HRCP has deep concern at Sindh University situation

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned the recent developments atSindh University where, following the killing of Professor Bashir Channar on January 2, unjustified action has been taken against protesting teachers.

A statement issued by the Commission on Thursday said: “HRCP notes with alarm that the services of two representatives of Sindh University Teachers’ Association, Dr. Arfana Mallah and Dr. Azhar Ali Shah, have been terminated and show-cause notices issued to other teachers. The university had only reopened a few days ago on the assurance of the Sindh Governor that the vice-chancellor of Sindh University, who is past the age of retirement, would be replaced in accordance with the demands of the teachers.

“HRCP also has serious reservations over the authorities’ apathetic approach towards acknowledging and addressing teachers’ concerns. It defies reason why the teachers must protests for weeks upon weeks before their concerns register on the official radar. The teachers have protested long and in a peaceful manner for demands that are not unreasonable: a judicial probe into the assassination of Professor Bashir, withdrawal of police and Rangers from the campus, restoration of student unions and removal of the vice chancellor.

“It is regrettable that Sindh University and most other universities in the province are headed by academics who have crossed the retirement age. In a recent meeting with the HRCP vice-chairperson for Sindh and members of HRCP Council, the Sindh Governor had agreed to look into the issues concerning the Sindh University. HRCP calls upon the Governor, in his capacity as chancellor of Sindh University, to rescind the decisions regarding the dismissal and issuance of show-cause notices to teachers and take effective steps to fulfil the government’s obligation to ensure an atmosphere free from intimidation and conducive for academic progress at the university.”

NGOs to sue channel for Maya Khan dating raid episode

While many berated her and called her team ‘vigil aunties’ and her tactics a ‘witch hunt’, Maya Khan has also come under fire from four local non-governmental organisations for her morning show episode aired on 17th January. These NGOs have taken the matter to the Supreme Court and plan to file a suit against a private TV channel concerning a morning show episode. Maya Khan, the former host of a morning show, ‘hunted’ down dating couples in a Karachi park along with a group of about 15 women and a cameraman for an episode of her show. Her actions sparked outrage across the country, forcing the channel to fire her after she refused to issue an apology. (Pakistan Today)

Earn Quick, Easy Money: Be Careful

“Earn Quick, Easy Money.” The headline has caught the attention of many internet users that fall for the trap of numerous mega online scams operating in the country. In the name of online home-based businesses, a significant number of fraudsters have been fleecing innocent people, Pakistan Today learnt on Thursday. Due to absence and poor implementation of cyber-crime laws, the scam operators have set up well-furnished corporate offices in the heart of big cities, including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, while a few of them have penetrated in to the relatively small towns or rural suburbs. Interviews with a number of alleged scam operators reveal that they pocket millions of rupees by fleecing innocent people in a couple of months only. 
A conservative estimate suggests that an online franchise operator that registers about 100 members each month bags over a million rupees per month. Their standard modus operandi provides them an opportunity to sail smoothly for four to five months without paying a single penny to their members, who deposit them subscription fee ranging from Rs 5,500 to Rs 18,000. In most cases, people complain that these fraudsters vanish away in six to eight months by fleecing Rs 5 to Rs 10 million and start a new business with a new identity in other cities. 
How it operates? 
Speaking to Pakistan Today, operator of a similar business, Imran, claimed that his company was an authorised franchisee of a Canadian firm that dealt in online advertisement. “We get advertisement posting jobs from the Canadian company and sublet the contract to local individuals against a membership of Rs 5,500 to Rs 18,000, depending on the size and rate of return on the job,” he maintained. 
Responding to a question, he said, “Though, it is an online advertisement posting business but it mainly depends on conventional advertising. We spend nearly Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month on banners, newspaper and cable advertisements to attract new members.” He disclosed that he had been in this business for over a year and had been registering around 35-40 members every month. 
However, Imran failed to substantiate his claim that his firm was affiliated to some Canadian company as he could not produce any documentation or registration certificate. His company’s website, quickearnonline.com, does not show any registration or affiliation information either. The website does not have any postal address of the company, except for two addresses of the Lahore-based franchisees. 
What is the business? 
The ad-posting business is similar to the controversial multi-level marketing (MLM) model, as most companies operating in the country have parent foreign company, master-franchisees, franchisees, sub-franchisees and ad-posters or individual members. All these franchisees offer attractive packages, usually in US dollars, along with the comfort of working from home. They market it as a home-based business, with returns ranging from Rs 9,000 to Rs 35,000 per month, after having paid a membership fee. In addition, if a franchisee or an individual introduces a new franchisee or member, they offer him the money equivalent to $10 to $100 per member, while a franchise costs around $500 to $800. 
After registering with a franchisee, the ad-poster’s job starts. The so-called franchisee gives a piece of code, usually in the hypertext mark-up language (HTML), to its new members, which they have to paste on classified websites and forums. Usually, this code posts advertisements of their own company or some unknown local products, which clearly indicates that the entire scheme has no relationship with any foreign firm. 
How is it a scam? 
A simple inquiry can find thousands of victims since it employs chain marketing strategies. Several victims of this ad-posting business told Pakistan Today that they invested their hard-earned savings for supplementing their income, but could not even get their investment back. 
They revealed that at the time of registration, these companies offered lucrative packages but after completing the massive task of posting around 50,000 to 80,000 ads on various websites, they were refused prompt payments. One of the victims said, “These companies maintain a corporate environment and have separate account sections. The Accounts’ staff usually point out mistakes in the completed jobs and try to deduct a lion’s share from the promised remuneration. And when someone agrees even on the deducted amount, they ask him for a month or two for processing. They present the excuse that all transactions are processed through the parent company, which is based in some foreign country.” 
They pointed out that several companies, including visiononline.com, homebasedmoney.com and earnonline.com, had vanished during the past few months, without paying to their members. The victims indicated that the scam operators operate on rented premises mostly and leave no clue behind them. 
What do the experts say? 
Speaking to Pakistan Today, Director of Pakistan’s pioneer IT company, BrainTel, Amjad Farooq Alvi said that although the country had laws related to cyber-crimes, their implementation was questionable. Citing the example of the internet service providers and telephone pre-paid calling cards, he said that both businesses had failed in the country because there were no regulations. Several companies disappear after selling calling cards worth millions of rupees but no action has been taken against them yet, he lamented. 
Amjad pointed out that IT had changed the strategies of all businesses, including the advertisement industry. Earlier, advertisement was done through conventional media, including the newspapers, radio and TV, however advertisement is done on the internet now. He said that this turnaround had created various opportunities that did not exist in the past, but at the same time, it required new legislation and improved implementation. 
He concluded that both the advertising and IT industries had to play their role along with the law enforcement agencies to curb this menace and save the industry’s reputation.(Pakistan Today)

HRCP slams murder of coordinator in Khyber Agency

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has condoled and condemned the brutal killing of Zarteef Afridi, HRCP coordinator in Khyber Agency, and called upon the government to apprehend his killers and address growing threats facing human rights defenders in the region.

 In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission said: “HRCP is grieved at the murder earlier today of Zarteef Afridi in Khyber Agency. Zarteef was a tireless human rights defender who dedicated his life to promoting human rights, tolerance and peace in a region beset with conflict. Repeated threats to his life had failed to deter him from his work. In his death, the civil society has lost a committed campaigner for the cause of human rights. HRCP is grieved at his death and condoles with Zarteef’s family at their loss.

 Zarteef’s murder also underscores the escalating threats that those working for human rights face in Pakistan, particularly in the tribal areas. HRCP calls upon the government to realize its duty to do everything within its power to apprehend Zarteef’s killers and show through its actions in the next few days its commitment to protect and facilitate human rights defenders.”

Shoaib Akthar’s Controversially Yours launched in New Delhi

Former Test cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s autobiography titled Controversially Yours, sparking controversy right away, was released in New Delhi, India, on September 23.

The book was launched at a hotel in the Indian capital and the ceremony was also attended by Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik.

The Pakistan speedster has confessed to having tampered with the ball and also questioned the class and temperament of India's batting icons, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

“Almost all Pakistani fast bowlers have tampered with the ball. I may be the first one to openly admit to it but everybody is doing it. To be honest, every team in the world tampers with the ball. We probably started it but no team is innocent and virtually every fast bowler does it. That is the only way to survive because the wickets are so slow. I have tampered with the ball on many occasions,” he admitted.

Shoaib offered a solution to the problem of ball tampering by writing that the only way to stop this is for the ICC to ensure that at least some pitches are prepared in favour of the bowlers.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has distanced itself from Shoaib’s remarks, saying he was no longer associated with the board and was free to do whatever he wants.

Shoaib, who was a genuine match-winner, remained at the centre of many controversies in his stormy career which finally came to an end with the Cricket World Cup 2011 in which Pakistan reached the semifinals.

Shoaib engineered quite a few victories for Pakistan in every format of the game but many people believed that he could have given more to country if he disciplined himself and refrained from uncalled for controversies.
(Jumbopublishing.com)

Altaf Hussain has appealed to the President and Prime Minister to stop the killings of innocent people in Karachi

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has appealed to the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to stop the killings of innocent people in Karachi. In a statement he has asked them to restore peace and stop killings in 48 hours and if not, the people of Karachi will be free to exercise their right to protect themselves. He informed them that the terrorists and criminals are roaming around scot-free, they have been allowed to kill at will, loot, plunder and attack the residences of common people, factories, shops etc. Armed terrorists on motorcycle are seen attacking and burning the properties. Mr Hussain has said that he gives a 48 hour notice to the government otherwise the people of Karachi will arrange for their protection. 

He reminded that despite all his sincere efforts and even his appeal for peace, the limits have arrived and valuable innocent lives are being lost. Referring to the migration by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina, he said that attacks on his companions continued - and after that the Battle of Badar, Uhad and Khandaq took place. If today the infidels have decided to attack Medina again and again the following the path of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will be as per the Sunnah. Time will decide if the righteousness will succeed or not.

PTI Strongly Condemns Shahbaz Bhatti's Murder

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has strongly condemned the brutal murder of Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, saying the incident shows government’s total failure in curbing terrorism within the country. How a government that cannot protect its ministers be expected to provide security to its people, they questioned. In a joint statement issued here on Wednesday, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Secretary General Dr Arif Alvi, Brig (r) Samson Simon Sharaf, Information Secretary Omer Cheema and Women wing president Fauzia Kasuri, they also condemned the government for showing a criminal neglect by not providing the late Shahbaz Bhatti with proper security and housing in Ministers Enclave despite his voicing security concerns especially in the wake of thew Taseer murder. The continuing government neglect of his pleas shows the careless approach it has towards its minorities. It is sad that the present government used Shahbaz Bhatti to project a soft image of Pakistan internationally, and yet showed criminal neglect in providing him security, the PTI leader commented.

This brutal act of terror is a blot on the Pakistani nation and we must all unite to expose and punish those responsible, they added.

Meanwhile the Spokesperson of the PTI for religious affairs Ejaz Chaudhry, in a separate statement also condemned Bhatti's murder and said it was a deep-rooted conspiracy to belittle Pakistan in the eyes of the world and isolate it in the world community. Islam, he said, provides maximum protection to the minorities. He also demanded of the government to expose the hidden hand behind Bhatti's murder.