Chitral, its culture and Pukhtoonkhwan

The trailer has been created by a local creative entity called the Khowar Dub Foundation for Fun. It depicts the sense of realization among the Chitralies that their culture is swindled by Pukhtoonkhawan due to the strategic, administrative and political affiliation with the province. ;

The viewers are requested to share their views about the trailer and the realization behind the creation……

The Dardistan Times has moved to another platform.

The Dardistan Times

The readership at this blog inspired us to take our level of content presentation to a step further. We have moved from this place to an another platform. Sadly we hardly were entitled to the tenacity before which is sought by the modern e-reader.

Dynamically publishing the content, engaging users, integrating the social networking plug-ins, aggregating feeds,  using the state of the art multimedia tools, better content management system; all these were the thoughts that made us migrate from the wordpress blog.

However, the powerful SEO capabilities have always impressed us at wordpress blogging which we will miss always.

Our new platform, www.dardistantimes.com is a state of the art content management spot which is easy to use, SEO oriented and user friendly. Multimedia tools like pictures, videos, mp3s are accessible and publishing is a few-clicks process.

We have all-in-one place options for reporting, writing, commenting, blogging, forums and polls fully secured by Mollon Spam Protection System.

There we get users registered, give them a role to contribute and the access to directly publish the content.

Our authenticated and authorized users would be able to use different content publishing types including Uploading videos, Audios, Articles, News Reports, Video Embeds, Letters, Interviews and columns etc.

Only the power user will be able to change the way the content is presented. However, we always seek feedback and input to further enrich the readership experience at the Dardistan Times.

The bandwith and Space quota has been increased too. We expect our readers to jump on the www.dardistantimes.com as quickly as they can.

Moreover, our new platform has been integrated with twitter, facebook, blip.tv and  Delicious.

We request all our current readers, users, contributors, and writers to get themselves registered with www.dardistantimes.com and enjoy the powerful tools that we offer.

Team The Dardistan Times

Gilgit Royal Dance

The Gilgit Royal Dance is a Dance especially performed by the ruling families of the region.

Chairman Bahria town Islamabad ready to help IDPs of Attaabad Hunza

By; Naveed Hussain Yasini

ISLAMABAD;- The devastating land-slide of Attaabad Hunza has encountered the people with various problems; blocking Hunza river and reshaping it to a huge lake, displacing the people from their homes and blocking shahrah-e-Karakuram. The apathy of GB administration and Pakistani government towards the situation has made the said lake an enormous problem. Now its on the verge of out bursting and according to experts it can make massive destruction in the vicinity of the river-route. People of the area have been waiting for government help to get rid of the evil for last couple of months and packages to the affected people. Prime-minister Pakistan recently visited the area and assured the people to provide them packages or grants after getting the detail of the destruction happened and expected to happen. This made the IDPs annoyed and they arouse to action by moving towards the lake in the form of protest. On the other hand women and children (IDPs) blocked the road in Ganish Hunza. They raised various slogans describing the apathy shown by the administration.The gloominess with full of tears on the faces of the IDPs was really heart-touching. This very sight made people to be ready for help in one way or the other. On realizing an immediate need of help Chaiman Bahria Town Islamabad came forward. He requested President and Prime-minister of Pakistan, along with Manzoor watto and Mehdi Shah in his statement in a national newspaper to provide him aerial facility in the form of aeroplane so that he would have an early access to the IDPs. He said that he would bear all the expenses of the plane and he would also provide food for all the IDPs free of cost.

Pakistan Army will upgrade APS Hundur Yasin to Cadet College very soon

(Naveed Hussain Yasini) Pakistan Army has been accomplishing various plans in the development of District Ghizer in general and Yasin Valley in particular for the last couple of years in reward of the bravery of Lalak Jan Shaheed (NH) and other martyrs. Few years ago, a dispensary namely Lalak Jan Shaheed Dispensary came into being and now the people of Hundur and adjoining villages are benefiting from it. This has enabled the people to breathe a sigh of relief in health matters on minor level. On realizing the importance of quality education in the area Pakistan Army established “Army Public School (Lalak Jan Shaheed) last year in Hundur Yasin. After completion of one year of the educational journey, recently ‘Parents day’ took place in the said school. Center Commandant NLI Center Bunji Brigadier Shahid Riaz attended the very ceremony as chief guest. In his address to the gathering he admired and appreciated the devotions and services of Lalak Jan Shaheed,martyrs and other soldiers in the defense of the land. He also promised to bring all possible measures to enlarge health and educational facilities in the area. On this occasion he assured the people to upgrade APS to Cadet College very soon. He said that land of 25 kanals had been secured and Army would work on the construction of college . Now it is expected that the establishment of Cadet College will surely prove a boon to quality education.

A disastrous calamity in Hunza Gojal.

[Dardistan Times] The debris had piled up as high as 394 ft, constituting a lake with a maximum height of 276.38 Ft. A natural disaster has dammed the picturesque Hunza-Gojal, in Pakistan for the last 56 days. The water is swelling day by day endangering more than 45000 people downstream. The water is sneaking downstream as low as 32 cusec against the  inflow of 1734 Cusecs. The Gojal valley reportedly has been cut off from the rest of the world. Hunza River has blocked for about 1.5 kilometres with a reservoir spreading over more than16km. 78 houses have submerged displacing more than 3000 people internally. Most of the infrastructure is jammed. Two Jamat Khanas (Ismaili Prayer Halls), a school and bridged has been submerged. The rescuers are still having hard time to take on the challenge of disaster. Karakuram Highway (KKH), the major route between China and Pakistan is blocked jeopardizing the sino-pak business activities for the oncoming summer.  Below are the latest figures shared by Asghar Khan from Gilgit, Pakistan.

Facts and Figures

• Total Height of Debris                                                                         394 Ft
• Lake Max Height                                                                                    276.38   Ft
• Length of Reservoir                                                                             15   Kms
• Inflow                                                                                                        1734 Cusecs
• Rise in last 24 hours                                                                             1.83 Ft
• Seepage of water                                                                                   32 Cusec
• Difference of Water and Excavation Lvl -                                   25.99 Mtr
• Number of days to over-topping at current rate                    55 days

Damages:

• Houses submerged                                                                              78
• Displaced people                                                                                  3,000
• Jamath Khana (Ismaili Prayer Halls)                                           02
• School                                                                                                       01
• Bridge                                                                                                        01
• Blockage of KKH                                                                                   1.3 Kms
• Blockage of Hunza River                                                                   1.5 Kms

Asghar Khan in Gilgit has contributed to this article.

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Prince Karim Aga Khan files a lawsuit against two of his lay followers in Federal Court of Canada

Million seek Imam’s happiness. Thousands cry for a glimpse of him from the mountains of central Asia to North America.But few could get a chance of profiting his words. The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, is suing a Toronto Ismailli Lawyer, Alnaz Jiwa and a Montreal based Ismaili businessman for copyright infringment. The worldly renown social engineer and the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslim is seeking punitive and exemplary damages and injunction against two of his own lay followers the canadian press reported  on Tuesday.

The statement of claim, filed last week in federal court, alleges the  two men and other unnamed parties infringed on his copyright by selling “literary works and readings” he wrote. The document alleges the defendants engaged in the commercial ventures using unauthorized reproduction of material.

The material in question consists of collection of written messages and speeches delivered by the Aga Khan between 1957 and 2009.

“It is the mandate of the Imam to interpret to his community the faith of Islam” and  ”lead the effort to improve the security and quality” of life of his community and the wider societies amongh which the Ismailies live,” teh suit states. The Aga Khan’s communication to his community are conveyed in his privileged context and hence, he is concerned that their integrity should be sageguarded.”

The suit names Toronto lawyer Alnaz Jiwa and Montreal Businessman Nagib Tajdin.

Jiwa reportedly confirmed his statement of defense has not been filed.

HEC Pakistan announces Overseas Scholarships

(Naveed Hussain Yasini);- The Higher Education Commision  of Pakistan has recently announced its overseas  Scholarships. In this regard applications have been invited from the outstanding students of Pakistan/AJK for higher studies of PhD and Master’s leading to PhD programmes in specified disciplines in the world’s top ranked universities of USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore etc. Brilliant students having a minimum qualification of 16 years education, are eligible to apply. All the applicants in this regard need to have secured admission into a PhD or Masters leading to PhD programs. Applications can be submitted via registered mail or courier services in HEC Islamabad latest by June 15, 2010.

Japan, ready to offer Postgraduate scholarships to Pakistani students

(Naveed Hussain Yasini). The government of Japan is ready to offer Postgraduate MEXT (Ministry of Education, science, Sport and Culture) scholarships to eleven (11) Pakistani students this year.The students able to be benefited from the very scholarship will be enrolled in the reputed research universities, propitious to their respective fields in Japan. The mission of MEXT scholarship is to promote human and economic development and long-lasting good governance in various developing countries. “Till now one hundred Pakistani students have availed this scholarship and they are now serving in various areas in Pakistan after getting quality education in Japan”,said ambassador of Japan in Pakistan.

Who is Abass Muhammad? A famous Canadian Magazine, Macleans digs into the life of a proud citizen of Gilgit-Baltistan

Macleans is as famous in Canada as Time and Economist in USA. Abbass Muhammad the sole Skier from Gilgit Baltistan inspires the attention of the editor of Macleans to cover his story and his journay to Olympics. The writer extensively writes about Abbass and his beginning of Ski sports  with simple woods entangled with rubbers.  Here is the complete story.

As a young boy in the far north of Pakistan, Muhammad Abbas would find pieces of scrap wood at the nearby air force facility and, with a little help, fashion them into rudimentary skis. He attached them to his feet with rubber bands. It was cold, he remembers, and there wasn’t much else to do in winter.

Pastime became hobby, hobby became obsession—and 15 years later, Abbas is in Whistler to ski the giant slalom. No more rubber bands: at 24, he is Pakistan’s flag-bearer, its sole representative and the first athlete in his country’s history to qualify for the Winter Olympics. “This boy,” says Zahid Farooq, a now-retired member of the air force who nurtured Abbas as a young skier and remains his coach today, “This boy, a nine-year-old, on his little skis—he could do anything the adults could do, and more. We said, ‘Here is someone to be groomed. Here is our future.’ ”

When these Games began, Abbas walked into B.C. Place as part of a curious fraternity: almost one quarter of the 82 countries at the Vancouver Games are, like Pakistan, represented by a single athlete. Some of these competitors are using what cynics describe as “flags of convenience”—a back door into the Olympics after one fails to make the cut in his homeland.

In some other cases, the athlete is a transplant of longer standing. Tucker Murphy, a cross-country skier who became the first Bermudian to compete at a Winter Games, was born in the United States and educated at Oxford. Kwame
Nkrumah-Acheampong—the publicity-loving “snow leopard” who comprises Ghana’s entry—was born in Scotland and didn’t start skiing until he moved to Britain as an adult. Samir Azzimani, skiing for Morocco, grew up outside Paris. “I want to show the world that when it comes to Africans, we don’t all do the snow plow,” he said before the Olympics.

Abbas is skiing for the country of his birth and for the pride of the small, primitive village in which he still lives, deep in Pakistan’s mountainous north. Officially, he is a member of the country’s air force. His job? To ski. The military is now actively encouraging the development of young alpine stars as part of what one official has described as an effort to “soften” Pakistan’s international image. It’s a long-term investment: of the eight skiers that Pakistan sent to Austria for training and races last year, only two returned with enough points to qualify for the Olympics. But because neither skier finished high enough in the world rankings, Pakistan was given just one slot in the giant slalom—and Abbas, who scored highest, was chosen to represent his country.

“People in Pakistan—they are not much attuned to the Winter Olympics,” Abbas said through his coach and interpreter. “But now I am here, and the people—they care. They send me messages. The time has not come for me to stand on the podium, but my country is watching so I must acquit myself with honour.”

Abbas said he was calm as the opening ceremonies began, but that changed the moment he entered the stadium. “To be the first—I was so much bursting with emotion that I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs, ‘Pakistan Zindabad!’ [Long live Pakistan!]”

Even a month ago, few in his own country knew who he was. That’s changed. Abbas has been the toast of official government receptions. And he was greeted at the Vancouver airport by dozens of cheering members of the city’s Pakistani community. “Some in Pakistan—they didn’t know there even was a Winter Olympics,” his coach said. “Now they know. They know about Abbas. And some, they are putting on skis for the first time.”

Avalanche at Dasu (Kohistan) engulfs the valleys. 102 died, several injured.

Kandia a small settlement of Dassu in District Kohistan was engulfed by a terrible avalanche on the weekend. 102 people were killed and several other were reportedly injured. There were almost 50  people still trapped under the pile of ice and debris to be rescued. The terribly rough terrain and  extreme weather hinders the rescuers to come to their aid. The rescue team of Naitonal Disaster Mangement Authority has been able to air drop food and other stuff for the affectees of the calamity. According to a British Newsper, there are 52 kids who lost their lives. 10 members of one unfortunate family were also among those who died.

Those under the debris are provided with food through a small hole. Additional snow fall, rain or scorching heat thought to possibly  endanger the lives of the stranded people. Sources call it a tough job to rescue the people but the operation is  under way and efforts are being made to save maximum number of lives.

The avalanche hit the area on Wednesday evening. Continuous rains and heavy snow-fall has blocked all the possible ways towards Kandia making it difficult to anybody striving to come to an aid.

Karim Kaka Khail, a hotelier from Kamila, Dasu has contributed to this report.

34,000 families are affected by Diamer Bhash Dam. Hope for Compensation after the recent barbaric police shooting.

ISLAMABAD: On the heels of a tragedy during rally of Diamer-Bhasha dam affectees Thursday, the government has summoned a crucial meeting on February 23 to thrash out a compensation package for the proposed dam’s affectees.

A source close to Prime Minister House told The News that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had taken exception to the firing incident and asked Federal Minister for Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Wattoo to hold a meeting to finalise a compensation package for the affectees.

At least two persons were killed and four others injured when police opened fire at a protest rally of Diamer-Bhasha Dam affectees at the district headquarters Chilas. Manzoor Wattoo expressed deep grief and sorrow over the incident. He asked G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, Chief Secretary and IG Gilgit-Baltistan to reach the place of incident and show sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the incident.

He said Prime Minister Gilani had announced compensation of Rs0.5 million each for the dead and Rs0.1 million each for the wounded and initiate judicial inquiry into the incident. The culprits should be brought to justice, he said.

Manzoor Wattoo ordered removal of the deputy commissioner and superintendent police of the district Chilas immediately. He was confident the Wednesday meeting would come up with a compensation package for the dam affectees.

APP adds: Meanwhile, a addressing a news conference at party secretariat, PML-N central leader Siddiqul Farooq condemned the killing of two persons in a protest demonstration of the dam affectees in Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said compensation amount to heirs of the deceased must be increased from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million. Members of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Haji Janbaz Khan, Mufti Abdullah and local leaders were also present on this occasion.,

He said the number of affected families of the proposed Diamer-Bhasha dam was more than 34,000, adding a charter of demand containing 16 demands of the residents of district Diamer had already been given to the quarters concerned.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27371

Police opens fire on demonstrators, 3 Killed and several wounded in Chilas. Mehdi Shah alleged the victims

Pakistani Police opened fire on citizens of Chilas amid a small protest against the controversial Diamer Bhasha Dam in Gilgit Baltistan. The demonstrators gathered to voice their demands concerning the Dame in front of WAPDA, a government own establishment for water and power on Thursday when the police started the shooting spree. 3 people died right away while several fell down seriously wounded. Mehdi Shah, the political representative of Larkana based PPP gracefully dogged himself away from his ineffectiveness simply alleging those who died. Safdar ali, Mehdis’s public relations officer said to BBC, ” They burnt the WAPDA hostel, DC office and the office of police head and opened fire.”  However,there was no such news of anything burning or  security personnel being shot. The Deputy commissioner Diamer, Police head, Assistant Commissioner and Tehsildar have been reportedly suspended.

Haider Abbass Rizvi, a member of MQM has demanded the parliament of Pakistan to form a judicial inquiry into the incident. Marvi Mamon, who has been very vocal for the rights of the people of Gilgit Baltistan, has condemned the brutality of security forces.

This killing of innocent people in Chilas has stirred tough reactions among the public and local leaders. The sacrifices of the local people would likely bump up the Anti Dam moments. The local people have serious concerns on the construction of the Dam. Haji Abdul  Qadoos a local political leader said, ” we are feeling suppressed at this time. We would not let the Dam go on. If Pakistan needs water, they should go for Kalabagh Dam why should they shoot our innocent people to feed their own citizen.”

The indignant people, Human Rights activists and political parties have demanded for a detailed judicial inquiry into the matter to expose  Police black sheeps. The people of Gilgit Baltistan generally and the Chilasies specifically are up in arms at at shooting incident.

The 18th National Skiing Championship will kick off in Naltar, Gilgit Baltistan

Asghar Khan, Gilgit:

The 18th National Skiing Championship will kick off in Naltar, a stunning valley of Gilgit Baltistan from February 18 – 24, 2010. Skiers from across the country will compete in different categories such as Slalom, and Giant Slalom events. Naltar is a beautiful valley in Gilgit Baltistan, renown for its Ski sports in winter. Here Ski Federation of Pakistan organizes Skiing Chapi

onship Trophy every year where 12 ski associations: Sindh, NWFP, Punjab, Balochistan, Islamabad, Alpine Club, Civil Aviation Authority, Northern Areas Ski Federation, Northern Areas Scouts, Adventure Foundation, Army, and PAF take part test their fist in skiing.

The championship was put into abeyance due to insufficient snow this year, however, the recent snow-fall has given the organizers a confidence to finalize the schedule.

Naltar valley located at the altitude of 2,880m with a distatance of 47 km from Gilgit. It remains whitened by snow from the beginning of January till the end of March.

Heavy Snow fall in Yasin Valley

Yasin Valley is hit by heavy snow fall for the last few days. As most of the regions in Gilgit Baltistan along the Himalyan belt are snow-blanked this Winter, Yasin Valley stands almost on the top. For the last few days,  the weather here is frigid and snow-packed. Those who live in the far-flung regions like Darhkoot, Nazbar, Thoi and Qorqolti are facing a challenging situation. The primary roads are dangerously packed with snow making the regions cut off from the major towns. Continuation of the snow here in the coming days would prompt fear among the masses of food and fuel shortage. Some areas would be endangered by the blizzards and Avanlanchis.  The ongoing claims by the world community, that the Himalayan Glaciers would come to an end by 2035, appears a myth in such cold weather and heavy snow fall in recent years. Remember, the UN Climate Chnage Panel, IPPC in it’s assessment in 2007 had claimed that the Himalya could lose it’s Glaciers by 2035. Critics already have termed the report faulty. Himalyan Glaciers feed all the major rivers across south Asia.