Defiance; For now.

For almost an year, we in Pakistan have been told by the minister in charge of water and electricity that, among all possible measures to counter energy deficiency in Pakistan; Privately owned independent energy producers renting out electricity to our country is the most viable solution. Thanks to media and news coverage, people were also informed about the Chinese offer to own and supply entire country's electricity with a flat rate of 300 rupees per house. In the midst of all this, Iran made us an offer of cheap electricity, round about 2 rupees per unit. Still our dear minister was repeatedly quoted and heard directly by masses, laying stress to rental power projects. Despite some political pressure and other setbacks i am not sure, but couple of them have been put operational since Prime minister inaugurated one of these rental generators himself. Somewhere about 55 Megawatt of electricity each.

Meantime China recently has decided to move forward with an earlier deal to provide Pakistan with two nuclear reactors to address its energy deficiency.

That seem to have raised some eyebrows in the west. Specially United States, demanding clarification of the Nuclear Supplier Groups' member country; China. The 46-nation NSG, which governs the export of civilian nuclear transactions by its members, meets this week in New Zealand. That will be the test of nerves for diplomacy, since US has, in past, already assisted India after passing congressional amendments specifically made to find a way around nuclear supplier groups' guidelines.

This weekend, US envoy on his two day visit to Pakistan, said in a press conference facing media, that if Pakistan wishes to move ahead with the Iranian Gas pipeline deal, they can, since its their internal matter and US holds no reservations on the matter. In fact he said, we too are worried and are trying to assist Pakistan in addressing their energy crisis.

Next day he took a U turn and media reported Mr. Holbrook advising Pakistan to not to rush into the Gas deal with Iran, since US is considering to pass a congressional legislation forcing tougher sanctions on Iran.

Defying a warning from Washington, Pakistan's prime minister promised Tuesday to go ahead with a plan to import natural gas from Iran even if the U.S. levies additional sanctions against Iran.

Gilani said Pakistan would reconsider the deal if it violated U.N. sanctions, but the country was "not bound to follow" unilateral U.S. measures.

Iran which currently holds multi billion dollar deals with China, Russia, and numerous Middle eastern and Latin countries has vowed to learn to live with sanctions.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has already said that new U.N. sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme do not oblige Moscow to scrap a deal to deliver surface-to-air missiles to Iran.

Links between Iran and China centers on energy, through China’s requirement for Iranian oil, and Iran’s need for foreign expertise to develop its vast, but undeveloped reserves. Iran also requires petrol from Chinese petroleum companies as its own supplies remain inadequate. China has ensured that the UN sanctions passed have not affected its hydrocarbon trade with Iran.

In June last year, the China National Petroleum Corporation secured a US$4.7 billion deal to develop part of the South Pars gas field. In doing so, it replaced the French company Total as the main contractor after it dithered amid the growing controversy surrounding Iran. The field is, according to Iranian officials, due to produce an income of as much as $130bn per year, and it will further help China to secure its energy supplies.

Only last month Iran placed an order with China for six liquid natural gas tankers, each worth between $200m and $220m, to export liquified natural gas from its territory.

Bilateral trade between Iran and China, worth $27bn last year, is set to grow to $50bn by 2015, according to the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce.

And on this Monday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez officially inaugurated three dairy factories built by Iranian firms in Venezuela. Iran has planned and constructed 13 dairy factories in Venezuela that process 360 tons of milk per day. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed a memorandum of understanding in Caracas in November 2009 that comprised 270 agreements on cooperation in the areas of agriculture, industry, technology, energy, fisheries, and housing.

I am not too confident about my Prime Minister's defiance at the moment. If in future he bows down to his friendly US pressure, and scraps the Iran Pakistan Gas pipeline deal, it would only hurt Pakistani Interest and won't cause Iran any wrinkles.

Dictocracy

For 33 years out of 63, Pakistan has been ruled by its military. Sometimes the democratically elected governments were sacked for corruption, faced midterm election, or simply run down by army boots. It is safe to say that both; the democracies and the military rule had their fair share of power in Pakistan.

Even though i was born and brought up outside Pakistan, still my family ties with farm life are intact. My cousins tell me about benefits of breeding their cows with those which are direct descendants of imported dutch cattle. Babies born as a result, grow up to yield more milk. In similar way people breed dogs, goats and other animals to produce better species.

News Item:
Despite facing accusations and ongoing trial for possible involvement in Benazir's death, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), was formally launched by General (r) Pervez Musharraf, in Sindh on Tuesday.

Bashing general musharraf's policy during his rule I personally climbed the ladder of my career becoming a radio satirist by writing black humor. I liked him for his sense of moderation and his progressive approach. He would never bury his head in a blanket, no matter how stupid they said his actions and moves were. But then other setbacks were fatally irreversible, which i would force myself to not to write down here. Thats between me and the listeners of the sunset radio show (for the moment).

Now after seeing the retired general trying to make his way back into the corridors of power, through democratic process i am left counting the benefits of hybrid breeding. A military dictator, following democratic pathways to impact Pakistani politics, while sitting outside the country; not bad! When democracy in Pakistan means, giving the same old individuals second and third chances, why not re-write history and see what happens when a military dictator makes a come back. I know its experimental. Much like hybrid breeding, where results are mostly unpredictable.

"What can possibly go wrong?" i ask myself...

Height of a mishap could be having ourselves a mutant species resulting from interbreeding of democracy and autocracy. A killing machine, who is ready to shoot down all sort of opposition and still calls himself; a people's man.

And if the luck is on our side, we might have a gentlemen who has learnt from his mistakes (not only that short list which this ass reluctantly produces at his lectures). He might return as a man who takes the country out from the curse of political opposition and translates people's dreams (not any hidden agenda) into a vigorous persuasion.

Meantime my cousins keep telling me that interbreeding is a natural process, and you can't do much about structural abnormalities :)

story continues

Army commanders have developed a consensus that COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani should continue till the ongoing war on terror gets a decisive turn so that the achievements attained may be consolidated and not go waste.

The petroleum prices were slashed by the government on late Monday night with new petrol price fixed at Rs 69.04.

Still Petrol pumps were shut down and petrol was no where to be found. Obviously, stations had bought it on higher prices and had to sell it to the cheaper rates, but what was the use of holding on to that stock and not selling it to the public, when eventually they had to push their stock out in the public, next day. I tried asking several experts, but no one in my circle of journalists and reporters had to offer any satisfactory answer. Still i found the idea of government having to re-reimburse the cost difference to the gas stations, for which they kept there stock floating in their tanks. Many cars, specially motorcyclists, were left stranded next day. The good news of reduced petrol cost, could not have circulated to people without having any glitch of some kind.

A cyclone is heading toward Pakistani coastal areas. Its all over the news. The fear and panic including delayed and inappropriate response of government to transfer thousands of people residing in those coastal areas, is the main title of almost all Pakistani private television news channels. Not a single media is running public awareness campaign to inform

viewers of safety measures to be taken in case violent winds and cyclone hits their land. So far the agenda in one word could be expressed as "panic". Few of my friends made phone calls from outside the country, because what they saw on our local private channels, gave them the impression; that this call should be made before its too late. To "Say hello" one last time, since through their lenses Karachi is going to be wiped off the map of the world. I love rain.

Transparency international recently presented a thorough report on Pakistan. According to it, most corruption inside Pakistan, is done in our newly named province "Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa". Some friends here in Sindh, can not believe that the title is taken away from them, while others simply discredit the report. Nay! Its still us.

and Israeli commandos stormed freedom flotilla ships, which were trying to bring aid into Gaza. Gaza remains cut off from the world due to blockade imposed by Israeli authority.

Talat hussain is Pakistani TV host and journalist, whose blunt choice of words and a record of never smiling on camera, earned him a place in my memory cells. He was accompanying 500 other men and women from 80 different nationalities, sailing those ships. These people were taken from 100 kilometer out in the international waters by Israel and around 10 people died as a result of the clash which occurred to take control of the ship. Talat and 2 other pakistani media men are handed down to Jordanian embassy in Israel. He is due to arrive Pakistan in two days. I am sure he is coming with a fascinating story.