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Volume 11 Issue 293 Shawaal 25, 1432 AH / September 23, 2011 - $1

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Afghan peace mediator killed in Kabul attack

Authority for full membership in the international body.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will speak to the assembly on behalf of Canada later this month. The Palestinians have been actively lobbying the international community to support their request - a move which they say would be a major step toward the actual creation of a Palestinian nation.

By achieving such official recognition, they believe they would have a greater international profile and more leverage in their negotiations with Israel. The United States has indicated it will oppose the request at the UN - expected to come next Friday when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivers an address to the UN General Assembly. At a news conference in Saskatchewan, Harper was asked about the position Canada will adopt. “It is our view this unilateral action on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to be not helpful,” Harper responded. “No unilateral actions

Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former president of Afghanistan, has been killed in a suicide attack in the country’s capital, Kabul. Rabbani, who served as president in the 1990s, was recently made the head of the High Peace Council, tasked by Hamid Karzai, the current president, to reach out to the Taliban. Mohammad Zaher, Kabul’s criminal investigations chief, said two men “negotiating with Rabbani on behalf of the Taliban” arrived at his house on Tuesday, one with explosives hidden in his turban. “He approached Rabbani and detonated his explosives. Rabbani was martyred and four others including Masoom Stanekzai [his deputy] were injured”. Fazel Karim Aymaq, a member of the High Peace Council, said the men claimed to have come with “special messages” from the Taliban and were thought to be “very trusted.” When Rabbani appeared, the man shook the former president’s hand and bowed in a sign of respect, Aymaq said. “Then his turban exploded.’’

The blast broke windows in Rabbani’s home and shook nearby houses. Initial reports said four bodyguards had been killed but Zaher said this was incorrect. The latest in a series of targeted killings, Rabbani’s is the most high-profile political killing since 2001. He was president of the Afghan government that preceded the Taliban, a period of civil war that saw thousands of people killed. After he was driven away from Kabul by the Taliban in 1996, he became the nominal head of the Northern Alliance, which swept to power in the capital after the Taliban’s fall in 2001. President Karzai, who cut short a trip to the United Nations in New York after hearing of the attack, called on Afghans to remain uni-

Continued on pg 28

Continued on pg 28

Surrey School Board of Education moves to new building: School Board Trustees and members participate in a tree planting ceremony in front of the new building for Surrey School board at 14o St and 92nd Ave. For details about the building, see our exclusive interview with school board chairman Laurae McNally on Page 12. Photo by: M. N. Pirzada

Canada to oppose bid for Palestinian statehood Canada will oppose an upcoming bid for statehood at the United Nations by Palestinians, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas formally committed to demanding what he called “our legitimate right” to a state in a speech on Friday. On Friday, Harper said this sort of “unilateral action” on behalf of the Palestinian Authority is “very regrettable” and won’t help the goal of establishing long-term peace in the Middle East. The prime minister made the statement as he prepares to visit New York next week for a meeting with other world leaders whose nations are part of the military alliance that ousted Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Also next Tuesday, Harper will attend a high-level meeting at the UN on improving maternal and child health in poor nations - a cause that Harper has been championing for more than a year. Harper will not deliver an address to the General Assembly of the UN, which will be gripped by the controversial request later in the week from the Palestinian

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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p a k i s t a n

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Dengue not issue of a specific province but global: PM

“Dengue is not a problem peculiar to our country or a specific province. It is a global issue and Pakistan is just one of more than one hundred countries, effected by the virus. Fifty million people are infected by this disease annually in the world thus making it the most common viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes”.

This was stated by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani while addressing National Conference on Dengue Response here in Lahore on Monday.

He said that dengue has emerged as a challenging public health issue in the recent past giving rise to the need of a thorough technical discourse, in order to guide public opinion and policy making.

He said that it was imperative that technical issues were addressed in a professional manner otherwise it may lead to misinformation and hence the utter chaos and confusion that we may encounter when such situations arise.

He said that the fact that dengue was preventable by simple measures and appropriate level of public awareness makes it a relatively easier disease to control as compared to some other very complex conditions.

“Our public health and medical experts are fully capable of handling the situation and have made significant achievements in this aspect”, he said.

He said that the current crisis has indeed re-enforced my belief in the importance of public awareness in fighting epidemics and controlling the spread of disease.

The role of political leadership in protecting the health of the people cannot be over-emphasized, he said.

He said that public representatives need to come forward and play their role in allaying fears, providing the right information and mobilizing the communities to look after their own health through adoption of preventive measures.

He said that the federal government stood firmly by the provincial governments in dealing with the current and all future public health challenges.

However, Six more people succumbed to the dengue fever on

Continued on pg 28

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Sindh saw similar scenes during last year’s floods, which at their peak affected all four of the country’s provinces and triggered a massive international aid response. While some districts in the region have been flooded out twice, many of the hardest-hit towns and villagers this year were unaffected in 2010.

The return of the floods is testament to the powerful penetration of the monsoon rains that envelop much of Asia at the end of summer. It also points to the limits of Pakistan’s government, often blasted as weak and corrupt. During normal times, Islamabad officials are seen as barely helping citizens.

As the rain did last year, the floods are undercutting the legitimacy of the shaky government, which is widely disliked and struggling against Islamist militants, political turmoil and massive economic problems.

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Flood victims camped out near inundated fields and crowded hospitals on Monday as authorities and international aid groups struggled to respond to Pakistan’s second major bout of flooding in just over a year. Monsoon rains since early August have killed more than 220 people, damaged or destroyed some 665,000 homes and displaced more than 1.8 million people in the southern Sindh province, according to the government and the United Nations, which Sunday made an emergency appeal for funding.

“First it started to rain, then water gathered here and there and later the floods came,” said Mohammad Hashim, who was sitting by the side of a main road in Badin district. “We did not get any relief. We are helpless, with nothing left to eat.

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Continued on pg 28

Quetta shuts down to protest Shia killings

A shutter-down strike was observed in parts of Quetta on Wednesday against the killing of 29 pilgrims in Mastung on Tuesday, reported by Daily Times .

The strike call was given by Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) and Thafuz-e-Hizazdari Council. The strike was observed in Hazara areas like Almdar Road, Kirani road, Hazara Town and Mariabad. All shops, banks and trading centres were closed in these areas. People put up barricades and blocked the western bypass road, staged a sit-in and burned tyres. Traffic was suspended for several hours on this road. The people demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits behind the attack. A case was registered against unidentified persons in Levies Thana Mastung.

Twenty-three of the pilgrims who were shot dead in Mastung have been buried at Hazara graveyard in

Western Bypass in Quetta in the presence of hundreds of mourners. Two dead bodies were dispatched to Loralai district, while two of the victims, who were from Afghanistan, were sent to their ancestral town.

People, including women and children, present in the graveyard, raised slogans against the government and law enforcement agencies for their failure to protect human lives. Stringent security measures were adopted during the funeral prayers to prevent any untoward incident. While police have rounded up over 200 Afghan refugees, Balochistan Home Secretary Nasebullah Khan Bazai said that no arrest had so far been made in connection with Mastung incident. Protesters set three houses on fire on Kirani Road on the outskirts of the city.

“According to preliminary reports, a group of people were staging a protest against the Mastung incident,” PS Barori sources said, adding that during the protest, the protestors torched three houses.

Law enforcement personnel rushed to the site soon after the incident and dispersed the protesters. Fire brigade vehicles extinguished the fire after hectic efforts.

The government came under heavy criticism from the Shia community and the HRCP on Wednesday after the worst attacks on the Shia minority in a year. It was the deadliest attack on Shias in Pakistan since September 4, 2010, when a suicide bomber killed at least 57 people at a rally in Quetta.

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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i n t e r n a t i o n a l

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

B.C. gang task force issues warning as violence intensifies

One month after Red Scorpions leader Jonathan Bacon was gunned down outside a posh waterfront resort, and just a few days after a brazen shooting on a Surrey street, B.C.’s gang task force warned the public that Lower Mainland gang tensions and violence are heating up. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, which operates the gang task force, held a news conference Tuesday to issue a public warning to anyone linked to an organization police called the Duhre and Dhak group. The unit said it has reason to believe those close to the group could still be at risk after a shooting Friday that critically wounded one of its associates. Police conceded the warning was unusual, but said they had little choice because of the possibility a girlfriend, family member, or someone else loosely linked to the group – or even an innocent member of the public – would be caught in the crossfire. “I’m not trying to instill fear in the citizens,” said Superintendent Tom McCluskie, who leads the gang task force. “But certainly there’s enough tension that we’re con-

cerned that there will be a retaliation, that there will be further violence. “It’s not the general public that they’re after. It’s each other. What I’m concerned about is the public venues by which they display their violence.” Supt. McCluskie was vague on what may have sparked Friday’s shooting, or whether it was linked to Mr. Bacon’s killing in Kelowna in August.

“It’s a little bit too early into the investigation into the shooting in Surrey on Friday night to say that it’s directly related to the Kelowna shooting. But we are examining that angle of it. As it sits right now, we haven’t made any confirmed connection.”

Supt. McCluskie said 80 investigators are working around the clock. He did not indicate when the threat of violence might be curtailed and said a number of groups are in conflict at the moment. He declined to provide further details on the Duhre and Dhak group and its activities. A police spokesman told The Globe and Mail last December that the Duhre group rose to prominence in the Fraser Valley after the leaders of gangs such as the Red Scorpions

and United Nations were arrested. A man named Gurmit Dhak was killed last year in a mall parking lot in what police at the time called a targeted hit. When asked whether Tuesday’s warning might increase the Duhre and Dhak group’s influence, Supt. McCluskie said public safety trumped that risk. “If that’s part of the process, and if that’s one of the products of doing this, so be it.” He would not comment on what information police received to indicate the Duhre and Dhak group might still be at risk. Supt.

McCluskie has been with the unit for two years and said this was the first public warning he has issued. “We don’t do this every day, but we take this very seriously.

Given the growing gang tensions and potential for violence in the Lower Mainland, we want to assure the public that every effort is being made to get ahead of this vio-

lence should it erupt again in our streets.”

Police in Abbotsford issued a similar warning in 2008 to anyone associated with the three Bacon brothers who led the Red Scorpions. A gang war plagued the Lower Mainland in early 2009, with shootings a near-daily occurrence. Supt. McCluskie said he was in Kelowna last week and was pleased with how the investigation into Mr. Bacon’s death was proceeding. He could not say when an arrest might be made.

Source: Globe and Mail

Quake toll mounts to 92; 3,000 rescued in Sikkim

More than 3,000 people were rescued in quake-hit areas of Sikkim by defence forces which scrambled hard to clear debris of collapsed structures and landslides as the death toll in Sunday’s powerful temblor shot up to 92, including 53 in the Himalayan state. Of the 53, 36 people died in the districts of North Sikkim, 12 in East Sikkim, four in West Sikkim and one in South Sikkim, a Relief Control Room official said in Gangtok. The National Highway 31-A from Mangan to Gangtok was closed due to blockades caused by heavy landslides but an alternative road was reopened to help rescue teams reach the worst-affected areas. A PTI correspondent who went around some of the quake-hit areas in and around Mangan found people in a state of shock, many afraid to enter their houses which have either developed cracks, tilted perilously or partially collapsed. “If there is another tremor, my house will collapse.

So we are waiting out in the open,” said 74-year-old Dengji Sherpa surrounded by his family and villagers at Lachan.

Some others were seen trying to retrieve household goods from the debris. The toll in Sunday’s 6.8 magnitude strong earthquake has mounted to 92. Besides 53 in Sikkim, the toll has gone up to 12 in West Bengal, nine in Bihar and 11 in Nepal. There was no change in Monday’s figure of seven deaths in Tibet. As aftershocks continued, people were seen squatting on roadsides, public places and near temples. Using helicopters, heavy lift transport aircraft and infantry troops, defence forces rescued more than 3000 people in the quake-hit areas of Sikkim and intensified efforts to extricate people trapped under the debris of collapsed structures. IAF has airlifted more than 500 troops there, including the medical and engineering teams and is conducting sorties of heavy lift transport aircraft and choppers from Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Bagdogra to ferry troops and ensure supply of medicines and food. “There are eight to 13 helicopters which have been pressed into service in conjunction with the Air Force. 35 heavy engineering plant equipments have been deployed to restore roads and communication lines,” Deputy Director General of Military Operations Brigadier Ranbir Singh said in New Delhi. Rescue efforts covering 62 villages and 20 medical

centers have been set wherein over 370 people have been treated and 8 relief centers have been established where over 2700 people have been provided shelter.

On rescue efforts in Mangan, epicenter of the quake, he said, “281 troops have reached Mangan, including four medical and two engineering teams. A relief camp has been established there and communication teams are working to establish telephone lines.” 20 medical centers have been set up in the quake-affected areas in Sikkim and 11 cook houses to provide relief. A bus carrying 22 people which went missing in north Sikkim since the temblor struck was yet to be traced. A spokesman of the 17 Mountain Division said the bus could be anywhere in a radius of 10 and 15 km along the quake epicentre Mangan and Chungthang and that efforts have been stepped up to track it. With some improvement in weather, relief and rescue operations by Army and National Disaster Respon se Force(NDRF) personnel picked up in the afternoon. For the second consecutive day, food packets and medicine pouches were airdropped in inaccessible areas of the mountain state and round-the-clock work is on to clear debris and open roads still blocked due to quake-triggered landslides. District collectors are overseeing the work. The earthquake has left a trail of devastation cracking roads, damaging houses and other structures, uprooting mobile phone towers and snapping communication and power lines. Power and telephone lines have been restored in Gangtok. But the fringe areas of the town are still without power and are cut off from the rest of the world. IAF has also flown sorties of AN-32 aircraft from Jorhat and Delhi and have airlifted around 4.5 tonnes of medicines, Principal Director Operation (Transport and Helicopters) Air Commodore A Raghvendra said. “So far we have conducted 16 sorties of transport aircraft, 18 helicopter sorties and have airlifted 23 tonnes of load and 500 personnel to Bagdogra,” he said. A senior Army officer said that in next few days, the operations would concentrate on opening other major roads in the state including Nathu La and in Gangtok which have been affected by landslides.

Source: Hindustan Times

Burundi bar attack leaves many dead At least 36 people have been killed after unknown gunmen opened fire at a crowded bar near the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, officials say.

Bomb blast kills three in Ankara A powerful bomb rocked the centre of Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday, killing three people and injuring at least 15, the interior minister said, as immediate suspicion fell on Kurdish separatists. “Three citizens were killed and 15 were injured, five of whom are in critical condition,” Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin told Turkish television. Sahin said there was a “high possibility that it was a terrorist attack,” using the government’s shorthand for attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). President Abdullah Gul, on an official visit to Germany, strongly condemned the attack, which he described as “inhuman”.

The bomb, which went off outside the administration offices for the capital’s central Cankaya district, blew out windows in shops and offices, damaged cars and sparked a fire which was put out by firefighters, media reports said.

The offices are near downtown Kizilay square in the city of four million people, that is home to many government buildings as well as military headquarters. The blast comes days after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was ready to launch a ground assault on camps of the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) across the border in northern Iraq in reprisal for a recent spate of rebel attacks.

Turkey’s government has been considering a series of measures in the face of the upsurge in

attacks, including a request to parliament to extend its authorisation for cross-border military operations for one more year after it expires next month. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, condemned the attack, saying innocent civilians had become “victims of terror”. Turkish aircraft have repeatedly bombed PKK bases in northern Iraq since August 17. According to the government, more than a 100 rebels have been killed.

Turkey has launched 25 cross-border land operations against PKK targets in Iraq during the last 25 years. The latest incursion was in February 2008. The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and much of the international community, took up arms in Kurdish-majority southeast Turkey in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed about 45,000 lives. Several outlawed armed groups -- Kurdish, Islamist and leftist extremist -- have carried out bomb attacks in Istanbul in the past. In May 2007, a suicide bomber killed six other people in an attack in downtown Ankara, which was blamed on the PKK. Bomb attacks on HBSC bank and the British consulate in Istanbul in 2003 left 57 people dead. In May of this year, a bomb left near a bus stop in central Istanbul injured eight people.

Source: AFP

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i n t e r n a t i o n a l

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

New Libyan government ‘within 10 days’

A new Libyan government will be announced within seven to 10 days, the transitional leadership’s interim prime minister has said in New York. “Government to be announced within a week, 10 days maximum,” Mahmoud Jibril told reporters on Tuesday, adding the ministers could be divided between the east and west of the country. “I’m not bothered by (the) time ... to bring about national consensus,” he said. He was speaking at a press conference hosted by G8 foreign ministers after the new Libyan leaders were welcomed to the United Nations, enshrining their newfound status after ousting long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. On Sunday Jibril had had to delay the unveiling of a new Libyan government, saying it was held up by last-minute haggling. Jibril, a former Gaddafi regime official, said then that many of the portfolios for the new cabinet had been agreed, but there were still discussions going on over others. “Most of the work has been done. It is a question of the number of ministries and the location of the ministries.” He said they could all be in the capital, Tripoli, but it was possible they could be divided between between the east and west of Libya. The transitional council was based in Benghazi in the east of the country. Tripoli is in the west. “For a country which was absent from any democratic process for 42 years from any institutions, from any democratic culture, what’s taking place is natural,” said Jibril. “I think we better have good consultation, we had better talk before we act. “I think this government, when formed, will help tremendously to bring about stability and order in Tripoli and the rest of the country. Mean-

while, Libya has been added to the list of Arab countries that have seen political revolutions or deep change that will benefit from a G8 arrangement set up by France, which holds the G8 presidency this year. The so-called Deauville Partnership will inject about $80 billion and international expertise into the new democracies, though as a relatively wealthy country Libya will not be getting the financial aid. The cash will be concentrated on Tunisia and Egypt, with some help going to Morocco and Jordan to help the countries with economic development, education and training, rule of law and political reforms. “We have got to help the countries that are now free,” French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told a press conference after the meeting. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr said “an extraordinary and exceptional moment needs extraordinary and exceptional ways to deal with it.”

Source: Al-Jazeera

‘Ceasefire’ halts third day of Sanaa violence A ceasefire negotiated by Yemen’s vice president and Western diplomats has gone into effect in Sanaa, the capital, bringing relative calm after three days of deadly violence, officials have said. The defence ministry said Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the vice-president, had called for the ceasefire on Tuesday to end clashes between pro- and anti-government forces in Sanaa, the AFP news agency said. The truce was negotiated

by Hadi and several foreign envoys, including the US and the British ambassadors in the country, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment to the media. The ceasefire was implemented at 1600 local time on Tuesday, bringing relative calm to the city, with witnesses reporting only sporadic gunfire. The ceasefire ended a third day of deadly violence between loyalists of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and government opponents in which more than 70 people were killed.

Earlier on Tuesday, heavy shelling and machine gun fire rocked Sanaa, killing at least 26 people and injuring several others, witnesses and medical sources said. Violence had reached “unprecedented” levels in Sanaa, the International Committee of the Red Cross said, citing “very worrying” reports of armed confrontations taking place at one of the main hospitals in Sanaa. “[ICRC] called on Yemeni authorities, pro-democracy protesters and others involved in the violence to spare lives after scores were killed in the past 72 hours alone,” Valerie Petitpierre, deputy head of the ICRC’s delegation in Yemen, said in a statement on Tuesday. In the latest clashes, five people were wounded when two rockets hit a protest camp, witnesses told Al Jazeera. More than 100 people have been wounded across the country since clashes erupted on Sunday. The three-day violence came as anti-government protesters stepped up their campaign to topple Saleh and a key military unit supporting them was drawn deeper into the fighting. The confrontations between former soldiers who are sup-

porting the protesters and government troops portends a new and even more violent phase in Yemen’s eightmonth standoff. Saleh’s forces have hit back by using rooftop snipers and shelling protest encampments. The latest violence is the worst incident of bloodshed since a similar massacre killed 52 people in mid-March. The renewed crackdown came amid reports that Hadi, the Yemeni vice-president, would sign a Gulf Arab initiative to arrange for a transfer of power in Yemen “within a week”. “Within a week, the vice-president will sign the Gulf Initiative in the name of the president,” a highranking Saudi official, who requested anonymity, told reporters. Last week, Saleh authorised Hadi to negotiate a power transfer with the opposition. The initiative was proposed by the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council and sets the path for a peaceful transition of power from Saleh, who has ruled Yemen since 1978.

According to the Saudi official, “among the guarantees demanded by Saleh are that his son be kept in the next government”. Saleh left the country three months ago for Saudi Arabia where he has been recovering from a June 3 attack on his presidential compound. The president has since January faced protests over nepotism and corruption from reform activists inspired by the Arab Spring.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Arab League parliament urges Syria suspension

An Arab parliamentary body has called for the suspension of the membership of Syria and Yemen in the Arab League in a bid to put pressure on the two countries to heed popular demands for reforms. The call was put out on Tuesday following a committee meeting of the Arab Parliament, a body to which members of the Arab League send representatives. The head of the committee, which met at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo, said that “mass slaughter” was taking place in Syria and Yemen and called on the league to deal with the countries in a similar way to how it dealt with Libya. After a crackdown by the government of Muammar Gaddafi on pro-democracy protesters, the Arab League suspended Libya’s Arab League membership in February. “We call on the Arab states to freeze the membership of Damascus in the Arab League and urge the Arab leaders to take more active stands in that regard if the Syrian leadership did not ... stop violence and withdraw its security forces and army ... and form a national unity government from all political powers,” said Tawfik Abdallah of the Arab Parliamentarians Political Affairs and National Security Committee. The parliamentary committee was careful to specify that it was not calling for foreign intervention, such as the NATO imposed no-fly zone on Libya that was initially supported by the Arab League. The recommendations of the committee of parliamentarians are not binding, but the forceful steps called for by the body would represent a significant strengthening of the Arab League’s approach to Syria and Yemen if adopted. An Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo on September 13 called for “immediate change” in Syria and an end to a crackdown on protesters demanding that President Bashar al-Assad step down. Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Araby has said that a decision to suspend Syria’s membership of the league has to be taken by the Arab states, not by the league’s administration. El-Araby, who visited Syria earlier this month, said he had discussed sending an Arab League fact-finding mission to Damascus at a meeting with Assad. He said Assad was “responsive” but the league would only be prepared to send a delegation once the crackdown stopped. In regards to Yemen, Arab League officials have said on different occasions that they have not taken any decisions on the crisis as it has already been handled by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). The GCC offered a deal that calls for President Ali Abullah Saleh to step down within a set time frame and for the ruling party and the opposition to come together in a national unity government. In exchange, Saleh would receive immunity from prosecution. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday discussed the need to “increase pressure” on Assad. The two leaders “talked about the need to increase pressure on the Assad regime, in order to lead to an outcome that is responsive to the aspirations of the Syrian people,” a White House official said.

In the latest reports of bloodshed, activists said at least people were killed in Syria on Tuesday. Four civilians were killed in the central city of Homs, including a woman and an 11-year-old boy who died when their bus was fired on, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Another two were reported killed during searches carried out in the Damascus region.

Elsewhere, a policeman was shot dead by unknown attackers in the northwestern Jabal al-Zawiyah region, the Observatory said. The state news agency said troops defused a bomb planted under a crude oil pipeline near Homs. The latest figures released by the United Nations human rights office on Monday indicated that Syrian security forces have killed 2,700 protesters since the start of a the uprising in March, including at least 100 children.

Meanwhile, at least 68 Yemenis have been killed in violence between supporters and opponents of Saleh since Sunday. About 400 protesters have been killed since protests began in the country in January.

Source: Al-Jazeera

7

e d i t o r i a l

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

IS CALAMITY STRIKE A NATURE’S VENGEANCE? Dengue fever is curable but is fatal if left untreated. Symptoms include high fever, severe aches, and in the worst cases, a severe drop in platelet counts. The aedes aegypti mosquito - carrier of dengue has been hitting Lahore and the vicinity where more than 6000 dengue cases have already been reported so far. The chaos in hospitals is overwhelming. Severely sick patients are being placed on mats in corridors and medical staff is having hard time coping with the scenario. Ironically, media has turned its binoculars away from terrorist and drone attacks and are now focussed on dengue attacks instead. The ongoing upsurge of dengue related illness is the most widespread “vector borne virus.” As commonly seen, a combination of higher temperatures and greater humidity invites a breeding environment for the dengue mosquito to grow its population.

What goes around comes around: Most obviously, a prolonged abuse of “Nature’s original set up” is only coming back to us in the form of abnormal weathers, rains and overflowing rivers. Resultantly, there is a breeding ground for “guerrilla type mosquitoes;” they are addicted to attack the humans at will. Miserably enough, we failed to plan ahead of time to deal with the aftermath of abnormal weather conditions. Admittedly, a screwed up weather system is the fault of our selfish progression ignoring the demands of Nature. Constantly ignoring the related damage to the normal climate-as designed by the Nature

for the benefit of humankind has further contributed to the problem.

No doubt, the “Industrial Revolution” had provided a good lifestyle to the whole world but at extremely high cost. Now we are to live with the messed up atmospheric adjustments. It is still believed, the resulted climatic change is responsible for the overall loss of environmental balance.

Yet, many people intentionally ignore the fact that the “Godly System” has been falling apart for quite a while due to repetitive misuse of it by all involved. Pollution including Industrial gases, smoke, other gases from air conditioners, fridges and smoke from vehicles has been slowly rupturing the ozone layer (a protective layer against the poisonous heat from the Sun and other gases). Currently, the weather system is going through malfunctioning phase, and it is too confused to regulate rains and melting glaciers. Floods and other diseases such as dengue virus and many other diseases are just natural result of unnatural human behaviour. However, more research is needed to establish a link between climate change, abnormal rains, flooding and dengue or other viral diseases.

Nevertheless, any abuse of the “natural set up” is always followed by surprises such as the ones we are presently faced with. No matter what! We always tend to shift blame of these natural repercussions onto “misfortune” or “Divine’s vengeance.”

Too late too little: A global consensus is building up to agree that climate change

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is humankind’s greatest threat in modern times and is likely to have profound consequences for socio-economic sectors such as health, food production, energy consumption and security and natural resource management. http://www.lead.org.pk/cc/ basicguide_climate_change.html Sadly but surely, despite Pakistan’s very little contribution to the overall greenhouse gas emissions, it remains severely impacted by the negative effects of climate change by the following factors: Glacier melting in the Himalayas is likely to increase flood activity affecting water resources within the next two to three decades. Followed by decreased river flows over time as glaciers recede, freshwater will decrease leading to biodiversity loss. Coastal areas bordering the Arabian Sea in the southern Pakistan will be at the greatest risk due to increased flooding from the sea and rivers. A drastic decrease in crop yields in Pakistan is already showing up.

Current flooding is so catastrophic that it has displaced approx ten million people in Sindh, while dengue epidemic in Lahore alone has reportedly affected more than four thousand people - forcing educational institutions to remain closed for ten days. But, people are angrily voicing their opinion that the floods in Sindh and dengue outbreak in Punjab are both man-made disasters due to a lack of appropriate planning ahead of time. Naturally, the blame game goes against the incompetent governance, ailing administration on account of their

selfish intentions and general laziness. It seems clear; we will be living with dengue for some time to come. According to the visiting Sri Lankan experts it could take up to a decade to strategically eliminate the virus. Currently, Sindh is undergoing a catastrophic situation as, six million acres of land including two million acres of cultivable land is under water. Out of desperation, the stranded people are in need of emergency rescue. Although, assistance is coming in, but external donors are hesitant to directly fund the government or its agencies because of our bad image.

On the other hand, a bitter reality is that our leaders remain addicted to carrying beggar’s bowl as usual to raise funds to deal with the current dengue and flood crises. Islamabad and the UN have jointly launched an appeal for raising $357million for flood relief in foreign donations to urgently help seven million victims of catastrophic floods and dengue virus.

It’s a painful truth that the rulers are not serious or sincere enough to learn to build more reservoirs or dams because of their political interests, affiliations or other reservations.

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

O P I N I O N S

Response of Miracle Readers to statement by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“The biggest security threat to Canada is Islamism” By: (Imam) Syed B. Soharwardy Your recent statements during an interview on CBC regarding “Islamicism” a threat to Canada are misleading and confusing. It seems that your understanding of “Islamicism” and “Islamic Terrorism” is based upon the threats that Canada and the rest of the world are facing from fanatics and terrorists who call themselves Muslims. Is Islam the only religion facing this problem OR other religions had and have this problem too? There are fanatics and extremists in every faith. They are the threat to Canada and the civil society.

The Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, Muslims Against Terrorism and ISCC affiliated mosques do support any effort that protects Canada and the Canadians from any threat. We support the Canadian government in countering threats to our country. However, your selection of words for identifying the threat was neither correct nor wise. In fact, the words “Islamicism” and “Islamic Terrorism” are misleading and completely untrue. These words do help the terrorists in their propaganda of hate and misinform non-Muslims about our faith. These words divide Canadians and harm the interfaith relationships. How can you call some thing Islamic which has been repeatedly condemned and declared by overwhelming majority of Muslim schol-

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ars un-Islamic? Terrorism, extremism, fanaticism, violence and suicide bombings have been declared unlawful (Haraam) and criminal in our holy book, Qur’an, by our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), by all early scholars of Islam and by the overwhelming majority of the current scholars of Islam. What else you need from Muslims Mr. Prime Minister? In January, 2010 more than twenty eight Canadian and the American Imams affiliated with the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada issued a Fatwa declaring that any attack on Canada and the United States will be considered attack on Islam and Muslims?

Around the world hundreds of prominent Muslim scholars have issued their own Fatwas declaring suicide bombings and terrorism criminal and absolutely un-Islamic actions. ISCC and many other Muslim organizations and mosques are doing their best to educate Muslim youth and elders to stay away from fanatics and extremists. I walked across Canada in 2008 and led the Multi-Faith Walk Against Violence. During seven months of my walk I met thousands of Muslims and non-Muslim Canadians and raised awareness about the dangers of violence and terrorism. ISCC holds weekly and monthly programs in various Canadian mosques across the country to help new immigrants in integrating with

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the mainstream Canadian society. We have made some progress but we have a long way to go. What else you want us to do Mr. Harper? Please let us know. Mr. Harper, we promise to you that we will do exactly what you want us to do but for Jesus Christ’s sake (about whom you say you love him very much) please don’t link Islam with any “ism” OR “ist”. There is no such thing as “Islamicism” OR “Islamists”. Muslims do not create any link of Islam with any “ism” OR “ist”. Our faith does not even recognize this link. Why are you trying to create this link? We respect your religion. We do not associate your religion with any fanatic or terrorist.

Why did you link Islam with fanatics and the terrorists? I do not see anywhere in Canadian laws that the Prime Minister of Canada can also define people’s faith. We know our faith very well and we do not find fascism, fanaticism, extremism, terrorism, radicalism and hate for anyone in our faith. Mr. Harper, Islam, a religion of 1.6 billion people, is not a monolithic religion.

There are thousands of groups, cultures, ethnicities, several sects and denominations within the Muslims. Any fanatic, extremist or terrorist who uses Islamic teachings to propagate violence against any Canadian must be identified with his/her “SECT” or group or organization or his/her coun-

try of citizenship or birth. It’s not difficult to find out the sectarian or group affiliation of a terrorist. Once again, Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, its affiliate organizations and mosques extend you and our government full support for defending Canada and the Canadians. Please be assured that the Canadian Muslims are doing their best to watch out for any threats. We work very closely with our local law-enforcement agencies. We report to them any potential threat. Mr. Prime Minister, we are all human and we do make mistakes.

You made a mistake by linking Islam with terrorism and radicalism. It will be very honourable action if you please apologize to the Canadian Muslims for choosing poorly worded statements and retract your words.

You are our Prime Minister too and we respect you. As voters, tax payers and lawabiding citizens of Canada we have the right to ask you to do the right thing. Please retract your words. May God bless you and protect our country Canada from all evils. Amen More responses on Page 8.

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Response to PM statement (continued) By: Ijaz Ahmed Chatha The recent remarks of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to CBC TV, stating “ the biggest security threat to Canada is Islamism”; in my view the Prime Ministers unwarranted statement has offended many peace loving Canadian Muslims. As the prime minister of Canada he should not be singling out vulnerable minorities on the basis of their faith or origin. He is the representative of all Canadians, regardless of their religion or race. Mr. Harper has demonized more than a million Canadian Muslims by saying that “the major threat is still Islamism.” He has displayed for people seeking opportunities to spread hate more easily.

Islam in fact is a religion that promotes peace and understanding among people of all faiths, and it strongly prohibits all forms of violence and aggression against all people regardless of their faith or race, with the exception of self-defense. Islam is a practical religion and it is a religion that is meant to be implemented in all actions of the Muslims life, and it is meant to promote peace and justice in the world.

Honorable Stephen Harper should have taken the high road by uniting all Canadians together and engaging the Muslim community with the mainstream society rather than targeting Muslims. I believe that not a single Canadian would appreciate Mr. Harper’s statement.

Canadian Muslims are peace loving and patriotic and deserve the same respect and dignity as any other citizen of the country. Honorable Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada we Canadian Muslims urge you to stop treating us as second class citizens for something we are not responsible and please reconsider your unwanted and insensitive remarks.

Honourable PM Stephen Harper, Am I a Threat to Canada?

By: Shawkat Hasan I am one of the 1.4 billion Muslims around the world who is extremely saddened by what you said in your interview with Peter Mansbridge about Islamacism/Islamicism. You said loud and clear that “the Islamacism is the main threat to Canadian security” and that “the truth is that Islamic terrorism exists all over the world”. By making these statements, your Honour has accused all Muslims on this planet including one million law- abiding Canadian Muslims of being war mongers and blood suckers waiting at every dark corner to harm innocent people. Your Honour, please allow me to say that you are promoting hate against Muslims.I write to challenge your mindset and you may find yourself owing the Muslims an apology. Many Canadians welcomed your overdue apology to the Native Nations for the wrong doing of the wrongdoing that took place against them by your ancestors, in the early days of immigration to this land. The new immigrant at the time denied any wrong doing but you, honestly and after decades, admitted it. It may again take some decades before future Canadian generations will realize the damage you have inflicted against Canadian Muslims. I was born in Palestine, but was chased out of my home in 1948 along with three quarters of a million other Palestinians who became refugees, by United Nations count. A Canadian family from North Vancouver moved in to live in my father’s home under the newly established state of Israel. It happened that after years of living in a United Nations run refugee camp, where I obtained my elementary and secondary education, I left to the United States to complete undergraduate and graduate studies. Soon thereafter, I joined the work force at the United Nations and was given the United Nations lassie passé, which enabled me to travel. I visited the new state of Israel on assignment. There, your Honour, I went to visit my birth place, which I never forgot, but I was chased again. This time, I was chased away

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011 L E T T E R S

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O P I N I O N S

by the Canadian Zionist family who lived in my home and called me terrorist, exactly as you are now saying. That family is very well aware of your commitment and support of Israel’s endeavour to have hundreds of thousands of Zionist families occupying the homes of the native Palestinians, Muslims and Christians alike. That family, called for the Israeli army to come and arrest me for the crime of visiting my birth place. I did not hate Canada or even Canadian Jews. On the contrary, when I retired, I immigrated to Canada since my father’s home was forbidden to me. This is an example, your Honour, of a Muslim that committed no wrong doing but was forced to leave his birth place and who is still a terrorist in the vocabulary of the Zionist, whom you dear love to support. Are you still not convinced of my innocence? Do you still believe I am a threat to Canadian security? Do not rush your Honour, you may still owe me an apology.

Canadian Muslims are the second largest faith community in Canada. They have done no harm to others and will do no wrong at any time in the future. They are patron citizens who consider Canada a home and a country of theirs to protect. There are plenty of examples of Canadian Muslims who have taken that extra mile to protect and defend their country, Canada. Today, your Honour, I am becoming very worried for the safety of my children and for myself from being harassed by your multisecurity apparatus. Today, I am no longer safe.

Today, you have forced me to keep looking over my shoulder until I, and the million other Canadian Muslims, receive an apology.

regarding Haram items and activities such as gambling (Today’s Jackpot is $.....), alcoholic drinks, fast food restaurants that offer haram foods (bacon, ham, and pork), women dressing in very revealing outfits, etc. Unless if the person’s Iman is firm like a rock, he or she will easily give in to the social pressures. So much so that, indeed, one of my own cousins left Islam and became a Christian. When I asked her why, she simply stated that Christianity was more comfortable. Of course it is more comfortable, she can eat what she likes, drink what she likes, pray only once a week, indulge in activities banned by Islam such as gambling, dancing, etc. If she had changed her religion while living in an Islamic country, she would have been stoned to death.

I have done a lot of Dawah and Tabligh in Canada, and I have come across many homes where the names on the door may be Muslim, but the persons living there are not Muslim in faith. They have told us on our faces that they are no longer Muslims and do not wish to hear what we have to say. If this is the state of adults, imagine how hard it would be for the youth to stick to Islam!

In order to ensure that our youngsters do not stray from Islam, this is what I suggest: Parents with children approaching the years when they are most likely to fall into temptation, 15 and over, should consider contacting families from Islamic countries such as Jordan, Turkey, Bangladesh and arrange for their child of similar age to come to Canada and the Canadian child to go to the Islamic country for the next three years. The local parents pay the expenses of the child from overseas, while the overseas parents pay for the expenses of the Canadian child.

The Canadian child will then only be exposed to the Islamic culture and learn Islamic ways By: Sikandar Hayat of doing things, going to pray five times daily, I have been a fan of Imad Ali’s writings and learning the Koran and Hadith in Arabic, etc make-sense kind of views, but my view about and not be tempted into the Kufar way of life. him has been shaken by reading his latest Meanwhile, the overseas child, since he /she article in Al-Ameen about Stephen Harper’s has been exposed to strict Islamic way of life Rant on Islam. He mentioned some ‘facts’ in for fifteen years, will be stronger in his / her his article about the arrest of some Muslims.

Deen than the Canadian child. The overseas The point is, how many of those Muslims (ar- child can then teach the other children of local rested) are/were terrorists? As Stephen Harper parents the Islamic ways of doing things, not has mentioned in his interview, most of CSIS only at home but also in schools, etc. This officers are working on spying (and arresting) way, both families can benefit.

Muslims, but that does not necessarily mean If any parent has relatives or friends in such that all of those will be proved guilty. Look at countries, I strongly recommend that they the rate of people historically arrested, and the exchange correspondence with the overseas rate of people being proven guilty, and then parents and explore this idea further. make some assumptions about all those detain- This is the only way to prevent Kufar ideas ees. One of the reasons why there are so many and habits creeping into the youngsters of Muslims are being detained,80% according to today.

Imad, is that there are some people like Stephen Harper and Imad Ali, who are in power and they believe that a Muslim equals a terrorist. If the term “Islamism” is fair according to Stephen Harper and Imad Ali, then what would By: Zaheer Ali Manki they call to all the criminals who happen to be The comments made by Prime Minister about Christian, Sikh, Hindu, etc.? According to his “Islamicism” are very unfortunate showing a article, Imad wants Muslim leaders to conpoor choice of words. The expressed comdemn extremism. Well, every time I go to any ments from a leader of an ‘ enlightened’ nation Muslim get together or function, I hear Muslim against a marginalized community , particuleaders condemning extremism. What else do larly at a time of high emotions against the these people want from Muslims? We Muslims Muslims, are truly regrettable. The PM has are not criminals, some criminals just hapshown lack of sensitivity about how much hurt pen to be Muslims. So, do why we Muslims his comments had caused. He is naïve in his have to be apologetic to Imad Ali or Stephen belief that the most imminent and the biggest Harper? Mr. Harper and Mr. Imad Ali, just threat that Canada is facing was “ Islamicism”. mind the criminals whoever they might be, and He has used an irresponsible language causleave Muslim Canadians alone! ing fear that is based on wrong notion that all

We Muslims are not criminals!

Poor Choice of Words

Fortunate to live in a country like Canada By: M. Hajee Surrey, Alhamdollilah, we are very fortunate to live in a country like Canada where there are very little political or social unrest, unlike Greece, Libya or Chile.

While we enjoy the benefits of living in a multicultural society such as Canada, there are also some obvious drawbacks. With all the distractions from the Kufar, it is very difficult to practice your Deen. We are constantly bombarded by advertisements on TV, Radio or Internet

Muslims are enemies of state from within and that everyone should be watchful and monitor them. Instead of doing things for Muslims ( Iftar or Eid parties for Muslims ) and saying soothing words for an already hurting community, he has shown a callous disregard for their feelings. Not every Muslim is a terrorist . Bad apples can be found in any community but that should not make the whole community suspect. Deal with the anti-social element as appropriate. Canada is a land of law. The Charter guarantees people their basic rights and responsibilities.

The width of the brush used by the PM to describe the Muslims runs from coast to coast.

Many Muslims individually and Muslim

Organizations collectively have condemned the perpetrators of the terror attacks. Killers of the innocent people are no Muslims, its against our faith. The PM could have taken this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of the Muslims in Canada but chosen a language that divides them further giving them shivers of fear and helplessness.

Vote against Harper comments By: Kashif Javed In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the biggest security threat to Canada a decade after 9/11 is Islamic terrorism. Do you agree with Prime Minister Harper? Please VOTE NO http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2011/09/are-islamic-radicals-the-biggestsecurity-threat-to-canada.html We protest Mr. Harper’s comments, this is Shame for Canada. Mr. Harper should not say like that, we Muslims are not garbage, we are highly qualified landed Immigrant, we pay Mr. Harper’s salary, we elected him as our Prime Minister, he can not insult whole Muslim nation in Canada, this is proven that only Muslims are leading their life peacefully in Canada, because Islam means PEACE.

Killing of innocent pilgrims in Baluchistan

By:Suleman Shah Mahtab, Coquitlam According to independent media reports twenty-eight (28) people were shot dead and six others seriously wounded in Mastung, Baluchistan, Pakistan yesterday when pilgrims (traveling from Quetta to Taftan) were taken out of the bus and killed indiscriminately by spraying bullets from automatic weapons. The defunct Lashkar-eJhangvi (LJ) has claimed responsibility for the carnage.

We seriously consider it as brutal, barbaric, shameful, insane and inhuman act of violence and terrorism and strongly condemn the attack and killing of these innocent and peaceful pilgrims; and join hands with millions of people around the world that may Allah (SWT) grant all the victims/martyrs higher ranks in heaven and send His curse upon the killers and their supporters (amen).

We believe that such attacks are to destabilize and disintegrate Pakistan; and terrorist groups like Laskar-e-Jhangvi are paid killers working for internal and external enemies of Pakistan; and they are the enemies of Islam, Muslims and all human beings in the name of Islam. We also consider Baluchistan provincial government’s complete failure to provide security not only to these innocent and peaceful people but also to non-Baluchi communities living in the province. Kidnapping for ransom and target killing are everyday’s business there. We, therefore, urge upon the government of Baluchistan and the Government to Pakistan to take immediate, stern and powerful action to stop this on-going non-sense, arrest the culprits and bring them to the justice they deserve.We also urge the Government of Pakistan to maintain its writ against the defunct Lashkar-e-Jhagvi (LJ) and similar terrorist groups with iron hand.

Thanks everyone!

By: MYC’s Management Team The Muslim Youth Centre would like to thank everyone who attended the Eid-ul-Fitr Open House on Saturday September 10. Thanks for your participation.

The MYC was buzzing with activities and smiling faces. The kids enjoyed the bouncy castle, had beautiful face paintings and artistic twisting balloons while the Sisters had Henna done on their hands.

We are happy that everyone had a wonderful time and look forward for your continued support at our upcoming MYC events and programs, InshaaAllah.

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

The Dignity of Islam’s Social Etiquette By: Ahmad Al-Batili Cordially making room for newcomers in a gathering is a rule of refined conduct taught and encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam.

Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, says: “O you who have believed, when you are told, ‘Make room [for one another]’ in gatherings, then make room; Allah will make room for you. And when you are told: ‘Arise!’ then arise. Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge by degrees. And Allah is acquainted with what you do” [58:11].

This verse of the Qur’an holds divine instructions and rules of social conduct directed at avoiding discord, spreading care and friendliness among people, and maximizing the benefit of circles of knowledge when we are in them. These rules address assemblies, social gatherings, groups, and study circles. The first rule commands making space for newcomers when sitting in an assembly, allowing them to sit down, feel welcome and part of the assembly. This brings peace and strengthens ties.

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, was so beloved by his Companions (Sahabah) that naturally, they sought to sit as close to him as possible, and if that meant they had to compete for a better place close to him, they did. This verse was, therefore, revealed, to address social manners and etiquette. Qatadah, of the great Successor (Tabi’ee) generation that came after the Companions, said commenting on this verse that “it was revealed concerning assemblies of learning and discussion, for when they saw someone approaching, the Companions used to be reluctant to concede a space for him in their assemblies with Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam-and thus Allah’s instruction to make space for each other.”

Several of the sayings of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, speak to the merits of making space at assemblies. One of these quoted by Ibn Umar says: “Let no person get up only to have another to sit in his place, but rather make room and enlarge your circle” (Bukhari and Muslim). Another version cited by Ahmad, says: “...but rather make space, and Allah will make space for you.”

When room is made for someone, it should be accepted, and the person should sit down next to those who made it, and thank them. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “When people take their places and sit, and a man invites a [Muslim] brother of his and makes room for him, let the latter take it. It is a generous gesture offered to him, so let him sit there” (Tabari).

Making room for newcomers in a gathering is a rule of refined conduct promoted by the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and is characteristic of Islam. It is a sign of affability and mutual affection of all Muslims. It is both a courtesy and a good deed. When someone arrives late to a learning session, the people already there should make room, so that the latecomer may sit down , listen, and benefit from the discussion, rather than have him or her turn back with the excuse that no place is available or that the place is too tight, thus denying one the opportunity of learning. One hadeeth states that while Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, was sitting, three people approached. One of them found an opening in the circle and joined it. Another sat behind other people. The third turned back and left. Allah’s Messenger said: “Shall I give you an account of these three? The first took refuge with Allah. As for the second, he felt shy and sat behind the people. The third turned away, so Allah turned away from him.”

We should not separate people from each other, for Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “It is not lawful for any man to separate two people without their permission” (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi).

Such separation may inconvenience them, for they may have special affection toward each other or may have been discussing a private matter.

So separating them, by sitting between them, may disturb them.

The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, also said: “No one among you should cause a man to stand and then sit in his place” (Bukhari). A person who sits in a place first is more entitled to it. The best practice is for a person joining a group to sit next to the last person in it. Jabir Ibn Samurah said: “When we joined the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, we used to sit where the end was, “meaning at the end of the group in order not to inconvenience anyone and make them get up” (Abu Dawud).

Another important rule of conduct at assemblies is to take the initiative when entering by greeting the people already there. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “Do not admit a person who does not begin with a greeting” (AbuYa’la). There are many ahadeeth on the subject of making the salutation of others a common practice. In one of these, the Prophet states: “O People! Spread greetings. Offer food. Keep in touch with your blood relatives. And pray while people are asleep. And you will be admitted into Paradise in peace” (Tirmithi).

When leaving a group, it is proper for a Muslim to commend the people there with salutations of peace, for the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “If one of you joins an assembly, let him greet (the People there). And if he gets up while others are still sitting, let him greet (them). For the former (greeting) is not more of an obligation than the latter” (Ahmed and Abu Dawud).

When Muslims visit one another, they should not stay overly long. Once they have achieved what they came for, they should depart, in order not

to inconvenience the host. That is why Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, says: “And when you are told, ‘Arise,’ then arise,” which means that when one is asked to get up and leave, one should do so. Abdurrahman ibn Zaid said: “People used to gather at the house of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and when they wanted to leave, each desired to be the last to leave him, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. That made things hard for Allah’s Messenger. Therefore, they were ordered to leave.”

It is proper for Muslims when sitting with others that they should be both modest and attentive in the way they sit. They should not keep turning their heads in all directions without cause, lest they arouse suspicion and wariness. Nor should they keep clearing their throats for no reason. If someone sneezes and then praises Allah (saying alhamdulillah), the people around should respond with a prayer for Allah’s mercy for him. When yawning, the mouth should be covered and further yawning resisted as much as possible. One should not sit with one’s back to other people. Moreover, in a group of three, it is not right for two to talk intimately and privately, leaving the third out.

Finally, let the assembly conclude with the supplication mentioned in a hadeeth of the Prophet , sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, narrated by Abu Hurairah which says: “When a person sits in an assembly, having engaged in much idle talk, and then says, before getting up: ‘Glory and praise be to you my lord. There is no God other than You. I pray for your pardon and repent to you’Allah forgives for him what he has done [meaning the idle talk] in that assembly” (Tirmithi).

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “There is a Sadaqa to be given for every joint of the human body; and for every day on which the sun rises there is a reward of a Sadaqa (i.e. charitable gift) for the one who establishes justice among people.”

Sahih Bukhari - Volume 3, Book 49, Number 870

From September 23-October 7, 2011 (Shawaal 25-Dhul Qidah 9, 1432H) Shawaal 25 26 27 28 29 30 D.Qidah 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sep 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Oct 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Day Fajar Sunrise Zawa1 Dhuhr Fri 5:19 6:58 01:05 01:12 Sat 5:21 7:00 01:04 01:11 Sun 5:23 7:01 01:04 01:11 Mon 5:24 7:03 01:04 01:11 Tue 5:26 7:04 01:03 01:10 Wed 5:27 7:06 01:03 01:10 Thu 5:29 7:07 01:03 01:10 Fri 5:30 7:09 01:02 01:09 Sat 5:32 7:10 01:02 01:09 Sun 5:33 7:12 01:02 01:09 Mon 5:35 7:13 01:01 01:08 Tue 5:36 7:15 01:01 01:08 Wed 5:38 7:16 01:01 01:08 Thu 5:39 7:18 01:00 01:07 Fri 5:41 7:19 01:00 01:07

Asr Maghrib Isha 5:15 8:43 7:13 5:13 8:40 7:11 5:11 8:38 7:09 5:09 8:36 7:06 5:08 8:34 7:04 5:06 8:32 7:02 5:04 8:29 7:00 5:02 8:27 6:58 5:00 8:25 6:56 4:58 8:23 6:54 4:56 8:21 6:52 4:55 8:19 6:49 4:53 8:17 6:47 4:51 8:15 6:45 4:49 8:13 6:43 Source: Masjid Al Noor

AQEEM USS SALAAT(Establish Prayer)

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

The Arab Spring after 9/11

By: Alistair Burt

As I watched the coverage and read the commentary around the 9/11 anniversary last week, I was struck anew by the profound changes that have swept the region this year.

There is no doubt that September the eleventh was the high point for Al Qaeda.

They grabbed the world’s headlines with a shocking act of violence and hatred.

There were other outrages—in 2005 my own country was attacked and 51 ordinary people travelling to work on public transport were killed. But Al Qaeda never again managed anything like that day in New York. Their declared enemy has been the West, but they have not had a major success there for some years now and those they have killed since nine-eleven have been overwhelmingly Muslim. However, while Al Qaeda may have retained some ability to terrorise, 10 years after the attacks on New York, they have almost completely lost their ability to inspire. I believe that they were always doomed to fail because their ideology was negative.

They sought to capitalise on a sense of injustice but did so by appealing to feelings of hatred and despair.

Their ideology was in steady decline in Muslim nations but history will record that what signalled the irrevocable demise of Al Qaeda in 2011 was not the death of Osama bin Laden – although this was hugely symbolic—but the Arab Spring which has shown Al Qaeda to be utterly irrelevant to people across the Middle East and North Africa. Over the past seven months, hundreds of thousands of people have channelled their feelings of despair and injustice into peaceful protest. They have sought positive, tangible ends – greater political

and economic freedom, respect for the rights of all and for the rule of law, an end to corrupt government. And unlike the terrorists, the protestors have had real impact, in country after country of the region. In Tunisia and Egypt, autocratic governments have been overthrown and democratic processes set in train. In Cairo ex-president Mubarak is now on trial, and in Tunis the first-ever democratic elections will be held next month. In Libya, Gaddafi’s despotic regime has been overthrown and the National Transitional Council is creating a government that better represents the will of ordinary Libyans. In Jordan, King Abdullah has set out a vision for a democratic society, and also pledged economic reform.

And there have been reforms in Morocco.

Injustice and despair is being replaced by hope and dignity across the region.

A few days after the anniversary, Al Qaeda released a video claiming that the Arab Spring is an uprising by the Ummah against the West, and tried to claim credit for it. It reminded me of old, retired Generals who in the 1990’s were unable to comprehend the revolutions in Eastern Europe and were, in their own minds, still fighting the old Cold War. Just so, the leaders of Al Qaeda cannot understand that people in the Middle East saw the true expression of their aspirations not at Ground Zero in New York in 2001, but in Sidi Bouzid and Tahrir Square in 2011.

That’s not to say that the West should be complacent about its relationship with the Arab or Muslim world. There is still much healing to be done, and as we close the chapter on a decade of jihadist inspired terrorism, we must begin the new one by building a new relationship of mutual trust, dignity and respect between East and West.

In doing so we must strike an important

Third Annual Mehfil-E-Hamd-o-Naat On Saturday October 1, 2011 @ 5 pm sharp after Salat-e-Asar

balance.

We believe that there can be no lasting peace, no long-term success, without fundamental reform.

And we will stand true to our values. We will not accept corruption and economic mismanagement as the necessary price for stability, or expect people to be satisfied with false promises and cosmetic reforms. Instead we will support those urging genuine reform, including those already within governments, so that future generations look forward with hope and not despair. But these

revolutions are not ours to try and shape or control, and ultimately it is for the people of the region to determine their own future.

Of course, a new era for the Middle East cannot truly begin until Israelis and Palestinians reach a negotiated settlement. That this terrible wound remains open is in my view the greatest diplomatic failure of the last 50 years. Israelis and Palestinians also demand respect and freedom – be it freedom from the threat of destruction or freedom from occupation. I hope that the new era ushered in by the Arab Spring can be marked by a concerted effort by Arab and Western countries to get both sides talking again. All eyes will again be on New York this week where many people are expecting a vote on Palestinian statehood. I believe that the true solution and the true realisation of a peaceful, prosperous Middle East is to be found not in New York but back in the streets and squares – and around the negotiating tables – of the region itself.

Source: Khaleej Times

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11

l o c a l

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

National Foods holds Outstanding Sales Achievement Awards Ceremony

National Foods 1st Annual North America Distributor Conference and Awards ceremony to recognize extraordinary achievement in sales throughout Canada and neighboring USA was recently hosted at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver.

National Foods (NFL) is one of the largest exporters of premium quality packaged recipe mixes, spices, rice, pickles and desserts with products tantalizing palettes by adding traditional sub-continental taste and flavors to meals across the globe.

NFL recognizes that cuisine is a very delicate art and ever since their debut in the world of spice mix to the Pakistani consumer in the 70s, their ingredients have been meticulously selected and blended to ensure the right combination for perfect results every time.

National Foods rises to the challenge of developing innovative food products based on convenience and quick preparation in line with modern lifestyles and yet retains traditional values through its diverse collection of food products.

In the recently conducted Brand Elec-

tions’2010 in over 50 cities of Pakistan National Foods Limited emerged as the firm favorite in 5 food categories; Recipes; Jams, Jellies and Marmalades; Pickles; Spices and Ketchup.

Overall National Foods Limited won 1st place in Food/Household brands, and were 1st runner up in the general Elections, competing against a total of 3500 brands locally.

Furthermore, an evaluation of voter profiles lead to an even prouder achievement as National Foods Limited emerged as the favorite brand of female voters and proved to be the preferred choice of women seeking healthy breakfast and light meal options for their families.

The conference in Vancouver highlighted major trends, opportunities and challenges impacting the business in this region.

It also resulted in an excellent platform to share experiences in specific markets, brand leadership, network and brainstorm.

Zahid Majeed, Director, National Foods Limited Pakistan said, “We hope that by the end of the conference we will be clear in our objectives and will have a definite

roadmap for the future. The aim now is to translate the local brand leadership into export brand leadership.”

The theme and tactful reasoning for hosting this prestigious event in Canada was firstly, to learn from the expertise achieved via sales in Vancouver by PakNational Foods Ltd and to set the tone for our USA distributors.

The vision of the company is to be approximately Rs. 50 billion/CAD 555 million food company by the year 2020 in the convenience food segment by launching products and services in the domestic and international markets that enhance lifestyle and create value for our customers through management excellence at all levels.

The conference was organized by Shamim Akbar, CEO Pak-National Foods Ltd in Vancouver who coincidently is also the pioneering distributor in North America. The established and well-respected businessman not only showcased their local business partners but also Beautiful Vancouver. Pak-National Foods bagged the award for the ‘Most Outstanding Sales

Achievement 2010 – 2011’ as the No. 1 Distributor Worldwide for National Foods’ products.

The conference participants included recognized distributors from across Canada and USA. These specific regions were represented by Ali Attar; Ismail Paracha; Wasim Ahmed Sheikh; Kawal Oberoi; Burhan Haque; Amir Bickiya; Shamim Akbar; Nasim Akbar; Shahab Hassan and Fawaz Ahmed respectively.

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12

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

local

MLA Ralston & MLA Bains Celebrated Eid among Muslim Community

September 9th marked the third annual Eid celebration hosted

by MLA Bruce Ralston, SurreyWhalley, and MLA Harry Bains, Surrey-Newton.

This annual Eid celebration open house is known for being an inclusive event, which introduces non Muslims to different aspects of the Muslim religion.

In the Muslim faith, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast and participate in dutiful activities such as chari-

table giving and peace-making.

It is a time of intense spiritual renewal for those who observe it.

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of FastBreaking).

“It says a lot about the communities in Surrey when you see a mosaic of people wanting to know more about the month of Ramadan, and the celebration of Eid.” said MLA Bruce Ralston.

“It was an honour to take part in the celebration of Eid with the members of our Muslim community.” said Bruce Ralston, MLA Surrey-Whalley.

Harry Bains, MLA Surrey-Newton adds, “I am proud to share in the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr with my constituents. This celebration provides an opportunity for our diverse community to come together in the spirit of friendship and peace.”

Official opening ceremony of Surrey Board of Education building

On Sep 21, Surrey Board of Education opened its new building at 92 Ave and 140th street. The Miracle Media got a chance to chat with Ms. Laurae McNally, the chair of Surrey Board of Education.

The Miracle(TM): Please briefly describe the purpose of this opening ceremony.

Ms. Laurae: We have an official opening of our new board of educational center which we have been planning because we are growing as a school district.

We had 10 or 11 different buildings that we had to lease and the lease came out of our operating budget and we needed to get everyone into one building together so we could save the lease cost money and put it into classrooms for children. Having this building here and everyone under one roof is saving the School District 1.5 million dollar a year which we can put towards the support for children in classrooms.

TM: So you have gotten rid of all the portables offices from everywhere in Surrey?

Ms. Laurae: Not for schools but for business offices; we’ve got everyone under one umbrella.

TM: How many sections are in this building? I am seeing human resources (HR) on this floor and what are the other departments?

Ms. Laurae: Anything that has to do with the administration of the school district plus our online learning which is called Surrey Connect. And so the students come here to work on their online courses.

TM: What about the portables in the previous conference rooms, evening learning courses adult learning, everything which was there?

Ms. Laurae: All demolished because every building is amalgamated into one building.

Education courses are still held at Princess Margaret Secondary and Queen Elizabeth Secondary and some of the trades training happens at Surrey College which is out at the back here but the online learning for the students happens in this building.

TM: So you are talking about the Surrey

College and what courses will be in Surrey College?

Ms. Laurae: The Surrey College will stay here and run courses like hair dressing, becoming special education assistant --all those courses for adults will run in that complex.

TM: Is each floor divided into different sections?

Ms. Laurae: We have human resources, international education, business development on this floor. On upper floor we have payroll, and secretary treasures department and the board offices. The education floor is where we help teachers to deal with the curriculum and on the top floor is the superintendent’s office and the assistant superintendent.

TM: Will the expenditure of this building be fulfilled from our property taxes ?

Ms. Laurae: Salaries are paid out of property taxes just like they were before. The saving is that we have everyone in one building we are saving on the lease cost of all these other buildings we were leasing and we are saving because we are not driving across Surrey to have a meeting with another department. We just go down a floor.

TM: Will All councillors sit here, and there would be no one in the existing building @ 144 St.?

Ms. Laurae: We don’t have any connections there now, we had our first public meeting last Thursday.

TM: Thank you for your time!

Laurae: Your are very welcome.

LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

Surrey MLAs Harry Bains, Jagrup Brar, Sue Hammell and Bruce Ralston at the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Surrey Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar with his annual sweet corn stall at the Fleetwood Festival

Mr. Ijaz Chattha was presented with a plaque by Superintendent Mike McKay on behalf of the Surrey School District staff for his support, through his commitment and dedication to the creation of the District Education Centre at the official grand opening ceremony of the new building of the Surrey Board of Education on September 21, 2011.

13

special

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Pakistan: Current Crises Pakistani authorities are unsure how many people are still stranded by floods that first hit Pakistan in August following unusually heavy monsoon rains and have affected at least 5.4 million people. In the province of Sindh alone, the floods have killed over 220 people, damaged or destroyed some 665,000 homes and displaced more than 1.8 million people, according to the United Nations. Neighboring Baluchistan province has also been affected.

Karachi: The bomb blast took place in the Defence Housing Authority area of Karachi which left eight people dead and several others injured when a vehicle carrying 300kgs of explosives rammed into the officer’s house early morning on Monday.

Quetta: In a brutal assault in Mastung, a district 50 kilometers south of Quetta, gunmen ordered Shia pilgrims off their bus, lined them up and assassinated them in a hail of gunfire.

A large number of people staged demonstrations and took out rallies in different areas of Quetta on Wednesday to protest the Mastung incident.

Lahore: The largest number of deaths due to dengue in a single day occurred in Lahore on Wednesday as 15 patients lost their lives to the deadly virus, bringing the total death toll to 81 in the provincial metropolis and 85 in Punjab.

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14

l o c a l

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Open-Air Urdu Mushaira held at Capt. Mahtab’s residence

By Cap. Suleman Mahtab It was in the moon-lit evening of September 10, when Captain Suleman Mahtab and his family arranged the 5th annual “Open-Air and Open to All” Urdu Mushaira in the scenic backyard of their house in Coquitlam. Over 200 enthusiastic local people, including some who travelled as far as Kelowna and Nanaimo, thoroughly enjoyed a magnificent & splendid evening of grace, tranquility and class. The evening was very enchanting with excellent décor, wonderful weather and the full moon shining in the background. This was an unmatched event of class and beauty. The delicious cooking and hospitality of entire Mahtab family was shone throughout the evening. The family was regarded as a unique family in the Lower Mainland in hosting such events and programs to promote peace, friendship and mutual respect among local communities particularly between Indians and Pakistanis.

At the start, the departed souls of our friends were remembered by observing silence for a minute.

A number of recognized poets presented their beautiful poetry and some in their melodious and charismatic voices. The list of poets included Captain Suleman Mahtab, Ismael Asar, Hafiz Qadri, Dr. Hafizur Rehman, Jeevan Rampuri, Mohammad Fazil, Jeetandra Kumar, Nusrat Hussain, Nadeem Parmar and Narinder Bhagi Barham. The latter two presided the two sessions of poetry. Naeem Lakhan and Ismael Asar conducted the sessions in their entertaining & refreshing yet eloquent styles. Syed Badiuddin Soharwardi of Calgary, father of Najam Ahmad, and many others attended the event as special guests among other media, The Miracle, The Canada Times and RedFM93.1 were particularly thanked for their support and participation throughout the event.

To many, “we couldn’t have a better

deal than meeting all of our dear at around midnight with note of thanks by Captain Mahtab and friends with superb poetry, tasty and his family. Some pictures of the event can be viewed on Faceexcellent food and lot more. The book. time we all spent in “Suhbat-e-Yaran with “ Shear-o-Sukhan” was nothing but simply fantastic, fabulous and unforgettable. Captain Mahtab and his family have set an incredible example of love, openness of heart and warmth by hosting this event at their home with unmatchable hospitality and generosity”. Some of the participants had attended this beautiful and lovely evening of Mushaira for the first time but they thoroughly enjoyed their first experience to be part of such ‘Mehfil’ as “one of their most memorable events in their lives” and in fact developed a special interest for Mushaira(s) and Urdu language.

To end the lovely evening with even more grace all the poets, session presidents, special guests and volunteers were presented with gifts by the host family. The program ended

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p o l i t i c s

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

1,310 killed in Karachi yet govt claims it has not failed: CJ

KARACHI: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Wednesday observed that 1,310 persons have been killed in Karachi this year, yet the government claims it has not failed.

Hearing suo moto proceedings on the Karachi law and order situation, he observed that the government was not unaware of what was happening in Karachi. “There is no Shia-Sunni or ethnic problem and all people want to live in peace,” he further observed.

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the government was alerted after the court

would be serious repercussion if there is a “declaration of failure” by the court, which was a credible institution of the country.

He said that a country with nuclear assets could not be termed a failed state.

Babar Awan said that the trichotomy of the power was a basic concept of the Constitution and under Article 175 the judiciary shall be separated from the executive. He said the federal government had the control and command of the armed forces.

The chief justice asked Awan for how many years the country had been facing the war-like situation. Babar Awan replied, “for the last 29 years.”

The chief justice observed that previous governments were dismissed on the basis of the violation of fundamental rights of the citizens and failure to maintain law and order situation and there were no any repercussions for such dismissal. He observed that people were being butchered in the city on a daily basis, and asked the counsel if he wanted this to continue on the basis of “mere apprehension.”

took suo moto notice of the Karachi killings, adding everything will be set right once the court delivers its verdict.

He said the court will have to intervene if witnesses were not available against the murderer of 100 persons, adding protection of life means “people should be provided protection while they are alive”. He said it would be meaningless whether or not a case is registered once a citizen is killed.

The chief justice referred to the reported statement of Interior Minister Rehman Malik who admitted that criminals arrested in Karachi belonged to all political parties.

“What is left for the government to wait for when the interior minister has himself said he has evidence of audio and video tapes against criminals,” the CJ observed. asking the political leadership to disown militant elements among their ranks.

The chief justice observed that the writ of the government shall be enforced and the Constitution shall be adhered to in letter and spirit. “All of us have to strengthen the nation. The police and law enforcement agencies are capable of controlling the situation and after the decision of the Supreme Court [on the Karachi situation] things will be move in a positive direction.”

Referring to Article 17 of the Constitution Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany observed that the Constitution imposed reasonable restrictions on political parties about how they should run their affairs. He observed that the law and order situation had purposely failed and the government has failed to perform its duties. The CJ Justice observed that all cases of Karachi killings fell under the anti terrorism law.

Federation counsel Babar Awan said the political leadership was determined and expressed hope that the needful would be done to control the situation. Upon this statement of the federal counsel, the chief justice directed the government to deal with criminals with an iron hand and observed that “women are widowed and children are orphaned” in the name of such hope.

Babar Awan said that the country was engaged in war on the western and eastern fronts, which compromised the government’s resources and suggested there were regional and global elements that wanted to see Pakistan as a “failed state.”

Besides dealing with the wars, the country was also facing calamities, epidemics, and international disturbances and that there

The CJ observed that Interior Minister Rehman Malik and IG Sindh’s statements and Intelligence Bureau reports were clear on the question of who was involved in the lawlessness.

Babar Awan said the government had not concealed any fact from the court and had indeed revealed the truth. He said that the Karachi operation in mid 1990s was the best solution to Karachi violence, but the PPP government was dismissed on the basis of that operation. The court observed that it is failure of the government that people are not being protected.

The chief justice expressed concern about the killings of over 300 persons in the city between July 24 and August 24 and said that the government did not bother to act against the criminals and wanted to continue its government by hook or by crook.

He pointed to the statements of Rehman Malik regarding the affiliation of criminals with political parties and to the prime minister who had admitted the encroachment of 16,000 acres government land by land grabbers. “But nothing has been done so far to restore government land from encroachers,” the CJ said.

Babar Awan said the encroachment happened during the tenures of the previous government that remained in power for more than nine years. “ Will the government require another nine years to recover the encroached land,” Justice Osmany asked.

The federal counsel said that after the 18th amendment, autonomy was given to the provinces, but such exercise did not absolve the federal government from its responsibility to protect provinces in case of internal disturbance and external aggression in accordance with the law.

He pointed to steps take n by the federal government on the call of the provincial government, including deployment of civil armed forces, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary, monitory support of Rs2.5 billion for capacity building and police training, sharing of real time intelligence, sharing data of criminals, coordination at Sindh and Balochistan borders for curbing illegal arms smugglings, aerial surveillance for determination of land grabbing and complaint cells against extortion. Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany asked the IG Sindh to computerize the data of criminals.

The chief justice inquired what the outcome was of the federal government’s

efforts given that since January there was no progress report by the government on targeted killings, land grabbing etc. “Things can’t be brushed aside as ‘all is well’,” he said.

“But if things are not good, it cannot be said that they are all bad either,” Awan replied. The chief justice asked the counsel to visit any house of a widow or orphan whose loved ones were killed in the lawlessness and see how they were living. The CJ also quoted a Quranic verse according to which the killing of one innocent person amounted to the killing of entire humanity. He observed that 306 persons had been killed, but no one had been arrested for the killings.

Justice Amir Hani Muslim observed that mostly cases of targeted killings had been disposed of as untraceable without investigation carried out by the police.

Babar Awan said that the National Assembly has also taken up the matter of lawlessness in Karachi and Quetta and set up committee of the House with the consensus of all political parties and leadership to recommend desired measures. He said the Constitution had ensured that executive authority shall exercise its powers and authority through the chosen representatives of the people.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany observed that once the political party elected a government, it means it is no more a political party but the government.

On Joint Investigation Reports, Babar Awan said that the joint investigations were conducted because of the will of the government. Referring to the JIT of Ajmal Pehari, the CJ observed that what the suspect had revealed was not sufficient for the government to look into, even as he had confessed before the investigators that he received training from India and killed 100 people. He said if witnesses are not available against 100 murders, the court has to do something.

Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed that it is the failure of the government that it could not protect the life and property of the citizens during the strike calls of political parties. Justice Jamali said that during the strike call police did not come out of the police station while Rangers acted as silent spectators. He referred to the incident of a lady lawyer who was beaten by a miscreant in front of Rangers personnel on May 12, 2007 and when she sought help from them, they said that they have no powers to arrest the culprits.

IG Sindh informed the court that from 1947 to 2001 as many as 50,000 weapon licences were issued but since 2001 onward more than five hundred thousand licences

had been issued by the Home department.

The court directed IG Sindh and advocate general Sindh to provide details of arms licences of prohibited and non-prohibited bores and weapons issued by the interior ministry and the Home department in the last five years.

Sindh High Court Bar Association President Anwar Mansoor Khan submitted that the government has not been able to act to protect the life and property of citizens. He said that the government failed to provide basic necessities to the people of Karachi living in suburbs, resulting in the political parties using these people for their vested interested. He called for legislation with regards witnesses protection.

The chief justice did not allow the SHCBA president to refer to foreign media reports during his arguments and observed that they are motivated by foreign interest and could not be relied upon. “Do you want to lead this country to civil war by referring to these motivated reports,” CJ observed, adding that the court was not conducting an international debate. He asked the SHCBA president to not include reports that created disharmony among different section of the society.

“There is no dispute between Sunnis and Shias, no difference at all, or between Pushtun and Baloch, or Punjabi and Sindhi,” he observed and said that all foreign forces wanted to destablise the country.

Sindh Advocate General Abdul Fatah Malik filed a progress report in respect of murder cases of a lawyer and a businessman and details of killed/injured persons in Karachi during September. The Sindh Advocate General said that compensation to the families of the advocate killed in targeted killings will be paid in two days.

He said that the government hjad not failed in controlling the law and order situation and the situation had improved gradually.

He said that the police would arrest criminals on the run. He said the government had disassociated itself from militant outfits and strict action will be taken against them.

Bar representatives said that the government was not disclosing the amount of compensation and no report had been filed about the advocates killed this month. The court directed the AG to submit a comprehensive report with regards advocates killed on and the compensation the government was considering paying their families as compensation.

The court directed the federation counsel to conclude his arguments till 11:00am Thursday so that others, including ANP counsel Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gilani, could be heard. Sindh government counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada said that he did not want to rebut the arguments presented.

16

l o c a l

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

SALAK – EID MILAN Celebarted in Crystal@ York

By: Aliyah Ashraf The SALAK Eid Milan function was held at York Conference Hall in Surrey on Friday September the 9th . It was organized by the SALAK Cricket Club.

The event was hosted by Suna Zaidi and Nida Akbar, niece and daughter of Late Saleem Akbar. It was an Eid get together combined with and award ceremony for the SALAK teams who have been performing in previous tournaments. Awards were distributed for Best Bowler, Best Batsman, Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Captain. After the award ceremony, there was a dinner break during

and after which random questions were being asked regarding Cricket and Music from the audience. Gifts from various sponsors were given to people who were able to provide the correct answers.The latter half of the ceremony was turned in to a talent show where random people from the audience were selected to sing on stage. The competition as won by Gaurav Kumar who won a $100 gift from Pak National and the runner up was Salman Khan who won a $50 gift hamper.

The evening ended on a pleasant note where patriotic songs were being sung on stage and the guests left with a smile

on their faces, a patriotic feeling in their hearts and a smile on their faces.

Cricket Lovers Celebrate at Pakwan House Surrey On Sep 21, Sajid Hameed, the owner of Pakwan House hosted a dinner for BC’s Cricket lovers. He congratulated Salim Akbar Cricket Club (SALAK), Pak-Can Cricket and Centurion Cricket Club teams members for a successful current cricket season. Dr. Hafeez ur Rehman conducted this event.

Pak-Can Cricket Club won League Championship, SALAK won Premier Division, while Pak-Can also won Six-A-Side in an International Tournament which was held on July 1 and September 6 in Stanley Park,

Vancouver. A team of local Pakistani players has also won Six-A Side championship in this tournament on September 6.

Mr. Tarik Kiyani encouraged cricket in this region and Mr. Pirzada from Miracle Media also assured them his continuing support for BC Sports and especially all Cricket teams and offered to publish their profile in Miracle Newspaper.

At the end, Dua’a was made by Maulana A.L Naumani and a delicious dinner was served to all guests.

Position available for school bus driver at Iqra Islamic School • Very good salary • Friendly working environment • Excellent benefits Requirements: • Class 2 driving licence • Driving Record Abstract • Good communication and customer service skills Please send resume to: E-Mail: principal@iqraschool.com Fax: (604) 583-7510 Mail: 14590-116A Avenue Surrey, B.C. V3R 2V1

17

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

IQRA ISLAMIC SCHOOL

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

19

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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23

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Miracle Media Group Presents

Miracle Memorization of Quran Pride of Performance Awards On Saturday, November 26th, 2011 at 5:00 pm At Afghan Chopan Restaurant & Banquet Hall, York Centre Surrey

FREE ADMI SSIO (Limi **COMPETITION OPEN TO HUFFAZ ONLY** - No limit on age or gender.

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Booking by email on First come first serve basis till November 10.

Program will InshaAllah begin with Welcoming of Hajjaj e Karam of 1432 H (2011).

Dates for Preliminary selection rounds and further details will be announced in the next edition.

The main purpose of this religious program is to promote interest in memorization of Holy Quran and role of Huffaz Karam in our community.

Main Sponsor: Afghan Chopan Restaurant and Banquet Hall Other Sponsors: - Aisha Islamic Books and Crafts Centre - Bullay Shah Academy of Canada

Please contact us if you wan to be a sponsor.

For registration and information, info@miraclenews.com & editor@miraclenews.com

24

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

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25

Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Business Profile: Pakwan House, Surrey

Eating out at a restaurant can be a fun treat. But in a country where you are a minority, it can also be a pain for Muslims! Checking the ingredients on every product label can be tedious at times but all we have is a menu in front of us, how do you make sure what are The Miracle (Pirzada ):Firstly Mr. Sajid, please tell our readers about your background and how you entered the Restaurant business?

Sajid Hameed( S.H): I graduated from Karachi in 1989. I came to USA in 1990 and in my first year, I worked many jobs.

Then I got a job as an Industrial Lab Technician in Silicon valley. I also earned my diploma in Local Area Networking from San Jose, California. Before I moved from California, I was running my own restaurant. During my whole life, I have been very athletic. I am a very good cricket player as well as field hockey player. In Pakistan, I played field hockey at the provincial level in Sindh division. Despite my business commitments, I am still very active in PAK-CAN Cricket in Vancouver with arranging a tournament and helping them in some management as well.

My business partner, Ahmad Akbar, is from a well known family. He learnt cooking from Pakistan and has been a professional chef for six years. He simply loves cooking.

The Miracle (TM): What were the motivation or unseen factors behind this catering scene and how this Pakwan House name came in your mind? ( S.H): Cooking is my hobby and I love it.

I cooked for surrey Masjid in Ramadan for the first time. At that time, my friends asked me to cook for them and I did. Friends always encouraged me to open a restaurant as they like the taste of the food. I also felt that we need a family oriented restaurant where people enjoy Pakistani food and remember the tastes which brings them back.

People miss the taste of authentic Pakistani food over and I wanted to fill that gap here.

We came up with the name of the restaurant while brainstorming at home, and hence, Pakwan house was formed.

TM: It is very difficult to run any business who serves only the Muslim community in non Muslim areas. What was in your mind to establish your own Muslim

the ingredients and what is halal or haram?

Alhamdulillah, Muslims in the Lower Mainland are lucky to have quite a number of Muslim restaurants to choose from. Each of them offers a unique take at ethnic cuisine and provides the satisfaction of eating halal.

Restaurant and about the location you selected ? ( S.H): My food is traditional Pakistani halal food and my first intention was to attract Pakistani, Indian and Fijian community.

It was not easy but I knew that with hard work and a good cook and partner Ahmad Akbar, we would be able to achieve our goal. I started my business and worked very hard to get it up and running. I knew that I had immense support from my family, partner and friends and I am very thankful for their support. If I start naming them, we will run out of space on this page.

TM: What are the customer favorites in Pakwan House Menu and what are your specialties? ( S.H): I would say our entire menu is filled with specialties but our chicken tikka and handi chicken are the most frequently ordered items. We use special authentic ingredients in all our dishes which makes our taste distinct. We order special coal for our BBQ items which makes the taste of our BBQ items unmatchable. We make Chicken Biryani and Nihari with authentic Karachi style. Meanwhile, Bhuna gosht, Aloo qeema and quorma are styled after the cuisine from Punjab. We have also added new items to our menu. On Sunday, we offer a special breakfast buffet with halwa puri and chanay and all breakfast items are prepared fresh in our Kitchen. Our customers also enjoy our food in their homes as we offer catering for parties of up to 300 people. We also do live BBQ for big groups.

TM: What experience have you gained after running this business for more than a year. Do you believe that if you provide the taste to your customers then they will come from everywhere?

S.H: I am confident Inshallah because I have received excellent response from our customers. Customers tell me that we need to move to a bigger location so we can serve more people and always tell me please keep serving the quality food.

In Ramadan, we were fully booked on most

Amongst these restaurants is Pakwan House in Surrey.

The restaurant specializes in Pakistani cuisine. We sat down with Mr. Sajid Hameed, the co-owner of the restaurant and tried to find out more about his restaurant and his experiences in the business.

of the days and could not accommodate more than 45 people. So, we are actively looking for a bigger place where we don’t have to turn people away. We stand by the taste of our food and we believe that when we move from this location, our customers will return for the taste, the food quality and our hospitality which will never be compromised.

TM: Some customers complain about the service at Pakwan such as delay in getting food to the table, the environment ?.

S.H: Yes, we are well-aware of them and have tried to do our best in making changes where possible. Our new seating arrangement is one such example. We want to provide comfort to our customers, yet there is only so much that is in our range.

Our customers have also become more understanding and they now know that if they need BBQ,they will have to call ahead or otherwise wait for some time as we make all our items fresh which takes time. Many now call ahead so they don’t have to wait too long for their favorite chicken Tikka.

TM: Do you think the prices on your menu are reasonable according to your

food quality? ( S.H): I think our prices are very reasonable. As we all know, halal meat is expensive, yet the average price per dish is$ 6.99 at our restaurant. That’s why big families and singles equally love our menu.

TM: At the end, do you have any message ?

SH: I am very thankful to my family and my business partner Ahmad Akbar for their support and hard work throughout this time. I also appreciate the Muslim and South Asian community who have supported me in shape of Masajids and Private Fundraising dinners catering from Pakwan House since I opened my business.I hope those of you who have not tried us yet will give us a chance very soon. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Bains Travel Celebrates 60 Years in Business!

NEGATIVE HISTORY Shabnam Khan - Family Counsellor The decision we make today affect our children and our children’s children for many generations. These includes bad habits, addictions, negativity, wrong mind sets and other types of iniquities.

Perhaps you are struggling in certain areas right now because people who came before you made poor choices. Many times, you can look back and see the results of those choices somewhere in your family line. It is important that we realize what has happened and not passively accept these dysfunctional patterns.

You need to rise up and do something about your negative history.

It may have been there for years, but the good news is it doesn’t have to stay there forever. You can be the one to put a stop to it.

Many times, you may have noticed that it may not be even your fault. Somebody else made the poor choices, and now you have

to deal with it. Nevertheless, be careful that you don’t use the sins of others as an excuse to perpetuate negative lifestyles patterns. You have to do something about it. One of the first steps to overcoming a problem is to recognize what you’re dealing with. Identify it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t try to sweep it away and hope that it will go away. It won’t.

If you’re lazy and undisciplined, don’t make excuses, just admit it. If you have an anger problem, or you don’t treat other people with honor and respect, don’t try to convince yourself that everything is okay.

Again admit your problem and deal with it. Too often we do just the opposite. We think, I’m not going to tell anybody about this problem. What would they think of me? I’d be embarrassed.

Instead, swallow your pride, confess your weakness, and get the help you need so you can be free. It is not easy to admit that we need help, but it is necessary, and it is liberating. You can beat anything that comes against you. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had a problem, or how many times you’ve tried and failed, today is a new day!!

Bains Travel has reached a significant milestone in 2011, they are celebrating 60 continuous years as a company dedicated to serving its wide array of clientele. The company started back in 1951 helping recent Indian immigrants travel back home to visit with friends & family. Many things have changed since 1951 when they first opened.

In those 60 years Bains Travel has grown from a company proving mainly air services to India to now having dedicated wholesale, retail, cruise, vacation, India tour and corporate divisions. All these different areas have allowed the company to continue to grow during everything that has happened this decade alone, including the internet revolution, 9/11 and exploding fuel prices. It is their dedication to service above all else that allowed them to manage throughout, but it is their customers and our community who are the biggest supporters.

From their humble beginning they have grown to one the oldest and strongest Indian owned companies in Western Canada.

Now with three local BC branches and vast potential to expand they are celebrating their 60th year will all their customers who helped them grow for so many years.

To celebrate Bains Travel has already given out two free tickets to India during the Vaikikhi parade. From all the hundred of entries provided only one lucky winner was chosen. Mrs. Brar of Abbotsford, BC, but Bains Travel does not want the celebration to end.

Due the popularity of the contest Bains Travel has partnered with British Airways to provide three more draws of two tickets each for travel to India.

For the outstanding support from the community over the past 60 years Bains Travel will have the opportunity to award a total of 6 tickets in three separate draws during the fall of this year. All you have to do enter is fill out the entry form at one of their offices three local offices in Abbotsford, Vancouver or Surrey. The first draw is on September 24th, there will be draws in October & November, good luck to all those who enter.

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

The Demography of Muslim Youth and the Future

By: Amer Haleem Anyone who will be older than 45 in the year 2050 has already been born. This means that demographers can do nearly definitive projections about population trends until then. What they’re telling us is that a lot of the world’s little ones are coming up in Muslim households and societies.

Those Muslim five-year-olds better get serious quick. Look what they’re facing.

The Arab world’s population will likely grow by 114 percent to nearly 700 million in the next four decades. Its median age is now 22, with a huge youth bulge of nearly 32 percent. That’s the portion that 15 to 24 year olds make up of a region’s adult (IS and older) population.

Fertility rate, measured by replacement of two parents (so 2 means no growth), is falling in the Muslim world. But by comparison-especially with Europe and Russia-it remains high. The Arab world’s fertility rate is between 4 and 6.5 in Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Iraq.

That’s triple growth in those countries on our 2050 timeline. It’s between 3 and 4 in Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Positive increase. But that trend diminishes to very little growth, if any, across North Africa, through Lebanon, and down into the Gulf states (between 2 and 3).

In the rest of the Muslim world, the fertility rate hovers at 3, with glaring exceptions like Afghanistan, a whopping 7.5, and Pakistan at 4. Iran, though you can’t tell it yet because of a previous boom that’s going to ricochet loudly after a decade, is experiencing the world’s single greatest fertility plunge in the history of keeping such demographics. By contrast, Turkey, one of the oldest “modern” Muslim countries, has

an older median age of 27, while its fertility rate has already fallen to near replacement levels (no increase). Muslim Albania is the only country in Eastern Europe with a population rate still above replacement, at 2.3.

Equally important is the fact that regional life expectancies in the Muslim world are rising. Among Arabs, it has climbed from 42 to 67 years old and is projected to reach nearly 77 by 2050. Lots of parents and grandparents to take care of.

But there won’t be a lot of resources to do it with. The economies of most Muslim countries (Malaysia’s been an exception) are shot. Arab youth, for instance, face some of the world’s highest unemployment rates, 20 percent region wide: About 28 percent in Jordan, 31 percent in Tunisia, 39 percent in Palestine, 43 percent in Algeria.

In a number of Muslim countries, elevated unemployment rates parallel an increase in education. Egypt’s most jobless youth are its college graduates.

This means the age at which Muslim men marry is also rising. Fully two out of every five young males in the Muslim world are not married and not working.

But while fertility rates will fall now steadily in the Muslim world for the next 40 years, there will be a massive mini-boom, what they call an echo, in the 2020s. Youth populations of the currently low-fertility countries of North Africa, Central Asia, and Iran will abruptly mushroom: Morocco at 21%. Algeria 32%. Libya 29%. Tunisia 12%. Central Asia’s Sums at a collective 16%. And Iran at 30%.

Add to this the high baby production of the other Muslim regions already mentioned, and that’s a lot of youth capital- with all the

commensurate aspirations and appetites of the young. And since the growth rates of religious families tend to be much higher than their more worldly peers, demographers expect the margin of the devout to tip the balance against the less religious all over the world. And where Muslims are in multiethnic societies (all over the West, for instance) or land disputes, their growth differential will tend to significantly outpace their rivals.

A glance at the leading global societies today-almost all in the West-shows an uncanny inverse of the population trends in the Muslim world. Population declines, in not a few countries precipitous, are now inevitable throughout Europe. Interestingly, America will hold a steady demographic pattern through 2050. Though its growth will not match that of other parts of the world, its proportions, both in people and wealth, will grow enormously in comparison to the rest of the West. This relative increase is also reflected in the percentage of native English speakers in the West, which will leap to more than half.

This means that American influence and responsibilities, if these projections hold, will expand considerably in the West and the world. And if current chauvinistic policies and militaristic attitudes prevailas reflected in The Graying of the Great Powers: Demography and Geopolitics in

Cost of Post Secondary Education Education after high school can be costly, it’s true, but in the end, it remains a great investment.

In a recent Canadian census, more than 60 percent of people in the lowest earnings category did not have more than a high school education, while more than 60 percent of those in the top category had a post secondary degree.

A student attending CEGEP, trade school, college or university full-time today can expect to pay between $2,500 and $8,000 per year or more in tuition alone—and books, supplies, student fees, transportation, housing and other expenses will add to the total.

In fact, full-time students in Canada paid $14,500 on average to cover a year of post secondary expenses in 2003-2004. That’s roughly $58,000 for a four-year program.

Today’s students need to be smart about money, more than they ever needed to be before.

Cost Breakdown Understanding the costs involved will help you make intelligent financial decisions while you’re in school. Here’s a rundown

QR CODE

of some of the costs that you can expect.

1. Tuition This number can be difficult to pinpoint.

Depending on the school or program, tuition can be between $2,500 and $8,000 a year or more. Tuition may vary for different reasons.

• Program choice Some programs charge more than others so you might want to investigate costs upfront.

• Co-op Co-operative education programs usually last longer and cost more than regular fulltime programs. However, the benefits of co-op programs may outweigh the higher costs—co-op students are generally paid for their work terms and gain valuable work experience.

• Class type The format of lectures, amount of lab time needed and number of teaching assistants may affect tuition fees.

• Other factors The school’s location (urban vs. rural setting), the type of institution, and the years of schooling required are other factors that

Scan with your smartphone to visit our website for the latest news in BC Muslim Community! www.miraclenews.com

can also influence costs.

2. Student fees Some schools include fees in tuition costs to fund certain services, clubs and events.

3. Living expenses Rent, food, electrical, gas, telephone and Internet bills can make up a big chunk of the money you’ll have to pay out during school. For example, residence fees can be upwards of $8,000 (including a meal plan).

This can double or, in some instances, triple post secondary expenses.

4. Books The cost of books can influence the overall amount of money that you’ll need for school. Several options are available to you with regards to books.

• School bookstore Buying new books each semester can be an expensive choice, though you benefit from the most recent editions.

• Second-hand books With the right amount of time and patience, buying used books can be a much less expensive alternative. Visit used bookstores or look for signs and pamphlets around campus advertising used books.

the 21st Century, published by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, from which most of these statistics have been taken-it means come the 2020s, it will be a time of maximum instability in the worldwith Muslims, East and West, smack in the middle.

I hope our Muslim youth in America and abroad are paying attention. They have so much of divine revelation, of prophetic manners, and political courage to learn and to teach in such a short time, in order to avert the machinations of the mutrafeeha, the power elite, here and there.

What is most compelling about the year 2050 is that most of us won’t be here any longer to see the outcome. If our Muslim youth fail their task of clear conveyance of this message, whose very name is Peace, if they do not understand enough of Islam to fulfill the Qur’anic command to call to a common word, many of them and their global peers won’t be around either.

• Borrow books If you know someone who has taken the same course, simply ask to borrow the books.

• Buy books online You can get both new and used books online. But be patient: shipping may take a while. You may also want to see if you and some of your fellow students can negotiate a discount by buying your books together in bulk.

After figuring out the Cost of Post Secondary Education, it’s time to find ways to pay for it.

The best type of funding is the type that doesn’t have to be paid back: contributions from parents and other relatives, money from summer or part-time jobs, plus grants, bursaries and scholarships.

If these sources have been fully tapped, you can also look into student loans. Federal, provincial and territorial governments offer student loan programs. Private institutions such as banks, trust companies and credit unions.

In our next issue, we will be looking at choices available to help students pay for school.

Courtesy: CanLearn, Government of Canada

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Canucks not taking anything for granted If anyone should take the NHL pre-season pulse of the Vancouver Canucks, it’s the refreshingly frank Mikael Samuelsson. Ask the veteran right winger a good question and you get a better answer. On an individual basis, Samuelsson has plenty of incentive but has always maintained that climbing a playoff mountain is tough enough the first time. Doing it again will tax the brain as much as the body because it’s hard to argue that a team that led the league in goals, power-play efficiency, goals against and faceoff percentage while establishing franchise records for wins, points and road victories, won’t win the weak Northwest Division by default. After that, who knows? The San Jose Sharks added needed size on the back end in Brent Burns and Colin White, gave up on Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley and landed Martin Havlat. The Los Angeles Kings added Mike Richards and Simon Gagne, the Chicago Blackhawks added veteran depth in

Andrew Brunette and Sean O’Donnell and the Detroit Red Wings, well, they’re still the Red Wings. “The biggest thing is being in it again mentally,” said the 34-year-old Samuelsson. “Start now because it’s going to be a long season. We have the pieces to do some damage again, but that being said it’s not a guarantee. Anything can happen.

We should make the playoffs and go from there. “It’s so tough to say there’s one favourite. To me, that’s impossible. With the salary cap, you’re so even. It doesn’t matter what the regular season shows. Were we the favourites because we won the Presidents’ Trophy? I really don’t believe that.”

Captain Henrik Sedin seems convinced there won’t be a playoff hangover because of a continuous drive to get better and quiet the critics once and for all. He knows the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy look nice on a mantel, but realizes they don’t cut it in this hockey-mad market. Ditto for Daniel and his Art Ross Trophy after a 104-point

campaign last season. “We still haven’t won it all and you’ve got to prove you can go all the way,” stressed Henrik, who had 94 regular-season points last season and led the league with 75 assists. “There are always things you can improve on like shots or the power play or getting out of the corners better or setting picks. When you know the system it’s easy to play when you play on instinct.” Maybe winger Chris Higgins put it best. After suffering a foot injury blocking a shot in the second-round playoff series against Nashville last season and then playing through pain the rest of the way, he knows the championship window can narrow quickly. Pushed to seven games by Chicago in the first round, the Canucks watched the Bruins win a trio of seven-game series en route to winning it all. “They had the mental willpower to push through tough times and got the job done,” said Higgins. “It’s not like we’re not going to be able to physically do it. It will

be the mental side to push through those tough times. “It’s a pretty mature group here but it’s easy with the season we had last year to be a little lax. But that’s something where the effort has to be there right from the start and build from there. You make each game your better game.”

Source: Montreal Gazette

Khan desperate to crush Mayweather’s record Negotiations between Mayweather’s camp and Khan’s American handlers, Golden Boy Promotions, have taken place over the summer to set up Amir Khan versus Mayweather in 2012, when the British fighter steps up from light-welterweight (140lbs) to welterweight (147lbs). Khan, the World Boxing Association light-welterweight champion, explained: “The defining night of this stage in my career is to get Mayweather in a ring with me. I’m not after

Boxing Council welterweight title against ringmaster Mayweather. However, the 24 year-old flew back to Britain on Monday – after being invited by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to attend a White House dinner for America’s leading Muslim athletes – to attend a charity dinner in London on Saturday night where Khan hopes to raise “a six-figure sum” for the drought victims in Somalia, at the London Hilton Metropole. Khan said: “I’m in a very for-

Hafeez sets up another Pakistan win Pakistan completed a clean sweep of Zimbabwe in all three formats of the game, with a victory in the second Twenty20 in an exciting, last-ball finish in Harare.

Crosby in good spirits as camp progresses

Mayweather for the pay day, I’m after him for the glory. I want to be the man remembered in history for taking his unbeaten record away, and want that as part of my legacy. “He has said he’d like to fight in the UK, and it would be brilliant to have the contest in Britain, with 80,000 in a covered stadium.” Khan believes Mayweather, 34, will rule Ortiz, 24, in the ring. He is even willing Mayweather to do so against a fighter Khan defeated in the amateur ranks.

“Ortiz is a banger. He’ll be dangerous early on in the fight, but Mayweather will start to pick him apart as the rounds go on. The one thing Ortiz has on his side is that he is younger and he comes in as the champion.

“That could be an eye-opener but I really do think Mayweather will either take the fight easily on points, or stop Ortiz around the 10th round.” Khan insisted, however, he can learn lessons from the contest. “I’ll be watching closely, but I know I have it in me to beat Mayweather. I will prove any doubter wrong. I will do anything it takes to face him in a ring, even if it means complying with his wishes to fight Jesse Vargas [the unbeaten fighter Floyd promotes first of all] which he is suggesting.” Khan had every intention of being ringside for Ortiz’s defence of the World

tunate position, and I don’t want to waste the influence I can have to do good. I’m only a sportsman but if I can help anyone, anywhere, it makes me feel good. “Hillary Clinton mentioned my name at the dinner and thanked me for coming from England.

Major US sports stars, Olympians, and NFL players were there, and it means a lot to me to be considered for these events in the United States, and to represent Britain well over there.” Khan also revealed that it had been mooted that an audience with US President Barack Obama is being organised for December, after his next contest. Former world title challenger Lamont Peterson is the likely opponent. “I hope that being recognised as a sportsman working in the United States will help with the visa issues,” said Khan, who begins training camp at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood with Freddie Roach on Oct 6. It is understood that Homeland Security — whose officials have kept Khan and his family in waiting areas for high-level security checks on entry to America — may provide a letter of dispensation to ease his passage on future visits.

Source: Telegraph

Sidney Crosby was uncommonly upbeat a few minutes before his fourth training camp practice in as many days Tuesday, regularly flashing smiles while fending off the playful kidding of his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates. The reason for Crosby’s cheerfulness seems evident. He appears to be getting closer to being cleared for contact — the biggest remaining hurdle as he recovers from a concussion that has sidelined the Penguins’ star for 8 ½ months. Only two weeks after being asked repeatedly during a news conference if he would play this season, Crosby is fielding questions about how well he will play once he is back. It’s a sign his on-ice comeback from a serious injury is going even better than he might have expected after a few workouts. “I’m pretty happy with the way they’ve gone so far,” Crosby said. That was evident as Crosby skated full speed through another vigorous, goall-out practice, this time with Penguins co-star Evgeni Malkin skating alongside him in the same workout group. Malkin, who is recovering from knee surgery, scored two goals during an intrasquad game Monday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Crosby hasn’t backed off any drill, except those that require contact. But he hasn’t appeared reluctant to engage in any contact, skating just as hard and as fast into the corners as any of his teammates during puck possession drills. Crosby clearly has progressed significantly from a few weeks ago. Back then, he was forced to cut back

on his off-season conditioning work due to concussion-related side effects that occurred once he reached the 90 per cent exertion rate. During camp, Crosby has been going at full speed full time and with no symptoms. When camp started Saturday, Bylsma didn’t commit to Crosby being available for every practice, saying only he was day to day. Crosby still won’t guess when he might be cleared for hitting during camp, saying, “No clue.” But there are numerous signs it could be relatively soon. Crosby was making it look easy until hard hits in successive games Jan. 1 and Jan. 5 gave him his first career concussion and ended his 2010-11 season. He had 32 goals and 66 points in 41 games and was on pace for the highest scoring total by an NHL player in 15 years. Crosby is eager to see if he can return to that level again.

For now, Crosby doesn’t know if that will be for the Penguins’ opener Oct. 6 in Vancouver, although that might be a bit premature. Team doctors will have the final say as to when Crosby can start accepting and throwing hits in practice, the step required before he can begin preparing to play again. While Crosby’s NHL return will result in considerable attention, at least the Penguins don’t have to deal with potential distractions such as a European trip, another Winter Classic appearance or an HBO TV special, all of which they’ve experienced the last few seasons.

Source: CBC News

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Issue 293 - Shawaal 25, 1432 / September 23, 2011

Canada : Continued from pg 1 Dengue : Continued from pg 3 like this are helpful in terms of establishing a longrun peace in the Middle East.” The prime minister left no doubt how Canada will act at the UN on the matter. The issue is quickly developing into an international political time bomb that could cause significant friction at the UN. It’s still not certain how the drama will play out, but the likely scenario is as follows. Abbas will ask the 15-member UN Security Council to endorse the Palestinian Authority’s bid for full membership at the UN. Once that happens, the stage will be set for a major international rift. The U.S. will use its power as a permanent member of the Security Council to veto the bid. The U.S. says the only way for the Palestinians to achieve statehood is through negotiations with Israel as part of longstanding, but stymied, Mideast peace efforts. Once that veto happens, it’s expected the Palestinians will opt for their secondbest option. They will ask the 193-member General Assembly for recognition as a nonmember state. This would provide limited powers of UN membership, but would carry the advantage of being able, for instance, to take human rights complaints to the International Criminal Court. In such a vote, it is highly likely that the Palestinians would succeed. Already 127 of the 193 nations reportedly have indicated they would vote for a Palestinian bid. In that instance, Canada would be among the countries formally objecting by voting no. During his trip to New York next week, Harper will meet Tuesday with NATO nations and Arab organizations that are known as the Friends of Libya - the group that rallied last spring to mount a military action against Gadhafi and to help the rebels in that country. At next week’s meeting, Harper will be joined by major leaders, such as Britain’s David Cameron and France’s Nicolas Sarkozy, who visited Libya this week. The countries are expected to agree on the need to extend the mission beyond its current Sept. 27 deadline - likely for another three months.

Source: Vancouver Sun

Afghan : Continued from pg 1 fied in the face of Rabbani’s “martyrdom”.

An emergency cabinet meeting was called for on Wednesday. The UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon also condemned the killing and underscored the UN’s commitment to “supporting Afghanistan and its people attaining peace and stability and to working in close co-operation with them,” his spokesman said. Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s president, and Yousuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, also condemned the attack.

Amrullah Saleh, a former intelligence chief who fought against the Taliban under Rabbani, told Al Jazeera the attacks showed the government’s failure in protecting highprofile figures. “These attacks tell us that the policy of appeasement and deal making with the Taliban and Pakistan is not going to lead to peace. “By adapting a vague policy of so called reconciliation, [the government] has created confusion in our society and weakened the government to the extent that they can’t even protect high-profiled leaders in the capital.” Rabbani’s death could also unleash the resentment building up among some senior Northern Alliance members, who have criticised Karzai for his peace efforts with the Taliban. “If Karzai wants to keep Afghanistan united, he has to launch massive massive investigations and bring the culprits to justice.”

Source: Al-Jazeera

Sunday taking the death toll to 48 in Lahore.

Three people, namely Moon Usman, 18, Bashir Masih, 60, and Roshan, 65, died at the Mayo Hospital while two others Khalida, 35, of Darogawala and Rashida, 80, died at the Services Hospital. The sixth victim, Abida, 27, a resident of Walton, also fell victim to the deadly virus. Khalida was admitted to the Shalimar hospital. Despite medical treatment she did not recover and was shifted to the Services Hospital where she died late on Saturday night. Dengue has been growing at an exponential rate in the province and hospitals have limited resources for its treatment. staff report Spokesman for the health department of Punjab province said that there were documented 6,400 cases of Dengue fever. Of all, 6,000 are in Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, having more than 6 million people.

Also, the 48 who died, are from Lahore.

What is more, 300 new cases on average of the virus-based disease spread by mosquitoes, are being reported every day.

“We prefer to stay at home rather than going shopping,” because of the threat of disease, said a 25-year-old professional from Lahore, Zainab Khan. And so do most of the people in town, which are trying as hard as they can to avoid crowded places.

All schools in Lahore have been closed by the government, according to Ahmed, a local resident. The outbreak has created panic in the city, as thousands of people crowd in hospitals for testing.

Source: The News

Flood : Continued from pg 3 villages, have made temporary shelters from bits of plastic, cloth and wood. Many had brought household possessions like beds and pots and pans with them. Some had brought their cows, which were tethered on the road. The 52-bed Badin Civil Hospital was treating more than 100 patients. Ameer Zadi said she had to carry her younger sister, Begum, on her back through the waist-high waters after she was bitten by one of the many snakes that have been disturbed by the floods. Begum was lying on a dirty bed with flies buzzing around. It was unclear whether the snake was venomous.

Elsewhere, 20-year-old Zubaida Ismail was recovering from a miscarriage that occurred when her house collapsed. Six months pregnant, she lay bleeding in the remains of her home until an army boat appeared and took her to safety, then to the hospital, her sister said. A doctor at the hospital, Rahim Rahimoo, said the situation there was “under control” but he was concerned about waterborne diseases and malaria, noting that the volume of patients was increasing daily.

In 2010, the floods followed the course of the River Indus and its tributaries from the foothills of the Himalayas to the flatlands of Sindh, where the river empties out into the Arabian Sea. Many of the countries that helped out then, including the U.S., have mobilized again this year to assist victims. The U.S. said it paid for food packages for 23,000 families and its local partners will soon begin handing out tents, clean water and other supplies.

Japan and China have also pledged relief goods or money, according to the Pakistan government. “The numbers (of affectees) are growing by the day and we would like to be able to reach as many people as possible with humanitarian assistance ... so hopefully they can return to homes and recover,” said Stacey Melissa Winston, a spokeswoman for the United Nations.

Source: Associate Press

Municipal Election 2011 Respected community members, I would like to thank everyone for giving me mandate in the previous election to serve you as a school trustee.

I have taken my responsibilities with complete honesty and passion. Knowing that the position of a school trustee is very important as any decision taken is bound to affect the life of an individual or of an entire family, community, city, province or country.

In my first term as a Surrey School Trustee, I have seen firsthand how underfunding has hurt Surrey’s schools, not just for special needs children, but for everyone. I am more committed than ever to fight for the needs of Surrey students During the past three years I have taken initiatives in the best interest of generations to come and I always try to ensure my availability to the public in regards to listening to their concerns, suggestions and being able to support in any way possible. It gives me great pride by saying that I have preserved the trust of the residents of Surrey.

Other than being assistance to many individuals, I also have been involved in various organization throughout the city, such as the Multicultural advisory committee currently known as Diversity and Inclusion advisory committee, the ESL Committee, the BC Muslim School Committee, Traditional Advisory Committee, Surrey Board of Trade, Etc. Representation in all these, in which I am very passionate, once again I am seeking your support and YES, you will find me trustworthy, loyal and committed to the issues.

Please vote for me and the SCC team on November the 19th.

You can support me in many ways as per campaign regulations permit. To be a part of my campaign you may call me at (778) 883-0161.

Sincerely Yours, Ijaz Ahmed Chatha (778) 883-0161 SCC Trustee Candidate for Surrey Board of Education Election November 19, 2011

HELP WANTED For Crystal@York Centre Banquet Hall, #210-12888- 80th Ave Surrey Looking for two Cooks and Sweets Makers for Pakistani and Indian style Full Time, salary $17.50/hr for 40 hrs/ wk with 3 year experience Speak English but Urdu is a strong asset.

Contact: Mr. Shahid Ch. 604-908-1010 Email: crystal atyork@hotmail.com

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$5.00 Flat Fee for Bank Transfers to Pakistan Our ‘Lucky 5 Loyalty Program’ which runs till December 2011 5th Free Transaction is Bank Transfer only.

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5th Free Transaction is Bank Transfer Visit Our Gulberg Location 778 919 0673 Ph: 604-572-4494, 604-572-4495 E: vancouver.branch@ca.uaeexchange.com ~ W: www.uaeexchange.com

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All items are at very reasonable prices!

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Please Donate Generously!

For Flood Victims in Sindh (Pakistan) Sep 2011

So far this month, Flooding has taken a big toll on people and property in southern Pakistan following what has been called the heaviest rain on record.

To address the needs and provide assistance to the rain affected people in Pakistan we the members of flood committee (2011) request you to join us on Sunday 25, 2011 from 11 to 5 PM at Gulberg Market located at 126/72 Ave Surrey.

We will be collecting funds which will be channelled through the representatives of Imran Khan Foundation and Human Concern International.

Please contact us for more details.

Waqar Ahmad Jan & other committee members 604-729-1009

Sponsored By: Miracle Media Group

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