Miracle351

Bringing Harmony To All The Communities ...

BC CANADA Bi-Weekly & Bilingual

www.miraclenews.com

Volume 13 Issue 351 Safar 10, 1435 AH / December 13, 2013 - $1

CRITICS BLAST CANADA POST’S PLAN TO PHASE OUT DOOR-TO-DOOR DELIVERY

Toll U.S. crossings to keep gas taxes in B.C., says expert

UN SLAMS ISRAEL ON WEST BANK HOME DEMOLITIONS The United Nations has condemned Israel’s demolition of 30 Palestinian properties in the occupied West Bank, saying it displaced families for the second time in less than two weeks.

“I am concerned about the destruction of Palestinian structures in the Jordan Valley yesterday,” UN Humanitarian Coordinator James Rawley said in a statement on Wednesday. “The demolitions resulted in the displacement of 41 people, including 24 children, and affected another 20. Both refugee and non-refugee families were affected.” the statement added.

“Some of the families were displaced for the second time this month and a number of donor-funded structures were among those demolished.” Israel’s civilian administration of the occupied West Bank had no immediate comment on the demolitions. A group of 36 NGOs last week urged Israel to stop demolishing Palestinian

homes, hours ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry aimed at revitalising Middle East peace talks. “Demolitions often occur to facilitate the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, with 60 percent of demolitions occurring in Palestinian communities close to settlement zones,” rights groups and charities including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a joint statement. “Since the resumption of the peace process in July, Israel has destroyed 207 Palestinian homes and property in the occupied West Bank, displacing 311 Palestinians, over half of whom are children,” they said.

Meanwhile, Dutch water supplier Vitens has ended a partnership with Israeli water company Mekorot due to the “political context”, the Dutch company said on Wednesday. The decision comes days after a visit to the Mekorot offices in Israel by the Dutch

Trade Minister Lilianne Ploumen was abruptly cancelled. In a statement, Vitens said it had come to the conclusion that it was “extremely hard” to work with Mekorot on future projects “because they cannot be taken out of the political context”. Mekorot, which provides water to Israelis and to Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, has been accused by Dutch media of denying water access to Palestinians. According to the World Bank, a third of Palestinian territories are cut off from the Israeli water system and Israelis draw out a far bigger share of the water supply than agreed in the 1995 Oslo II accord. But last week Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians signed a water-sharing initiative at the World Bank that could see the building of a desalination plant and a pipeline from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.

The union representing postal workers says it will fight Canada Post’s decision to eliminate door-to-door mail delivery as the company struggles with continued losses. President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Denis Lemelin said the Crown corporation could reduce costs through innovation rather than cutting jobs and scaling back services. “We recognize that Canada Post needs to change, but this is not the way to change -- to cut, cut and cut,” Lemelin told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday, the same day the postal service announced a new five-point plan aimed at returning the company to financial stability by 2019. Lemelin said CUPW has been advocating for postal banking -- where post offices offer basic banking services -- as a way to increase revenues.

“This shows it’s possible to change,” he said. “We are sure that we are not alone – there are more people than us that are disagreeing with Canada Post’s plan.” Canada Post unveiled its new business strategy on Wednesday, which will see the end of regular door-to-door mail delivery in urban centres, up to 8,000 jobs cut and an increase in the cost of stamps as part of sweeping changes aimed at turning the business around.

Spokesman Jon Hamilton said community mailboxes offer increased security for Canadians and are more “convenient.”

“When you look at community mailboxes, and you know that people are shopping online and they’re not at home, or the kind of mail they’re going to get in the future is more drivers licences and health cards, it makes a lot more sense to have those in a locked box,” he told CTV’s Power Play. But when

Continued on pg 4

RESIDENTIAL . COMMERCIAL . DEVELOPMENT OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN, 2-4 PM Mr. Home Seller 12337 72A Ave, Surrey - Bdrms: 6 - Baths: 4 - Lot Area: 7,120 SF - 2 Separate Basements (2 Bdrm & 1 Bdrm)

JAMEEL AHMAD.com

$675,000 METERS AWAY FROM SURREY MASJID

NEW LISTING

NO BODY IN THE WORLD SELLS MORE REAL ESTATE THAN REMAX

604-518-7955

RE/MAX Performance Realty

604-590-4888

Abbotsford 604-854-6088 Vancouver 604-324-2277 Mississauga 647-258-1700 Authorized Agent for

Umrah.

10 Nights Umrah Package Pricing starting from $2395 Price based on 4 sharing, includes airfare, meet & assist at airport and all hotels.

See Anis Shah in our Surrey Office

Surrey: Unit # 303, 8128-128th St. Surrey (Payal business centre) 604-584-1411

Lowest prices on airfares, tours and packages Visit: www.bainstravel.com www.indiatour.ca www.cruiseconcepts.net

2

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

A D V E R T I S E R

is pleased to

the addition of

Jagdeep S. Khun-Khun who practises primarily

Civil and Commercial Litigation • Breach Of Contract (Written or Oral) • Creditor - Debtor Collections • Company / Commercial & Shareholder Disputes • Real Estate & Construction • Trials & Appeals - Small Claim, Supreme Court, Court Of Appeal • Builders' Liens

Amandeep S. Sanghera B.A., LL.B. Jagdeep S. Khun-Khun B.Sc. (Hons.), M.Sc., J.D. Puneet P.K. Sandhar B.A. (Hons.), LL.B. Barinder S. Sanghera B.Comm., LL.B.

203 - 7134 King George Blvd., Surrey, BC V3W 5A3

ICBC Criminal Law Immigration Law Real Estate Buying / Selling Business Company Law

3

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

P A K I S T A N

‘Media Savvy’ CJ’s Send-Off Reference Sparks Controversy

A controversy marred the send-off ceremony held to honour the outgoing chief justice on Dec 11 after reporters cried foul against the court admin for covertly providing footage of the event to a ‘favourite’ TV channel. Even, the state-run television was not given permission to cover the full-court reference.

The event was held in the Supreme Court with Iftikhar Chaudhry in the chair. The court staff flouted constitutional provision by providing footage to one particular channel.

With the private TV channel airing the footage exclusively, the journalists present on the SC premises started protesting against what they called discrimination. They opined that they had been supporting the CJ since his suspension, but he had ditched them on his retirement day.

Several reporters alleged that the court staff had facilitated the private TV channel to cover the event. Feeling humiliated and alienated, the reporters from other media channels showed their displeasure, saying that fundamental rights of journalists were violated. They said that action should be taken against those responsible for this act.

When the protest gained momentum, CJ’s Staff Officer Abdul Hameed promised to hold an inquiry into the matter. He said the court admin had hired a private cameraman to record the event and had been asked to provide footage to all TV channels. However, his explanation further complicated the situation as he failed to satisfy the reporters during his brief media talk after the full-court reference. He maintained that the cameraman ran away with the footage. The journalists demanded that the new chief justice take suo-motu action against this discrimination. They shouted slogans ‘Boycott Supreme Court’.

In a bid to resolve the matter, the court management invited the journalists to the dinner being hosted to honour the outgoing CJ. However, the Supreme Court Reporters’ Association decided to boycott the dinner. Talking to reporters, SCBA Secretary Asif Cheema said an emergency meeting of the bar had been summoned and those favouring a single private TV channel would be exposed and the matter would be probed thoroughly. Senator Aitzaz Ahsan termed the discrimination by the SC management as “no ball”, adding that the matter seemed to be a pre-planned move. Renowned lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd said the discriminatory treatment with the media should be thoroughly probed. Former law minister Senator Babar Awan termed the incident a violation of Article 4 of the constitution, adding that the matter should be thoroughly probed as favouring a private TV channel was a clear discrimination.

Former president Pervez Musharraf’s lawyer Ahmed Raza Kasuri said that the court staff had violated Article 25 of the constitution. Source: pakistantoday.com.pk

Bilawal Slams Centre’s Economic Policy

He was speaking at a ceremony held for balloting of 27,500 plots to be given to the poorest of the poor.

The balloting is the part of a Sindh government’s ‘Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns’ programme under which 50,000 plots will be given to poor people in eight districts of the province-Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Dadu, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur and Tando Mohammad Khan.

The PPP chairperson congratulated the Sindh government and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah for launching the programme.He criticised the PML-N government’s privatisation policy and said the policies of the PPP had always been for the masses. He added that the party was committed to its slogan of ‘roti, kapra aur makan’. The chief minister said providing plots to poor people was one of the pledges made in the PPP’s election manifesto.

We specialize in Pakistan, India, Middle East, Fiji, Europe

We do Hajj, Umrah packages, Cruises and Disney Land tours etc.

604-501-4700 galaxytravel@live.ca | www.galaxytravel.ca

Abdul Rauf (President)

w w w. j u n a i d i q b a l. c a

NOTARY PUBLIC Shoaib Rauf Tel: (604) 596 1861 Cell:(778) 85 5 1861

shoaib.surrey@gmail.com

#220 -13711 72 Ave. Surrey; BC V3W 2P2 (Opposite Newton Wave Pool)

He paid homage to party leaders and former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He praised former president Asif Ali Zardari for initiating many propoor schemes during the party’s government at the centre.

Mr Shah severely criticised the loan scheme for youth recently launched by the PML-N government.

Source: DAWN.com

PTI Wants To Kill Two Birds With One Stone

PTI core committee decided to continue the anti-drone protest, started on November 23 on the call of party chairman Imran Khan at a rally held in Peshawar.

Despite scathing criticism from political parties, PTI is gearing to speed up the protest under the newly-elected president Azam Khan Swati and general secretary Khalid Masood, according to party sources.

“PTI wants to kill two birds with one stone,” they said.

R E C

Imran Khan’s PTI, which leads a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was faced with leadership vacuum as it had announced that only party workers would take part in the protest and the government would stay away from it owing to legal problems.

The provincial leaders of the party, including president and general secretary, hold positions in government and

Continued on pg 8

SMART CLEANING

Optimal Recovery Physiotherapy Sport Medicine and Active Rehab Centre

A2Z Mortgages

O PTIMAL V E R Y

Cell : 778.709.2070

Reza Hormozi,(Bsc., P.T,M.C.P.A)

Fax : 604.594.3735 Email : info@shaheemali.com

Registered physiotherapist

SUITE 103 - 8927, 152ND STREET SURREY Ph: 604-951-3300

CLEANING MOVING SERVICES

Shaheem Ali Mortgage Consultant

115 - 13740 72A Avenue Surrey, BC V3W 1N5

For more info please contact us by phone or email us Ph: 604-808-3370 smartcleaning143@hotmail.com

4

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Kerry raises doubts over Iran nuclear deal

US Secretary of State John Kerry has raised doubts over whether Iran is prepared to conclude a final deal with Western powers on dismantling its disputed nuclear programme, but has urged US lawmakers not

to impose new sanctions on the country. “I came away from our preliminary negotiations with serious questions about whether or not they’re ready and willing to make some of the choices that have to be made,” Kerry told the US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee on Tuesday.

“Has Iran changed its nuclear calculus? I honestly don’t think we can say for sure yet. And we certainly don’t take words at face value,” Kerry said. The top US diplomat, who helped hammer out an interim six-month deal with the country to freeze parts of its nuclear programme, said “believe me this is not about trust”. “Given the history we are all rightly sceptical about whether people are ready to make the hard choices to live up to this.” But he stressed Iran’s seriousness would be put to the test over the six months set out in the interim

deal hammered out last month in Geneva.

Iran has denied accusations it is seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon under the guise of its civilian atomic energy programme.

Kerry said “we now have the best chance we’ve ever had to test this proposition without losing anything” and he urged lawmakers to hold off imposing new sanctions on Tehran to give negotiators time to work.

“I’m not saying never [...] If this doesn’t work we’re coming back and asking you for more. I’m just saying not right now.”

Two US senators - Democrat Robert Menendez and Republican Mark Kirk - are finalising a new Iran sanctions measure that they hope to introduce before Congress goes on its year-end recess. Republican Senator John McCain, who said he hoped senators could “get an agreement in the next day or two”, dismissed the idea that

introducing new sanctions legislation now would hurt the interim agreement. “It’s supposed to be a six-month deal,” he said of the legislation, which would aim to punish Iran if it reneged on its part of the deal that it reached last month with members of the so-called P5+1 group of Western powers.

Fellow Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the new sanctions would not take effect until after the six months, and would “basically tie to the UN resolutions”. Kerry said the world faced a crossroads, “a hinge point in history”: one path could lead to a resolution of concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, the other could lead to conflict.

He warned that if the US went ahead with new sanctions, it risked angering Washington’s P5+1 partners and could also give Iran an excuse to flout the deal.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Israel-Romania row over Bangladesh stays settlements building execution of politician A diplomatic spat has erupted between Israel and Romania after Bucharest reportedly refused to allow Romanian construction workers to be employed in settlements being built in the occupied West Bank. The row, reported by Israel’s military radio on Tuesday, comes in the wake of tensions between Israel and the European Union over new guidelines that bar EU funding for any Israeli entity operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. Talks with Bucharest on importing Romanian manual labour broke down in 2012, the radio said, but resumed at Israel’s initiative after a new Romanian government came to power in May that year. Differences centre on Bucharest’s request that Israel guarantee no Romanian construction workers would be employed on settlements on occupied Palestinian territory that are considered illegal under international law. The Romanian foreign ministry confirmed to the AFP news agency that the talks were continuing and said Bucharest’s position would be consistent with “respect for international law, the positions of the EU and the protection of Romanian citizens”. It said the latest draft of the ac-

cord had been sent to Israel in August for possible revisions, adding that “the negotiations are nearing the end”. It was Israel’s second diplomatic row with an EU country this week, following a row with the Netherlands over a new security scanner to be installed on the Israel-Gaza border that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was to have inaugurated last Sunday. The Dutch government had hoped the scanner would serve to facilitate an increase in the export of goods from Gaza to the West Bank, but Israeli officials accused the Dutch of trying to impose “political conditions”. Also on Sunday, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans refused to accept an Israeli military escort around Palestinian-ruled areas of the West Bank city of Hebron. The European Union guidelines, which go into effect in January, ban funding for and financial dealing with projects linked to Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem. The Palestinians view continued settlement construction as a major obstacle to US-brokered peace talks relaunched in July after a three-year hiatus.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Canada Post: Continued from pg 1 asked whether there would be exceptions for people with mobility issues who are unable to travel to community mailboxes, Hamilton said Canada Post would find other potential solutions. “We’ll find ways to make the community mailbox accessible,” he said. “We’ll find ways to provide additional keys, so caregivers who come and help with the other things that are part of their day-to-day life, mail service can be part of that.” He added that “door-to-door delivery has really only been a reality for a third of Canadians for a long period of time.” Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt says she supports the changes, noting that in a digital age, Canadians are sending less mail than ever. “Due to the lack of demand, mail volumes have dropped almost 25 per cent per address since 2008 and continue to fall,” Raitt said in a statement. “This is leading to a steep decline in revenues for Canada Post. Since 1981, Canada Post has had a mandate to operate on a self-sustaining financial basis.” While serving as the Conservative’s labour minister in 2011, Raitt tabled legislation that saw 50,000 locked-out Canada Post employees ordered back to work.

Following Canada Post’s announcement, Raitt said the coming changes are necessary to “protect taxpayers.” Canada Post said four of the five initiatives announced Wednesday are expected to save between $700 million and $900 million annually. “Canada Post has a mandate to fund its operations with revenues from the sale of its products and services, rather than become a burden on taxpayers,” the company said in a statement. “With the increasing use of digital communication and the historic decline of lettermail volumes, Canada Post has begun to post significant financial losses.” In its last quarter alone the corporation reported a loss of $129 million. A think-tank commissioned by Canada Post earlier this year warned that the postal service was on track to lose $1 billion annually by the end of this decade. The Conference Board of Canada study estimated savings of $576 million a year by eliminating door-to-door delivery to urban homes. Those areas – which account for about one-third of Canadian households -- will transition to community mail boxes over the next five years. Implementation of the changes will begin in the second half of 2014. The first neighbourhoods that will stop receiving door-to-door mail delivery have yet to be announced.

Source: CTV News

Bangladesh’s highest court has halted the execution of a top opposition leader, just an hour and a half before he was set to become the first person executed for war crimes committed during the country’s 1971 war of independence. Abdul Qader Mollah, a leader of the Jamaate-Islami political party, was due to be hanged at 18:00GMT on Tuesday, his lawyer said. His original life sentence had been overturned by the Supreme Court in September, after mass protests called for him to be hanged. “The chamber judge of the Supreme Court has stayed the hanging until 10.30am [04:30GMT on Wednesday],” Mollah’s defence lawyer Shishir Munir told the AFP news agency. Earlier, Quamrul Islam, the country’s deputy law minister, confirmed that authorities intended to hang Mollah on Tuesday night, and that he had refused the option of seeking a presidential pardon. Prisons chief Main Uddin Khandaker said all preparations had been made to carry out the execution, and Mollah’s family had been asked to meet the 65-year-old senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party for the last time. On Sunday, a tribunal signed an execution order for Mollah, and sent it to the main jail in the capital Dhaka, raising speculation that the former journalist could be hanged any moment.

US-based activist group Human Rights Watch and a UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

have warned that by executing Mollah without giving him the opportunity to appeal for a review, the country could be breaking international law. There are also worries the execution could trigger more violence, with the country already reeling from its worst political unrest since independence ahead of a national election on January 5. At least 224 people have died in battles between opposition protesters, police and government supporters since January this year.

“What logic do they have to stop the execution?” minister Islam told AFP when asked about the criticism from rights experts. “Did they stop the execution of Saddam Hussein?” he said referring to the former Iraqi leader who was hanged in December 2006. Mollah was convicted of rape, murder and mass murder including the killing of over 350 unarmed Bengali civilians. Prosecutors described him as the “Butcher of Mirpur”, a Dhaka suburb where he committed most of the atrocities. A domestic war crime court had originally sentenced him to life imprisonment in February, but the sentence prompted protests by tens of thousands of secular demonstrators who viewed it as too lenient. Under pressure, the government amended the war crime law retroactively to allow it to appeal the sentence and seek the death penalty, which the Supreme Court then handed down in September.

Source: Al-Jazeera

5

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Canadian economic growth to trail U.S. in 2014: CIBC

The Canadian economy is forecast to lag the U.S. in 2014, even as exports and business investment begin to recover next year. That’s the new outlook from CIBC World Markets, which expects the Canadian economy to grow by 2.3% in 2014, compared with a forecast of 3% for the United States. “A key ingredient in our Canadian forecast is the expectation that global growth will improve in 2014 and non-energy commodity prices will recoup recent losses,” wrote CIBC economists Benjamin Tal and Emanuella Enenajor.

“As a result, exports and business capital spending will lead the pack.” Canada’s economy is yet again waiting for a helping hand from abroad to push growth forward in 2014. Weak exports have been a constant weight on the Canadian economy the past few years, but the CIBC forecast calls for exports to gain momentum next year. Mr. Tal and Ms. Enenajor note that exports to the U.S. finally grew this year, with increased oil production leading the charge. Canadian petroleum producers are expecting production to increase again next year, which, when combined with accelerated U.S. economic growth, should help export numbers grow again.

The CIBC economists also predict that Canadian exports to regions beyond the U.S. will also grow in 2014. “While factory line closures are limiting the upside to auto exports, shipments of other categories including machinery, lumber and metals should improve,” Mr. Tal and Ms. Enenajor wrote. “Rising growth in the rest of the

world, particularly in the Eurozone and emerging markets, should see exports to those regions gain for the first time in three years.” Meanwhile, the CIBC economists see improving profitability and capital investment for Canada’s companies next year. They point out that profits in Canada are very closely tied to commodity prices.

When prices fell by 6% in 2012, corporate profits declined at a similar level. “Based on our latest commodity forecast [which calls for price increases], we expect corporate profits to rise by 8% and 11% in 2014 and 2015 respectively,” Mr. Tal and Ms. Enenajor wrote. “If history is any guide, this improvement in profits should lead to a 5-10% increase in annual capital spending in the coming two years.” Canada’s economy, however, won’t be able to count on consumers and governments any longer.

Both have contributed greatly to Canada’s economic growth in the past few years, but have become highly indebted as a result.

Mr. Tal and Ms. Eneajor see 2014 as a year of ongoing de-leveraging for consumers and governments in Canada. “Add it all up, and Canada’s economy is yet again waiting for a helping hand from abroad to push growth forward in 2014,” the two CIBC economists wrote. “Business spending and exports should accelerate, but with consumer spending, homebuilding and government outlays all set to underwhelm, growth of 2.3% in 2014 will trail the U.S. pace.”

Source: The Province

US and UK suspend

non-lethal aid into Syria

The United States and the United Kingdom have suspended all non-lethal assistance into northern Syria after Islamic Front forces seized headquarters and warehouses belonging to the opposition’s Supreme Military Council (SMC), US and UK embassies spokesmen in Ankara have said. Fighters from the Islamic Front, a union of six major rebel groups, took control of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) bases at the Bab al-Hawa crossing on Syria’s northwestern border with Turkey late on Friday, prompting the US announcement, which was made on the following Wednesday. Turkey has also shut its side of the border crossing, in Hatay province, due to a reported increase in clashes on the Syrian side, customs sources told Reuters news agency, although there was

no immediate confirmation from Turkish officials Infighting among Syrian rebels has weakened their efforts to bring down President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict which began as peaceful protests against his rule in March 2011 and has descended into civil war. It was unclear why the Islamic Front had seized the SMC premises and it was not known if any stock had gone missing. “As a result of this situation, the United States has suspended all further deliveries of non-lethal assistance into northern Syria,” the spokesman said, adding that humanitarian assistance was not impacted because it is distributed through international and non-governmental organisations. Following the US move, a spokesman for the British embassy in Ankara told AFP news agency: “We have no plans to deliver any equipment while the situation remains unclear.” Britain is “in contact with the SMC (Supreme Military Council)” to investigate the status of British equipment, the spokesman said, referring to the highest military authority in the FSA. Under title 10 of the US code that defines the role of the US armed forces, non-lethal aid could consist of communications equipment, medical supplies, intelligence assistance and body armour. FSA representatives could not be reached for comment and the US embassy spokesman said the situation was being investigated “to inventory the status of US equipment and supplies provided to the SMC”.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Ukrainian protesters press Yanukovych to step down

Hours after facing down thousands of riot police, Ukraine’s enraged and empowered opposition upped the ante in its three-weekold standoff with the government, calling Wednesday for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych. Though protesters had long focused their anger on Mr. Yanukovych – blaming him for scuttling a trade agreement with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia – they had previously called only for Mr. Yanukovych, whose five-year term expires in 2015, to dismiss his prime minister and cabinet. But in the wake of what appeared to be a failed effort to forcibly shut down the protest camp on Kiev’s central Independence Square, opposition leaders said they could no longer accept a deal that left the President in office.

The United States hinted it might consider sanctions against the Ukrainian government following the attempted crackdown. “We are considering policy options … sanctions are included but I am not going to outline specifics,” said state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed “disgust” at the decision by Ukraine’s authorities to “meet the peaceful protest …with riot police, bulldozers and batons, rather than with respect for democratic rights and human dignity.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he had been “deeply concerned” by the apparent effort to shut down a peaceful protest. “Canada and the international community expect Ukrainian authorities to respect and protect the rights of its citizens, including the right to express their opinions freely,” Mr. Harper said in a statement. Vitaly Klitschko, the heavyweight boxing champ who heads one of three main opposition parties, was visibly exhausted after a night spent rallying his supporters on the streets. “Yanukovych has destroyed the path to a compromise,” he said. “We have only one way to change the situation in the country now. A change of power through fresh elections.” Another prominent opposition figure, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, released a statement from behind bars, where she is serving a seven-year jail term that many view as politically motivated. “I am calling on all Ukrainians: rise up!” she wrote.

“No talks with the gang,” she added, referring to Mr. Yanukovych and his inner circle.

Thousands of riot police, wearing helmets and clutching metal shields, advanced on Independence Square in the darkness early Wednesday morning, seizing and breaking apart barricades the opposition had built around the city centre. But they paused when confronted by a line of protesters who were wearing orange hard hats and apparently willing to fight for their turf. Several thousand opposition supporters were in the square when the police push began, and the number quickly swelled as dawn broke

and news of the crackdown effort spread.

By noon – about nine hours after the confrontation began – riot police had withdrawn back to defensive positions around the Presidential Administration and other government buildings. Groups of protesters quickly rebuilt their barricades using park benches and sheet metal, while the rest of the crowd kept warm by dancing to the pop music acts that had continued to play even as the riot police pushed within 50 metres of their stage on Independence Square early Wednesday. The police finally withdrew “because they saw it was impossible to push so many people out. It was useless,” said Yuriy Lutsenko, a former interior minister who supports the demonstrations. However, some protesters who were on the front line said they felt as if the police were testing opposition defences in preparation for a future, more definitive crackdown. Mr. Yanukovych called for calm after the clashes and declared he would never use force to disperse a peaceful protest. “For the sake of achieving compromise I am calling on the opposition not to reject [talks], not to follow the path of confrontation and ultimatums,” said a statement posted on his website. “I am ready to participate in such round-table talks personally.” The protests against Mr. Yanukovych were initially sparked by his Nov. 21 decision to pull out of a trade-pact agreement with the EU. His government has acknowledged it reversed course after threats of economic retaliation from Moscow, the country’s Soviet-era master. Many view the tussle on Kiev’s streets as part of a tug-ofwar over between the Kremlin and the West over the future of this deeply divided nation.

Ukraine’s economy is almost entirely reliant on Russian-supplied gas, and – with the crisis-hit EU unable to offer much financial aid – the country may need Moscow’s help meeting some $4-billion in debt obligations due early next year. Mr. Yanukovych was voted to power in 2010 largely by Russian-speaking Ukrainians, concentrated in the east and centre of the country, who broadly support his policy of greater integration with its giant neighbour to the east.

But Russia’s lingering influence is hated by many of the protesters in Kiev, the bulk of whom hail from the Ukrainian-speaking centre and west of the country. Elements of a 100,000-strong demonstration on Sunday turned their anger on a statue of Vladimir Lenin that had stood in the city centre since the 1950s. “This monument was a symbol of Russian occupation,” said Vasyl Honcharuk, a retired museum curator who stood Wednesday watching as a crowd chipped away at the remains of the statue, looking for souvenirs. “Ukraine must be part of Europe now.”

Source: Globe and Mail

6

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

E D I T O R I A L

New Troika of Chiefs Suits the Chief Executive

With new leadership in the Presidency, at the GHQ and the Apex Court, maybe, the chaotic national scenario is up for a drastic change in any undetermined direction. The president though elected, yet is a favourite of the N-league.

The Chief Justice has been appointed based on his seniority rights, while appointment of Chief of the army staff is the result of superseding , as the seniority rule has been infringed altogether; thus policy of pure merit has been ignored.

Gen. Haroon Aslam’s seniority in this case has been violated; hence the senior most general had no option but to step down.

In other words, traditionally, the tendency in the past has been to ignore seniority rights to oblige the favourite ones through hand picking, indeed. Since President Ayub Khan’s time, mostly handpicked generals have been appointed as the army chiefs. Generals including Musa Khan, Yahya, Gul Hassan, Zia ul Haq, Asif Nawaz, Waheed Kakar, Pervaiz Musharraf, and Pervaiz Kayani, all had superseded their seniors.

Gen. Jahangir Karamat, however, remains an exception. In 1995, the late Prime Minister Ms Benazir Bhutto had appointed him as the Army Chief purely on seniority basis.

In the Current case, the expert analysis suggests that Gen. Raheel

Sharif has been given preference mainly for two reasons: Number one is his experience of being incharge of “Training and Evaluation of Army,” and secondly, he has been recommended for the post by two dignitaries i.e. former President of Pakistan Justice Rafiq Tarrar, and a retired Baloch General Abdul Qadir, who is now a cabinet member.

General Sharif, a soft-spoken gentleman, comes from a dignified family with a long military history: his father and brothers were all military officers. His elder brother, Major Shabbir Sharif shaheed, was among the country’s most decorated officers, winning both its highest military AWARDS, the Sitara-i-Jurret in 1965 and the “Nishan-i-Haider” for his brave role in the 1971 war. It’s worth mentioning here that Major Aziz Bhatti shaheed was his maternal uncle.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef has been suffering in past at the hands of military, he preferred to avoid another head on collision with any commando as head of the GHQ. This paved the way for General Sharif, a downright professional soldier to get what otherwise belonged to his senior. So. he is the most lucky soldier for having been chosen for heading one of the most professional armies of the world for next three or more years.

JUDICIARY: Finally, one of the

most competent judges, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary has already retired on December 11, 2013 after having served for seven years with utmost integrity, of course.

The current chief Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani will be in office for a few months before he retires as well, so he won’t be as aggressive as his predecessor has been.

Apparently, PM Shareef is now in more control of the situation after the new favourite troika of chiefs is in.

Resultantly, the stress level of the Chief Executive/Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must have already been in the mode of “easing off” by now.

However, the question remains whether the ‘improved comfort level’ would be any good enabling him to deliver as he promised during his election campaign?

Obviously, the top-level appointments in the military and judicial sectors should help curb corruption and improve overall picture of governance. Nevertheless, the PM must apply budgetary constraints to control financial crisis.

The fact is, unless those involved in corruption are held accountable and punished severely, PM Shareef stands no chance to cling to power for long.

The nation is fed up with status quo already. Moreover, due to the chronic nature of the ongoing sce-

narios, the hope for improved governance tends to be fading away faster than it was thought initially.

It’s highly disappointing that the civilian administration is still unable to adapt to the “changed scenario,” and the negative development only adds to the misery allowing the sub standard governance.

Unfortunately, the current regime is viewed as followers of the path of its predecessors, not good news, is it?

Surely speaking, only quick solutions to the problems afflicting the country would let the current regime led by Nawaz Shareef complete its tenure.

The clues are many, but some are more convincing enough to be tried at the earliest to pull the country out of the ongoing quagmire of debt.

Sooner the painful challenges are dealt with at a faster pace, better it is for the interests of Pakistan: A “Pakistan Friendly Foreign Policy,” elimination of terrorism, stopping brain drain, discouraging capital flight, measures to control mega corruption, reversal of hyper inflation, kick starting the stalled economy are all essential challenges to be prioritized.

“Trade not Aid” should be implemented in letter and spirit.

Re-opening of the flood gates of foreign investment would only be facilitated once the Rule of Law is respected and the Constitution is

Letters & Opinions

The Shia Killings?

By: Zaheer Ali Manki The Shia killings in Pakistan are very unfortunate and distressing.

The most recent events of target assassination of Allama Deedar Ali Jalbani in Karachi happened on December 3. Reports further indicate that all schools and government offices remained closed in Karachi and main universities postponed examinations amid fears of violence. For the Security Forces of Pakistan to allow a very small group of anti-Shia terrorist group to harass the Shias which constitute one third of the population of Pakistan is very regrettable. This situation points to the possibility that such violence is being perpetrated with a tacit approval of the “higher-ups”. This incident comes two weeks after twin bomb explosions killed at least seven people in Karachi’s Shia-dominated area of Ancholi. Human Rights Watch reports that hundreds of Shias were killed in Pakistan in 2012, which was the deadliest year on record for the Shia Muslim community. We, the Shias in this part of the world, demand from the Government of Pakistan and their representatives in Vancouver to arrest the assassins to make the Shia population feel safe in their own homeland and take strong action against the forces involved in the target killings. We further demand that a judicial com-

mission be formed to investigate the bloodshed and the atrocities being committed against the Shias.

We accuse the Government in Islamabad for failing to provide security and protection for our community.

Post- Secondary Education?

Let’s give students in Surrey a fair chance at success.

By: David Eby and Harry Bains Does Surrey have an international student problem? On a recent radio program, parents of Surrey students called in saying that their children can’t get access to university programs. The callers said that international students were part of the reason why space is so limited at local universities, and why their children now have to leave to study at very expensive schools in the United States or overseas.

The callers are right-the grades needed by local students to get into Kwantlen and Simon Fraser University, Surrey are climbing higher every year. While there are many problems with the government’s international student program (including inadequate residence rooms for local and international students, and stopping B.C. residents who studied medicine abroad from finding residencies in the province while selling the placements for top dollar to international

students) the problem in Surrey isn’t international students blocking local student access.

Instead, the very simple problem here is that the B.C. Liberals are not increasing the number of study spaces desperately needed for students in Surrey. Researchers from Simon Fraser University say that Surrey currently offers only 12.6 post-secondary spaces for every hundred 18-24 year olds in the region. The rest of B.C. receives almost double that level of service, with 24.4 spaces for every hundred young adults. The problem gets worse with each passing year as Surrey continues to grow.

The B.C. Liberals recognized this problem more than six years ago, and promised to double the number of student spaces at SFU Surrey.

Since then, they’ve paid $883 million for a new convention centre in downtown Vancouver - $400 million over their budget. They came up with $514 million for the new roof at B.C. Place - $414 million over the original estimate.

For the cost of the budget overruns alone on these two projects, the SFU entire expansion could have been paid for. Twice.

With money left over.

But, for whatever reason, SFU’s Surrey expansion has yet to be funded. As a direct result, ever increasing competition for limited student

spaces in the Lower Mainland means a local student’s grades must be top notch to even get an offer of admission, let alone a scholarship.

We need to give Surrey’s next generation a fair chance at the jobs of the future, 80 per cent of which will need college or university training. That opportunity for Surrey’s youth will only come if Surrey gets the same access to local university and college spaces as the rest of the province.

Enough with the excuses, Premier Clark. Let’s give students in Surrey a fair chance at success.

David Eby New Democrat MLA Vancouver-Point Grey and Advanced Education critic Harry Bains New Democrat MLA Surrey –Newton and Jobs, Labor and Employment critic

IMPORTANT NOTE: Letters to the editor do not reflect the opinion of the Miracle media group. We do not publish anonymous letters or the letters of the people who do not disclose their identity to ‘The Miracle.’ A writer can use a pen name or request ‘The Miracle’ to withhold his / her identity. Please include your daytime telephone number for the confirmation of your letter. We regret the inconvenience.

strictly followed at all levels.

A viable military strategy and good diplomacy approach is the key to successful ties with all neighboring countries. Most of all, each and every member of the civil society, media at all levels, government functionaries, military, and of course, the politicians have to share the pain together and help the country to stay afloat for years to come.

Waan laysa lil insani illa ma’ sa’aa That man can have nothing but what he strives for.

Meralce Media Group Inc.

Contact Info Mailing and Office Address 9160-136A Street Surrey BC. V3V 7Z8 Canada Fax: 604-582-7809 Founder: Nusrat Hussain Managing Editor: M. Naseer Pirzada Sub- Editors: Khadija, Misbah & Sabeeh Hon. Chief Editor & Urdu Editor Mohammad Rafiq Advertising: info@miraclenews.com Ph: 604-690-0400 Email: naseer@telus.net Editorial Board: Mr, Shums Jillani, Mr aslam Hayat, Mr.Azhar Syed, Mr. Shams Siddiqui, M.A.L. Naumani, Mr Tariq Mian Graphic Design: Design Team Copyright: 2001 Miracle Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Printed in Canada Attention: The opinions express herein contain positions and viewpoints that are not necessary those of “The Miracle”. These are offered as a means for “The Miracle” to stimulate dialogue and discussion in our continuing mission of “Bringing Harmony To All The Communities.”

CONTENTS Editorial & Letters Int. News Local Politics Faith Specials Women Lifestyle Youth/ KIDS Sports Urdu

6 4,5 10 14 8 12, 16 20 22 21 24 25-32

Phone 604-690-0400 Email miraclenews@telus.net, info@miraclenews.com Website www.miraclenews.com

7

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

A D V E R T I S E R

SPECIAL

$2490 2014 UMRAH PACKAGE FEB. 20 – MAR. 04

INCLUDES: Return Airfare Vancouver – Jeddah- Vancouver 5 Nights accommodations Mecca hotel close to Haram 6 Nights accommodations Madinah hotel close to Haram Based on Quad occupancy Ziyarat in Mecca and Madinah, visiting historic sites Transfer from airport to Mecca and Madinah hotels All fees, taxes and visa processing included

"ONLY 8 SEATS LEFT" Perform your Umrah in Mecca and visit Masjid Rasul Allah in Madinah.

Off: 604.325.9700 Fax: 604.325.9770 Abbas Elbarbari 604.729.8964 Shehab Elbarbari 778.861.5433 Asin Bakridi 604.614.3622 Email : travelcomet@hotmail.com

“Attracting and retaining the best international talent to fill skills shortages in key occupations is critical to Canada’s economic success.”

- Hon. Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Employment and Social Development

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

Become a Regulated Immigration Consultant Full-time | Part-time | Online Apply online at www.ashtoncollege.com or contact a program adviser at (604) 899-0803.

Ashton College | Vancouver, BC 604 899 0803 | 1 866 759 6006 | www.ashtoncollege.com

8

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

F A I T H Sahih Bukhari Volume 003, Book 031, Hadith Number 204.

Narated By Mutarrif from ‘Imran Ibn Husain : That the Prophet asked him (Imran) or asked a man and Imran was listening, “O Abu so-and-so! Have you fasted the last days of this month?” (The narrator thought that he said, “the month of Ramadan”). The man replied, “No, O Allah’s Apostle!” The Prophet said to him, “When you finish your fasting (of Ramadan) fast two days (in Shawwal).” Through another series of narrators ‘Imran said, “The Prophet said, ‘(Have you fasted) the last days of Sha’ban?”

How to attain Humility in Prayers

By: Imam Abu Hamid AlGhazali In an environment with increasing distractions how do we make our prayers more beneficial for our selves? Following is an excerpt from “Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship”, a compilation of Imam Ghazali’s works that can inspire us to develop humility and become closer to God through prayer.

God, says in the Quran: ‘And perform the Prayer in remembrance of Me.’ [Ta Ha, 20:14] ‘Do not be one of those who are neglectful.’ [al-A’raf, 7:205] ‘Do not approach the Prayer when you are intoxicated, until you know what you are saying.’ [al-Nisa’, 4:43] Some say that ‘intoxicated’ means inebriated by many anxieties, while others say it means drunk on the love of this world According to Wahb, the meaning is obviously a caution against worldly attachment, since the words ‘until you know what you are saying’ explain the underlying reason. Many are those who pray without having drunk wine, yet do not know what they are saying in their Prayers!

Prophet Muhammad said: ‘If a man performs two cycles of Prayer without the distraction of any worldly thought, all his previous sins will be forgiven.’ (al-Bukhari/ Muslim) ‘Prayer is nothing but submissiveness, humility, supplication, sighing and remorse, holding out your hands and saying: “O God! O God!” Otherwise it is fruitless.’ (alTirmidi/al-Nasai) In the earlier scriptures, we find these words attributed to God, Glorified is He: ‘I do not accept the Prayers of everyone who prays.

I accept the Prayers of none but those who are humble before My Majesty, who are not arrogant towards My servants, and who feed the poor and hungry for My sake.’

Prophet Muhammad also said: ‘Ritual Prayer was made obligatory, Pilgrimage and circumambulation were ordained, and the rites of sacrifice were instituted, all for the purpose of ensuring remembrance of God, Exalted is He. If your heart is devoid of awe and reverence for the One Remembered, who is the aim and the goal, what is your remembrance worth?’ (Abu Daud/alTirmidi) This advice was given to someone by the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘When you pray, pray like a person who is saying farewell,’ (Ibn Maja/al-Hakim/al-Baihaqi) i.e. saying farewell to himself, to his passions and to his life, before setting off on the journey to

his Lord.

Again God Almighty reminds us in the Quran: ‘O Man, you labor towards your Lord laboriously, and you shall meet Him.’[al-Inshiqaq, 84:6] ‘Be aware of God, for it is God who teaches you.’[al-Baqarah, 2:282] ‘Be aware of God, and know that you are going to meet Him.’ [al-Baqarah, 2:223] Prophet Muhammad reminds us: ‘If a man’s Prayer does not deter him from indecency and mischief, he gains nothing from God but remoteness.’ (al-Tabarani) Since Prayer is intimate communion, how can it go with heedlessness? Bakr ibn Abdullah said: ‘O believers, if you wish to enter the presence of your Lord without permission, and to speak with Him without an interpreter, you have only to enter!’When someone asked him how this could be he said: ‘You do your ablution correctly and enter your prayer-niche ... There you are! You have entered your Lord’s presence without permission and may now speak to Him without an interpreter.’

Said Aisha, may God be pleased with her:’God’s Mes senger would talk to us and we to him, but when it was time for Prayer it seemed as though he did not know us, nor we him.’ (Azdi - mursal) This was because they were completely in awe of God the most Great and Glorious.

The Prophet said: ‘God has no regard for a Prayer in which a man’s heart is not present as well as his body.’It is said that when Abraham , God’s special friend, got up to pray, the throbbing of his heart could be heard from a distance. When Said alTanukhi (Muslim jurist 776/854 CE) was praying, tears used to flow incessantly down his cheeks and onto his beard.

God’s Messenger once saw a man playing with his beard during the Prayer, so he said:’If this man’s heart was submissive, every part of his body would also act with humility.’ (al-Tirmidi - daif) It is related that al-Hasan noticed a man playing with pebbles as he prayed: ‘O God, marry me to the maidens of Paradise!.’ Al-Hasan said ‘A poor suitor you are. You propose to the maidens of Paradise while playing with pebbles!’ Someone asked Khalaf ibn Ayyub (Islamic scholar and poet from Al-Andalus 1013/1081 CE):’Don’t the flies bother you so much during your Prayer that you have to chase them away?’

Sfr.10 He replied:’I do not make a habit of 11

PTI : Continued from pg 3 are therefore unable to show up at the protest camps.

Asad Qaisar and Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, who were elected provincial president and general secretary of PTI in the intra-party elections, are holding the posts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly speaker and health minister respectively.

Mohammad Atif Khan, the president of Peshawar region, is education minister in the PTI-led provincial government.

Other office-bearers of the party were also in possession of some government posts, which bar them from taking part

in the protest.

The PTI has also been criticised for inviting the Punjab leadership to its public meetings, which served as launching pad for the anti-drone protest.

The opposition parties have also been pointing fingers at PTI provincial leaders for becoming ministers and advisers without quitting their party offices.

Asad Qaisar was replaced by Azam Swati as PTI provincial president while Khalid Masud replaced Shaukat Ali Yousafzai as general secretary.

Source: DAWN.com

anything that would spoil my Prayer.’When asked how he had acquired such patience, he said:’I have heard that culprits patiently endure the Sultan’s whip, because this gives them a reputation for being “able to take it.”

They boast of their patient endur ance. Here am I, standing before my Lord in Prayer.

Am I going to budge for a fly?’ It is related of Muslim ibn Yasar that, when he wanted to pray, he would say to his family:’You may talk, for I shall not hear you’.

It is said that he was praying one day in the Great Mosque of Basra, when a corner of the building collapsed. This attracted a crowd, but he was quite unaware of what had happened until he had finished his Prayer.

Whenever the time of Prayer approached, Ali ibn Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him and ennoble his countenance, used to quake and change color. They asked him: ‘What is the matter with you, Commander of the Believers?’

To this he would reply:’The time has come for a trust which God offered to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to carry it; they were wary of it, but I have taken it on.’

It is said of al-Husayn ibn Ali that he used to turn pale when he made his ablution.

When his family asked him what came over him during his ablution, he would say: ‘Do you realize before Whom I wish to stand in Prayer?’ According to Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with him and his father, the Prophet David, God bless him and give him peace, used to say in his intimate Prayers: ‘My God, who inhabits Your House? And from whom do you accept the Prayer?’

Then God told him by inspiration:’David, he who inhabits My House, and he whose Prayer I accept, is none but he who is humble before My Majesty, spends his days in remembrance of Me and keeps his passions in check for My sake, giving food to the hungry and shelter to the stranger and treating the afflicted with compassion. His light shines in the sky like the sun. If he invokes Me, I am at his service. If he asks of Me, I grant his request. In the midst of ignorance, I give him discernment; in heedlessness, remembrance, in darkness, light. He stands out among ordinary people as Paradise towers over earthly gardens, its rivers inexhaustible and its fruits not subject to decay.’ It is related of Hatim al-Asamm, may God be pleased with him, that he said, in answer to a question about Prayer: ‘When the time for Prayer is at hand, I make a proper ablution, go to the spot where I intend to pray and sit there till all my limbs and organs are in a collected state. Then I stand up to perform my Prayer, placing the Kaba between my brows, the Bridge- overHell beneath my feet, Paradise to my right and Hell to my left, and the Angel of Death behind me, thinking all the while that this is my final Prayer. Then I stand between hope and fear. I carefully pronounce “Allahu Akbar!” Then I recite the Quran harmoniously, bow in humility and prostrate myself submissively. I then sit back on my left haunch spreading out the top of my left foot and raising my right foot on the toes. I follow this with sincerity. Then I wonder whether or not my Prayer has been accepted.’ Ibn Abbas (Cousin of the Prophet), may God be pleased with him and with his father, once said: ‘Two modest cycles of Prayer, performed in full awareness, are better than a whole night’s vigil when the heart is inattentive.’

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (450-505 AH / 10581111 AD) Also known as Imam Ghazzali is a prominent Muslim jurist and theologian of the 12th Century. He wrote on a wide range of topics including jurisprudence, theology, mysticism and philosophy.

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Dec 13 - 27, 2013

Safar 10 - 24,1435H

Date Day Fajar Sunr Zawal Dhuhr Fri 6:02 7:58 12:11 12:16 Dec. 13 Sat 14 6:03 7:58 12:12 12:17 15 Sun 6:04 7:59 12:12 12:17 16 Mon 6:04 8:00 12:13 12:18 17 Tue 6:04 8:00 12:13 12:18 18 Wed 6:05 8:01 12:13 12:18 19 Thu 6:06 8:02 12:14 12:19 Fri 6:06 8:02 12:15 12:20 20 Sat 6:07 8:03 12:15 12:20 21 22 Sun 6:07 8:03 12:16 12:21 23 Mon 6:08 8:04 12:16 12:21 24 Tue 6:08 8:04 12:17 12:22 25 Wed 6:09 8:05 12:17 12:22 26 Thu 6:09 8:05 12:18 12:23 Fri 6:09 8:05 12:18 12:23 27

Asar

Maghrib

Isha

14:29 14:29 14:29 14:29 14:29 14:29 14:30 14:31 14:31 14:32 14:32 14:33 14:34 14:34 14:35

16:22 16:22 16:22 16:22 16:22 16:23 16:23 16:24 16:24 16:25 16:25 16:26 16:27 16:27 16:28

17:51 17:51 17:52 17:52 17:52 17:52 17:53 17:54 17:54 17:55 17:55 17:56 17:56 17:57 17:58

For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA

9

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

A D V E R T I S E R

Ayyaz

(Realtor)

604-839-7863 ayyazshums@shaw.ca

Turning Your Dreams Into an Address info@amexrealty.ca or 604-322-3272

Free Appraisal and Legal Fees

TERMS Our Rates*

1 Year 2.79%

3 Year 3.09%

5 Year 3.39%

5 yrs Variable 2.50% * Rates are subject to change without notice

Ayyaz

AMP

Senior Mortgage Consultant

* * * * *

Purchase Renewal Pre Approval 1st & 2nd Mortgages Self Employed

* * * *

New Immigrants Debts Consolidation Construction/Renovations Commercial Mortgage

Surrey Office: 115-13740 72A Avenue, Surrey BC V3W 1N5 Vancouver Office: 6241 Fraser Street, Vancouver BC V3W 3A2 Mississauga Office: 105-5805 Whitle Rd, ON L4Z 2J9 Ph: 416-893-7863

604-839-7863 ~

ayyazshums@shaw.ca ~ www.a2zmortgage.ca

10

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

L O C A L

Open House held at Masjid Rahma Surrey

On Dec 1, British Columbia Muslim Association Surrey East Branch arranged their first ever open house forum at Masjid Rahma situated at 62nd Ave & King George Blvd after the October 2013 election with its members and people who come to pray in this mosque. The chairman of the branch Mr. Altaf co-ordinated this forum. Mr. Altaf said it was a pleasure to start interacting with community members and the branch loved to listen to them for this Masjid and it is asking everyone to share ideas and then do the suitable implementation. A number of people attended this forum and raised their issues and suggested solutions for the betterment of the Rehma Masjid. Many issues were discussed including Masjid Imam, Madrassa classes for girls, extension of existing Wadu area, Kitchen to be moved at downstairs, providing disable access either new ramp or provide wheel chair proper access, City of Surrey re-zoning, adjacent property social and religious activities and find the sources of funds to cover this Masjid maintenance and monthly expenses by fundraising dinner etc..

All issues and suggestions were recorded by Mr. Shoaib Rauf, director of Rehma Masjid Committee. Mr. Altaf promised that they will review these notes in their next board meeting. Maulana Qari Abdul Rehman chaired this forum and made Duaa for the betterment of this Masjid. At the end delicious lunch was served.

John Stackhouse: Editor-in-Chief of the Globe and Mail delivers 2013 Ismaili Centre Lecture

On December 1, Stackhouse delivered the second annual Ismaili Centre Lecture, a series of intellectually stimulating speaker-based events held at the Centre in Burnaby. The lectures encourage exchange and mutual understanding between diverse peoples, communities and faiths, while broadening intellectual horizons and fostering an appreciation of pluralism. Malik Talib, President of the Ismaili Council for Canada, welcomed Stackhouse and explained the purpose of the lecture. “The Ismaili Community in Canada hosts flagship lectures at Ismaili Centres as part of a global series that aims to foster a greater understanding of critical issues of the day and to bring together thought leaders,” said President Talib. He noted the important role that Ismaili Centres around the world play in encouraging exchange, mutual understanding and friendship between peoples of diverse communities and faiths. The Master of Ceremony Ms. Nafeesa introduced the guest speaker and said that this paper has been in publication for 167 years. Mr. Stackhouse has been working there for a decade and is also the author of two books.

John Stackhouse thanked the organizers for inviting him at the centre. “I have followed the Aga Khan network for many years. As a foreign correspondent in the 1990s, I reported on AKDN projects in rural Gujarat, the mountain villages of Gilgit in Pakistan’s northern territories, and in the bustling slums of Nairobi. I’ve interviewed His Highness the Aga Khan, in Ottawa and Toronto. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to be invited to an evening with Kofi Annan and His Highness at the stunning Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa. And of course, as a resident of Toronto, I am watching eagerly as the centre in Don Mills takes impressive shape.”

He then spoke in detail about pluralist. He mentioned that the Quebec Charter of Values is a message from one part of the country that our rights-based approach to multiculturalism is not endorsed by all. More insidious perhaps are growing ethnic divisions in both education and employment that may play out negatively a decade from now. In education, we have the opposite experience to Western Europe: Immigrants here do remarkably well in our schools, completing high school and university at rates unmatched in other Western countries, and well ahead of the nonimmigrant population. But there’s potential friction in the gap between immigration groups. For first-generation Chinese immi-

grants, the postsecondary participation rate is 88 per cent. For those from Africa: 65 per cent. Since education is a key determinant of economic success, and in turn economic success increasingly determines educational outcomes, we may soon find ourselves in a country of self-perpetuating enclaves of success and stagnation.

That leads to the other major challenge in our national pursuit of a pluralistic society – jobs and income. New Canadians do fairly well for employment, and have done much better than non-immigrants since the recession of 2008. But unemployment statistics mask the participation rate. Truth is, immigrant youth – especially in our big cities – have been excluded from the formal, or mainstream, work force and are not gaining the skills to be economically relevant. Also masked are important divisions between immigrant groups. For those concerned about such divisions – look only to the United States and Western Europe – there are plenty of policy options already in our hands, four of them are: 1. Universal health care that innovates Health care is the No. 1 determinant of economic success and social mobility. While there is plenty of room for innovation and efficiency, and better cost management, universal health care is critical to our sense of pluralism. We cannot continue to attract record numbers of skilled immigrants, and see them quickly excel in Canada without quality, accessible health care.

2. Education that integrates In a diverse society such as ours, schools need cultural accommodation, especially in the early years. An Oxford University study of immigration and diversity among Western countries found Canada to have excelled in intercultural education, except on two counts–allowing schools to modify curricula and teaching materials for the local population, and adjusting daily life in school to the culture and beliefs of pupils, who tend to learn better when they are in familiar milieux.

3. A labour market that mobilizes Canadians today are increasingly mobile, led by new Canadians. In 2011, more than half the employment growth among landed immigrants was accounted for by newcomers living in the Prairies and BC. We need to address structural rigidities, including faster certification of overseas professional standards, a national skills program along the lines of what the federal government is cur-

rently pushing on reluctant provinces.

4. Citizenship that both inspires change and withstands it We give citizenship, even dual citizenship, more than any other country. That approach has reduced social tensions, and given immigrants better access to schools, courts, hospitals and the ballot box.

As we have seen through our history, reasonable accommodation is about more than open doors, even more than a Charter that secures rights and freedoms.

At the end Q & A session was held in which number of current affairs has been discussed Many questions has been asked, among those Mr. Naseer Pirzada Managing editor of the Miracle Media asked Mr. Stackhouse that “ What role does the Global and Mail as a main stream print media to bring harmony to all the communities especially with the MuslimCommunity?

He answered said that it was a challenge to project a more diverse community and he is not sure how successful media has been in meeting those expectations particularly for diversity. Words associated with Muslims in British Newspapers. The top three were terrorism, extremism and cleric. We have not done such an extensive study over here but we have long ways to go. He mentioned that he was open to constructive feedback and criticism on that front. Various communities should not shy away from holding the media to account and trying to objectively measure how media is doing and do a fair analysis presenting different cultures and religions and whether there is a skewing negatively. At the end of twenty minutes Q & A session Ms. Shehni Dossa presented the souvenir to John Stackhouse. Mr. Yasin Amlani did the note of thanks.

11

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

n Qura

Sunnah

A D V E R T I S E R

The B.C. Muslim Association 12300 Blundell Rd, Richmond. BC V6W 1B3

PH: 604-270-2522

Web: thebcma.com Email: Info@thebcma.com

Presents a lecture series on

THE MODERN FEATURES OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISLAMIC SHARIA These days Muslims living in the West are some how confused and have many questions on whether their fifi nancial practice is according with Al- Sharia or not.

To educate us on this important subject BCMA Executive Board has invited

Dr. Abdullah El- Saif from the university of Al-Saud to provide our community a lecture series on this important subject.

We urge all brothers and sisters to make the best of this opportunity and join us to learn more about the Islamic fifi nance according to Sharia. The following schedule has been adopted to make best use of the speaker’s time and to make the events convenient to all

Dec. 23 - 2013, Dec. 24 - 2013, Dec. 25 - 2013, Dec. 27 - 2013,

Monday 6:30 - 8 pm.

Tuesday 6:30 - 8 pm.

Wednesday 6:30 - 8 pm.

Friday 6:30 - 9 pm.

Masjid Al-Salaam - Burnaby Masjid Al-Iman - Victoria Surrey Jamea Masjid - Surrey Richmond Jamea Masjid

REFRESHMENT WILL BE SERVED AT ALL LOCATIONS

For more information please contact: Shawkat Hasan 604 - 441- 6155 (Acting President BCMA & VP Social Services)

12

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

S P E C I A L

Nelson Mandela DEAD AT 95

Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid icon who became the first president of a democratic South Africa, passed away on December 2 at his home in Johannesburg after a prolonged lung infection. He was 95. Mandela was a prominent international figure for more than half a century, first as a leading human rights campaigner in South Africa and then as the world’s best-known political prisoner.

Following his release, he again became the leader of the anti-apartheid struggle, and in 1994 became the first president of a democratic South Africa.

THE LIFE OF NELSON MANDELA The first 25 years Born the son of a tribal chief on July 18, 1918, in the village of Mvezo in Transkei in the Eastern Cape province, he was given the name Rolihlaha Mandela. Rolihlaha roughly translates from Xhosa as “troublemaker.” For the white South African government, he would soon live up to his name. When Mandela was nine, his father died, and he was sent to live with the chief

- when he was arrested and imprisoned for life in 1962. Despite a few critics who continued to denounce him as a communist and sometimes a terrorist, he gained international acclaim for his activism.

Mandela spent 18 years in the Robben Island prison, in which time he was forced to quarry limestone, harvest seaweed and endure brutality from the guards. Nelson Mandela greets people as he walks with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on his arrival in Ottawa in 1990 during a three-day visit to Canada. In 1982, along with other imprisoned ANC leaders, he was transferred to Pollsmoor prison outside Capetown. He was hospitalized with tuberculosis in 1988, recovered and returned to prison. During his years of imprisonment, Mandela had no contact with the outside world, except visits with Winnie. In 1989, reformer F. W. de Klerk became leader of the governing party and then South African president. Mandela’s release seemed imminent.

Resuming the political fight

Life of

Prince Karim al-Hussayn_ Aga Khan IV was born December 13, 1936 (77 Yrs) in Geneva Switzerland. He spent his early childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and then attended Le Rosey School in Switzerland for nine years. He graduated from Harvard University in 1959 with a BA Honors Degree in Islamic history. He is the current (49th) Imam of the Ismailis. He has been in this position, and held the title of Aga Khan, since July 11, 1957. The Ismailis are ethnically and culturally diverse and reside in over 35 countries around the world.

As a leader, the Aga Khan is responsible for the interpretation of the faith for his followers and as part of the office of the Imamate, he endeavors to improve the quality of their lives and of the communities in which they live.

The Aga Khan has been particularly interested in the elimination of global poverty; the advancement of the status of women; the promotion. The Aga Khan is founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the largest private development networks in the world.

Its partners include numerous governments and several international organizations.

AKDN agencies operate in social and economic development as well as in the field of culture, with special focus on countries

At age 71, Mandela plunged back into the anti-apartheid fight, soon taking over the leadership of the now-legal ANC. Mandela, his wife, Graca Machel, and former U.S. president Jimmy Carter celebrate his 89th birthday in Johannesburg. (Reuters) That summer, he embarked on a tour of 13 countries, including Canada, to advocate for a continuation of the international economic sanctions campaign. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk finally reached agreement on ending apartheid and holding democratic elections. That year, the two men were jointly later married Graca Machel, the former first awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The next lady of Mozambique. year, Mandela published his autobiogra- The new South Africa was not easy to govern. In addition to other challenges, the crime rate soared as Mandela’s government worked to improve social conditions and rebuild the economy.

In 1999, at the completion of one term in office, Mandela stepped down as president, “an old man who wants to go into eternity with a smile on his face,” he said.

Nelson Mandela Some Quotes

of the Thembu people. After Mandela was expelled from university because of his protest activity, the Thembu chief arranged a marriage for Mandela, which he avoided by leaving the Transkei for Johannesburg in 1941. He earned a BA from the University of South Africa in 1943 and then a law degree. Around this time, he joined the African National Congress (ANC). In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela wrote, “I have no epiphany, no singular destiny, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights, a thousand unremembered moments, produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people.” He received more than 250 honours, including the Nobel peace prize in 1993.

Nobel laureate and human rights campaigner spent 27 years in prison He was the first black president of South Africa and brought an end to apartheid, but his story of struggle began decades before

phy, Long Walk to Freedom.

Democratic South Africa’s first president In 1994, not only did Mandela vote for the first time, but he was also elected democratic South Africa’s first president. The ANC received 63 per cent of the vote.

Many predicted bloodshed and feared the possibility of civil war, fuelled by those seeking retribution for years of apartheid policies. But Mandela oversaw a peaceful transition, embarking on a strategy of reconciliation and urging forgiveness for the perpetrators of past apartheid-era crimes.

He helped establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sought to record human rights violations from all sides of the apartheid struggle, but also had the power to grant amnesty to those who committed abuses. For two years, Mandela headed a coalition government, with de Klerk as deputy president, until de Klerk and his party left the government. In 1996, Nelson divorced Winnie and two years

Prince Karim Aga Khan

• Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

• If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don’t ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.

• If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.

• In my country we go to prison first and then become President.

• I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.

• We can’t afford to be killing one another.

• Forget the past.

• If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

• If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy.

Then he becomes your partner.

• It always seems impossible until its done.

• We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

• Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.

• We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

• Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.

• No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.

• I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man

of the Third World. The network includes the Aga Khan University (AKU), the University of Central Asia (UCA), the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), the Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services (AKPBS), the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), and more. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA)is the largest architectural award in the world.

His family includes Ms. Inaara Aga Khan (m. 1998–2011) and Princess Salimah Aga Khan(m. 1969–1995) mother Joan YardeBuller father Prince Aly Khan sister Yasmin Aga Khan and his eldest son Prince Rahim Aga Khan.

In addition, Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), an affiliate of the AKDN, is responsible for emergency response in the face of disaster. Recent examples include the massive earthquake in Pakistan (AKDN earthquake response) and the South Asian Tsunami. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, which he founded in 1977. In 2002, Aga Khan pledged $75 million for the rebuilding of Afghanistan. The pledge was the largest by any single donor and more than many countries. who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.

• When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat.

• Unlike some politicians, I can admit to a mistake.

• Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS. • I cannot conceive of Israel withdrawing if Arab states do not recognize Israel, within secure borders.

• There is no such thing as part freedom.

• Before I went to jail, I was active in politics as a member of South Africa’s leading organization - and I was generally busy from 7 A.M. until midnight. I never had time to sit and think.

• I was called a terrorist yesterday, but when I came out of jail, many people embraced me, including my enemies, and that is what I normally tell other people who say those who are struggling for liberation in their country are terrorists. *************** Nelson Mandela’s flag-draped casket made a solemn journey through the streets of Pretoria Wednesday, arriving at the seat of South Africa’s government where he will lie in state for three days. A black hearse phalanxed by 16 motorcycle outriders rolled out of the city’s 1 Military Hospital onto streets lined with flag-waving South Africans who formed a public guard of honour.

Leaders or representatives from more than 100 countries made the journey to Johannesburg for the service. They included Steven Harper, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband; Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Jimmy Carter; Cuba’s Raul Castro; Mamnoon Hussain, Hamid Karzai, Pranab Mukherjee, Benjamin Netanyahu, Fidel Castro, Bill Gates, and former UK prime ministers Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, John Major and many others.

13

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

A D V E R T I S E R

Azim Dahya & Company Certified General Accountant

REGISTER FOR YOUR QUICKBOOKS CERTIFICATION DOES YOUR ACCOUNTANT TRAIN YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR FINANCIAL RECORDS OR JUST FILE YOUR TAX RETURNS Does your accountant train you to setup and maintain your own computerized financial accounting system?

Does your accountant train you to monitor your financial performance?

Does your accountant help you increase your profits?

“Quickbooks Course Held on Saturdays for Your Convenience!

Only $299 plus applicable taxes.

10% discount with this coupon.

Register quickly as only limited spaces available.

No 5 Rd & Cambie Rd in Richmond, above the Public Library

Tel: 604-227-1120 www.aadcga.com | www.advancedtax.ca | www.aadconsulting.ca

If you (or someone you know) require food assistance or would like to volunteer or donate, please contact us at 778-297-HALA (4252)

14

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

P O L I T I C S

B.C. Jobs Plan: Growth Is Slow, But Christy Clark Remains Optimistic Premier Christy Clark says her goal to transform British Columbia’s economy into one of Canada’s top job-creation engines has hit a rough patch, but she’s not about to ditch her jobs plan or call it a lemon. Clark, in a year end interview with The Canadian Press, said she expects job creation to pick up next year as potential deals with liquefied natural gas companies reach the signing stage.

Clark refused to call her jobs plan a failure, but admitted it’s been slow going. “We haven’t seen all the fruits of our labours yet, but we will,” she said. “I hope in 2014, we’ll get to some final investment decisions on some of the LNG plants. I hope we’ll see some of the fruits of these labours, but it’s just not the kind of thing that’s going to happen overnight.” In the fall of 2011 when Clark announced her Liberal government’s

jobs plan, she set lofty job creation and economic growth goals to put B.C. on top in Canada.

The premier - who has placed much of the province’s economic hope development of natural gas and export of LNG to Asia — said she wanted the province to strive for economic gold. The jobs plan will remain in place, but the climb to the top remains formidable, she admitted. “We’ve set a goal to create jobs, to grow the economy, to create economic development,” Clark said. “You do not get to that long term goal without sticking to a plan over a good period of time, so, it’s going to take a little longer.”

Clark also discussed child poverty, fiscal discipline and aboriginal treaties during the interview.

She said a growing economy fuelled by

natural gas revenues and creating jobs is the best way to help needy families, balance the budget, reduce debt and reach economic and treaty settlements with aboriginals.

She said B.C.’s consistently high national child-poverty rating can be reduced through a growing economy that is creating jobs.

“Too high,” is how Clark describes B.C.’s child-poverty rate. “Way, way, way too high. We can do better than that, but the only way we will do better is by creating economic growth, creating jobs for people.

Because child poverty is parent poverty.”

The goals of Clark’s “Canada Starts Here: The B.C. Jobs Plan:” include placing B.C. in the top two in Canada in gross domestic product growth and new job growth by 2015. Other goals include, eight new mines in operation by 2015 and upgrades and

expansions to nine currently operating mines; at least one LNG pipeline and terminal operating in Kitimat by 2015 and three in operation by 2020. But the Opposition New Democrats have seized upon recent national jobs statistics revealing B.C.’s sluggish performance in creating private sector jobs…

Source: By Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press

Reckless Liberal Hydro Hikes Will Hurt Health Authorities Already struggling with hospital overcrowding, inadequate staffing levels and unacceptable emergency department wait times, B.C.’s health authorities will be hurt further by the Liberals’ reckless B.C. Hydro rate hikes, say New Democrats.

“The cost over two years to just the Interior Health Authority is expected to be more than $650,000,” said New Democrat health critic Judy Darcy, who is in Kelowna today meeting with representatives from the Interior

Health Authority, patient groups and stakeholders. “Province-wide, over just the first two years of the rate hike the health care system is looking at a shocking $5 million impact.”

Darcy pointed to the recent suggestion from Education Minister Peter Fassbender that school boards should consider closing schools to fund the shortfall created by the hydro rate hikes, and questioned what it will mean for health authorities.

“Will the health minister come

out this week and say we should close emergency rooms or care facilities? Will he suggest that already inadequate staffing levels be reduced?”

New Democrat energy critic John Horgan said it is clear the Liberals were not thinking of the economy or families and critical public institutions when they broke their election promise to keep rates low and sprung a hike of 28 per cent over five years on British Columbians.

“In the last 12 years, the B.C.

Liberal government has created a crisis at B.C. Hydro. They have overseen skyrocketing debt, stashed billions in deferral accounts in order to show profit where none exists, signed billions of dollars of private power deals and shouldered out the independent utilities commission,” said Horgan.

“Now, ratepayers and people who rely on public services will pay the price for their decade of mismanagement. British Columbians deserve better.”

Specializing in Indian Style Chinese & Szechuan Food Fine Dining, Taking out and Delivery

Lunch Special Over 20 items to choose from - Qeema - Chana Masala - Aloo Bhaji - Halwa Puri - Yogurt - Tea and much more

Monday - Friday 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Except xcept Holidays

$6.99 & up FREE DELIVERY

NEW

4:00 PM - 9:00 PM with Min order $25.00 within 3km Radius Map Between 98 Ave to 92 Ave & 116 St to 128 St EXTRA DELIVERY CHARGE Business Hours: Monday - Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

NEW

Chicken Jalfrezi Unit 108 12414 82 Ave, Surrey Kabab Masala

For more information please call Ahmad Akbar at 604-594-7160 & 604-518-7887

Owner: Jalil Khan

OUTSIDE OF 3 KM RADIUS MAY APPLY 12:30 am to 10:00 pm 12:30 am to 10:30 pm 12:30 Noon to 10:30 pm 12:30 Noon to 10:00 pm

604-582-8388 Next to Sabzi Mandi

9436 - 120 Street, Surrey www.asianspicesurrey.com

15

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

A D V E R T I S E R

“ UMRAH AND TURKEY TOUR ” 17 DAYS (MARCH 31 – APRIL. 16/2014) ANOTHER TRIP YOU’LL NEVER FORGET

GROUP ESCORTED BY: ABBAS/SHEHAB ELBARBARI “WHERE EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE COUNTS”

ROUND TRIP AIR FARE VAN - JEDDAH - ISTANBUL - VAN

10 NIGHTS UMRAH (MADINAH/MAKKAH)

(INCL. ALL TAXES & ENTRY VISAS)

6 Nights Madinah Hotel (4/5 Star) & 4 Nights Makkah Hotel (5 Star).

Makkah Hotel Directly Infront Of Haram , And Madinah Hotel Minutes walk to Haram.

Includes Transportation Airport - Madinah - Makkah - Airport.

Ziyarat In Makkah And Madinah visiting Historic Sites . includes all Umrah Visa Proccesing Fees.

5 NIGHTS ISTANBUL (CITY OF CIVILIZATIONS) During Our Stay We Will Explore This Magnificent City Of Istanbul. We Will Visit The Blue Mosque With Its Six Minarets, Hagia Sophia, The Hippodrome, The Grand Bazzar(Biggest Souk In The World), And The Spice Market .we Will Tour Topkapi Palace And Dolmabache Palace Which Was The Recent Residence For The Ottoman Sultans. Enjoy A Bosphorus Sea Cruise And View Rumeli Fortress And Then Take A Cable Car Ride And Have A Panoramic View Of The Golden Horn. We Will Also Visit Rustem Pasha Mosque And Miniaturk (Minuture Land ).

ONLY $4390

(ALL HOTELS DBL OCCUPANCY, OPEN BUFFET BREAKFAST)

ABBAS ELBARBARI 604-321-0309 CELL: 604-729-8964

ALL : SHEHAB ELBARBARI 604-325-9700 CELL: 778-861-5433 ASIN BAKRIDI 604-875-0567 CELL: 604-614-3622 Email : travelcomet@hotmail.com "For Friendly and Honest service always Remember" Serving Since

1982

Now serving you from our new, Bigger & Better Location in Surrey

Now you can Redeem your RBC Avion and CIBC Aeroplan Points with us!

10 OFF

$

/ Per Ticket with this ad.

Limited time offer

PAKISTAN: Islamabad, Lahore,Karachi, Peshawar, Sialkot

INDIA: 13 Destinations BANGLADESH: Dhaka Afghanistan : Kabul Sri Lanka: Colombo

Now serving you from our new, Bigger & Better Location in Surrey

SURREY #101-9360, Scott Road

Special Comprehensive Travel Insurance Starts from

16

$

Call us for

Pakistan Yatra (Nankana Sahib)

We have offices in Ontario, Alberta, Ottawa, Montreal, Hamilton and India also.

604-589-9000 604-324-3000

1-800-667-2661 www.gilltravels.com

Email: vancouver@gitcanada.com

16

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

S P E C I A L

Capital Dhaka (Largest city) Official languages Bengali Demonym Bangladeshi Government Parliamentary republic Anthem Amar Shonar Bangla (My golden Bengal) President Abdul Hamid Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury Independence From Pakistan Declared March 26, 1971 Victory Day December 16, 1971 Area - Total 147,570 km2 (94th) 55,599 sq mi Population 158,570,535 (July 2011) est GDP (PPP) USD 1622.94 per capita (Dec, 2012) Currency Taka (BDT) Time zone BST (UTC+6) Drives on the Left Calling code 880 Bangladesh, officially the People’s Republic erty rate. However, per-capita (inflationof Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is adjusted) GDP has more than doubled since bordered by India on all sides except for a 1975, and the poverty rate has fallen by 20% small border with Burma (Myanmar) to the far since the early 1990s. The country is listed southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the among the “Next Eleven” economies. Dhaka, south. Together with the Indian state of West the capital, and other urban centers have been Bengal, it makes up the ethno-linguistic region the driving force behind this growth. Geoof Bengal. The name Bangladesh means graphically, the country straddles the fertile “Country of Bengal” in the official Bengali Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta and is subject to language. annual monsoon floods and cyclones. The The borders of present-day Bangladesh were government is a parliamentary democracy. established with the partition of Bengal and Bangladesh is a member of the CommonIndia in 1947, when the region became the wealth of Nations, the OIC, SAARC, BIMeastern wing of the newly formed Pakistan. STEC, and the D-8. As the World Bank notes However, it was separated from the western in its July 2005 Country Brief, the country has wing by 1,600 km (994 mi) across India. After made significant progress in human developindependence the new state endured famines, ment in the areas of literacy, gender parity in natural disasters and widespread poverty, as schooling and reduction of population growth. well as political turmoil and military coups. However, Bangladesh continues to face a The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been number of major challenges, including widefollowed by relative calm and economic prog- spread political and bureaucratic corruption, ress. Bangladesh is the seventh most populous economic competition relative to the world country and is among the most densely popu- and an increasing danger of hydrologic shocks lated countries in the world with a high pov- brought on by ecological vulnerability to cli-

42nd year of People’s Republic of Bangladesh mate change Rapid Growth of the Garment Industry: The export-oriented garment industry in Bangladesh has grown rapidly for the last 3 decades and now ranks among the largest garment exporters in the world. While its early success is attributed to the initial technology transfer from South Korea, such a one-time infusion of knowledge alone is insufficient to explain the sustained growth for 3 decades.

This article uses primary data collected from knitwear manufacturers and garment traders to explore the process of the continuous learning of advanced skills and know-how. It finds, among other things, that the high profitability of garment manufacturing due to the initial infusion of specific human capital attracted a number of highly educated entrepreneurs to the industry, that the division of labor between manufacturers and traders has facilitated the expansion of the industry, and that enterprise growth has lasted long because of the continuous learning from abroad by the highly educated entrepreneurs.

Bishwa Ijtema Tongi,Dhaka,Bangladesh: Tablighi Jamaat Ijtema Bangladesh known as Bishwa Ijtema , it is familiar word to all Tablighi Jamaat peoples.

It is an annual Tablighi Jamaat Islamic organization congregation which is held at Tongi, Bangladesh by the river Turag in two shifts.

The occasion focuses on prayers to Allah and does not permit political conversation in Tabligh Jamaat Ijtema.

The culture of Bangladesh: Bangladesh has a wealthy, various cultural diversity. Its deeply rooted inheritance is thoroughly reflected in its architecture, dance, literature, music, painting and clothing. Bangladesh is a melting pot of races. She, therefore, has a mixed culture. Bangladesh’s Muslims and Hindus live in relative harmony.The four

primary religions of Bangladesh are Islam, Hinduism, Buddism and Christian. People of different religions perform there religious rituals with festivity in Bangladesh. The Government has declared National Holidays on all important religious festivals of the four major religion. Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Durga Puja, Buddha Purnima and Christmas are celebrated with enthusiasm in Bangladesh. All of these form an integral part of the cultural heritage of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh have had a great influence on its culture and history. A series of festivals varying from race to race are observed here. Some of the Muslim rites are Eid-e-Miladunnabi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eidul-Azha and Muharram etc.

Bangladeshi cricket is on the rise: Cricket is the most popular sport in Bangladesh. There is a strong domestic league which on many occasions also saw Test players from many countries (Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and England) gracing the cricket fields of Bangladesh. In the year 2000 Bangladesh became a full member of the International Cricket Council, with Test and One Day International status. The Bangladesh national cricket team goes by the nickname of the Tigers - after the Royal Bengal Tiger. It played its first Test match in 2000 (against India at Dhaka), becoming the tenth Test cricket playing nation. They also take part in officially sanctioned ACC tournaments including the Asia Cup, Asian Test Championship, ACC Trophy and the Asian Cricket Junior Tournament. Bangladesh also has an active women’s team which gained One Day International status after finishing 5th at the 2011 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The women’s team also claimed the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games cricket tournament.

A16-nation Twenty20 tournament is scheduled in March and April 2014.

I/4 BCMA

Best Pizza in Town

17

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

A D V E R T I S E R

WALK IN CLINIC NOW OPEN

Bear Creek

MEDICAL CLINIC Welcomes

Dr. A Sandhar

Dr. B Singh

MD, CCFP

MD, CCFP

Accepting New Patients Walk-ins Welcome We speak URDU & PUNJABI for your convenience

BEAR CREEK MEDICAL CLINIC

Open 7 Days A Week

Call: 604.503.4947 110-13588 88 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 3K8

Choices

PHARMACY

FREE PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY EVERYDAY

Ms. Manju Koruth (Pharmacist)

Easy Transfer of Prescription Files to Our Location Free Compliance Packaging (Bubble Packs) Including Free Delivery on the Day of Your Choice Free Medication Reviews on all Prescriptions, Over the Counter and Natural Products Specialty Compounding Home Visits by Pharmacists Diabetic Education We Accept All Third-Party Plans

CALL: 604.593.5322

FAX: 604.593.5320

#110 - 13588 88 Avenue, Surrey

18

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

F O C U S

EMPOWERMENT

By Shabnam Khan – Family Counsellor At the core of the concept of empowerment is the idea of power. The possibility of empowerment depends on two things.

First, empowerment requires that power can change. If power cannot change, if it is inherent in positions or people, then empowerment is not possible, nor is empowerment conceivable in any meaningful way. In other words, if power can change, then empowerment is possible. Second, the concept of empowerment depends upon the idea that power can expand. This second point reflects our common experiences of power rather than how we think about power.

To clarify these points, we first discuss what we mean by power.

Power is often related to our ability to make others do what we want, regardless of their own wishes or interests. Science emphasizes power as influence and control, often treating power as a commodity or structure from human action. Conceived in this way, power can be viewed as unchanging or unchangeable. Other definition will give us a key word beyond this limitation by recognizing that power exists within the context of a relationship between people or things. Power does not exist in isolation nor is it inherent in individuals. By implication, since

power is created in relationships power can change. Empowerment as a process of change, then, becomes a meaningful concept.

A brief exercise makes the importance of this discussion clear. Quickly, list three words that immediately come to mind when you hear the word power. For most people, words that come to mind when we think about power often revolve around control and domination. Focusing on these aspects of power limit our ability to understand and define empowerment.

The concept of empowerment also depends upon power that can expand our second stated requirement. Understanding power as something that you get at our expense cuts most of us off from power. A conception of power means that power will remain in the hands of the powerful unless they give it up. Although this is certainly one way that power can be experienced, it neglects the way power will remain in the hands of the powerful unless they give it up. Although this is certainly one way that power is experienced, it neglects the way power is experienced in most interactions. Another brief exercise highlights the importance of a definition of power that includes expansion. “Have you ever felt powerful?”

Empowerment will be seen and understood differently by individuals who inhabit various positions in power structures. “You are in charge of yourself as you have the power within you” shabnam@skcounselling.ca

Contact Amir Taj @ 604-572-7861

HALAL MEAT SHOP TAQWA FRANCHISE

FOR SALE

Strategically located at Scott Road & 92 Ave Surrey • Profitable Operation • Recently Renovated • At a Reasonable Price Call for more information: 778-960-6259

19

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

E C O N O M I C S

How do you eat your roots?

By: Syed Asad “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” - Founder of Pakistan - M. A. Jinnah.

Pakistan is celebrating 137th Jinnah’s birthday on December 25, 2013. However, the nation has forgotten Jinnah’s above words which reflect the ideology of Pakistan and lay foundation for a prosperous Pakistan.

Prosperity, tranquility, equality, justice for all, and stability, the basic hallmarks of any civilized nation, are rare commodities in Pakistan.

Sadly speaking, the country is caught in a vicious circle of ethnic, political and religious divides for decades.

In the recent past, the internal security threats have become a growing challenge to the country. Various ethnic and religious groups have locked horns only to make things worse. Political parties, on the other hand, dominated by powerful feudal landlord groups, are always pulling their socks to get to the power at all cost. In all, the country has become a punching bag for all.

Besides, long military rules in Pakistan that led to the underperformance of democracy, there are many other barriers to the performance, including but not limited to: feudalism; illiterate and apathetic

people; self – imposed leaders; and inherited politics.

In theory, Pakistan constitution guarantees: sovereign parliament; independent judiciary and free access to information; rule of law; no role of nonpolitical forces in politics; minority rights provision of basic human need, freedoms of movement, and expression.

However, in practice, all the stakeholders including the military and civil bureaucracy have treated the constitution no more than a piece of paper. Although in public they all talk high about upholding the supremacy of the constitution, conversely, they don’t practice what they would preach.

The utter disappointment is seen when one looks at the country’s governance structure. The way government is run, and the society governed has not helped in improving the socio-economic indicators of the country.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, 162 parties are registered with them. However, hardly 18 could make it to the National Assembly this time. In theory, parties participate in the political process, strive to channel diverse public opinions, provide platforms for political leaders to actively participate in the political process, groom and mentor leaders, act as a bridge between society and government, and create awareness about the democratic process in public.

Successful political parties normally have deep roots in the society and strong internal accountability system, which would guarantee a fair and transparent decision-making process. A real time diagnostic test of Pakistani political parties suggests that hardly any party is fully meeting the above criterion. In practice, most parties are structured and run as ‘family-owned-business’ where family legacy remains a dominant feature. Like autocracy, the decision-making process, within the party, rests with the party head.

Nonetheless, parties claimed to have consultative councils but in practice they are no more than a rubber stamp.

Ironically, most parties are unable to attract and retain intellectuals and professionals and moreover lack the capacity to create think-tanks within the party which can debate over policy issues, produce quality discussions and provide timely advice to their leaders. A good example is that of Pakistan Peoples Party, which struggled in the past to find and appoint a finance minister. Thus, they had to borrow Musharraf’s minister of privatization Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Shaukat Tareen, a banker by profession. Overall, the country’s governance system is swathed with corruption and incompetency.

Most ministries are headed by feudal landlords (although elected representatives) thus they were unable to run the ministry like a professional. Adding to the injury, the civil and military establishments which dominated in setting county’s foreign and internal policy, have

played their own games to the extent that the country is now more divided than ever before and faced with uncertain future. Undoubtedly, Pakistan inherited administrative, legal, political and military legacies from the British Raj, but it failed to build upon that.

The country’s resources are highly concentrated in the hands of few players depriving the masses social and economic justice. In the above backdrop discussions, the failure of democratic institutions should be a no surprise to anyone.

The military ruled almost half of country’s existence-they threw democratically elected governments many times on the pretext of corruption and incompetency. Ironically, instead of improving the quality of life of average Pakistanis and the governance structure of the country, the socio economic indicators worsen under the military rule.

The history suggests that politics is a game of powerful and influential people in Pakistan. In 2007 when the Chief Justice of Pakistan was sacked by Gen Musharraf, the country’s politics took a U-turn.

The judiciary emerged as a new player, in the game of power poli-

tics. Since then, however, they often have blamed by the critics for overstepping their domain and starting building encroachments in around the civilian government. Some current and past Supreme Court Cases are key examples in this regard.

That being said, the truth is, like any other democratic country, Pakistani politics is no more than a game of chess.

All told, democracy can strengthen its roots if Pakistan is able to abolish feudalism and improve decades’ old rotten governance structure of civil bureaucracy. To be more effective and transparent in dispensing their ideology, political parties should discourage inherited leadership. All the stakeholders uphold the supremacy of the constitution in the field, work for the best interest of the country and see beyond their long-nose. In all, Pakistan needs massive restructuring in all areas without which real progress is hard to come by. It’s a long climb but not difficult to achieve. I conclude the above discussion on Jinnah’s quote: (The writer is Vancouver based economist. He can be reached at asad.szabist@gmail.com).

“Your Team of Trusted Lawyers”

Usman Ghani - ICBC - Medical malpractice - Personal Injury - Civil Litigation - Commercial Litigation

&

Massood Joomratty

Barristers & Solicitors

- Family and Spouse Sponsorships - Super Visa & Student Visa - Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) - Skilled Worker programs & Work Permit - Business & Investor Immigration - Temporary Resident Visa Applications - All Immigration Appeals - Citizenship - Conveyancing - Incorporation

Free Initial Consultation

604-599-0001 Usman Ghani

Massood Joomratty

SURREY OFFICE: # 205 - 7134 King George Blvd. Surrey BC V3W 5A3

20

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

H E A L T H

Men’s and Women’s Brains are Wired Differently By: VOA News It turns out that men’s brains may literally be wired differently than those of women. Researchers say the differences could explain why the sexes seem more suited to certain types of tasks than their counterparts. For example, women seem to be hardwired for multitasking.

Using imaging techniques, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found men tended to display neural activity in one hemisphere of the brain for certain activities, while in women the activity bounces across hemispheres.

“These maps show us a stark difference - and complementarity - in the architecture of the human brain that helps provide a potential neural basis as to why men excel at certain tasks, and women at others,” said Ragini Verma, PhD, an associate professor in the department of Radiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the Univer-

sity of Pennsylvania.

The study shows that, on average, men are more likely better at learning and performing a single task at hand, like cycling or navigating directions, whereas women have superior memory and social cognition skills, making them more equipped for multitasking and creating solutions that work for a group.

Past studies have shown sex differences in the brain, but the neural wiring connecting regions across the whole brain that have been tied to such cognitive skills has never been fully shown in a large population, the researchers said.

The study imaged brain activity of 949 people, 521 females and 428 males, using DTI imaging. DTI is water-based imaging technique that can trace and highlight the fiber pathways connecting the different regions of the brain, laying the foundation for a structural connectome or network of the whole brain.

Researchers found that in the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, females displayed greater connectivity between the left and right hemispheres. Males, on the other hand, displayed greater connectivity within each hemisphere.

By contrast, the opposite prevailed in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that plays a major role in motor control, where males displayed greater inter-hemispheric connectivity and females displayed greater intra-hemispheric connectivity.

These connections likely give men an efficient system for coordinated action, where the cerebellum and cortex participate in bridging between perceptual experiences in the back of the brain, and action, in the front of the brain, according to the authors. The female connections likely facilitate integration of the analytic and sequential processing modes of the left hemisphere with the spatial, intuitive information processing modes of

the right side.

The findings meshed with other University of Pennsylvania studies in which females outperformed males on attention, word and face memory, and social cognition tests.

Males performed better on spatial processing and sensorimotor speed. Those differences were most pronounced in the 12 to 14 age range.

“It’s quite striking how complementary the brains of women and men really are,” said Dr. Ruben

Gur. “Detailed connectome maps of the brain will not only help us better understand the differences between how men and women think, but it will also give us more insight into the roots of neuropsychiatric disorders, which are often sex related.” The study was published this month in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. http://www.voanews.com/ content/mens-and-womens-brains

Surrey Family Sues After Eating Contest Tragedy

The family of a Whalley man who suffered brain damage after choking during an eating contest at a Diwali celebration in Surrey last year is suing the event’s organizers for negligence.

Kamaljeet Aulakh filed the notice of civil claim, on behalf of her husband Samaljit Aulakh, in B.C Supreme Court in New Westminster on Nov. 19.

The defendants are South Asian Broadcasting Corporation Inc. doing business as RED FM, Nanak Foods Inc., Surrey CC Property Inc., CC Retail Holdings Ltd., and Blackwood Partners Management Corp.

Samaljit, who used to work as a shipper and

receiver, participated in an eating contest at Central City Shopping Centre, on Nov. 10, 2012.

The contest, sponsored by Red FM, challenged the participants to eat and swallow a number of Indian sweets called gulab jamuns, made by a Newton-based company called Nanak Foods Inc., before anyone else. The first to down about six of the sweets would win a new iPhone.

According to Aulakh’s lawsuit, the contestants were told they could not use their hands, and each had to bend over a table and eat the gulab jamuns as fast as they could from boxes that were placed in front of

% ƛ& " +!"-"+!"+1)6 4+"! ǔ -"/ 1"!

Need Mortgage Financing?

Our Team Can Help.

• Better Choice • Better Rates • Better Advice Access to Over 100 Lenders to Serve You Better Helping clients with solutions that fit and reflect their situation Self Employed, New Immigrants, Rental Properties, Remediated Properties, Challenging Life Events, Credit Repair, Refinances, 2nd Mortgages, Renewals, Commercial Mortgages and Leasing

Zahida Khan Dominion Lending Centres - A Better Way Team

Contact: 604.817.7190

them.

Aulakh was the first to finish. When he stood upright after eating them, according to his claim, he “immediately exhibited signs of distress in containing the gulab jamuns.”

The lawsuit claims that a Red FM broadcaster declared Aulakh the winner but also warned him that he wouldn’t get the iPhone if he threw up. It further claims that an

agent or employee of Nanak and RED FM, dressed as a Nanak company mascot, gave Aulakh some water, whereupon he expelled the sweets, fell on the RED FM stage, choking, and lost consciousness.

The defendants have been given 35 days to respond. None of the claims contained in the lawsuit have been proven in court. Source: The Now

,! ! $*+0 3 .Î Monthly Petition Drive & Antiwar Rally

LIFT ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN! IMPERIALISTS HANDS OFF SYRIA! >Free Private Manning, Soldier of Humanity! >U.S./Canada/NATO Out of Afghanistan Now! >No to U.S. Drones! >Hands Off North Korea! End the Sanctions on North Korea! >Stop Israel’s Ongoing Assault on Palestinians! >No to War and Occupation! Yes to Self-Determination! >Self-Determination For Indigenous Nations & All Oppressed Nations! >Money for Housing, Healthcare, Jobs & Education, Not for War & Occupation! >U.S. Out of Iraq Now!

SATURDAY JANUARY 25

1PM - VANCOUVER ART GALLERY ROBSON ST. BETWEEN HOWE & HORNBY

N N N ) 3 + 2 * + 1 2 ! .

F I > @MAWOvan

Mobilization Against War & Occupation

21

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

KIDS

By Fatima Nadeem Grade 6, Surrey

Kids Korner is a fun way for kids to exercise their brain, build up their imagination with lots of other things while having fun.

1. What is the name of Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W mother? a) Amna b) Ayesha c) Khadija d) Fatima 2. What do say when you sneeze? a) Yaram a kullah b) La ilaha ilal la ha c) Alham du lillah d) Ya Allah 3. True or False: The Kebba is located in Medina. a) True b) False 4. Allah (s.w.t) has……… a) A son b) A partner c) No partner d) A daughter 5. True or False: Surah-Al-Fatiha is the last surah of the Quran. a) True b) False BONUS: Where was Prophet Hazrat Muhammad born? a) Medina b) Jerusalem c) Taif d) Makkah

Spot the differences:-

GULSHAN MARKET SPECIALTY FOODS MEAT FISH GROCERY

ONGOING SPECIAL PRICE INSTANT DISCOUNT

.0 0

0

0 .

5

$5

ON MINIMUM $50.00 PURCHASE valid till Dec. 31, 2013

$

Best Value Quality Service Friendly & Clean Environment

Ph:604-200-2217 Email: gulshanmarket1@gmail.com Unit 102 & 103, 13569 - 76th Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 2W3

The Honours Cup 2013 Playoffs held at Muslim Youth Centre are now back to back undefeated champions.

Congratulations to Abdullah Sidat, Lukman Patel, Hamza Sidhu and Osama Sidhu. They won the Honours Cup and their names will be engraved on the Cup. They also received gold medals and Hamza won the Most Valuable Player Award. We would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with the tournaments.

By: Ali Husain, Director Youth Program Leader The Muslim Youth Centre held THE HONOURS CUP Playoffs on November 23.

Teams played ball hockey tournaments throughout the year at the MYC to earn points so they could advance to the Honours Cup Playoffs.

The last year highly skilled champions - “The Western Gunners” defended their title as the rest of the teams were trying to rise above and become the new 2013 Honours Cup Champions.

They played best of 3 game series; quarter finals, semi finals, and finals.

The last year champions “The Western Gunners” made it to the finals and they were facing off against their rivals, “The Warriors.” These 2 teams were 1st or 2nd place majority of the time, very competitive, exciting to watch throughout the year.

These 2 teams were very close in scoring, high speed players, tough to play against, and the goalies made the most amazing saves. The crowd was going wild and just waiting in anticipation to see who will win this year. Time was running down and the crowd was cheering to see who would be this year winners. The winners of the 2013 Honours Cup was “The Western Gunners.”!!!!!!! They

THE SEASONS By: Sana Desai & Aadila Patel Grade 6

Spring time brings fresh flowers Bursting from the earth Little lambs skip merrily Upon the new turf.

Summer comes knocking, Knocking at the door The sun shines very brightly Making people sore!

Then along comes autumn Dressed in red and gold Blustery winds come suddenly, Making night time cold.

Slowly, silently winter creeps In its, icy cloak Fires are lit on the earth With fluffy puffs of smoke Each and every season Allah has made for you and me To marvel at His wonders And praise Him thankfully

22

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

WOMEN

Rukhsana Khan: Uniting world through children Her stories unite young child readers, from all religions and culture backgrounds, perhaps that is the reason her book Big Red Lollipop has been selected as one of the 100 greatest books by the New York Public library, and has found a permanent place in there.

Rukhsana Khan, Internationally acclaimed Author of some of the Best selling children’s books like Big Red Lollipop, Wanting Mor and others. She in her own way tries to spread positivity through humor laced stories, some about Muslims in young minds.

How was your childhood? Was there anyone back then, who read out or told you stories?

I had a very difficult childhood. My father decided to leave Pakistan when I was six months old because he wanted his children to grow up without a lot of wrong cultural thinking. We were the only Muslim family in a very small town in Canada in the 1960’s and ‘70’s.

It was very hard to stay Muslim and there was lots of racism. The children in my class used to tell me that I was brown because I was dirty. I went home and took five baths a day to try to make my skin white and ‘clean’.

My father always stressed education when we were growing up, but he also wanted us to keep our Muslim identity. Sometimes he’d work sixteen hours in the day and he’d still come home and read us Qur’an. My parents are also natural storytellers. They’re very funny! They would tell us stories of when they were growing up, and they constantly talked to us about what we were going through.

From being a biological chemical technician to an award winning International writer, what brought about this major shift?

When I was thirteen years old, my English teacher told me I should become an author when I grew up, but I thought it was impossible. I thought authors were white people, from England and America. My teacher’s suggestion started me dreaming about it.

I even tried writing a picture book about a worm named Waldo, and it was eventually sent to a New York publisher. When it was rejected, I thought, “See? I can’t do it!”

I thought I should be sensible. Become a scientist! Then it doesn’t matter how you dress, or what color skin you have.

My parents, like most Pakistani parents, always emphasized sciences and maths, so they were pleased when I decided to become a biological chemical technician. And if I’d made a good living as a biological chemical technician I wouldn’t have pursued my real dream of being an author.I graduated at the top of my class but was the last person to get a job because by this time I was married and wearing hijab and sometimes the interviewer would take one look at me and tell me the job was filled.

I finally did get a job but it was only twenty cents more than minimum wage and it took an hour and a half to get to work every day.

It wasn’t worth it. When my first daughter was born, I decided it was more important to stay home and take care of her, and while taking care of her, I began writing again.

And while I was writing I noticed how many young people were abandoning their Islamic identity. There were no stories that validated their experiences. I wanted to write stories

that would humanize Muslims. Show that we have good stories too, so that we can earn our place in society and be proud of who we are.

Very few of your age can come this far, in being successful and handling the family along, how do you reminisce it now at this point?

I think I’ve had a very condensed life. I can’t seem to find many places in my life that wasted time. Even the years that I was working to get published, I don’t consider any of that time wasted because it was necessary to learn how to write well.

I have two Islamic priorities: my family and my work. I do believe taking care of my family is taking care of the trust that Allah has bestowed on me, and if I do so properly, then I will be serving Allah, and working for my family can even be considered an act of ibadat (worship).

I write books that will tell good stories, encourage good relations between different cultures and convey good morals, then my books can also be considered a means of serving Allah and an act of ibadat (worship).

That is my intention.

A good friend of mine once warned me, he said, “Be careful your words will either bear witness for you or against you on the Day of Judgment.” And I remember that always!

I want my words to bear witness for me, not against me!

On your biggest support system?

My biggest support system is definitely my family! Especially my husband.

I got married very young. I was seventeen when I got married to a good Muslim man who fears Allah as I do.

I remember years ago, one night my husband asked me to tell my deepest dream. I was scared he would laugh. He assured me he wouldn’t, so I told him, “I want to be an internationally famous children’s author.”

I waited for him to laugh but he didn’t. In fact, without even hesitating he said, “I believe you can do it.”

And even though the writing classes cost money and it meant he had to watch our daughters one night a week, he encouraged me to take the classes and workshops.

By this time I had a total of five books under contract. And he said to me, “I knew you could do it.”

I asked him, “How did you know? Was it my talent?” he said. “It was the fact that you didn’t give up.”

And when I thought about it, I knew he was right.

There are lots of people with talent. To get published, to make it as an author, you have to have more than talent, you have to never give up. perseverance! In the beginning, it’s more important than talent. Also, my children were very supportive and provided good criticism of my stories. I would often read them a story to see their reaction. If they started to fidget or get restless, I knew I had a lot of work to do. If they just said, “That’s nice Mom.” I also knew I had a lot of work to do. I encouraged them to be honest with me. It really helped.

How important is it to imbibe cultural tolerance among children from a young age?

I think it is extremely important to encourage children to be tolerant of other cultures!

I think it is respecting the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to do so, and definitely it says in the Quran for the believers not to laugh at people in other faiths lest they turn around and ridicule Allah and the Messenger (Peace be upon him).

We need to teach our children to learn about and respect the religious observances of other faiths as well.

In fact I’ve often felt humbled at the tolerance and good will that non-Muslims have shown me. In fact, my non muslim hosts have taken great pains to accommodate my religious beliefs and observances! At one event they even sat me with all the people who didn’t drink alcohol so I’d feel comfortable!

My hope is that when people get to read my stories they are really in effect getting to know their Muslim neighbors and it will help to create more peace and harmony in the world. But the effort has to go both ways.

On understanding a child’s psychology, are your grand kiddies helpful in any way while writing for the present generation?

My creative process doesn’t look that much at other children, even my grandchildren.

Sometimes they will influence me slightly with regards to a story, but mostly the stories I write are from my own childhood or even adult experiences. But I do read to my grandchildren—a LOT! And I watch and see what kind of stories they like best.

But the stories I write, they’re more about myself. They’re stories about things I might be even wrestling with today.

What else does Rukhsana Khan do beyond writing books laced with humor?

When I am not writing I do presentations at schools, festivals and conferences in North America and around the world.

Over the last fifteen years, I’ve been honing my skills as a storyteller. I’ve gathered folktales from around the world as part of my repertoire. I’ve been featured at storytelling festivals around the world and developed my skills as a public speaker.

And I’ve developed excellent educational presentations designed for school children from very young students to high school students. All my presentations are geared towards addressing aspects of curriculum.

The children learn even as they are being entertained.

In 2008 the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) was holding their biannual congress in Copenhagen, Denmark. This was soon after the Danish cartoon incident.

IBBY is the largest organization for children’s literature in the world and has a membership of about 65 different countries.

I approached the organizers to do a session on freedom of speech versus cultural sensitivity in light of the Danish cartoon incident.

It became one of the major plenary/keynote sessions in the congress!

My speech was received so well in fact that it was turned into an article for the most prestigious children’s literature journal in America and I was asked to give the speech on two subsequent occasions.

CONTACT: Haider Ali Khan 778-241-0974, Dr. Niaz Ahmed 604-319-1473, Ghulam Mohyuddin 604-596-2385, Talib Hussain 604-612-2314, Rauf Khan 604-501-4700, Tariq Khan 604-512-2601, Azhar Latif 604-502-7558, Zulfiqar Shah 604-614-7966, Arjamand Khan 778-863-3331, TARIQ BHOURJRI 604-562-6326 ABDUL QAYYUM 778-688-4777, RASHID KAHLON 604-722-0973, USMAN TAHIR 604-518-7738

23

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

SPORTS

Afridi leads Pakistan to tense win

Maturity is an adjective that, at best, can only be sporadically applied to Shahid Afridi, but it was the hallmark of his blitz against Sri Lanka, as he struck an unbeaten 39 from 20 to lift his side to a three-wicket win in Dubai. Arriving at the crease with 50 to get off 35, Afridi was discerning in his attack, even as wickets continued to fall at the other end. The crowd may remember the big blows that carved a chunk from the required total, but Afridi’s thoughtful singles were as vital to Pakistan’s victory, as he lionised the strike while Pakistan’s remaining batting talent dwindled, largely thanks to Lasith Malinga, who took his best Twenty20 haul in over a year. He had been instrumental with his sharp, varied legspin as well, conceding only 20 from his five overs as Sri Lanka spluttered to 145 for 5. Though this score was only five less than captain Dinesh Chandimal had hoped for at the toss, it seemed insufficient on a decent batting surface, not given to extravagant turn. Mohammad Ha-

feez’ hope that dew would hamper the side bowling second also came to fruition, as Sri Lanka delivered occasional shockers that sealed their fate.

Two sixes from Afridi off Nuwan Kulasekara’s 16th over was his first definitive play, as he walloped a knee-length full toss high into the stands, before crashing one over deep cover when Kulasekara resigned himself to going full and wide. After that over Pakistan needed 29 off 24, with five wickets in hand, but immediately, Malinga’s four-run over, in which he also claimed a wicket, reclaimed ground for Sri Lanka.

Thirteen runs off Thisara Perera’s 18th over, though, all but secured the result for Pakistan. Malinga delivered another miserly six deliveries in between, but with six needed off the final over, Afridi knelt and swept Kulasekara’s first ball over long-leg. Before Afridi arrived, Pakistan’s leisurely innings had not seemed so different from Sri Lanka’s. Both sides had largely progressed at around

6.5 an over, with several batsmen earning starts but falling before achieving a substantial score.

Sharjeel Khan plowed on through the early overs, as he and Hafeez put on 57 for the second wicket, but they both fell against the run of play. Sohaib Maqsood had also seemed promising in his 13.

Mathews had rode good fortune to his 34-ball 50, surviving an almost-plumb lbw shout off Afridi on 17, before being dropped in the 18th over, in which he also made his most dramatic gains. In his fourth Twenty20, right-armer Bilawal Bhatti pitched full and then short early in the over, and Mathews took consecutive boundaries in front of square on the leg side. The next ball was back of a length and Mathews’ top-edged heave should have been caught by Hafeez, running back from cover, but he failed to settle under it.

Mathews would strike one more to the fence, taking the over-tally to 18. Hafeez had known his experienced slow bowlers held the key to restricting Sri Lanka, and

he began the bowling himself, before bringing Ajmal and Afridi on in the middle overs to keep Sri Lanka’s modest run-rate in hand.

Only the occasional loose delivery marred the Powerplay overs, in which a vital dynamic was established: if Sri Lanka wanted boundaries, they would largely have to manufacture them at some peril. Aside from that Bhatti over, Pakistan stamped down on every Sri Lanka surge, as the batsmen rarely found release apart from when they skipped down the track or played pre-meditated strokes.

It did not help that signs of rust were evident for almost every Sri Lanka batsman. Kusal Perera and Kumar Sangakkara were timing the ball well, but neither excelled in shot placement, and both departed trying to find spaces in the outfield. Though Mathews’ power sent his big strokes to the fence, he will also reflect that it was far from his most fluent knock. Mahela Jayawardene’s absence allowed Dinesh Chandimal to push himself up to a more-favoured

No.3, but although he hit his first Twenty20 score in excess of 15 in over two years, he was trapped in front for a run-a-ball 22. The ball that drifted in and straightened from Afridi was almost the righthanded equivalent of Kusal’s dismissal, for 15, to Ajmal.

Source: Cricinfo

NHL salary cap projected at roughly $71M next season A year ago things weren’t so great for the NHL. The lockout was becoming more contentious and threatening to cancel another season, and there was concern about the future of the league. Most importantly, commissioner Gary Bettman said, “We weren’t play-

ing.” When the playing resumed, fans returned and the money came pouring back. Revenues increased so much that next year’s salary cap is expected to be roughly $71 million US, close to a 12-per cent increase from this season. That’s an estimate, but it’s the figure

Bettman delivered to the board of governors Monday. “I said to the board there shouldn’t be any issue or consternation. If that’s the cap level, it’s because the revenues have gone up,” Bettman said. “We try to give people a sense of where we think it’ll come out, but it’s

subject to a whole host of issues — ultimately how much revenue is generated, where the Canadian dollar is, because we convert to U.S. dollars. If you want a rough, rough, rough ballpark, OK, but it could change.” Just being in the range of $71 million represents a

Madina Restaurant Pizza & Chicken

Seekh Kab ab

argha Lahori Ch

F Ren ully ovat ed

Party Hall available for up to 100 people!

OUR CHEF HAS OVER 15 YEARS OF We Serve EXPERIENCE 100% Halal Food!

15 PCS CHICKEN Tandoori Fried or Tandoo

All our staff are Muslim!

LAHORE SPICY FISH Served with Salad & Chutney

9

19.95

$

$ .95

icken Roaster ch

All kinds of Pizza

major bounce-back for the league after the lockout. Teams were allowed to spend up to $70.2 million during the lockout-shortened season, but then the cap was set at $64.3 million this year in accordance with the 50/50 split of hockey-related revenue as set out

Fried Chicken (Leg & Thigh)

Als Also A lso served:: N Nihari, ih ha ari C Chicken Karahi, Lahori Chargha, Seekh Kabab, Tandori Fish, Chicken Tikka, B Bu utter u tterr C tt Chicken, Chi hic ck cken cken, ken, Acha k A ch Chicken, Butter Achar Tandori Chicken, Steam Chicken, Mutton Karahi, Mutton Biryani Chicken Boti, Naan Kabab Chicken Biryani, Beef Paya, We Do Catering for All Occasions!

Haleem, Chicken Korma

Beef Nihari

Chicken Tikka Boti

Different kind of Pizzas, Burgers, Fried Chicken, Chicken Wings, Fries and much more..

Contact

bas Qamar Ab s Aqeel Abba

9320 Scott Road, Surrey, BC, 604.498.4212, 778.713.7212

24

Safar 10, 1435 H December 13, 2013

PAKISTAN

The New Chief Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani

By: Mian Abrar Profile Justice Jilani was born on July 6, 1949, in Multan. His father’s name was Muhammad Ramzan Shah Jilani. He is married to Khalida Jilani and together they have three sons and a daughter.

Jilani is related to the current ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani and Yusuf Raza Gilani, a former prime minister who Justice Chaudhry forced to step down last year.

Education and training He did his bachelor from Government Emerson College Multan and obtained a degree in the M.A. in Political Science from Forman Christian College and subsequently a graduate degree in Law from the University of the Punjab. He received ‘Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters’ from Southern Virginia University in a special convocation in 2007. He also completed a course in Constitutional Law from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies at the University of London.

Professional Career He started practice at District Courts, Multan in 1974 and enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court in 1976. Jilani was elected General Secretary, District Bar Association, Multan in 1976 and in 1978, was elected Member of the Punjab Bar Council. He was appointed as Assistant Advocate General Punjab in July 1979. He enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1983.

In 1988, promoted as Additional Advocate General Punjab. In 1993, and appointed as Advocate General of Punjab. He was elevated as a Judge of Lahore High Court on August 7, 1994 and elevated as Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 31, 2004.

World Justice Project He serves as an Honorary CoChair for the World Justice Project.

The World Justice Project works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the Rule of Law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity. Acting Chief Election Commissioner He being senior-most judge of the

Supreme Court‚ took oath as Acting Chief Election Commissioner at a simple ceremony in Lahore on August 17, 2013.

Reappointment in 2008 On November 3, 2007, Justice Jilani did not take oath on PCO of 2007 imposed by General Pervez Musharraf. He was declared to have been retired from the Supreme Court. However, on September 5, 2008, he accepted a reappointment to Supreme Court. He was to retain his seniority as if he had never retired. After restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 23, 2009, President Asif Ali Zardari issued an executive order that restored Justice Jilani and all other justices who had accepted reappointment.

On July 31, 2009, a 14 panel court held that declaration of emergency and imposition of PCO of 2007 was illegal and invalid. It also held that removal of all justices from higher judiciary was not valid. It further held that reappointment of justices had no legal effect as their removal in the first place was not valid.

Will there be a paradigm shift in the way judiciary works?

After being notified as new Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani is set to take over reigns from outgoing top judge Justice Iftikhar M. Chaudhry on December 12. He has served as a judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan and a former justice of Lahore High Court.

In the past, Jilani has been overshadowed despite the fact that he had refused to take oath under

Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) introduced by former dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007. However, his acceptance of reinstatement under disgraced Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in year 2008 had raised many questions among the lawyers’ movement leaders. Since then, Justice Chaudhry made sure to sideline Justice Jilani till his appointment as his successor on November 28.

Legal eagles see a slow change taking place at the apex court with Jilani taking over the reigns. However, they say that keeping in view the conduct and conduct of the new CJP, it is almost for sure that the use of aggressive tone and tenor by judges was almost over. Veteran legal wizard S M Zafar says that rather than focusing on bringing in a revolution, Justice Jilani believes in evolutionary process. “There would be a slow evolution under J. Jilani.

Challenges Ahead Keeping his personality in view, it would not be out of place to mention here that Mr Jilani is likely to reverse the aggressive and hawkish style adopted by his predecessor towards the executive and other organs of the state, especially the armed forces.

Populist decision-making Experts and senior lawyers say that Justice Jilani has many challenges ahead but the need to shunning judicial activism tops the list as Justice Chaudhry leaves behind his legacy of ‘judicial activism’.

Missing Persons’ Case In this preview, missing persons’ case would be a major challenge for the new CJP. Since there are judges who were influenced largely by Justice Chaudhry, Mr Justice Jilani may be careful in formation of benches to avoid any direct confrontation between the state institutions, opine legal experts. Tariq Chaudhry hoped that with Justice Jilani taking over, a slow change will take place.

Suo-motu Notices Aitzaz Ahsan said that the frequent use of article 184/3(suo motu) must end because there was no appeal against a judgment of the

SC in suo motu cases. Another top lawyer, Babar Sattar, said it would have to be seen as to how the SC exercises its suo motu powers after CJP Chaudhry.

Contempt Notices Issuing contempt of court notices to government officers and politicians is also another legacy of Justice Chaudhry. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan says that the contempt of court should be sparingly used and only to enforce the judgments of the courts. He said that CJ Jilani would adopt a more neutral and balanced position between political parties.

Athar Minallah, former spokesman for Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, said that personalities mattered a lot.

Bar, bench Relations Aitzaz Ahsan said that with Justice Chaudhry retiring, conditions will not go back to the square one. “Nor there will be a complete reversal.

Iftikhar Chaudhry has raised the bar and the judges will adapt to it.

So there is not going to be a swing of the pendulum to the other extreme but the approach of the new CJP is going to be much more balanced and sober”.

Babar Sattar said that with Justice Jilani taking over the SC affairs, he would not say it would be a paradigm shift. “The judiciary has emerged as free independent pillar of the state which is going to stay. But more debate within the SC is likely to take place and they might bring in more consistency,” he added.

Role of parliament in judges’ appointments needs to be cemented Babar Sattar said that there was a need for strengthening the role of parliament in monitoring of the judiciary. He said that the parliament’s role in judicial appointments had also been reduced which needed to be strengthened.

Judiciary, media relations On a close relationship between the judiciary and media, senior lawyer SM Zafar said there was a dire need for media to observe a balanced approach towards judiciary and the parliament.

Treason case SM Zafar said that if things remained normal in the near future, the treason case against General

Musharraf would be smooth and swift. Justice Tariq Chaudhry said that if any sort of unrest shakes the government hierarchy, it may affect trial of General Musharraf and he may fly away anytime.

Mian Abrar is an Islamabad based journalist. He can be reached at hussainmian@gmail.com has widened its agenda and started working closely with banned Sunni, militant groups; Sipah-e-Sahiba and Lashker Jengavi, to increase sectarian killings across the country-particularly in the Baluchsitan province. Moreover, reports say they are also working closely with the Baluchistan Liberation Army (a separatist group allegedly supported by foreign agencies based in Afghanistan) and other groups to carry out attacks on armed forces and non-Baluchis.

TTP draws its recruits from a mix bag of Madrassa’s students in Pakistan, militants of the origins of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Chechnya and some Arab countries. Due to atrocities committed by TTP, it is hardly finding any sympathy in public. In the past, Pakistani government made many attempts to engage TTP in a dialogue process, but these remained futile. Recently, Sharif’s government also tried to start a dialogue process with TTP, but a US drone strike that killed Hakim-ullah-Mehsud, halted the process.

To take avenge of the killing of Meshud, TTP has threatened to increase attacks in the days to come.

Thus tougher days are ahead for Pakistanis. The onus is now on the military establishment and government how promptly they would neutralize and diligently deal with this mess to prevent further TTP attacks. In order to improve standard of living of average Pakistanis, reduce poverty and unemployment, Pakistan desperately needs stability and certainty. If both political and military leadership draws a solid plan to combat both internal and external security challenges the above tasks are not difficult to achieve. Any further delays to correct the situation will make only the matter worst.

From :asad.szabist@gmail.com

SPORTS: Continued from pg 23 in the new collective bargaining agreement. General managers weren’t caught off-guard by the spike, even in the wake of the lockout. “When you look at the league and where it’s going as a whole, it doesn’t surprise me because I think the league is doing and excellent job of building revenues,” Vancouver Canucks GM Mike

Gillis said. “If it resembles [$71 million], if it’s close to that, it’s an indication the league is very healthy and clearly building in the right direction.” That right direction was hard to predict a year ago. Fans were disgruntled and there was no way to know how the game would respond. A 48game sprint and memorable playoffs made

the lockout feel like a distant memory. Last month the NHL reached a C$5.2-billion, 12-year Canadian television-rights agreement with Rogers Communications Inc., which the board approved Monday. CBC secured English-language rights to games in a sub-licensing agreement with Rogers for the next four years. Rogers retains three

exclusive windows to broadcast any game involving a Canadian team on Wednesdays, Saturdays, including CBC, and Sundays. Things are going well, but Bettman did not want to take credit for leading the league back. “Everything that’s happened is a testament to the enduring

25

26

27

28

Why our Young Generation are not interested in Marriage? * It is very common social problem of our society * Parents are worried about their youth interest in marraige life * What are the reasons behind our youth are they answerable to us? * Are parents are responsible of that? * If not then who are responsible of this sensitive social matters?

Think About that!

In

29

30

PICTURE

604-690-0400 miraclenews@telus.net www.miraclenews.com

Now you can see Barney’s Special Deals & Regular menu from our website at www.barneyspizza.ca

Pizza & Chicken The name you trust

10 PCS Chicken (Tandoori or Fried) $ 19 .99+ Tax Salad + Fries

15 PCS Chicken (Tandoori or Fried) $ 22.99 + Tax

2 Large Pizza (Any Kind) $ 24 .99 + Tax

Party Special

Chicken & Pizza Combo

2 Large Pizza (Any Kind) + 2 Ltr Pop 15 PCS Chicken

1 Large Pizza + Fries + Salad

2 Medium Pizza (Any Kind) $21 .99 +Tax

(Tandoori or Fried)

Large Fries + Salad

$54 .99 + Tax

10 PCS Chicken (Tandoori or Fried)

$32 .99 + Tax

Search “Barney’s Pizza” on Facebook and click on

Unit # 348-8140 128th St., Surrey Arshad 604-763-7869 ~ 778-565-4416

3 Large Pizza (Any Kind) $35.99 + Tax

31

ALLIED INSURANCE SERVCES INC.

Fast Efficient and friendly service for all your insurance needs Home Business Life

Tenants Travel Accident

Condominium Medical Sickness

We’ve Got Your Covered!

DELTA / SURREY

FLEETWOOD

Nordel Annex #105-12025 Nordel Way (x Scott Rd)

Fleetwood Town Square #103-15988 Fraser Hwy, Surrey

604-596-4588

604-572-3311

NEWTON

GUILDFORD

Newton Town Center #121-7135-138th St., Surrey

Guildford Plaza #60-10330-152nd St., Surrey

604-572-9292

604-582-8644

NEW WEST/BURNABY

WHALLEY

Burnaby Square #106-7885- 6th St., Burnaby

Plaza 102 10235 King George Hwy., Surrey

604-523-0900

604-582-8699

BASIT KHAN B.SC R.Ph Open 7 days 9am to 9pm

MULTI CULTURE TRAVEL

Your travel agency for western canada Email: mctrvl@shaw.ca We are open 7 days a week Flying Any Where 24 Hours EMERGANCY Service Call us for the Best Rates and Prompt Services

Contact: Amer Anwar, Travel Consultant Serving you in English, Hindi, Gujrati Malayalam, Punjabi & Urdu Fly Direct to Pakistan, Bangladash, Sri Lanka, India, Fiji, Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Canada & USA.

BC Reg 28697

VANCOUVER (SURREY)

EDMONTON

CALGARY

9476 - 120 St. (Scott Rd.) TF: 1-800-311-1404 Tel: 604-580-1311

9314 - 34th Avenue TF: 1-800-268-5817 Tel: 780-448-1191

#730 5075 Falconridge Blvd. NE TF: 1-800-416-4711 Tel: 604-263-8500

$7.99 ea Finest Pakistani Cuisine in Vancouver

www.alwatantandoori.com Under new Ownership

Fully Renovated

Red Hot Chili Pepper Indian Style Chinese Food We serve Halal Meat & Poultry We have a private party room for special occasions Lunch Special: From more than 20 items $6.95 ea

Catering for your party as well

All meat

Hand Slaughtered Meat

Chicken Box Sweets from Bangldesh Legs & Thighs $75

supplied Same Chef and Same Menu

by Alfaraza at the Same Location.

10% OFF on Pick Up (at main dishes only)

ek s a We 7 Day

12790-96 Ave @ 128 St Surrey Phone: 604-583-9987

SURREY Bullion, Foreign Exchange & Best Choice Travel Inc. Unit 109-12827-76th Ave Surrey • You can buy or exchange any kind of world currency • Send your money in a short time by wire transfer or draft through the Bank wherever you want • Offer Best rates in town

Gua

Bestranteed Rate s

We do the best trip for you!

Our Services Include: - Airline Tickets - Hajj & Umrah Package - Car Rentals - Cruise - Travel Insurance - Package Holidays

Akhtar Tanoli 604-618-3777, Tel: 604-503-4653, Zaman Pasha , 778-552-7371, Anwar Pasha 778-895-9335, Raza Ahmed, Saman Saghir (M Managerr) 604-507-8549