The Knowledge Factory held its second Comedy Night on 4th March and played host to an audience who left with big smiles on their faces.

The night started off with a new entry into the comedy world in Pakistan, but no stranger to stand up comedy in Manchester, Zubair Asghar. The British accent did not hinder this talented young man from having the audience roaring with laughter as soon as he started his act.

Next was a seasoned, veteran stand-up comedian from Karachi, Junaid Akram. He picked up his audience well from where Zubair had left off with the laughs and his last set of slides about Paki versions of Hollywood movies got roars of laughter.

The last stand-up act of the night by Shehzad Shaikh, President of Cogito Productions, had the audience rolling off their seats in no time. His mimicry of famous personalities, the spot on punch lines, and his animated account of instances around the nation left the audience in hysterics.

LAHORE POST - Struggle for a Judicious Society

Akcent is the most popular International band from Romania (Europe) who performed at Avari Hotel Lahore. The Band comprised of Three Members. In the recent years they have performed in all Six Continents of the World. They have fan-following all over the world including the Americas, Europe, Middle & Far East, entire Central & South Asia and Pakistan. Their songs and all time hits are played in Cars, Cafes, and Discos etc. Akcent visited Pakistan last year in December and performed two mega successful concerts in our history at Karachi & Lahore. Few of their most Popular Songs are ‘Stay with me’, ‘My Passion’, ‘That’s My Name’, ‘Love Stoned’, ‘King of Disco’, ‘Lovers Cry’ & ‘Happy People’ On popular request from peoples across the country, AJ Events brought Akcent to Pakistan again on 26 February 2012.
The event was organized by Aj Events which undoubtedly a promising Event Management & Brand-activation Company. We have highly qualified and experienced individuals. Creativity and
Innovation are the two words to describe the company, thinking out of the box is what they do best, which is why events organized by them would always be once in a lifetime experience. We specialize in top-of-the-line event experience and services for our clients. They follow the latest design techniques ensuring every event is uniquely creative yet tailored to the wishes of people. They already have a string of successful events under our belt, some of which are as follows

Ali Azmat Live in Concert (Ali Institute) UFONE
Imran Khan Live in Lahore (Ary & Pepsi)
Atif Aslam(Kinnaird College)
Call Live at GCU (URock Ufone)
Call the Band Live (Pell Farm House) 
EP Come back Concert (Battle Field Bhatta Chownk) World Call

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AIESEC in Lahore brings you the second edition of Youth to Business Forum, a two day event on 25^th and 26^th of February, taking place at the Lahore University of management Sciences.

AIESEC is the largest student run organization in the world, present in more than 1600 universities from 107 countries. It allows young students to develop their leadership potential and professional skills and facilitate them to become agents of positive change in the society.

The theme for this year’s Youth to Business Forum is Social Innovation and is focused on: Imagine Innovate and Inspire. The discussion topics for the conference are: The Controversy behind Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainopreneurship and Social Innovation Initiatives. This event will allow the participants to interact with the corporate world. There will be workshops, mentoring sessions, panel discussions, a formal dinner, and most importantly a Social Innovation Challenge where teams will get a chance to compete with each other for the Best Delegation Award.

Our organizing team comprises of AIESEC inLahore’s Vice President Marketing and Communication – Myra Ejaz, Organizing Committee President – Aamina Siddiqi, and the following Organizing Committee Vice Presidents and team members: Hassan Amir Khan, Sagar Jagani, Muhammad Shahzaib Bajwa, Abdus Samad, Gohar Iqbal, Faizan Rahman, Ahmed Razzak and Faizan Raja.

Youth to Business Forum is open to all A Level/FSC and university students. Registrations will commence from 25^th January 2012 onwards. For details regarding the forum and registration visit our Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/AIESEC-in-Lahore-Youth-2-Business-Forum-2012/326305474060309and ourwebsite at http://www.aiesecy2b.tk/.

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Piracy is an issue that the pirated fight with rigor against pirates who defend it with vigor. On the one hand we have a community that watches movies, TV shows, listens to music, plays video games and utilizes software without paying a single Rupee to the creators and on the other hand we have creators who have begun over charging for content that was once included in an affordable package (e.g: Bonus content DVDs).

LAHORE POST - Struggle for a Judicious Society

Project-RISE has been initiated by AIESEC in Lahore to provide students from the underprivileged segment the “priced” right to education. AIESEC is the world’s largest student driven organization that is present in over 110 countries and territories and has over 60,000 members. It is AIESEC’s mission to provide a platform for the youth to explore and develop their leadership potential and to positively change the world’s environment. Therefore, students from Lahore have started the Project Based on exchange (PBoX) through AIESEC called RISE. A project based on exchange is one of AIESEC’s products that ensure the development of young leaders who are also socially and environmentally responsible. It is through a “PBoX” that students can address social issues with the help of AIESEC.
What? Project-RISE aims on helping spread education and creating opportunities for young leaders from abroad to work in Pakistan’s education sector. The project aims to have a direct positive impact so as to help contribute to the education sector in Pakistan by not just raising funds but also bringing in enthusiastic foreign interns who want to contribute to the education sector of Pakistan. The purpose of Project-RISE is to help promote education in Pakistan by creating awareness about its importance and also by helping ensure its accessibility to the underprivileged. To achieve this, the project will partner with NGOs in Pakistan that are working in the education sector to assist them in their core functions (workshops, trainings, teaching students etc). Project-RISE will also work to raise funds to sponsor education of underprivileged children so that Pakistan’s future is bright and prosperous.
How? The project aims to create a force that is able to revolutionize and revitalize all the help that has ever been provided to the neglected education sector. Apart from direct engagement through teaching, coaching and mentoring, arranging theatrical or debating workshops and planning learning events, the project also aims to arrange for an external event in Al-Hamra Hall. The learning event in Al-Hamra Hall will be in collaboration with Youth Welfare Organization (YWO) so as to create awareness of pressing social issues. The expected outcome of the event will be to send out a strong social message to the audience and at the same time raise funds to sponsor education for students in the “Youth Welfare” Program.
Why now? A lack of education is the root of most evil in a society. This is because a lack of education hampers a society from growing and innovating. When people are not educated, they do not make full use of their resources and potential and hence suffer. They are the ones who are unemployed, often get exploited and hence turn to violence as a solution. In a country such as Pakistan, where more than 23 million children have never been to school and 3.5million children have been exploited and forced into child labor, it is necessary that education must be promoted. Children are the future of our nation, and it is important that we recognize this and do something about the problem of illiteracy. Come join us in our mission to provide the right to education to the children of Pakistan. It is time for us to RISE and work towards making lives better and to help Pakistan head towards a better future. RISE above indifference. Pakistan Zindabad!

Written by Muhammad Adil Saleem

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The Knowledge Factory held its first Comedy Night on 21st December and played host to an audience who left with big smiles on their faces.

The night started off with a new entry into the comedy world in Pakistan, but no stranger to stand up comedy in Manchester, Zubair Asghar. The British accent did not hinder this talented young man from having the audience roaring with laughter as soon as he started his act.

Next was a seasoned, veteran stand-up comedian from Karachi, Junaid Akram. He picked up his audience well from where Zubair had left off with the laughs and his last set of slides about Paki versions of Hollywood movies got roars of laughter.

The last stand-up act of the night by Shehzad Shaikh, President of Cogito Productions, had the audience rolling off their seats in no time. His mimicry of famous personalities, the spot on punch lines, and his animated account of instances around the nation left the audience in hysterics.

Next up was improvisational comedy by the Room for Improvment – a troupe of entertainers brought together by a passion for comedy. The 3 stand up comedians along with Shah Fahad (from FAST University), Murad Awan, Abdul Ahad Ayub and Amtul Haseen Baweja (students at LUMS) and Daniyal Malik (the lyricist of Aaloo Anday) took comedy to another level with their improve games and especially their Pakistani version of the Irish Drinking Song. Shah Fahad and Daniyal Malik won much applause for their outstanding performance during the games.

An improve troupe has been Shaikh’s dream for a while now, he said, and it seems like his efforts are finally paying off and he truly has it going for him this time.

 British comedian Shazia Mirza, too, seemed to enjoy the event fully. Comedy Night did not only fill up the room with roars of laughter, but also left the audience asking for more. Laiba Moin, a student at LSE, was in awe after the improve session and said she could not wait for the next Comedy Night.

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday said that the elements who wanted to see clash among institutions would face disappointment.Talking to APP here, she said that strengthening of institutions lies in a consistent democratic system in the country.Pakistan Peoples Party is the symbol of stable and strong democracy, Dr Firdous said while expressing the confidence that the present government would complete its five-year democratic term despite numerous challenges.All the credit goes to the political acumen of President Asif Ali Zardari and reconciliation policy of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, she added.

The minister said that the PPP government is following the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto regarding politics of reconciliation in a successful manner.
The present government has introduced the culture of tolerance, reconciliation and respect for each other’s point of view, she added.
At present, Dr Firdous said there is no political prisoner in the country while judiciary and media are enjoying complete freedom.  This is evident from the fact that the government is moving on the path to strengthen democracy, she added.
The Minister said future of people is very much linked to the flourishment of democratic institutions.She said that the Constitution of Pakistan is very clear on distribution of power among the institutions. Following of the Constitution by all, the institutions can meet the expectations of masses.
Dr Firdous said that supremacy of the Parliament can only nourish the nascent democracy. The way the democratic government responded to the external challenges and aggression is exemplary, she added.The minister said that Pakistan’s role cannot be ignored to ensure peace in the South Asian region.

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Is the House of Gujrat going down, thanks to PTI and Imran Khan who takes pride in leading a tsunami that would inundate the corridors of the corrupt and pervert forces whether they come in the way or remain aloof on the sidelines? Or is this tsunami directed against other political forces?

While trying to find an answer, one has to take into account the general impression being propagated by certain quarters that PTI has virtually assumed the role of a superman-crushing ‘Krypton’ for the superman of Nawaz League, Mian Nawaz Sharif. But an indepth examination of the prevailing situation reveals different facts as the main victim appears to be PML-Q that has been relegated from the third political force to the fourth or fifth position with the advent of PTI since the people have, of late, started questioning the raison d’etre of Chaudhrys’ party which, at one time, drew strength from two sources.

One, the military establishment headed by General Pervez Musharraf and secondly, from the meteorite that surfaced on our political landscape after separating from Mian Nawaz Sharif who was at that time taken for a maverick as he had the ‘audacity’ of putting up hurried defiance against the then president of Pakistan Muslim League, Muhammad Khan Junejo, who had been elected through majority votes of Muslim Leaguers.

That anger I mean that anti-Nawaz sentiment of ‘merit-loving’ nay ‘Junejo-loving’ is all over since long (one, however, wonders as to how merit still remains a priority in our political ranks which have undergone so much of decay). And also gone is the Musharraf factor. So, no question of the ‘strength behind’ still remaining intact as is most often claimed by some Chaudhry-lovers.

Now, not even the position of senior minister suffices to bolster up the weak areas and sensitive spots within the body politic of Muslim League of Ch Pervaiz Elahi and Ch Shujaat Hussain. The only hope left within the party is the personal ‘charisma’ of Chaudhry brothers or cousins.

Asking some saner elements within the intelligentsia and political circles as to what should we understand by the term Chaudhry’s ‘charisma’ and whether it reconciled with the ‘Zabist charisma’, the reply was simple and forthright. And that was: “generous use of resources”. What resources and what generosity? The direct ‘affectees’ of this generosity say charisma that instills zeal and fervour among the masses is no more needed. What is needed is job security rather the jobs? What is needed is protection against dacoities, chronic corruption, injustice and socio-economic disparities, not merely fiery speeches that only set the masses’ souls on fire with no follow-up practical work that would bring salvation.

In this context, the ‘affectees’ say that Chaudhrys have surpassed all other leaders in this area that of beneficence but this leaves one question to be answered whether by saying so are the Q-Leaguers or Chaudhrians promoting the idea that governance is all about winning the hearts through doles or is it to be dealt with at a broader, national scale that involves scientific planning, farsightedness and global goodwill, the essential ingredients of becoming the ‘Meere Karwan’ (the mentor and saviour of the caravan of nation).

It is easy to claim that one qualifies to be a ‘Meere Karwan’ but it is extremely difficult to prove one’s mettle in the arena where there is no room for political trickeries and gimmickry that have become history, thanks to the mass awakening. In my humble opinion, if at all a tsunami is coming, it is coming in the shape of this mass awakening or under inspiration from this awakening. The one who musters the power to channelize the tide and the immense energy it generates, will be the ultimate winner.

mianrehman1@gmail.com

Published in The News, December 13^th, 2011

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Whatever the arguments to the contrary that the media and legal wizards might like to forward, no answer has yet been found to this question being asked by common citizens for the last six plus decades as to why the country has not yet been able to build up a failsafe system of proving the allegations in judicial forums against the corrupt, the plunderers, the terrorists and hardened criminals and desperadoes.

In plain words, it simply means why it is so that the wrongdoers whose evil credentials are known to the entire society and the people in their neighbourhood and even in other towns and villages, are most often pronounced innocent on the basis of scanty or no-evidence.

Does the evidence evaporate in thin air? And if at all, it has to evaporate in thin air, why it is so that the culprits get scot-free in more than two-third of cases instituted against them under the Pakistan Penal Code or other laws in force including the infamous Anti-Terrorism Act and the practically crippled Anti-Corruption Act known as 5(2) 47 in legal jargon, since this Act dates back to the year 1947 and 5 ( 2) are its provisions dealing with acts of corruption committed by people in position of authority.

People are not so naïve to ask this question which is an exceptionally valid question because this sorry state of affairs in our system has brought sufferings in the lives of millions of people. Moreover, the people draw comparison with the legal systems of other countries of the world where proving a wrongdoer wrong is not an impossibility as it so happens in majority of cases in our country.

However, now people have started hoping lot of improvement following the emergence of judicial activism inspired by Chief Justice, Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who has rectified many errors in the system.

But most of the people are still not easily willing to accept the declaration made so vehemently by the House of Sharifs especially its scion in real power (Punjab is still deemed to be the hub of power), Mian Shahbaz Sharif, that ‘those having doubts about our assets, should prove it in the court’.

The underlying belief -or misconception- is that in our country there can be proof of honest means but no proof of dishonest means of income that include tax evasion, under-invoicing, power pilferage, regular bribes given to functionaries from different departments who happen to be on the regular payroll of some enterprising entrepreneurs to help them out in moments of distress (including financial distress).

This ‘proving-and-’proof’ business has also become a commonplace thing following the frequent statements of PM Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani and many of his partymen whose rhetoric ‘go to the courts if you’ve any evidence against us’, has become a routine gossip.

Anyway, it is a moment of delight for the masses that their supremos have at last realized the significance of presenting themselves and their assets’ details before the public, through media. Even if these presentations contain half-truth, some kind of benefit of doubt must be given to the leaders undergoing this realization.

Perhaps they have played the right cards at the right time. At least now one can guess that their assets are in safe hands. For sure, this is no allusion to the strategic assets being in safe hands, since safe hands protecting the vital or national strategic assets can go unsafe once the half truth turns out to be a total lie. So, the politicians at the helm of affairs better abandon the rhetoric ‘go to the courts’ and instead start treading the fair path.

A day before writing these lines, I’ve, however, received a communication from one Ejaz Khan of Lahore. It goes like this, “I have gone through your column titled ‘Budha in CM’s casing’ in ‘The News’ a few days back. Besides other things, it mentions the transparent methods resorted to by the Sharif family for the purchase of land for their Jati Umra palace at a time when Mian Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Through this letter, however, I want to point out that some officials of Punjab government including the TMA Iqbal Town functionaries and police officers, from SHO to the SP levels, are frequently sending sugar-coated but really threatening messages to the local agro-based industrialists who also earn foreign exchange and are doing business according to rules and regulations and standard practices just in the close neighbourhood of Jati Umra. On the face of it, the industrialist-hunting) is being done under the garb of rules which, according to my information, are being followed by these businesses but the real story is that some under-the-surface move is going on to intimidate the industrialists and show them the door and expand the palaces at lower-than-the-market land prices’.

Following this communication, a little probe was conducted. It was revealed that SHO Raiwind City Operations, Lahore has, through a cop deputed for this purpose, summoned some agro-based industrialist neighbours of Jati Umra but that they are being ‘summoned’ for some wrong reason or any ugly motive, has not yet been proved. However, given Mian Nawaz Sharif’s and Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s repeatedly declared commitment to honest means and humanitarianism, one hopes that the functionaries will not be allowed to misuse the name of the Punjab chieftain and his elder brother what to talk of expansion of palaces through official machinery’s clout or even otherwise.

mianrehman1@gmail.com

Published in The News, December 6^th, 2011

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Having no sound reason to rebut the official clarification issued by the Supreme Court office, some holier-than-thou Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) activists and lobbyists have now started backtracking on their previous sweeping statement that the Pakistan Muslim League-N supremo, Mian Nawaz Sharif, was given full protocol by the apex court’s protocol wing when he went to the court to appear in connection with his petition filed against the highly inflammable Memogate occurrence. And now starts a guess game initiated on the part of these PPP activists. Now they say that had their party

Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, gone to the apex court, he would not have been accorded any kind of protocol, formal or informal, even though Zardari holds the highest office of the state that of the President of Pakistan. In a way, these people are suggesting the prevalence of some kinds of ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ biases within our legal system and simultaneously, they are posing to be totally naïve about the immunity issue. But there seems to be no justification in this kind of poisonous mindset to which these

Zardari-lovers are subscribing just within their imagination. After all, why should the courts engage themselves in such activities that exude taking sides? No way, the PPP activists are going to prove wrong, even if a probe is carried out. The question in fact is that of judging the things in their true perspective i.e. on the most relevant and natural yardsticks. The yardstick that applies to this debate/controversy is that the courts welcome with open arms only those who come with clean hands. It is the clean hands or clean track record that brings respect and honor, call it by any name, official protocol or whatever. I think here lies the problem. I mean to say that the root cause of most of our problems and ills is this reliance on irrelevant yardsticks. Take for instance the trumpeted trampling of our sovereignty by US Seals and their formidable companions when they raided the Abbottabad compound housing the most renowned mutineer of the world (powers), OBL (Osama bin Laden). No conscientious as well as conscious soul among us Pakistanis would ever endorse that American action attacking our Haakmeete Aalaa (sovereignty and independence) but how come endorsing the same sacrosanct sovereignty’s ruination at the hands of OBL and OBL-inspired, nay OBL-spoiled, forces? The same rule applies to this Memogate. Can anyone in this part of the globe give even the slightest benefit of doubt to a haughty envoy who dared invoke the jurisdiction of the ‘court’ of the ‘monarch of Washington’ to tighten the noose around his own jugular vein (read the country’s armed forces), let alone pardon this sin that some ill-intentioned elements are trying to paint as a mere conspiracy or if, the pressure is mounted, to concede that it could be nothing more than an omission. What nonsense? The nation, that stands emotionally charged courtesy the sunlight brought on the horizon by the national media out of patriotic urge, is not willing to accept such silly pleas. But one thing must again be analyzed in depth on the basis of relevant yardsticks and that is examining this issue with all its aspects in view. If one were perturbed over the possible ‘arousal’ of foreign masters to do some arm-twisting of our armed forces (that they dare not), there should have been equal concern over the revelation that something ugly is brewing up back at home which might bring the edifice of democracy crumbling down. If all that calls for agitations, petitions and other such options and devices, some saner elements should have tried getting to the truth, either on their own or with the help of wisdom with which our legal and judicial sages are fully well-equipped. Not seeking their guidance, in my opinion, is unfair. I was rather expecting of Mian Nawaz Sharif who has put in so many years of his versatile existence in the realm of politics for stability, that he would one day be able to unearth the actual facts behind so many myths maddening our common man with bundle of theories of conspiracies and fancy stories. Or there is a possibility that the younger Sharif, the eagle (Shahbaz) of Punjab, might abandon his polygamous

(read aesthetic) pursuits in the foreseeable future to embark on the mission of clearing these myths and misconceptions as he is already very famous not only for his strong headedness but also for his clear-headedness that empowers him to make things clear and yet clearer.

LAHORE POST - Struggle for a Judicious Society