Well, the debate is finally over. According to this newspaper report, the Punjab Assembly just introduced an amendment in the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965 making it mandatory for automobile drivers to wear seatbelts. Finally and thank god!!!

But not so soon, some of the fine print says that the seatbelt requirement will not apply if, for instance, the car doesn’t have any in the first place. The new amendment also gives the Government the opportunity to exempt a category of cars from the seatbelt requirement.

Still, it’s a start.

Where is our beloved country heading? Is the operation in Wazirstan going to solve our problems? I highly doubt. Who is our enemy? Is it the Taliban, India, the US, or we don’t need an enemy as WE are our own worst enemy.

Something has to give up here. For how long this bloodshed could go on? Just for how long? Have we not had enough? This month alone we have lost close to 300 lives!!! Isn’t it about time that we give up the comfort of our homes to do something for our country? But what can we do? At my end other than praying I know I am not doing anything. But prayers alone would not get us there….We need to back up our prayers with actions. Its about time my fellow citizens!

Elite Police Celebrating Win - Source: BBC News - Suggested by Shakeel Ahmad

In Lahore this morning, three different police facilities were attacked by well-trained and well-equipped terrorists. The incidents at FIA building, Manawan Police Academy and Bedian Elite Force Training Facility left at least 30 people dead including all the attackers, policemen and some civilians. Two of the targets, the FIA building and Manawan Police Training Academy have been hit by terrorists earlier as well. Although the new wave of attacks was serious, however, the response of security agencies and the police has shown an upgraded level of strike-back action.

Police force moving for action against attackers in Lahore - Source: BBC News

Yes, we are living in insecure times and when a full-fledged war is being raged against these mug-heads, they are sure to strike back. What makes all Pakistanis proud is the sacrifice of life that our soldiers and policemen are making to fight terrorism and to protect common citizens like you and me.

We should pray for these brave sons of the soil and help them by providing any information that we are able to gather against terrorists or suspicious activities around our cities and neighborhoods.

To all the policemen who lost their life today in Lahore and Kohat; every Lahori and Pakistani salutes you!

The service was introduced to a group of local bloggers in a session held at Telenor’s office here in Lahore.

The company aims to bring convenience and ease to the daily user experience of its subscribers. Those who are interested in Telenor’s service can either buy a new Telenor number online with ad-dons of your own choice or you can port your existing number to Telenor in a few easy steps. Make sure you have a credit card to place this order. The process is very easy and self explanatory.

I believe this initiative will invite competition in the online one stop solutions by all mobile companies; which is direly needed by a rapidly increasing community of internet users in Pakistan.

Edited (16:08 – Tuesday, August 11, 2009): Deleted official quote upon request.

All passengers of the ‘Dosti Bus’, including both Indians and Pakistanis, are safe and will continue their journey once events die down and safety is ensured for the rest of their journey.

Sister cities of Lahore and Delhi just got transportation links restored a few years back after decades of cut-out; a luxury that again gets threatened by unrest on either side of the border. In 2007, about 65 passengers were burnt alive when the train link between the two cities, termed as ‘Samjhota Express’ was targeted near Panipat in India. Most recently India has expressed its reservation over the security of the bus service within Pakistan borders, a claim which Pakistani authorities say is unnecessary keeping in view the greater loss of Pakistani life on the Indian side resulting from sabotage and lack of proper security.

Before entering, the reported gunmen hurled grenades at the security entrance of the centre instantly killing and injuring several guards. It was followed by an indiscriminate firing at the young Police trainees who were doing a parade in the grounds.

Death toll has reached about 20, while more than 50 people have been injured. Most of the dead are Police martyrs. The Manawa Training Centre has more than 800 police officials stationed as trainees, instructors or guards.

Punjab Police, Rangers and Pakistan Army are continuing a massive operation to evict unarmed hostages and to capture or kill the terrorists. The operation, started this early morning after the siege, is continued till now as TV footage shows presence of heavy contingents of security forces surrounding the centre premises.

This attack is strikingly sophisticated, well-planned with heavily armed young terrorists and bears similarity to the Liberty Carnage involving the ambush of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team.

We salute those martyrs who have lost their lives so far and pray that this crisis ends as soon as possible with all the terrorists caught or rightfully executed with as less mercy as possible.

Connecting Nation with Nature!

Our first National Bird Show 2006 was organized on September 24, 2006 at Avari Hotel, Lahore. Large number of families and fanciers attended this show from different parts of the country including Sialkot, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur and other parts of the country.

BSP management believes that these kinds of shows which are organized on international standards & rules so it will have long term effects for improving the image of Pakistan abroad.

I so want to go but, missing a  plan, sadly enough!
Get connected? ;)

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani has just announced to restore all deposed judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhrty in a dramatic development. In his address to the nation, Mr. Gillani has promised to reinstate Mr. Chaudhry on 21st of March, the day when the current Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar retires.

The decision came along as the Long March in leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Aitezaz Ahsan was on its way to Islamabad near Gujranwala.

There is wide-spread early morning jubiliation and Pakistanis are celebrating the rise of a new Pakistan…

Pakistan Zindabad!!

Image Source: Pakistaniat.com

Police block a street in Lahore ahead of Long March

Photo Courtesy: SeeNReport

The Government has literally let lose all patience in stopping lawyers, political activists, members of the civil society and the common people from reaching Islamabad for the lawyer’s mass sit-in. In Karachi, the launchpad of the march, we saw authorities blocking highways, baton-charging marchers and mass arrests of the participants. Situation may spiral out of control as there are reports of further clashes, protests, arrests and cars being set on fire in the metropolis.

Situation might not be different in Punjab and rest of the Sindh province, where Section 144 was imposed restricing public gatherings and processions of any sorts, as the march proceeds towards Islamabad.

Bloggers around the country are providing hand-on news of the Long March as it happens. Teeth Maestro is doing live coverage of the march by getting updates from people using wide number of sources and means including Twitter.

You can watch further citizen journalism updates on SeeNReport’s Long March page.