HBO’s “Treme” snubbed for NAACP Award

TrendPK.com: It was surprising enough that “Treme” earned only one NAACP Image award nomination—but, not as surprising as its loss to “Gray’s Anatomy”. The Outstanding Drama Series nod was “Treme’s” only hope for its cast and crew to be recognized at the awards. Yet, “Gray’s Anatomy” (which holds no thematic focus on the minority community, nor a wealth of minority actors) walked away with this year’s honors.

It wasn’t for a dearth of talent–current star Khandi Alexander has been nominated for six NAACP Image Awards over the years, with a 2005 win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for CSI: Miami. Wendell Pierce has also been an NAACP Image Award nominee for his work on “The Wire” and a winner for his work on “Life Support”. Also starring in “Treme” are Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, and Emmy and Golden Globe winner John Goodman.

The stated goal of the NAACP Image Awards is to honor “the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts…as well as those individuals or groups who promote social justice through their creative endeavors”. The HBO series follows the lives of an interconnected group of New Orleans residents as they reconstruct their lives after Hurricane Katrina, many of whom are African-American. “Treme” actors and the series itself were also overlooked at the Emmys, though certain episodes were nominated for direction and original music and lyrics.

Shahid Kapoor signed up as brand ambassador of Colgate and Elf Moto

Shahid Kapoor seems like a man on a mission. It’s totally needles to say that, he is one of the most wanted and hot property in the tinsel town.

Well, if one gauges him by the ‘most wantedness’ in the ad industry as well, its easy for one to say who is the reigning king out there!

After having many a FMCG brands in his kitty, Shahid has now been signed up for two more brands. One is the toothpaste major Colgate and the second is the motor major Elf Moto, so informs the confirmed sources of trendpk.com. The source also added that while Colgate signed him for his ability to connect with the youth, the reason for Elf to sign him was because of his image and personality, that the officials feel, will bring a lot of excitement and energy in the brand.

When we spoke to the publicist of Shahid regarding both the news, they confirmed the same.

Cabinet committee rebukes release of WikiLeaks

In the meeting of Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, the participants condemned the release of WikiLeaks cables and called it an attempt to spoil the image of Pakistan. Strategy of PMs Afghanistan visit was also finalized in the meeting.

The PM was briefed about the overall situation in Swat and North Waziristan and Kashmir issue also came under discussion. The committee demanded to solve Kashmir dispute as per resolutions of the UN. It emphasized to establish peace in Afghanistan as early as possible. The PM congratulated Army Chief and General Wyne and lauded efforts of Pak army to contain terrorism in the country.

Wikileaks — Theft or fabrication?

I am beginning to think that the entire Wiki-leaks premise is a fabrication. It seems that this venue can be used for airing ideas that promote the agenda of the various powerful political powers.

Wikileaks could not be able to leak out such information without prior knowledge or consent of USA. The verbal fight between USA and Wikileaks seems to be cosmetic and artistically deceiving the countries affected by these leaks. It is worth seeing that the prime beneficiary of these leaks is United States because one thing is clearly established in the minds of the people of the nations under discussion that how penetrating and how dangerous the US Intelligence system is and how naked the actions and conversation of the Governments ruling in those countries have become in the present situation. The timing of the release of these documents may be intended to capture news cycle headlines in the most spectacular possible manner, while embarrassing U.S. and, Afghanistan and Pakistani officials as well. Every effected nation of these revelations must understand that US has adopted the policy of hurting itself first to deceive others from its own attempt to inflict compound diplomatic and political losses to the other countries. Publishing secret information by the US is decided only after weighing the risks and and its own interest. It’s very strange such a huge cache of information can be leaked to the media so conveniently

Time-frame of the these leaks was between 2004-2009 before the whole Pak Afghan Policy was laid down by the new administration in the White House and prior to the US-PAK Strategic dialogues in which Gen. Ashfaq Parvaiz Keyani himself gave out a long presentation winning many admirers within the US administration. I wonder exactly what we might find from the leaked documents that would really ‘surprise’ any Pakistani leader, or Pakistani journalist, or any Pakistani for that matter? How can this be a fresh and news story in Pakistan1s perspective- based on a ‘leak’? Things are the same which are already in the knowledge of everyone. It’s well known that the USA supported Pakistan in setting up Taliban to fight the Soviet Union. Pakistan had already, and still have, great interests in meddling in Afghani affairs. In spite of clearly reflecting “mistrust” it is written on wall that without each other both the “allies” US and Pakistan can not win this war and where the Pakistani Military needs the United States has to realize Pakistan has legitimate concerns in Afghanistan and should not have allowed such embarrassing leaks, although there is nothing new in that. Anyhow these are no more than pressure tactics. The Soviet Union during cold war managed to infiltrate the US government many times by adopting such tactics.

Wikileaks first published those “pentagon papers” on the Iraq and Afghanistan war, the reactions from mainstream media and governments were enormous in volumes and indignation. Then another leak was released by Wikileaks; Iran supplying new forms of suicide vests for al-Qaida. Another big revelation was “Pakistan’s spy agency collaborated with the Taliban” What is this trash? These facts reported by Wikileaks sound like those typical daily field intelligence reports produced in the order of the thousands. There are surely entities within US government that are allowing Wikileaks to continue and still we should expect for the same.

Corruption in Afghanistan, dealings with Iran and pressure from Saudi Arabia for military action and much more damaging details are coming out. The creation of deep mistrust between Iran and Saudi Arabia would also see its peak when Wikileaks revealed the dangerous intentions of Saudi King towards Iran. The leaks though interesting but would soon turn into an instrument that can trigger the Third World War suddenly or may be very soon! The remarks or intentions of Saudi King towards Iran can also be seen as a surgical attempt to shift the blame of any future attack on Iran from the shoulders of Israel. This is a very well planned move from the part of America and the Wikileaks that will pay them a long and valuable benefit in playing the game of diplomacy in the Gulf Region. The collapse of relationship between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran would be fast and painful if the reports or leaks provided by Wikileaks would be taken negatively and motive behind these leaks are not anticipated properly.

One thing is quite clear that after these leaks, the relationship between many Muslim countries would face a worst period of roll back. Another very important thing to note is that these leaks have very mild and less disturbing revelations against Israel. It is beyond understanding that why the leaks have less igniting revelations or leaks against the problem state of the Middle East? It can be sensed very easily that these leaks are released or orchestrated keeping in view to the fact that sentiments of Israel or the Zionists may not be hurt. Fact remains there that US game of death Muslim vs. Muslims is running and going on as a policy.

Everybody knows it is not a fight of any nation it is the fight started against Muslims by the pronouncement of crusade by Bush and his accomplices engulfing all religions on the advice of the only self proclaimed terrorist nation of the world. Now the fact must be faced and said boldly. It is fault of our leaders that we allowed these criminals like Bush to do what he did. The present move through Wikileaks is a continuation of Bush policies. The release of these documents for Pakistan will do nothing other than to further undermine our already declining standing in the eyes of international community. It is just an attempt to create gross misunderstandings and diplomatic crisis between the Islamic countries; the dangerous dent inflicted to the relations between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan being the worst part. We must accept, the popularity of our President is extremely worse at home, but recent developments including the embezzlement and peaked corruption with Hajj Pilgrims by Pakistani authorities further fueled and outraged the Saudi high ups. Since President Zardari took Control, things have taken for the worse in Pakistan. Pakistan has to change positively. With so many foreign influences in Pakistan, it has to be strong enough to handle all the foreign and internal influences and it easily can with determined will. Other wise there is no Future for Pakistan. The King may have rightly said about President Zardari, but the question is, after this leak shall the sitting ruling party would be able to rely on this tested friend? Our President has a slippery skin and nothing hurts him or creates any spark in his heart that will motivate him of improving his image, but the impact of the horrendous remarks of the Saudi King can dissipate the existing warm relationship between these most important countries of the Muslim world.

To achieve their personal objectives the Pakistani leaders have really given free hand to the Americans who have never supported our cause or the Kashmir issue. Instead, they have always betrayed us. What is the use of Embassy extension in a country like Pakistan? Apparently they envisage taking Pakistan as a mini colony or American state where they are allowed to move and act freely. What are we doing? Now, after Afghanistan, they would create situation like Iraq or Afghanistan in our country to settle old scores. We, the Pakistanis, should wake up, stop the construction of this new Embassy and grab back the land extended to the Americans which otherwise is against the constitution and the sovereignty of the country. Our leaders are if doing wrongful acts while in power then they should have to admit and confess their demerits and committed mistakes before the nation and should have to create the atmosphere of self-accountability first by showing sincerity and honesty with the nation and especially with beloved Pakistan instead of condemning and refusing or denying the true facts about them. And as far as Wikileaks’ reports about Pakistani leaders are concerned then all the reports are not wrong and false about Pakistani leaders and it may be possible that some reports are wrongful and false. If our leaders are doing wrongful and definitely all the leaders are not doing much the best with the nation and especially with beloved Pakistan they should have to learn the lesson from these reports and remove their committed mistakes themselves by removing and uprooting corruption from all the departments of Pakistan so that no one could target them or any departments of Pakistan in the future in negative sense or in regard of corruption. They should realize that they have put the future of the country at stake. There are no two opinions that US in fact is trying to commandeer the Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent, which they see as its only real defense against India. Pakistan knows the Americans and the Zionists designs to dismantle Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities which are completely unjust because the Indians and Israel’s nuclear arsenal are acknowledged as legitimate but Pakistan’s not. Pakistan needs less foreign interference, not more. But on current trends the opposite is happening. The clear danger, highlighted by the leaked cables, is that the USA’s unwindable war in Afghanistan is spilling over into its weak, ill-led and much put-upon neighbor – and that Pakistan, too, could become a war zone if our leaders remained senseless as ever.

India government mired in giant graft scandal

NEW DELHI: One of India’s biggest corruption scandals in the Congress-led government’s six years in power has damaged the prime minister’s image, strained ties with a key coalition ally and disrupted the passing of reform bills.

While the scandal over the granting of 2G telecoms licenses that prompted Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja’s sacking is unlikely to threaten the government’s survival, it underscored the fragility of a fickle coalition despite its overwhelming re-election in 2009.

At stake is not only the image of the ruling Congress, a party that in 1989 lost a general election partly due to a scandal over gun contracts involving close associates of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who were accused of taking bribes.

The scandal also threatens to drag Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s second term into further policy limbo. In a hearing into the case on

Anti-Pakistan Campaign Intensifies

Recently, suspicious packages found on US-bound planes in Britain and Dubai, which sparked a world-wide debate into what President Barack Obama referred to as “a credible terrorist threat.” Packages posed security threats in Chicago, Newark, and Philadelphia.

According to latest news, some parcel-bombs were also detected in some other European countires, while three of them were exploded in Greek.

However, Obama also remarked that the parcels were bound for “two places of Jewish worship in Chicago…authorities on three continents thwarted multiple terrorist attacks aimed at the United States from Yemen, seizing two explosive packages…packed aboard cargo jets.” Other American officials revealed that the plot triggered worldwide fears that al-Qaida was launching a major new terror campaign

US security experts say that the mail bombs could very easily have ended up on passenger planes, which carry more than half of the international Air cargo coming into the U.S.

The Yemeni government issued a statement, imploring the west “not to rush to judgments in such a sensitive issue that is unfolding before the results of investigations, showing the truth.”

Question arises as to why this foiled terror-incident took place. In this regard, the real story is that with the help of Indian secret agency RAW, Jews are importing bombs and explosives material from Yemen. But this new conspiracy has been made as before some days, Obama is going to visit India. In this connection, the main aim of such a plot is to distort the image of the Muslims—especially Pakistan in one way or the other, which is the main target of Indo-Israeli conspirators.

As regards the failed Times Square bombing, notably, on May 11, this year, while talking on the CBS channel, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had warned that Pakistan would face “severe consequences” if a future terrorist attack on US soil was traced back to Pakistan. While on May 13, Hillary Clinton indicated, “There is more that Pakistan must do to face what is now a common enemy.”

Nevertheless, it was owing to threatening tone of Ms. Clinton and propaganda of American counter-terrorism experts, linking the failed Times Square attempt with Pakistani tribal areas that on May 10, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that the incident had damaged Pak-US relations to some extent.

The fact of the matter is that the main aim of the planted Times Square plot was to pressurize Islamabad in connection with the coming round of the Pak-US strategic dialogue—unilateral strike on Pakistan and to further tarnish the image of Pakistan. In this respect, on May 29, 2010, while quoting the US officials, under the caption, “Options studied for a possible Pakistan strike”, The Washington Post disclosed: “The US military is reviewing options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan in the event that a successful attack on American soil is traced to the country’s tribal areas…ties between the alleged Times Square bomber, Faisal Shahzad, and elements of the Pakistani Taliban have sharpened the Obama administration’s need for retaliatory options.” The Post further explained: “The US options for potential retaliatory action rely mainly on air and missile strikes, but could also employ small teams of US Special Operations troops already positioned along the border with Afghanistan.”

However, the pressure on Pakistan and the self-created foiled-terror attempts are interlinked. Washington wants Islamabad to do more, and to take military action against the Haqqani group in North Waziristan. While Islamabad has already made it clear that army is engaged in other tribal areas and flood-affected regions, so it cannot attack the militants of North Waziristan.

In this connection rejecting US duress, Pakistan’s army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that a decision about military action in North Waziristan will not be made on external dictation.

It is mentionable that Pakistan is the only nuclear country in the Islamic world. Therefore, India and Israel with the tactical support of America are creating instability in the country. In this regard, Indo-Israeli lobbies are working in the US and other western countries in order to malign Islamabad. With the help of particularly American media, these lobbies are propagating that the next terror-plan to attack the US homeland will be prepared in Pakistan.

American sources suggested that Muslims were involved in the tragic incident of the 9/11. All the pilots who crashed planes at the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre were Arabs. According to American research institutes, few Arabic youth took regular flying lessons after undergoing terrorists training. They were trained within America, and American security agencies were ignorant of it? Most of these pilots were from Saudi Arabia and the rest from Egypt.

Then why did America attack Afghanistan and Iraq, while no Afghans and Iraqis participated in the terrorist events of the 9/11. Without any evidence, some American intellectuals blamed Osama Bin Laden, hiding in Afghanistan to provide financial backing to the terrorists. That accusation was rejected by Osama. But the US particularly invaded Afghanistan aggressively and destroyed the whole country. At that time, even the American media was astonished and said that without evidence—blaming Muslims for terrorism was a lie.

And now events in the eight years since the September 11 tragedy have proved that this terrorist incident was part of the strategic game to control the routes to the Central Asian states and their mineral wealth.

Although the regime of the Taliban was removed, yet they regrouped themselves, and started guerrilla warfare against the US-led NATO forces. In order to justify support for its aggressiveness, Washington started using terminology like Islamic extremism and ‘Talibanisation.’ The real purpose behind this attack was not to arrest Osama or to remove the Taliban government, but to use them as scapegoat to fulfill a number of designs in relation to the strategic game. Actually the real purpose was to occupy the mineral resources of Central Asian states and control the routes for transporting it to the world.

In this context, besides, Pakistan’s province, Balochistan where China has invested billion of dollars to develop Gwadar seaport which could link Central Asian trade with rest of the world, irritates the US including its other allies like India and Israel. Balochistan has even shifted the central gravity of the Great Game to Pakistan. Notably, Washington which signed a deal of civil nuclear technology with New Delhi wants to counterbalance China by making India the superpower of Asia. In this regard, a cold war has already started between the US and China.

As a ‘nuclearised’ Pakistan will be the arena of the next cold war, hence American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad are creating instability by supporting separatist and hostile elements in Balochistan and other cities of our country. In this respect, besides suicide attacks and assaults on Pakistan’s security personnel, other incidents like kidnappings and killings of Iranians and Chinese engineers in the last three years might be cited as example.

In this regard, the problem was not restricted to Balochistan alone, it also related to the Karakorum Highway, which was extended to Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and the tribal areas of Pakistan. The fight in the name of Islam started in Bajor, Malakand and Swat, when in 2004; China signed an agreement with the government of Pakistan for an extension of the historical highway from Gilgat to Swat, passing through Dir and Chitral. That highway was named the Karakorum Highway phase II.

As soon as some parts of that plan were brought to world’s attention, a siren went off in the capitals of some countries—especially Washington, New Delhi and Tel Aviv. The USA took it as a threat to its global plans, and India felt that it threatened its integrity. American close ally, Israel also took it as a greater threat from an Islamic country.

Nonetheless, we cannot see the recent plot of the parcel-bombs in isolation, all similar conspiracies including this one has been created by the Indo-Israeli lobbies with the support of some Americans to target the Islamic country, while these entities have intensified anti-Pakistan campaign.

By Sajjad Shaukat, Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

“Pakistan Team Is Difficult To Manage“, Intakhab Alam

Intakhab Alam who is newly appointed manger of Pakistan team said that Pakistan team is difficult to manage. He was coach of Pakistan team during the tour of South Africa. Intakhab Alam was also coach of Pakistan team in 1992 world cup. He is now given the responsibility to manage Pakistani team in this difficult time. In his statement he indicated that it will be not easy for him to manage Pakistani team.

Intakhab is given charge after Yawar Saeed. He said that manager job is to promote and control team’s image and he assured that he will do his best to promote the image of Pakistan team. He is 68 year old and got enough experience to fit for this job. After his Australia tour he was removed as coach of Pakistan team after he put to many allegations on Pakistan team.

Seven other Pakistani players were suspended by PCB and some of them were fined also. Pakistan is now schedule to play 2 test matches and five ODI’s and two T-20 matches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The tour will begin by the end of this moth on 26th October. Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be hosting home series of Pakistan.

After DPO, fiver other culprits of Sialkot lynching released

After passing two months in Sialkot lynching incident, no action has been taken against any culprit. Police have been trying hard to save their cohorts, filing wrong clauses in the case. Resultantly, DPO Waqar Chauhan got released and now the court has accepted bail of sub-inspector, ASI and three constables.
Sialkot incident was an act of barbarism which damaged the image of Pakistan worldwide. On Dunya News report, Chief Justice took notice of the incident. The case was also filed in Lahore High Court. The SC formed court commission. Punjab CM also set up an investigation committee which held DPO responsible for the incident. On CMs recommendation, the government suspended DPO Chauhan. 18 culprits were also arrested on court orders. At this time, police added C-155 clause in the case which can be helpful for police officials release. Now, Session Judge Zafar Iqbal Tarar released sub-inspector Shahanshah Bukhari, ASI Sarfaraz and Constables Rizwan Ali, Nawaz and Yasir.

After DPO, fiver other culprits of Sialkot lynching released

After passing two months in Sialkot lynching incident, no action has been taken against any culprit. Police have been trying hard to save their cohorts, filing wrong clauses in the case. Resultantly, DPO Waqar Chauhan got released and now the court has accepted bail of sub-inspector, ASI and three constables.
Sialkot incident was an act of barbarism which damaged the image of Pakistan worldwide. On Dunya News report, Chief Justice took notice of the incident. The case was also filed in Lahore High Court. The SC formed court commission. Punjab CM also set up an investigation committee which held DPO responsible for the incident. On CMs recommendation, the government suspended DPO Chauhan. 18 culprits were also arrested on court orders. At this time, police added C-155 clause in the case which can be helpful for police officials release. Now, Session Judge Zafar Iqbal Tarar released sub-inspector Shahanshah Bukhari, ASI Sarfaraz and Constables Rizwan Ali, Nawaz and Yasir.

Petraeus bashes plan to burn Qurans

WASHINGTON: Top US military commander in Afghanistan has denounced a Florida church’s plans to burn Qurans on September 11, saying it would put the lives of American troops overseas in danger.

General David Petraeus said that the move will be used by the Taliban to boost their image and will drum up anger against US troops.

“It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort,” Petraeus told The Wall Street Journal.

“It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems,” Petraeus added.

The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, says it will burn copies of the holy Quran on church grounds to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

There have been daily demonstrations against the church’s plan in Afghanistan since Friday.

The pastor of the church, Terry

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