Female Genocide in India By Jalil Ahmed

India worships a score of goddesses seeking “shakti” (divine power}. The divine mother Durga and the Great Mother - Kali Ma are worshipped across the country by both male and female for strength.

However the hypocrisy of Indian society is pellucid as on one hand it worships women goddesses and on the other it doesn’t hesitate to kill these goddesses’ vivid manifestations.

Some ten million female births in India have been lost to abortion and sex selection over the past 20 years because of a traditional preference for boys.

The shocking report, published in the British Medical Journal, Lancet lays the blame squarely on the use of ultrasound screening, which tells families whether their child will be a boy or a girl.

The research, based on a national survey of more than one million households, found an unusual gender imbalance in the country, the study said adding the gender imbalance in India has been known for some time. It has caused a marriage crisis in rural areas where thousands of young men are failing to find brides.

The research, carried out by Prabhat Jha of St Michael's Hospital at the University of Toronto, Canada, and Rajesh Kumar of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Research in Chandigarh, was published in the Lancet journal (Jan 2006).

They said prenatal selection and selective abortion caused the loss of 500,000 girls a year.

The research based on a national survey of 1.1 million households in 1998 claimed the "girl deficit" was more common among educated families irrespective of religions. The study found an alarming tendency to select boys when previous births were girls.

Prabhat Jha concluded conservative estimates suggest half a million girls were being lost each year. The practice has been common for most of the past two decades since access to ultrasound became widespread, hence the figure of 10 million missing female births does not sound “unreasonable”, he added.

In most countries, women slightly outnumber men whereas research for the year 2001 showed that for every 1,000 male babies born in India, there were only 933 girls.

Traditionally female children are held inferior and a liability across the sub-continent .The region, a large agrarian society, considers boys more useful for farm work. ###

Threats of Social Networking on Internet BY: SHAIKH KAMRAN SALIM

“I’ll catch you on face book tonight,” a student outside the class was talking to his friend on mobile phone. I was taken a back. For the first time I realized that face book has really become a household social forum.

The world of Internet has opened new avenues for the mankind. Web surfing is no longer left for just information gathering rather it has become more of socializing medium. Face book, Twitter and other social networks have quickly become an integral part of the online culture. These networks comes with some set of serious threat to one’s privacy.

Online information sharing through these networks makes you vulnerable to hackers busy in phising attacks. It is necessary that the users should think before they share informations. In an open communities like face book, you should eschew from posting things online that you may later regret. Such informations may go against you, so do not leave too many skeletons in your cupboard.

You should refrain from sharing your thoughts about your boss, teacher or any elder person. You never know one of them may be member of the same network. If they are not a part of your network and can’t see your posts directly but they may very well be connected to someone else in your network. Therefore, be careful and do not post anything that may embarrass you later.

Face book does provide privacy control that allows you to customize your information available to other viewers, so use it. I how social and open you are, is for you to decide. However, face book being a networking site designed for sharing information, many settings open by default. You may have notice advertisements that use your friend’s names or photos associated with them. Face book in particular has drawn some unwanted attention in connection with various privacy concerns.

A huge selection of Games and quizzes offered by face book are one of the most sought after commodities. You may have noticed that a notice pops up when you initiate a game or quiz that says interacting with the application require opening access to information, never allows the access to Continue. The access will let the application retrieve your profile information, photos, your friend’s info and other content. Be careful, the time that you think you are having fun may actually be an invitation to hackers.

Internet surfing for socializing may seen too attractive to the users but they don’t realize that they may sitting ducks to the attackers. For some users the internet may be a medium to broaden their social circle for professional gains or to locate old friends, whatever it may be, you can become a prey to the professional hackers. They can break into your private information like credit card details, money transfer, travelling details e.t.c. They can gain access to your face book account and hijack it. Face book does offer privacy controls. This can help you restricting the information sharing. Therefore use your right to “Privacy Setting” and enjoy surfing.

TWO YEARS OF PRESENT GOVERNMENT. By: Aqeel Ahmed Rajpar

Unfortunately present government fails to provide “Roti”, “Kapra”, and “Makaan” to at least those who vote them.

People of Pakistan have lots of hope with this government after the nine years of dictatorship. But present government instead of making any valuable policy to eliminate the poverty, continues the policies of Musharraf regime.

During the Musharraf period, country’s foreign exchange reserves were at $13.3 billion, dollar exchange rate at Rs. 62.76, the KSE index at 15,125 and inflation at 20.6 per cent.

These figures shows that present government inherited a sound economy, then why the economy comes down during last two years and force the government to move towards International Monitoring Fund (IMF).

The basic necessities of life, such as electricity, gas, oil, and food items are now controlled by IMF. After every six months, government increased the power tariff as per the orders of IMF.

The biggest breakthroughs of present government are issuance of National Finance Commission (NFC) award and amendments in the constitution. But these achievements are not enough to provide education and health facilities to common people.

Common man only wants two times food, a roof on their heads and cloths, which are the slogans of present government.

Recently, ministry of information organized a exhibition titled “Rebuilding Democratic Pakistan”. It provides glimpse of the government’s two years achievements for the masses. But the question arise here is that, are these exhibitions or events like that, can build the confidence of people over government? The development in the country speaks louder than the pictures.

Overall crime rate in the country is today higher than what it was two years ago. Official figures prove that the crime rate has increased despite tall claims made by Federal and Provincial rulers.

If we analyze the figures of crime in Islamabad, which comes under the direct command of the President, Prime Minister, and interior ministry, we find that 25 per cent increase in crimes since two years.

Still there are three more years remaining of this government. People only ask for “Roti”, “Kapra”, and “Makaan”. Government should work hard and utilize the country’s resources instead of borrowing from others.

VALUE ADDED TAX ACT, 2010 BY: AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

Islamabad, Feb 24 (Aqeel A. Rajpar): The Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, 2010 will replace the current GST system after been approved from Parliament and will enforce in the country on July 1 this year, FBR Chairman said.

The Federal Board of Revenue has published the draft of the VAT to apply a tax on sales and purchases and terminal taxes on goods, carried through railways, sea or air.

According to the draft, provincial VAT law and the federal VAT operate together as an integrated tax regime.

According to the draft, a person is necessary to be registered from a particular day in any month if the person exceeds the registration threshold in the period of 12 months, the total value of supplies made, or to be made, by the person in the course of an economic activity during that period is equal to or greater than Rs75, 000.

A person will apply for registration as per the mode, defined by the FBR no later than 15 days before the day on which the person becomes eligible for registration.

A serial number will be issue to the registered people for true and correct tax invoice for the supply. If a registered person, who makes a taxable supply of an amount not more than Rs25, 000 to a non register person may issue a sales receipt for the price of the supply.

The Inland Revenue officer will have the same powers of civil judge or magistrate for the purpose of recovery of unpaid amounts of tax recoverable under the act or the rules made there under.

The Revenue officer may conduct audit, of any registered person by giving advance notice provided that such notice may be give out with by the commissioner where tax fraud is suspected.

VAT will not enforce on these imports and supplies: unprocessed peas, wheat and wheat flour; ice and waters excluding those for sale under brand names or trademarks; table salt including iodized salt excluding salt sold in retail packing bearing brand names and trademarks; books (including brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, children’s picture, drawing or colouring books, music printed or in manuscript form, maps and hydrographic or similar charts), newspapers and periodicals, other than material wholly or predominantly devoted to advertising; the Holy Quran in whatever form or on whatever media; diapers for adults (patients); ambulances and fire-fighting trucks; dextrose and saline infusion giving sets along with empty non-toxic bags for infusion solution, and dextrose and saline infusion giving sets; and artificial body parts. ###

Summary of handout: “Ethical Consideration for Communicators” By: Aqeel Ahmed Rajpar

The article “Ethical consideration for Communicators” gives the reader good understanding of ethics and principles of the media, which should be practice by a communicator.

The handout focuses on the code of ethics, which are based on the principles of truthfulness, freedom, equality and fairness. Writers quoted International Declaration for Communicators, which says “respect for truth for the right of public to know truth”.

The writers give reference of National Union of Journalist’s code of professional conduct for communicators to illustrate their article that how the media man avoid the biasness and encourage the fairness in his/her reporting.

A communicator should respect his profession and perform his/her duties within the ethics of profession. Media man is representative of public and he/she doesn’t allow violating the trust of public on them.

Media man act as channel of communication between the source and its readers or viewers.

The writers stated that freedom of media is linked with the people’s right to know and is the heart of liberty. Media is one of the pillars of society in which media man should act as responsible person.

According to Mac bride Commission report 1980, media man is responsible towards society, international community and his internal organization.

The writers after discussing the duties and responsibilities of a media man put light on the role of media. And focuses on the professional ethics in journalism.

In 1983 through UNESCO declaration principles of professional ethics in journalism, which are freedom of opinion, expression and information, these principles are vital factors to strengthening peace and international understanding.

Media can play an important role in maintaining peace in the society; the instrument which journalists have is “words”. This instrument can be used only in condition of peace. So promotion of peace in society is the only way to defending freedom of speech.

The writers also give the reference of “The Courier” and “The Los Angels” six points’ guidelines to avoiding conflict of interest, for the betterment of the journalists.

In the last couple of paragraphs writers focuses on the ethics for communicator in Pakistan in the light of Islam. In 1963 Ayub’s regime promulgated the Press and Publication Ordinance and later in 1988 it become Registration of Press and Publication Ordinance.

The 1973 constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees to citizens freedom of expression and freedom of communication. However some restrictions are imposed by laws in the interest of Islam.

In the end writers give the declaration of Pakistan Newspaper Editors Council that what should be avoided in any form of publication, such as news, editorials, photographs and advertisement.

After reading the article on can easily understand the code of ethics of this noble profession. ###

PAKISTANI TEAM WAITS FOR A MIRACLE TO HAPPEN BY AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

The problem with us is that we always wait for a miracle to happen. But every day it doesn’t happen. Therefore hoping for results much as the historic win in Sharjah where a last ball sixer by Javed Miandad earned us the match or the West Indies defeat by Australia in 1992 world cup that paved our paved way to the finals is like waiting for providence to come to our rescue.

Waiting for miracles to happen has now become our national character. We do not believe in hard work and passion, our first priority is to find a shortcut, or wait for the miracle.

The thing that we were lacking in recent tour of Australia is hard work and self-belief. Captain Muhammad Yousuf instead of motivating the players, expressed his meek temperament by saying Australia is number one team of the world and it is difficult to defeat them in their home grounds.

It is true that Australia is the world champion and still number one team in Test and One day International (ODI) ranking of International Cricket council (ICC). But when you play against the number one team you should believe in yourself. We have the example of Bangladesh, who played with self-belief and passion and won against Australia in champion’s Trophy of 2008.

The same Pakistani squad, without Muhammad Yousuf, given a superb performance in T-20 World Cup had defeated all teams. The passion and self-motivation which was seen in T-20 world cup was missing in all games we played afterward.

Pakistani team had played a Test series against Srilanka and New Zealand, and lost by 2-0 and 2-1 respectively. We also played a ODI series against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi, lost by 3-2.

In Australia, the team had to suffer a clean sweep by losing both the Test series and ODIs 3-0 and 5-0, respectively.

According to news reports, former players have suggested to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint Shahid Afridi as the new captain.

But it is debatable whether the all rounder can deliver and can help the team turn into a truly disciplined, motivated and efficient outfit.

No doubt Shahid Afridi is great all rounder and he has given us some great victories, but if his batting as a captain does not click then what.

I think PCB should avoid changing captain every now and then. PCB should give at least two years to a captain and review his future in the light of his performance.

This character of PCB officials to changing captain after a series shows that PCB officials also believe in miracles to happen.

DROP CATCHES AVERAGE INCREASES IN AUS TOUR BY AQEEL AHEMD RAJPAR

Karachi, Jan 23: Pakistan has dropped 23 catches in Australia. In New Zealand before this affair they dropped, conservatively, 10 catches, in three matches which mean that average of four drop catches in a match increased dramatically.

The 23 drop catches in Australia have cost them over 550 runs; what cost there has been in morale, mood and momentum nobody can put a number on. All catches are crucial but some more than others.

Pakistan were fully on top when Ponting pulled again, this time straight to Mohammad Aamer, only for him to drop one of the simplest offerings likely to come his way. It changed the game.

Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's coach was left to repeat the excuse that Pakistan's camp has been using every day here. "Yes that was a bad drop by Aamer, and things would have been different," Intikhab said.

"It was an easy catch but again that was a very vital catch for us. Especially on a wicket like this we can't give chances,”

"When we arrived here I said we had a problem. It's a grassroots problem back home, people don't take fielding seriously when they play for associations and departments and regions. This is where we have to work really hard. It is a serious problem, we practice every day, we practice all kinds of different drills but at the end of the day they have to do it themselves." Intikhab added.

“Specialist fielding coaches have been talked about and their usefulness with the Pakistan side could be argued either way. Jonty Rhodes couldn't do much in 2006, but he was only with them for two weeks”.

“Mohtashim Rasheed has been with the side on and off over the last couple of years and when he has been around the catching hasn't been as poor as it has over these last few months”.

“The current coaching team is adamant that as much as can be done is being done. Clearly it is not enough, but they feel no need for a specialist fielding coach. "Myself, Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed, the three of us, work very hard and do different drills,"

Intikhab said. "A specialist fielder can come and coach and won't make much difference. At the end of the day these are the players and they have to have confidence in their ability. It is serious and we have to address it. It is a debatable point actually. I don't think he will come with new ideas. We have done everything and we do it every day.

Pakistan's other major obstacle on this tour has been their own lack of intent, which has been startling at times. It became apparent again here, immediately after lunch in 2nd Test. Pakistan were fully on top then, the pace bowlers had a wicket each and Ponting was still struggling.

Mohammad Yousuf chose to open the afternoon session with Danish Kaneria, disregarding both Ponting and Michael Clarke's general command over spin. Aamer didn't bowl through the entire session, by which time captain and vice-captain were firmly entrenched.

No clarity emerged as to why they did it, only further evidence - and it isn't needed - that Pakistan still don't think they can take Australia. "I don't think it was a mistake to not bowl him Aamer," Intikhab said. "It was very important to keep every bowler fresh. After lunch Kaneria bowled downwind and the idea was to give him a few overs and see and seamers can bowl at the other end. But it didn't work out that way. ###

SHAHEED BENAZIR BHUTTO INTERNATIONAL BOXING TOURNAMENT BY AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

KARACHI, Jan 18: Pakistan with two teams claimed one gold medal in the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament which ended at the KPT Sports Complex here on January 08.

China clinched four gold medals to win the top honours in the tournament. Chinese showed their class with brilliant display of punching and superb technique to earn handsome cheers and appreciation from a jam-packed arena.

All the seven Chinese pugilists ended the championship in style by winning four gold, one silver and two bronze medals to claim the top spot in the 20-nation contest

Syrian boxers got two gold and two silver medals while Thailand took two gold medals.

Pakistan started the final day in great fashion in the light-flyweight bout when Mohib Bacha of Pakistan Whites crushed compatriot Nadir Baloch of Pakistan Greens 4-0 to grab the gold.

However, in the fly-weight bout Anan Pongkhet of Thailand defeated Pakistan Whites’ Abdul Waheed Baloch 2-1.

Adnan Hussain of Pakistan Greens went down to Ibrahim Sanda of Syria in the light-weight category 6-2.

Six boxers of Central Africa have decided to embrace Islam after they were greatly struck by the behaviour of the Muslims during their stay here.

Mulema Joseph of Cameroon, who embraced Islam named Mohammad Umar, hammered Iraq’s Ahmed Jassem 15-0 in the welterweight final.

Olympic bronze medallist Syed Hussain Shah has advised the Pakistani boxers to keep themselves away of drugs and other frivolous activities and only focus on their game as discipline is the only thing which could give them the power to excel in boxing.

“I would like to advise my youngsters to keep themselves away of drugs and other useless activities and only concentrate on their boxing,” the 1988 Seoul bronze medallist boxer told reporters here.

It is pertinent to mention here that two Pakistani boxers Mehrullah Lassi and Faisal Karim were tested positive for using cannabis during the 2006 Colombo South Asian Games which later forced the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) to impose life bans on them. However, their bans were reduced to two-year suspensions.

Shah, who is imparting training to the professionals in Japan, pointed out that maximum exposure would only bring maturity in the national boxers and it is the only way to raise the image of the game in the country.

However, he warned that the boxers should be sent only to those countries where they could prevent themselves from frivolous activities and could only concentrate on their training.

To a query he said that it is a great effort from the authorities to conduct such a big event in an unfavourable environment.

“It is great to hold such a big event in such a risky condition,” the former Pakistan boxer said.

Federal Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, world boxing champion Amir Khan, Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Pir Syed Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, Sindh Sports Minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, Seoul Olympics bronze medallist Hussain Shah, President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan, President PBF Doda Khan Bhutto were present at the presentation ceremony.

Australia dominates first day's play as Ricky and Clarke hit centuries BY AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

HOBART, Jan 14: Australian batsmen dominated the first day's play after losing three wickets on the score of 80 in the third and final Test here on Thursday.

unbeaten centuries of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke steered Australia to 302-3 on day one stumps. Pakistan started well pegging Australia back to 80-3 at lunch.

Ponting dropped by Amir on nought, ended the day on 137 to hit only his second Test century on his home ground at Bellerive Oval.

Australia have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, but things looked promising for the tourists in the opening session when, having lost the toss, they claimed the wickets of Simon Katich, Shane Watson and Mike Hussey.

Katich was the first to go, departing in the seventh over for 11 after being adjudged lbw on referral off Mohammad Asif.

Ponting should have followed without scoring when he was also tempted into a hook shot by Asif and skied the ball straight to young paceman Mohammad Aamer at fine leg.

Aamer did not have to move, but elected to take the ball at waist level rather than at head height.

Ponting punished the tourists heavily thereafter by producing his 39th Test century. Clarke was the quiet achiever with his chanceless century; he brought up his 13th Test century from 188 balls to end the day unbeaten on 111. Clarke also passed the 4,000 Test run milestone in his 58th Test.

The unbroken partnership of 231 between Ponting and Clarke broke Australia's fourth-wicket record against Pakistan, set by Greg Chappell and Graham Yallop at Faisalabad in 1980.

The series leading run-scorer Watson again looked a million dollars before he cut Umar Gull to gully just after the drinks break as Imran Farhat hung onto a sharp catch.

Hussey's defensive edge providing Sarfraz his first catch in Test cricket in the 21st over.

Later when asked for his thoughts when his hook sailed towards Aamer, Ponting said: “I was thinking about having a long day in the change rooms with not much to do and what paper I was going to read.

"Aamer didn't have to take a step but thankfully he put it down and it gave me another chance and 70 or 80 overs later I am still out there."