Federal Minister for Minorities affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was Killed in the I-8/ area of Islamabad-Pakistan

Federal Minister for Minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was killed in the I-8/3 area of Islamabad on Wednesday morning by three unidentified gunmen. The minister had left his house moments ago when his car was intercepted by a white Suzuki Mehran.

Shahbaz Bhatti-Foreign Minister for Minorities

Assailants, dressed in shalwar kurtas, first took the minister’s driver out the car and then shot at Bhatti. According to IG Islamabad, this was not a security lapse as escorts were provided to Bhatti, which he was not using. The minister had apparently instructed his security to wait at the office in I-8/4. Bhatti had been receiving death threats and he had requested the government for more security. He was provided with four guards by the interior ministry. Earlier, Bhatti had voiced his fears that he believed he would be “the highest target” following the assassination of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer for speaking out against the blasphemy law. Bhatti had said fatwas, or religious decrees, had been issued calling for him to be beheaded, by extremist clerics in the country who were allowed to publicly spread messages of violence with impunity.

Footage of Ministers’ interview by Al Jazeera English-

 

 

 

Great Sindhi Poet Shaikh Ayaz is alive in people’s hearts and souls through his revolutionary poetry

On Shaikh Ayaz’s Birthday-Ali Palh

Some people die while still living. Mubarak Ali Shaikh ,who is widely known as Shaikh Ayaz, the greatest Sindhi poet of 20^th century, NEVER died. He still lives in people’s memories, hearts and souls through his poetry. Shaikh Ayaz born on March 2, 1923 in a beautiful city of Sindh province called Shikarpur. Today is his  88th birthday is being celebrated with love, respect and enthusiasm, both within Sindh and other parts of the world where people love this poet.

Great Sindhi Poet-Shaikh Ayaz

By profession, he was lawyer but by heart a poet. He also served as a Vice-Chancellor of Sindh University, Jamshoro. This great Sindhi poet’s motivational, inspirational and revolutionary poetry gave  people of Sindh awareness, courage and rekindled their  love for their motherland (Sindh). Shaikh Ayaz’s poetry is recognized both within and outside Pakistan.

Shaikh Ayaz’s literary career spanned almost six decades in which he covered a wide range of poetry and prose ranging from the traditional bait, waiee , Azad Nazam” and ghazal. Shaikh Ayaz also wrote in newspapers on people’s rights and miseries.  Shaikh Ayaz, as said above, never died, taking rest at Bhit Shah near another great Sindhi mystic poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.Not only Sindh but he did compose his poetry in Urdu and two of his anthologies, “Booye Gul, Nala-i-dil” and “Neel Kanth Aur Neem Ke Pate” were highly acclaimed.

Through his revolutionary poetry, Ayaz voiced the miseries of people of Sindh. The way he portrayed their sufferings, no political leader can ever do. His poetry was earth quake for Pakistani dictatorial regimes of Ayub and Zia. I was not born at that time but history witnesses, everyone knows, how Shaikh Ayaz through his poetry did battle against the military dictatorship of General Ayoob Khan. During the anti-One Unit campaign one of his poems “Sindhri taan sir ker na deendo, sanhando ker mayar (Is there anybody who will not sacrifice his head for Sindh, and be ashamed of it)”. Shaikh Ayaz’s poetry gave people progressive and revolutionary thinking.

Below are few videos of his poetry.

Shafi Faqeer Sings Shaikh Ayaz’s Poetry.

Sanam Marvi sings Ayaz’s poetry

Famous Poetry of Shaikh Ayaz

 

Rotary Peace Fellowship

The Rotary Foundation is now accepting applications for the world-competitive Rotary Peace Fellowships and Professional Development Certificates. They offer both a 15-24 month Masters Degree option and a three month Professional Development Certificate program.  You can read more about them at the web page for Rotary Peace Centers. The Rotary Peace Centers program is intended for individuals who have chosen a career related to international relations, peace, and conflict resolution, who already have work experience in these areas, and who have real potential to positively impact our world. In particular, candidates should demonstrate a commitment to community or international humanitarian service, and working for peace.

These programs are offered at:
•       Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (professional development
center)
•       Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
•       International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
•       Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina
•       University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
•       University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Application Form and other details open below link.

http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/EducationalPrograms/RotaryCentersForInternationalStudies/Pages/ridefault.aspx?gclid=CMfZgreWr6cCFYbb4AodK3MOTA