50th Anniversary Of The Geneva Conventions. (1999-6)

 

International humanitarian law has a long history. The modern form of this law goes back to the Baffle of Solferino and the work of Henry Dunant. As a result of his endeavours, the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies of the Field, the very first “Geneva Convention”, was adopted in 1864.

This pioneering convention was followed by several key developments in what has come to be known as “Geneva law”. The most important dates are 1907 (protection of combatants wounded at sea), 1929 (Protection of prisoners of war).

Finally, on August 12, 1949, the four Geneva Conventions were adopted for the protection of the wounded, sick and ship wrecked in armed forces in the field and at sea, of prisoners of war and of civilians.

Lastly, in 1977, two Protocols were added to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols today form the core of international humanitarian law.

The fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions is of special importance, since these treaties are a great step forward for humanity. Nonetheless, it should not be forgotten that it is far more important to review and determine what still merits improvement than to celebrate a body of law regulating the least human activity of all: war.

To this end, the ICRC has launched a major consultation-campaign entitled “People on War”: its aim is to allow the victims of armed conflict to speak for themselves.

Fifty years after the signing of the Geneva Conventions, the first observation in any preliminary review is that these norms are universally accepted.

To date they have been ratified by 188 States Parties, in other words almost the entire planet. As for the Additional Protocols, they are well on the way towards universal acceptance; respectively 153 and 145 States are now bound by them.

Pakistan is party to the four Geneva Conventions and has signed but not yet ratified the Additional Protocols. ICRC Activities in Pakistan since 1947.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) officially recognized the Pakistan Red Cross Society on the 21st of July 1948. The Geneva based institution could not imagine the course of dramatic events and exceptional situations which would require the efficient involvement of the young Red Cross Society as early as the very first year of its creation.

As we all know, at its very inception Pakistan was faced with the problem of receiving and housing hundreds of thousands of refugees, among them sick and wounded. The Pakistan Red Cross Society (PRCS) rendered all possible help to relieve their distress.

From 1947 until today, 50 years of solidarity between the ICRC and the PROS have passed, years of both happiness and tragedy.

Following is chronology of important events during the 50 years.

1947 An ICRC delegate is sent to Karachi and New Delhi to act as neutral intermediary for facilitating repatriations of civilians and to visit refugee camps in both Pakistan and India.

1948 Recognition of the Pakistan Red Cross Society by the ICRC (21.07). Under the auspices of the ICRC an agreement is reached between Pakistan and India on the tracing and repatriation of civilians lost during the two-way migration.

1949 ICRC supervises a general exchange of prisoners in April. Medical relief is sent to the PRCS to cope with the high number of refugees.

1954 Severe flooding causes extensive damage in the country. The ICRC helps the PROS to initiate emergency assistance.

1965 An ICRC delegate is sent to Rawalpindi. On an urgent request from the PRCS, plasma and transfusion material is provided to military hospitals. The Central Tracing Agency at ICRC headquarters in Geneva receives and transmits lists of prisoners of war (POW.) to both Pakistani and Indian authorities and facilitates the exchange of thousands of messages between POW. and their relatives. In December, the ICRC organizes on the cease-fire line and exchange of family parcels prepared by both national societies for prisoners. Syed Wajid Ali Shah, chairman PRCS, meets his Indian counterpart during this exchange. More than 700 parcels are exchanged that day.

1966 The ICRC launches an emergency appeal to the Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies to help the Pakistan and Indian Red Cross in their relief operation for more than 500,000 refugees on both sides. Two mobile medical unit vehicles are sent by the ICRC to the PROS, thanks to a grant from the British Red Cross.

1973 More than 10 million family messages are exchanged between POW. and their families. The ICRC transmits them to the PROS for distribution to the addresses in Pakistan. 180,000 family parcels prepared by the PRCS are transmitted by the ICRC to Pakistani P.O.W. detained in India.

1974 The ICRC helps the PRCS to settle problems related to the repatriation of ten of thousands of stranded persons to Pakistan Among them 90,000 Pakistani POW. who are repatriated to Pakistan by ICRC.

1979 The PROS NWFP branch assists Afghan refugees located close to the border with ICRC’s help.

1980 Two first aid posts managed by the PROS and financed by the ICRC are opened on the Pakistan-Afghan border. Five other posts are opened during the year.

1984 A paraplegic rehabilitation center is inaugurated by the ICRC in Peshawar and its management handed over to the PRCS in 1986.

1996 The Sindh branch of the PROS receives two ambulances from the ICRC especially for the areas of Karachi struck by violence. PROS mobile eye clinics in Northern Areas and parts of Kashmir are being supported by IORO.

1998 Launch by ICRC of an extensive training programme on the Law of Armed Conflicts with Staff Colleges and Combat Schools of the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force.

1998 Launch by ICRC of a relief programme to assist thousands of displaced Persons In Azad Kashmir (districts of Muzaffarabad and Bagh).

1999 PROS starts providing first aid training to Police officers in the Punjab. Two fully equipped ambulances are offered by IORO of PROS Punjab branch for a medical evacuation project in Lahore.

1999 IORC starts an instruction programme on Human Rights and Law Enforcement matters with the two Police Training Centres in the Punjab.

Courtesy: International Committee of the Red Cross-Delegation in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Officer is issuing a stamp of Rs 5 denomination on August 12, 1999.

Archaeological Heritage Of Pakistan Fasting Buddha (Gandhara Civilizations) (1999-5)

 

When the young prince Siddharatha, left his place in search of solution to seek enlightenment for human miseries, he straight went to a jungle and started physical austerities the age-old practice of getting spiritual enlightenment.

He fasted for several weeks, even months to banish all worldly thoughts and tame the body through pure spiritual activities.

Siddharatha thought that a liberal soul, as explained to him by a Brahman, is still a soul, and whatever the condition it attains, must be subject to rebirth and since each successive rebirth is held to be still accompanied by qualities. He maintained that the absolute attainment of our and was only to be found in abandonment of everything.

Seeking, therefore, something beyond, Siddharatha-actually a Bodhisattava, proceeded to Uruvilva near Bodhgaya and practiced for six years such severe austerities and intense mental concentration that his beautiful body withered away to skin and bones. He limited his daily diet to a single sesamun seed or a grain of rice, until one day he was overcome by a severe pain and fainted.

Some of the gods, taking him as dead, informed, queen Maya, the mother of Siddharatha, in Tusita Heaven. Immediately, she came down and seeing that Siddharatha was almost deed, she began to cry.

Then spoke the Siddharatha to his mother, ‘Fear not for love of thy son. I shall fulfill the prophecy of the Saint Asita and make plain the prediction of Dipankara. Though the earth should fall into hundreds of fragments but I, the only human being, should not die.

Therefore, be not sorrowful, for soon will thee behold the wisdom of a Buddha’. After overcoming his weakness, Bodhisattava perceived that self mortification was not the way to enlightenment.

Realising the fact he gave up fasting and accepted food from a maiden name Sujata. Then, after taking a bath in the stream of Naranjana, he again sat under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya to revive his meditation. Here he attained enlightenment at the age of thirty five and become known as the Buddha ‘The Enlightened one’.

This resolve was strikingly illustrated for the first time in Gandhara art and never so sublimely as in the masterpiece from Sikri, District Mardan, now in Lahore Museum.

This so-called statue of Fasting Siddharatha ranks not only as the finest specimen of Gandhara Art, but also as one of the rarest antiquities of the earliest world. Almost wholly undamaged and facing the viewer with a remorseless face it could not have failed to move the faithfuls, as it does fail to move us even today, with an awareness of the heroism which Buddhism saw in Buddsha striving for enlightenment.

In this sculpture the Bodhisattava sits in meditation, right hand over left, arms in the round, his upper garments slipped down to the elbows and spread in a broad semi-circle over the feet and crossed legs.

The head projects dramatically from the large plain halo, its shape and the luxuriant hair almost unaffected by the extreme emaciation of the features. The eyes are in sunken pits of deep shadow, the cheekbones project symmetrically, the nose in thin, the lips narrow and mouth small.

A short curling beard runs along the chin and jaw and even the thin curved, ears seem to convey the tension of the Bodhisattava withdrawn meditations. In low relief on the forehead, veins stand out as they do again in a regular and almost frightening tracery on the undercut arms, across the quaintly projecting shoulder blades and the ribcage.

Below the arch of the ribcage the abdomen is in drawn as if to leave no room for the wasted inner organs. Over the seat is spread the usual grass and on its face worshippers flank a fire-altar.

It is not known who carved this masterpiece of a sculpture and also as to how this image was housed in its shrine. Surviving smaller narrative panels with a central Fasting Bodhisattava can show a variety of flanking figures and if this image was not a wholly independent cult object, it may have been accompanied by odorants, as were Buddha in stucco groups at Taxila, or as in a narrative tableau, by appropriate participants at this stage in the Buddha legends.

Whatever may have been the case, this image show, to an exceptional degree for Gandhara devices more commonly employed in later sculpture the high relief, the under-cutting of the arms and the open spaces so produced under the armpits create a stark play of light and shade that could have enhanced the impact of one of the greatest achievements of any religious art.

Contributed by Lahore Museum, Lahore.

To focus the attention on Archaeological Heritage of Pakistan, Pakistan Post Office is issuing 2 commemorative postage stamps of denomination of Rs 7 each and one Souvenir Sheet of denomination of Rs 25 on July 21,1999.

CELEBRATING 77 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE HONOURING ARSHAD NADEEM'S ACHIEVEMENT. AUGUST 14, 2024 (2024-7)

 

On Pakistan's 78th Independence Day, we proudly introduce a special postal stamp that celebrates the remarkable achievement of Arshad Nadeem. Arshad Nadeem made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by setting a new Olympic record with a phenomenal throw of 92.97 meters in the men's javelin throw final on August 8, 2024. Arshad Nadeem's gold medal stands as a profound symbol of national pride. This remarkable victory is not just a personal success but highlights the exceptional talent and potential of Pakistan's young athletes. His achievement reflects the dedication, skill, and determination needed to excel at the highest levels of international sport.

The new stamp commemorates Arshad Nadeem's outstanding performance and his contribution to bringing recognition to Pakistan on the global stage. His success story is an example of the remarkable achievements. possible through hard work and perseverance, inspiring future generations to pursue their own goals with the same dedication and hard work.

As we celebrate our 77 years of independence, this stamp honours Arshad Nadeem's incredible achievement and the broader promise of Pakistani talent. It's a moment to reflect on the pride we feel for Arshad Nadeem and the potential that continues to grow within our nation.

On the occasion of 78th Independence Day of Pakistan, a Special Postage Stamp of Rs. 100/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on August 14th, 2024,

Completion Of Data Darbar Complex, Lahore. (1999-4)

Hazrat Syed Ali bin Usman al-Hajvery, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh settled in Lahore during the eleventh century. Accomplished Sufi Master and revered intellectual, he propagated the religious, spiritual, moral and educational dimensions of Islam in South Asia.

The shrine or Darbar where Data Sahib is buried, is visited round-the-clock by the devotees from all over the country.

The Auqaf Department is the custodian of this sacred precinct. It has now completed this project begun in 1978 to provide better amenities to the devotees. During the first phase the large mosque was constructed in 1989 covering an area of 1,60,000 square feet.

Phase-II completes the master-plan of the mosque-shrine complex and further extends the mosque by 2,08,150 sqare feet to accommodate the growing congregation. This phase began in 1997 under the direction of the Prime Minister.

It now consists of three levels. The basement provides parking area for 200 cars. The inter-mezzanine floor consisting of a fully airconditioned sama hall, langar-khana/charity kitchen, separate rest-rooms for men and women, ablution areas, library research centre, facilities for bank, security personnel, administrative offices, conference hail and atrium.

The main, top floor is the extension and completion of Data Sahib Jam Ia Mosque. It comprises of a central green area in the Mughal Chahar Bagh division, which is enhanced with water-bodies such as a central fountain and ripplers running along the length of the arcade.

Spacious verandahs enclose this space emphasizing the traditional concept of inner court-yard in Islamic Architecture. The arches of the first phase were discontinued and replaced by those reflecting the arches of the original mausoleum and circum-ambulatory area around it. Thus a unified architectural statement have been achieved.

The 185 arches in this phase of the mosque, are embellished with pure white marble with the Names of Allah and of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Each has been scripted by calligraphers and calligraphy-artists of Pakistan.

The complex also has verses from the Holy Quran, verses in praise of the Holy Prophet and Data Sahib and name of holy persons in thulth and nastaliq styles. The complete Surah Rahman, on the facade of the mosque facing the Lower Mall, is 308 feet long in nastaliq script.

uch a long nastaliq script on a monument is a world record. Similarly, 108 feet long Durud Taj has been rendered in nastaliq at the entrance to the Sama Hall. Both inscriptions are a major achievement for Pakistan.

They have been rendered in nastaliq to make the text more accessible to the public. Beside these, a large calligraphy-art work by Sadquain has been executed in marble. All the calligraphy and calligraphy-art work in the exterior and interior has been scripted voluntarily and free of any charge by the Pakistan Calligraph-artists Guild.

The mosque is now spread over a total of 3,68,150 sqare feet and is the third largest mosque in Pakistan after the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore and the Faisal Mosque Islamabad. The mosque can now accommodate upto 52,600 devotees.

The Data Sahib Mosque Complex is being inaugurated by Mr Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1st June 1999. Thus another great centre of religion and spirituality has been added to the historic city of Lahore.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on May 31,1999.

The stamp has been designed by Mr S. Ayyaz Ali of Auqaf Department. The design incorporates Data Darbar Mosque Shrine Complex in the miniature style in keeping with the centuries old tradition of Islamic painting. This is rendered by Mr Usman Saeed Akhtar.

Yaum-e-Takbeer. (1999-3)

May 28 is a Red Letter Day in the history of Pakistan, echoed in the minds of the people as a day of genuine achievement. It was on this day - May 28, 1998 that Pakistan responded to India’s nuclear test and joined the coveted club of 7 countries who have the nuclear capability.

Our technological achievements of May 28,1998 were the direct result of dynamic political and scientific leadership, goal-oriented cohesive technological enterprise, continuity of the programme with political consensus and the creativity and perseverance of our scientists and engineers.

Pakistani scientists and engineers had to cross yet another barrier-this time of physical and psychological endurance. Once the paraphernalia was transported to the site at Chaghi in Baluchistan, they got hammered by withering summer heat and extremely adverse working conditions.

The tensions kept on mounting further due to the knowledge that their moves were being watched in obsessive detail through a number of satellites. All these factors put them under tremendous pressure. The feat was, nonetheless accomplished exactly at 3:16 pm (Pakistan Standard Time) on May 28, 1998. Seismographs around the world recorded Pakistan’s successful nuclear tests and provided irrefutable confirmation of Pakistan’s status as the seventh nuclear weapon state of the world.

The nuclear tests of Pakistan have helped to invigorate the national physche and promote confidence, self-assurance and faith in the future. On a broader level, one year after the momentous event, the nuclear tests have been extremely beneficial from a number of standpoint.

First, Pakistan has convincingly proven wrong the prophets of doom and gloom who were keenly predicting a doomsday scenario. Pakistan has attained the status of a nuclear power- and yet surmounted the sanctions, even managed to retrieve money held up for a decade on account of payment for the F-i 6 planes.

Second, there is a new role and a new strategic significance for Pakistan’s position in the comity of nations, which has a voice on issues ranging from Kashmir to Kosovo. The hectic diplomacy of Pakistan in the last one-year is testimony to this new found position of respect and importance in the international community.

Third, Pakistan’s nuclear capability is a tribute to the principle of self-reliance, since Pakistan scientists and engineers achieved this indigenously acquired capability through persistence and faith in their capacity to deliver and lived up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan.

May 28, Pakistan’s finest hour, is also a tribute to the excellence attained in the field of since and technology by Pakistan in a short span of time and the country resolutely resisted pressures, threats and coercion from various quarters in the last 25 years to achieve this cherished goal of all Pakistanis.

Fourth, Pakistan has now achieved a position of parity and equality on the military and politically plane vis-a-vis India after the nuclear tests and this is reflected in the new balance that is a plus for peace, stability in South Asia.

Pakistan’s nuclear tests thwarted the threat to regional peace that existed when one neighbour was militarily and politically preponderant and there was an imbalance which could have been exploited by the stronger side to brow-beat and bully the smaller side. Subsequent events in South Asia have confirmed this fundamental reality. And the new balance of power between India and Pakistan is now not only a fact of life in South but also the basis of a new relationship between the two.

Finally, Pakistan’s nuclear tests have helped to internationalize the long standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, confirming that Kashmir is a nuclear flash-point and the Issue needs to be resolved peacefully in accordance with the United Nations resolutions seeking self-determination for the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The popular, spontaneous indigenous and widespread uprising of the Kashmir people has received tremendous morale booster from the Pakistani nuclear tests and the Kashmir issue has been provided with center stage status.

Among the most significant results of the nuclear tests by Pakistan, and herein lies the real significance of May 28,is that every Pakistani man, woman and child can now sleep more securely with unflinching conviction that our indigenous deterrence can deter all potential aggressors and the country’s national security, sovereignty and state sovereignty rests on a bed-rock of a strong defence capability.

The Pakistani peoples quest for a better tomorrow can now receive much needed encouragement and support since only through a strong defence and rapid deployment can Pakistan move forward into the comity of nations in the 21st century with dignity and honour.

Pakistan’s successful nuclear programme is a symbol of nation’s unity and strength. May 28 will always be celebrated as a day of national honour, dignity and self reliance.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a stamp of Rs 5 denomination on May, 28, 1999.