Difference in thinking and action of persons having authority to influence the result

        Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani said "a degree is a degree whether it is authentic or fake". He said it so easily as if there he might have never touched the book on law.

          Federal Minister for Education Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali do not see fake degrees as some big crime and said that the cost of fake degrees should not be the ineligibility of the people elected representatives.

          Law Minister Babar Awan doled out Rs 15.6 million to the Punjab Bar Council (PBC) as grants-in-aid and urged them to remain united in "this time of trial". It means that something is going on between the Government and the Judiciary which would take violent shape in the future for all that the present preparation is meant.

Former law minister and constitutional expert Sher Afgan Niazi has said a member of parliament having a fake degree not only faces disqualification but is also liable to be tried for committing high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution, awarded 80 lashes under the Islamic law for lying, and proceeded against under sections 420, 467 and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code for defrauding the people.

In Sher Afgan's view, the holders of fake degree deserve much serious punishment as compare to the one suggested by the apex court in its recent judgment.

The statements from the Government side and some of the opposition side shows that they are not willing to mete out any such punishment under the law which may end in this disqualification and unseating from the Assembly while other persons who see something beneficial in the legal process insist that law should determine its course in this matter which is related to the reputation of the Country.

          Finland makes broadband a legal right while in our Country people are committing suicides due non-availability of something to eat. Here our problem is Bread, Cloth and House while in other Countries they remain anxious to provide each one the facility of internet and other facilities about we Pakistani cannot think. It means they have finished all other problems.

          There are two categories of thinking persons in our society; one wish to remain as we are while the second wish to emerge from this status quo and bring ourselves at par with the rest of the World. Naturally, both have their sets of arguments. Those who say that degree is a degree whether fake or genuine represent those who have their own interests attached to the old system while those who wish to give deterrent punishment to the legislators found guilty of holding fake degree represent those who wish to dismantle the status quo.

          If the party of Law Minister might have given such gracious grants to lawyers in the last two tenures then he is justified in giving more otherwise then the opposition is justified in drawing inference of their choice.

          What would happen if a massive number of legislators were found guilty of fake degrees? It is the real issue which has disturbed the Government. But the Government needs not worry because the hidden hands are still happy with the situations prevailing in the Country.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai

Dated:          Friday, July 02, 2010.

Finland makes broadband a 'legal right'

Page last updated at 23:59 GMT, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 00:59 UK

Finland argues that net access is a fundamental right

Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen.

From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection.

Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015.

In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law.

The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunicatons companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed.

Broadband commitment

Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained the thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment.

Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said.

It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online.

In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%.

The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally binding ruling.

"The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that plan tough action on illegal file-sharing.

Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet connections of people who persistently download music or films for free.

The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach.

"We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms Linden.

A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that almost four in five people around the world believed that access to the internet is a fundamental right.