The Dardistan Times

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Document | Hamid Mir Commission Report, the leaked document

Islamabad, 10th April 2016: High-level judicial commission formed to inquire into the attack on Hamid Mir on 19th April 2014 in Karachi has stated its inability to find the identity of the culprit(s) or fixing the responsibility of the incident on any individual, group or organization.

Islamabad, 10th April 2016: High-level judicial commission formed to inquire into the attack on Hamid Mir on 19th April 2014 in Karachi has stated its inability to find the identity of the culprit(s) or fixing the responsibility of the incident on any individual, group or organization.

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CHITRAL: six members of the same family who lost their lives in the unfortunate PIA crash in Havelian on Dec 7, were laid to rest today in Garamchishma. 20 people were from Chitral among those who lost their lives in the fatal plane crash. The bodies of the family were taken to Chitral via C-130 of Pakistan Air Force. In the plane crash Mirza Gul, his wife Gul Horan, Zahida Parveen, Sameena Bibi, Hassan Ali and Farhan had died . Only one member of the family, Haseena Gul,14, who did not travel with the family due to her exams, has survived. Haseena is in trauma and currently under treatment.

CHITRAL:  six members of the same family who lost their lives in the unfortunate PIA crash in Havelian on Dec 7, were laid to rest today in Garamchishma. 20 people were from Chitral among those who lost their lives in the fatal plane crash. The bodies of the family were taken to Chitral via C-130 of Pakistan Air Force.  In the plane crash Mirza Gul, his wife Gul Horan, Zahida Parveen, Sameena  Bibi, Hassan  Ali and Farhan had died . Only one member of the family, Haseena Gul,14, who did not travel with the family due to her exams, has survived. Haseena is in trauma and currently under treatment.

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Eric Schmitt-Matzen, 60, has played Santa for many years, working dozens of gigs each year. In addition to looking every bit the part with his 6-foot, 310 pounds frame and long, snowy beard, he was even born on Dec. 6 (Saint Nicholas Day), the newspaper reported Sunday. Columnist Sam Venable wrote in the paper about Schmitt-Matzen’s story. Several weeks ago, Schmitt-Matzen received a call from a nurse, he told Venable. She asked him to come to a local hospital because there was a sick little boy who wanted to see Santa. Schmitt-Matzen arrived at the hospital in 15 minutes. The little boy’s mother gave Schmitt-Matzen a Paw Patrol toy to hand to her son.

Eric Schmitt-Matzen, 60, has played Santa for many years, working dozens of gigs each year. In addition to looking every bit the part with his 6-foot, 310 pounds frame and long, snowy beard, he was even born on Dec. 6 (Saint Nicholas Day), the newspaper reported Sunday. Columnist Sam Venable wrote in the paper about Schmitt-Matzen’s story. Several weeks ago, Schmitt-Matzen received a call from a nurse, he told Venable. She asked him to come to a local hospital because there was a sick little boy who wanted to see Santa. Schmitt-Matzen arrived at the hospital in 15 minutes. The little boy’s mother gave Schmitt-Matzen a Paw Patrol toy to hand to her son.

[dardistantimes-blog]

he entire atmosphere is fragrant with spring blossom. The sunlight is so dimmed and faded as if it has not decided to be fully awake yet. I notice this while sitting on the balcony of my home. It is a beautiful morning on April 2 and   I am surrounded by a very peaceful and serene mood. Everything around me is in a state of daze. It is as if an earthworm is wriggling in the soil -- slow, lazy and deliberate. The time period of the sleepy sunlight was quite brief as it started raining soon .The rain, the sweet smells coming from the land and the crisp, cool wind of Skardu forced me to have a tour through the city. The mountains stood hazy and dazed. The snow clad peaks were covered with lofty clouds so that it became a trail of white smoke. Like a smoke out of a chimney. The apricot trees locally known as the “chuli mindoq” are like balls of cotton candies. There are other trees as well. The apple trees, peach trees, almond trees and the cherry trees.

[dardistantimes-blog]

Gilgit— in a fresh episode of unrest in the city, three people died and several others got injured. A thong of protesters took the streets to agitate, reportedly, against interruption in a religious function commemorating the Yom-e-Husain [the nephew of Muhammad P.B.U.H] in the Karakorum International University.

Sources said that two weeks ago, Shia Students were in the process of getting permission from University Administration to celebrate the day when Sunni students grimed and questioned whether or not they would be allowed to celebrate Yom-e-Umar [the companion of Muhammad P.B.U.H]

Shia Students were given permission to celebrate the day today. University administration had arranged to allow only the enrolled students of the University to attend the program. The law enforcement agencies did not allow the outsiders to get into the University. Therese people were attempting to interrupt the program and were gathering outside of the University.   Read more 

[dardistantimes-blog]

Centuries Old Qaqlasht Festival Concludes in Chitral

CHITRAL—  The 4-day long annual Qaqlast Festival concluded at the sprawling natural ground of Qaqlasht, some 80KM from Chitral city.  It has been celebrated for centuries, each year with an added zeal and jubilance. This year more than 60 sporting teams participated in a variety of games including Cricket, Football, Vallyball, Polo, Hocky (Ghaluzchun Ghal), Sia-Khaman, Falconry and Tug-of-war.

26 Cricketing teams participated in the cricket tournament and it was Mulkho Brothers to win the final against the team of Reshun. The final of polo matches was played between Booni and  Border Police Team. In the Tug-of-War, Team of Biar defeated Mulkho.

A freestyle game called Ghaluzchun Ghall [Polo without horse, more like a field hockey] was also played and  team of Booni defeated Mullkho.  In Volleyball, Koragh A. defeated Booni.  

The most interesting sport at the event was Sia-Khaman, a game where competitors use an antique gun called Sia-Khaman in shooting competition. Here Hussain Zarine got first position out of the 8 shooting experts. Falconry was another event where falconers exhibited skills of their falcons. Master Muhammad Sharif of Kosht was declared first as his falcon was the first to hunt its prey.

A Quiz competition among students of different classes was arranged too.  Unjuman-e Taraqui Khowar arranged poetry program that focused on conservation of forests and public hygiene.

Cultural show and musical concert was an important part of the festival in which different artists demonstrated their artistic skills and fascinated the audience. Other events were included athletics and paragliding.

Abdul Latif, president of Pakistan Tahriki Insaf (PTI) was chief guest on the occasion who watched the football final match and announced Rs. 50,000 for the organizing committee. He also announced Rs.5000 for the winner and runner-up teams of Football. Awars and Trophies were given away among the winning teams.

Last Year, he former U.S Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs and the Country Director,United States Agency for International Development (USAID)Raphel was the chief Guest at Qaqlashht Festival.

The Qaqlasht Festival is organized every year in  mid April. According to local legends Qaqlashht Festival is celebrated for the last 500 years. Thousands of people from all over Chitral participated in the Qaqlasht Festival (2012).

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Struggle is the meaning of life

The Aga Khan

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New Research Shows Increase in Karakoram Glaciers

Call it a ‘climate change mystery’ but scientists have found the Glaciers of Karakorum gaining ice over the last decade. According to a research at the University of France, scientists have disclosed that the Karakoram glaciers— in contrast to worldwide decline in mountain glaciers— have increased around 0.11m to 0.22m per year between 1999 and 2008.

"Our conclusion that Karakoram glaciers had a small mass gain at the beginning of the 21st century indicates that those central/eastern glaciers are not representative of the whole (Himalayas)," researchers said in the report published in the latest issue of Nature Geoscience journal. Click here to Read More...

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Mirza Hussain, Member GBLA arrested by Capital Police Islamabad

Islamabad— Miza Hussain was arrested on Friday by Capital police for issuing a cheque that the signatory [Mirza Hussain] did not mean to arrange payments with his bank.

According to detail a case was registered against him by Aslam Dogar on April 9 where the applicant claimed that Mirza Hussain issued him a cheque which was bounced. Mirza Hussain had allegedly borrowed 3.5 million rupees during his election campaign in Nagar and the aborted transaction was in that connection.

Muhammad Riaz, an official of Apara Police Station hesitantly denied when a staff of Dardistan Times spoke with him on the phone. However, sources told that Mirza Hussain reached a settlement with Muhammad Aslam Dogar to get away with the case. Click here to Read More

[dardistantimes-blog]

GB smouldering with sectarianism [Opinion]

By DJ Mathal

A superficial calmness seems to be prevailing inGilgit Baltistan for now. There is, however, lava boiling beneath the surface. Long since, the rulers sitting in Islamabad have controlled the region, plundered its resources and enjoyed ruling the locals; they did more to divide the masses than to bring any peace and prosperity. As a result, today the people of the whole region seem to be pitched against each others and apparently look blood-thirsty.

Each group is staging sit-ins with demands which are hardly possible to be fulfilled. It may be noted that the seed of sectarianism was sowed in the region in the 1970s which has now become a giant tree. The roots of this tree are soaked in the blood of hundreds of innocent people and the sapling is protected by thousands, eager to behead anyone who attempts to harm the tree. Click here to Read More