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Volume 18 Issue 483- Rabi ul Thani 27, 1440 AH / January 4, 2019

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6 Gastown chowder

6 12 3 CJP assails Sindh 4 6

govt over disinterest Trump gives about four months for Syria British MPs, lawyers request visit to Saudi

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

THE new year begins on a note that is somewhere between hope and apprehension.

N

early six months into its tenure, the PTI federal government is now surely as well prepared as it will be for the enormous governance challenges ahead.

The PTI’s stuttering start may have been undesirable, but worse would be to continue the policy indecision that has characterised much of the government’s term so far, especially in the economic arena.

The new year is on track to be one of the toughest economically and financially that the country has witnessed in recent times.

While politically, the PTI, PML-N and PPP can argue over their respective performances in office, what is undeniable is that the PTI

op i n i on

Challenges in 2019

now has full stewardship of the economy.

The decisions Prime Minister Imran Khan’s finance team led by Asad Umar makes will be enormously consequential — the margins between survival and disaster are small for great swathes of the population.

Decades of economic mismanagement should not obscure the fact that the PTI government has an enormous responsibility to the people of Pakistan.

On the accountability front, the PTI will to a greater degree be master of its own fate. With PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in prison, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif in the custody of NAB and PPP boss Asif Zardari set to face intense scrutiny, the ongoing accountability drive seems likely to perpetuate political

uncertainty.

But much of that uncertainty stems from a perception that the accountability exercise is selective and politically motivated.

In the new year, the PTI will have an opportunity to demonstrate that not only is accountability across the board but that the political opposition to the PTI is afforded a fair and transparent process.

If the PTI fails to deliver a more balanced accountability process, political turmoil will likely intensify.

Certainly, the allegations against Mr Zardari are serious and he will need to provide adequate explanations.

Similarly, the legal process against the Sharif brothers must continue as per the requirements of justice and due process. There ought to be no turning back from the exercise — but accountability for all and fair

accountability ought to be ensured.

Finally, while much has been made of the PTI government and state institutions having managed to avoid the familiar civil-military and inter-institutional friction that has blighted the terms of previous governments, if all national institutions are to be on the same page that page must be a lawful, constitutional one.

With civil liberties under attack, a free media imperilled and the space for constitutionally protected and legitimate dissent eroded, there is a risk that the same-page mantra may lead to the destruction of democratic norms and a return to authoritarian tendencies in the state.

Pakistan must remain a constitutional democracy with the highest protection afforded to the fundamental rights of its people.

Courtesy dawn.com/news

Why 2018 was Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar’s year

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By: Arifa Noor ith so much having happened during the year – a general election, the conviction of a former prime minister and a party’s first time in power – 2018 still belongs to Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

Amid some of the biggest political news to come out of Pakistan, the man in robes (and his colleagues) managed to hog headlines and attention.

After Iftikhar Chaudhry, the country thought it had seen all that judicial activism had to offer, but that was not the case. Justice Nisar proved that there was much further a ‘caring’ judiciary could go. Chaudhry showed the way with how Court Room Number One could create news by calling in officials, berating them and how this also went down well with the ‘public’.

Justice Nisar learnt the lesson well. The officials were soon being called back to the same room for a similar rap on the knuckles. But Justice Nisar wasn’t content with this; he wanted to tread his own path and he did – literally. Justice

Nisar created headlines not just in the court rooms, but by visits all over the country. There were visits to hospitals, to filtration plants, to lower court rooms (remember the judge he told off and then flung his phone) and to prisons. And every-

where that the chief justice went, the cameras were sure to follow.

Conservatively dressed in a suit and his trademark dark glasses, the chief justice became a familiar figure on our television screens as he gave us his version of the lone

ranger on a mission to fix state and society – previously, only the former chief minister of Punjab had prowled the streets thus. Indeed, this may well be the defining feature of the judicial activism of Justice Nisar; his legacy as the chief

justice. “Each chief justice finds a way to define his legacy,” says a senior lawyer. It is what they are looking for once they end up as the big guy in Court Room Number One. The senior lawyer points out that Justice Tassaduq Jillani, one of

the reticent judges in recent times who succeeded Chaudhry, found his ‘legacy’ in his judgement on the rights of minorities. “He used international forums to draw attention to his judgement.”

For many, the search for a legacy has motivated Justice Nisar but with the desire to distinguish himself from Chaudhry.

While Chaudhry is remembered for his dismissals and restoration as well as his use of Article 184(3), his suo moto headlines were mostly in the realm of politics; NRO, missing people, LNG, Hajj scandal, Memogate and disqualification of a sitting prime minister. It was a legacy inextricably linked with two political rulers – first Pervez Musharraf and then Asif Ali Zardari.

But in terms of larger administrative issues, Chaudhry’s interventions were rather limited. He tried to set sugar price shortly after his second restoration, failed miserably and stayed away from such issues afterwards.

Justice Nisar, however, had no such qualms. Aside from the

To be continued at page 23 Wa a n l a y s a l i l i n s a n i i l l a m a ’ s a ’ a a T h a t m a n c a n h a v e n o t h i n g b u t w h a t h e s t r i v e s f o r.

‘Chosen & Honored Women’!

By: Gulshan Aalani

Honored are the women of today and of the past, according to the final Holy Scripture Al-Quran every woman created is an honored woman in the sight of Allah-Creator-GOD. Who has accorded woman a status of dignity and respect as a ‘person’, as her creation which in no way differs from man’s.

Mentioned in the Quran specially chosen one of the most honored, blessed, Pious, virtuous, and pure young woman who submitted to Allah-Creator and dedicated her services to HIM only, is none other than Virgin Mary-Maryam (RA) beloved Mother of Messiah Jesus (AS).

She was honored by the Divine and chosen to carry a baby by an act of miracle of Allah who says ‘BE’ and HE creates. She was astonished when an Angel appeared to her saying: “Behold, O Mary GOD hath chosen and purified thee above the women of all nations: “--GOD giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from HIM: his name will be Christ Jesus the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of the company of those nearest to GOD”:

“--And GOD will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the law and Gospel”.

“She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me? (Quran: 3: 42, 45, 47, 48), This proves the authenticity of ‘Virgin Birth’, and in defense of his Mother miraculously Messiah Jesus (AS) spoke in the cradle as a Baby. (Q. 19: 30).

In fact the authenticity of the story and his advent confirmed and explained well by Universal Messenger Muhammad (SAWS) who planted the seed of respect for him and all the Prophets among pagans and Muslim converts. In fact Prophet Muhammad’s advent was also foretold

by Jesus (AS) (Ref.Bible).

In Islam under the Sharia Law women have a complete and comprehensive set of rights, which have never at any time or place been equaled or excelled. Such rights were established at a time when female children were rejected and buried alive and women were considered transferable property, Islam honored women in society by elevating them and protecting them with unprecedented right.

God has bestowed these rights on women of the world 14C. ago. They were not given as the result of the demands, pressures or threats of women themselves. Rather, given freely and unreservedly by the one who created them. mainly her recognition of a person an individual person. unlike the law of the land (1915-20) Euro-

pean women had to fight for the recognition of a woman as person, also the case of Suffragette 1903 national struggle and suffering of women fighting for their rights.

However, there is a divine guide line for her appearance, speech, ethics moral values, and overall behavior should be governed by divine guidelines.

A Muslim woman’s similitude is of the special women mentioned in the Quran and the women of the Ahlaylbayt -family of Universal Messenger Muhammad (SAWS), who in his last sermon in the Uranah Valley of Mt. Arafat said: “O people!

---Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers”.

The other women’s ‘Related stories’ mentioned in the Quran: Umme Moses (AS), H. Asiya Pharaoh’s wife, H. Hawa/Eve (RA) wife of H. Adam (AS), Bilquish Queen of Sheba, H. Sarah (RA), H. Hagar (RA), & Mother of H. Mary (RA).

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PAKISTAN

CJP assails Sindh govt over disinterest in recovering its ‘illegally occupied’ forest land

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday expressed displeasure at the Sindh government’s disinterest in recovering hundreds of thousands of acres of illegally allotted and grabbed land in a case pertaining to deforestation in Karachi. The chief justice, while heading a three-member bench in Islamabad today, asked if any measures were taken by the provincial government regarding its forest land.

“Seventy thousand acre land has been leased illegally,” Sindh’s additional advocate general told the top judge, adding that demarcation of forest land was underway. When Justice Ijazul Ahsan enquired how Bahria Town got hold of forest land, the petitioner, Qazi Athar, said that the property developer was given 11,000 acres of forest land in Karachi and another 4,000 acres in Nawabshah.

The chief justice expressed disappointment at the Sindh government’s inaction to recover its land, saying: “Forests are very important for the environment. If [they] do not want to work, they should leave this country. Such people are not capable of running the government.

“I have never seen a government that is admitting that its land has been illegally occupied but is still not taking any action.” The petitioner alleged that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had converted forest department’s 2.8 million acres into revenue land — a move he said was later declared null and void by the Sindh High Court. Furthermore, the

petitioner claimed that the then Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah did not get a satellite survey of the land conducted despite the existence of court orders. The land, the petitioner alleged, was later transferred to Bahria Town, Omni Group and others in complete violation of the court orders.

At this, the chief justice ordered Bahria Town CEO Malik Riaz to appear before the court in the next hearing. “Malik Riaz is illegally occupying 18,000 acres of forest land. He is very fond of talking on the rostrum, so now he should come.”

Justice Nisar said that he would not grant Malik’s counsel his request for adjournment, summoning him to the Karachi registry on January 9, when the case will next be heard.

The court also ordered the parties concerned to furnish their reports in the court by January 7. Source: dawn.com

MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Army shot down an Indian ‘spy drone’ along the restive Line of Control on Tuesday, a day after India’s ruthless shelling from across the LoC left a woman dead and nine others injured in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan Army troops shot down Indian Spy Quadcopter in Bagh sector along [the] Line of Control,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor announced in a tweet at 9.56pm. The tweet included picture

details, at least immediately, as to how deep the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had intruded into Pakistani airspace.

How­ever, in the same tweet, he said: “Not even a quadcopter will be allowed to cross [the] LoC, In Shaa Allah.” It was a clear reference to the claim made by the Indian government more than two years ago that their army commandos had carried out surgical strikes in AJK, on Sept 28, 2016, days after an attack on an army base in Uri in held Kashmir had left 20 Indian soldiers dead. Not only that Pakistan had rejected the claim outright as a figment of imagination, the release of the so-called surgical strike videos had also triggered scathing attacks from the Indian opposition parties, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was using it for political gains. The very claim was recapitulated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an exclusive interview to ANI news agency on Tuesday, which was carried by all Indian media outlets. Interestingly, only last week Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad had warned that the Modi government could carry out a surgical strike inside Pakistan in 2019 “to distract people and get political gains ahead of the general elections in India”. Source: dawn.com

Army shoots down another Indian spy drone along LoC: ISPR of the spy drone, but the ISPR chief did not give any more

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IP gas project in limbo: Pakistan wants Iran to interpret sanctions LAHORE: Pakistan has urged Iran to explain in-writing its interpretation of sanctions that resulted in a massive delay in completion of the mega IranPakistan gas pipeline project.

“The government has taken up the issue in a recent meeting with the Iranian petroleum ministry’s advisers held in Islamabad. During the meeting, we have asked them to give us a detailed clarity over their interpretation of the sanctions under which they claim that the restrictions don’t affect completion of the project,” Inter State Gas System (ISGS) Managing Director Mr Mobeen Saulat told Dawn on Tuesday.

For the last four years, the IP gas project, under which Pakistan was reportedly supposed to receive as many as 750MMCF of natural gas from Iran

daily through an agreement, is off the table due to international sanctions both multilateral imposed by the United Nations and the unilateral clamped by the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and the European Union.

The unilateral sanctions imposed by the US were the most severe amongst all international restrictions — Iran Sanctions Act 1996, Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act 2010 and National Defence Authorisation Act-2012. The construction work on the Pakistani section of the pipeline had been inaugurated in March, 2013 and it was planned to be completed within 22 months.

“As far as we understand, we cannot move ahead on the project due to sanctions imposed on Iran. But they (Irani-

an petroleum ministry advisers) have their own interpretation of the sanctions. So we have engaged them in the process to understand the [sanctions] interpretation of each other,” the ISGS official said.

“That is why we have told them that we need a detailed clarity in writing from them in this regard, as we cannot go ahead with the project with their ver-

bal interpretation. They have agreed to provide us a detailed reply,” the MD added.

The official said as soon as the government received explanation from Iran [over sanctions’ regime] it would study and evaluate the same in depth. And if it finds the same justified, it may be in a position to resolve the issue.

“Since it is a very important project in view of 750MMCFD natural gas provision to Pakistan, the government wants to resolve this issue by understanding interpretation of the sanctions,” he said. Source: dawn.com

Current, former PA speakers found guilty of misuse of authority PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Services Tribunal has held the current and former speakers of the provincial assembly, Asad Qaiser and Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani respectively, for promoting cronyism and nepotism during appointments to the assembly secretariat. “By now it has been established beyond any shadow of doubt that the former and the present Speaker etc. have one point agenda to promote cronyism, nepotism and favouritism

at the cost of merit, transparency, fairness, equality and justice,” the three-member tribunal ruled in a detailed judgment on an appeal against the appointment of a junior officer as the secretary of the assembly. “It amounts to misuse of official authority and is open to cognisance/judicial scrutiny by the quarters concerned,” it added.

Accepting an appeal of senior additional secretary Kifayatullah Khan Afridi on Dec

10, the tribunal consisting of members Mohammad Hamid Mughal, Mohammad Amin Khan Kundi and Ahmad Hassan had declared illegal the Aug 11, 2017, decision of the Departmental Promotion Committee and the Aug 15, 2017, notification by the then assembly speaker and current National Assembly speaker, Asad Qaiser, of the promotion of an officer junior to him, Nasrullah Khan, as the secretary. Source: dawn.com

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Trump gives about four months for Syria Israel to ‘worsen’ conditions for troop pull-out: NYT Palestinian prisoners

US President Donald Trump has agreed to allow about four months for the US military to pull its troops out of Syria, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing administration officials.

The report came after Trump tweeted that “we’re slowly sending our troops back home”, backtracking on his initial order for a rapid withdrawal.

Trump unexpectedly announced the troop pull-out on December 19, and US media, citing military officials, reported the withdrawal would take place within 30 days.

But on Monday, the New York Times reported that Trump privately told Paul J LaCamera, the commander of US forces in Iraq and Syria, last week that he could have several months to pull the some 2,000 US troops out.

Military officials declined the New York Times’s request to specify when the departure will take place. The newspaper noted the security concerns and that officials are aware that Trump may change his mind at any time.

On Sunday, US Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump had agreed to slow down the timetable. Graham told reporters that he was “going to ask [Trump] to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this”.

Trump initially said the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) had been defeated, but he has somewhat backtracked on that claim, saying now that ISIL is “mostly gone”.

Angered many Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of Syria has angered many politicians, including those within his own Republican Party, as well as Pentagon officials.

Defense Secretary James Mattis unexpectedly resigned after the announcement, and Brett McGurk, the US’s top envoy in the fight against ISIL, announced he would be leaving his post earlier than expected due to the decision. Critics not only warn of a resurgence of ISIL, but worry that the withdrawal is a betrayal of US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria and leaves them vulnerable to an attack from Turkish forces. Turkey considers

the US-backed Kurdish People’s Protection Units, which now controls nearly 30 percent of Syria, a terrorist group linked to fighting within its own borders.

Critics also contend the US withdrawal would embolden Iran and Russia, which have supported the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, will travel to Israel and Turkey in early January to discuss what the White House says is the “deliberate and coordinated” withdrawal of US forces from Syria. Bolton also will be discussing increased cooperation with the Turkish military and other partners.

Bolton’s spokesman, Garrett Marquis, said in a statement on Monday that Bolton will be joined in Turkey by Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and James Jeffrey, the secretary of state’s special representative for Syria engagement.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday to continue cooperating over Syria and in countering Iran in the Middle East.

In his first public comments on Trump’s decision to pull-out troops, Pompeo said it “in no way changes anything that this administration is working on alongside Israel” and that campaigns to counter ISIL and Iranian Algeria has banned all Syrians from entering the country via its southern borders, hours aggression would continue. after a rights group reported that 50 SyrSource: Al-Jazeera ians and Palestinians had been deported to neighbouring Niger in the last week.

Hassen Kacimi, the head of migrants policy at the interior ministry, said that Syrians SCO financially, since it has been dealing with seeking refuge this way were suspected to be a funding slash ever since 2011 when both Is- armed fighters. “We have hosted 50,000 Syrrael and the US stopped paying dues after Pal- ians in the past few years for humanitarian estine was voted in as a member state. reasons,” Kacimi told Reuters news agency, Since then officials estimate that the US - alluding to refugees from Syria’s civil war. which accounted for around 22 percent of ”But we cannot accept members of armed the total budget - has accrued $600m in un- groups fleeing from Syria when it comes to paid dues, which was one of the reasons for our security.”Algeria went through years of President Donald Trump’s decision to with- devastating civil war with armed groups in draw. Israel owes an estimated $10m. the 1990s. While violence is now greatly diOfficials say that many of the reasons the US minished, sporadic attacks continue in isocited for the withdrawal do not apply any lated areas.Kacimi said around 100 people more, noting that since then, all 12 texts on had reached the southern border with the the Middle East passed at UNESCO have help of local armed escorts in recent weeks been consensual among Israel and Arab member states.

The State Department couldn’t comment because of the US government shutdown.

Earlier, the department told UNESCO officials the US intends to stay engaged at UN- Trump invites congressional leaders to White ESCO as a non-member “observer state” on House briefing on border security President “non-politicised” issues, including the pro- Donald Trump on Tuesday invited congrestection of World Heritage sites, advocating sional leaders to a White House briefing on for press freedom and promoting scientific border security as the partial government collaboration and education. shutdown dragged on over funding for a The US could potentially seek that status border wall, with Trump tweeting, “Let’s during the UNESCO Executive Board meet- make a deal?” ings in April.

The briefing would happen Wednesday, the The US has pulled out of UNESCO before. day before the Democrats take control of The Reagan administration did so in 1984 the House, but the exact agenda wasn’t imbecause it viewed the agency as misman- mediately clear, according to a person with aged, corrupt, and used to advance Soviet knowledge of the briefing who was not auinterests. The US rejoined in 2003. thorized to speak publicly about the issue Source: Al-Jazeera and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

US and Israel formally quit UNESCO

The United States and Israel have officially quit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day, the culmination of a process triggered more than a year ago.

The withdrawal is mainly procedural yet serves a new blow to UNESCO, co-founded by the US after World War II to foster peace.

The Trump administration filed its notice to withdraw in October 2017 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed suit, accusing the UN agency of anti-Israel bias.

The Paris-based organisation has previously criticised Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem and granted full membership to Palestinein 2011.

The US has demanded “fundamental reform” in the agency.

UNESCO is best known for its work to preserve heritage, including maintaining a list of World Heritage sites, and programmes to promote education in developing countries.

The withdrawals will not greatly affect UNE-

Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan has announced plans to “worsen” conditions for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The plans, which were the result of a committee Erdan set up seven months ago to make prison conditions harsher for those who “committed acts of terrorism”, include blocking funds to the Palestinian Authority, rationing water supplies, limiting prisoners’ access to television and reducing the number of family visits.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Erdan said that family visits had already been halted for prisoners affiliated with the Palestinian movement Hamas.

“The plan also includes preventing members of the Knesset [Israel’s parliament] from visiting Palestinian detainees,” Erdan said.

He added that the plan also includes ending the policy of separating Hamas prisoners from those affiliated with rival Palestinian faction Fatah, as he said that holding prisoners in cells based on organizational affiliation resulted in “strengthening their organization identity”. Erdan also said that there will be “clear limits” on the amount of water a prisoner consumes each day, including a cap on the number of times they are allowed to shower. He went on to assert that the Israeli prison service was ready to “deal with any scenario”. “We will not be deterred by threats and [hunger] strikes,” he said.

“We must make conditions worse [for prisoners] to fulfil our moral duty to terror victims and their families,” he added.

Mustafa Barghouti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative party, told Al Jazeera that the Israeli government acts like it has a free hand to oppress Palestinians in any way they

want.“The only way to force Israel to abstain from this behavior is to impose sanctions on Israel,” he said, speaking from the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.

“Israel is behaving as if it is above international law and this must change.”

According to Erdan, the Israeli authorities are likely to begin implementing the plan in the coming weeks, once it has been approved by the Israeli cabinet.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Commission denounced Erdan’s plans and said they were an attempt to make Palestinian prisoners’ lives more unbearable. Qadri Abubaker, the head of the Prisoners’ Commission, called for a strong national stand against these measures. Such decisions and laws “calls for everyone to rally at the official, popular, legal, media and human rights level to expose these arrogant policies against our heroes in prisons,” he told Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency. According to official statistics, the number of Palestinian prisoners behind bars has reached 5,500, including 230 children and 54 women. Source: Al-Jazeera

Algeria shuts southern borders to Syrians over security fears

but were intercepted and expelled shortly after they slipped into Algeria.He said that the Syrians had transited Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan and Niger or Mali using fake Sudanese passports.“This is a criminal network and we must be very vigilant not to allow them get into Algeria,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, a local human rights group said Algerian authorities had deported 50 Palestinians and Syrians on December 25 and December 26. According to La Ligue Algerienne pour la Defense des Droits de l’Homme (LADDH), the majority of the refugees were Syrian nationals and were transferred via buses to Niger. Algeria’s south and southeast are largely empty desert regions but it has beefed up its security presence there after neighbouring Libya and northern Mali and Niger fell into the hands of various armed factions.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Trump invites congressional leaders to White House briefing on border security Republican leaders will be attending. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as the top incoming House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy of California and Steve Scalise of Louisiana, are planning to be at the briefing, according to aides. Retiring Speaker Paul Ryan will not.

Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to take over as House speaker, was also expected to attend, but she and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer were awaiting more details. Pelosi said Democrats would take action to “end the Trump Shutdown” by passing legislation Thursday to reopen government.

Source: Global News

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British MPs, lawyers request visit to detained Saudi activists

A cross-party group of UK parliamentarians and international lawyers has asked to visit detained female activists in Saudi Arabia to investigate allegations that they are being tortured and denied legal representation and family visits.

In a letter to the Saudi ambassador to Britain, MP Crispin Blunt, the head of the group’s detention review panel, asked Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz to assist them in arranging a visit to Dhahban prison near Jeddah to speak to the activists held there.

“We hope to be able to gather direct testimony from the detainees during our visit in Saudi Arabia,” Blunt wrote on Wednesday, adding the group wanted to also “meet and interview officials responsible for and tasked” with the activists’ detention.

Several international human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have alleged that eight female activists who had campaigned for the right for women to drive have been tortured with electric shocks and whipped with an “egal”, a rope that keeps a male headscarf in place.

The groups’ reports have also alleged that the women were subjected to sexual harassment, threatened with rape and prevented from accessing lawyers.

“The allegations made and recorded by these human rights advocates are extremely damaging to the credibility of the progressive reforms announced recently by the Saudi Arabian government,” the letter said.

Riyadh has rejected the accusations.

“The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia categorically and strongly denies the allegations made by them. The wild claims

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made, quoting anonymous ‘testimonies’ or ‘informed sources’, are simply wrong,” the Ministry of Media said in a statement in November.

The detained activists have been identified as Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef, Eman al-Nafjan, Nouf Abdelaziz, Mayaa al-Zahrani, Samar Badawi, Nassima al-Saada, and Hatoon al-Fassi.

The letter comes as the Saudi government still grapples with the international fallout over the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and critic of the country’s leadership who was brutally murdered in the kingdom’s consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul on October 2.

“The Khashoggi tragedy was obviously a total and utter disaster for Saudi Arabia,” Blunt told Al Jazeera.

“It would seem that the people who are responsible for the Khashoggi operation were also responsible for the detention of these Saudi Arabia women’s rights activists at exactly the same time that Saudi Arabian women were getting the right to drive and major steps forward in their own personal freedom, with freedom from the so-called guardian laws, in a way that was a huge step internationally and rightly paraded as such.”

Women in Saudi Arabia were finally allowed to drive in June 2018.

The detention review panel said it also wants to collect testimonies from male supporters of the women activists, including Ibrahim alModaimegh, Abdulaziz Meshaal and Mohammed Rabea.

Their letter went on to say that following the panel’s review, they would be able to support Saudi Arabia in “regaining confidence from the international community that its commitment to progressive reform and the protection of the rights of peaceful pro-reform activists is both credible and sincere”.

The group requested the Saudi ambassador to respond by January 9 “in light of the urgency of this matter”.

The review panel consists of ITN solicitors, as represented by the firm’s partner Tayab Ali; Dr Tim Moloney QC, the deputy head of Doughty Street Chambers; MP Layla Moran; and MP Dr Paul Williams.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Gastown chowder restaurant says rat incident ‘doesn’t add up’

The owner of a Gastown restaurant featured in a viral social media post purportedly showing a rat being lifted out of a bowl of chowder says it doesn’t believe the event happened as depicted. Ashton Phillips says Crab Park Chowdery and its staff has conducted a full investigation – involving testing the buoyancy of a rodent in chowder as well as the possibility of fitting a rodent in a bread bowl – and has come to the conclusion that a rat couldn’t have gotten into their food in their kitchen or as a result of staff actions.

“For us, we’ve done the research, we’ve done our investigations into it and we just don’t see how it’s possible,” he said. Phillips says the muted reaction of the girls in the viral video also seemed suspicious to staff.

As a result of the incident, the offsite kitchen Crab Park Chowdery used to prepare its food was closed by Vancouver Coastal Health. The restaurant was also evicted from the commercial kitchen it was using to cook its soups.

But Phillips says he feels the restaurant was made to be a scapegoat by the owners of its commercial kitchen space.

“They made us out to be the bad guys and that’s unfortunately how they decided to go down the road with it,” he said.

The off-site kitchen is owned by restaurant

Mamie Taylor’s.

“Restaurants aren’t meant to be messy, especially when you’re preparing food. It’s very important that cleanliness is of the utmost importance. There were a few issues about keeping things tidy and organization that were addressed and dealt with, but were continually ongoing,” said Ron Oliver, the owner of Mamie Taylor’s, last week after the incident.Vancouver Coastal Health says the offsite kitchen is still closed.

“We just want everybody to know we’ve done everything possible we can to get to the bottom of it,” said Phillips.

Source: ctvnews.ca

Sample of Metro Vancouver assessments show falling values among the priciest homes

Many British Columbians have likely jumped on to the new New Year’s Day tradition of looking up their 2019 property assessments, which likely show them declines on detached homes in pricier Vancouver neighbourhoods and increases in Metro Vancouver suburbs.

The B.C. Assessment Authority starts sending physical assessment notices out to property owners by mail this week, but the lookup feature on the agency’s website went live Dec. 31, allowing impatient owners to get ahead of Canada Post.

So, while B.C. Assessment won’t release detailed analysis until later today (today is Jan. 2), the curious can check and see that the 2019 assessment on Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s Point Grey Road mansion, last year the province’s most expensive, slid seven per cent to $73.1 million.

And last year’s top five most valuable property assessments collectively sank by an average of seven per cent, mitigated slightly by an increase in the estimated value of the privately owned James Island in the Gulf Islands.

That is one view of a changing property market in 2018 that saw demand for highend properties, which are subject to new taxes, fairly freeze while the competition for condominiums and suburban homes heated up by comparison.

“Assessments just follow the market,” said economist Tsur Sommerville, and “what we know is the market has dried up more at the high end than the low end, and that would then be reflected in larger price declines there.”

The bigger issue, said Sommerville, a senior fellow in the University of B.C.’s Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate, is that assessments on condominiums and townhouses are likely to be up a lot, while assessments on detached homes “should be flat or down.”

That could shift more of the property-tax base of municipalities onto condos and townhouses, Sommerville said, “and that should be true throughout the Lower Mainland.”

However, property appraiser Paul Sullivan argues there is a political story in the additional taxes the NDP government has applied to expensive homes, such as the school tax surcharge on homes assessed over $3 million.

That is where sales and prices have declined

the most, though those are the least attainable homes, Sullivan said, while prices at the lower end of the market have continued to climb.

Sullivan said it doesn’t really matter if a $10 million house is now worth $9 million, but it does matter if an $800,000 condo is now worth $900,000.

“Thanks for your help NDP,” Sullivan said.

“You’ve really assisted the affordable housing problem by taxing the hell out of everybody.”

Sullivan estimates that the decline in assessments for high-end homes will have wiped out more than $10 billion worth of homeowners’ equity in Vancouver alone.

However, Sommerville said the declining inflows of foreign capital into Metro Vancouver’s high end property might be having a bigger influence on prices.

Property assessments are effectively an appraisal of property values calculated by B.C. as of July 1 each year, which are used by municipalities to adjust property-tax rates, but they also offer a past-dated snapshot of property markets.

In Vancouver, unit 308 at 1950 Robson Street, a two-bedroom apartment, saw its 2019 assessment rise five per cent to $766,000 from $727,000. It is now listed for sale on the realtors’ Multiple Listing Service for $785,000 By contrast, a house now listed for sale for $1.249 million at 749 East 29th Ave, for example, was valued at $1.342 million on its 2019 assessment, a three per cent decrease from its 2018 assessment of $1.387 million.

On Vancouver’s west side, a house listed for sale for $2.76 million was valued at $2.358 million on its 2019 assessment, a 13-percent drop from its 2018 assessment of $2.698 million.

A house listed for almost $1.1 million at 1276 Nestor St. in Coquitlam, saw its 2019 assessment rise four per cent from $997,000 in 2018.

And 404-630 Como Lake Avenue in Coquitlam, a two-bedroom top-floor condo in that municipality’s Burquitlam neighbourhood listed for sale at $589,000, saw its 2019 assessment climb 20 per cent to $575,000 from $480,000 in 2018.

Source: Vancouver Sun

New laws and rules coming into effect in 2019 The new year will usher in a host of new laws

and rules that Canadians should be aware of, including changes to parental leave benefits and the sale of edible cannabis products.

On the provincial level, 2019 will see new rules regarding distracted driving penalties, rent increases, and workplace sexual harassment. The implementation of a federally imposed carbon tax on provinces that have failed to come up with their own plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could become a reality pending legal challenges to the plan by Saskatchewan Premier Scott has also yet to come up with a plan before the Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New federal government’s Jan. 1 deadline.

Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs. Manitoba Source: ctvnews.ca

7

Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

FAITH On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬said:The gates of Paradise will be opened on Mondays and on Thursdays, and every servant [of Allah] who associates nothing with Allah will be forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. [About them] it will be said: Delay these two until they are reconciled; delay these two until they are reconciled. It was related by Muslim (also by Malik and Abu Dawud). Hadith 20

A believing man should not hate a believing Stay woman ( wife ) alive. calm and objective, by putting your-

Building a Happy Home: Friendship in Marriage By: Counsel Dr. Salwa Rashid ancy, a woman married for twentyone years with a 19-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter, said with tears in her eyes and deep bitterness in her voice, “I feel lonely and isolated. All that I ask from my husband is his concern when he sees me upset. But, that, I never get.” Now Nancy is filing for divorce. There was no big problem other than her feeling of neglect and lack of companionship.

In part 1 of this article we discussed the urgent need to address our family problems in an effort to protect our families and make our homes happier. In this article and the subsequent ones we will attempt to shed light on the most common Muslim family problems that hinder building a happy home while investigating their solutions based on the Quran and Sunnah.

In this part we will focus on friendship in marriage.

CAN MARRIED COUPLES BE FRIENDS? Nancy’s complaints and frustrations are not uncommon. Many wives share Nancy’s feelings, although for some these emotions are less intense and bring about different responses. But many will agree that they are unhappy and dissatisfied with their marriage. Some have concluded that after marriage they can no longer be friends.

Some try to seek friendship outside marriage, perhaps with a close female friend.

Stronger marriages are those that maintained a solid friendship over the years, says Howard Markman, Scott Stanely, and Suzan Blumberg, authors of Fighting for Your Marriage. They write: Take Green and Pierre, who’ve been happily married for over forty years. We asked them, “What’s the secret?” Without hesitation, they answered ‘friendship and commitment.’ They started out with a great friendship and never let it go. They’ve maintained a deep respect for one another as friends who freely share thoughts and feelings about all sorts of things—in an atmosphere of deep acceptance and total safety. That’s kept their bond strong and

N

W

By: Kari Ansari

WHY CAN’T WE KEEP OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH OUR SPOUSES? Unless we are careful, most of our conversations as couples become about problems.

Marital life has a lot of concerns that we have to deal with on a daily base: over-due bills, a sick child, or a broken car. All of these are issues that we have to deal with, but if that is all we talk about, sooner or later we will lose the deeper sense of being friends who talk about thoughts, feelings, and interests.

Another obstacle that hinders building and maintaining friendship between couples is the fast pace of our modern life and underestimating the importance of allocating time for our relationships.

A third obstacle is our reckless words that can turn potentially intimate situations into nasty fights. This not only ruins an opportunity to build a sense of friendship but also leaves the couple afraid to try again, leading instead to withdrawal as an escape mechanism.

How can we overcome the difficulties that hinder developing friendship with our spouses?

Prophet Muhammad gave us the best example through his life with his wives. When he received the first revelation, he hastened to his best friend, his first wife Khadijah, and confessed to her what had happened. She immediately believed him and supported him unconditionally with all her means.

This demonstrates the best friendship between a husband and wife that history has ever known. This is a model that every couple must try to achieve in their relationship.

Tips to that end will help us build and protect friendship with our spouses.

1. Make time just to talk With our tight schedules and pressure to cope with different responsibilities of pursuing a career, maintaining a home, and raising children, it is hard to have free time left for nourishing our relationships. Unless we make companionship time a top priority, we will likely never find the opportunity.

This should be a time to talk, share thoughts and feelings, relax, and have fun. During

this time we should listen to the Quran together, comprehending and extracting the deeper lessons from its verses. Allah’s words are the best cure for our ailments, and a bonding factor that will bring our souls closer.

Say, ‘It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure.’ [Surat Fussilat, 41:44] We should not be tempted to use this time to meet deadlines of work, settle disputes or work out conflicts. That can take the enjoyment out of these special moments.

2. The Couple Exercise To strengthen our relationship and protect it from the impact of unresolved conflicts and disputes, couples should set a weekly meeting for a “couple exercise.” This time should be different from our companionship time, and should be used to work out conflicts and settle disputes constructively.

In order to benefit and enjoy this exercise, couples should set a list of rules and follow them strictly. Try following these rules to conduct this exercise effectively: Choose a time when you are not tired or upset.

Use a relaxing place where you have some privacy and a sense of romance, such as a coffee shop or restaurant.

Think before you speak, and express yourself with carefully chosen words. Some words are like bullets that can hurt badly.

Prophet Muhammad said:Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment should say good words or be silent.

selves in your mate’s position. This is not always easy and requires empathy and selflessness.

Think first about what you can give and invest in the relationship, rather than what you want from it. That means focusing on knowing what your partner wants from you before asking for what you want.

Prepare yourself to hear some constructive criticism from your mate. Listen carefully and rationalize it objectively. In order to do that you should build mutual trust so you do not interpret criticism as a sign of lack of respect or appreciation, but as a necessary tool to make things better for both of you. This requires strengthening the feeling of being one team.

Keep in mind the teaching of Prophet Muhammad: Restrain your anger, restrain your anger, restrain your anger.

This session should be taken so seriously that you may take notes about promises and plans of actions. **** Examples of questions you should try your best to answer openly and honestly 1) What are the best two traits of your mate—in your opinion?

2) What do you want to do during an hour that you will spend together?

3) What is your ideal mate (in character, behavior, and appearance?)

4) How to reduce the frequency and intensity of arguments. Remember that life cannot go on without arguing; it is normal to argue or disagree and encounter small problems. But we should be determined to improve and use these small problems to strengthen our relationships, rather than for hurting each other. Also, we must keep the foundations of our relationship strong and untouched, by shielding those foundations during all circumstances and storms.

5) What is the worst character or attitude that you wish your mate would change?

Keep in mind that behavior modification does not happen overnight; it needs patience, determination, motivation, mutual understanding, and sustained effort from both sides.

A Christmas Greeting From a Muslim Daughter

hen I became a Muslim thirteen years ago this month, I left behind the Christmas traditions my family celebrated every year of my childhood. My mother was able to transform our Southern California home into a Winter Wonderland as soon as we walked in the door; it may have been 75 degrees and sunny outside, but inside we felt we were in a Currier and Ives world of red velvet beribboned pine boughs, twinkling lights and beautiful music. I loved it. The Christmas season and our small traditions remained the same no matter how many years passed.

My mother worked extremely hard to build warm, and loving holiday memories, and I sincerely cherish them. Like many American homes, there wasn’t much Christ in my family’s Christmas. There would always be some discussion surrounding the reason for our celebration, but we didn’t attend church services or talk too much about what my parents believed. The beautiful nativity on the mantle, hand-painted by my grandmother, was flanked by tasteful, secular decorations. This led to a kind of vague confusion between the miraculous birth of Jesus, and the magical feat of Santa Claus zipping around the world in one night.

Nostalgia not withstanding, thinking about Christmas is now far more meaningful to me on a spiritual level than it was when I was young. The fact that Muslims accept and believe in the virgin birth of Jesus has been a golden thread that links my child-

hood Christmas memories to my very fulfilling adult life as a Muslim.

The world’s more than 1.5 billion Muslims would like their Christian neighbors to know that we believe in the Annunciation; in the Quran we read that God sent the angels to Mary: “When the angels said: O Mary, surely God gives you good news with a Word from Him of one whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near to God. And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and he shall be one of the good ones.” Quran 3:45-46 The Quran has only one chapter named after a woman; Chapter 19 is titled “Mary”, or as it is translated in Arabic -- Maryam.

The Quran tells us that the infant Jesus, (or Isa as it is translated in Arabic), spoke from Mary’s arms: “...He said: Surely I am a servant of God; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and charity so long as I live; And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed; And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life.’” Quran 19:30-33* While Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas, we believe in the awesome and miraculous birth of Jesus, in the miracles he performed

by God’s Grace, and in the message of love and peace Jesus brought to the world. I

hope my family knows that I am more attached to the account of Jesus and Mary than I ever was as a child, now that I am a practicing Muslim. It is a vital part of my faith; a faith that I share with over a billion and a half people around the world.

This is my Christmas card to my family, and all my Christian friends and neighbors: Peace on earth and goodwill toward men. *Muslims understand this verse in reference to the to death of Jesus after the second coming and resurrection on the Day of Judgment. See Quran, 4:157 Source: www.islamicity.org

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Jan 4-18, 2019 Rabi Ul II 27-Jamadi Ul I-11,1440 H

Islm.

Fajar Sunr DhuhrAsarAsar Isha Date Fajar Day Sunrise Dhuhr Zawal Asar (shafi) (hanfi) Maghrib Magrib Isha Date

27 28 29 30 1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA

9

Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

Fiji

News

Tropical cyclone named Mona

TROPICAL Depression 04F has intensified into a tropical cyclone has been named TC Mona. According to the Fiji National Disaster Management Office, TC Mona continues to maintain its south easterly track and is expected to move into Vanua Levu.

The system entered Rotuma at 5am this morning. Source; fijitimes.com

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Alcohol poisoning is serious

THE deaths of several young men from alcohol-related incidents in the past week have made some of us question where our society is heading. These men have loved ones and families who are distraught at the senseless deaths that could have been avoided. Earlier this week a 30-year-old man was found dead after his body was found motionless at the Naibita Village bus stop in Tailevu. The man was pronounced dead on arrival after he was rushed to the hospital.

Chief operations officer ACP Maretino Qiolevu said in a separate incident a male victim who was heavily intoxicated was rushed to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) after falling from the edge of Struan St roundabout and landed on the Flea Market car park.

The man is under observation at the hospital. Both incidents were alcohol-related. In yet another case a man was found dead after a drinking party at Sinusevou settlement on Kadavu. Authorities could only caution the public to be mindful of their alcohol intake when celebrating the festive season.

It isn’t against the law to partake in alcohol but it will involve the law when it cost your life.

“I know we all want to enjoy ourselves but please be responsible. The police will keep a close watch on all major centres around the country and also on our roads, “ACP Qiolevu said. As we saw of the year 2018,

Each Warm Package will have a:

BLANKET, SCARF, SOCKS, TOQUE & GLOVES Items will be distributed to the homeless By mid- JANUARY 2019 “Let us get together and show our Hospitality to the Homeless”

we remind Fijians of the dangers of binge drinking and more importantly on alcohol poisoning which has been the cause of some deaths in the country. Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and sometimes deadly — consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time.

According to medical experts, drinking too much too quickly can affect your breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex and potentially lead to a coma and death.

Some of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:Confusion, Vomiting, Seizures Slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute) Irregular breathing (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths) Low body temperature (hypothermia) Passing out (unconsciousness) and can’t be awakened.

According to Mayoclinic.com, a person with alcohol poisoning who is unconscious or can’t be awakened is at risk of dying. If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning from the above symptoms— seek immediate medical help. Source; fijitimes.com

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

pol i t i cs

Trudeau says it’s worth ‘pointing out’ similarities between Scheer and Harper

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Andrew Scheer’s Conservative party is in the exact same place it was under Stephen Harper’s leadership and that’s why he and his Liberals will continue “pointing out” the similarities.

The Liberal party put the Harper stamp on Scheer the day he was elected leader of the Conservative party, billing him as a far-right social conservative. The Liberals raise Harper frequently and drop his name in fundraising emails to supporters.

“We are focused on what is truly important while Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives are stepping up the same divisive and negative politics we saw from Stephen Harper,” wrote Liberal party president Suzanne Cowan in an email blast sent this week. In an interview, Trudeau told The Canadian Press that the Conservative party’s approach to a range of issues shows that it does not have plans or ideas that differ from Harper’s.

“Canadians so clearly rejected Stephen Harper’s approach to government, the approach in the 2015 election, and yet on climate, on the economy, on international engagement, on migration issues, on In-

digenous issues, they are very much still in the exact same mode that they were pre the 2015 election.”“I think that’s sort of something that is worthwhile pointing out to Canadians,” said Trudeau. In almost the same breath Trudeau said that in the next election he’s not going to try to “vilify” or “demonize” his opponents. But he suggested that he doesn’t view his comparison of Scheer to Harper as vilifying him. Trudeau said when he was emphasizing his “sunny ways” during the last campaign, people were quick to point out any time he said something critical of Harper. But, he said, he’s going to be very sharp any time there are clear distinctions of policy between him and Scheer, or when he thinks Conservatives are trying to divide the country. “I will make no apologies for being very passionate, sometimes overly enthusiastic, in the way I engage in robust debate but I am as much as possible going to keep it on a substantive level.” He also said Scheer himself has not been able to articulate his differences from his predecessor. He pointed to an Assembly of First Nations meeting earlier this year where a chief directly asked Scheer

how he’s different from Harper and Scheer asked for “a little bit of patience for when our platform gets released.”

Brock Harrison, a spokesman for Scheer, said if anyone is stuck in 2015, it’s Trudeau.

“He wants to re-fight the 2015 campaign because virtually everything he and his government have done since then has been a failure,” said Harrison, adding that Trudeau will have to explain why he’s “failed to balance the budget, secure the border, build pipelines, and provide relief for Canadian families.”

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre made similar comments in an interview recently, suggesting Trudeau points to Harper to deflect from his faults and because he’s feeling nervous about his chief opponent.

“You know the fact that he keeps trying to

change the channel from Scheer is probably a good indication that he’s afraid of running against Scheer,” he said. Poilievre said Trudeau uses the strategy to avoid taking responsibility for his own “failures,” and that whenever he’s asked about something he quickly deflects.“It doesn’t have to be Stephen Harper, it can be anyone. But it’s the No. 1 rhetorical technique he employs -- to quickly change the subject to another human being as soon as he is caught in trouble or failing. So we expect more of that, it’s actually a common tactic among privileged trust-fund babies.” Source: ctvnews.ca

Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer rang in the new year by vowing to fight the Liberal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on consumers in all provinces that don’t already have one. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argues that taxes on things like gasoline and natural gas will encourage consumers to use less of these climate-changing fuels without damaging the economy. Scheer, meanwhile, told a crowd at a discount store in Regina on Tuesday that the carbon tax will shutter factories, kill jobs and push up prices on essentials like groceries. “While millionaire Liberals like Justin Trudeau may want higher gas prices, hardworking Canadian families definitely do not,” Scheer said while standing in a Giant Tiger.

Scheer added that he doesn’t think Trudeau’s plan will slow climate change.

“If a factory closes down here and pops up in China where they don’t have access to clean technology, clean energy, then the world is not better off,” he said. Four provinces – Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba – agree with Scheer that carbon taxes aren’t the answer. The former three are fighting the federal plan in court.

So, who’s right? Is the carbon tax a job-killer that makes no difference to emissions as the Conservatives claim, or is it a relatively painless way for Canadians to help the environment as the Liberals suggest?

To answer that, economists have studied British Columbia, where a centre-right Liberal government imposed North America’s first broad-based carbon tax back in 2008.

Duke University’s Brian Murray and University of Ottawa Economist Nicholas Rivers and have looked closely at the data coming out of B.C. The evidence, it seems, is mixed.

How does it work?

B.C.’s tax covers most of its economy and started at $10 a tonne in 2008, rising to $30 a tonne in 2012. It went up again, to $35 a tonne, in April. It will rise once more to $40 a tonne this April.

A $30-a-tonne carbon tax is equivalent to about 6.7 cents/litre of gasoline (4.4 per cent of the purchase price), 7.7 cents/litre of diesel fuel (5.1 per cent of the cost) and 5.7 cents/litre per cubic metre of natural gas (33.9 per cent of the final cost).

B.C. aimed to prevent potential job losses by using some of the taxes raised to cut corporate taxes. They also opted to give rebates to lower-income people to help them cope with higher heating and transportation bills.

The Trudeau government’s plan is similar.

Ottawa plans to impose a $20/tonne carbon tax on Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Manitoba starting on April 1. Meanwhile, it will offer “Climate Action Incentive” tax credits. According to Ottawa, the average Ontario household will shell out about $244 more as a result of the carbon tax in 2019, but will get a $300 tax credit that more than covers the cost of the carbon tax.

Did the B.C. tax cause emissions to fall?

Rivers and Murray researchers looked at a several studies that examined how emissions changed in the early years of the tax using fuel sales as a proxy.

One study found a roughly 19 per cent re-

duction in per capita fuel sales between 2008 and 2012. Aviation fuel, which wasn’t taxed, was consumed just as much, suggesting consumers really were cutting back on driving a result of the carbon tax. That study estimated a nine per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall, Rivers and Murray concluded that B.C.’s emissions were five to 15 per cent lower thanks to the carbon tax.

Is the tax enough to make a difference?

Canada represents only about 1.6 per cent of global emissions. It’s the Liberals’ view that every country must do its part to slow down climate change, which is why they agreed in 2015 in Paris to reduce emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels.

Nicholas says that Ottawa’s current carbon tax alone won’t get Canada even close to that goal.

In order to meet the target, Nicholas says the carbon tax would need to be raised “north of $100 per tonne, maybe even $200 a tonne.”

But he says the targets could be met if the tax is kept at around $50 a tonne and combined with other policies like phasing out coalfired electricity (a step Ontario has already taken) and stricter fuel standards for cars and trucks. The Liberals are planning both.

The Conservatives have yet to reveal their plan to cut emissions but Scheer did offer one small hint on Monday.

“Our plan will speak to Canada’s ability to help reduce global emissions by capitalizing on our clean technology, our cleaner energy,” he said.

What was the effect on economic growth?

The Trudeau government points out that B.C., Alberta and Quebec all have carbon pricing schemes and they were “the fastestgrowing” provinces in 2017 when measured

by Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Rivers and Murray point out that B.C.’s GDP growth outpaced the rest of Canada’s slightly in its first five years with the tax, but it’s possible B.C. would have grown even faster without the tax. “When I’ve crunched the numbers it looks like overall there’s basically a wash,” Rivers said. “If there was an impact, I would guess that it would be slightly negative.”

B.C.’s Ministry of Finance said in 2013 that they believe the carbon tax “has had, and will continue to have, a small negative impact on GDP.” Were some sectors hit particularly hard?

Some fuel-intensive industries in B.C. were particularly concerned about the carbon tax making them uncompetitive with businesses in jurisdictions like the United States that didn’t have the added cost.

Nicholas says that’s a “really valid concern,” and it’s why B.C.’s tax – like the federal Liberals’ tax – has been tweaked to reduce the harm on some large emitters that employ many Canadians.

In B.C., farmers have been exempted from the tax since 2014. The cement industry, meanwhile, has received rebates to help it cope. Nicholas says he hasn’t seen evidence either sector has been harmed.

How do British Columbians feel about the tax?

Rivers and Murray looked at polling data from the firm Environics, which has asked more than 1,000 Canadians annually whether they support or oppose the tax.

When the tax was implemented in 2008, about six in British Columbians opposed it.

That was roughly the same level of opposition to carbon taxes as in the rest of Canada.

By 2013, only about 40 per cent Canadians opposed carbon taxes. Disapproval of the tax had fallen even lower in B.C., where only about 35 per cent said they were opposed.

Source:.ctvnews.ca

Will Trudeau’s carbon tax kill jobs ? A look at the evidence from B.C.

Appreciation Award: Thank you Shams Jilani!

Apparently this is the title of a little news, but behind this there is 25 year’s history of a committed citizen of Richmond Mr. Shams jilani who has served city of Richmond as a volunteer on different positions. He has got his very first appointment as Member of Heritage Advisory committee than he made the history as member of four advisory committees at a time, Heritage Advisory, Museum Advisory committee multicultural Advisory committee and Seniors advisory committee than he continued seniors Advisory committee twenty one years without any break up to the 2018-12-31. and retired in 87 years age.

The chair of the committee Present appreciation letter in the farewell and the presence of other Members

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

social

Organizational Excellence : 11 Commandments for an Enthusiastic Team

By Kevinb In cleaning out some old files, I came across a single sheet of paper with a typed list entitled “11 Commandments for an Enthusiastic Team.” I couldn’t recall its source, but a Google search led me to a book by Ian Percy of the same name (subtitled Collaborating with Purpose and Passion), published in 2003.

Regardless of the age of this list, these 11 items are all still relevant today, so I wanted to share; along with some comments of my own.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” So, ask yourself: Do you want to help engergize the team, or drag it down? Teammates should be able to rely on one another when working together, so that 1 + 1 can equal 3.

9. Believe in what you are doing never give up

If you don’t have faith in what you are doing as a team, then you probably need to either “fake it till you make it” or find a different team. Often, persistence and perseverance makes the difference in whether the team is successful or not; so, find reasons to keep your confidence high and your belief strong, and help your teammates do the same.

1. Help each other be right - rather than wrong

It’s easy to over-rely on who’s supposedly right and wrong as a determining factor, but what’s the bigger picture? Think about what’s important and what you are trying to accomplish, rather than feeding your ego or keeping score.

10. Whatever you want - give it away

2. Look for ways to make new ideas work - rather than for reasons they won’t 4. Help each other win and take pride in Positivity feeds on itself, but so does negaToo often we have the mindset of: “We’ve each other’s victories tivity. Your attitude influences how you act tried that before.” “That just won’t work.”

“We don’t do things that way.” Instead, try: “What if we try it again?” “What if we look at it differently?” “Who could we speak with to get a different perspective?” or “What would we do to make this work if it was our only option?”

One sign of a mature and effective team is when the team members get as much pride and satisfaction from the accomplishments of others as they do from their own. Be a strong and supportive team member and celebrate others’ achievements.

Lean into the challenge or obstacle, rather than assuming that it can’t be overcome. Do a little more research. Experiment a bit and learn from your small successes and failures (try to fail early and fail fast). And don’t let your fears guide you (remember that FEAR = False Emotions Appearing Real).

No one likes a Negative Nelly or Davey Downer. Don’t ignore issues and shortcomings, but speak well of others and they will likely do the same of you.

6. Maintain a positive mental attitude no 8. Do everything with enthusiasm matter what the circumstances

5. Speak positively about each other and 3. If in doubt, check it out - rather than about your organization at every making negative assumptions opportunity

and how you respond to situations, which impacts your ability to achieve your desired results. So keep a positive, can-do attitude, especially when it seems most difficult to do so.

7. Act with initiative and courage as if it all depends on you You don’t have to be out in front all of the time, but if team members consistently wait for others to act first, then no one will take the lead and forward momentum is hampered. Every team member should view the success of the project or initiative as their responsibility, and take the initiative accordingly.

it’s contagious

Do you want the team to be successful? Then do your part. Do you want the team to communicate well? Then be a good communicator yourelf. Do you want the team to have a positive attitude and care about one another? Then bring those things, everyday. Don’t expect more of others than you are willing to give of yourself. And give of yourself to your teammates...without the expectation of getting anything in return.

11. Have fun

Sometimes the last thing we think about having at work is fun. But work should be fun, and enjoyable, and energizing, and fulfilling. Does that sound like “work”? When team members have fun together, they work harder, stay committed to achieving the goals longer, take care of the team better, and handle difficult situations with more composure and empathy. So, go ahead have some fun!

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

Middle

East

Houthis stole food ‘from the mouths’ of hungry Yemenis: UN

The UN’s food agency has accused Houthi rebels of stealing food “from the mouths” of hungry Yemenis, hours after an investigation by the Associated Press (AP) news agency found that both sides in the conflict had stolen aid meant for the country’s most vulnerable.

David Beasley, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said on Monday that his agency had collected evidence showing the Houthis had diverted shipments of food sent to help alleviate “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis”.

“At a time when children are dying in Yemen

because they haven’t enough food to eat, that is an outrage,” Beasley said. “This criminal behaviour must stop immediately”.

Yemen’s four-year war and ensuing economic collapse have unleashed the world’s most urgent humanitarian crisis with more than 22 million people needing some kind of aid to survive. Food prices have increased by an average of 68 percent, and the price of commodities such as petrol, diesel and cooking gas has increased by at least 25 percent in the past year. The WFP said the photographic and other evidence it had obtained showed trucks

illicitly removing food from designated food distribution centres and local officials falsifying records and manipulating the selection of beneficiaries. It accused one local partner organisation affiliated with the Houthi Ministry of Education of committing fraud and said humanitarian food was being sold on the open market in Sanaa. “This conduct amounts to the stealing of food from the mouths of hungry people,” Beasley said. Al Jazeera reached out to Houthi officials for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Source: aljazeera.com

The daughter of the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has posted on her Twitter account what she said were the last words her father had for the Iraqi people, four days before his execution on December 30, 2006.

Raghad Hussein, who has been living in Jordan ever since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, posted the message on the 12th anniversary of her father’s death.“Oh honourable people, I entrust you and my soul to the merciful Lord, who does not disappoint the honest believer … God is great,” the message read.It bore the signature of

“Saddam Hussein, the President of the Republic and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.” The late president was sentenced to death by hanging on the first day of Eid al-Adha, on the order of then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who had insisted the execution be carried out on that particular day. Earlier this week, Raghad Hussein had broadcast a voice recording where she called on Iraqis to overcome the psychological barriers they had suffered after the 2003 US invasion of the country.

“I hope, dear Iraqis, that our vision for a safer

ket dove 72 percent after the financial crisis triggered a debt problem for the emirate. In 2018 Oman’s small bourse dropped 15 percent while stock markets in other energyrich Arab Gulf monarchies ended the year in positive territory, buoyed by an increase in oil prices. The Qatar Stock Exchange led the gainers with a 21-percent rise despite an 18-month-old economic and political blockade by its neighbours led by Saudi Arabia.

The Dubai market’s sister bourse in Abu Dhabi rose more than 10 percent.

The Saudi stock market, the largest in the Arab world, ended the year up 8.3 percent

despite dipping to a three-year low in October after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate.“2018 has been a volatile year for the Saudi stock market,” as it began on a strong note but lost ground because of “political uncertainties,” Raghu told AFP. In December, the Dubai Financial Market Index dropped to a five-year low before slightly recovering to close the year at 2,529.75 points.The stock market’s dive was attributed to a sharp drop in real estate sales and prices due to oversupply and weak demand. Source: aljazeera.com

Saddam Hussein’s daughter publishes last message before his death

and more stable Iraq will expand,” she said. She also mentioned that her father’s leadership of Iraq manifested in him being the Arab world’s protector against “Iranian expansionist ambitions”.Source: aljazeera.com

Dubai stocks limp to end of worst year since financial crisis

Dubai’s stock market ended 2018 on Monday with a 25-percent annual loss, the worst year since the global financial crisis a decade ago, as the real estate and tourism sectors struggled. The plunge in the Dubai Financial Market Index was the biggest among Gulf and Arab bourses amid signs of a slowdown in the emirate’s highly diversified economy.“The performance of traditional growth engines for UAE - real estate and retail - have been lacklustre,” MR Raghu, head of research at Kuwait Financial Center (Markaz), said. But it was not as bad as in 2008 when the Dubai stock mar-

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

sc i e nc e

Western Thinkers’ View on Early Muslim Scientists

By: Mansoor Alam eality Check--Today’s Muslim World If one looks at the general picture of the Muslim world today it is hard to find something positive on the horizon.

There is political chaos and regional turmoil all over the Muslim world. Muslims seem to have lost control of their affairs. They feel frustrated and helpless. Many Muslim governments are persecuting their people – in the name of Islam. Can Muslims hope for a better future under these circumstances?

Allah has blessed Muslims with plenty of natural resources. Yet, they are dependent for most of their basic needs – not to speak of their dependence in the field of science and technology, and on knowledge, in general – on non-Muslims. Their resources are being plundered and wasted on an unprecedented scale, while the majority population suffers extreme hardship.

Muslims generally tend to blame others for their problems. Some blame their rulers.

Others blame one another. There may be truth in all of this. But what is lacking from Muslim discourse is an honest and intelligent diagnosis of problems facing the Muslim Ummah.

Representing more than a billion Muslims, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) – the official organ of the Muslim countries for discussing such problems – has become no more than a platform for passing resolutions upon resolutions of empty words with no teeth. No wonder it has been dubbed “Oh! I see!” Most other Islamic organizations, more or less, suffer from a similar fate.

In the present environment, Muslims mostly live individual lives (in their own little islands) while using the term Ummah in their discussions. Some seem to cooperate on issues affecting Muslim lives, but that is limited mostly to charity work. Muslims do not have a unifying plan (or, rather, are not interested) to chart out the future course of action for the Ummah. Muslims appear to behave like billions of individual atoms without any strong bonds.

Is there a silver lining in this dark cloud?

Will this long, dark chapter in Muslim history ever end?

of the new knowledge that past Muslims created and developed, and which, according to Western historians of science, formed the backbone on which the Western renaissance in science began. This shows that Muslims may have forgotten the lesson of their own past intellectual giants in making science history, but the West has not. It continues to build its scientific superstructure for modern science on the foundations laid by our ancestors.

While reading these quotations, it would be beneficial to reflect and ponder on where we are, and whither we are going. George Sarton pays tribute to Muslim scientists in Introduction to the History of Science: “It will suffice here to evoke a few glorious names without contemporary equivalents in the West: Jabir ibn Haiyan, al-Kindi, alKhwarizmi, al-Fargani, al-Razi, Thabit ibn Qurra, al-Battani, Hunain ibn Ishaq, al-Farabi, Ibrahim ibn Sinan, al-Masudi, al-Tabari, Abul Wafa, ‘Ali ibn Abbas, Abul Qasim, Ibn al-Jazzar, al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, Ibn Yunus, al-Kashi, Ibn al-Haitham, ‘Ali Ibn ‘Isa alGhazali, al-Zarqab, Omar Khayyam - a magnificent array of names which would not be difficult to extend. If anyone tells you that the Middle Ages were scientifically sterile, just quote these men to him, all of whom flourished within a short period, 750 to 1100 A.D.”

European Renaissance Drawn From Muslim Civilization In Intellectual Development of Europe, John William Draper writes: “I have to deplore the systematic manner in which the literature of Europe has continued to put out of sight our obligations to the Muhammadans [British term for Muslims].

mental method. Roger Bacon was no more than one of the apostles of Muslim Science and Method to Christian Europe; and he never wearied of declaring that knowledge of Arabic and Arabic Sciences was for his contemporaries the only way to true knowledge. Discussion as to who was the originator of the experimental method... is part of the colossal misinterpretation of the origins of European civilization. The experimental method of Arabs was by Bacon’s time widespread and eagerly cultivated throughout Europe.”

“Science is the most momentous contribution of Arab civilization to the modern world; but its fruits were slow in ripening. Not until long after Moorish culture had sunk back into darkness, did the giant, which it had given birth to, rise in his might.

It was not science only, which brought Europe back to life. Other and manifold influences from the civilization of Islam communicated its first glow to European life.”

“For although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic Culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the permanent distinctive force of the modern world, and the supreme source of its victory, natural science and the scientific spirit.”

“The debt of our science to that of the Arabs does not consist in startling discoveries or revolutionary theories; science owes a great deal more to Arab culture, it owes its existence. The Astronomy and Mathemat-

Muslim Scientist As Building Blocks of Modern Science

When we read the history of Muslim contribution to world civilization, it seems very recent that Muslims were on top of the world. They were pioneers and leaders in all areas of human endeavor. They invented new branches of science and mathematics.

They not only laid the foundation of modern knowledge, but propelled it to new heights.

In particular, their contribution to the world of medicine is legendary.

So what happened? How did Muslims lose this crowning position of power in the world? And how did they lose leadership in science, mathematics and medicine?

The history of how this loss occurred is heart-wrenching. One way to tell this history is to describe the extraordinary achievements of past Muslims. This makes Muslims feel proud of their past glory – as, indeed, it should; we try to re-live, mentally, at least, the stages of that glory when we talk or write about the history of Islam and science. And this is what we will also do in this article – with one difference. We will not treat this as an end in itself, but with an eye to figure out how to reclaim that past glory.

We begin with a brief description of the achievements of some of the Muslim scientists, as stated, not by Muslim, but by nonMuslim scholars, to avoid any impression of a Muslim bias. The quotations below may seem extensive but they serve an important purpose to highlight the depth and breadth

Surely they cannot be much longer hidden.

Injustice founded on religious rancor and national conceit cannot be perpetuated forever.

The Arab has left his intellectual impress on Europe. He has indelibly written it on the heavens as any one may see who reads the names of the stars on a common celestial globe.”

Robert Briffault states in his magnum opus, Making of Humanity: “It was under the influence of the Arabs and Moorish revival of culture and not in the 15th century, that a real renaissance took place. Spain, not Italy, was the cradle of the rebirth of Europe. After steadily sinking lower and lower into barbarism, it had reached the darkest depths of ignorance and degradation when cities of the Saracenic world, Baghdad, Cairo, Cordova, and Toledo, were growing centers of civilization and intellectual activity. It was there that a new life arose which was to grow into a new phase of human evolution. The stirring of new life began when the influence of Muslim culture began to make itself felt.”

“It was under their successors at Oxford School (that is, successors to the Muslims of Spain) that Roger Bacon learned Arabic and Arabic Sciences. Neither Roger Bacon, nor his later namesake, has any title to be credited with having introduced the experi-

ics of the Greeks were a foreign importation never thoroughly acclimatized in Greek culture. The Greeks systematized, generalized and theorized, but the patient ways of investigation, the accumulation of positive knowledge, the minute method of science, detailed and prolonged observation and experimental inquiry were altogether alien to the Greek temperament. Only in Hellenistic Alexandria was any approach to scientific work conducted in the ancient classical world. What we call science arose in Europe as a result of a new spirit of inquiry, of new methods of experiment, observation, measurement, of the development of mathematics, in a form unknown to the Greeks. That spirit and those methods were introduced into the European world by the Arabs.”

“It is highly probable that, but for the Arabs, modern European civilization would never have arisen at all; it is absolutely certain that but for them, it would not have assumed that character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution.”

Muslim Scholars of Medicine and Mathematics In Legacy of Islam, Arnold and Guillaume shed light on Islamic science and medicine: “Looking back, we may say that Islamic medicine and science reflected the light of

the Hellenic sun, when its day had fled; they shone like a moon, illuminating the darkest night of the European Middle Ages; some bright stars lent their own light, and moon and stars alike faded at the dawn of a new day - the Renaissance. Since they had their share in the direction and introduction of that great movement, it may reasonably be claimed that they are with us yet.”

Again, George Sarton in the Introduction to the History of Science says: “During the reign of Caliph Al-Mamun (813-33 A.D.), the new learning reached its climax. The monarch created in Baghdad a regular school for translation. It was equipped with a library, one of the translators there was Hunayn Ibn Ishaq (809-77) a particularly gifted philosopher and physician of wide erudition, the dominating figure of this century of translators. We know from his own recently published Memoir that he translated practically the whole immense corpus of Galenic writings.”

“Besides the translation of Greek works and their extracts, the translators made manuals of which one form, that of the ‘pandects,’ is typical of the period of Arabic learning.

These are recapitulations of the whole medicine, discussing the affections of the body, systematically beginning at the head and working down to the feet.”

“The Muslim ideal was, it goes without saying, not visual beauty but God in His plentitude; that is God with all his manifestations, the stars and the heavens, the earth and all nature. The Muslim ideal is thus infinite. But in dealing with the infinite as conceived by the Muslims, we cannot limit ourselves to the space alone, but must equally consider time.” ”The first mathematical step from the Greek conception of a static universe to the Islamic one of a dynamic universe was made

by Al-Khwarizmi (780-850), the founder of modern Algebra. He enhanced the purely arithmetical character of numbers as finite magnitudes by demonstrating their possibilities as elements of infinite manipulations and investigations of properties and relations.” “In Greek mathematics, the numbers could expand only by the laborious process of addition and multiplication. Khwarizmi’s algebraic symbols for numbers contain within themselves the potentialities of the infinite. So we might say that the advance from arithmetic to algebra implies a step from being to ‘becoming’ from the Greek universe to the living universe of Islam. The importance of Khwarizmi’s algebra was recognized, in the twelfth century, by the West, - when Girard of Cremona translated his theses into Latin. Until the sixteenth century this version was used in European universities as the principal mathematical textbook.

But Khwarizmi’s influence reached far beyond the universities. We find it reflected in the mathematical works of Leonardo Fibinacci of Pissa, Master Jacob of Florence, and even of Leonardo da Vinci.” ”Through their medical investigations they not merely widened the horizons of medicine, but enlarged humanistic concepts generally. And once again they brought this about because of their overriding spiritual convictions.

Thus it can hardly have been accidental that

To be continued at Page 20

17

Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

C crisis?

special

Pakistan and the Dam Fund

an Pakistan crowdfund itself two dams and thus out of a looming water

By Tehreem Azeem

on September 28, According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Pakistan will dry up by 2025.

Pakistan touched the “water stress line” in 1990 and crossed the “water scarcity line” in 2005. The initial fear was that the country would reach the absolute water scarcity line by 2025 if the right decisions were not made at the right time. That time passed long ago.

Water availability per capita in Pakistan has depleted to an alarming level. Past governments did little to deal with this massive crisis as it approached.

At present, to deal with the crisis, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, initiated a dam fund for the construction of dams.

While hearing a suo moto case of a report prepared by the PCRWR on water scarcity in Pakistan and a petition regarding the Kalabagh Dam, the apex court was told that no new dam had been built in the country for 48 years. As there is a clash over the Kalabagh dam, the chief justice suggested that the government construct other dams immediately.

In July 2018, he said that the Diamer-Bhasha

and Mohmand dams should be constructed immediately, keeping in mind the water crisis the country faces.

The Diamer-Bhasha dam is to be built in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan and the Mohmand dam is to be built on the Swat River in the Manda area.

The Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund – 2018 Nisar ordered the Ministry of Finance on July 4 to open a bank account under the title of the “Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund – 2018” to generate funds from the public for the construction of the two dams.

The account was made functional on July 6, 2018. Nisar urged the people to donate for the dam fund. He initiated the drive by depositing 1 million Pakistani rupees ($8,120) in the dam fund from his personal account.

He was followed by some other judges, armed forces officials, bureaucrats, media houses and other public and private organizations which donated to the dam fund.

The fundraising status of the dam fund is available to the public on the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s website.

Prime Minister Imran Khan Takes Over the Dam Fund

In his second speech to the nation, new Prime Minister Imran Khan took over the dam fund, saying it was not the chief justice’s job. He appreciated Nisar’s efforts but said that it was the job of the civilian govern-

ment who had neglected the task for years.

He urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute as well. If every overseas Pakistani donates $1,000, we will have enough to build the dams ourselves,” the prime minister said.

However, he later explained that he knew it was not easy for every overseas Pakistani to donate $1,000 for the dam, especially those who live and work in the Middle East, yet those who were living in Europe and the United States should at least send $1,000.

On September 24, the Supreme Court approved a change in the name of the DiamerBhasha and Mohmand dam fund.

The fund will now be called Supreme Court and Prime Minister’s fund for DiamerBhasha and Mohmand Dams.

The Critics This crowdfunding effort for the construction of both dams has been criticized on different grounds by analysts, experts, and average people. The biggest criticism over the initiative is that these heavy projects cannot be built by raising funds in this manner.

Criticisms were not welcomed by the chief justice, who said in a meeting with journalists that anyone who is opposing the effort is a traitor and an enemy of the state.

Nisar also said that he was trying to see if Article 6 of the Constitution, which is applicable to high treason cases, can be applied to those opposing the construction of new dams.

Can Pakistan Really Crowdfund Dams?

This is not the first crowdfunded campaign in Pakistan. Former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto began a similar campaign for development projects across the country. Television channels used to run an ad asking everyone to contribute one rupee a day.

Three-time Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif launched a “qarz utaro, mulk sanwaro” (Repay debts for the country’s prosperity) scheme in 1998, soon after he assumed the office to pay off Pakistan’s external debt.

No one knows quite where that money went.

Former President Pervez Musharraf also launched a president’s relief fund after the earthquake of 2005 to help the victims of the earthquake. People from all walks of life came forward and contributed to the relief fund, but enthusiasm soon waned.

Pakistan surely needs more dams to increase its water storage capacity and to provide water to future generations, but this is not the right solution. The intentions of the Supreme Court and the prime minister, aside, new dams alone cannot solve Pakistan’s water crisis. The population of Pakistan is increasing at a rate of 2.4 percent per year. The government is not doing enough to bring this rate down. A larger population demands more water. Pakistan also needs to focus on reforms in its water management systems and water pricing along with the construction of new dams if it truly aims to avoid its dry fate. www.thediplomat.com

Request to all Pakistani Community to Unite for this Noble Cause

Chief Justice of Pakistan will be visiting Vancouver on 24th or 25th March, 2019.

More details to follow on Sohni Dharti Pakistan Tv program, the Miracle Newspaper and Facebook.

Diamer-Bhasha Dam & Mohmand Dam Projects

I AM PAKISTAN The Worldwide Movement Dear Respected Community Members, We take the pleasure of informing you that we all three have been appointed by the ‘I AM PAKISTAN’ is a Worldwide movement initiated by Hon. Saqib Nisar, the Chief Justice of Pakistan to raise funds for construction of Diamar-Basha & Mohmand Dams in Pakistan.

1.Mr. Liaquat Ali Bajwa as a Chairman B.C. (Friends of Pakistan & former President Pakistan Canada Association) 2. Mr. Tarik Kiani as a President B.C (Sohni Dharti Pakistan) 3. Mr. Mohammad Naseer Pirzada as a President Metro Vancouver.

(The Miracle Media Group Inc.) All of us three will be working together in a brotherly coordination and expect all worthy community members to help in making it a successful event.

This movement operates under able leadership of Hon. Saqib Nisar and Hon. Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan with offices in Pakistan and all around the world.

All donations will directly be deposited in the fund of Chief Justice without any administration or any other kind of charges.

Chief Justice of Pakistan will be Visiting Vancouver on 24th or 25th March 2019 for Fundraising.

On Dec 31, 2018 we already did our first meeting and made the line of action.

We are in the process of arranging a suitable venue in this regard.

We are writing to give heads up of the event. We will need a enthusiastic team to help us organize the event success fully. Please let us know if you would like to participate some of your precious time towards the cause.

http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/web/page.

We are cordially invited all Pakistani Community Associations Please join us for this great noble cause.

Feel free to contact us by email or telephone at any suitable time.

We will keep you updated of any developments in a timely fashion.

1. Mr. Liaquat Ali Bajwa: 604.537.8499 Em: Sdp.786@hotmail.com 2. Mr. Tarik Kiani: 604.722.9378 Em: sdptv1@gmail.com 3. Mr. M.Naseer Pirzada:604.690.0400 Em: miraclenews@telus.net Thanks, in anticipation and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all.

MAY ALLAH BLESS PAKISTAN. Ameen.

December 31, 2018

18 h e alth ‘Tremendous amount’ of flu cases in children this year Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

M

By: Nicole Ireland. any Canadian children are spending the holidays battling the flu and other respiratory illnesses — and an early start to the flu season might be partly to blame, pediatricians and public health officials say.

“We’re seeing a tremendous amount of viral illness [in children],” said Dr. Catherine Farrell, a pediatric intensive care specialist at CHU Sainte-Justine, a pediatric and maternal care hospital in Montreal.

“Our hospitals are bursting to the seams.

Our emergency rooms are really overloaded. Our inpatient units are full and we have a very high occupation rate with respiratory illness in the intensive care unit ... and it’s the same with the other intensive care units here in Quebec,” Farrell said.

EARLY START TO FLU SEASON As of Dec. 15 (the most recent data available), 8,245 cases of the flu in both adults and children had been confirmed, according to the FluWatch report. About 10 per cent of those cases — 864 — required hospitalization. More than 280 of those hospitalizations were children age 16 or under.

Most of the 47 cases so serious that they required admission to the ICU were children under 10 years of age, the report said.

At this time last year, there were 2,400 fewer confirmed flu cases in Canada overall — and only 26 children had been hospitalized.

There are a couple of possible reasons for the increased number of hospitalizations among children this year, said Anna Maddison, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada, in an email to CBC News.

“The current flu season began two weeks earlier compared to last year,” she said. It started in mid-October rather than the beginning of November.

That means it’s possible that by the end of

the flu season, the total number of children hospitalized may be the same as last year, but simply happened earlier.

DIFFERENT INFLUENZA STRAINS The dominant strain of flu circulating this year — influenza A H1N1 — is also associated with “a higher burden of disease ... among children than among adults,” Maddison said.

Last year, the dominant strain was influenza A H3N2 — a particularly virulent type that made people of all ages very sick, but sent more adults age 65 and over to hospital than children and younger adults.

Although the flu is “a pretty severe infection” compared to a cold, the majority of people — both children and adults — are able to recover at home without having to go to the hospital, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital.

Very young children, seniors and people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, are most at risk of becoming so ill they require hospitalization, he said.

One reason for hospitalization can be pneumonia, which is a “very well-known complication of influenza ,” Bogoch said.

PNEUMONIA CONCERNS

Both CHU SainteJustine in Montreal and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto say they have seen many children with pneumonia recently, although it’s not clear whether those cases are linked to the flu. “We typically see many kids presenting with pneumonia at this time of the year. Anecdotally, we have seen high volumes of children presenting with pneumonia over the past few weeks,” Jessamine Luck, a SickKids spokesperson, told CBC News in an email.

“Pneumonia can be related to influenza but it can also be caused by other viral and bacterial illnesses in children.”

But unlike most of those other illnesses, there is a vaccine for influenza, said Farrell, who is also president of the Canadian Paediatric Society. It’s not too late for parents to get their children the flu shot, she said.

Public health officials have acknowledged that last year’s flu vaccine was disappointing, with a low effectiveness rate. Although it’s too soon to measure the effectiveness this year’s version, some early indicators are promising, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Based on laboratory comparisons between the form of H1N1 virus built into the vaccine and the form of the virus that has actually emerged as the dominant strain, “the vaccine component this season appears to be a good match against the H1N1 viruses that are predominantly circulating in Canada,” Maddison said.

In addition, preliminary data from Aus-

tralia — which already had its flu season — showed that people who had been vaccinated this year were 68 per cent less likely to see a doctor or nurse practitioner for the flu compared to unvaccinated people, she said.

Choosing to get the flu shot — for yourself and for your children — is a “no-brainer,” Bogoch said. “[It’s] likely to be much, much better than last year,” he said.

But even if it weren’t, the flu shot does more than prevent the virus, he said, noting that data suggests the vaccine can also help reduce the severity of infection — which in turn could prevent hospitalizations.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR YOUR CHILD With an increased number of children falling ill with the flu and other respiratory illnesses this time of year, CBC News asked Dr. Jonathan Gubbay, a pediatric infectious disease physician and medical microbiologist with Public Health Ontario for his advice to parents.

From a prevention standpoint, the best things parents can do is have their children vaccinated against the flu, make sure they are washing their hands and keep them home from school if they are sick so they don’t spread the virus to others, he said.

When their children are sick, parents should watch for signs of an “acute” respiratory infection, including pneumonia. Those signs include: A fever that doesn’t get better within a couple of days.

Shortness of breath.

Breathing rapidly.

If children show any of those symptoms, parents should take them to see their doctor or nurse practitioner, or to the hospital, Gubbay said. www. theweathernetwork.com

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19

Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

LIFESTYLE

Happy Gardening New Year

C

By: Zahrah Nasir

all it a hobby, call it a passion, call it what you will, but gardening is widely recognised as one of the very best ways of maintaining physical and mental health. However, if you are in the exceedingly bad habit of trying, octopus wise, to do everything at once, you’d be stupidly stressing yourself out in the resultantly complicated mess. For example, carefully arranging three different types of kale seedlings in a small basket, instead of sensibly going to find a larger one, then spilling them all over the place whilst slip-sliding down a ‘short cut’ to the next terrace where they were supposed to be planted out type by type but are now mix n’ match surprises! It is said that gardeners without paid-for malis or other regular help, who spend one to two hours actively working in their gardens each day, are amongst the healthiest people on the planet and often live considerably longer than less active people. I have more than a few doubts about the latter medical findings but accept, without question, that different people go about gardening in very different ways. For instance, when investing in a brand new lawnmower, being extremely environment/climate change conscious, avoiding power tools — including strimmers and powered lawnmowers — I bought one of those good, old-fashioned hand-operated (meaning pushed) lawnmowers. Unless the grass is already manicured to within an inch of its life, it requires the use of arm and

shoulder muscles which, in my case, happen to be a little rusty. It would have been sensible to have the too long grass trimmed before launching a ‘keep it under firm control’ programme with the shiny new machine. But I just had to try it out on a small area adjacent to the house. Then, enjoying the massacre, a bit more and a bit more and until it was too dark to see and the dog was singing for her supper. The plan to do the rest the next morning failed miserably: tortured muscles rendered it all but impossible to get out of bed. Regular bouts of gardening have, among numerous other benefits, been medically proven to reduce high blood pressure, relieve stress, banish headaches, aid digestion and improve muscle tone. It also helps sufferers of arthritis and rheuma-

tism retain flexibility in, for example, their fingers, through the various types of muscular and circulatory exercises performed when doing chores such as repotting plants, dead-heading flowers and weeding. But this should not be done for hours on end — and this cannot be stressed enough — when the end result is painfully immovable fingers and absolutely filthy, broken-nailed claws which refuse to open the house door, let alone clasp a reviving mug of tea. Good for physical and mental health, gardening, too, can have adverse effects when done in excess This is to say that, in order to improve their health and well-being, gardeners — irrespective of their age — should not tackle gardening like a hard session in the gym. Nor should they expect to obtain won-

drous health benefits from simply wandering hither and thither waving a shiny pair of secateurs in the air. The perfect balance lies somewhere in between and varies from one individual to the next, depending on a number of factors, such as age, weight and overall health. According to a wide variety of experts who have carried out, or more likely had their ‘underlings’ carry out, a stupendous number of surveys over the last couple of decades or so, the most advisable way to garden is to draw up daily work plans, each day dedicated to a specific task. It should preferably be a task that can be completed in the recommended one or maximum of two hours of daily gardening for all round health and, for good measure and balanced mental health, to undertake each and every gardening task as a pleasant meditational experience. Being completely serious, one has to wonder which planet the people responsible for compiling these surveys, along with those responsible for putting forward suggestions based on the findings, come from.

It appears fairly obvious that their overview of the gardening world is one in which roses have no thorns, weeds are vanquished by the wave of a magic wand, garden beds and terraces make and maintain themselves and accidents never happen. Don’t misunderstand … gardening is good for you, good for your health and good for achieving a balanced state of mind. But one of its greatest, most positive, definitely satisfying, benefits is doing it your way and your way alone.

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20

Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

w om e n

Loss & Grief

with the spouse who is leaving, or attempting to make deals with God to stop or change the loss.

Begging, wishing and praying for them to come back.

4-Depressionoverwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self-pity, mourning loss of person as well as the hopes, dreams and plans for the future. Feeling lack of control, feeling numb. Perhaps feeling suicidal.

5-Acceptance-there is a difference between resignation and acceptance. You have to accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. Realization that it takes two to make or break a marriage. Realization that the person is gone (in death) that it is not their fault; they didn’t leave you on purpose. (even in cases of suicide, often the deceased person, was not in their right frame of mind) Finding the good that can come out of the pain of loss, finding comfort and healing. Our goals turn toward personal growth. Stay with fond memories of person.

Get help. You will survive. You will heal, even if you cannot believe that now, just know that it is true. To feel pain after loss is normal. It proves that we are alive, human. But we can’t stop living. We have to become stronger, while not shutting off our feelings for the hope of one day being healed and finding love and/or happiness again.

Helping others through something we have experienced is a wonderful way to facilitate our healing and bring good out of something tragic.

By: Shabnam Khan -Family Counsellor Grief is a somewhat complicated and misunderstood emotion. Yet, grief is something that, unfortunately, we must all experience at some time or other. We will all inevitably experience loss. Whether it is a loss through death, divorce or some other loss, the stages of grieving are somewhat the same. There are five stages of grief. If we get stuck in one stage or the other, the process of grieving is not complete, and cannot be complete. Thus there will be no healing. A person most likely goes through five stages to be well again, to heal. Not everyone goes through the stages at the same time. It is different for each person. You cannot force a person through the stages, they have to go at their own pace, and you may go one step forward then take two steps backward, but this is all part of the process, and individual to each person. The following five stages must be completed for healing to occur: 1-Denial-”this can’t be happening to me”, looking for the former spouse in familiar places, or if it is death, setting the table for the person or acting as if they are still in living there. No crying. Not accepting or even acknowledging the loss.

2-Anger-”why me?” feelings of wanting to fight back or get even with spouse of divorce, for death, anger at the deceased, blaming them for leaving.

3-Bargaining-bargaining often takes place info:shabnam@skcounselling.ca before the loss. Attempting to make deals

By: Asma Shmas

• Dressing??

I will first look at fashion trends and other teenagers around and feel better that at least my children are still dressing decently.

• I will think positive all the time even if my blood group is not, even if it is rather boiling with their behaviour.

Come on guys! Wake up!

You would not like to see same resolutions from parent’s point of view. Let’s have some sensible and practical joint resolutions: 1.We as a family will be always standing with each other no matter what.

2.We all will have some routine, some schedule to follow and stick to it., let it be exercise, studying or working.

3.We all will meet at least once every day, have meal together.

4.We all will discuss about each other’s studies, work, ambitions and help and guide each other.

5.We will plan picnics, outings and trips with the family more often.

6.We will be more of a giver than expecting favours.

7.We will keep our family atmosphere loving, nice, sympathetic, open hearted and encouraging.

8.We will all keep some hobbies individually as well as together.

9.If we have some problems, we will discuss and sort them out.

10.We will respect each other and accept each other with all good and not so good points.

Let us all smile after all we are entering the year of sweet 2019

What have we got to offer each other?

What is our past balance sheet saying?

Are all our past accounts taken care of?

Done with it ?

New game with new equipment?

By now many of us must have already made some new year’s resolutions and even broken some as well.

Let’s have a look at some of them.

1. I will get up early 2. I will study hard 3. I will exercise daily 4. I will keep calm, won’t lose temper 5. I will not lie, cheat etc.

6. I will take out time for family and friends 7. I will.... etc etc.

You can add some from your own list too.

It is not hard to make a resolution but to make a nice, beautiful, sweet, intelligent resolution is one thing and to stick to it and achieve it another thing.

At the 3rd or 4th month of the year, our own glorious resolutions look alien to us. Still, as we are looking forward to keep traditions and customs alive. Let us look at some resolutions, (we wish) for parents from children’s point of view. As a good parent: • I will lovingly wake up my children, with soft hello rather than shouting at them to get uo because its getting too late.

• I will not be eating their heads for taking proper breakfast on time, keeping dishes in the sink, not throwing towels and shoes here and there and so on and on.

• (p.s. if I can allow big boy called husband to do so then why not children? At least for sometime).

• I will not notice or say a word on untidy state of the room, in general or in particular.

• I will definitely think for thinking about allowing them for more partying with friends.

(Really?)

• I will figure out some way for housework Info: Asma Shums <asmashums@gmail.com rather than asking children all the time for help.

Western Thinker:

those researches should have led them beyond the reach of Greek masters. If it is regarded as symbolic that the most spectacular achievement of the mid-twentieth century is atomic fission and the nuclear bomb, likewise it would not seem fortuitous that the early Muslim’s medical endeavor should have led to a discovery that was quite as revolutionary though possibly more beneficent.”

“A philosophy of self-centerdness, under whatever disguise, would be both incomprehensible and reprehensible to the Muslim mind. That mind was incapable of viewing man, whether in health or sickness as isolated from God, from fellow men, and from the world around him. It was probably inevitable that the Muslims should have discovered that disease need not be born within the patient himself but may reach from outside, in other words, that they should have been the first to establish clearly the existence of contagion.” ”One of the most famous exponents of Muslim universalism and an eminent figure in Islamic learning was Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna (981-1037).

For a thousand years he has retained his original renown as one of the greatest thinkers and medical scholars in history.

His most important medical works are the Qanun (Canon) and a treatise on Cardiac drugs. The ‘Qanun fi-l-Tibb’ is an immense encyclopedia of medicine. It contains some of the most illuminating thoughts pertaining to distinction of mediastinitis from pleurisy; contagious nature of phthisis; distribution of diseases by water and soil; careful description of skin troubles; of sexual diseases and perversions; of nervous ailments.”

“We have reason to believe that when, during the Crusades, Europe at last began to establish hospitals, they were inspired by the Arabs of the Near East... the first hospital in Paris, Les Quinze-vingt, was founded by Louis IX after his return from the Crusade 1254-1260.”

“We find in his (Jabir, Geber) writings remarkably sound views on methods of chemical research, a theory on the geologic formation of metals (the six metals differ essentially because of different proportions of sulphur and mercury in them); preparation of various substances (e.g., basic lead

Hello 2019!

continued from Page 16

carbonatic, arsenic and antimony from their sulphides).”

“Ibn Haytham’s writings reveal his fine development of the experimental faculty. His tables of corresponding angles of incidence and refraction of light passing from one medium to another show how closely he had approached discovering the law of constancy of ratio of sines, later attributed to Snell.

He accounted correctly for twilight as due to atmospheric refraction, estimating the sun’s depression to be 19 degrees below the horizon, at the commencement of the phenomenon in the mornings or at its termination in the evenings.”

“A great deal of geographical as well as historical and scientific knowledge is contained in the thirty volume meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems by one of the leading Muslim historians, the tenth century al Mas’udi. A more strictly geographical work is the dictionary ‘Mujam al-Buldan’ by alHamami (1179-1229). This is a veritable encyclopedia that, in going far beyond the confines of geography, incorporates also a great deal of scientific lore.”

“They studied, collected and described plants that might have some utilitarian purpose, whether in agriculture or in medicine. These excellent tendencies, without equivalent in Christendom, were continued during the first half of the

thirteenth century by an admirable group of four botanists.

One of these Ibn al-Baitar compiled the most elaborate Arabic work on the subject (Botany), in fact the most important for the whole period extending from Dioscorides down to the sixteenth century. It was a true encyclopedia on the subject, incorporating the whole Greek and Arabic experience.” “’Abd al-Malik ibn Quraib al-Asmai (739-831) was a pious Arab who wrote some valuable books on human anatomy.

Al-Jawaliqi who flourished in the first half of the twelfth century and ‘Abd al-Mumin who flourished in the second half of the thirteenth century in Egypt, wrote treatises on horses. The greatest zoologist amongst the Arabs was alDamiri (1405) of Egypt whose book on animal life, ‘Hayat al-Hayawan’ has been translated into English by A.S.G. Jayakar (London 1906, 1908).” ”The weight of venerable authority, for example that of Ptolemy, seldom intimidated them.

They were always eager to put a theory to tests, and they never tired of experimentation. Though motivated and permeated by the spirit of their religion, they would not allow dogma as interpreted by the orthodox to stand in the way of their scientific research.”

This approach of describing past Muslim achievements is effective in making us, Muslims, feel proud. It may even motivate a few of us to excel in science – thanks to the West. But in describing the history of Islam and science, should one stop here? Does this approach provide clues about how past Muslims systematically discovered new knowledge? How they invented so much new scientific knowledge without the modern facilities that we have today? Was this the result of their natural instincts or intellectual aptitude? Were they motivated (like most of us) by wealth, career, or fame? Why did they devote their entire lives seeking knowledge of Allah’s creations even while suffering extreme hardships? Most important of all, what was the driving force behind their constant pursuit in advancing the frontiers of new knowledge? Unless we probe these questions, we will not be able to fully appreciate the achievements of past Muslims or learn from their stories.

Source: Islamicity

21

Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

IMMIGRATION

Canada’s new biometrics rule will soon apply to temporary and permanent resident applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas

Ottawa, ON—Canada is expanding its biometrics collection program.

Starting December 31, 2018, nationals from countries in Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas will need to give their fingerprints and photo (biometrics) when applying for a visitor visa, study or work permit, or for permanent residence. This same rule has applied to applicants from countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa since July 31, 2018.

Having biometrics makes it easier for immigration and border services officers to stop individuals who pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians. It also helps officials verify travellers’ identities, makes processing applications easier and simplifies entry for legitimate travellers.

The biometrics requirement adds a new step in the application process. Applicants need to go in person to give their biometrics.

Most will do this at a visa application centre (VAC) before they come to Canada.

The Government of Canada has been taking steps to make the biometrics process as smooth as possible. This includes expanding its worldwide network of VACs: there are now 152 VACs in 103 countries and allowing applicants to go to any VAC in any country they are legally allowed to enter. If already legally in the United States, applicants can go to one of 135 Application Support Centers.

The Government of Canada continues to closely monitor the impact of requiring biometrics to ensure that the level of service available meets the needs of applicants.

Canada will be providing periodic biometrics collection services in specific locations as needed. More information on additional services will be announced at a later date.

There are also facilitative measures for those who make repeat visits to the country. For example, those coming to visit, study or work temporarily will only need to give their biometrics once every 10 years.

The Government of Canada takes its privacy obligations very seriously and has been working with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to protect applicants’ personal information when collecting, using and sharing biometric information. Canada’s policies are based on the best practices of international partners, who are increasingly relying on biometrics.

Quote “Collecting biometrics from most foreign travellers coming to Canada makes sense on so many levels: it strengthens the integrity of our immigration system, while helping protect the safety and security of Canadians.

Not only does biometrics collection give us a reliable, accurate tool to establish a traveller’s identity, but it also improves our ability to process applications and the entry of peo-

ple upon arrival in Canada”.

—The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Quick facts •More than 70 countries are using biometrics in their immigration programs.

•Biometrics have been required from applicants in support of temporary resident visa, work permit or study permit applications from 29 visa-required countries and 1 territory since 2013.

•Some exemptions to biometrics expansion include: •Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants (including passport applicants), or existing permanent residents children under the age of 14 and applicants over the age of 79 (there is no upper age exemption for asylum claim-

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YOUTH

12 tips for Muslim teens helping Muslim teens

W

By: Samana Siddiqui hy should you, a young Muslim, be helping to bring your friends closer to Allah? After all, you’ve got your own struggles to deal with: trying to explain why you pray to hostile teachers, Hijab discrimination, standing up in class when the professor attacks Islam, dealing with parents who think you’ve gone nuts because you’re growing a beard, or all the other difficulties faced by a number of practicing Muslim youth? Islam was never meant to be an individualistic faith, reserved for the “chosen few”. Muslims have a duty to spread the Deen, and practicing Muslim youth, whether beginners, activists or leaders have a crucial role to play.”Allah has put them in a position that perhaps no one else is in,” notes Sheema Khan, former Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) advisor for eastern Canada. “They have the means to communicate with their peers, they have an understanding of what they’re going through plus they have the guidance of Islam.”Who is your childhood friend, who would rather spend Fridays at MacDonald’s than the Masjid, or your classmate who is Muslim in name and only knows that “Muslims don’t eat pork” going to listen to: the nice Imam of the Masjid who would freak out if he saw the way they were dressed and talked or you who may have grown up with them, joked with them, or see them everyday in school?The answer is obvious: you.

Don’t panic. Here are some tips and advice which can help from other Muslims, many of whom have been there and done that 1. Make your intention sincere All work we do should ideally be for the sake of Allah. That includes the task of bringing someone closer to Allah. That of course means this should not be connected to arrogance, thinking you’re the teacher and everyone else should be lucky you’ve embarked on a crusade to save them. Guidance is from Allah. Make Dua and make sincere efforts and remember Allah can also misguide you if He wills (we seek refuge in Allah from that).

2. Practice what you preach Not practicing what you preach is wrong and you will lose the confidence of anyone, young or old, once they figure you out.

Don’t do it.

3. Use the Quran and Seerah (biography of the Prophet) as Dawa guides Read and understand those chapters of the Quran which talk about how the Prophets presented the message of Islam to their people. Read the Seerah (for some good Seerah

books)to see especially how the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought Islam to so many different people, including young people.

4. Talk to people as if you really don’t know them Don’t assume you know someone just by looking at them. You don’t know that the Muslim girl in your homeroom who walks through the school’s hallways as if they were fashion show catwalks (see Amber Rehman’s perspective on this) is not someone you can talk to about Allah because she looks like a snob. Or that the Muslim guy who you’ve never seen at Juma at your university is a “bad Muslim”. Maybe he was never really taught Islam and has no idea what importance Friday prayers have in Islam, especially for Muslim men.

5. Smile Did you know the Prophet was big on smiling? But many “practicing” Muslims seem to have “their faces on upside down” as one speaker once said-frowning and serious.

Smiling, being polite and kind are all part of the manners of the Prophet, which we must exercise in our daily lives. If we want to approach others with Islam, we have to make ourselves approachable. Smiling is key to this.

But note that being approachable does not mean being flirtations with the other gender.

There are Islamic rules for how men and women should deal with each other which have to be respected. Dawa is no excuse to have long and private conversations and meetings with the other sex, for example.

Set up a system where someone expressing an interest in Islam is referred to someone of the same sex.

6. Take the initiative and hang out with them Take the first step and invite someone you may have spoken to a couple of times to sit at lunch together, to check out a hockey game or invite them over for Iftar in Ramadan. Also, share difficulties, sorrows and frustrations. Help with homework, be a shoulder to cry on when depression hits, or just plain listen when your friend is upset, discuss common problems and KEEP THEIR SECRETS. There are few things as annoying as a snitch and backstabber. But an important note: if the problem is of a serious nature,(i.e. your friend is thinking of committing suicide or is taking drugs), notify and consult an adult immediately.

7. Show them Islam is relevant today, right here, right now Young people may think Islam is too “old

fashioned” and not in tune with the modern age. Prove this wrong. Show how Islam is really about relating to Allah, which any human being can do, anywhere, anytime.

Allah is always closer to you than your jugular vein and He hears and knows everything. Encourage friends to ask Allah’s help during tests, exams, and in dealing with problems at home with parents and siblings. Also point out how Islam relates to teenagers: Islam gives you focus and an understanding of who you are and where you are going, which most of “teen culture” does not.

8. Get them involved in volunteer work with you If you are already involved in the community, get your friend to help out. Ask them to make a flyer for one of your youth group’s events or brainstorm for ideas about activities to hold this school year. This involvement makes them feel part of the Muslim community and deepens your friendship, since you are now working together on something beneficial for both of you. Make sure you thank them for their contribution.

9. Ask them 4 fundamental questions As your friendship develops, you will notice the topics you discuss may become more serious. You may be discussing, for instance, future goals and plans. Khan recommends four questions to ask that can steer the topic to Allah and Islam: a. Where am I going in life and what would make me really happy deep down inside? b. What do I believe? c. Who should I be grateful to? d. Did I get to where I am today without the help of anyone?

10. Emphasize praying five times a day before any other aspect of Islam

A person’s main connection with Allah, on a daily basis, is through the prayer five times a day. Don’t emphasize any other aspect of Islam until your friend starts making a real effort to pray five times a day. Emphasize the direct connection one has with Allah in prayer. If they are facing a problem, tell them to pray, and to ask Allah for help in Salah and outside this time. When possible, make it a point to pray together during your “hang out time”. If your friend begins to pray, that is the first step to other aspects of Islam like giving up swearing, treating parents with respect or dressing Islamically.

11. Help instill confidence in adults Adults, like Bart Simpson’s dad Homer, are considered bumbling idiots in the eyes of “teen culture”. Your job as a young Muslim is to help turn the tables on this false and unIslamic belief. All you have to do is this: when a Muslim adult does something good (i.e. saving someone’s life, donating money to a worthy cause, the Imam gives a good speech, taking good care of his/her family) bring it up in the course of your conversations with your friend and praise the adult in question. Doing this regularly may not only change your friend’s perspective, but could lead to them seeing their own parents in a more respectful way.

12. Support them even when they become more practicing Remember, just because a person starts practicing Islam more regularly, this does not mean everything will be okay from this point onwards. There will still be hard times, difficulties. There may be times when your friend may have doubts about his or her newfound practice of Islam. Be there to reassure them.

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Rabi ul Thani 27,1440H January 4, 2019

pak i stan / sports

Afghanistan earn direct qualification in 2020 T20 World Cup

Only 18 months since their promotion to Full Membership, Afghanistan have secured a direct place in the main group stage of the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia by virtue of being in the top eight of teams in the ICC rankings at the 2018 cut-off date.

Afghanistan’s progression up the T20I rankings corresponds with a slip down the order for Sri Lanka, who currently sit in ninth place on 87 points. It means the 2014 world champions will have to go through the opening round of the tournament in order to reach the “Super 12s”, where teams will be split into two groups of six for round-robin play. The 2020 format means Sri Lanka will need to finish in the top two of a four-team group in the opening round in order to advance to the Super 12s.

“It is a bit disappointing that we have not been able to ensure a direct Super 12s berth but I’m confident that we will do well in the tournament,” Sri Lanka T20I captain, Lasith Malinga, told the ICC. “Having played three finals and winning once, it is natural that everyone expected us to finish in the top-eight but we have to take the opportunity in the extra matches of the group stage and prepare well for the knock-out matches.”

The 2020 tournament will mark the first time

that Afghanistan won’t have to go through a qualifying round in order to reach the main phase of the T20 World Cup, now dubbed the “Super 12s”. They went a perfect sevenfor-seven in T20Is in 2018, including a 3-0 sweep of Bangladesh, to move up to eighth on the rankings table, five points clear of Sri Lanka in ninth and 15 points above Bangladesh in 10th.

This left Shakib Al Hasan saying: “We have not secured a direct Super 12s berth but I’m confident that we will do well in the tournament by going through the group stage.

“We are a side capable of beating the best on our day and I see no reason why we can’t go far in the tournament. There is still some time and we will use it to be at our best for the T20 World Cup.” Afghanistan qualified for the first time in the West Indies in 2010 after beating Ireland in the final of the T20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE earlier that year. They subsequently qualified again in 2012 for a then 12-team event and also reached the opening round of the 2014 tournament but finished below both Nepal and eventual opening-round group winners Bangladesh.

After finishing fifth in the qualifying tournament in 2015, they went 3-0 in the opening round of the 2016 tournament in India,

including a resounding win over Zimbabwe, to advance to the Super 10s main draw. They knocked off eventual champions West Indies for their second win over a Full Member at the event and have continued a gradual rise up the T20I rankings since.

Afghanistan’s progression also means that Zimbabwe will have to go into the T20 Global Qualifier for the first time just to earn a spot in the opening round of the T20 World Cup. Along with Ireland, it will also mark the first time that Full Members are a part of the qualifying tournament.

It follows a new approach from the ICC in which Full Members are no longer guaranteed a spot in World Cups by virtue of membership status. The 2018 ODI World Cup Qualifier also featured Full Members for the first time as West Indies, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe had to compete against six Associates in order to secure a spot in England. West Indies and Afghanistan clinched the only two berths available,

Continued from page 2

his judgement in the Mustafa Impex case, in which he authored that the federal cabinet, and not the prime minister, was authorised to take decisions was based on a literal and textual reading of the Constitution,” says Waqqas Mir, a barrister practising in Lahore. “This is how he was known – as a conservative judge.”

But somewhere along the line the conservative judge decided to occasionally leave aside his books and chambers. And his decision to do so coincided with the attack on the Judiciary by the PML-N in the wake of Panama Papers.

It is as if he felt that in case the ruling party resorted to an attack on the Judiciary – be it legal or more – it could perhaps be deflected if the superior judiciary had the weight of the people behind it. This is rather similar to the activist judge in Chaudhry, who, too, emerged after his first restoration in 2007.

Prior to that, there was little to his credit except the Steel Mills judgement (and we all know where that had come from).

But the attack from the Executive made him turn populist, which also brought him back to Court Room One. Perhaps the fear of a similar fate prompted Justice Nisar to turn populist. Or, as humans rarely are prompted by one factor alone, it could be a combination of the larger politics plus the need for a legacy.

There are also those who believe that the civil-military friction has provided the Judiciary unfettered leeway to move into the jurisdiction of the Executive. Who knows?

That Justice Nisar’s activism was different and more aggressive than Chaudhry’s can at first glance be attributed to the vociferous media and political resistance at the time of the latter. When Chaudhry’s intervention in the sugar prices failed, the coverage from the then lively press, especially the news channels, was unsparing. And for a chief justice who owed so much to the cameras, perhaps Chaudhry paid heed to the message.

Since then, the media has been reined in.

Amid pressure in general, concern over media excesses, and an assertive Pemra, criticism of the Judiciary’s behaviour and its alleged excesses is rather muted.

Just consider what the reaction would have been if Chaudhry had in one stroke abolished a tax. But at a time of a balance-of-

payment crisis and a larger economic turmoil, the media discussion of the court’s impact on an already shaky economic is barely there.

The media’s relative quiet doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Justice Nisar also has a more docile political landscape.

The PML-N miscalculated the ramifications of its ham-fisted fight with the Judiciary and beyond.

Its direct verbal attacks on the Judiciary simply earned it the courts’ wrath and little political capital. And in the process, they made few friends. In contrast, the PPP handled the challenge from the Judiciary rather politically, resorting to the bars, empowering them and playing up the dissident voices within.

Remember the Supreme Court Bar election that was fought and won by Asma Jehangir.

“The PPP put its weight behind Asma in that election,” recalls a Lahore-based lawyer.

The bars provided some modicum of a check on Chaudhry, and became a vocal critic. Even the Malik Riaz episode that also involved CJ’s son Arsalaan was linked to the ruling party. Small incidents in themselves, they all cumulatively restrained the SC. In hindsight, without entering the fray and hence taking more blows than necessary, the PPP managed to politically weaken one of its threats.

The PML-N was too busy lashing out at the courts to even consider other strategies which could have proved less taxing on themselves.

And as a result, Justice Nisar faces no resistance whatsoever – one reason he has ended the year by taking on the private schools; a step that has horrified those sections of the middle class which believe that their children’s education is far too precious to be tinkered with.

While moving beyond Chaudhry’s legacy, Justice Nisar didn’t forget to keep employing what had worked for Chaudhry: interference in transfers and postings to create headlines and to keep governments in check.

In this regard, Justice Nisar has given the PTI considerable grief too – and forced a federal minister to resign. And while many

meaning Ireland and Zimbabwe will become the first two Full Members to not take part in a World Cup in 2019.

In addition to Ireland and Zimbabwe, four Associates have been fast-tracked into the T20 Global Qualifier by virtue of their participation in the opening round of the 2016 T20 World Cup: Scotland, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Oman. They will be joined by eight other Associates who will advance from five regional qualification finals (Africa, Americas, Asia, East Asia-Pacific, Europe) to take place in the first half of 2019.

The 14-team T20 Global Qualifier is expected to take place in October or November this year at a venue yet to be determined. The top six teams at that tournament will join Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the opening round in Australia.Source: Cricinfo

In search of a legacy: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar.

PMLN-related cases, which were few in number but huge in political impact, the Justice focused on multiple cases of larger public interest.

If in the first week of January he took suo moto notice of the torture of Tayyaba by a lower court judge (human rights cases, in the Pakistani context, have always been acceptable versions of judicial activism), by the middle of the year, he had decided to set up the Dam Fund, and by the end of the year he had taken to judging school fees. In between, the quality of drinking water, population planning and health had all become his concerns.

It was as if Justice Nisar has suddenly woken up to the crises facing the society and didn’t think there was time enough for the other segments of society, or the politicians, to come forward. The judge became a saviour in a way Chaudhry had probably not even dreamt of.

And time and again, he stepped onto the Executive foot in a manner that even Chaudhry had not; the abolition of the tax on phone cards being a case in point.

“This is Justice Nisar’s reaction or rather answer to Chaudhry,” says a lawyer in Islamabad. “Don’t forget that Saqib Nisar was in line to become the chief justice of the Lahore High Court but he was robbed of this

by Chaudhry. He is now charting his own path in the Supreme Court by taking up the causes of the very people who had supported Chaudhry but were disappointed by him – the middle class is one example.”

For this lawyer, Justice Nisar’s visits to the hospitals and the issue of school fees were part of an effort to champion those who had been let down by Chaudhry.

But there is by no means a consensus on what motivates Justice Nisar. Is it an effort to distinguish himself from Chaudhry? Is it simply a means to find a legacy as do all chief justices? Or is it something else?

The answer, however, may not lie in the politics of the court alone. With a judiciary such as ours, there is also the larger politics to contend with. As with Chaudhry, Justice Nisar’s activism began after the assault from the PML-N during the Panama Papers case.

“In his earlier period, Justice Nisar had acted in line with his reputation as a textual judge;

feel that without the check of the Judiciary, governments would ride roughshod, overrule the bureaucracy and abuse power without fear, the trend has its fair share of critics.

“The SC-mandated water commission has usurped the government’s powers to make appointments, transfers and postings,” moaned a Karachi-based lawyer. And recently it was reported that the chief minister of Sindh in an interaction with Prime Minister Imran Khan pointed out that Sindh’s police was the most independent because since the AD Khawaja judgment, the provincial government has no say in any police appointment.

Such powerlessness – whether or not it is Sindh-specific – raises questions about the role of the Executive and the Judiciary. But there is also a larger process at work which worries the critics.

“The environment in Court Room One for the first couple of hours is dominated by suo moto cases where officials are called in and summarily dismissed and orders are announced. In the second half of the day when routine cases are being heard, the judges find it hard to listen to the nuanced legal arguments that require time. They want to treat lawyers as summarily as they deal with government officials,” says a lawyer wearily, who is a supporter-turned-sceptic of Article 184(3).

No wonder then that many look forward to the change due in Court Room One early in 2019.

But despite the rumours about the concerns of some judges at the recent streak of activism exercised by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, no one can predict that his retirement will put an end to the trend.

The year 2019 will address the quandary … even if slowly.

Source: dawn.com/news

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