Kenny Irwin is US based artist, with Pakistani Starfleet Series on Flickr. I really love his love and dedication to Pakistan. Among his art there are lot of Lahore photos of Starfleet. Hope you Enjoy it!!!
More of his art can be viewed @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennyirwin/sets/72157604476547192/
God willing, I and a few of my friends will be visiting Mr. Javed Ghamidi this coming Sunday (Sept 14, 08, around early evening) for an interview of sorts.
If any of you folks have a question for me to ask him, please head over to my blog post.
I will be posting the answers to your questions, God willing, by Monday evening (given of course, that we get to meet and talk to him). He has confirmed our meet up. Let us see.
P.S. Yes, yes, I know, he is a controversial figure. And I have asked Dr. Israr a few questions in the past as well. I am not saying I agree with him as all of us have a right to choose. (easy on the flaming)
Experiences, insights, thoughts and ideas were shared in abundance at the 6th Startup Insiders session held on February 24 at the LUMS campus.
With quite an active, participating and respectably patient audience, though limited to almost 50 individuals, the session took off in high spirits and was able to maintain it throughout.
Main topic of discussion was ‘the ways of finding, identifying and targeting the right customer’ as an entrepreneur specifically in the Information Technology industry which was very intelligently moderated by Jehan Ara [President, P@SHA] and Jawwad Farid [CEO, Alchemy Technologies].
Everyone benefited from listening to and questioning some of Pakistan’s most promising IT entrepreneurs including Zafar Khan [Sofizar]; Faisal Qureshi [Kolachi Advanced Technologies]; Fahd Bangash [Amaana]; Zia Imran [Vahzay]; Umar Saif [BumpIn; Chopaal] and Jawwad himself. Almost all of these people started off with just a few individuals and have tasted success of varying degrees.
The most refreshing aspect of the session was the desire as expressed by all panelists to help and guide people who really want to break barriers and are striving to make a mark for themselves and their country. It was very heartening to see these people actually willing to share and spread their success among promising stars of the future.
The three-day ‘Urs’ or death anniversary of the 11th century saint Syedna Ali bin Usman Hajveri also known as Data Ganj Buksh (R.A) or simply ‘data sahab’ starts today in Lahore at his mausoleum, popularly known as Data Durbar. Governor Khalid Maqbool and Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (r) Ejaz Nisar will inaugurate the event with the traditional chaddar-laying ceremony and a milk-sabeel (free distribution of milk) at the shrine. As the preparations for the 964th urs are in full swing, security has been beefed up in the city.
It is generally thought that in his lifetime the great saint was called as Gang Bakhsh but afterwards he became too famous as ‘ Data Gang Bakhsh’. Ali Hajvery (R.A.) was a Persian sufi and a scholar. The greatest saintof the sub-continent born in Hajver, a town of Ghazni in Afghanistan, in 1000 A.D (400 H) and died in Lahore in 1063 or 1071A.D. In the course of his spiritual journey to God, he journeyed physically to many countries, including Turkistan, Transoxania, Iran, Iraq, and Syria where he met innumerable Sufis and Sheikhs, many of those have been mentioned in his book ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjoob’.
During the urs the shrine and its whereabouts are beautifully lit. A large number of devotees from different parts of the country besides tens of thousands from the city will visit the Data Darbar to pay their homage by reciting verses from the Holy Quran, qawalees, and recitation of naats and poetry to the saint. Separate arrangements are made for women to visit the shrine. ‘Langer Khana’ (distributing free food) and milk sabeel also attract a large number of people. The tradition of milk-sabeels traces its roots to a time when the people of Lahore used to give tax in the form of milk to the city keeper Ray Raju Jogi. Legend has it that when Hazrat Data Gunj Baksh arrived in Lahore, he stopped them from this practice. As a result, their businesses flourished and followers began giving the milk to the saint to give to the needy. Today, milkmen continue the practice by donating milk to destitutes.
Sultan al-Hind Hazrat Khwaja Moeenuddin Chishti paid his homageto Data Ganj buksh in the following words:
Ganj Bakhsh-e faiz-e aalam, mazhar-e Noorr-i Khuda
Naqisaan ra peer-e kaamil, kaamilan ra rahnuma
“The bestower of treasure (Ganj Bakhsh) in both the worlds, the reflector of the splendour of God, An accomplished spiritual guide for the learned and a guide for the ignorant”.
(more…)
Many had doubts on the fairness of these elections after several acts of the previous government referred to pre-poll rigging, but majority of them have blatantly been proven wrong.
Former ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) is loosing grip even on its strongholds of power as Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the late Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) continue their sweep drive in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh respectively.
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Early results and speculations are literally pointing towards a total victory for PML(N) in Lahore, both on National and Provincial Assemby seats.
More astonishing has been the defeat of stars of PML(Q) in their own home constituencies. PML(Q) Chairman, Ch. Shujaat Hussain lost in his native Gujrat while Rao Sikander Iqbal (former Defence Minister), Khurshid Mahmood Qasoori (former Foreign Minister), Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (former Information and later Railways Minister) and Farooq Leghari (former President of Pakistan and a prominent Q-league leader) all fell victim to the shattering voter power of the PML(N) and PPPP in their respective home towns of Okara, Kasur, Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan. On the other hand, former Chief Minister of Punjab and the key PML(Q) nominee for Prime Ministership, Ch. Pervaiz Ilahi was successful in winning both National and Provincial Assembly seats for himself.
Looking at the present state of PML(Q)’s falling frontiers, we can surely understand all was not lie in the government’s claims of holding free and fair elections; another omen for strongly needed change and progress of democracy in Pakistan.
According to some media reports, local followers of late Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party want, Lahore’s most iconic, Liberty Square (a.k.a Bank Alfalah Square) to be renamed after her. Please share with us your thoughts on the matter:
Daughter of the first popularly elected Pakistani Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto;
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Again; a Bhutto;
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A Harvard and Oxford alumnus;
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The first Asian woman to become the President of the Oxford Union;
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A lady to lead a nation after her father’s execution;
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The first female head-of-state of an Islamic country;
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Also the youngest Prime Minister in the world at that time;
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Two stints at power as the elected Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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Daughter of the East;
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Darling of the West;
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A Mohtarma; even to her opponents;
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A sister to witness very early deaths (assasinations) of her two brothers;
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A wife to a controversial husband;
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A mother to three;
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Our BB;
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Papa’s Pinky!
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She was……. Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)
May her soul rest in peace
You would be remembered for so many feats of which the above-mentioned are just a pint…
“Shaheed ki beti agar shaheed na hoti to mjhe darr tha ke woh marr jaati!”
“If the daughter of martyred had not been martyred; I’s afraid she had been dead!“
I, Usman Latif, was one of the greatest offenders of Ms. Benazir Bhutto (BB) and never considered her a successful Prime Minister. I don’t want to think why I didn’t like her but I had no logic to prove her a good ruler. My focus was totally on her performance being a ruler and I think, like all other Pakistanis, I’ve a right to think so. But, I never thought of her personal life… yup, I did a bit… but never bothered to analyze her personal life deeply. The main reason was her dominating negative role of a ruler of my country; which had been built-up in my mind and never let me to think like this. But still I’m not able to satisfy myself of her professional career as a ruler, but… today, after this grave incident, she has the greatest sympathy of mine, at least for a while.
“Kuch log marr kr ammar ho jaate hein!”
“Some die and become immortal!“
Now, I fully understood the meaning of this quote because, I’ve observed and I strongly believe that her death brought her more pride than her life. She got what people never get even after years of struggle. Whenever the history of Pakistan will be recalled. She has got sympathy of all the world and even in the hearts of her enemies. Everyone condemnd her death. No one (pro/anti) dared to even think against BB at this moment. It was not fear or her stature but the criticality and the sensitivity of the time and issue that squeezed their souls and left every one with a question mark in his mind, blank faces, sobbed hearts, horrible thoughts, blurred future, fear of safety and with so many unable to explain feelings. This single death can lead us to a mass devestation if riots are started. I mean, we can never ignore the extraneous elements creating violence in our country and have planned a lot more for us. The situation is critical and the unity is badly needed. That’s what’s going on in the minds of most of the people.
The rivals, who used to criticize and sometimes abuse the lady, just forgot the professional jealousy and rivalry and 100% of them accepted that it’s cruelty. Whether she was your favorite or not, a two time Prime Minister must not die like that.
Shaheedo ki dastan,
Bhutto tera khandan.
The story of martyred,
Is Bhutto’s Family.
Despite all other things, I’m greatly grieved over the incident and believe that her murder washed away all the negations on her personality (atleast for a while) and he’ll live in the hearts of many people.
Yeh Baazi khoon ki baazi he,
Yeh baazi tm hi haaro ge,
Her ghar se bhutto nikle ga,
Tum kitne bhutto maaro ge.
This game is a game of blood,
You’ll definitely lose this game,
Bhutto’ll come out of every house,
How many Bhuttos you will kill.
In the end I’ll say that what ever she was, her death made her important and overall her death is the evidence of the failure of our system and every one doubts one’s own security. May her soul rest in peace.
(The quotes are among the txt messages circulated on mobiles to honor BB. I really appologize about the mistakes in English adaptation.)
Was “9” unlucky for Benazir Bhutto..?
Born in 1953
=> 1 + 9 + 5 + 3 = 18
=> 1 + 8 = 9
Died in 2007
=> 2 + 0 + 0 + 7 = 9
Total years from 1953 to 2007 is
=> 54 years
=> 5 + 4 = 9
1st suicidal attack,
=> 18 oct
=> 1 + 8 = 9
2nd suicidal attack,
=> 27 dec
=> 2 + 7 = 9
Hussain Nawaz Sharif:
“I’m feeling really happy to come to my birth place. How would you feel if you come to your home after 9 years… I feel the same. Lahore is my birth city and I drove myself from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore to Jatti Umrah to feel the difference; Lahore has changed a lot but still, home sweet home. We thank all the party members and the public, because; they are here just because of there (public/party) support.”
He was asked to say something on his political stance but Hussain Nawaz Sharif refused to comment.
Mariam Nawaz Sharif:
“I am overwhelmed with the love and can’t stop my tears. It has been with the grace of Allah and is a result of our patience. As much the public waited for us, we desperately waited for this moment too. Thanks to Allah that we are here.”
Captain Saffdar (Retrd.):
“It’s so welcoming and we are really happy to be back home. Congratulations to all the people on this great occasion.”
He got off the car and embraced with the party members and congratulated the party members.
{Captain Saffdar is the husband of Mariam Nawaz Sharif}
Kulsoom Nawaz was not available for any comment.
The pics of above three would be added tomorrow. (I got it but is unable to upload)
Stay tuned for today’s live updates at Lahore Metroblogging.
