pakistan and mitigated extremists. During his tenure, the restoration of peace in Balochistan was a joint civil-military leadership effort and his target group was the youth of Balochistan and message was simple ‘You are not a problem rather you are victims and laying down arms and embark on the path of peace for a peaceful Balochistan is your responsibility towards your society’. As the National Security Advisor (NSA) of Nawaz Sharif, he kept focusing mitigation of terrorism in Balochistan and Afghanistan.

There is no doubt that peace in Balochistan is a top priority of PM Shehbaz Sharif but it is now time to revisit the policy because the rhetoric ‘we shall not allow terrorists to play havoc with the peace of Balochistan’ is not serving the cause and Balochistan continues to bleed. There is no harm in changing strategy and getting help from people such as Nasser Khan Janjua who served well and brought results. There is no harm in engaging such people as the Governor of Balochistan or the National Security Advisor with a single agenda of bringing peace to Balochistan because the constant success of terrorists by killing innocent people favors terrorists for spreading fear among youth with a message that ‘your state can not protect you’.

Fight against terrorism requires support of all Pakistanis, believes COAS Gen Asim Munir

November 10, 2024

Quetta, Pakistan: COAS Gen Asim Munir has said that the fight against terrorism requires the support of all Pakistanis.

COAS highlighted that terrorism will never be tolerated and reaffirmed the nation’s resolve and commitment to eradicating the menace. COAS emphasized that this mission will be pursued with full national resolve and collective determination. He underscored that the fight against terrorism requires the steadfast support of all Pakistanis, along with the efforts of the military and civil institutions, to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the country.

Earlier on his arrival, COAS was received by Commander Balochistan Corps. Namaz-e-Janaza for the Shuhada, who embraced martyrdom in a suicide blast targeting innocent citizens and passengers at Quetta Railway Station, was offered in Quetta Garrison today.

The funeral was attended by General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Federal Minister of Interior, Governor and Chief Minister Balochistan, Provincial Ministers and a large number of military and civilian officials. Following the funeral, COAS visited CMH Quetta and met with the injured of the tragic incident.

The hidden linkages among BLA, TTP, and PTI

November 9, 2024

Islamabad, Pakistan: Another targeted suicide bombing in Quetta (Railway Station) has confirmed again that enemies are not sitting idle and they do not miss any chance to send a wave of fear and want to tell investors that Pakistan is not a safe destination.

According to police, Saturday’s attack targeted passengers gathered for the departure of the Jafar Express that was scheduled to leave for Peshawar. The causalities could be higher if the venue could be any public gathering such as the PTI planned yesterday but law enforcement agencies had intelligence information that BLA wanted to attack therefore the No Objection Certificate (NOC) was not released for the PTI public meeting.

The sad thing is that on the one hand, all the terrorist elements have united against Pakistan but our political elite such as PTI always tries to keep the law enforcement agencies busy in handling the unruly mob of the anarchist party PTI.

A day ago PTI tried to hold a rally in Quetta whose NOC was canceled by the local administration due to security concerns after that, an unruly mob of PTI tried to destroy the law and order situation in Quetta but today Quetta the suicide blast at the railway station proved that the fears of the local administration regarding security concerns were correct. Neither the PTI nor its anarchist leader realizes that the country cannot afford political instability at this time but certain political elements always want to foster the politics of anarchy in the country for their nefarious purposes.

One should remember that today November 9 is the birth anniversary of the poet of the East, Allama Iqbal who provided the idea of an independent state for the Muslims of the subcontinent. Instead of celebrating his birth anniversary, the enemies of the country’ targeted innocent citizens at Quetta Railway Station and they called this act justified. Defense experts agree that if the terrorists think that they will win the so-called war of independence by shedding innocent people’s blood by making explosions, they are living in a fool’s paradise because Pakistan has won many battles against terrorists and extremists and will definitely defeat foreign-sponsored elements like BLA.

Enemies of Pakistan must not forget that Pakistan is a free and independent state where every religion, every creed, and every person has its rights, and the best way to negotiate with the state is to surrender, accept the constitution of Pakistan, and sit down and talk otherwise no one will be contented with their bullying or terrorism.

The hidden linkages among BLA, TTP, and PTI

Another unfortunate reality cropping up is that the cause of TTP (officially known as Fattana-ul-Khwaraj) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, BLA in Balochistan, and PTI is the same and that is to harm the state of Pakistan and target state institutions. It looks like PTI, BLA, and TTP are actually sides of the same coin and their agenda is to stop the development of the state of Pakistan. There are also facilitators and their funders, and these are the powers that do not tolerate the development of Pakistan.

There is a silver lining as well and that is the citizens of Pakistan are now aware of anti-national narratives of PTI, TTP, and BLA and they stand with their Pakistan Army and security agencies. Therefore, the government of Pakistan and the security agencies should not show any leniency with these anti-national, anti-people terrorists and deal with them with iron hands. The only difference between TTP and PTI is that TTP used only guns against Pakistan Army and Pakistan while PTI used all political and diplomatic weapons to harm Pakistan. Sending letters to IMF for not granting loans to Pakistan and writing letters to the UN to tag Pakistan as a state of concern over alleged Human Rights abuses had been some of PTI tools and the United States Commission of International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) put Pakistan in the list of country of concern due to letters written by PTI to UN and European Union.

It may be remembered that TTP attacked GHQ Rawalpindi in October 2009 and PTI did the same on May 9, 2023. Suppose PTI is not an enemy of Pakistan as BLA and TTP are. In that case, it must prove it through actions and let peace prevail in Pakistan and must not engage security agencies in dealing with unruly circumstances that PTI creates almost every week.

The Ruling Elite Decides the Destiny of Poor Pakistanis: A Story of Dreams Lost and Power Untouched

November 6, 2024

By Maria Hameed

In a small village on the periphery of Lahore, Muhammad Bota wakes up before dawn every day. His routine is as predictable as it is hard tending to the fields he doesn’t own, earning barely enough to feed his family of six. For Muhammad Bota, like millions of other poor Pakistanis, dreams of a better life feel distant, almost impossible. His children, who should be in school, often help in the fields or at local shops, because the family can’t afford the luxury of education. The stark contrast between their lives and the lives of the ruling elite couldn’t be more glaring.

While Muhammad Bota struggles to make ends meet, the country’s wealthy and powerful continue to prosper in their air-conditioned offices and splendid homes. The ruling elite—politicians, military leaders, and business moguls—control the fate of people like him, making decisions that affect the entire nation but rarely consider the trouble of the poor.

In Pakistan, poverty is not just a statistic; it’s a daily reality for families who live in small homes or villages, for street vendors in bustling cities, and for the millions who sweat in factories or fields without any job security. Every decision made by the powerful in Islamabad, Karachi, or Lahore moves through the lives of people like Muhammad Bota, determining whether they will have access to necessities like healthcare, education, or even clean drinking water.

In the corridors of power, decisions about economic policies, land reforms, and foreign loans are made without consulting the people they impact. These policies often serve the interests of the elite while leaving the poor to suffer. Families like Muhammad Bota’s rarely feel the benefits of government initiatives. Instead, they endure rising prices, poor infrastructure, and lack of opportunities, while the wealthy protect their interests.

For ordinary Pakistanis, the idea of democracy brings little comfort. While elections may offer the illusion of choice, they often present the same powerful families and political dynasties. For people like Muhammad Bota, whose entire life has been marked by struggle, the faces in power change, but the outcomes remain the same.

The elite who control politics have the money and resources to run large campaigns, securing votes through rarely fulfilled promises. They can afford to manipulate the system, exploiting the very people they claim to represent. In the villages and slums, voters are courted with short-term incentives—bags of rice or small cash handouts—while the long-term needs of the poor remain unmet.

This system, where power rests with the elite, leaves ordinary Pakistanis voiceless. They are asked to participate in democracy, yet they remain unheard and unseen in the halls of power. The interests of the wealthy drown out their votes, their needs, and their hopes for a better life.

In the daily grind of survival, people like Muhammad Bota are forced to make impossible choices—should he buy medicine for his sick child or pay for a few kilos of flour to feed the family for another week? These choices are heartbreaking, but they are the reality for millions of Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, the elite live in an entirely different world. They have access to the best education, healthcare, and opportunities that the country has to offer. Their children study in prestigious institutions, often abroad, while the majority of Pakistan’s youth are left behind, attending underfunded schools or dropping out to support their families.

The contrast is stark and painful. While one part of the country enjoys privileges that few can imagine, the rest are trapped in a cycle of poverty, with no realistic way out. For many, the belief that their fate is controlled by a distant, indifferent ruling class feels all too real

One of the greatest barriers to change in Pakistan is the entrenched corruption within the system. For the poor, corruption is not an abstract concept—it is the reality of dealing with local officials, accessing public services, and navigating everyday life. Bribes and favors are often required to get basic needs met, whether it’s a permit for a small business or a place in a public school.

For those who live at the bottom, corruption adds another layer of difficulty to their already challenging lives. Meanwhile, the elite benefit from a system where their wealth can buy influence and ensure that the rules do not apply to them. This corrupt system allows the rich to thrive, while the poor are left with fewer and fewer opportunities.

Yet, despite all the hardships, hope flickers in the hearts of many ordinary Pakistanis. In communities across the country, people are coming together to support each other, creating grassroots movements and advocating for change. Educators are offering free lessons to children in low-income neighborhoods, healthcare workers are volunteering in remote areas, and young activists are demanding accountability from those in power.

Muhammad Bota, too, holds on to hope. Though he knows the system is rigged against him, he dreams of a day when his children will have the opportunity to break free from the cycle of poverty that has defined his life. He dreams of a Pakistan where the ruling elite are held accountable, where ordinary people have a say in the decisions that shape their futures, and where wealth and opportunity are shared more fairly.

The story of Pakistan’s poor is a story of resilience and endurance in the face of incredible hardship. But it is also a story of injustice, where the powerful decide the fate of the powerless. This imbalance cannot continue indefinitely. Real change will come when Pakistan’s ruling elite is willing to share power, address corruption, and prioritize the needs of all citizens, not just the privileged few.

Until then, people like Muhammad Bota will continue to carry the heavy burden of inequality, dreaming of a future where they, too, have a say in their own destiny.

Maria Hameed is an MPhil Mass Communication student with a robust background in communication studies, research methods, and social issues. She offers expert analysis and insightful commentary on contemporary media trends and challenges facing today’s youth. Maria brings a unique cultural perspective to her work, enriching her contributions with a blend of academic rigor and cultural insight.

Donald Trump gave a winning speech before the official results saying he will not go for war rather will stop wars

November 6, 2024

Monitoring Desk: Thanking his children, wife, supporters, and all who stood with him, Donald Trump gave a winning address before official results were announced. He said that he would not go for wars rather would stop wars,

Donald Trump gave a winning speech before the official results

Trump concluded his remarks as:

“We had everybody, and it was beautiful, it was a historic realignment, uniting citizens of all backgrounds around a common core of common sense. Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country. I will govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept. It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” he added. “It’s time to unite,” said Trump.

Developing story

Recent News