As a nation, why can’t we call a spade a spade?

The brutal Sialkot incident is just another glimpse of what we are capable of tolerating new heights of gruesome violence. Congratulations my fellow countrymen that once again, the Pakistani society has reflected its “Jackal and Hyde” personality for the amusement of the global audience.

On one hand, the brothers met their violent end in front of a large mob including a few representatives of the law enforcing authorities. And, on the other, the significant stern reaction of the incident -- in both traditional and new media -- appears to be as significant as the incident it self.

Two days ago, despite warnings from friends and family, I finally watched the footage. The visuals proved to be beyond all the warnings that I had received. Needless to say that there was nothing in the world that could have prepared me for those images. The level of violence and the crowd’s indifference towards it seemed to be more fiction than reality.

It is hard to comprehend the state of mind of those who witnessed the actual act, who rather than intervene or even walking away from it, not only remained there but some of them also recorded the details on to their smart phones perhaps for the amusement of their friends! It seemed that the gravity of the moment passed them by like a detached viewer of a violent Hollywood film or a teenager player of a gruesome video game.

Most of us would agree that although it’s hard to see a positive aspect in the incident, the huge condemnation afterwards, from every walk of life, proves that we are not completely numb. However, the way the mob behaved at the spot represents the other more macabre side of our nation and bags the answer of the most fundamental question: Do we qualify to be considered “civilized” human beings?

I would rather leave this debate to eminent sociologists and mob psychologist, who, I am certain, would be writing volumes on direct and indirect consequences behind the incident and how to change the collective attitudes. For me, the images triggered a feeling of utter haplessness and pain for the bereaved family of the brothers. I cannot find any reason why they had to die in such a brutal manner. In addition to that, why the mob behaved the way it did.

I am, in a way, considering my self as part of the circus audience around those boys who were not moved by their cries for help. And, I think this is the guilt that is keeping me awake since I watched the images on my computer screen a couple of days ago.

My nightmares include my family too; the most recurrent one features my family crying for help and a mob around them is not responding to them at all.

Isn’t it time for us to stop blaming others and asking ourselves difficult questions? Haven’t we all reached the ultimate threshold of pain from where we cannot go any further?

Abrar ul Hassan,

The Green Column.

abr.hassan@gmail.com

Implementing First Telemedicine Solution for Pakistan

Dear readers, it gives us an immense pleasure and pride to write a few words on how we as a team of Sybrid (Managed Services Company), Pragmedic Solutions (Health Care Applications Providers, Cybernet (Internet Service Provider) and Abrar ul Hassan (Social Media Enterpreneaur) are contributing to the Flood Victim of Pakistan.

Together (Sybrid + Pragmedic + Cybernet) are implementing our first Telemedicine Solution for Pakistan. We did a successful test project in the District of Khairpur. The project was conceived on Saturday 21^st August, 2010 and after passing Quality Assurance on Wednesday 25^th August, 2010, the test was conducted on 27^th and 28^th of August, 2010 in the Khairpur District, Sindh.

We were located at Faiz Secondary School in Kotdigi, District Khairpur where the government has allowed some 500+ IDPs to be stationed. Most of them were women and children. The team of Physicians and Paramedics provided health care to 167 patients - day 1 and 349 Patients on day two.

The solution provided local general physicians (GP) along with paramedical staff located on site and the specialized Physicians including Dermatology, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Psychiatry located in Karachi to be connected through Telemedicine. . The health care providers shared patient and medical information by using Electronic Medical Record, and placed orders like prescription by using e-prescription modules of the application through the means of Internet.

The remote internet connectivity was provided by Cybernet through Satellite. All the on ground managed services including logistics, medicines, finance and management were given by Sybrid. Finally Pragmedic Solutions were responsible for providing the health care applications including electronic health record and electronic medical record solution. Through the assistance of local NGO, “Khairpur heritage and welfare” announcement were also made to the nearby IDP camps and pick up services through Ambulances were provided to the Patients of these camps to be seen by Health Care Providers at the school premises.

The challenges faced on day 1 like connecting the satellite device and managing the variation of Drug Inventory was managed appropriately in short period of time. After which the project went well and the Telemedicine clinic was conducted both the days.

A total of 516 patients were provided health care in these two days out of which 104 required urgent care. The case mixes were: 51% Dermatology, 28% Gastroenterology and 21% others. Medicines were given out to all the patients.

Follow up on the high risk patients will be provided through the assistance of local GP to whom patient information which was given on paper, through print outs from the EMR. Some of the patients were also transferred to the close by hospital with the assistance of District Coordination Officer (DCO).

Our next step is to re-adjust the planning, improvise patient care processes and present information to the donor for funding to create a sustainable base.

We would again like to thank the Cybernet, Sybrid, Pragmedic teams and Abrar Ul Hassan for making this homegrown Telemedicine project take off, the model has worked, we need to mature it and create sustenance.

Abrar ul Hasan

The Green Column.

Spot-Fixing Scandal TRUTH?

Picture # 1: Edited!

Picture # 2: PopOUT effect on Salman butt

Picture # 3: Mr. Mazhar wearing a Blue polo shirt while taking the money from NOTW undercover reporter.

Picture # 4: Mr. Mazhar wearing an entirely different Polo Shirt which is black in color and certainly not a BLUE POLO SHIRT in which he took money from NOTW undercover reporter. Notice Salman butt very very carefully on the top of his jacket collar, he is wearing the same blue formal shirt which he is wearing on the picture above in the resturant.

Picture # 5: This picture has been taken from an entirely different spy camera angle with the black polo shirt he wore when he handed over his jacket to Wahab Riaz.




The Climax! He is wearing 2 different shirts on 3 different occasions which is claimed by NOTW that it all has happened on 19th of August, 2010. If the shirts can be changed there is a high possibility there was no money in jacket when he handed over the jacket to Wahab Riaz!


We are still not defending Pakistani players, we are just raising our doubts? and We hope it is not a crime?


Cheers!
Try using your brains rather than emotions.
Keep supporting!

Spot-fixing scandal, Truth or Scam???

We are a Nation of emotional bunch of fools, We let our emotions take over our mind, senses and heart, Its sad!

We learn what media teach us rather than quoting ourselves, We quote whatever we see on media, We quote whatever they have been feeding into our minds.

No one has given them this right to Judge our team if they are cheaters or not until they are proven guilty.

I wont say that its a fake propaganda and my players are bunch of innocent guys around who are being trapped, Instead of judging them I have my doubts.

Doubt # 1a
I am looking more closely into the footage of Mazhar majeed receiving cash in a hotel room and in the car, he looked into the camera once too Mazhar is wearing blue polo shirt in the video and while so called story claimed by the NOTW that he is giving the money to Wahab riaz, he is wearing black polo shirt now if he can change the shirt is not possible that he has removed the money too?? and in the Picture below which was claimed that they took this picture in the resturant with the undercover reporter right after the 10,000pounds delivery and meeting righ after that into a hotel he is wearing a collar less grey t-shirt
If he is such a big bookie that he is controlling Team Pakistan, is he that stupid that he wont notice that 3 cameras on 3 different angels were installed at this hotel and 2 cameras installed on 2 different positions while he is taking 10,000pounds in the car.

Doubt # 1b

News of the world claimed that they shot this video couple of days before the event happened rightly so, this event of spot fixing no balls took place on the very second day of the test match, Okay if this guy did his part why Pakistan team was not questioned on the end of the day, Why Police/Scotland Yard didn't caught them on the very same day when so called balls happened didn't they aware of the thing already happening?

If they had a tip that on the Amir and Asif would ball specific numbers of no-balls on the specific events, Why they delayed for 36 hours??? why??? They should have caught them right away on the brisk of the happenings.

It could have been much more serious if it happened on the very same day.

Doubt # 2

Video # 2, Mazhar getting 10,000pounds in the car he looks into the camera(is he that stupid???? that such a big crook is that innocent that he is looking directly into the camera but he cannot figure it out that there is a camera hidden to unveil his plans), He doesn't count 10,000pounds strangely he doesn't count that pack of money and believes into the undercover reporter but when he gives the remaining amount of the money he is placing each and every block of notes and counting it, He can believe him for 10,000pounds in their very first meeting but he is judging him for the rest of the amount.

                                                     Doubt # 3 

How could anyone prove that the video was recorded before the match but not after it?

Doubt # 4  we all have been watching gambling, gang related movies where all big rigging happens these things are taken place at the isolated places and they are very wise enough while taking these steps because they are well aware this is a big thing how easily he is spilling out his beans to this guy and according to him he has been fixing matches for a while now.. he handles the operations in India, Pakistan and rest of the world he handles team Pakistan, is he that stupid that he will spill out his beans out of his bag right away for few bucks, 150,000 pounds is nothing to reveal his secrets from where he has been earning masses of pounds for such a long time! Doubt # 5  I have my doubts on giving the money to Wahab because this guy Mazhar has been unofficially related to PCB working as a middle man to get sponsorship deals to the players so he rightly in contact with these guys, he just handed over his jacket to Wahab for a while, this doesn't prove they took the money. May be he might plotted it against the players, I have my very high doubts and is there is any surety that this video has been done before the balls were bowled? Look, it doesn't prove them guilty not even in Court of LAW until they are proven guilty, so try supporting your boys, I am not defending them but i have my high doubts on this guy Mazhar and this complete scenario I have been analyzing this since last night i have read the articles again and again, I have watched the videos and pictures again and again and  I have my doubts! again, I am not defending these players but we cant even blame them before they are proven guilty not even in the court of law can held them as guilty before it is proven. Until the things are proven. I wont doubt my Team. I just don't know what the truth is, But i will be there for my team until things are proven and if they found guilty give them such a punishment that it will set an example for next 10 generations to come. Period!

Pakistan has announced its Squad for ODI and T20s against England

Pakistan has announced its ODI and T20 squad against England 

Shoaib Malik couldn't make a place in ODI and T20 team because of his poor form and Younis Khan's clearance hasn't been received to selectors as of yet.

Shahid Afridi (Captain)

Sakman Butt

Muhammad Yousuf

Azhar Ali

Muhammad Hafeez

Kamran Akmal

Umar Akmal

Wahab Riaz

Muhammad Aamir

Muhammad Asif
Umar Gul

Saeed Ajmal

Fawad Alam

Shahzeb Hasan

Abdur Razzaq

Sohaib Akhtar

Reserves:

Asad Shafiq

Muhammad Irfan

Abdul Rehman

Sarfaraz Ahmed

How can I love Pakistan?

What the f_ _k is going on in our country, I think this brutal act is just a glimpse of what we are capable of; such incidents are not just a shameful act, but also one of the most gruesome experience…

Two days ago I watched the most horrific footage from Sialkot, the visual are so intense and disturbing that it becomes significantly difficult to see such visuals on screen. Those who witnessed that act were at ease, dwelling over the torture inflicted upon two young boys, the just stood and recorded the scenes onto their cellphones – not realizing that the gravity the of the situation was anything but cool.

I have been taken aback real badly ever since I saw glimpses of that footage, usually I don’t write but those constant flashbacks of the ruthless beatings and savagery at its worst made me believe in the deliberate existence of inhumane nature within our society.

The images left me shattered with utter pain for the family, as I still try to find out the reasons for this brutal act I am engulfed with grief and sadness – no one deserves to die this way.

I watched in utter disgust as those so-called law enforcers along with the onlookers just stood there – calm and unflinched – enjoying the pain and suffering of those screaming boys, wailing for help.

This certainly wasn’t a circus, then why didn’t anyone try to stop those barbarians, why didn’t they close their eyes to broken limbs and blood, why was the police there not doing their job, why was there admiration and not fear…?

This event has led me to believe that this country, where I have been born and bred may just not be safe for my family. What if God forbids something terrible happen isn’t anyone going to help them, aren’t they going to raise a voice, show concern. Just the thought made me relate to intensity of pain the family of those boys are going through. Not that it isn’t a psychological trauma for the family and not that it would subside in a day but we as Pakistanis have an obligation towards mankind - we can speak, write and tell.

We may not bring back the deceased but we can rekindle hope for justice, we could support them just like when our own families do.

Abrar ul Hassan

MQM and Altaf Hussain supports steps like martial-law against corrupt politicians.

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Sunday said his party will support ‘patriotic Army generals’ steps like martial law taken against corrupt politicians.’

In his telephonic address to MQM workers from London, the MQM Chief urged what he called patriotic generals ‘to initiate Martial Law like steps against unscrupulous politicians.’


Our personal take on this matter is that We Support MQM and its Chief Altaf Hussain, this is about time to take actions, Army is the foremost empowered unit of our country, these corrupt politicians has taken away each and every breath out of white collar Pakistanis. This country needs to sort out otherwise no one can stop this country to be divided into many parts.

Pakistan trying hard to bring back "Test" legacy!

Pakistan "nervy" winners. From being down and out and completely written off to win score a Win against Mighty England Lions but these boys have turned around the cards showed a lot of character helped themselves out and at the end of the day came out as Winners securing a 4 wicket win against England and upgraded themselves into the series with 2-1 equation and leaving themselves with a very positive chance to square the series 2-2 against England. Pakistan have kept the series alive but not without tensed moments, which most of the Pakistani fans around the world weren't hoping for but Umar Akmal and Hero of the Match, youngest to take 5 wicket haul in england, Muhammad Amir see off the rest of 16 runs and carried Pakistan over the line. During a tensed filled afternoon session James Anderson and Graeme Swann came out with an outstanding bowling and game plan which was missing in England's outfit from the start of Pakistan chasing effort, they wasted the new bowl only manage to grab Yasir Hameed's wicket in the very first over after that they went flat and straight as good as they were bowling at Gaddafi with very odd fielding positions by Strauss which gave Pakistan an easy breather to nudge singles and build up their innings with Farhat and Butt on the crease. At lunch Pakistan just needed 33 runs with 7 wickets in hand wobble started when Azhar Ali got himself run out on a very obvious no-run situation, pressure came on MoYo he was undone by a brilliant yorker produced by Anderson in very next over Kamran Akmal was given lbw to Swann, England was pumped up crowd was at their back, every bowl was being cheered massively, 16 were needed at that point then five consecutive maidens halted the wickets falling extravaganza very wise plan by Umar and Amir after that it just took 2 strokes to ease down the situation and bring back Pakistan into the game, Amir collected a short ball on waist height and lofted for a four in very next over Umar gave a good treatment to Anderson passed a bowl for a boundary then it was quite a easy notation for Pakistan to see themselves off towards a genuine well fought Victory.

Farhat led the chase with an aggressive innings which immediately put the bowlers on the back foot. He twice upper-cut the quicks over the slips and also threw Swann's third ball just over the head of mid-on. It was a planned gamble, but ensured Pakistan made rapid inroads into the small target.
Farhat's positive attitude almost went too far he fell moments later against Swann when he went for an expensive sweep and was plumb lbw. It left the innings in Salman Butt's charge and the Pakistan captain played his best hand of the series with a calm, mature approach.

He has been an impressive leader throughout the series, but scores of 1, 8, 7, 0 and 17 were adding the pressure of a challenging role. This time, though, he put those problems behind him and became increasingly fluent as the target came into view. He took three boundaries off an over from Broad who persisted with bowling outside off stump which fed Butt's cut shot.
He took the target below 50 before edging Swann to slip and he will have known in the back of his mind that the job wasn't finished. While Yousuf remained in the middle it was all under control for Pakistan but, in similar style to their victory against Australia at Headingley, the final push for victory proved the hardest. Again, though, a young side dug deep and it sets up a mouth-watering finale at Lord's next week.

Hit, Punch and Shoot Tarkari Game

1:

Cook shined, Pakistani brigade "reversed" at the end of the day.

Cook saves himself, rest were cooked by Pakistan bowling brigade!

Day 3 at The Oval, started with overcast great bowling start was on the cards, Pakistani seamers were tipped to rip through England's line up but Cook stood up to the occasion to save his position broke down his low scoring shackles his career was on the verge, he hasn't been scoring much all season he was under high scrutiny he just scored as low as 106 runs in eight innings this season. He started off his innings with a brilliant boundary which he picked on the full and then started his delicious menu of brilliant batting indeed then came the trail of stylish and elegant strokes in no time he reached to 97 and he reached to his century of the season in a very unusual style which most batsman hasn't been privileged to get so far in Test cricket history, he blocked the ball back to Muhammad Asif who then hurled it over the batsman and keeper for four. Cook removed his helmet, smiled, raised his arms and stood up like a champion Cook added 116 runs with Trott for third wicket, his magnificent innings came to end when he was caught down the leg side by Kamran Akmal. Wahab riaz gave a sigh of relief to Pakistan till then it seemed like Pakistan will put up a huge score to chase down. Cook and Trott dominated and kept England's chance high and bright till Tea with England 194/3

Cook back in the camp with 110 runs to his name, Trott struggling hard for his 36 and Pietersen looking dangerous with 23 chicky runs.

After Tea, it was exactly four years ago to the day when the ball tempering incident at The Oval happened when Pakistan didn't take the field after being accused of ball tampering. It seemed like Pakistan sipped RedBull mixed Tea, which brought out something in them which non of us even thought of at Tea. Ajmal was getting the ball spun and Amir got the ball reserve as good as his mentor Wasim Akram.

Ajmal removed Pietersen on the very last bowl of the first over after Tea, it was a great piece of off spin bowling, tossed up loopy on off stump a tempting delivery to drive unfortunately there was a huge gap between bat and pad and Ajmal ripped through and Collapse begin next to fall was Trott in the very next over by Muhammad Amir a very wide ball a loose drive and caught in the gully brilliantly by Azhar Ali, Trott had been very patient his 36 runs came from 130balls in 3 and a half hours. Muhammad Amir was on the on song ball was reversing and he was following the footsteps of his mentor the legend "Wasim Akram", Collingwood at 3 runs edged one to Kamran Akmal on a quite wide of off. Kamran collected it cleanly which has been a very plus plus point for Pakistan in this test match. In the very next over Ajmal bowled Morgan for 5 runs landing on the off stump zipped through a big gap between bat and pad directly to the stumps. First Innings highest run getter Matt Prior didn't even took long to join rest of his team mates in the hut, he nicked one to Kamran at 5 runs what a bowl it was by Amir, brought us the memories of Wasim Akram ball lands one on off stump from round the wicket and gets a ball to kink away very late at the last moment towards the slips and Kamran pouched it! 

Swann must be feeling butterflies in his stomach after looking at the amount of spin, he was clean bowled by Ajmal, it was touch short and spun back quickly he tried to cut and ball crashed into the middle stump soon enough before he could get a bat on to it. England lost their 6 wickets for as low as 28runs, they are at 221/9 before play called off to bad light at Day 3 with England leading with 146 runs with 1 wicket remaining.

Pakistan came in late Ajmal and Amir destroyed England in no time. Pakistan is back in game hoping to win this one cleanly. Bad light was good for Pakistan, they can take the last wicket tomorrow morning and start their reply to win the test. If they batted now, they would have lost wickets before end of day with tricky batting conditions.

Fifth of Americans think Obama is a Muslim

WASHINGTON: Roughly one in five Americans wrongly says President Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to two new US opinion polls out yesterday amid a furore over a planned mosque near New York’s Ground Zero And roughly 30 per cent of Americans say followers of Islam should be barred from running for President or serving on the US Supreme Court, according to one of the surveys, published in Time magazine and available on Time’s website. The Time poll found 24 per cent of respondents said they believed Obama – who attends a Christian church and has repeatedly spoken out about his faith – is a Muslim, while 18 per cent said the same in a study from the non-partisan Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The polls amounted to another headache for Obama and his Democratic allies, who worry they face a rout in November elections to decide control of the US Congress and key governorships because of the sour economy.

Pew took its poll before Mr Obama waded last week into a bitter dispute over plans for a mosque and community centre roughly two blocks from the New York site of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Time conducted its survey afterwards.

Younis Khan, seniority scheduled to return!

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt, He was questioned about Younis Khan's future in Pakistan Cricket Team in Karachi on Thursday, He answered Khan's case is in judicial court at the moment, if he withdraw his case he can be recalled to the National side.

Point to be noted, PCB has banned Younis Khan for an indefinite period of time, PCB's legal advisor Tafazul Rizvi said "We will release a show cause notice to Younis Khan"

Muhammad Yousuf, a concerned tiger roars again!

Play of the day What a knock from Azhar Ali

3rd Test, Pakistan vs. England Day 2, started with a blow, Yasir almost nicked one to slip on the very first ball of the day, may be he had something else on his mind, He gave away his wicket on the next delivery, Prior pouched it cleanly, Batting collapse was on the cards Salman butt came fourth, He started his innings in a great fashion he was looking confident, he struck very crispy 3 boundaries right away before he stepped back and across ball spun away from him and thick edge lead to Prior despite he juggled the chance once, twice and caught it cleanly on the third attempt, Wahab Riaz, super star debutant got a straight one which he was trying to sweep and was struck on front pad, Steve Davis gives it lbw in no time he scored 27 from 75 balls though it was requested for a review it was a waste and would have been better if they would have saved it for a frontline batsman. 

It was Muhammad Yousuf's turn to build up an innings and set an example to lead his younger fellows to follow his footsteps, He didn't failed, He stood up to the occasion started his innings in a bit chicky fashion he was reluctant, left everything outside off and and was beaten by good deliveries from Steven Finn and James Anderson, but slowly and steadily he got back into his colors, After Lunch he began to increase his game but moved out of the his comfort zone and made bowlers go frustrated, His fifty came from 95 balls and it was unbelievable for many to watch that he had been out of Test arena for seven months with many controversies behind his back, he justified his retirement u-turn. Mohammad Yousuf come back Test was assured with half century, but he became Graeme Swann's 100th Test wicket. The presence of Yousuf in the middle order certainly had an major effect on Pakistan and not only in the obvious manner of the runs he scored. The patience and magic of test cricket he showed at the crease filtered through to his partners. 

He sat a perfect example to foil his younger players Azhar got playing his best and greatest shots of the series so far with major confidence under his belt, He knew one of the world greatest batsman was padding his back, giving him right techniques to tackle with tricky english bowlers at home. MoYo played played an amazing knock with classic boundaries with proper cricketing shots, before he came forward looked to drive the balls, Azhar Ali was not just done as of yet Azhar Ali was virtually scoreless last week but showed his true talents at The Oval as his outstanding, unbeaten 92 earned Pakistan a valuable lead of 75. He should be thankful to MoYo, who brought the heroics out of him. It was first time during the season Pakistan passed 300 as Azhar and Mohammad Asif added a priceless 38 for the last wicket to frustrate England's efforts to wrap up the innings. Andrew Strauss dropped Asif at slip on 4, He would be cursing himself for that miss and it took a further seven overs before the No. 11 drove Swann to mid-off with Azhar left eight short of a maiden well deserved Test hundred.

That left England with an tricky 15 minutes to survive, but Strauss couldn't survive he was out in the very first over when, having already under-edged a pull past the stumps, edged low to second slip against Mohammad Amir who has removed Strauss four times in the series. Alastair Cook will have been relieved to face just two balls as James Anderson did his job as nightwatchman and the third day will provide an examination of the belief in both teams.

Well done Azhar Ali and Muhammad Yousuf, You made us feel Proud, We are back in the GAME!