Tears for “all”

(Source: jammin4fahionandart, via jammin4fahionandart)

“Now we know them, their children, their wives, where they travel, what cars they use,” Samad Khurram says. “We’re saying, ‘We know you, we’re coming after you, and if you don’t pay, we do this….’ That’s not an amnesty — that’s a threat.”

Ali Arshad Hakeem, Pakistan’s tax chief, has the Sisyphean task of overhauling Pakistan’s broken income tax system, and he claims to have the remedy. He is asking parliament members — a majority of whom are believed to evade taxes themselves — to approve a national amnesty wiping the slate clean for millions of Pakistanis who have never paid a rupee in taxes, if they agree to a one-time payment of 40,000 rupees, about $420. Then, in 2013, they would have to file a return and pay whatever income tax they owe: for example, about$11,100 on a taxable income of $56,000.

If they ignore the offer, he says, the government will suspend their national identity cards, which are needed to travel abroad, maintain bank accounts and buy or sell property. That penalty probably would apply to people who continue to evade taxes after the amnesty ends, Hakeem’s aides say. He will also disclose the names and assets of tax evaders in newspapers and on the Internet, he says, and he will push for legislation that rewards whistle-blowers who finger tax cheats.

This amnesty, this pardon not only will make rich tax evader’s guilt a non-issue for discussion but the weight on the conscience of these rich cathartics for ever would not be burdened by the misery that of the poor of this land. 

Surely, tax master Hakeem can understand these measures are a little beyond just controversial. What ever the intent of these pious reformer might be , the a fore mentioned means will just be as if rubbing salt on the wounds of the less privileged of this country. The measures again reek with the foul intent of reconciliation with the rich corrupt and offer pardon to the guilty. But the Law is supreme, for everyone and all will be pardon and given amnesty says tax master Hakeem. 

I ask, What do the poor men of Pakistan need amnesty from ?

Amnesty from the fact their Education budget figures is shameful. Amnesty from the fact their incompetent and corrupt governments have not been able to spend the peoples money on their Basic welfare in over 60 years. 

If Parliament gives a green signal to these proposed idiocies or Supreme court does not intervene, of course the rich who have in the past found measures to evade taxes will again do so or better yet take this deal to save their neck (Nay ! no one in Pakistan has been put in jail in over 15 years for tax evasion) and millions, yet the poor would once again be wrong done and end up paying the taxes for no good (At least for their sake). 

Time has come for Pakistan to decide whether it is all or none 

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-taxes-20121214,0,4546265.story

Don’t Send a ‘MAN’ to do a ‘Woman’s job. [True Story]

On this very day 4 years ago , president obama  became the first African-American to be nominated by a major political party for President of the United States. 

What a Tragedy that turned out to be ! 

Here we go again!

I am beginning to feel that moral policing is the only language understood by Maya Khan – so allow me to go to the dark side for a moment here. Maya and company must rise above the moral superiority doctrine in Pakistan and need to learn how to live with a trait found rare called “Humbleness”. Isn’t it enough that Pakistan has a Muslim population of 96 %. Safe guarding minorities in a country means giving a sense of security at the most basic level of interactions, rubbing in someone’s face would hardly get you their sympathies. And Maya Khan did exactly that.

Choice of content aside - Maya Khan’s timing to air her shows is truly poor and would make Glenn McGrath’s batting endeavors look nothing short of a batting genius. What is sad is that during Ramadan - Maya Khan had the epiphany to rid her show with any subtlety and exploit the same faith she triumphal protects for her ratings that too on national television on the expense of local minorities.

Parasite or may be a sadist – you pick!

Too harsh? Well, I can’t begin to contemplate the pain Maya has caused this time.

I do not think Maya (who has the means to influence) and her sympathizers who are riding Pakistan from all its diseases have any sense of how Pakistan could be, should be, or would be a better place to live. Allow me to suggest, perhaps one way for a better Pakistan is for peace to prevail in the country and we could perhaps start from peaceful co-existence with all who dwell in the country; Jinnah wanted it - our forefathers wanted it. Demeaning minorities on National television to gain ratings which comes off as a moral superiority stunt will only make matters worse for Muslims and other minorities in Pakistan.

Consequences Maya ! Consequences !

Maya’s rating driven thirst in disguise of either moral policing or Islam has dire consequences for personal liberties or those oppressed minorities in this country. Though I am quite certain that Maya’s moral brigade antics are only rating driven; but be warned Maya that Veena Malik is doing a hell of a job at pulling the ratings without any serious moral hazards or shredding anybody’s dignity – but just her clothes.

I hear Veena has asked for Tauba (forgiveness) for one of her Ramadan specials. Time Maya seeks a sincere one too. Again !

Drone pilots to get medals?
By Al Kamen

An armed Predator drone at the Kandahar military airfield in Afghanistan. (Massoud Hossaini - AP)

The Pentagon is considering awarding a Distinguished Warfare Medal to drone pilots who work on military bases often far removed from the battlefield.

Pentagon officials have been briefed on the medal’s “unique concept,” Charles V. Mugno, head of the Army Institute of Heraldry, told a recent meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, according to a report in Coin World by our former colleague Bill McAllister.

Mugno said most combat decorations require “boots on the ground” in a combat zone, but he noted that “emerging technologies” such as drones and cyber combat missions are now handled by troops far removed from combat.

The Pentagon has not formally endorsed the medal, but Mugno’s institute has completed six alternate designs for commission approval.

The notion of greater recognition for drone pilots has been percolating for some time. Air Force Maj. Dave Blair, writing in the May-June issue of the Air & Space Power Journal, asked how much difference there is in terms of risk “between 10,000 feet and 10,000 miles.”

A “manned aircraft … that scrapes the top of a combat zone, well outside the range of any realistic threat” is deemed in “combat,” Blair writes, but a Predator firing a missile is considered “combat support.”

The proposed medal would rank between the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Soldier’s Medal for exceptional conduct outside a combat zone. 

Source: Washington Post