Defending champions of the RBS T20 Cricket League, Sialkot Stallions, have retained their crown after beating Lahore Lions in the final of the domestic tournament’s 2009 season.

After winning the toss, Lahore Lions decided to bat first at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium last night. Imran Farhat was the highest scoring batsman for the Lions who sent to the pavilion after scoring 47 runs. Twenty whole overs and a loss of eight wickets landed the Lions with a total of 150 runs; a target that was achieved rather easily by their rivals.

Opening Stallion, Imran Nazir was the star of his team who scored 57 runs; highest in the match.

Sialkot Stallions won the game with 4 wickets and 5 balls remaining.

See complete match summary here.

We congratulate the Stallions on their fantastic win and hope they get a place at the 2009 Champions League T20 tournament to be played in India this year. So far, no Pakistani team has been included in the multi-million dollar event on a presumption that Pakistan Cricket has imposed travel restrictions on its players – a claim that PCB denies.

Exclusion of any Pakistani team from the event will result in further isolation of Pakistan Cricket which has been suffering badly due to the security situation back home.

Scene of the Suicide Bomb Blast at Rescue 15 Station - Photo by Saad Sarfraz Sheikh at Demotix

It was not unexpected after the Government launched an all-out military action against the militants in SWAT that they will hit back harder this time. Again, the phenomenon of suicide bombings is not new; we have now been going through this for the last two years while losing thousands of innocent people and a former Prime Minister. What’s new is the scale and sophistication of these blasts.

Policemen posted at Rescue 15 station in front of the CCPO Office on Fatima Jinnah Road became victims to this reality when a Toyota Hiace screeched past security barriers and unleashed destruction on their glistening new office building. Six masked men are reported to have opened fire indiscriminately followed by a horrific explosion believed to be a suicide one. So far 30 people including 10 policemen have died with about 200 more reported injured. The police authorities have arrested some four suspects out of which two did not even look like one on TV (I mean which terrorist is civilized enough to carry an handkerchief and smile at the cameras).

There is no doubt about the fact that terrorism is Pakistan’s own problem but equally true is the fact that local elements are getting strong support from external forces. We were facing the challenge which was already unbearable and then our Government started a military campaign in populated areas of SWAT. Why was it difficult for our Government to understand the scale of humanitarian crisis resulting from such a major offensive? Today we have forced 2.7 million civilians to flee their homes, abandon their crops, cattle and belongings only to face rejection and nonacceptance by political and societal forces in their own country.

Today’s incident on Lower Mall should be attributed to the mistakes of our past. But the way we are dealing with the crisis in Swat and resulting displacement in millions, we are only brewing ground for a darker and more insecure future.

More Photos of the incident by Saad Sarfraz Sheikh

ARY News

The Lahore CCPO’s office and the Rescue 15 center were targeted–both show signs of severe destruction.  The Rescue 15 building is located on Fatima Jinnah Road–formerly known as Queens Road. The Police have said that 25 people were inside the building when the blast occured.

As is the case in such scenarios, there are conflicting counts for those injured or killed in this incident.  Geo TV’s website reports 10 killed and 83 injured.  However, according to Edhi’s services, 30 people have been killed so far.   According to the DCO Lahore, 23 people have died due to the blast.

TV news reports say 3 security personnel are among the dead.  Watching Express 24/7, they say 120 to 130 people have been injured but that the numbers come from two main hospitals serving the victims right now, which includes Ganga Ram Hospital.  The casualties are expected to rise.

Emergency crews are continuing to pull people out of the rubble–and aerial surveillance is also underway at the site. Markets in the surrounding areas have been closed down.

Those in Lahore have been requested to donate blood.  Contact 042-756-8724 or 8725 to find out more about the donation process.

Two suspects arrested by the police

According to DCO Lahore Sajjad Bhutta, this was a suicide car bombing. 2 suspects have been arrested by the local police. Eyewitness reports also confirm the incident as a car bombing.

Earlier this morning, I turned on the TV–when the news came of this blast in Lahore.  At the time, 150 people were reported injured–and children are trapped inside St. Anthony’s school near the Mall.  Now it is reported the students have been sent home with their family members.

It is reported that 35 adjacent buildings have been damaged by the intensity of the blast. Also, that the explosion created a crater 20 feet deep at the site.

I also heard that the windows for Quaid-e-Azam library have been shattered. Friends on Facebook who work near the area also reported shattered windows, falling ceilings.

Blast Site

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Razas Gilani have both condemned the attack.

We here at Lahore Metblogs will keep updating this–as more information comes in.

Do pray for those affected by this tragic incident.

Some news sources for those interested: 

• Dawn  , specifically this story
• Geo TV, specifically this article

Time: 5.45pm
Date: 31 May 2009
Place: Zakir Tikka intersection, Sarwar Road, Lahore Cantonment

What is Critical Mass?

Critical Mass is about having clean cities that provide mobility and accessibility. Critical Mass is about clean transport. Critical Mass is about putting public good over private interest. Critical Mass is about making friends. Critical Mass is about reclaiming public space. Critical Mass is about showing a man on a cycle is the same as a man in a ten lac car. Critical Mass is about democracy.

Critical Mass is not an organization. It is an idea. It is about making a statement.
Everyone in Lahore knows how bad the traffic is. Critical Mass Lahore is a step towards making our city clean and taking our streets back.

Critical Mass is an idea. Make it yours.

What do I need to participate in a Critical Mass Event?
All you need is a road-worthy cycle and an sense of fun. Buy, beg, borrow or steal a cycle if you have to, but join the Mass.

Where and how else to Critical Mass Events take place?
Critical Mass events are typically held on the last Friday of each month in cities all over the world. For information about Critical Mass Lahore, be at Zakir Tikka at 5:45pm this Sunday 31 May 2009 or visit the Critical Mass Lahore Facebook page. Important: Be on time!!!

As Indian Punjab sunk into violence and unrest, a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus enroute to Lahore from Delhi as part of the international service between two historical cities has been stopped as a precaution at Ludhiana Sadar Police Station. The move came as violence errupted in all major cities and towns of the Indian Punjab province after a revered Sikh Guru was killed in a Gurdawara shoot-out at Vienna, Austria. Inflamed protestors burnt tyres, vehicles and a train in cities like Jalandhar.

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.

In the present time of a National crisis, a strange issue has arose to haunt the IDPs of Swat and other areas affected by the ongoing military operation against the militants. The brotherly governments of the provinces of Punjab and Sindh have banned the entry of IDPs into their respective territories amidst fears of social unrest and related security woes. Punjab government alternatively is assisting the displaced only by providing medical and food supplies to the camps at places including Mardan and has been verbally barring IDPs from their province.

Sindh government, on the other hand, has sternly taken action by stranding thousands of men, women and children from Swat at Sindh-Punjab border, Kashmore. The decision has been taken by the PPP government in Sindh and is supported by its ally, the MQM. The main argument given is the fear of the Taliban disguised as IDPs entering into Karachi and other parts of the province; eventually creating a situation there.

There are parties who are in favor of this decision and do not want terror-struck people from the Northern parts of the country to de-stabilize their social fabric. And then there are others who feel such discriminatory behavior towards the victims is not appropriate and that all Pakistanis should be free to move to any part of the country.

The question is; will it be possible for our national government to adequately manage, feed, and treat more than 2 million people at make-shift camps with conditions no worthy of human occupation? And for how long will it be able to keep these millions away from desperately joining the ranks of forces against the government and the state of Pakistan, especially when they are even being shunned by everyone including other provincial governments??

Lahore School of Economics students of Marketing (MBA – II) have organized a seminar on Integrated Marketing Communication in Pakistan. See the vibrant glimpses of the Seminar LIVE  here.

Now, with a shocking 2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) plying on routes south of their heaven-on-earth homeland of SWAT, Pakistan is officially experiencing an unprecedented crisis. While sitting in our drawing rooms, it is far too easy for many of us to say collateral damage cannot be avoided, but, try asking anyone who has lost his whole family to the bloodbath. Each human life costs the same; whether an innocent Pakistani, an Afghan or an American one. And no justification can soothe or curtail further radicalization of the youth of the innocent affectees of full-scale bombardment of wide settled areas. 

It’s too late to ask this question as to how our Government signed an agreement from a weak position and then rolled all talks within a meagre ten days on external pressures. The only question now valid is to how quickly and effectively can we help millions of IDPs who have lost everything and are in dire need of food, shelter, and clothing.

Let us join hands in donating as much as we can to the Prime Minister’s Fund for Victims of Terrorism, to other local and international NGOs, foundations, individuals and groups who are active in the affected areas. If it still needs to be realized, we must not forget, Pakistan is expereincing the worst kind of refugee problem since Independence. So, please, help; and help as much as you can.

Guys, there is a painting exhibition by Aasia Bajwa on 16th and 17th May, from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM in Zavier Hall of PC. Guess what???… you can enjoy host of things there, as there would be many other stalls and interesting items on display.

The morning rush hour is from 6am to 12pm

The evening rush hour is from 2pm to 9pm. Saturday’s rush hour starts Friday morning.

You buy anything and everything from Al-Fatah

Your ‘maassee’ and driver have taught you fluent Punjabi

Your uncivilized next door neighbor just bought a BMW because he deals in property

A really souped up Civic stops next to you and instead of a groovy exhaust sound, the woofers blare out an Abrar number

At least one of your friends is a Butt

The people in your local Gourmet Bakery know you by face

The only solution to boredom is eating out

All directions start with, ‘Go down to Main Boulevard’

You think it’s okay to wait 5 hours in the queue for Bashir’s Fish in Mozang because he only opens 6 months in the year

You go to Shahjamal every Thursday to smoke weed with Pappu Saaeen

Its quite all right to run a red light if the traffic policeman doesn’t have a bike to chase you

When someone asks you ‘’Bhai yeh Fortress kahaan hai?’’, you spread an evil grin on your face and send him to Johar Town

If you are hungry at 3 in the morning, you go to Coffee Tea & Co in your pajamas instead of walking to your kitchen

Your cousins from Karachi ask you about Food Street and you say, ‘I went there back in 2003¡ì

Your winning argument about how Lahore is better than Karachi is ‘Lahore Lahore aey’

Your childhood dream of attaining higher education was to go to Aitchison or Kinnaird

You always thank the rude shop owner because he actually let you buy something from his shop

You know it’s inevitable that you’ll be challaned on Mall Road.

Your cousins from America ask you about malls and you’re like ‘Yeah we have Pace, but I never go there’

You go to the Daewoo stand more than the airport

Courtesy: A mail :)