November Edition 2011

David Cameron under pressure to reveal coalition's Europe Policy David Cameron is facing pressure from ministers and Tory backbenchers to be more open about the coalition's European policy, amid complaints the prime minister is promising more than he can deliver.

As Nick Clegg dismissed Tory hopes of repatriating powers from the EU as a "smash and grab raid", one senior Conservative warned the prime minister not to "tease" his party with unrealistic ambitions.

Conservatives raised concerns after the deputy prime minister responded to the largest Tory rebellion on Europe by saying: "We should stop tilting at windmills about threats and challenges which simply aren't there right now." Clegg's remarks came after 81 Tory MPs defied the government to support a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. A further 15 Tory MPs are understood to have abstained, meaning that the prime minister failed to persuade more than half of his backbenchers to support government policy.

The deputy prime minister appeared to take aim at Down-

ing Street when he dismissed the prime minister's pledge in the Commons on Monday to try and repatriate social and employment laws from Brussels. Clegg described this as "a smash and grab raid across the Channel" that was "neither justified nor in the interests of Britain". The intervention by Clegg alarmed Tory MPs who had been encouraged when the prime minister told MPs that he would still seek to implement the Tory manifesto pledge in this area.

"I remain firmly committed to ... bringing back more powers from Brussels," Cameron said.

The prime minister appeared to reinforce his point as he indicated that Britain was prepared to wield its veto in negotiations to revise the Lisbon treaty. Germany is demanding a revision to underpin tough new rules to co-ordinate fiscal policy in the eurozone.

"Opportunities to advance our national interest are clearly becoming apparent," the prime minister said. He added: "Every country can wield a veto until its needs are met."

Begum Nusrat Bhutto Dies

Nusrat Bhutto, the mother of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has died in Dubai of a protracted illness. She was 82. The Pakistan government postponed all political activities for the 10 days following her death.

She was former prime minister and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s wife, the marriage having taken place in 1951.

She was the mother-in-law of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Zardari, who

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was visiting Jordon visit, decided to shorten his trip. The funeral will take place at Garhi Khuda Bux near Larkana.

Nusrat Bhutto was elected a member of the National Assembly twice from Larkana and even led the Pakistan Peoples Party after Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged. Born March 23, 1929 in Iran’s Esfahan city, Nusrat Bhutto belonged to the wealthy Hariri Esfahani family.

PTI Launches Sheffield Branch

Read Inside Council’s Flat Shame Page 4

Life Long Friend of the West ?

Gaddafi’s Page 6

Pakistani’s living all over the world, have a vested interest in developing Pakistan into a democratic and accountable country and by joining a movement for justice, self-esteem and humanity, PTI -Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (Movement for Justice) has the vision to do this. The launch took place on Sunday 16th October 2011 at St Peter’s Hall in Netheredge.

With an expectation of around 40 attendees, there was an unprecedented turnout of over 70 individuals. More inside

Where is the OUTRAGE?

All Parties Conference Page 22

H A J J 1432H Nov 2011 Page 23

Pakistan ka Mustaqbil Page 29

Allama Iqbal Page 34

We can’t mourn a dictator. We can only say good riddance to a dictator who terrorized his people for 42 years.

But would we be cheering the brutal execution of anyone, whoever they are. The outrageous manner in which he was killed was regrettable, uncivilised and gruesome.

This is not the way of the civilised world or Muslims, to parade and violate a dead body in anyway. Just as the United States was wrong to rub out an unarmed Osama bin Laden, so, too, the Libyan rebels were wrong to murder the captured Gaddafi. The answer to barbarism is not more barbarism. Amnesty International is right to ask for an investigation into Gaddafi’s death. There was no opportunity for a trial, which even by Islamic means is unlawful. In many ways his capture, albeit not by US forces is compared to the capture of Saddam, who was at least cleaned up, fed and given a so called trial. The treatment of a dead body should shock the conscience but the media has played on the event with joy and celebration rather than the appalling abuse of a dead body.

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Increase in Overcrowded Homes Found

Families are squeezing into homes they have outgrown but do not have the money to move out of, heralding a return to overcrowding in UK housing, according to a new study. Finance firm LV= said that after decades of overcrowding declining across the country, the trend had now reversed, with the average family losing 11 sq ft of living space in the past three years. One in eight children now live in overcrowded homes while a similar number of families had made potentially unsafe modifications to their houses to create more space, the report said. A survey of more than 1,000

households found that one in 12 families could not move for financial reasons while a similar number carried out work to create extra space, such as converting lofts or partitioning rooms. One in 50 people modifying their homes admitted contravening building regulations with alterations that could be unsafe. The research also found that the number of people working from home has increased by a fifth since 2008, with makeshift workspaces being used in corridors, cupboards and under the stairs. London families were said to be the worst affected, with around one in seven families liv-

Thousands of families will be placed under “unfair pressure” due to welfare system reforms that are coming into force, a charity has warned. Gingerbread urged the Government to delay plans to tell single parents not in paid work, whose youngest child is five or six-years-old, that they will be required to find a job or face potential cuts to their benefits. The group, which campaigns on behalf of single parents, said that at a time of rising unemployment, the move could “cast adrift” 100,000 people. Gingerbread said the proposed timing of this change is disastrous and will plunge thousands of single parents into a stagnant job market with little prospect of finding work that fits around their caring responsibilities. It makes

much more sense to delay the change until 2013 when newlyannounced childcare support will be available for part-time jobs, which will help single parents of young children balance work and parenting.”

Receiving letters telling them of changes in the conditions for receiving income support, is the first step to their income support ending early next year, at which point they will have to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, or another benefit, instead. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We know that many lone parents want the opportunity to get back into work earlier and that work is the best route out of poverty. This is why we are bringing forward and increasing the support we offer to lone parents.

Welfare Reforms Timing ‘Disastrous’

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ing in overcrowded homes, twice the UK average. High property prices have forced many families to remain in a house that they have outgrown and many are resorting to desperate measures to create extra space. The research found that hundreds of thousands of families are now living with makeshift modifications, which could be illegal and also unsafe.

Building regulations are designed to ensure that home modifications are safe and those considering modifying their home to ensure any changes they are planning to make meet regulation standards.”

Correspondents wanted Don’t repress your flair to write...send it to the press. We need you to come forward and write for yourself, for the community and for humanity. Any news, columns, features, poetry or stories in English and Urdu will be considered for publication. We want your opinions, so come forward and tell us what is on your mind. Correspondents needed from all over South Yorkshire, Bradford, Manchester and Leeds.

Financial Protests Spread Across the Globe October saw protests around the globe, often violent during demonstrations against global financial policies. Demonstration in Rome gathered a thick crowd of 100,000 people in just one afternoon. At the same time thousands of people across the world took to the streets in solidarity with the month-long Occupy The Wall Street action in New York against what they called “the financial terrorism” of the authorities.

Protesters convened in Germany, London, China, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Brussels, Portugal, Greece, Israel and Croatia. New York protesters said it would be

a day of international solidarity against what they called the greed and corruption of the one percent of the world’s wealthy people.

Deutsche Welle said 5,000 people gathered near the European Central Bank in Frankfurt-amMain carrying slogans “You Are Wasting Our Future” and “You Are Speculating With Our Lives”.

In London, at least a thousand people of various age gathered in the City where the London Stock Exchange (LSE) is located.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange addressed the protesters from the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral after the police blocked access to the LSE.

Ban on Foreign Young Spouses Entering the UK Overturned

The Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on non-EU foreign spouses under the age of 21 coming to the UK as unlawful. The court gave judgment on a challenge to a Court of Appeal decision last December which overturned the ban as “arbitrary and disruptive”.

Three appeal judges allowed challenges by two couples who had fallen victim to changes to the Immigration Rules that prevented non-European under 21s from obtaining visas to join their British partners in the UK as a way of dealing with forced marriages.

Lord Justice Sedley said: “I have reached the conclusion that the arbitrary and disruptive impact of the rule on the lives of a large number of innocent young people makes it impossible to justify, at least where one spouse

is a UK citizen, notwithstanding its proper objective.” The judge said it was not for the court to rewrite the rule. That was for Home Secretary Theresa May to do “in the light of the court’s reasoning, unless she decides to abandon it altogether”.

Today the Supreme Court upheld the appeal court ruling. Shakira Bibi is a Pakistani national. She was married on October 30 2008 in Pakistan to Suhayl Mohammed, a UK citizen. Lord Justice Sedley described how their marriage was a traditional arranged marriage “but there is no suggestion that it was forced”. In December 2008, Ms Bibi applied for entry clearance to join her husband here. It was refused by the entry clearance officer in Islamabad on the ground that both parties were under 21.

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Multi-Agency Operation in Sheffield to Tackle Metal Thefts Police and partners in Sheffield have carried out a large-scale multi-agency operation to tackle metal thefts in the city. Metal thefts are a concern for many members of the public and in response to these concerns; one of the largest multi-agency operations so far in Sheffield to tackle metal thefts was carried out in October.

The partners involved in the operation included, Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) officers from the east of Sheffield, along with officers from specialist departments, Road Crime Unit and partner agencies including Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), British Transport Police, SmartWater team, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Fraud Investigation Services and the En-

vironmental Protection Enforcement Team from Sheffield City Council. South Yorkshire Police officers from Rotherham district and colleagues from the Derbyshire Constabulary were also involved with this operation on their border areas with Sheffield. The operation involved officers stopping and checking vehicles travelling to scrap dealers to ensure no stolen goods were being carried. heckpoints were set up in the Attercliffe and Halfway areas and any vehicles that may have been of interest to the checking teams were stopped. Officers were also working closely with scrap dealers giving out crime reduction advice in a bid to tackle metal thefts.

Multi-agency teams also visited scrap dealers to check documen-

£6.5 Million Extra for Sheffield Children Sheffield’s Lib Dem Councillors have welcomed the final allocation for Sheffield schools through the Coalition Government’s ‘pupil premium’. The additional investment for schools with disadvantaged children is now worth £6.5m this academic year for Sheffield’s schools, £1 million higher than originally estimated.

The pupil premium is targeted at investing money in helping disadvantaged children. Headteachers will have freedom to decide how to use the investment to help children from poorer families.

For example, Firth Park Com-

munity Arts College will benefit by £193,000, while Hinde House School will receive £177,000. The level of investment is based on the number of pupils eligible for freeschool meals. The increase of £1 million in Sheffield’s allocation comes as a result of a Lib Dem backed campaign to encourage the take up of free school meals.

In year one, every school will be guaranteed an extra £488 from the Government for each deprived child. The pupil premium will be doubled next year and by 2015 the premium will be worth £2.5bn nationally each year.

Keeping Sheffield Station Bridge Open Paul Blomfield is challenging the Department for Transport’s policy of installing ticket barriers at railway stations, even if barriers cut off pedestrian access through stations. The Sheffield Central MP will now press Ministers for a full debate to be held. Paul Blomfield MP said “The Department for Transport are being very narrowminded on barriers. Of course fare evasion must be tackled, but Ministers need to understand that our footbridge does not just lead to the platforms, but provides the only safe route to and from the city centre for people living

in Norfolk Park and Park Hill and those using the station tram stop. Barriers across the bridge have been rejected once, thanks to strong public opposition. The Department for Transport must not cut our city in two.”

tation and stock. As a result of this one day operation nine scrap dealers were visited and 182 vehicles were stopped and checked. Nine fixed penalty tickets were issued for traffic offences and three vehicles were seized.

Chief Inspector Iain Chorlton, who is the Sheffield police lead for metal thefts said: “This kind of operation is an excellent example of partners working together to address the serious issue of metal thefts. I would urge anyone with any information about this type of crime to report it to the police.”

If you know anyone committing this type of crime please report it to South Yorkshire Police on 0114 2202020 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

SHEFFIELDERS IN CONTROL OF NEW £1,100,000 FUND The Coalition Government has allocated Sheffield over £1,100,000 of new investment to fund new community projects to improve local neighbourhoods, with local people themselves deciding which projects will be funded. Liberal Democrat Councillors on Sheffield City Council have welcomed the news. They have urged the Labour controlled Council not to waste any time in implementing the fund so that local people see improvements as soon as possible. The national £80m ‘Community First’ fund is a Coalition Government programme which will provide grants to community groups and local social action projects.

Local people will decide which projects are funded as grants will be allocated via community panels.

The fund will be open to bids from local charities, voluntary organisations and community groups. Sheffield’s £1.1 million allocation is split between thirteen different wards, allocated on the basis of social issues.

Labour’s Free Insulation Scheme Comes to Central Ward Labour Councillor, Mohammed Maroof, is urging local residents to take advantage of the Council’s Free Insulation Programme, which is now set to be rolled out across Central Ward. The programme, which was launched by

by the previous Labour Government to ensure that households can reduce their fuel bills and to heat their homes at a reasonable cost. Residents in Central Ward received their letters week beginning 24th October. However,

Central Ward will now be able to get access to the Council’s Free Insulation Scheme. Full loft and cavity wall insulation can cut heating bills significantly meaning that this programme is not only good for the environment,

the previous Labour Government and developed by the previous Labour Council has helped to fit homes with wall free cavity loft and wall insulation. The initiative was funded through investment

they can now be signed up to the scheme by calling 0800 915 9096.

Labour Central Councillor, Mohammed Maroof, said: “I am very pleased that residents in

but it will also help families bring down the cost of their fuel bills. I am urging local residents in Central Ward to sign up to this scheme.”

Indetravel Leads The Way Young people with learning difficulties and disabilities have celebrated their success in learning to travel by bus on their own at a special ceremony in the Town Hall. Independent Travel Training – known as Indetravel – helps them develop the confidence to use public transport to get to school, college and work placements. Before its launch, they would have spent all their school lives travelling on minibuses or taxis. Now the number of young people trained to use the service

has reached 100, and the successful trainees were presented with certificates by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, and John Doyle, Business Strategy Director for the Sheffield City Council’s Children, Young People and Families Service. Councillor Dunkley said: “It was clear from the enthusiasm of the young people at the event that this training has made a real difference to their lives.” Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Council-

lor Jackie Drayton, said: “I am delighted with the success of this scheme. Instead of being dependent on transport that is provided for them, these young people are learning a life skill. This increases their confidence in all areas of life. Indetravel is available to all young people with learning disabilities, attending any school in Sheffield. For more information, visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/indetravel or call 0114 205 3542.

£195,000 Council Flat Shame

Figures revealed that each new socially rented flat, or council flat, created as part of the Park Hill development will cost the taxpayer the equivalent of at least £195,000 each. The estimated amount of taxpayer’s money committed to the scheme is £39,000,000. If the total project is completed then 200 council flats will be created, which equates to £195,000 of taxpayer’s money for each new flat. If only phase one is completed, which estate agents have speculated due to a lack of interest in the private for sale flats, then the 56 council flats equates to £969,000 each.

If only tranche one in phase one is completed then 26 council flats will have cost taxpayers £1,500,000 each. Lib Dems are calling on the Labour control-

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led Council to approach Urban Splash, the private developer, to ask that they pick up any extra project costs. Labour have already approved £2,500,000 of local taxpayers money to be used on the project, despite the already dire taxpayers value for money comparison.

Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “These figures prove that the Park Hill project represents a terrible deal for the taxpayer even in the unlikely event that the entire project is completed. The fact that Sheffield will be home to what must be the most expensive council flats in the world is nothing to be proud of.

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BA N Q U E T I N G

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We Want Your Views!

Rotherham Borough Council is once again seeking the public’s views on how the authority uses its budget. The council has to save £20.4 million next year as part of its budgetmaking process and the authority wants local people to indicate how they believe the council should save money by having their say about what their priority issues are. To do this the authority is inviting people to complete its Budget Survey - found at www.rotherham. gov.uk/moneymatters - which asks every individual to point out what are the most important things it should be delivering and where the money should be spent.

Deputy Leader, Coun. Jahangir Akhtar, urged the public to take part. He said: “We would like you

to tell us what you think are the priority issues where you believe most Council money should go.

Your views will help us to make difficult, but informed decisions

on where we should spend our money. This is a huge challenge for us all because we have a considerably reduced amount of money to spend on services coupled with big increases in demand for services for vulnerable residents because of the economic

Rotherham Households Risk Losing their Right to Vote Some Rotherham residents will have received reminders regarding their electoral registration form over the last couple of weeks. Around 112,000 forms were sent out initially and so far around 66 per cent of households have responded. This leaves almost 38,400 households in danger of losing their right to vote. These people are being reminded that if they fail to return the form their name and those of everyone living in their house who is eligible to vote may not be included on

the Electoral Register. The Electoral Register is not only used for voting purposes. Credit Reference Agencies are legally entitled to use it to check details, so your credit rating can be affected if you are not included. Householders are also reminded that they are required by law to return these forms and could in extreme cases face a fine for refusing to do so or for giving false information.If you have not yet received a form please contact the Electoral Services helpline on 01709 823590.

downturn.”

Last year, from a total budget of £250 million Rotherham Borough Council had to reduce its spending by £30 million. This year, from a budget of £220 million it must reduce its spending by a further £20.4 million - equating to about £80 for every resident living within the borough. This results in services that the authority is able to provide for Rotherham residents next year costing about £200 less for each person than they did in 2010.

Rotherham Borough Council’s five priorities are: 1.No community is left behind; 2.Providing quality education; 3.Care and protection for those people who need it most; 4.Helping to create safe and healthy communities; 5.Improving the environment.

Does your business need a helping hand? Get your business noticed by advertising with ILM. If you want to boost your business, gain popularity, get your message across to people throughout the region then advertise in the most read and widespread local bilingual Urdu and English newspaper in the area. Ideal opportunity to capture business clients and spread your word across the Urdu and English speaking community.

To advertise call 07894010808 / 07855514705 www.ilmnews.com / email info@ilmnews.com

Rotherham Councillors Raising The “Lollipop” Rotherham councillors have set out to help children get to school safely by donning the fluorescent hat and jacket and picking up the famous “lollipop stick”. The safety-conscious councillors have signed up to help provide emergency cover for School Crossing Patrols. Councillor’s Roger Stone, John Foden, Ian Barron, Jahangir Akhtar and Mahroof Hussain,

with more to follow, all underwent the necessary training required to perform emergency duties if any of the 67 School Crossing Patrols across Rotherham were unable to attend their stations.

Leader of Rotherham Council, Roger Stone, who underwent four training sessions on two separate days before taking on the role alone, said: “School Crossing Patrols are genuine unsung heroes. They are out there come wind, rain or shine, making sure that both children and adults alike can cross, in some cases, some considerably busy roads, safely.

“Unfortunately, there are occa-

sions where the School Crossing Patrols can’t get to work. In those instances, I felt that as Councillors we have the responsibility to help in any way we can and if that means standing there in snow or driving rain, then, that’s what we’ll do. “Currently, we have 15 vacancies across the borough for School Crossing Patrols. It’s a vitally important service suited for a community spirited individual or someone who cares about their local school and children’s safety.

If you’re interested in applying please look at the Council website or ask in your local Jobcentre.

The End of Gaddafi, Life-Long Friend of the West Gaddafi’s death brings to an end a colonial experiment that lasted over 40 years. Since a young Gaddafi came to power in 1969 the British, so instrumental in his demise, have been the guardian angels for a man who for years divided political opinions. He was the champion of socialist Arab nationalism, a tyrant, and murderer of this own people.

For many in the political elites of the Western world he was both friend and enemy, but always a slave to their colonial interests.

There will be much rejoicing at the news of his death amongst Libyans across the world, and who could blame them for his reign was built on pure brutality.

Those who fought so bravely to defeat Gaddafi and lost so many lives along the way have every right to celebrate. However the celebration of the Western media and politicians should be viewed as nothing other than sensualist propaganda, the kind Gaddafi partook in during his 42 years in power.

It is hard to believe that the same politicians that welcomed Gaddafi back into the fold of the ‘civilised’ world not so long ago are now so overjoyed by his demise. However this is the way of Western politics something Saddam, Ben Ali, Mubarak and

now Gaddafi have all found out.

The Western policy towards the Muslim world has always been one of pursuing nothing but their interests, in the words of exPrime Minister Lord Palmerston: “We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies.

Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow”.

These are words that still ring true over 150 years after being uttered, they aptly describe the attitude the British have had towards their colonial approach to foreign policy and there is nothing to suggest this is about to change. The NATO strikes on Libyan troops, the secret forays into Benghazi by MI6 operatives and Cameron’s triumphant visit to Tripoli not so long ago all show an ideologically defeated state’s desperate attempts to relive the days of empire.

The death of Gaddafi will be seen as an opportunity to rebuild Libya in a manner which will

serve the West for as long as Gaddafi did, if not longer. The colonial self-congratulatory back slapping will be replaced with attempts to subvert the revolution and ensure the interests of Western corporates are put before the people of Libya. If anything the aftermath of the Iraq and Afghan wars serve as testament to the kind of ‘freedom’ Western intervention brings to a people.

The truth of British sponsored rendition and torture of Muslims at the hands of Gaddafi and their complicity in his reign could easily be lost in the smokescreen of sympathy Sarkozy and Cameron have been pedalling for the last few months. The legacy of Gaddafi should not only be formed on his atrocities and tyrannical reign but on the people who give him the political strength and backing to carry out such actions. If it wasn’t for Western interference in the Muslim world the likes of Gaddafi and Mubarak would have been removed decades ago.

The lesson from Gaddafi’s fall from grace is that tyranny can be removed at the hands of the Ummah. The lesson from his legacy is that the Western world should in no circumstances be trusted in shaping the future for Muslims.

Waseem Aslam www.khilafah.com

DISCLAIMER ILM (The Knowledge) Newspaper does not represent any political, religious or any other group. It is purely for providing general information, entertainment and knowledge to its readers.

ILM News does not take any responsibility of any views expressed by authors.

More People out in Town in Rotherham

More shoppers are heading to Rotherham as people choose to ‘shop local’, according to new national figures published today. While major cities have seen a drop in footfall rates, many smaller regional towns such as Rotherham have seen the number of people in their town centres rise. Rotherham’s rate for September 2011 has risen by a dramatic 32.3% compared to the same month last year. A range of in-

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itiatives are helping drive the increase in shoppers and help reduce vacancy rates for town centre shops on the primary shopping streets which currently stands at 14.4% - down 3.4% on July 2009. New stores have been opening regularly including just last week with the launch of the Bitter Sweet Boutique selling a special range of gifts, jewellery, furniture and items for the home. Those initiatives include the hugely popular Shop Local loyalty card, which currently has over 11,000 subscribers, making it one of the most popular of its kind in the country, helping to spearhead a retail renaissance in Rotherham town centre. With over 100 town centre shops signed up to provide discounts and offers to cardholders, since its inception last year, the Shop Local Scheme is a significant success.

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Dramatic Rise in Deaths from Carbon Monoxide (Co) Poisoning

A report published this week by the Gas Safety Trust reveals a dramatic rise in the number of deaths resulting from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the UK since 2010. The Gas Safety Trust, the prime source for data relating to gas safety in the UK, published the Carbon Monoxide Hotspot Report 2011, which contains the reported figures of gas-related CO incidents gained from media report gathering throughout the UK. In the 12-month period between 1st July 2010 and 30th June 2011 there were 50-recorded incidents involving CO poisoning. Of the 105 people involved in these incidents, there were 25 fatalities and 80 injuries without fatal consequences - over three times as

many fatalities as were reported in 2010.

Clive Betts MP [Sheffield South East] attended the launch of the report in the House of Commons, Westminster to show support for the report’s recommendations to improve CO safety awareness and to reduce the number of fatalities.

“This report shows the potential and real dangers from CO poisoning. Particularly at risk are people living in private rented accommodation, which is obviously a huge concern. It’s essential that domestic gas users; get their gas appliances serviced regularly, get an audible CO alarm, and for those with chimneys, ensure they get them swept regularly. These things are not optional extras;

they don’t have to cost a fortune, but the price of not doing them can be very high.”

The Gas Safety Trust is calling for UK householders to be more aware of the dangers of CO, known as the ‘silent killer’ because you cannot smell, taste, hear or see its presence, particularly as the time for turning on central heating approaches. October through to March is the highrisk period, during which 72% of CO related incidents occur.

The number of incidents peaked in December 2010 when the UK experienced widespread snow and the coldest December for 100 years.

Campaign to Champion the Role of Children’s Social Workers

Children’s social workers across the country are handling a record number of cases, with more than 74,000 children in Yorkshire and the Humber alone receiving their vital help and support in the last year. And now, in a unique twoyear campaign, all 15 councils across Yorkshire and the Humber have united to make sure those standards of care will continue to improve for the most vulnerable local children. Under the banner of “Children’s Social Work Matters”, the campaign aims to attract new social workers to the

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country’s biggest region and raise industry standards for people already in the job. It will create new opportunities and tackle misconceptions about the role of a social worker – using real-life stories from members of regional social work teams who dedicate their working lives to child protection.

A key element of the campaign is a new website –www.childrenssocialworkmatters.org – which features real life video stories where some of the region’s social workers explain how they manage the challenges and complexities of

the job. The website also features children’s social work “champions” – drawn from participating local authorities - who will deal with online questions about their role and what it takes to be a children’s social worker, working with families often living chaotic and distressing lives.

A regional breakdown of the number of children helped by children’s social workers over the last year follows: *7,952 in North Yorkshire; *23,251 in South Yorkshire; *29,941 in West Yorkshire; *13,356 in the Humber area.

Keep Yourself and your House Safe Barely a day goes past without another news headline proclaiming someone viciously attacked, robbed or worse in their own home. But the crime statistics needn’t make you feel like a victim-in-waiting in your own front room.

There are some easy steps you can take to make your house a safer place to be.

Protect against bogus callers.

Install a door chain and outside lighting – and never answer the door before you’ve checked through a spy-hole or window if you know the caller. If not, put the chain on before opening the door and ask for ID. Don’t be rushed into accepting their claims – keep them waiting even if that means calling the company they say they work for to check. And once you have let the caller in, never leave them alone while you go into a different room. Thieves often work in pairs so don’t open the front door to a stranger without locking your back door first.

Keep doors and windows locked. Invest in good door and window locks. Check all locks before leaving the house and keep front and back doors and accessible windows locked to outsiders even when you are in.

It may sound extreme, but avoid opening doors and windows wide even in summer. It’s safer to open a lot of windows a little way (and locking them to prevent them being opened further) than it is to open one or two windows far enough for someone to climb

through.

Pretend you’re in when you’re not. If you’re out, try to make your house look like someone is in. That means cancelling the milk to avoid bottles piling up, asking a neighbour to collect post and leaving a light on or installing an automatic light on/light off system – and even a system that switches radios on and off. Other tips from the Metropolitan Police include: encourage a neighbour

to park on your drive, draw the curtains if you will be out after dark and install a burglar alarm or a dummy alarm box as a deterrent.

Keep hedges trimmed. Along with security lighting it is a good idea to keep hedges and bushes trimmed to allow clear views and avoid having places where someone could hide. But it is also advisable to have a secure boundary around your back garden, which is high or awkward enough to make scaling it difficult.

Get crunchy gravel. Crunchy gravel on driveways and paths will make any approach noisier –

a useful warning for householders and a deterrent for intruders.

Check in with friends and family. If you live alone, try to ensure someone always knows where you are and that you are OK. Even a quick text to let a friend know you’re home and safe after a night out is enough.

Don’t get comfortable in your own street. Stay alert when approaching your home, until you are safely indoors. Have your keys to hand so you are not fumbling on the doorstep and think of safe places you could go if you felt threatened, whether that be a shop, friend’s house or a pub.

Carry a personal safety alarm. These devices, costing as little as £5, can shock or disorientate an attacker, giving you vital seconds to get away. Pick one with the shrillest, loudest siren possible.

Don’t shout about it. Avoid broadcasting – whether on sites such as Facebook or when you’re out or at work - that you live alone or will be alone in the house at a certain time. Similarly, don’t boast about your upcoming holidays to anyone you don’t know well.

Keep keys hidden. Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door – as the Met Police note: “Burglars know all the hiding places.” Also never store keys near the front door to avoid letterbox burglaries, and never label your house keys in case you lose them.

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“There are people who control spacious territories teeming with manifest and hidden resources. They dominate the intersections of world routes.

Their lands were the cradles of human civilizations and religions. These people have one faith, one language, one history and the same aspirations. No natural barriers can isolate these people from one another ... if, per chance, this nation were to be unified into one state, it would then take the fate of the world into its hands and would separate Europe from the rest of the world.

Taking these considerations seriously, a foreign body should be planted in the heart of this nation to prevent the convergence of its wings in such a way that it could exhaust its powers in never-ending wars. It could also serve as a springboard for the West to gain its coveted objects.”-- Sir Campbell Bannerman, Prime Minister of Britain [1905-08] On October 6th 2011, the Executive Council of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) approved Palestine’s entry into this UN agency as a member. The resolution was approved by 40 votes in favor and 4 against (the United States, Germany, Latvia and Romania), while 14 other countries abstained. UNESCO’s move to admit Palestine was vehemently criticized

by America. Speaking to reporters US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton said, “I think that this is a very odd procedure indeed and would urge the governing body of UNESCO to think again before proceeding with that vote.” Just three days earlier, the US Congress ‘punished’ the Palestinian people by withholding $200 million dollars of aid. The two events clearly demonstrate that the international mood to support Palestinian statehood is divided. America’s opposition intensified last month, when President Mahmoud Abbas again reaffirmed his commitment to seek UN approval for official recognition of the Palestinian state. On September 17 2011, Abbas said, “We are going to the security council. The world is sympathizing with the aspirations of the Palestinian people.” This unilateral move is detested by the Zionist state and is also opposed by America. In August 2011, Wendy Sherman, undersecretary of state for policy, and ranked third at the U.S. State Department categorically stated: “If any such resolution were put in front of the Security Council, then we would veto it.” On September 21st US President Obama publicly confirmed at the UN that the US would veto any attempts by the Palestinians for statehood. Nonetheless, despite the frantic effort of the Obama administration to undermine Palestinian struggle for statehood, the actions of America’s surrogates in the region tells an entirely different story.

But first it is important to understand why Obama cannot make good on his desire to see a two state solution, which he defiantly defended at the UN last year. It is well known that President Obama is running for reelection in 2012 and is constrained in the amount of pressure his administration can apply on Netanyahu to commence negotiations with the Palestinians. The Jewish votes during US general elections are priceless for both democratic and republican contenders. Both sets of politicians vie with each other to demonstrate their loyalty to the Israeli cause in return for Jewish votes. The Republican Party is exploiting Obama’s weakness to unequivocally support with the Jew-

relations with Israel have also accentuated the weakness of the Jewish state. The expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, cessation of military ties, threat of legal action over the Marvi Marmara incident and Erdogan’s vocal opposition to Jewish state’s treatment of Palestinians has begun to erode Israel’s confidence and increased its isolation. Erdogan’s recent statements have made Turkey extremely popular in the Arab world, which is spearheading American efforts to isolate the Jewish state. For instance, on his visit to Cairo he said, “Israel is the West’s spoiled child. To this day it has never executed a decision by the international community.

It (Israel) acts irresponsibly and with-

America’s Colonial Agenda For Palestine Is Alive And Well

ish state on this matter, and has started to make inroads amongst the Jewish voters, who traditionally are staunch democrats. The Jewish electorate makes up only 3% of American voters, but is pivotal in the swing states of Florida and Ohio. More importantly, the Jewish community is a very important constituency for fund raising, and the Palestinian statehood issues have become a significant source of concern for them. “Mr. Obama does not want to get into an unproductive fight with Israel,” said Aaron David Miller, a longtime State Department expert on the Middle East, who is now at the Woodrow Wilson Centre.

Hence, the Obama administration cannot take a public stance that supports the Palestinians but ignores the demands of the Jewish state. However, America’s allies in the region have no such qualms, and are doing their utmost, to make the Jewish state vulnerable and to urge Netanyahu to negotiate and finalize a two state solution with the Palestinians.

The military junta of Egypt has used the ouster of Mubarak to give a clear indication that the thirty odd years of invincible peace the Jewish state enjoyed is now precariously poised.

The attacks by militants in Sinai, the frequent disruption of gas supplies, and the recent ransacking of the Israeli embassy in Cairo that forced the ambassador and his staff to flee have clearly reminded the Jews how vulnerable their border with their Egypt neighbors has become. This was made worse by the killing of Egyptian border soldiers and the subsequent pseudo apology released by Netanyahu’s government. His government is also anxious from the rising tide of Islamic opposition to the Jewish state — a development that does not bode well for their future survival.

Additionally, Turkey’s deteriorating

out hesitation in smashing human dignity and international law by carrying [out] assaults on international convoys, which carry nothing but food and toys for children...”

Compounded with the problematic relations with Turkey and Egypt is the growing unrest in Syria, which earlier spilled over into the Golan Heights and drove home the message to a distraught Jewish populace that its border with Syria is no longer impregnable. Thus in a space of a few weeks, the Jewish state finds its three pillars of territorial stability, shaken to the core, and now many Israelis are uncertain about the future.

Complicating matters further, Netanyahu now faces the actions of proBritish contingent of countries. The ‘harsh’ remarks by King Abdullah of Jordan, and the pledge of the Saudi’s to provide $200 million aid to the Palestinian authority to enable it to function is a resounding warning that the Jewish state is fast losing old friends amongst British and American surrogates. It is against this backdrop that Abbas has intensified his efforts for pronouncing statehood. His tongue could not have moved, unless he was given explicit permission by America to do so.

America’s intention behind all of these maneuvers is to forcibly goad Netanyahu’s government to accept the fact that the Jewish state’s security is not sustainable with its neighbors, unless it commits to peace and presses ahead with the two-state solution. In a visit to the Jewish state last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned that Israel was at risk of becoming isolated and more vulnerable if it did not take steps to repair ties with neighboring countries and restart negotiations with the Palestinians. He said, “The question you have to ask is: ‘Is it enough to maintain a military

edge if you are isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena? Real security can only be achieved by a strong diplomatic efforts as well as a strong effort to protect your military strength.”

This is especially true now, as the Arab uprising has brought to the fore a new set of public expectations that cannot be simply swept under the carpet as before. This was also echoed by Panetta. He said, “It is pretty clear at this dramatic time in the Middle East when there have been so many changes that it is not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated.

And that is what has happened.” Thus at home the Obama administration stands shoulder to shoulder with the Jews fully expecting their votes, but in the Middle East she uses her loyal allies and agents in the region to compel the Jews to pursue peace with the Palestinians and her neighbors.

The Palestinian people must be careful not to be smitten by the actions of their neighbouring countries—particularly Turkey— all of whom are working tirelessly to implement the colonialist agenda and prevent their true liberation from tyranny. How can any sane ruler of the Muslim world call for a Palestinian state that for all intents and purposes is a prison state entirely dependent on Israel for its existence? For example, Erdogan’s rhetoric pales into insignificance when measured against the wise profound words of Sultan Abdul Hamid II (to the Zionists expressing their interests in the future of the holy lands), who said, “I cannot give up even one small patch of land in Palestine. It is not something that I own as a part of my personal estate. Palestine in fact belongs to the Muslim Nation as a whole. My people have fought with their blood and sweat to protect this land, let the Jews keep their millions and once the Khilafah is torn apart one day, then they can take Palestine without a price, to have the scalpel cut my body is less painful than to witness Palestine being detached from the Khilafah state and this is not going to happen ...” Whether it’s the single state solution as advocated by Britain in the past or the two-state solution promoted by the US; the people of Palestine and the Jews will never find peace under such colonialist projects.

The intention of all such colonial projects is to keep Palestine in a perpetual state of conflict and consume the region in protracted wars. Jews, Christians and Muslims of Palestine would do well to look and learn from the Islamic alternative that guaranteed peace for hundreds of years under the auspices of the Caliphate state.

Abid Mustafa is a political commentator who specializes on Muslim affairs and global issues. He can be reached at provokethought@ hotmail.co.uk.

Children Are The Future

During the time around Ramadan and Eid, Muslims increase their sense of compassion and kindness reaching out to the less fortunate and vulnerable to ensure they are not excluded. We have a greater responsibility and awareness that the poor and needy are the responsibility of us all. These people can also celebrate the festivals and not be excluded due to their disadvantage. It is vital to encourage and inspire these values into children from a young age, in order for them to realise the importance of sharing and thinking of the less fortunate on such happy occasions. At the Yorkshire Muslim Academy, the children have been concentrating mainly two projects this year; one is the international crisis in East Africa - Our children have raised £1585 by donating their own spending money, doing chores around the house, earning the money and asking friends and family for do-

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nations etc. The other project has been buying gifts for the Muslim orphans in Sheffield. Again the response has been amazing; we have been overwhelmed by the amount of gifts brought in by children and their families. Some with sweet messages such as “for a special person, Eid Mubarak”.

phans (Whether The Orphan Be Of His Near Or Distant Relation, Or Strangers) Will Be In One Place In The Next World; Like My Two Fingers, Nearly Touching Each Other

I And The Guardian Of Or- I am a teacher at the Yorkshire

Muslim Academy and got in touch with Chrissy Meleady of the BME through whom I found out about the orphans in Sheffield. With the help of the Madrassa based in Masjid Umar, Sheffield, I set this charity up and gave the children a target for Ramadan. The children from the Madrassa personally delivered the gifts to the Childrens Centre which orphaned children attend.

The children sent letters of appreciation from the Children’s centre to say thanks. The YMA students fulfilled their duties with pride and compassion and for the children who had previously no understanding of Muslims; they gained knowledge and understanding of our Holy Prophet (saw) and his life. We hope to keep strong links with the centre in the future and focus our work on disadvantaged children.

Muslimah

Analogue TV Era to End Next October The UK’s analogue TV era will come to an end on October 24 2012, it has been announced.

Eighty years from the first experimental broadcasts, the old fivechannel system will be switched off for good. The date will also signal the completion of digital television switchover which started in 2008, since when millions of viewers have seen coverage boosted with extra channels and clearer pictures. The first experimental analogue television broadcasts started in August

1932. The technology was officially launched by the BBC in 1936 and went on to inform and entertain viewers with coverage of landmark events such as the moon landings and classic shows from Nationwide to Morecambe and Wise. The UK’s switchover programme started in 2008. At its conclusion in 2012, inside the timetable set out by Government, more than 15 million new viewers will have been brought into coverage for Freeview services.

Terror Stop and Search Down By 90%

Police use of stop and search powers under terrorism laws fell by more than 90% last year, figures have showed. Just 9,652 stops and searches were made under terrorism laws in 2010/11, compared with 102,504 in 2009/10, the Home Office figures showed.

The significant fall comes after

the relevant sections of the Terrorism Act 2000 were repealed and replaced by much more limited powers in March following concerns from human rights campaigners. The stops led to a total of 77 arrests, less than one in every 100 searches, and none of these were terror-related. This compared with a total of 509 arrests using the powers the previous year, two of which were related to terrorism.

Energy Price Hikes See Profits Soar Recent price hikes have increased the profit margins enjoyed by Britain’s big energy firms to £125 per customer a year from £15 in June, it has emerged. Industry regulator Ofgem said that as a result of the rises the average dualfuel bill has increased by £175 and by November will amount to £1,345. The regulator said it expects profit margins to fall back next year, but said the market is still being stifled by complex tariffs, poor behaviour by suppliers and a lack of transparency in the market. It intends to push ahead with reforms of the market, the first of which will be the introduction of a simplified stand-

ard tariff, based on a simple unit price for energy used and a standing charge, which Ofgem will set.

Ofgem said wholesale prices had risen by 40% to £115 per customer over the past year and could go even higher over the next few months. Rising wholesale prices have been cited by suppliers for the recent spate of tariff hikes.

Consumers are faced with a thicket of energy tariffs that can seem designed to confuse all but the most persistent and numerate consumers. More than 60 new tariffs have appeared so far this year, despite all the pressure for fewer and simpler tariffs.

One in six mobile phones in Britain is contaminated with faecal matter, according to new research. Experts said the most likely reason for the potentially harmful bacteria festering on so many gadgets was people failing to wash their hands properly with soap after going to the toilet. The findings of the UK-wide study by scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London also revealed a tendency among Britons to lie about their hygiene habits.

Although 95% of people said

they washed their hands with soap where possible, 92% of phones and 82% of hands had bacteria on them. Worryingly, 16% of hands and 16% of phones were found to harbour E.coli bacteria of a faecal origin. Harmful E.coli (Escherichia coli) is associated with stomach upsets and has been implicated in serious cases of food poisoning such as the fatal O157 outbreak in Germany in June. In developed countries, hand washing with soap helps to prevent the spread of viral infections, such as norovirus, rotavirus and influenza.

Phones ‘Contaminated with Bacteria

AMIGOS Halal Mexican Cuisine Amigos, the second name for perfection. Amigos is a traditional Mexican style HALAL cuisine.

It’s one of the few places that specialises in Halal Tbone steak, Steak pike and Sirloin steaks.

It offer a variety of different choices in halal food e.g. Pasta, Tortilla, Mexican Grill, Burritos, Lasagne and many more delicious dishes. The food choice is fantastic and it sure tastes good.

Amigos provides another choice for an excellent food. They also cater for Weddings, Parties, Corporate Events and also do Home Delivery. Amigos is situated at the corner of Sharrow Lane and on 272 London Road, Sheffield, S2 4NA and they can be contacted on 0114 258 5900. You can also search them online and check out their menu on www. amigosmexicankitchen.co.uk

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KASHMIR CROWN BAKERY ARRIVES IN SHEFFIELD •

World famous Kashmir Crown Bakery now open in Firvale, Sheffield

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Over 40 years of experience in baking and Asian sweets

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Mohammed Saleem originally started the business in 1969 with just £55 in Kitty

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Nationwide store first time in Sheffield

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Largest Asian food manufacturer in Europe

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Traditional Kashmiri baking methods

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Over 250 varieties of cakes, biscuits, pastries and mithai

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We specialise in Wedding and party cakes

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Deli bar serving sandwiches, Panini’s and savoury snacks

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Well known branded Mouth-watering delicacies

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Wedding and celebration cakes made to order

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Chaat, samosas, gol gappay and ice cream

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KCB products are now available at TESCO

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Now more than 10 retails shops throughout the country

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Already a big hit in its first month in Sheffield

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India wants Afghanistan to be Anti-Pakistan Musharraf: Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf has charged that arch-rival India seeks to "create an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan" as part of a bid to dominate South Asia politically and economically. Musharraf said Afghanistan sends its intelligence staff, diplomats and soldiers to India where they are "indoctrinated against Pakistan," something he said India must stop and the United States should be concerned about. "In Afghanistan, there is some kind of a proxy conflict going on between Pakistan and India," Musharraf told a leadership forum sponsored by the Atlantic media corporation.

"India is trying to create an antiPakistan Afghanistan." It's ambition, he said, is to "have a weak Pakistan so that it can be dominated, so that it doesn't have any confrontationist attitude which doesn't go well with India's vi-

another country," according to sion of dominating the region."

Musharraf said he understood the former army chief who seized power in a 1999 bloodless coup and resigned as president in 2008. "Afghanistan's intelligence, Afghanistan's diplomats, Afghanistan's soldiers, all the army, security people, they all go to India for training," where they are "indoctrinated against Pakistan," he added.

While he was in power, he said he personally offered Afghanistan free training but "not one man has come to Pakistan for training."

Musharraf spoke after Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed a "strategic partnership" with Inthat India does not seek to take dia on Tuesday. The partnership over Pakistan militarily, but -- the first such pact between rather it wants to dominate Paki- Afghanistan and another country stan in the area of foreign policy, - deepens already friendly Delhieconomic policy, trade and com- Kabul ties and aims to boost merce. "That is how you sup- trade, security and cultural links press, you control or dominate between the countries.

Taj Mahal could Collapse in Five Years

PROPERTY CORNER THE WORLD OF PROPERTY

by: Mohammed Mahroof BSc (Hons) MRICS Consultant: Mark Jenkinson & Son I have recently returned from a trip to North Africa and naturally wherever I am in the world my instinct is to look at property prices and development, much to the annoyance of my family.

It is clear wherever you are in the world, the concerns remain the same, around the economy, property prices and employment. As you travel the world, it becomes more and more evident that the world is becoming a village. News about any subject travels very quickly. Property is a major topic because it is a traditional investment for many communities in the world and people aspire to either hold or add to their portfolios.

It is now quite common for investors to buy property, not only in their own countries of origin, but in emerging markets across the world. In fact, I bumped into a few people on the flight back who had gone out specifically to look for property to buy, and in time settle there, as they felt the economy there was developing.

Equally there are people from

all over the world who invest in property in this country, in particular in London. Prices in certain areas in the capital have not seen the difficulties faced by people in other parts of the country. In fact, it has been argued that there are not enough good quality properties coming onto the market.

A serious issue that has consequences for all of us is the supply of good quality residential accommodation. It is quite clear that demand for housing is rising quicker than supply, in particular amongst the younger generation.

The problem is that they are unable to access this because of financial constraints.

It is a subject which many politicians, governments and housing professionals are engaged in trying to find a solution to. As the world population rises year on year, the need for accommodation follows suit. In this country it is being regularly commented on that the demand for housing is very strong and people unable or unwilling to

commit to a long term purchase are now turning to the private rented sector, which has seen a tremendous increase in demand.

Are we seeing a change from home ownership as a major aspiration to renting? A common theme in Europe but not so in this country. I believe we are at the crossroads and only time will tell how we emerge in the next few years. I am quite convinced that property as a worldwide commodity will remain a strong aspiration for people, as history suggests land and property along with gold have been key investments for generations. If this mindset is to change it will be a major thought migration from the present. Who knows, we might be at the beginning of something new.

I would like to wish our readers Eid Mubarak and, as ever, if you want to contact me please call me on 0114 2760151/0787 901 5095 or through ILM.

Rise in Patients Waiting too long for NHS Treatment

The Taj Mahal will collapse in five years unless action is taken by Indian government to strengthen its foundations, campaigners have warned. A group of historians, environmentalists and politicians claim that the foundation of the 358-year-old building in Agra, north India, has dried out and is rotting away. It was built on a foundation of mahogany posts sunk into wells fed by the

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Yamuna river. But the river is running dry as a result of pollution, industry and deforestation – meaning the foundations have become brittle and are disintegrating.

If the crisis is not tackled, the Taj Mahal will cave in between two and five years. No one has been allowed to go into the foundations for the last three decades.

The River Yamuna drying up was

something the builders of the Taj Mahal never anticipated. The river is a constituent of its architectural design and if the river dies, the Taj cannot survive. Known as one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal was built by the Muhgal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal who was buried there. The tomb attracts four million visitors every year.

The number of patients who waited longer than the recommended 18 weeks for NHS hospital treatment has risen by almost 50 per cent over the past year. New figures show that almost 10,000 more people were treated outside the target waiting time in August compared with the same time the previous year. A third of local managers are now failing to meet the goal of 90 per cent of their patients being seen within 18 weeks of being referred by a GP, almost four times as many as a year ago.

However there was some evidence that hospitals are clearing backlogs of patients who endured delays of more than a year before undergoing operations, while the total number still on waiting lists has fallen slightly. It comes after the Coalition ended Labour’s strict

focus on targets, on the grounds it was distorting doctors’ priorities, and as trusts grapple with the NHS’s goal of making £20billion of efficiency savings by 2015.

As The Daily Telegraph has disclosed, managers in at least 10 Primary Care Trusts have deliberately increased waiting times in an attempt to cut costs within a financial year, which is alleged to mean that some patients will either “go

private or die”.

Overall 45 Primary Care Trusts failed to seen 90 per cent of patients within 18 weeks in August, compared with 12 the year before.

But the number of patients still in the system stood at 2.61m, down from 2.65m a year earlier. The median waiting time was 8.1 weeks for inpatients, slightly less than the 8.3 recorded in August 2010 but higher than the low of 7.7 seen in April.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “Average waiting times are low and remain stable. The vast majority of patients still receive treatment within 18 weeks.

“We are committed to driving improvements in performance and the quality of care that the NHS provides - including keeping waiting times low.”

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The Great Wall of China is Falling Down

The Great Wall of China may have survived the Huns and Mongol hordes, but widespread neglect, underfunding and mining means that it is now falling down.

In some areas as much as 80 per cent of the structure lies in ruins, all but demolished by prospectors mining for minerals. The destruction was catalogued in a series of photographs which show that huge holes have been punched through the wall in some areas.

One complete section of the wall has crumbled because of mining along a 94-mile stretch, according to a report and it is unknown

how many enterprises are engaged in mining along the Great Wall. Along other stretches, the wall has simply collapsed into a pile of rubble.

The Great Wall, which runs for a total of 5,500 miles across 11 Chinese provinces, is not a continuous structure but actually a series of sections built from the third century BC to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Only a small part of the wall outside Beijing has been carefully maintained, with the rest of the structure left untended.

The biggest problem is not illegal mining, but simply the fact that

there is no regular maintenance.

Each year, local governments report damage on their stretch of the wall to Beijing and then the central government allocates funding for worst areas. But this is not maintenance work, this is rescue work. Over the centuries, bad weather has taken its toll. Indeed, the fact that the wall continues to stand at all is a tribute to the ingenuity of Ming dynasty engineers, who mixed sticky rice into the wall’s mortar. The chemical bonding between the rice and the slaked lime was so tight that in many places weeds still cannot grow.

Jobless Figures Sky High Unemployment is at a record high, figures revealed last month.

With talks of a double-dip recession, it’s difficult to see the way out of uncertainty. The Office for National Statistics revealed unemployment has reached a 17year high after more than 100,000

people joined the ranks of those seeking jobs. The figures reveal a record reduction of 74,000 in the number of over-65s in employment. Other figures showed a 178,000 slump in employment in the quarter to August – the biggest fall in more than two years

– and the largest-ever cut in the number of part-time workers, down by 175,000. Youth unemployment reached a record high of 991,000 while the number claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increased for the seventh month in a row to 1.6 million.

Using Social Media For Your Business By: Amar Saleem Business Development Manager Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Email: amar.saleem@scci.org.uk Social media is more than just a tool for looking at pictures of your friends and reminiscing about times past. It’s become a tool with measurable and predictable power that truly has a place with almost any kind of business.

Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are to name just a few but the effectiveness of these resources to promote your business are second to none. If you haven’t already created a Facebook page or a LinkedIn account I suggest you do it as a matter of urgency as it is an opportunity missed and best of all they are generally free. There are many benefits to using social media for business, but here are my top choices.

1. Increased awareness of the organisation: This is one of the most obvious benefits for most businesses using social media.

Whether users directly engage with your brand or not, they will still see your brand name within the networks they use. The more impressions a consumer gets of your business, the more likely they will remember your name in the future. Whether you’re a shoe retailer or a non-profit looking to gain recognition for your cause, brand awareness is vital for your continued success.

2. Reputation Management: Managing your online reputation is essential within social media because your brand or industry is being talked about regardless of whether you take part in the conversation. It’s beneficial to know what your customers think about your products, cause, services etc, and with this input in mind you can react accordingly.

Since social media is open to

everyone, anyone has the ability to say what they want about your brand. Therefore, making sure what is being said is truthful, not necessarily positive, is key to developing the trust of your audience and influencing them in a positive manner. Feed back from Social Media can also inform your decision about how you deal with your clients or market your business.

3. Customer Service and Feedback: Providing support to your customers is vital to the success of any business and social media is no exception to the rule.

When a person reaches out to you, whether their input is good or bad it is extremely important to respond in a timely and helpful manner. Social media provides the platform for consumers to interact on a person to person level, so that they aren’t talking to a faceless representative over the phone or via email. Respond whenever a user reaches out, just not to users acting profane, misleading or hateful. Providing this level of service, which can be something as simple as thanking someone for mentioning your brand, is completely transparent to your entire network, showing how dedicated you are to your audience.

4. Increase in new business: Social media can help act as a means of finding customers for your business, advocates for your cause or as a means to make many other beneficial connections. Like we’ve previously discussed, conversations are happening constantly within each social network and it’s just a matter of you monitoring these conver-

sations and reaping the benefit.

These leads can be anything from an idea for an article to an online sale. For example, just by searching through Twitter you get a feel for the buzz in your industry and who’s saying what and possibly interact with interested future customers.

5. Educational Asset: In any industry its important to remain innovative in your field and find the best ways to continue the conversations about what you do.

Since you’re here with us today learning about social media, it’s obvious you’re one of the people looking to stay ahead of the curve on a new form of media. Social media provides your brand with a free source of constant information from other brands, media outlets, friends, coworkers and even your competition.

6. Competitive Analysis: In any industry it’s important to keep pace with your competitors. Social media merely makes this process easier by allowing for complete transparency of the content and conversations your competitors are having on their various social accounts. Social media can help keep you on track with other non-profits, businesses, publications or whoever your interested in keeping tabs on or on the other side of the fence looking to partner with in the future for a promotion, campaign or some other type of partnership.

If you would like to find out more about about how your business would benefit from using Social Media then do not hesitate to contact me.

Mobility Scooters Risk Housing bosses in Sheffield have sent letters to pensioners threatening to seize their mobility scooters – claiming the vehicles are a health and safety hazard.

Several residents at flats on Little Norton Avenue in Norton, Sheffield, park their scooters beneath stairs in the flats. The OAPs say the scooters are out of the way of people coming and going – and there is nowhere else to put them. But in a crackdown on items which could impede escape

in a fire, Sheffield Homes has written to residents listing scooters among ‘identified hazards’.

The letter, from housing officer Steve Willis, warned residents: “If the items are not removed by one month they will become the property of Sheffield Council and will be disposed of. You may be charged for the cost of disposal.”

The letter was sent despite a draft policy on mobility scooters not yet being approved by Sheffield Homes, under which tenants

might not be able to take scooters to housing schemes unless there is storage available. Sheffield Council’s Labour administration has asked for the policy to be reviewed with the fire service before deciding whether to implement it. Sheffield Council’s opposition leader, Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, added: “I’m horrified Sheffield Homes is being allowed to make these threats.”

Blackberry Gives £63 of Free Apps as Apology Millions of people whose BlackBerry smartphones were hit by service problems for more than three days will be offered free apps worth at least 100 US dollars (£63). Research in Motion (RIM) has attracted widespread anger after millions of users of the handsets were left unable to access email, surf the web or use the BlackBerry Messenger service.

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RIM announced that a selection of premium apps will be offered to subscribers as “an expression of appreciation for their patience” during the disruptions. Co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis said: “Our global network supports the communications needs of more than 70 million customers”.

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Legal Corner

Q & A: Sale of Property Mohammed Nazir Solicitor Head of Property/Immigration, Wosskow Brown

Q What is a fixtures and fittings form?

A A fixtures and fittings form is one of the important documents when you are selling a residential property and it provides information of what items will be left in the property. Please fill this form in very carefully as it becomes part of your sale contract.

Q What is an Overriding Interest Form?

A The Overriding Interest Form is a new form introduced into the Conveyancing process. It gives information to the purchaser’s solicitors as to whether there are any additional arrangements or rights that have been created over the property in recent years.

Q What is a Property Information Form (PIF) A This gives details of your property and contains information and changes to the property in the past. This form should be completed very carefully and in full as this information is very important. If you are not sure about anything you should speak to your legal advisor before you hand over this form to the purchasers.

Q What is the meaning of Vacant Possession in a sale agreement?

A This is a very important clause of the sale agreement and it means that once your solicitor has received the purchase funds, you will hand over possession to the purchaser and there will be no occupiers, items or rubbish left at the property. If you do not provide vacant possession then potentially you are in breach of contract and the purchaser can ask for damages and gain posses-

sion through the Court.

Q What is a redemption figure and what is its importance in the sale process?

A A redemption statement is information from the existing mortgage lender detailing the amount outstanding on the property. You cannot proceed without an updated redemption figure. Your solicitor will need this to complete the sale of your property as they have to give a promise to the purchaser’s solicitors to clear the property from financial liability. In new sale contracts the vendor is also bound to clear any financial charges on the property but it also depends on the wording of the sale agreement.

Disclaimer: This is information only and do not act on this information as legal advice and always seek advice from your solicitor according to the circumstances of your case.

Council to Freeze Tax Sheffield Council announces a zero percent increase in council tax. Council tax is to be frozen again for next year, cash-strapped Sheffield households were promised today. The Government is offering councils across the country funding to pay for a council tax freeze, provided they do not increase spending. Sheffield is receiving £4.9 million. Town Hall bosses had previously warned they might have to increase charges by up to three per cent - but the Government cash input means council tax will now stay at the same level for the third year running.

Coun Dore said the move should help ‘struggling’ households including families and pensioners.

“We will accept the extra funding which has been offered, to ensure

council tax levels can be frozen for another year,” she said.

Other councils around South Yorkshire have not yet revealed whether they will also be freez-

A council house tenant in Sheffield has been evicted from her home for growing cannabis plants. The 32 year old breached the conditions of her tenancy agreement at Arbourthorne, after police found a ‘significant’ number of plants growing in a

bedroom. Heat lamps and an extractor fan had been installed to help the plants grow. Coun Harry Harpham, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for home, said: “Eviction is a course of action we don’t take lightly, but one we are quite prepared to take. Grow-

Cannabis Grower Loses Her Home

PTI Launch Sheffield Branch with an Unprecedented Turnout world, have a vested interest in developing Pakistan into a democratic and accountable country and by joining a movement for justice, self-esteem and humanity, PTI has the vision to do this. The launch took place on Sunday 16th October 2011 at St Peter’s Hall in Netheredge.

With an expectation of around 40

ple at the grass roots level.

Amjad Khan spoke from his heart when saying, “People want change, and they believe that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf can bring that change for a better future”.

Tanveer said that he supports PTI due to the inspirational work that Imran Khan did with Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital. He humanity are the visionary goals.

PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf / Movement for Justice) & Chairman Imran Khan has been in the forefront of Politics in Pakistan for the last 15 years, with little or no change in the status quo over the years. PTI is being seen as the party of choice to bring about change in the country which is stuck in a quagmire of prevailing crises including corruption, terrorism, economic stability and a power crisis.

Pakistani’s living all over the

Contact: Shahid Ali Email: ptisheffield@hotmail.co.uk Mobile: 07737139646

attendees, there was an unprecedented turnout of over 70 individuals. The proceedings began with Shahid Ali, one of the members of the organising committee, sharing the vision of PTI and what the goals were and reiterating that this was not just a political party but a movement for change which was looking to empower the peo-

said that, “the time is now that we help PTI come in power and save our beloved motherland”.

The aim of the Sheffield branch is to highlight issues within the overseas Pakistani community and to look at ways it can support the movement for change for a free and democratic Pakistan where justice, self-esteem and

ing council tax. In Sheffield the freeze was warmly welcomed

by Jacqueline Milner, of Sheffield Pensioners’ Action Group.

She said: “It’s wonderful news.

At least that’s one thing that is not going up when our members who are on low incomes are having to cope with rising prices in

the shops and increasing energy bills.”

Sheffield Hallam MP and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said: “The Government has made it possible for the Labour council to deliver a council tax freeze after the Lib Dem administration did not increase council tax last year and had the lowest-ever increases in the previous years.” But Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore has warned council jobs will go, and some services could face the axe, as the authority faces another hefty budget cut next year.

The Labour-run council must find another £52 million of savings from its current £500m budget during 2012/13. “We are currently undergoing a review of all council services to see where the savings can be made,” she said.

ing illegal drugs on the property was a tenancy breach and she has now had to suffer the consequences – which in this case is the loss of her home.” She has also been ordered to pay legal costs of £301.75.

A Third of Teachers Face ‘Devastating’ False Claims By Pupils Tens of thousands of British school teachers have been subjected to false allegations from a pupil that has placed their careers at “significant” risk, new research suggests.

Nearly a third of teachers has faced “hugely damaging” false claims from a student that had caused devastating consequences on their personal lives, it was claimed. The survey of nearly 8000 teachers across the country found two in three educators would not intervene to break up a fight between students because of the potential risk to their career. At least 20 per cent of teachers feel that most pupils have no respect for them, it found while a further 92 per cent felt the law gave too much protection to pupils and not enough to teachers.

Despite “99 per cent” of the profession expressing fears about the consequences a false claim could have, four in five teachers believe protections were currently “inadequate”.

The survey’s findings, highlight the “continuing and significant risks facing teachers”. The find-

ings come amid widespread concerns that hundreds of long-serving teachers have had their careers ruined after being subjected to unfounded claims by children.

Earlier this year the government announced that teachers will be given greater protection against lying pupils under sweeping reforms designed to restore order to the classroom.

For the first time, all teachers will be granted anonymity when accused of attacking children in an attempt to curb the rise of malicious allegations. Also under the plans teachers would be given more powers to deal with poor discipline. According to the survey, 30 per cent of teachers had a false allegation made by a student during their career.

Latest figures show that about 900 children are suspended from school every day, with the majority for abusing or assaulting their teachers or fellow pupils. Attacks on teachers are also at a five-year high with more than 40 members of staff rushed to hospital with serious injuries in the last year.

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14

Al-Khair Foundation Qurbani Project 2011 T h i s Qurbani please spare a thought for the m a n y millions of famine victims who are literally dying of hunger in Africa every hour.

For the millions of flood victims homeless in Pakistan, many of whom are facing destitution for the second time in the period of 12 months. While most of us are blessed with food and take our next meal for granted, these victims are blighted by sheer poverty, for which basic food is the dif-

ference between life and death.

As the time of Eid-Ul-Adha approaches you can help those in needs and save lives, by donating your Qurbani through Al-Khair’s Qurbani programme “The most excellent sadaqah (charity) consists in your satisfying a hungry stomach” (Tirmidhi) For those of you who will be performing Qurbani/ Udhiyah in Pakistan. Alhamdulillah this year Al-Khair Foundation shall be facilitating Qurbani in Pakistan using cattle from its own cattle farm, ensuring that the animals used for Qurbani are reared in strict accordance with shariyah, while also supplying value for money animals and generating employment for the locals.

Al-Khair Foundation also facilitates Qurbani in other countries

in Asia, Europe and Africa using extremely stringent methods to carefully select the right animals for Qurbani. We constantly focus on the Islamic precepts which disqualify certain animals from being used for Qurbani; such as animals with any deformity affecting ears, sight, horns or teeth.

Also excluded are animals which have limbs deformed, broken or damaged and sick or emaciated animals.

What is the cost of Qurbani?

Al-Khair will purchase the animal to be sacrificed on your behalf however prices vary according each country.

To Place an order(s) for Qurbani please call 0114 275 6590, 020 7084 7199 or visit www.justgiving.com/qurbani

Al-Khair Qurbani Pricing 2011:

Pakistan/Bangladesh (£) Uncooked Cooked Goat/Sheep £ 70 £100 Cow Share £ 40 £ 55 Whole Cow £ 280 £ 380

Sudan/Niger (£) Uncooked Cooked Goat/Sheep (only) £ 50 £ 80

Pakistan Hails Seat on UN Security Council Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said Pakistan’s election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council “effectively rebuts allegations of Pakistan’s isolation. Pakistan emerged triumphant from one of the most hotly contested United Nations Security Council elections in years. Morocco, Guatemala and Togo were the others to secure a seat. “It demonstrated acknowledgement of Pakistan’s importance in the comity of nations,” a triumphant Gilani said in a statement. Pakistan took the Asia-Pacific seat, getting 129 votes, the minimum required, to 55 for its only rival Kyrgyzstan. The two-year term begins on January 1, 2012. Arch rival India will also remain on the council through 2012. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in a separate statement said the vote “reflects the importance and respect that Pakistan enjoys in the international community”. Pakistan

Asian radio stations dormant disaster relief cash

A London-based radio station that raised £160,000 for natural disasters in Asia let the money Somalia/Kenya/Ethiopia (£) sit dormant in a bank account for Uncooked Cooked almost seven years, an investigaGoat/Sheep (only) £ 50 £ 80 India (£) tion by the Charity Commission Uncooked Cooked has found. An 11-month inquiry Iraq/Palestine(£) Goat/Sheep £ 55 £ 85 by the commission found that Uncooked Cooked Cow Share £ 25 £ 40 Sunrise Radio and sister station Goat/Sheep £190 £Whole Cow £ 175 £ 275 Kismat Radio – which are not Cow £900 £charities – deposited £160,000 of Cow Share £130 £Chechnya/Afghanistan(£) listeners’ donations in an account Uncooked Cooked named Sunrise Radio South East Muhammad Amir Qureshi, Goat/Sheep £ 90 £Asia Disaster Appeal. The CharProgramme Manager AKF Sheffield.

Cow £ 350 £ity Commission has passed its Cow Share £ 50 £report to the broadcast watchdog Ofcom, which has the power to revoke Sunrise Radio’s broadcast licence. Sunrise became the UK’s Most police forces found that showed 36% of young people - be in receipt of free school meals first 24-hour Asian music station fewer than one in 10 of those ar- some 139 10-17-year-olds - ap- or benefits, were more likely rested over the August riots were pearing before the courts over the to have had special educational gang members and gangs “gener- violence and looting had received needs and be absent from school, ally did not play a pivotal role” one or more fixed-term exclu- and are more likely to have some in the disturbances, figures have sions in 2009/10, compared with form of criminal history. In terms of ethnicity, 46% of those appearshowed. Even in London, where just 5.6% of all pupils aged 15. gang membership among those A total of 11, 3% of young peo- ing in court were from black or arrested was highest at 19%, ple appearing before courts over mixed black backgrounds, 42% most of those held were not in the riots, had been permanently were white, 7% were Asian and gangs, the Home Office figures excluded, compared with 0.1% 5% were classified as “other”. showed. But more than a third of all those children aged 15 at But in most areas the ethnicity of young people aged 10 to 17 the start of the 2009/10 academic breakdown mostly reflected that of the resident population. who were involved in the riots year. had been excluded from school Figures showed most of those Policing and criminal justice minduring 2009/10, other figures re- involved in the riots were aged ister Nick Herbert said: “These leased by the Ministry of Justice under 20, with 26% aged 10 to figures confirm that, in the vast showed. This compared with just 17 and 27% aged 18 to 20. Of the majority of cases, existing crimi6% of all Year 11 pupils. Two- adults involved, 35% were claim- nals were out in force during the thirds of young people in the ri- ing an out-of-work benefit at the disturbances in August. “The fact ots also had special educational time, compared with 12% of the that half of recorded crimes were needs, compared with a fifth of general working age population for offences like stealing and all pupils. And two-fifths were in England and 45% of all offend- looting shows that most of what in receipt of free school meals, ers sentenced for an indictable of- we saw was motivated by opcompared with less than a fifth of fence last year. Three-quarters of portunity and greed. “The tough secondary school pupils, the fig- all those who appeared in court sentences that have rightly been had a previous conviction or cau- handed down to rioters, and subures showed.

The figures, which were based tion. Patterns emerged across all sequently upheld on appeal, send on matching Ministry of Justice areas. MoJ officials said: “It is out a strong deterrent message (MoJ) records with those from clear that compared to population that society will not tolerate the the national pupil database held averages, those brought before appalling behaviour we saw on by the Department for Education, the courts were more likely to our streets.”

Gangs ‘Not Pivotal’ in Riots

Police ‘Big Brother’ Treatment

ALL South Yorkshire police officers are to be tagged with trackers - in a ‘Big Brother’ move which means bosses will know their movements every minute of their shifts. Police chiefs want all officers’ radios to be fitted with tracker devices by the end of October. The aim is that incidents which do not require specialist teams can be assigned to the officer nearest the crime. The force carried out a trial in Doncaster

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earlier this year and is now rolling out the scheme across the county. Bosses say the aim is to make more efficient use of officers, with staff numbers set to drop because of £41 million of funding cuts. They admit they will be able to use the trackers to trace the movements of all officers, or as a log of where they have been, but stress the technology is not being introduced to catch officers out.

has been on the council six times, according to official media, 1952-53, 1968-69, 1976-77, 1983-84, 1993-94 and 2003-04. India and Pakistan have shared terms on the Council in 1968, 1977 and 1984.

in 1989 and now reaches 2 million listeners. The charity fund, which last year had grown to £181,000 with interest, was raised through a station appeal following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and then again after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. The disasters killed tens of thousands of people and left many more homeless and at the risk of disease. The Charity Commission’s report said that there was “no evidence to suggest that the funds were at risk of misapplication” but condemned the trustees of the bank account, saying that they “did not act appropriately” by holding onto the money. The commission said that the money had now been taken

from the account and given it to two registered charities working in the affected areas. The report also said that the trustees, “failed to provide a sufficient satisfactory explanation or provide evidence to give reason for their delay”.

Station owner Avtar Lit said it had not been able to deliver the money for relief purposes because the station could not get one of its presenters a visa to go to Pakistan, and the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka. Lit admitted that in hindsight it would have been more appropriate to give the money to British registered charities directly.

Disclaimer

ILM (The Knowledge) Newspaper does not represent any political, religious or any other group.

It is purely for providing general information, entertainment and knowledge to its readers. Any views expressed by authors are responsible for their own work.

15

“How The Wind Of Change May Blow’’

Most commentators and analysts are stuck in a box, when it comes to speculating about the fall of the present setup. They do not think beyond in-house change through a noconfidence motion and martial law. An outof-the-box possibility eludes them.

There are several cases before the Supreme Court in which the orders of the court have not been carried out. The onus lies on the Chief Executive, who happens to be the Prime Minister. So far, the court has not taken any action against him for willful defiance.

Patience may not be the only reason; timing may be another. There may also be expediency and external pressure.

Since the Establishment has not been keen for a military takeover, the initial hope was that opposition would bring about a motion for no-confidence against the Prime Minister. But ML(N), the nominal opposition, took no initiative as it had been lulled by the hope that it would get its turn if it did not rock the boat. It still did nothing even after it finally realized that it had been hoodwinked by the foreign powers in order to protect the PPP government. ML (Q) also could initiate a motion but Moonis Elahi had the better of it.

The Battle Field in Karachi: MQM is the master of the city but it has enemies it cannot ignore.

People who love Karachi will not like Karachi being called a city created by dacoits and outlaws, the last of which rule openly in Lyari in the name so called people Amman Committee. Al- Qaeda knows who in Karachi is its real foe. The MQM knows it too. In Al Qaeda’s view, Karachi, with its multi- National Corporations, major banks and stock exchanges, is the weakest link; and chaos in this city would be most detrimental to Pakistan-as well as to the war in Afghanistan, as a major casualty would be NATO’s supply lines’. Unconsciously, the Sindhi PPP may like it, not realizing the possibility that Karachi will become AL Qaeda’s city once it ceases to be MQM city.

If Karachi destabilize Then you threaten to derail the whole country. That is something Pakistan simply cannot afford. The latest revelation that weapons from Israel and other hostiles states are finding their way in the Karachi, speaks volumes about the depth of malice being faced by Pakistan. In this complex and dangerous environment, procurement of weapons in Karachi has become a matter of survival. A tension between different factions, be they ethnic, political, religious, or otherwise, increase the survival instinct moves into the critical stage of its evolution. After thoroughly assessing the coming situation PPP’s strong partner ANP is now showing teeth, especially in Sind, but it can do little more than cause a storm in a teacup, in view of its small number in the National Assembly.

With all quiet on the political front, let us consider a plausible scenario.

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The Supreme Court finally takes the plunge and issues a notice for contempt of court to the Prime Minister for not implementing its orders. Despite his own initial hesitation and advice “from the above” not to respond, the Chief Executive finally decides that discretion is the better part of valor and appears before the court.

He has two options: a) apologize unconditionally and surrender himself to the mercy of the court, or b) refuse to plead guilty and show determination to flout whatever orders the court may give against him. He does neither, and asks the court to decide whatever it likes.

The court takes the middle course.

It says it will not accept his apology, even if offered, because it will mean that it does not care much even if the highest executive refuses to implement orders of the highest court. It also does not want to send the Prime Minister to jail because that may create uncertainty. Therefore, it convicts the Prime Minister of contempt and sentences him to six months of imprisonment but suspends the sentence to allow him some time to leave office. If he does resign, the court will not send him to jail.

However, conviction will not allow him to remain in office.

The Prime Minister chooses disgrace where to defy will not bring honor. He offers to leave office, blaming “circumstances beyond my control” for non-compliance of the court orders. (In his heart, he knows that he will never become the Prime Minister again and continuing in office for some more months will not be of much benefit.)

Resignation may get Gilani some sympathy, if not much public support, but will create turmoil for PPP, as it will find it very hard to win majority vote for another nominee for the post, not to speak of consensus vote by the entire house that it got the last time. Nor will other parties be able to put up a consensus candidate.

With nobody getting a majority vote, the National Assembly will have to be dissolved to prepare for general elections. Herein lies the rub. Gilani’s resignation will pave way only for an interim Prime Minister, who will be selected by the powers that be, not the President at his discretion.

All hell will break loose under the interim Prime Minister. Since he will not belong to any party in Parliament and will be ineligible for election, he follows vigorously one-point agenda: fight against corruption. He invigorates NAB by bringing back all honest and diligent officers, who had been sidelined or pushed out. He will also fill the post of the Chairman,

which has been vacant for some mysterious reason. (When it happens, it may well turn out not to be a mystery after all!)

All pending as well as new corruption cases are taken up in all earnest. Everybody who is anybody is hauled up. Supported fully by the Establishment, courts do not hesitate in convicting the guilty, however high and powerful. Provincial Assemblies (along with provincial governments) collapse because not enough members are left to run them.

Soon we find more politicians in jail than outside.

Meanwhile, the interim Prime Minister approaches the Supreme Court for extension of the period for election so that the fight against corruption is completed.

The court will have no objection.

By the time the operation is over, not many politicians are available to contest, especially after vigorous enforcement of the conditions under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. A new and clean crop of politicians emerges. To paraphrase Mirza Sahiban scenario, “Mirza Yars” roam the deserted streets.

Military takeover? Army might be thinking that because of its vitality in the region, as has been the case in the past, U.S will tolerate any of Army’s misadventures in the domestic political scenario of Pakistan. In my opinion, post 9/11, U.S has not spent US$ 2.1 trillion in Afghanistan and Iraq to agree a status co. It seems evident that greater civilian control through elected representatives in Turkey, Pakistan and Lebanon remain corner stone of US/ West’s policy in the new world order. My fears is that if Army pushes too for against the democratic setup and present regime, it will have to face a very sharp response from International Community. Army’s best option is to agree to a subservient role to the civilian set up and sit with the civilian Government, to lay out parameters for national security doctrine ensuring the preservation of Army’s clout to the degree it to be protected and ensuing that Pakistan’s vital interests visa- vis India, Nuclear program and economic affairs are safe guarded. The aim should be to come up with bare-minimum consensus on key national security issues Some actions are more effective back stage than under spotlight.

However, there may be developments of serious nature that need strong action. Economic crisis deteriorates, as IMF installment remains suspended. Killings in Karachi accelerate. Sectarian clashes erupt suddenly in the Punjab. The Indo-American sabotage in Baluchistan hot up. The people finally come on the streets in agitation.

The country faces a situation similar to a civil war, something predicted by an American General while talking to Najam Sethi some time ago. In such a situation, all bets will be off.

MUNIR AHMED BALOCH munirahmedbaloch@hotmail. com

Housing Asking Prices Show Nationwide Divide House asking prices in the South have reached more than double those in the North, creating a record divide states a report from Rightmove. Southerners are typically putting their homes on the market for £336,743, compared with £164,347 in the Northern regions, sparking fears that a “twotier twist” could be hampering more widespread growth in the market. The £170,000 chasm is the largest in monetary terms since Rightmove’s records began in 2002.

The monthly index revealed an overall 2.8% increase in asking prices, a jump of £6,533 from mid September to reach £239,672 in mid October. But this rise was driven by the South, including London, the South East, the

South West and East Anglia, which experienced a 4.7% upsurge overall. Meanwhile, the North, which for the purposes of the survey included Wales, the West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North West and the North of England, fell back by 0.7% in the space of a month, to levels first achieved more than six years ago in May 2005.

Properties in some of the South regions came onto the market at an all-time high. In London, the typical price was £450,210 - 2.6% higher than a previous record set in June. Kensington and Chelsea was the best-performing area of the capital, with prices up 6.6% in a month to typically reach £1,917,895. In the South East

people were asking £317,055 for their properties - up 0.2% on the previous high achieved in May 2008.

A separate report last week named Bury as the top property sales hotspot in a survey covering England and Wales. Halifax’s property sales report found house sales in the town had risen by 44% over the first six months of 2011, compared with the same period in 2010, more than any other town surveyed. The document put the upsurge in Bury property sales down to a marked rise in the level of activity at the lower end of the housing market, with flats and terraced homes accounting for 77% of the overall rise in sales.

Adeeba Malik Wins Prestigious Women in Business Award economics and education in local communities. Adeeba was awarded an MBE for her services to ethnic minorities and businesses in 2004. Adeeba said: “I’m thrilled at receiving the award and really didn’t expect to win.

It’s a privilege to be recognised amongst some of Yorkshire ’s most inspiring and dynamic business women, and a huge honour.

Congratulations to Forward Ladies for organising such a positive event.”

Adeeba Malik, deputy CEO of Bradford based QED-UK, has won the Not for Profit Business Woman of the Year Award.

She received the accolade at the Women in Business Awards run

by Forward Ladies at a ceremony held at Elland Road , Leeds , on Friday 14 October. Adeeba was recognised for her positive work with ethnic minorities facing prejudice, discrimination or disadvantage around issues of immigration, race, religion,

Stand up Straight

It might be time to listen to our mothers advice about posture as slouching may cause ageing. We’re all guilty of slouching over at desks, but leading experts claim that bad posture could cause us to age faster and contribute to pain and immobility. According to research, from the age of 25 we all suffer from sarcopenia - the disintegration of muscle mass. On average we lose one fifth of a pound of muscle each year.

The main problem is a weakening of abdominal muscles caused by years of sitting in a hunched position, which places uneven pressure on the discs in the lower back. If you look around, you see many people over 50, particularly women, who are starting to develop this stance, and by mid-

dle age we have often developed such poor postural habits that our body and brain have simply forgotten where things should be.

Researches suggest standing up straight several times a day with your back to a wall, heels against the skirting board and your shoulders and head touching the wall to encourage better posture. ‘Try to maintain the position as you walk away,’ they say. ‘The more often you do this, the more accustomed your abdominal and back muscles become at providing the necessary support.’

There is no means of preventing sarcopenia completely, but the latest research suggests the best preventative measure you can take is regular weight training to keep up muscle strength.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani inaugurated Rs 100 billion Mangla Dam raising project aimed at significantly increasing country’s water storage and electricity generation. Prime Minister Gilani also inaugurated the Dhani Gali bridge on River Jhelum, linking the Punjab with Azad Kashmir and replace the old narrow suspension bridge.

After the upraising, the dam would have 2.88 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of additional water storage and 644 Gwh of additional hydel generation, with an estimated annual benefit of Rs 18 billion.

Gilani termed the project vital for national economic development and said it would go a long way in the progress and development of the country. In the past 35 years, he said no such project for storage of water was implemented and said the upraising of dam would increase storage capacity and power generation significantly. He lauded the government and private sector that helped completion of the project and said being an agricultural country, it was vital to increase the cultivated land to ensure food security.

He said that it was also impor-

100 Billion Rupee Project to Raise Damn tant to ensure better utilization of agricultural water through bricklining of watercourses and called for utilization of drip irrigation and sprinklers to maximize usage of limited water for greater benefit. He said the government would soon inaugurate the Diamir Bhasha Dam which would store six million MAF water and produce 4500 mega watts of electricity.

Gilani said the government has embarked upon a new vision of initiating water storage projects on smaller watercourses and rivers to ensure provision of irrigation water in far-flung areas.

16

Al-Khair Foundation

4 London Rd, Sheffield, S2 4LN Office: 0114 275 6590 www.ilmnews.com

Muhammad Amir Qureshir

Mob: 07828 147617 Donation Hotline: 0207 0847199 17

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18

The Bitter Truth Recently Pakistan has faced one calamity after another the terrible earthquake in 2005, floods in 2010 and 2011 and now Dengue fever. The country was still struggle to help the affectees of the 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods, when the country faced the second round of floods. The first two disasters resulted in the death of thousands of people, the loss of many heads of cattle and destruction of hundreds of millions of rupees worth of crops and property. The present floods have turned Sindh into a raging torrent, and destroyed almost all the crops, most of the houses and killed most of the cattle.

Thousands have sought refuge on charpoys (local wooden beds) and any patch of dry they can find. According to media reports, the affectees have revealed that nobody from the administration has visited them or provided any relief, yet the prime minister claims to have “distributed” billions of rupees among them.

The president flew to ‘meet’ the flood affectees but only he found somewhere safe to land, waded into the water with his army of guards and cronies to “show” sympathy, obviously for public consumption, and then promptly took off for London for a ‘medical check-up’.

This year donors are reluctant to help in cash, and are providing help in kind. The reason for this is probably that donations worth billions of dollars given for the flood affectees last year vanished

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into thin air.

Interior Sindh, Lahore, Karachi and Hyderabad are submerged by flood water which reveals the incompetence of the “universally acclaimed” nazims of these cities. Billions of rupees have been spent on show-piece projects – flyovers, bridges, expressways, etc. – and millions more on selfprojection by advertisements.

However, these “intelligent and expert” nazims could not look beyond their own noses to see that a proper drainage system was the most essential requirement for these areas. A small portion of all that wasted money would have been enough to prevent the sufferings of the people.

Why are there no rain drains on the sides of the main roads? The small manholes that do exist are chocked with plastic bags and garbage, resulting in immediate flooding.

Here I would like to draw your attention to Nawab Qudsia Begum of Bhopal. Almost 200 years ago she paid two million pounds sterling to a British company to lay a proper drainage and water supply system in Bhopal to deal with water during the annual heavy rains.

There were 3 x 2 feet rain drains on both sides of the roads which lead to lakes and rivers. There were water taps at approximately half kilometre intervals throughout the city and potable water was made available, free of charge, at all times. There were city lights everywhere and load shedding was unknown. The Begum also

by: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan

paid about six million pound sterling from her own funds to the Indian Railways to connect Bhopal to the East-West and North-South rail routes. This resulted in Bhopal becoming a very important junction. Now that is foresight!

But now first a few words about

Karachi. All and sundry have already commented on this speech.

All I would like to say is that this was a sad show and below the dignity of a national leader.

America commemorated the 10th anniversary of the attack on the Twin Trade Towers. Ignoring

Altaf Hussain’s speech, which hijacked all TV stations for more than three hours. It was strange to see him so healthy and fit and blowing fire after a week’s “serious” illness for which he had been hospitalised. He not only blasted all the political parties, but also declared that the MQM was innocent of the 12th May massacre in

the fact that many Americans have serious doubts about the official claims about this event, it remains a horrendous and cold-blooded act in which more than 3,000 innocent people died.

Islam does not condone the killing of innocent people. However, the revengeful acts subsequently committed by the US and its al-

lies, in which more than a million, mostly innocent people, were killed and in which two countries were destroyed was even more despicable.

President Obama (and before him, President Bush) announced that they were not waging a war against Islam. Technically this may be true as you can’t wage a war against a religion, but that didn’t stop them from indiscriminately killing millions of Muslims, all the while claiming to be the torch bearers of civilisation and democracy. Islam and Muslims are two different things!

Coming back to Pakistan, the whole nation is suffering at the hands of incapable and corrupt rulers. Murders, target killings, suicide bombings, unemployment, inflation, load shedding, etc. have brought this country to the brink of destruction and disintegration. There are two main reasons for this: 1) The absence or lack of proper education and the poor family backgrounds of the rulers and 2) the totally illegal administrative set-up in the country.

Recently I went through the election data issued by the Election Commission (EC) of Pakistan on their website on the 2008 elections. According to this website the total number of registered voters is slightly more than 80 million; votes cast are about 35 million; while participation is 43 percent.

Some months ago Imran Khan filed a petition in the Supreme

Court (SC) claiming that a large number of fake voters had been registered in the voters’ lists. The EC, on orders from the SC, scrutinised the lists and found almost 35 million bogus voters whose names are now being deleted. But was it not already too late? The beneficiaries are already enjoying the perks and luxuries of the position they got thanks to this fraud.

We can, therefore, simply say that almost all the present assemblies and office bearers are illegal.

The proper course, after the EC’s confirmation of fake voters, should have been to immediate dissolution all the assemblies and the cabinet, appointment of a caretaker administration and fresh elections. However, as usual, there was nobody to bell the cat. The set-up that came into power as a result of this fraud has no interest in the welfare of the people or the stability of the country. It is in a hurry to make the most of the opportunity offered and they will be leaving (the country) at the first sound of the alarm bell.

Another detestable habit adopted by most political parties is hanging portraits of their leaders in offices, at press conferences, etc. Does it never occur to them that all the luxuries and comforts they are enjoying are due to the tireless and sincere efforts made by the Quaid-e-Azam? It seems they want to forget that there was a selfless leader who sacrificed everything to give us this country.

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