By Wale Okediran

On my second day in Algiers, my friend, Laeed Zaghlami, a Professor of Information and Communication at the University Of Algiers in Algeria took me on a sightseeing of the quaint and picturesque Algerian capital.

From my Sofitel Hotel abode on Rue Hassiba Ben Bouali, Professor Zaghlami nosed his car into the Boulevard Hasselbard passed the Hamma Botanical Garden, the National Art Museum on to the leafy neighborhood of El Mouradia before we encountered the National Library of Algeria.

For the next ten minutes or so, we drove uphill as the road twisted round the hilly city in a near dizzy rendezvous that finally brought us to the ‘Heights Of Algiers’ in the municipality of El Madania.

At that location, in the warmth of October, Algiers spread before us in a grand display of grandeur and beauty offering a panoramic view of the city including its famous harbor and port as well as the multilayered claustrophobic streets and ancient buildings.

‘’From here, you can see most of the important sites of Algiers’’ my host said. ‘’If you look well, you can even see your hotel and the adjoining Botanical Garden which we passed a while ago’’ he added as he pointed out some buildings now turned into tiny speckle dots because of the distance.

The 80-hectare Botanical Garden which am told was laid out by the French army in 1832 and further developed by the respective directors of the garden, is home to around 3,000 plant species and trees. Palm avenues, various bamboo trees, dragon trees, exotic shrubs and colorful flower beds invite visitors to take an extended stroll.

As we continued to enjoy the beautiful aerial view of the city, we were joined by other tourists who like us, were busy enjoying the scene as they posed for photographs.

1.5 million People lost their lives (Algerian historians put the death toll at 1.5 million while French historians say around 400,000 people from both sides were killed).

Our next point of call was the Sanctuary of the Martyrs, a concrete monument commemorating the Algerian War. History has it that Algerians waged a war of resistance from 1954-1962, before the country finally gained its independence from France.

This was a war where almost 1.5 million people lost their lives (Algerian historians put the death toll at 1.5 million while French historians say around 400,000 people from both sides were killed).

The monument, opened in 1982, on the 20th anniversary of Algeria’s independence, is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves, which shelter the “Eternal Flame” under it.

At the edge of each palm leaf is a statue of a soldier representing a stage of Algeria’s struggle for independence. The monument which was said to have been erected on the site of an ancient military fort, was the brainchild of the then Algerian President, Houari Boumedienne.

Its implementation was, however, completed under the Presidency of his successor Chadli Bendjedid. So revered was the Monument that several soldiers were stationed to guard the Memorial.

After admiring the beautiful and grand structure that commemorated the martyrs of the Algerian freedom struggle, we moved to the Museum of the Moujahid which was located below the structure.

There, we encountered a chilling perspective of what some colonial powers did to countries and people they colonized, in this case the French to people of what today is Algeria. From the various artefacts, photographs and memorabilia in the museum, I was able to perceive the level of the terror and violence that the Algerians went through in their quest for independence.

The monument, opened in 1982, on the 20th anniversary of Algeria’s independence, is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves, which shelter the “Eternal Flame” under it.

I had traveled to Algeria to participate in the 26th Edition of the Algiers International Book Fair.  The event which held at the Exhibitions Center in Algiers, was inaugurated by the Algerian Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane in the presence of high-ranking government officials and diplomats.

Themed “Africa is writing its future” the 2023 edition of the Fair hosted about 1,200 publishing houses, with more than 900 international participants from 61 countries. In addition to the Book Exhibition, the Fair also featured several sideline events such as Seminars and Discussions where I featured alongside other invited Writers.

Prior to my departure to Algeria, I had paid a courtesy call on the Algerian Ambassador to Ghana, Ambassador Ali Redjel in his Accra, office.

Apart from facilitating my attendance and that of the President of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), John Rusimbi at the Algiers Book Fair, Ambassador Redjel also approved one of the fastest Travel Visa applications I will ever receive in my travelling career. ‘’Make sure you visit as many places of tourist attractions before you leave the country’’ the very affable diplomat had said at the end of the briefing.

Algeria, officially the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria covers an area of 2,381,741 square kilometers (919,595 sq. mi), making it the world’s tenth largest nation by area, and the largest nation in Africa by size, more than 200 times as large as the continent’s smallest country, The Gambia.

With a population of 44 million, Algeria is the tenth-most populous country in Africa, and the 32nd-most populous country in the world. The capital and largest city is Algiers, located in the far north on the Mediterranean coast.

The country is a regional power in North Africa, and a middle power in global affairs. It has the highest Human Development Index of all continental African countries and one of the largest economies on the continent, based largely on energy exports. Algeria has the world’s sixteenth-largest oil reserves and the ninth-largest reserves of natural gas. Sonatrach, the national oil company, is the largest company in Africa, supplying large amounts of natural gas to Europe. Algeria’s military is one of the largest in Africa, and has the largest defence budget on the continent. It is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, the OIC, OPEC, the United Nations, and the Arab Maghreb Union, of which it is a founding member.

In June 2022, the Energy Ministers of Algeria, Niger, and Nigeria revived a decades-old project to develop a gas pipeline that would traverse the Sahara Desert. Named the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), the envisioned project would connect Nigeria’s expansive Warri hydrocarbon fields to Algeria’s Hassi R’Mel feeder hub on the Mediterranean coast. When completed, it is expected that up to a trillion cubic feet of natural gas annually will pass through 2,565 miles of pipeline, with Algeria’s segment comprising 1,435 miles, more than half the total project length.

It was after an exhaustive but satisfying attendance at the Book Fair where I presented a seminar paper that my friend, Prof Zaghlami who had been introduced to me by my senior colleague and collaborator, the indefatigable Gen Ishola Williams (Rtd) took me on a detailed sightseeing of the attractive city of Algiers.

Set beside the deep blue Mediterranean sea, with its faded colonial French architecture and undulating hills, Algiers reminded me of Alexandria, Egypt, another thriving cosmopolitan harbor city with old world cafes, parks and promenades and some few remaining Greek and Roman ruins. Just like Alexandria, Algiers still has some relics of its past with the Boulevards named after Martyrs and Liberators while the French architecture and language confirmed its difficult but glorious past.

As my host drove down the city’s main street, Boulevard of Martyrs he pointed out the high rise headquarters of the Algerian Radio and Television station which was nationalized by Algeria on 28 October 1962 after many years of being under French control. Also visible under the glorious rays of the late afternoon sun was the massive Great mosque of Algiers, the ‘Djamaa el Djazair’ said to be the third largest mosque in the world after the two Islamic pilgrimage sites in Mecca and Medina.

Due to the congestion in the city Center, finding a parking space was difficult. This forced my friend to drive down to the Algiers Harbor. As Laeed parked the car in the Port’s generous parking lot which overlooked the Algeria National Theatre, I saw, sitting majestically at the harbor a massive 5-deck ship. ‘’It is getting ready for the French city of Marseilles, a 22 -hour journey away’’ my host said.

As I took another look at the beautiful ship which is part of the Ferry service being operated by Algerie Ferries and Corsica Linea, it became obvious that despite the chequered history with her French colonial masters, Algeria still has a very robust relationship with France. According to current figures, Algerians form the largest number of African immigrants to France. While the official figure of Algerian immigrants is put at 1million, it is believed that up to 6million Africans of Algerian origin presently reside in France. In addition, I was made to understand that in order to service their robust business and human relationships, more than 40 flights still operate daily between the two countries.

On the flip side, in a bid to reduce the overbearing influence of France in its affairs, Algeria like many other francophone African countries have now introduced the study of the English language in her schools’ curricula. ‘’English which is generally acclaimed as the largest language of International commerce is now being studied at all levels of our schools beginning from the kindergarten level because Algeria wants to be in the forefront of International development’’ my host explained.

Despite the chequered history with her French colonial masters, Algeria still has a very robust relationship with France

From the Algiers Harbor, we crossed into Boulevard Zighoud Youcef, a seafront boulevard lined with beautiful high rise buildings. The street was named after Youcef Zighoud who was an Algerian FLN party fighter during the Algerian War. Some of the buildings on the street included; the Bank Of Algiers, the Senate Building as well as National Theatre of Algeria.

I called my host’s attention to some activities going on at a corner of the Bank building. ‘’those are currency exchange dealers. We call this place ‘the Wall Street Of Algeria’’ he said as he burst into laughter.

A short walk led us into another street, Rue Didouche Mourad which was equally named after another hero of the Algerian War, Mourad Didouche.  With its endless number of shops and cafes, the street is reputed to be one of the busiest street in the whole of Algiers. The French influence was still very evident when walking this main thoroughfare, with a mixture of French and Arabic script visible on most store fronts.

Far right to where we stood, my host pointed out Algiers’ Old City…the ‘Casbah’ also called Medina which was built in the 16th century. Its narrow streets, renovated palaces and museums bear witness to the reason it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992. The Casbah is not only an urban heritage site, but also considered a symbol of Algerian resistance to the French.

On Rue Ali Boumendjel, another street named after a hero of the Algerian revolution, we encountered a group of people clustered around a Notice Board festooned with photographs and printed notes. ‘’They are scrutinizing photographs of people who applied for accommodation in a housing scheme to make sure that they are genuine applicants and not impostors’’ my host said.

As we walked down the city canter, I was introduced to more of the City’s major streets and buildings that were named after former revolutionaries and heroes of the Algerian War of Independence.  It was obvious that Algeria is a country that celebrates her past activists for the roles they played in the liberation struggle with France. According to Laeed, ‘’all the boulevards and City centers in Algiers are named after our revolutionaries and some former Leaders’’.

Some of these streets which I could not visit were named after; Maurice Audin who was also a French mathematician as well as Che Guevera, the famous Argentinian revolutionary and great friend of Algeria.

The sun was still up when we gradually burrowed our way into the city center as the hitherto emerald green palm fronds lined streets now changed into Rue de Larbi Ben M’hidi, a long pedestrian avenue, bustling with tourists. While some of the tourists were sightseeing, others were looking for bargains at the shops laden with goods sold at very affordable prices. With 22 Algerian Dinars exchanging for one US dollar, cost of living in the Algerian capital was moderate. ‘’With just one US dollar, you can buy a sack of potatoes’’ I was reliably informed. However, despite being an oil producing country with its own refineries, a liter of petrol was 45.62 dinars (2.07 US Dollars).

Weaving their way through the flow of shoppers and gawkers were Algerians of various ages and gender. While many of the men were dressed in western clothes of shirt, jeans and jackets, almost all the women were in hijab. Flying proudly from many buildings and some cars in the background was the white green Algerian flag with a Red Crescent and star in the middle. School children returning from school could be seen in their pink and blue uniform as they clambered down from their school buses. Primary education which is free and compulsory is said to have resulted in an enrollment of about 14 million primary school students.

Rue de Larbi Ben M’hidi, finally emptied into the Emir Abdelkader square which was situated near the Algiers Center and the City Hall. Sitting proudly on horseback in the glow of the day’s twilight was the Emir Abdelkader statue. Regarded as the first leader of modern Algeria, the Emir was an Algerian religious and military leader who led a struggle against the French colonial invasion of Algiers in the early 19th century.

Twilight was now setting with a soothing wind blowing in from the deep blue Mediterranean Sea.

Suddenly, the wind picked up as it howled along the narrow streets around the square. ‘’I hope the wind brings us some rain. We have not had any rain for the past 6 moths’’ my host said as we sat sipping tea in one of the numerous cafes and restaurants that dotted the square.

With The AsiaN and Middle East Business 

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Dr. Wale Okediran is the Secretary General of Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), a doctor from Nigeria where he served also as a member of its parliament. His novels were turned to movies.

The post ALGERIA: ECHOES OF A MILLION MARTYRS first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Dr. Abdul Razak Shaikh  

The Karsaz bomb attack on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s procession took place on the night of October 18, 2007 in Karachi, two months before she was assassinated in Rawalpindi. The bombing left approximately 180 dead, and more than 500 injured, and the Edhi Morgue located in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area was filled with unidentified bodies, some of which lay there for weeks.

And even after 16 years, the investigators have no idea of, or maybe they are hiding the elements, elements behind the twin bomb attack. The police and allied agencies still seem clueless about the perpetrators of the carnage.

Benazir Bhutto was on the way from Jinnah Airport to Mausoleum of Jinnah with tens of thousands people who had thronged to welcome her on return from eight-year self-exile during which she lived in Dubai and London.

Two explosions occurred in front of the rallying truck from which she greeted her supporters and party members. About halfway from the airport to the mausoleum for a scheduled public meeting, just after Bhutto’s truck had crossed Karsaz overhead bridge.

In a press conference on 19 October 2007, Benazir Bhutto said that her security team couldn’t prevent the attack because the street lights were turned off, and called for an inquiry into why this happened. On 20 October, authorities released a photograph of the suspect responsible for the suicide attack. On 23 October, then Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz rejected PPP demand for a probe into the suicide blast by foreign experts, expressing confidence that Pakistani law-enforcement agencies can probe in a very objective manner. But even after 16 years, Pakistani investigators are silent.

Surprisingly, three inquiry committees were constituted since 2008 to trace the mastermind, handlers, and executors of the attack, but to no avail.

After the devastating blasts, the then provincial government, led by the Chief Minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim had set up an inquiry tribunal to investigate the blasts. The tribunal headed by retired Justice Dr. Ghous Mohammad started proceedings and recorded the statements of around 40 witnesses.

In March 2008, the police produced in court one Qari Saifullah Akhtar, an alleged Al Qaeda militant, but he was released for want of evidence.

Qari Akhtar was brought before the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism court and was remanded to police custody for alleged masterminding the twin blasts. The court, however, released him some 10 days after his remand since the police officer, DSP Nawaz Ranjha, who was later gunned down, submitted that no incriminating evidence had been found to link him with the blasts.

The arrest and production of the alleged militant was made before the PPP came into power and since then there has hardly been any effort made to track down the culprits and bring them to justice.

In 2012, the then Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that the provincial government had constituted another committee, headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, to inquire into the Karsaz tragedy but there was no outcome to these inquiries.

Later, former Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also announced a five-member inquiry committee to re-investigate the twin blast case.

The PPP government was in power in Sindh province for 15 years without interruption, but the innocent blood of martyrs was not dispensed Justice.

PPP just continues observing anniversary of the carnage every year on October 18. Following its tradition of observing anniversaries, public gatherings in every district are planned in Sindh even today (October 18) while the party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will give a speech online to the workers.

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Dr. Abdul Razak Shaikh, who retired from provincial health department, is President, People’s Doctors’ Forum Sindh.    

The post Justice Still Elusive for Victims of Karsaz Bomb Blast first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Aamir Latif 

KARACHI, Sindh Pakistan

A state-run Turkish aid agency on Saturday planted hundreds of tree samplings at a community park in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi to honor the people who sacrificed their lives to foil the so-called coup in Türkiye on July 15, 2016.

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) planted over 250 samplings at the park located in Karachi’s southern district at a ceremony attended by the local and Turkish community members, girl and boy scouts, and media professionals, to honor as many martyrs of July 15.

TIKA, which has already been carrying out a string of development, health, and educational projects across Pakistan, will further develop the park as well.

The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by a visually impaired boy scout followed by Turkish and Pakistani national anthems.

A “moment of silence” was also observed.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice Consul General Oguz Kozanli said the martyrs of July 15 charted a new page in Türkiye’s history with their blood, which will always be remembered.

He said the people and the security forces of Türkiye stood united and saved the democracy on July 15, 2016, with their unwavering resolve and unyielding commitment.

Halil Ibrahim Basaran, TIKA’s Karachi coordinator, said Ankara and Islamabad have always stood together in trying times, whether it was devastating earthquakes in Türkiye in February this year or unprecedented floods in Pakistan last year.

The people of Pakistan stood by their Turkish brethren in their successful struggle against the conspirators who wanted to derail democracy in Türkiye on July 15.

The defeated coup

This year, which marks the seventh anniversary of the botched coup, events are being held under the theme of “Türkiye’s Heroes of the Century,” to honor the people who defended the country at the cost of their lives on the night of July 15.

The attempt by FETO terrorist group to overthrow the government began around 10 p.m. local time (1900GMT) on July 15, 2016, and was thwarted by 8 a.m. the following day.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 253 people dead and 2,734 injured.

Since its designation in October 2016, every year, the country marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

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Aamir Latif is a Karachi-based senior journalist. He represents Anadolu, a Turkish news agency.

Courtesy: Anadolu Agency (Posted on July 15, 2023)  

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Karachi: Sindh Minister for Local Government and Public Health Engineering, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah announced on Saturday that on the directives of Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, provincial government will provide plots as compensation to the heirs of martyrs either they belonged to armed forces or civilian organizations who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

“The heirs of the martyrs of Sindh from armed forces, Rangers, Police or citizens who had never been given a plot as compensation, will be provided with a plot in recognition of their services,” he announced while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club.

Nasir Shah said that it is the vision of PPP Chairman as he always thinks about the well-being of masses belonging to every walk of life.

To a question he said that Sindh Government will fully cooperate with the Federal Government on any project.

On another question, he said that if Sindh Government is informed properly about the visit of Prime Minister, the provincial government will provide full protocol.

On this occasion Secretary (LU) Board Of Revenue Sindh Sami Siddiqui, Director General Lyari Development Authority (LDA) Muhammad Ishaq Khuhro, Additional Director General Malir Development Authority (MDA) Haji Ahmed and other officers were also present.

Minister said that the problems related to Housing Scheme for the journalists would be solved on priority basis.

President and Secretary of KPC informed the Minister about the problems of Journalists Housing Schemes of Hawks Bay and of Malir. Minister issued directives to the officers present in the meeting to resolve their problems as early as possible and said that Sindh Government will not only provide plots to the journalists community but we would also facilitate them with the necessary amenities so that they can get a peaceful environment for their residence. (PR)

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