Sunday, November 13, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Remembering Sultan bin Abdulaziz
The demise of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz leaves a void in Saudi Arabia’s succession issue making it more complex at a time when the region is facing severe political turmoil in the form of Arab Spring. The ageing leadership has already given rise to speculations about the future of the al-Saud. Some palace watchers have been expressing doubts about its stability once the Generation Next princes takeover the helm of affairs. The younger sons and the grandsons of founder, King Ibn Saud, have been positioning themselves for the fierce completion.
At this stage, the most likely successor for the Crown Prince is Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is also the Second Deputy Prime Minister since 27 March 2009. Indeed, even though Abdullah became the King in August 2005, he took more than three years to appoint Naif to that position. However the appointment of a new Crown Prince is likely to be made through the 35-member Allegiance Council which was created by King Abdullah in 2006. Through this reform measure Abdullah seeks to formalise the opinion of princes (sons and grandsons of the founder King) in determining the succession. It would be for the first time that the King alone does not appoint the Crown prince, if the Allegiance Council is mandated to make the appointment.
On 22 October a cryptic message put out by the Royal Court declared: "With deep sorrow and distress, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah announces the demise of his brother Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who passed away early Saturday morning." The Crown Prince was in the United States for treatment since mid June where he died. It was also announced that the funeral prayer for the prince would be held in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on Tuesday after the Asr (late afternoon) prayer.
Prince Sultan was also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence and Aviation. He served as the Minister of Defence for nearly five decades since he was given the charge by King Faisal in 1962. He was later appointed as the Second Deputy Prime Minister by his full brother King Fahd in 1982. Sultan became Heir Apparent since 1 August 2005, a position he held until his death.
He was born on 30 December 1930; however some sources give the year of birth as 1924. His mother was Princess Hassa Al-Sudairi (1910-2003), who was from the Sudairi clan. Along with his six brothers Prince Sultan formed the powerful block, common known as Sudairi Seven. Like other brothers Sultan received his early education in religion, culture and diplomacy in the Royal Court.
His political life started in 1947 when he was appointed the Governor of Riyadh by his father and founder of the Kingdom. He also held the portfolios of Ministries of Agriculture and Communication during various times. The prince was also known as Sultan al-Khair (goodness) because of his popularity as humanitarian prince. On numerous occasions he represented Saudi Arabia at the UN General Assembly meetings and Arab and Islamic summits.
Prince Sultan played a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia seeking and positioning US-led allied forces following the 2 August 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and subsequent allied-led war against Iraq.
As Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General he oversaw a major build-up of the armed forces of the Kingdom and contributed to the growth and progress of the national career, Saudia. As its Chairman he was instrumental in imposing a smoking ban in all Saudi airports. He also served as Chairman of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), an organization which he founded in 1986 for the protection of the nation's indigenous wildlife. In 1995 he established the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Charity foundation that funds social services and health care for the elderly and comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the physically challenged.
Prince Sultan was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004 and had been to the United States in early 2009 for treatment and remained outside the country. Convalescing in Morocco for almost a year, he returned to the Kingdom in early 2010.
Prince Sultan leaves behind his two wives, Princess Huda and Princess Areej, and a number of sons and daughters. His son Prince Khalid has been looking after the Ministry of Defence since his father was taken ill in 2004 while another son Prince Bandar was Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US from 1983 to 2005 and has been named Secretary-General of the National Security Council in October 2005. His other sons include Fahd, Abdullah, Turki, Meshal and Faisal.
At this stage, the most likely successor for the Crown Prince is Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is also the Second Deputy Prime Minister since 27 March 2009. Indeed, even though Abdullah became the King in August 2005, he took more than three years to appoint Naif to that position. However the appointment of a new Crown Prince is likely to be made through the 35-member Allegiance Council which was created by King Abdullah in 2006. Through this reform measure Abdullah seeks to formalise the opinion of princes (sons and grandsons of the founder King) in determining the succession. It would be for the first time that the King alone does not appoint the Crown prince, if the Allegiance Council is mandated to make the appointment.
On 22 October a cryptic message put out by the Royal Court declared: "With deep sorrow and distress, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah announces the demise of his brother Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who passed away early Saturday morning." The Crown Prince was in the United States for treatment since mid June where he died. It was also announced that the funeral prayer for the prince would be held in the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on Tuesday after the Asr (late afternoon) prayer.
Prince Sultan was also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence and Aviation. He served as the Minister of Defence for nearly five decades since he was given the charge by King Faisal in 1962. He was later appointed as the Second Deputy Prime Minister by his full brother King Fahd in 1982. Sultan became Heir Apparent since 1 August 2005, a position he held until his death.
He was born on 30 December 1930; however some sources give the year of birth as 1924. His mother was Princess Hassa Al-Sudairi (1910-2003), who was from the Sudairi clan. Along with his six brothers Prince Sultan formed the powerful block, common known as Sudairi Seven. Like other brothers Sultan received his early education in religion, culture and diplomacy in the Royal Court.
His political life started in 1947 when he was appointed the Governor of Riyadh by his father and founder of the Kingdom. He also held the portfolios of Ministries of Agriculture and Communication during various times. The prince was also known as Sultan al-Khair (goodness) because of his popularity as humanitarian prince. On numerous occasions he represented Saudi Arabia at the UN General Assembly meetings and Arab and Islamic summits.
Prince Sultan played a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia seeking and positioning US-led allied forces following the 2 August 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and subsequent allied-led war against Iraq.
As Defence and Aviation Minister and Inspector General he oversaw a major build-up of the armed forces of the Kingdom and contributed to the growth and progress of the national career, Saudia. As its Chairman he was instrumental in imposing a smoking ban in all Saudi airports. He also served as Chairman of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), an organization which he founded in 1986 for the protection of the nation's indigenous wildlife. In 1995 he established the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Charity foundation that funds social services and health care for the elderly and comprehensive rehabilitation programme for the physically challenged.
Prince Sultan was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004 and had been to the United States in early 2009 for treatment and remained outside the country. Convalescing in Morocco for almost a year, he returned to the Kingdom in early 2010.
Prince Sultan leaves behind his two wives, Princess Huda and Princess Areej, and a number of sons and daughters. His son Prince Khalid has been looking after the Ministry of Defence since his father was taken ill in 2004 while another son Prince Bandar was Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US from 1983 to 2005 and has been named Secretary-General of the National Security Council in October 2005. His other sons include Fahd, Abdullah, Turki, Meshal and Faisal.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Construction work in my Clock
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Life Goes On
Whenever I think about life, it seems a complex web of relations. But if I think too into it, life starts looking very simple; where one keeps on meeting new people every day, some stay with us, some become memory and some just pass by, but can life stop for someone, something, not really............life goes on..!!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ جو ہم میں تم میں قرار تھا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہی وعدہ یعنی نباہ کا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ جو لطف مجھ پہ تھے پیش تر، وہ کرم کہ تھا مرے حال پر
مجھے سب ہے یاد ذرا ذرا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ نئے گلے، وہ شکایتیں، وہ مزے مزے کی حکایتیں
وہ ہر ایک بات پہ روٹھنا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کبھی بیٹھے سب میں جو رُوبرُو، تو اشارتوں ہی سے گفتگو
وہ بیانِ شوق کا برملا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
ہوئے اتفاق سے گر بہم، تو وفا جتانے کو دم بہ دم
گلہء ملامتِ اقربا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کوئی ایسی بات اگر ہوئی کہ تمہارے جی کو بری لگی
تو بیاں سے پہلے ہی بھولنا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کبھی ہم میں تم میں بھی چاہ تھی، کبھی ہم سے تم سے بھی راہ تھی
کبھی ہم بھی تم بھی تھے آشنا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
سنو ذکر ہے کئی سال کا کہ کیا اِک آپ نے وعدہ تھا
سو نباہنے کا تو ذکر کیا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کہا میں نے بات وہ کوٹھے کی مِرے دل سے صاف اتر گئی
تَو کہا کہ جانے مِری بلا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ بگڑنا وصل کی رات کا، وہ نہ ماننا کسی بات کا
وہ نہیں نہیں کی ہر آن ادا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
جسے آپ گنتے تھے آشنا، جسے آپ کہتے تھے با وفا
میں وہی ہوں مومنِ مبتلا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
(حکیم مومن خان مومن)
وہی وعدہ یعنی نباہ کا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ جو لطف مجھ پہ تھے پیش تر، وہ کرم کہ تھا مرے حال پر
مجھے سب ہے یاد ذرا ذرا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ نئے گلے، وہ شکایتیں، وہ مزے مزے کی حکایتیں
وہ ہر ایک بات پہ روٹھنا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کبھی بیٹھے سب میں جو رُوبرُو، تو اشارتوں ہی سے گفتگو
وہ بیانِ شوق کا برملا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
ہوئے اتفاق سے گر بہم، تو وفا جتانے کو دم بہ دم
گلہء ملامتِ اقربا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کوئی ایسی بات اگر ہوئی کہ تمہارے جی کو بری لگی
تو بیاں سے پہلے ہی بھولنا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کبھی ہم میں تم میں بھی چاہ تھی، کبھی ہم سے تم سے بھی راہ تھی
کبھی ہم بھی تم بھی تھے آشنا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
سنو ذکر ہے کئی سال کا کہ کیا اِک آپ نے وعدہ تھا
سو نباہنے کا تو ذکر کیا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
کہا میں نے بات وہ کوٹھے کی مِرے دل سے صاف اتر گئی
تَو کہا کہ جانے مِری بلا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
وہ بگڑنا وصل کی رات کا، وہ نہ ماننا کسی بات کا
وہ نہیں نہیں کی ہر آن ادا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
جسے آپ گنتے تھے آشنا، جسے آپ کہتے تھے با وفا
میں وہی ہوں مومنِ مبتلا، تمہیں یاد ہو کہ نہ یاد ہو
(حکیم مومن خان مومن)
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Team India are Champions
This is the proudest moment of Indian cricket. Last time when India won, I was not even born. The loss to Australia in 2003 finals was nothing less than a disaster. Today India played so well, credit goes to each and every player of team India, but the best praise be kept for Gambhir. After India were 32/2, he played brilliantly and cruised India to the proudest moment of cricketing history in India. Dhoni the gambler and master he is, cannot be lauded in words for his knock. Zaheer, Yuvraj, Bhhajji, Raina, Kohli, Sehwag, Munaf, Yusuf everyone, but the greatest tribute should be preserved for the living legend of world cricket; SACHIN TENDULKAR. Congratulations Men in Blue; you deserved it, congratulations the people of India; you deserved it too. Love you all the MEN IN BLUE................Jai Hind...!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Chill is in the Air...!!
January 2007
and
January 2011
Chill is in the Air.....
Does history repeats itself?
It always does
Emotional trauma
life time
Chill is in the Air.....
Why is it
You get "chill" in return for love
Why is it
You get "drubbed" in return for affection
Don't know
Some questions are never answered
Life Goes on....
Winters come and pass by
People come and run over
History may not be repeated....!
A wishful wish
Wishes remain wishes only if they are not fulfilled
Emotional Trauma
Chill is in the Air......instead of Love..!!
and
January 2011
Chill is in the Air.....
Does history repeats itself?
It always does
Emotional trauma
life time
Chill is in the Air.....
Why is it
You get "chill" in return for love
Why is it
You get "drubbed" in return for affection
Don't know
Some questions are never answered
Life Goes on....
Winters come and pass by
People come and run over
History may not be repeated....!
A wishful wish
Wishes remain wishes only if they are not fulfilled
Emotional Trauma
Chill is in the Air......instead of Love..!!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
No 1 Killed Jessica
Watched 'No One Killed Jessica, a very well made film on Jessica Lal murder case. Raj Kumar Gupta deserves praise for meticulous and mature handling of the characters. Vidya as Sabrina is marvellous and Rani is back with a bang, Other actors also do well. The first half is fabulous, the later half is a bit loose but interest remains intact throughout the film. Certain scenes deserve special mention for bringing out the social problems prevailing in India as a whole and Delhi in particular. Loved it for being an ode to women empowerment in society. and Lastly a must watch for siblings particularly sisters.
Friday, January 7, 2011
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