Volume 20 Issue 528- Safar 07,1442H, September 25, 2020 $1 www.miraclenews.com Bringing Harmony To All The Communities ... BC, CANADA First Muslim
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5 The Negative Image
07 Over 30 years since
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07 Police involved after
07 “Shaukat Khan” fresh
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Of Muslims
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‘totally unacceptable’ Sending Kids safely back to the classroom
major rapid transit
face and a new 11 B.C. Election 2020: Horgan faces attacks
‘Unprecedented times’: Premier John Horgan B.C. will announces hold provincial election on Oct. 24
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he province’s minority NDP government took power in 2017 after signing an agreement with the Greens, but Horgan said political stability is needed
LANGFORD, B.C. — B.C. Premier John Horgan has called a provincial election for Oct. 24, putting the NDP’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic front and centre of his bid for a majority government. Horgan said Monday he grappled with the idea of calling an election but there are significant health and economic challenges facing the province with an unstable minority government. B.C. has a fixed election date set for October 2021, but he said to wait another year would be time wasted. “I believe the challenges we face are not for the next 12 months but indeed for the next four years and beyond,” the NDP leader said. The province’s minority NDP government took power in 2017 after signing an agreement with the Greens, but Horgan said political stability is needed and that is what he is seeking. do, two weeks ago. But what we can change is “I believe that stability will come by asking where we are in October, and into the winter,” the people of British Columbia where they want to go and who they want to lead them.” Trudeau said. He went on to say that it’s likely Canadians won’t be gathering for Thanksgiving, but that “we still have a shot at Christmas.” “Together, we have the power to get this second wave under control,” he said. Trudeau implored Canadians to wear masks in public, get the flu shot this fall, and download the government’s COVID Alert app that notifies users when they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.“This is the time for all of us as Canadians, to do our part for our country, as government does its part for you,” he said. Responding to Trudeau’s declaration of a second wave, CTV Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Abdu Sharkawy said that he thinks we’re “very much there.” “We have seen that the numbers are rising disproportionate to the number of tests that are being done, and we’ve seen a consistent trend of community transmission that has been un-
Second COVID-19 wave has already started: PM in address to nation
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TTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that in some parts of the country the COVID-19 second wave has already begun, but Canadians have the power to flatten the curve again, in his evening address to the nation from his West Block office. “In our four biggest provinces, the second wave isn’t just starting, it’s already underway,” said Trudeau, of the current outbreaks in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. “We’re on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring.” COVID-19 cases have jumped nationally, from about 300 cases per day in mid-August to 1,248 on Tuesday, prompting Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam to implore Canadians and public health policy-makers to redouble infection prevention efforts now, or face a “very sharp and intense peak” in new COVID-19 cases that would likely lead to a return of national lockdowns. ”I know this isn’t the news that any of us wanted to hear. And we can’t change today’s numbers or even tomorrow’s -- those were already decided by what we did, or didn’t
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audi Arabia will allow pilgrims living inside the country to undertake the Umrah pilgrimage, beginning on October 4, after a seven-month pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, state news agency Saudi Press Agency has reported. In March, the country had declared a freeze on Umrah, which is an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina undertaken any time of the year, attracting 19 million people last year. Saudi Arabia will now allow 6,000 citizens and residents inside the kingdom to perform Umrah daily, representing 30 percent of a revised capacity of 20,000 that takes into account precautionary health measures, SPA said. That will expand to 75 percent of capacity
To be Continued at page 8
on October 18. Beginning on November 1, the kingdom will allow visitors from specific countries deemed safe to perform Umrah at 100 percent of the revised capacity, until the end of the pandemic, SPA added. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is developing a mobile application that will be available a week before the Umrah resumes, so that pilgrims can register and book on it. They will also need to follow the health guidelines provided in the app. Health authorities said no coronavirus cases were reported at the holy sites during the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.
To be Continued at page 10
Opposition leaders told not to drag military Britain finally launches COVID-19 app in Canada ‘at a crossroads’: COVID-19 will keep
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson and Green Leader Sonia Furstenau have questioned the need for an election during the pandemic. Furstenau, who became the party’s leader a week ago, said Horgan put his political future and that of his government ahead of the people of B.C. “This is an irresponsible and unnecessary election,” she told a news conference. She also rejected Horgan’s claims that Green opposition to NDP legislation during the spring session of the legislature contributed to his decision to seek a new mandate, adding that the agreement the party signed “didn’t stipulate utter and total agreement with the NDP.” But Horgan said the issues of 2017 also aren’t the same as 2020, citing the global pandemic and the economic upheaval it has caused as examples of what has changed.“I have never been more confident that this is the time to ask British Columbians where they want to go. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions.” The NDP and B.C. Liberals were tied with 41 seats each when the legislature was dissolved by Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin. The Greens
To be Continued at page 7
Saudi Arabia to gradually resume Umrah pilgrimage
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PAKISTAN
Political decisions should be taken in Opposition leaders told not to drag parliament, not GHQ: PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz military into politics
into the matter too might be buried under the files like many other inquiries into important matters of national interest.However, Prime Minister Imran Khan assured the cabinet that the case was moving ahead as per the legal requirements and that the government did not believe in interfering or pressurising regulatory bodies in any matter.The sources said that after the cabinet meeting the SECP chairman was called by the prime minister, who heads the establishment division, to inquire about the progress in the data leak case. Regulatory bodies, including the SECP, are under the establishment division. Source: dawn.com
ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and head of the Inter-Services Int elligence Lt Gen Faiz Hameed had in a meeting with key opposition figures days before their multiparty conference cou n selled them to refrain from dragging the military into political issues, government ministers and opposition leaders disclosed on Monday. The September 16 meeting was attended by about 15 opposition figures including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Jamaat-iIslami emir Sirajul Haq, ANP’s Amir Haider Hoti, JUI-F’s Asad Mahmood, PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman and few government ministers. According to the ground rules set for the session, the meeting was not to be publicly disclosed, some of the opposition leaders, who attended it, said. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, while confirming the meeting and its participants in a conversation with Dawn, said it was held to discuss the impending changes in the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the opposition used this opportunity to flag its concerns about other matters, especially the military’s alleged interference in politics and allegations of persecution of its leaders on the pretext of accountability. Mr Rashid was one of the ministers who attended the meeting. The timing of the meeting and its disclosure was linked by the onlookers to the opposition’s multiparty conference held here on Sunday in which former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif bitterly criticised the army, saying there was “a state above the state in the country”. Criticism by other opposition leaders was, in comparison to Mr Sharif ’s remarks, relatively subtle. A 26-point declaration issued at the end of the meeting, however, contained assertions about ending “establishment’s interference in politics” and “no role of armed forces and intelligence agencies” in future elections. Mr Rashid said the army chief clearly told the participants of the meeting that the Army was not in any manner linked to the political processes and had no involvement
in matters concerning election reforms and accountability. The army chief, however, said the military only responds to calls for assistance by the elected civilian government and it would continue doing so irrespective of who is in office. Gen Bajwa reportedly categorically conveyed that no one would be allowed to create chaos in the country. In remarks addressed to JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman’s son Asad Mahmood, Gen Bajwa, Mr Rashid said, it’s an irony that the same parliament is kosher for Mr Rehman for contesting presidential elections, but it is otherwise unacceptable to him. The allegations of a political witch hunt in the name of accountability was raised by PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal. Responding to him, the army chief said that NAB chief and election commissioner were picked up by political leaders represented in parliament, therefore they needed to be careful in choosing people for such important positions. A participant, speaking on condition of anonymity said, NAB’s actions had scared the bureaucracy, which is the reason why officials are not taking crucial decisions. Gen Bajwa too had purportedly pointed out that bureaucracy was not delivering. PML-N remained mum about the participation of its leaders in the meeting. PPP said it would issue a formal comment on the meeting on Tuesday through its spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar. However, Senator Sherry Rehman, participating in a TV talk show, said her party’s chairman talked about the status of GilgitBaltistan and its upcoming elections. She said Mr Bhutto-Zardari stressed on the need for fair and free elections in GB, because of the sensitivities attached to the region. Senator Rehman denied her party took up its reservations about the accountability process.On Monday, Gen Bajwa met Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, the Prime Minister Office did not issue any media statement on the meeting. Source: dawn.com
Akhtar Kayani had on Sept 15 dismissed the application. However, the court, while disposing of another application, had observed that the matter related to right of Mr Sharif ’s audience would be examined at an appropriate stage.As the court resumed hearing on Tuesday, Additional Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Khokhar informed it that the warrants for arrest had been delivered to the Avenfield Apartments residence of the convict. Warrants delivered at convict’s residence in London through Royal Mail, says additional attorney general An official of the Pakistan High Commission in the UK, Rao Abdul Hanan, had visited the residence to hand over the warrants, but an employee namely Yaqoob refused to receive them, the law officer said. Subsequently, the High Commission officials dispatched the warrants to the residence through Royal Mail, he said, adding that a person namely Hassan received the warrants and signed the receipt. Source: dawn.com
An Accountability Court (AC) ordered on Wednesday for former president Asif Zardari to be indicted in three corruption cases after dismissing his acquittal pleas against the references. The three references included the Park Lane case, the mega-money laundering and Harish & Company [fake accounts] case. The reserved verdict was announced by AC Judge Azam Khan. Furthermore, the court has summoned all the accused, including the former president, on September 28. IHC extends interim bail In the fake bank accounts case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) extended the former president’s interim bail till October 15, and directed the National Accountability Bureau to submit a reply again. The bail application was heard by a twomember special bench comprising Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani. The court approved the former president’s request for exemption from attendance. It asked Zardari’s lawyer, Farooq
H Naek, about the difference in this case as the court had already granted post-arrest bail to his client. To this, his counsel replied that the case was different as the notice for it came on May 2019. The NAB prosecutor informed the court that this case was now at the investigation stage; it was previously in the inquiry stage. “We will give arguments on merit in this case. Asif Zardari’s arrest warrant is in process,” he added. Justice Amir Farooq ordered NAB to file a reply in the next hearing. Source: dawn.com
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said that political decisions should be made in the parliament, not at the General Headquarters (GHQ). Maryam, who was at the Islamabad High Court for a hearing of an appeal against her conviction in the Avenfield property reference, was responding to a question from a reporter about Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and head of the ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s meeting with key opposition figures. “I don’t know about a dinner, maybe it was not a dinner [but] I heard about the meeting. From what I understand it was called to discuss Gilgit-Baltistan which is a political issue, an issue of the people’s representatives, for them to solve and deliberate upon. “These decisions should be made in parliament, not in GHQ,” she said. When asked whether former prime minister and PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif was aware of the meeting, she said: “I don’t know whether he was aware of [the meeting] or if he learnt of it later.“But the political leadership should not be called nor should it go to discuss such issues. Whoever wishes to discuss these issues should come to the parliament.” Earlier in the week, it emerged that the army chief and the head of the ISI had held a meeting with key opposition figures before their multiparty conference and counselled
them to refrain from dragging the military into political issues. The September 16 meeting was attended by about 15 opposition figures including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq, ANP’s Amir Haider Hoti, JUI-F’s Asad Mahmood, PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman and a few government ministers. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, while confirming the meeting and its participants in a conversation with Dawn, had said the meeting was held to discuss the impending changes in the constitutional status of GilgitBaltistan. However, the opposition had used this opportunity to flag its concerns about other matters, especially the military’s alleged interference in politics and allegations of persecution of its leaders on the pretext of accountability. Source: dawn.com
ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to its eight officers and warning letters to two employees over the issue of leakage of data of family members of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information retired Gen Asim Bajwa. The show-cause notices were to be issued on Monday as per recommendations of the SECP’s commission at a meeting held on Sept 19, but a last-minute decision by the commission’s human resource (HR) department to get the notices vetted by the law department led to the delay by another day. The issue was raised by Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda at a meeting of the federal cabinet held here on Tuesday. The minister expressed fears that the SECP proceedings on the matter relating to theft of sensitive information from the commission might be shelved. According to government sources, Mr Vawda said the case had exposed lacunas, loopholes and weaknesses of custodians of official data and feared that the inquiry
ISLAMABAD: The lead counsel for Nawaz Sharif has given up representing his client after the Islamabad High Court rejected his application for deferring the issuance of the former prime minister’s proclamation, the court was informed on Tuesday. Khawaja Haris Ahmed, the defence counsel for the ex-premier, all of a sudden ‘disassociated’ himself from the case, at least for the time being, assuming that he had lost the right of audience due to his absconsion.
SECP issues notices to eight officers over data leak
Nawaz’s lawyer quits after plea rejection by IHC Court rejects Zardari’s pleas for dismissal of A division bench of the high court compristhree corruption cases ing Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin
4 o pini o n Revolution is not a lunch party Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
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LITTLE over a year after the opposition parties got together to break naan over iftar, they all got together over lunch. What was said back then came to mind as Sunday’s pronouncements were aired: a year ago, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had promised the parties would come up with a joint strategy to stabilise the sinking ship (Pakistan); Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had pointed out that the government had failed; Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had said the meeting was not against anyone but in favour of the people. After similar promises and predictions, the conference on Sunday ended with a resolution that promised protest demonstrations and a long march to Islamabad. A year ago, the protests as well as the march were carried out by the maulana alone. And by now, we all know how that long march happened and how it ended. If there was a difference, it was perhaps in the speech given by Nawaz Sharif who was unable to attend the opposition’s social outings in 2019 because of his imprisonment. His speech from London was the talk of the (Islamabad) town. ‘Strong’, ‘no holds barred’, ‘gloves off’ — were some of the descriptions given by excited listeners. Indeed, Sharif senior’s speech was aggressive. But it would be a disservice to him to view it as a declaration of battle. Once the excitement wears down, it may dawn on many that he has still not crossed the Rubicon. Despite his hard words against the establishment, he stuck to old, known stories such as ‘Dawn leaks’ and the NAB chairman (Javed Iqbal) scandal. He may have named a general but one
who is retired and already in the eye of a storm. The former premier remembered that the retired general had a role to play in the fall of the Noon government in Balochistan but not the names of the ones who may have tinkered with the noconfidence move against the Senate chairman or the vote in the joint session last week. The omissions were more telling than the stories told and the people named.
Sharif’s speech was aggressive. But it would be a disservice to him to view it as a declaration of battle.
Nawaz Sharif has not burnt all his boats, to mix metaphors. He is too astute a politician to do otherwise, regardless of what his hard-line leaders and followers expect. Perhaps he was sending a message — as the PML-N frequently does — that he and his followers have not lost their fire especially if the pressure on them is ratcheted up. The opposition and the establishment will continue to play a game of cat and mouse for some time to come. It would also do well to remember that when in opposition, politicians are not averse to such clarion calls. In 2001, Benazir Bhutto’s hard-hitting interview to Herald was headlined ‘The security apparatus has run amok’. A year later, the PPP was talking to Musharraf about the possibility of an alliance after the elections though there was no breakthrough. To return to the Sunday meet, the opposition parties did make some progress by forming the
Pakistan Democratic Movement, a successor of the MRD and ARD. Perhaps, it would not be out of place to mention that the ARD was formed in 2000 but Musharraf was finally ousted in 2007-08 for many reasons. However, little of it had anything to do with what the ARD did or did not do. Unlike 2019’s iftar, the parties also seem to have finalised a date for a long march but it is safely quite a few months away for the various players to give it a second, third or fourth thought. And in any case, by now it is evident that a long march — even if it is backed by the powers that be — cannot dislodge a government as we saw in 2014 or in 2009. In addition, the qualitative difference in the establishment’s strategy this time around will also keep the political parties from taking too aggressive a line. Back in 2002, the strategy was to keep the ‘other’ — the PPP and the PML-N — out of power. The PML-N was reduced to a minor parliamentary player while the PPP was denied its stronghold of Sindh. But the strategy post 2018 has been very different. PPP continues to rule Sindh (and is hence invested in the set-up) while the PML-N has also not been forcibly reduced to a shadow of its original strength, despite many orchestrated departures and questionable election results. This in itself has meant that both parties have considerable stakes in the present set-up. Too radical a stand will also cost the PML-N considerably. But what was disappointing about the Sunday meet was that opposition parties were not even willing to pretend they
were interested in anything but the balance of power between the powerful. There was little, for example, about the serious issues confronting the economy or what needs to be done to move ahead, economically and socially. It is after all far easier to blame the Imran Khan government for foreign policy failures in Kashmir and Afghanistan while also asking that the government’s sponsors hold free and fair elections! Postscript: If there was another piece of news that defined this past week apart from the opposition, it was the little boy from Sanghar who let loose his anger at BBZ as well as Imran Khan’s naya Pakistan for the death of his rooster, while standing in waist-deep water. His image was not far from the mind as the opposition leaders as well as government ministers were trading barbs on television screens. Once civilian rule makes a difference to the little boy’s life and others like him, the people themselves will make sure elections are free and fair. There will, then, be no need to appeal to the establishment to stay away. What would it have cost the political parties to introspect a little? To ask themselves why it took two terms to take us so far away from 2007 when the military was anxious to hand over power and return to the barracks? Did they spend any time pondering over why the people accept the ‘theft’ of their vote and are not willing to come out on the streets in anger (remember Khawaja Asif’s remarks about eating karelay gosht)? The little boy from Sanghar knows the answer.
Courtesy By: Arifa Noor
‘Mandatory Mask’!
By: Gulshan Aalani
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he national and worldwide tragedy of epidemic of corona virus and stigma attached to it is unbelievable. The official rule of Mandatory Mask has divided the people and some showing the rebelliousness to the law of the land and refusing to wear a Mask, not knowing the real reason of the Mask that is to protect oneself first from the flying drops of Virus from the ignorant ones, coughing, sneezing and spitting on the pavements, where the lovely Dogs pass by and lick everything as a habit then licks their owners who also kiss and lick them in return showing love, not realizing what they touched and carry. Most have misconception that the Virus is only on the trains and Buses, as they walk the streets without a Mask but put it on when ride the train or Bus due to the fear of penalty. For such rejecters of the safety law, out of fear the Quebec Premier Legault expressed his fear saying: “--a few irresponsible people put a Quebec at risk, it’s time to penalize them”. For some, forceful Mask is like
forcing to wear a Niqab, which was being criticized for the lack of knowledge of Divine law, similarly the lack of knowledge of Scientific reason the Mask is rejected by some who are loudly objecting to obey the official law. On the trains and Buses regular announcement reminding of the mandatory mask is ignored by some, but worst is the double standard of Trans-link, violating the rule of social distance on the Buses, over filling the Buses with passengers standing shoulder to shoulder for the lack of sitting space. No doubt wearing a Mask every day is most annoying, and the social distancing is impossible but it is to keep the individuals safe. All the good laws are mandated for the safety of mankind. Similarly, the Divine rules are for the safety of individuals and not oppressive as some believe. Some believe the Divine law is the clash of civilization, or extremism and abusing it as Wahabism that also shows the lack of knowledge of the Divine and the Scientific reasons. “Most of whom know very little
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about Islam”, says the righteous wise man Professor Charles Kimball. Humility, and truthfulness are the essence of man, and obedient to the rule of law are the best qualities to keep us safe as well as obedient to the Divine law prevent us from displaying the evil that leads to the calamities, penalizing us as ‘Guilty’. However, the apocalyptic trials, tribulations and calamities are all a part of life, reminding us of our mistakes and acts of wrong pathanti-Divine, but how to deal with such afflictions and how to get rid of the deadly disease will be determined by our status as obedient Believers and our relationship with the Divine authority of Almighty Allah Creator of the Universe, Lord of both the worlds, the most powerful entity demonstrating HIS Lordship over mankind who has forgotten the true meaning of worship, religion and has rejected HIM and HIS commandments. Awareness of such truth and reality will ultimately allow us to deal with
such calamities and make it disappear with the declaration of true faith and HIS obedience. Declining HIS order will be continuation of trials and tribulations with magnitude of the affliction, as prophesized by Messiah Jesus (AS) and Universal Messenger Muhammad SAWS, and giving us the Divine weapon of safety and the authentic map showing the right path to seek Divine help as well. A bit of soul searching has never harmed anyone. Let us all pray to our Lord Creator to forgive us and remove the deadly Virus. Salaam/peace
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f ait h
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (swt) said: When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over my wrath. It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah).
The Negative Image Of Muslims By: Dr Basheer Ahmed ever before the Muslim Ummah, who once were at the forefront of science, technology, and innovation, had a lower esteem than the present time. The commonly held perspective contends that 9/11 destroyed the Muslim image. While that tragic incident was a major contributing factor to painting all Muslims with a broad brush as terrorists, there were forces in action to defame Muslims and the Muslim world long before that. Orientalists like Bernard Lewis, and many before him, had openly attacked Muslims, referring them as terrorists and violent people. Unfortunately, Muslims did not get the platform to refute these blatant lies and allegations. The late Professor Edward Said, a Christian, wrote the only remarkable repudiation of these false contentions. Several factors have contributed to this negative image. Among them are a lack of true democracies in Muslim countries, colonialism, converting the great Muslim universities that were teaching secular and religious sciences to Madrassas that focus only on religious studies. Some allege that these Madrassas are the root cause of extremist ideologies. However, some Muslims have inherent self-destructive tendencies that have compounded to building negative images. Lack of democracy in the Muslim world is the trend which started much earlier in Islamic history. Democracy did not last beyond the fourth Caliph, and the Caliphate became a dynasty. Luxury and boundless wealth corrupted those with absolute power and gradually weakened the Muslim empire. Another primary reason for downfall was the authoritarian and dictatorial rule in many Muslim countries, including theocratic Iran, resulting in the regression from the basic Islamic principles of greater freedom for the individuals, including women. Muslim-majority countries have under performed in economic and human development indicators such as gross national income per capita, literacy rate, and life expectancy. Western colonization of Muslim countries and on-going Western exploitation of their resources was one of the root causes of this deterioration. In 1700 A.D., India, under its Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb, constituted 27% of the world economy. Following India’s colonization, the situation reversed entirely due to the British looting, plundering, and transferring of its riches and resources to England. All Western empires did the same to their colonies, most of which were Muslim countries. Under the guise of civilizing these barbarians, colonial powers, mainly the British, demonized, enslaved, imprisoned, heavily taxed, and slaughtered their colonies’ inhabitants. Undoubtedly, some ignorant Muslim factions have committed extremist acts of killing innocent people, whose majority of the victims happened to be Muslims, in God’s name. These terrorists do not realize that
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their inhumane crimes not only deny them entry into heaven, but lead them to hell, according to Quran (5:32), which states that taking of innocent lives is a sin that God does not forgive. The factors discussed so far contributing to Muslims’ negative image are present in the existing literature’s vast body. However, what is lacking is an account of Muslims’ self-introspection, an examination of their self-inflicted failures, causing an undesirable image of 1.8 billion followers of Islam’s faith. This article focuses on the Golden Age of Muslims, followed by the causes of its decline, and prospects. During the early years of Islam, for nearly eight centuries, when Europe lived in ‘dark ages,’ Muslims reigned over a vast empire extending from the Near East (Samarkand, Uzbekistan) to Western Europe (Cordoba, Spain). The rulers (Caliphs) took great interest in promoting education in science and technology. Primary think tanks (Houses of Wisdom) flourished in the empire in Baghdad, Iraq, and Cordoba, Spain, which attracted scholars from all over the world who spoke all languages and practicing all religions. The force behind these initiatives was Islam’s emphasis on knowledge and tolerance of other religions. Before these developments, Greece and Rome were the center of scientific knowledge and activity. With the advent of Islam, Baghdad and other Islamic cities replaced them. Between the 8th and 11th centuries, creative Muslim scholars enlightened the world with their achievements and contributions in diverse fields such as medicine, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, cartography, agriculture etc. Scholars and thinkers enjoyed freedom of thought because of their independence from political authority. The Muslims became scientific innovators with originality and productivity. Muslim scientists considered their work in the service of humanity to be a sacred act of worship. At the apex of its glory, around the 10th century, Cordoba, the capital of Muslim Spain, had pavements, street lighting, three hundred public baths, parks, palaces, one hundred thousand houses, and 70 libraries. One library had half a million books, more than all the books in many countries of the 10th century Europe. Muslim physicians performed complicated surgeries 600 years earlier than in Europe. In the late 10th century, Muslim scientists invented spherical trigonometry (indispensable for space sciences) and differential and integral mathematics. They also discovered the force of gravitation, blood circulation, laws of motion, and made pro-
gress in the field of astronomy. There was hardly a field of knowledge where Muslims did not research, think, investigate, explore, or invent something exemplary. During 7th to 15th centuries thousands of Muslim scientists, philosophers and scholars illuminated the world (during the dark ages of Europe) with their contribution in every field of knowledge, and the world rightly called them the foundation for Renaissance in 15th century Europe Some of the most well-known medieval scholars were Al-Khwarizmi (780-840) from Uzbekistan, who was the father of algebra, Al-Zhahravi (936–1013) from Cordoba Spain, who introduced surgery as a separate specialty, Ibn Haitham (965-1040 ) from Basra, Iraq, was one of the most eminent physicists whose contributions to optics and scientific methods are outstanding, Al-Razi (864-932) from Iran was a physician whose books were taught in European medical schools for 500 years, Jabir Bin Hayyan (725-803) from Khurasan who introduced several analytical methods in chemistry, Ibn Sina (980-1037) from Bukhara, Uzbekistan, who compiled at a very young age the entire medical knowledge available from ancient times in his encyclopedic work on medicine called Qanoon fil Tib (The Canon of Medicine), Ibn Rushd (1128 - 1198) from Cordoba, Spain, who made remarkable contributions in philosophy, logic, medicine, and jurisprudence, Al Biruni (973- 1048) from Uzbekistan, who was an expert in Astronomy and translated many books from Sanskrit. Al Battani (858-929) from Harran, Turkey, was another great astronomer and mathematician. Al Farabi (870-950) from
Turkey was an expert in philosophy. Al Ghazali (10581122) from Iran was a great Theologian and a philosopher; Al Idrisi (1099-1166) was from Ceuta, Spain, worked in Sicily with King Rogers and wrote books on geography; Al Mawardi (972-1058 ) from Basra, Iraq was a political scientist. Ibn Al Baitar (11971248) from Malaga, Spain, was one of the greatest botanists. Al-Kindi (800-873) from Kufa Iraq was a great philosopher. Ibn Zuhr (1091-1161) from Seville-Spain was a great Surgeon; Omar Khayyam (1044-1123) from Iran was a mathematician, astronomer, and a famous poet. Nasir Al-Din Al Tusi (12011274) from Iran was an astronomer. IbnNafees (1231-1288) from Damascus discovered blood circulation long before William Harvey. Ibn-Batuta (1304-1369) from Morocco is one of the earlier world travelers who traveled 75,000 miles by sea and land, Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) from Afghanistan was one of the great Sufi philosophers. Ibn Khaldoon (1332-1395) from Tunisia wrote world history, a brilliant scholar who introduced the science of sociology; he has no equal for any age or country (Encyclopedia Britannica). From the early days of Islam, until the 10th century A.D., the educational and political systems were dominated by the rationalist Mutazilites, who sought to combine faith and reason in contrast to the dogmatic Asharites. Some Muslim scholars of the 10th century highly criticized Ibn Sina and other scholars. They argued that analytical studies, secular sciences, and philosophy would create doubts and confusion about religion, and therefore, there was no need for teaching them. Ashari intellectuals like Ghazali, who in his ‘Incoherence of the Philosophers’ had labeled such knowledge as ‘Kufr.’ The seemingly rational philosophy of Ibn Sina got denounced as it was felt it deprived God of His supreme power, who is
To be Continued in Next edition
Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Sep 25-Oct 9, 2020- Safar 7-21, 1442 H Isl. Dt. Day Date Fajar
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri
Sunr
ZawalAsar Dhuhr Asar Maghrib Dhur Shafi / Hanfi
Isha
For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA
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Britain finally launches COVID-19 Trump says UN must ‘hold China app in England and Wales accountable’ for Covid-19 Launch is four months behind schedule and comes as cases soar to levels not seen since May. The British government on Thursday will finally launch its troubled smartphone app to help track the coronavirus in England and Wales, four months behind schedule and with cases surging to levels not seen since the peak of the first phase of the pandemic in May. The COVID-19 app from the National Health Service (NHS) uses Bluetooth technology to alert users if they spend 15 minutes or more within two metres (six feet) of another user who subsequently tests positive for COVID-19. The government had said the app would arrive in May, but early trials were dogged by problems, and developers abandoned home-grown technology in favour of Apple and Google’s model in June. The embarrassing U-turn followed warnings from tech experts that it would be less effective and that it should have switched to the Apple-Google software earlier. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the reworked tool was “an important step forward in our fight against this invisible killer”. “We have worked extensively with tech companies, international partners, and privacy and medical experts – and learned from the trials – to develop an app that is secure, simple to use,” he said. The Scottish government launched its own app earlier this month, while Northern Ireland rolled out its smartphone tracing tool in August. However, some have questioned how effective the NHS app will be. Independent char-
ity the Health Foundation noted on the eve of its release that results from the testing programmes had yet to be published. “Any data on the pilots that took place in August have been notably absent, leaving major questions over the app’s effectiveness unanswered,” it said. Response under fire Various coronavirus tracking applications that have emerged around the world – often relying on the same Apple-Google tech – have had mixed success to date. Many have encountered challenges, from privacy concerns to technical glitches and disappointing take-up. Confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the pandemic has plummeted over the past few weeks, with the government under fire over the country’s struggling testing system. There have been complaints of people being unable to get tests or being given appointments for testing centres hours from their homes, despite government claims of vastly increased capacity...... Source: aljazeera.com
Covid ‘firepower’: Britain imposes 6-month curbs against second wave British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people on Tuesday to work from home where possible and ordered bars and restaurants to close early to tackle a fast-spreading second wave of Covid-19 with restrictions probably lasting six months. After government scientists cautioned that deaths may soar without urgent action, Johnson stopped short of another full lockdown as he did in March, but said further action could be taken if the disease was not suppressed.“We reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions,” he told parliament following emergency meetings with ministers and leaders of the United Kingdom’s devolved governments.Just weeks after urging people to start returning to workplaces, Johnson advised office workers to stay at home if they could. He ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites to close at 10pm from Thursday with only table service allowed.“I am sorry this will hurt many businesses just getting back on their feet,” he said. It was unclear if the measures would be enough to tackle Britain’s second wave, which government scientists warned could reach 50,000 new cases per day by mid-
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday again declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 presidential election.“We’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump
October, but they meant more pain for the world’s fifth-largest economy. Masks will be required in more settings, there will be tougher enforcement of rules, and the military could be brought in to help free up the police, Johnson said. Schools and universities are to stay open. Fines Businesses breaking Covid laws face penalties of up to 10,000 pounds ($13,000) or even closure, while individuals may be fined 200 pounds for not wearing a mask in the right place. Johnson said it was frustrating for the law-abiding majority to see a few “brazenly defying the rules”. Source: dawn.com said at a news conference, responding to a question about a peaceful transfer. “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.” Democratic challenger Joe Biden was asked about Trump’s comment after landing in Wilmington, Delaware, Wednesday night. “What country are we in?” Biden asked incredulously, adding: “I’m being facetious. Look, he says the most irrational things. I don’t know what to say about it. But it doesn’t surprise me.” Trump has been pressing a monthslong campaign against mail-in voting this November by tweeting and speaking out critically about the practice. More states are encouraging mail-in voting to keep voters safe
US President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that China must be held accountable by the world for its actions over the Covid-19 pandemic. In a recorded message played to the annual meeting of the UN, Trump accused Beijing of allowing the coronavirus to “leave China and infect the world”. “The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions,” he said. Trump, who faces a difficult reelection fight on November 3, has sought to deflect overwhelming voter criticism of his handling of the pandemic by blaming China. Broadcast over a large screen in the UN General Assembly hall, the US president effectively transferred his hawkish campaign stump speech to the global stage. “We must hold accountable the nation that released this plague upon the world,” he said. Trump accused China of only looking after its own interests when the potentially lethal virus first appeared in the city of Wuhan late last year. And he said “the Chinese government, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) —
which is virtually controlled by China — falsely declared that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.” “Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease,” he added. World leaders are speaking virtually to the UN session in New York, due to Covid-19 restrictions. Trump, who has frequently downplayed the risks posed by the virus, had previously said he would visit anyway, before apparently changing his mind. Source: aljazeera.com/ news. Source: dawn.com
Claiming to restore UN sanctions, the US announces new penalties on Iran as much of the global community disagrees. Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Zarif has blasted the efforts of the United States government to reimpose sanctions during a digital address to the Council on Foreign Relations, calling the US an “irresponsible actor”. The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance on Iran, pulling out of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly called the Iran nuclear deal. The deal between Iran and world powers saw Tehran agree to curb its nuclear programme and allowing for regular, international inspections of their nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of certain international sanctions. It was hailed as an achievement of diplomacy, but the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018. In his address on Monday, Zarif said Iran took a great step to engage with the administration of former US President Barack Obama.“We did that with [Former State Secretary John Kerry]. It wasn’t easy to start the negotiations, which resulted in JCPOA, those were extremely difficult negotiations, based on not mutual trust but mutual respect. Zarif told the CFR Iran needs the US to offer concessions as a sign of good faith to “renegotiate what has already been negoti-
ated ... And I think after these very difficult years of [US President Donald Trump], it is important for the United States to send the right signals to Iran, that it is willing to end this ... policy of pressure.” Almost simultaneously as Zarif made the comments, Trump announced an executive order blocking access to financial assets of those who engage in arms trade or training with Tehran, which he claims is necessary to enforce the UN arms blockade set to expire in October under the JCPOA. “The United States has now restored UN sanctions on Iran,” Trump said in a statement issued shortly after he signed an executive order spelling out how the US will enforce the “snapback” of the sanctions. “My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran.”Source: aljazeera.com
Iran’s Zarif dismisses sanctions, calls US ‘irresponsible actor’
Trump won’t commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses
amid the coronavirus pandemic. The president, who uses mail-in voting himself, has tried to distinguish between states that automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters and those, like Florida, that send them only to voters who request a mail ballot.Trump has baselessly claimed widespread mail voting will lead to massive fraud. The five states that routinely send mail ballots to all voters have seen no significant fraud. Trump on Wednesday appeared to suggest that if states got “rid of ” the unsolicited mailing of ballots there would be no concern about fraud or peaceful transfers of power. “You’ll have a very peaceful -- there won’t be a transfer frankly,” Trump said. “There’ll be a continuation. The ballots are out of control, you know it, and you know,
who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else.” In a July interview, Trump similarly refused to commit to accepting the results, and he made similar comments ahead of the 2016 election.“I have to see. Look ... I have to see,” Trump told Chris Wallace during a wideranging July interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “No, I’m not going to just say yes. I’m not going to say no, and I didn’t last time either.” The Biden campaign responded Wednesday, as it did after Trump’s July comments: “The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.” Source: ctvnews.ca
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‘Unprecedented times’: Premier John Horgan announces B.C. Election
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held two seats, there were two Independents and one seat was vacant. Wilkinson, who became Liberal leader in 2018, has been critical of the government’s response to the pandemic, saying last week that it has taken too long to roll out a $1.5 billion economic recovery plan. Source: ctvnews.caOther provinces unveiled their plans months ago, he said last Thursday. “They’re trying to stoke election fever with an economic plan.” Horgan described the plan as building on a foundation of previously announced provincial and federal commitments aimed at recharging the economy. Elections BC has been consulting counterparts in New Brunswick after that province successfully held an election earlier this
month during the pandemic. Horgan said Finance Minister Carole James will be administering the province until election day. She is one of seven NDP cabinet ministers not seeking re-election. Horgan noted that seven Liberal members of the legislature are also not running again and former Green leader Andrew Weaver is leaving politics as well. “So now is the best time, it seems to me, at the beginning of the pandemic to renew the legislature,” he said. “I think we need new ideas from every corner of the province, regardless of where those ideas come from and now is the time to do that.”
after finishing on election night with two fewer seats than the B.C. Liberals, while the Greens had an election breakthrough, winning three seats and holding the balance of power. — The last time B.C. had a minority government before that was in 1952 and the NDP’s rise to power in 2017 ended a 16-year span outside government. — The B.C. Liberals were in power from 2001 to 2017. — Andrew Wilkinson became leader of the Liberal party in February 2018, replacing Christy Clark. — John Horgan was acclaimed NDP leader in 2014 and first won a seat in the legislature in 2005. Some facts about B.C. politics: — The NDP formed a minority government — Sonia Furstenau has been on the job for in 2017 with support from the Green party about a week, being elected to lead the Greens on Sept. 14.
— This election has 87 seats up for grabs. At dissolution, the NDP and Liberals were tied with 41 seats. The Greens held two seats, there were two Independents and one seat was vacant. Source: nationalpost.com
‘I’m Erin O’Toole’: New Conservative leader named after a race like no other
ic and months-long leadership campaign. “To the millions of Canadians that are still up, that I’m meeting tonight for the first time: Good morning. I’m Erin O’Toole, you’re going to be seeing and hearing a lot from me in the coming weeks and months, but I want you to know from the start that I’m here to fight for you and your family,” he said in his first speech as leader in the early morning hours on Monday. O’Toole, an MP from Ontario, defeated Peter MacKay, clinching 57 per cent of party OTTAWA -- Erin O’Toole is the new leader support, after picking up down-ballot supof the Conservative Party of Canada, secur- port from Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan ing victory on the third ballot after a histor- supporters. MacKay was narrowly leading after the first ballot but he finished the race
in second, while Lewis came in third with a strong showing, and Sloan finished fourth and was the first to drop off the ballot. His down-ballot support was reallocated to the remaining candidates but was not enough to decide the race. That prompted the third-ballot round where O’Toole picked up considerable support from Lewis supporters. Scroll down or click here to recap our live blog of the Conservative leadership results. Reading on an app? Tap here for full experience The support was calculated in points, with 100 points allocated to each of the 338 ridings, meaning there were 33,800 points up for grabs. The winner needed to secure at
least 16,901 points to win. O’Toole secured 19,271, with strong showings in Alberta and Quebec. Despite many party supporters viewing the race early on as an easy win for MacKay, it quickly became a tight fight between him and O’Toole. The unprecedented nature of 2020 made some wonder whether there would be some surprising results, depending on how the support for a late-in-the-race surge by Lewis and social conservative-backed Sloan would play out. O’Toole, 47, was given a chance to introduce himself and spell out his vision for the future and direction of the party, a role he now takes over from Andrew Scheer. Source: ctvnews.ca
Over 30 years since major rapid transit investment made in Surrey
Surrey, BC – March 1990 was when the Expo Line of SkyTrain crossed the Fraser River into Surrey. 30 years later there has not been any major rapid transit expansion for BC’s fastest growing city with a population that is fast approaching 600,000 people. “To say that Surrey has been left behind when it comes to mass transit is a gross understatement,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “The growth that Surrey has experienced in 30 years has been exponential and we are well on track to be the
largest city in the province. Families continue to choose Surrey as the place to call home and businesses are setting up shop at a rate of 2,400 new businesses per year.” In the most recent Council-Land Use meeting, more than $1.7 billion dollars in building projects were given approval to proceed by Surrey City Council, with the majority of new developments slated along the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension. “Since the introduction of the Expo Line, Van-
couver has been served with the Millennium Line, Canada Line, Evergreen Line and now the new Broadway Subway, while Surrey has received nothing,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “The people of Surrey are fed up with waiting while other jurisdictions that are growing at a far slower rate receive the lion share of transit funds. On behalf of the citizens of Surrey, the time for new rapid transit in our city is long overdue. Let’s get this done, now.” Source: Oliver Lum Senior Manager,
Police involved after ‘totally unacceptable’ threats against Dr. Henry, officials say
VANCOUVER -- The death threats against B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry prompted a police response, officials confirmed Wednesday. Henry discussed the threats while addressing the Union of B.C. Municipalities on Tuesday, as well as the abusive messages
and phone calls her office has received during the COVID-19 pandemic.“We become a target,” Henry said. “I’ve had to have security in my house. I’ve had death threats.” Adrian Dix, who has worked with Henry on the province’s COVID-19 response for months as health minister, told CTV News that law enforcement was involved with responding to the threats, but could not give further details. “We have extraordinarily professional police services in B.C. We’re very fortunate and we take their guidance and follow their guidance and we give every support to Dr. Henry,” he added.Whether that means investigating the threats as a criminal matter
or providing protection to Henry is unclear. The Ministry of Public Safety would not provide any details either. In an email, a spokesperson only said that government “takes threats to anyone in B.C.’s public service very seriously and works with the appropriate agencies and authorities to address them.” While campaigning on Wednesday, NDP Leader John Horgan said he was “horrified” to hear about the attempted intimidation of a dedicated public servant. “It is beyond tragic that individuals in the community would use their anonymity of the Internet or other mechanisms to try and intimidate someone who gets up every day
to try to make life better for people in her community,” Horgan said. Henry also told the UBCM she believes being a woman in a high-profile position makes certain people feel more comfortable targeting her than they would her male counterparts. Dix said he agrees, and that he hasn’t received any death threats since the start of the pandemic, despite being as much a part of the government’s forward-facing response as Henry.“I do think sometimes women in strong positions – strong, powerful, able women who are doing an extraordinary job like Dr. Henry – face this, and it’s totally unacceptable,” Dix said. Source: ctvnews.ca
Coronavirus infections over 32 million worldwide Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
23,685,870
32,104,110
982,045
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
147,753 8,395
9,243 227
127,788 6,769
Last updated:
September 24, 2020, 07:03 GMT www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?
CANADA Last updated:
September 24, 2020, 07:03 GMT
BC;CANADA Last updated: September 24, 2020, 07:03 GMT
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PM Trudeau to address nation after throne Canada ‘at a crossroads’: COVID-19 will keep speech focused on COVID-19 response spreading if behaviours don’t change, Tam says OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will be presenting a COVID-19 response-focused speech from the throne on Wednesday, pivoting from a desire to kick off the new session of Parliament with bold new economic and social recovery plans due to the looming threat of a fall surge in the deadly virus’ spread. The speech—being delivered by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette in the Senate Chamber—will get underway at 2:10 p.m. EDT. Within it, expect to hear commitments to more healthcare spending to ease the burdens felt by institutions such as long-term care homes; plans to rework the current emergency benefit and employment programs; and an intention to pursue new rebuilding efforts such as investing in a national childcare plan with the provinces and meeting their climate targets. Then, Trudeau will be directly addressing the nation at 6:30 p.m. EDT. He is expected to speak about Canada’s current COVID-19 situation and summarize the Liberals’ new commitments. When Trudeau prorogued Parliament and announced the Sept. 23 throne speech, he said the federal government needed the time to plot its roadmap out of the pandemic, but over the last few weeks there has been a day-after-day steady increase in the number of new COVID-19 infections, putting a renewed focus on the need to keep up or revive certain emergency response measures and financial assistance programs. Citing the ongoing struggle with COVID-19, the calls for action on systemic racism, and the health-care, social and economic disparities the pandemic has exposed, Trudeau
said in August that the federal government’s focus would be on plotting the long-term green-focused recovery plan. “As much as this pandemic is an unexpected challenge, it is also an unprecedented opportunity. And this is our chance to build a more resilient Canada, a Canada that is healthier and safer greener and more competitive, a Canada that is more welcoming and more fair. This is our moment to change the future for the better,” Trudeau said at the time. But as of Sept. 14 the prime minister had changed his tune, saying his cabinet was focused on getting the country through what’s shaping up to be a COVID-19 resurgence and mitigating the potential impacts of a second wave this fall. “We need to get through this in order to be able to talk about next steps,” he told reporters on his way into his cabinet retreat. But as of Sept. 14 the prime minister had changed his tune, saying his cabinet was focused on getting the country through what’s shaping up to be a COVID-19 resurgence and mitigating the potential impacts of a second wave this fall................. Source: ctvnews.ca
TORONTO -- Former prime minister John Turner, whose odyssey from a “Liberal dream in motion” to a political anachronism spanned 30 years, has died at the age of 91. Marc Kealey, a former aide speaking on behalf of Turner’s relatives as a family friend, says Turner died peacefully in his sleep at home in Toronto on Friday night. “He’s in a much better place, and I can say on behalf of the family there was no struggle and it was very, very peaceful,” Kealey said. “A gifted politician, lawyer, and athlete, Mr. Turner became Canada’s 17th Prime Minister after having served in numerous other capacities,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a written statement. “Mr. Turner was a humble man with a strong social conscience. He supported many charitable organizations, including Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He was also an honorary director of World Wildlife Fund Canada and an ardent advocate for the protection of
Canada’s lakes and rivers.” Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole also offered his condolences, writing on Facebook, “Track star, lawyer, parliamentarian, but most importantly father and patriot, his contributions to Canada are profound and his legacy assured.” Former prime ministers Jean Chretien and Paul Martin both spoke of their one-time colleague’s love of Parliament. “More than anything, John was a House of Commons man and an outstanding public servant. He revered our democratic institutions like no other and served his constituents and Canada with great distinction. He will be greatly missed. My sincere condolences go out to his wife Geills and to his family,” Chretien wrote. Smart, athletic and blessed with movie-star good looks, Turner was dubbed “Canada’s Kennedy” when he first arrived in Ottawa in the 1960s. But he failed to live up to the great expectations of his early career, governing for just 79 days after a difficult, decades-long climb to the top job. “The most unfortunate thing to happen to anybody is to come in at the top in politics,” Turner said in 1967. “The apprenticeship is absolutely vital. And yet, the longer the apprenticeship, the more the young politician risks tiring the public. So that by the time he’s ready, the public may be tired of him.”........ Source: ctvnews.ca
OTTAWA -- This article was featured in the Nightly Briefing newsletter, CTV News’ evening reading recommendation. You can sign up here to receive it each weekday night. The latest federal modelling on the COVID-19 pandemic shows that in the shortterm, Canada’s epidemic is set to keep growing, predicting up to 155,795 total cases and 9,300 deaths by Oct. 2, unless Canadians re-adopt the same degree of health precautions they took in the early months of the pandemic. Federal health officials released updated national COVID-19 modelling on Tuesday, as there continues to be a surge in new cases of the virus across several provinces, prompting renewed anxieties about Canada’s ability to stave off a full blown second wave. There are currently nearly 11,000 active COVID-19 cases in Canada, while another 126,230 patients have recovered. To date, more than 9,200 Canadians have died from the novel coronavirus. “Canada is at a crossroads and individual action to reduce contact rates will decide our path,” said the federal presentation document provided to reporters. The new modelling shows how the course of the pandemic Canada charts in the weeks ahead will vary greatly depending on the precautions in place, projecting big spikes this fall if Canadians don’t redouble efforts to limit the number of close contacts they have, maintain physical distance from people not in their immediate social bubbles, wear masks when distancing can’t be maintained, and stay home if experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. “All of us have the future in our hands in terms of the decisions we’re making today,” said Health Minister Patty Hajdu at Tues-
day’s briefing. “Those decisions that we make today, to say ‘no’, to connect in different ways, to keep our gathering sizes small, to ensure that we’re not socializing more than absolutely necessary, are going to actually help drive the cases down. It’s a sacrifice that we all have to make.” Cases reported now reflect increasing transmission one to two weeks ago, and the projections indicate that if Canada maintains its current rate of contacts, the epidemic will come back “faster and stronger,” warned Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer. It’s time to re-adopt the personal protection and separation measures that were taken in March and April to have a change at reversing the epidemic growth, she said. Tam said that with minimal controls— which is not Canada’s current reality— the epidemic in Canada is capable of surging into a “very sharp and intense peak” because most Canadians don’t have immunity to the virus. “This surge could overwhelm our health system capacity and significantly impact social and economic systems as well,” she said. Source: ctvnews.ca
Former prime minister John Turner dies at 91 Second COVID-19 wave has already started:
PM in address to nation
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controlled now for some time. And it’s evidenced by people in my emergency room and in my ICU,” Dr. Sharkawy said, adding that addressing the current testing backlogs and delays seen in some regions need to be rectified as soon as possible if Canada is to get this new spike in cases under control. Trudeau’s national remarks came just a few hours after Gov. Gen. Julie Payette delivered the minority government’s speech from the throne in which the federal Liberals promised to keep financially supporting Canadians through what’s shaping up to be a fall resurgence of the virus, while repairing the inequalities the pandemic has exposed. The prime minister also took this opportunity to personally pitch his government’s economic and social response and rebuilding plan to Canadians. According to his prepared remarks shared with reporters in advance of his address, Trudeau will also soon touch on the measures his government has and will continue to take to aid out of work and ill Canadians in the months ahead. “The federal government will have your back, whatever it takes, to help you get through this crisis,” referencing the 9 million people who used the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which is now being transitioned into a modified Employment Insurance program, as
well as the employees who were hired back because their employers accessed the emergency wage subsidy program that is now being extended until next summer. This evening address is different than the more than 80 morning addresses to the nation that the prime minister held between midMarch and late June, where day after day he unveiled billions of dollars in aid to Canadians out of work, struggling businesses, and to procure personal protective equipment, test kits, and vaccines. Though, he did have a similar tone, in imploring a team-Canada effort to fight the virus’ spread. “There are many days to go before we get to the other side of this, but there are also many of us to get us there, so long as we each remember to do our part, and I know that we will,” Trudeau said. Source: ctvnews.ca
Exiled Saudi dissidents launch opposition party
A group of Saudi dissidents exiled in countries including the United Kingdom and United States have announced the launch of an opposition party, the first organised political resistance under King Salman’s rule. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate any political opposition, but the formation of the National Assembly Party on the anniversary of the kingdom’s founding came amid a growing state crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression.
Past attempts to organise politically in the Gulf state in 2007 and 2011 were suppressed and members arrested. “We hereby announce the establishment of the National Assembly Party, which aims to institute democracy as a form of government in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the group said in a statement on Wednesday. The development is unlikely to seriously undermine the authority of the Arab world’s most powerful ruling family. But it poses a fresh challenge
to Saudi Arabia’s rulers as they grapple with low crude oil prices and gear up to host a G20 summit in November amid the coronavirus pandemic.The party is headed by prominent London-based human rights activist Yahya Assiri, and its members include academic Madawi al-Rasheed, researcher Saeed bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, US-based Abdullah Alaoudh and Canada-based Omar Abdulaziz, sources close to the outfit told the AFP news agency. Source: aljazeera.com
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Saudi Arabia to lift ban on Mecca pilgrimage amid virus
Continued from page 1
Hajj pilgrims circled the sacred Kaaba – a cubic structure inside Mecca’s Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the world pray – along socially distant paths. The kingdom has sought to contain a spike in infections, which have now risen to more than 330,000 cases – the highest in the Gulf – and at least 4,500 deaths. But Saudi Arabia has also reported a high rate of recoveries, which surpassed 312,000 on Tuesday.Last week, Saudi Arabia partially lifted its suspension on international flights, six months after travel curbs were imposed due to the pandemic. Official data show Hajj and Umrah earn the kingdom about $12bn a year. Source: aljazeera.com RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA -- Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said Muslims will be allowed to
perform the smaller, year-round pilgrimage starting Oct. 4 as the kingdom gradually begins lifting restrictions that had been in place on Islam’s holiest site for the past seven months due to the coronavirus. State media reported the government plans to allow up to 6,000 visitors a day at the sprawling Grand Mosque in Mecca, which will be open to Saudi citizens and residents only during this first phase. Before visitors can enter the mosque to pray or perform the “umrah” pilgrimage, they will have to apply and reserve a specific time and date through an online application that is launching Sept. 27 to avoid crowding and maintain social-distancing guidelines. Visitors can also select via the app their means of transportation and meeting points. The second phase launches Oct. 18, allowing a maximum of 15,000 pilgrims and 40,000 in
for prayer from among residents and citizens based on allocated times via the app. The Grand Mosque houses the cube-shaped Kaaba that observant Muslims pray toward five times a day.Muslim travellers from outside Saudi Arabia could be allowed to perform the “umrah” pilgrimage as early as Nov. 1, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Saudi Arabia recently began easing some restrictions on international flights for the first time since March. The ministry said it will continuously evaluate these guidelines and developments related to the pandemic. The kingdom held a dramatically downsized, symbolic hajj pilgrimage in July due to concerns that it could easily have become a global
super-spreader event for the virus. Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal and all were residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia. Rather than the more than 2 million pilgrims the kingdom hosts for the annual event, as little as 1,000 took part after being tested for the virus and quarantined. Despite taking early and sweeping measures to contain the virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 330,000 cases, including more than 4,500 deaths. Source: ctvnews.ca
United Nations General Assembly, the emir questioned the role of countries and organisations for failing to uphold the resolutions against the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and its expansion of settlement building. He accused Israel of carrying out “flagrant violation of international resolutions and the two-state solution as agreed upon by the international community”. “The international community stands by, unable to take any effective action to confront Israeli intransigence, its continued occupation of Palestinian and Arab land, the imposition of a stifling siege on the Gaza Strip, [and] the expanding settlement policy, among others,” he said. “Peace can only be achieved when Israel fully commits to the international terms of reference and resolutions that are accepted by the Arab countries and upon which the Arab Peace Initiative is based.” The Arab Peace Initiative was a plan put
forth by Saudi Arabia in 2002 that called for normalising relations with Israel in exchange for an end to its occupation of Palestinian territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as a just solution for Palestinian refugees. Qatar’s ruler said Israel is trying to “circumvent these parameters” and any arrangements that do not take these factors into account “will not achieve peace”. “Failure to find a just solution to the Palestinian cause, Israel’s continued settlements, and forcing a reality on the ground without being deterred, this is what raises the biggest question about the credibility of the international community and its institutions,” the emir added. He called upon the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its legal responsibilities and “compel Israel to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip, and to put the peace process
back on track through credible negotiations based on international resolutions and not on force”. Speaking from outside the UN headquarters in New York, Al Jazeera’s James Bays said it was interesting to see many Arab states within the Arab League remain consistent in their views on Israel and Palestine – which revolves around the international consensus that there should be a two-state solution. On September 15, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements to normalise relations with Israel in a strategic realignment of Middle Eastern countries against Iran. The ceremony was hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House, capping a dramatic month when the countries agreed to normalise ties without a resolution of Israel’s decades-old conflict with the Palestinians, who have condemned the agreements. Source: aljazeera.com
But 60-year-old Asghar Bakhtiari, who spent 48 gruelling months on a variety of battlefields in the Iran-Iraq War, says now his only regret is “not being able to be in that atmosphere more and learn more from it”. “There was a love in my body that made me go back again and again. I had a duty to my country and a duty to transfer my hardearned knowledge of combat to young warriors,” he told Al Jazeera. Bakhtiari, now a father of two and a pensioner of the National Iranian Gas Company, was only 20 when the eight-year war started after dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Iran on September 22, 1980. The conflict killed an estimated 500,000 people before a UN-brokered ceasefire ended it on
August 20, 1988. After getting his high school diploma, he joined the local Basij paramilitary force, where he and other young men received training from a commando from Khorramshahr, a city in southwestern Iran bordering Iraq that was later captured and whose liberation in 1982 signalled a turning point in the war. In early 1981, a short time after the war started, he signed up for military service and was deployed into combat in two months. “I joined the reconnaissance unit with a friend of mine and we were deployed to a small village that was located merely a few hundred metres away from the Iraqis’ position,” Bakhtiari remembers.
Throughout the years, he was on many fronts, and even behind enemy lines, and sustained many wounds. First, he took a bullet in his right kneecap, which made him come back to Tehran to receive medical treatment. But he voluntarily returned twice more, before taking two more rounds in his right leg and one to his stomach. Bakhtiari remembers the agonising circumstances of his rescue back from the front lines. “Actually, a few captured Iraqi soldiers dragged me back on a stretcher. It was pitch dark but we were lit up by flares. I hadn’t even realised I was shot in the stomach at first.”Source: aljazeera.com
At UN, Qatar emir questions world inaction on Israeli occupation
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has questioned the credibility of the international community as it “stands by, unable to take any effective action to confront Israeli intransigence and its continued occupation of Palestinian and Arab land”. In his video speech at the 75th session of the
Iranians remember sacrifices on Iran-Iraq war anniversary
Country and citizens pay tribute to memories of war and those who laid down their lives in the bloody 1980-88 conflict. Tehran, Iran - From many friends perishing in front of his eyes to gruesome physical injuries, some might think he has lost too much to the horrors of war.
UK court jails former Fiji’s health ministry receives Fijian British Army soldier $700k worth of medical supplies
THE Bristol Crown Court in the United Kingdom has sentenced a former Fijian British Army soldier to seven years in prison for rape in May last year. A trial in October 2019 had resulted in a hung jury and a retrial was held for 41-year-old Serupepeli Niubasaga. It was alleged he raped a woman at the Duke of Gloucester barracks after a night of partying.He has been terminated by the British Army. Source:fijitimes.com
Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services today received more than $700,000 worth of medical supplies from the World Health Organisation (WHO). During the handover, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said the Government would continue to display resilience during this pandemic period and at the same time, continue to work hard through remodeling its framework to reach the unreachable. “We continue to thank WHO for their neverending support to the Fijian Government and especially with this pathway to economic recovery and keeping everyone safe,” Dr Waqainabete said. The donated medical supplies include surgical masks, KN95 masks, face shields, protective goggles, and isolation gowns to support front liners.
WHO Representative to the South Pacific Dr Corinne Capuano said this was the biggest shipment of medical supplies WHO had organised for Fiji since the start of COVID-19.Source:fijitimes.com
10 h ist o r y / kas h mir Turkish President Erdogan’s remarks on J&K at UNGA ‘completely unacceptable’: India Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
The Turkish President, a close ally of Pakistan, had last year also raised the issue of Kashmir in his address to the high-level General Debate in the General Assembly Hall. India has termed as “completely unacceptable” references to Jammu and Kashmir by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his address to the high-level debate at the UN General Assembly, saying Ankara should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply. “We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian UT (Union Territory) of
Jammu & Kashmir. They constitute gross interference in India’s internal affairs and are completely unacceptable. Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a tweet on Tuesday. Erdogan, in his prerecorded video statement to the General Debate at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the issue of Kashmir, “which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia, is still a burning issue. Steps
taken following the abolition of the special status of Jammu-Kashmir further complicated the problem.” He said that Turkey was in “favour of solving this issue through dialogue, within the framework of the United Nations resolutions and especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir”. The Turkish President, a close ally of Pakistan, had last year also raised the issue of Kashmir in his address to the high-level General Debate in the General Assembly maintained that all outstanding matters in Hall. India has rejected any third-party in- Indo-Pak ties should be resolved bilaterally. tervention in the Kashmir issue and has Source: greaterkashmir.com
India & Pakistan Owe their Freedom to Allama Mashriqi Continued from Aug 28th edition
W
hile in jail, Mashriqi was informed that in order to obtain his release, he must announce the disbandment of the Movement; he refused and instead kept a fast unto death that made the rulers fearful of additional backlash from the public and forced them to release Mashriqi after two years in jail without a trial (strict restrictions on his movements remained after release). Thus, Mashriqi, his family, and the Khaksars refused to surrender and the rulers failed to suppress the Khaksar Tehrik. Upon his release (despite restrictions on his movements), Mashriqi asked Jinnah, Gandhi, and other leaders to form a joint front and stand with him so he could end British rule. He also pushed for a Jinnah-Gandhi meeting and continued to promote HinduMuslim unity. However, vested interests prevented these leaders from joining hands with Mashriqi. As the British continued holding talks with their favored leaders, Mashriqi continuing pushing rigorously for a revolt. In 1946, Mashriqi succeeded in bringing about a Bombay Naval Mutiny on February 18, 1946 (Al-Islah, March 08, 1946), which also prompted mutiny within the other armed forces. On June 08, 1946, at the Khaksar Headquarters in Icchra (Lahore), Mashriqi addressed a gathering of Khaksars, soldiers released from the armed forces after World War II, and the soldiers of the defeated Indian National Army (INA) of Subhas Chandra Bose: “after sixteen years of unprecedented selfsacrifices, we are now ardent to reach our objective as fast as possible, and within the next few months will do anything and everything to achieve our goal” (Al-Islah June 14, 1946). Final preparations for a revolt for independence took place in November 1946 at a historic Khaksar Camp in Peshawar (from November 07-10, 1946), where mock wars and military exercises were held. Mashriqi addressed a crowd of 110,000 Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and others; he shed light on the self-seeking and futile politics of Indian leaders and gave an account of the British exploitations of India’s resources. The speech sparked a sense that further abuse by the rulers would no longer be tolerated and their rule must come to an end. Thereafter, on December 01, 1946, Mashriqi distributed a pamphlet in India proclaiming: “[translation] Idara-i-Aliya [Khaksar Headquarters] shall soon issue an order that in the entire India, four million [sources quote a range from 4-5 million members] Khaksars, side by side with hundreds of thousands rather millions of supporters shall march simultaneously…This moment shall dawn upon us very soon and that is why it is being ordered that a grand preparation for
this historical day should commence immediately…so that British can clearly witness the day of India’s freedom…” With this bold announcement, a British hold on power was no longer possible. As such, Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced a transfer of power by no later than June 1948. Mashriqi suspected that the announcement could be a ploy to divert public attention or to buy time to create dissent within the country (for example, by encouraging ongoing Muslim-Hindu riots), so that the British could justify and extend their rule. To close the door on any such ploys, Mashriqi ordered 300,000 Khaksars to assemble on June 30th, 1947 in Delhi; this order put the final nail in the coffin for the British Raj. Such a huge assembly of this private army of Khaksars would enable them to take over all important installations – including radio/ broadcasting stations, newspaper offices, British officials’ lodges, and government offices. Immediately following these steps, an overturn of British rule was to be announced via media. The timing of this coup d’état was fitting, as the entire nation (including the armed forces, who had already revolted against the regime) wanted an end to British rule. With this impending massive assembly of Khaksars in Delhi, the rulers saw the writing on the wall; they feared their humiliation and defeat at the hands of the Khaksars and angry masses. Moreover, the rulers could not accept a united India…and that too at the hands of Allama Mashriqi. Therefore, without any other compelling reason, a transfer of power was undertaken by the British in an extraordinary rush; on June 3rd, 1947, the Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, announced a plan to partition India. Mountbatten called a hurried meeting of their selected Muslim and Hindu leaders and asked them to accept the plan immediately. The selected leaders saw power falling in the hands of Mashriqi and he becoming the champion of freedom if they did not accept the plan. Jealousy and vested interests came into play. M. K. Gandhi, Jinnah’s AllIndia Muslim League, and the Indian National Congress accepted the plan almost immediately. Mashriqi tried to prevent the All-India Muslim League from signing off
on the plan, but was “stabbed” (The Canberra Times, Australia, June 11, 1947) on the same day that the League accepted the plan (June 09, 1947). It was obvious that the motive of this stabbing was to keep Mashriqi from stopping the partition of India (in order to have a united independence). The partition plan was accepted and announced all over the world only about two weeks before the assembly of the Khaksars was to take place. Logically speaking, can it actually be called a “transfer of power”? The British handed over control of the nation in a rush because the Khaksars were on the verge of forcibly ending their rule; indeed, over 100,000 (Dawn July 02, 1947 reported “70,000 to 80,000”) Khaksars had already entered Delhi despite strict measures in place. The establishments in India and Pakistan and historians overstate the role of the British’s preferred leaders, while failing to recognize the reality of what led to independence. Neither Jinnah nor Gandhi had the street power to overturn-British rule; it is for this reason that they were seeking a transfer of power, which they obtained based on the threat posed to British rule by the powerful Khaksar Movement. Historians have thus far presented history from a colonial or Pakistani/Indian state point of view, rather than based on the facts on the ground. Instead of giving credit to Mashriqi, some historians provide flimsy reasons for the end of British rule. Some of the reasons they cite are: (1) Gandhi’s methods and Jinnah’s constitutional fight brought freedom to India and Pakistan respectively -- this argument is neither supported by human history nor the realities on the ground, as colonial rulers do not voluntarily relinquish their power without a significant threat to their rule. (2) The British fast-forwarded transfer of power and left quickly to avoid blame for the massive killings that would ensue -- this argument also does not make sense as the massive communal riots/killings began on Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946), so an early transfer of power would not have helped the rulers avoid blame. Even if we were to accept these writers’ claims, why would Lord Mountbatten then become the first Governor General of India and why
would many Britishers continue to hold important positions in Pakistan and India? (3) The British left India because after World War II, they became economically weak and could not keep their hold on India -- this claim does not hold water. India’s rich resources would have helped them to recover their losses from the war. (4) The end of the British Raj came about because of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) -- the INA was defeated in 1945 and thereafter, Subhas Chandra Bose was not on the scene anymore (he was either killed or went into hiding as claimed). The Pakistani, Indian, and United Kingdom establishments do not let the truth come out. Despite my open letters to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts and the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India, both countries (and the U.K.) have not declassified Mashriqi and the Khaksar Tehrik’s confiscated papers from the pre-post partition era. In order to hide the truth, Mashriqi’s role is also excluded from the educational curriculum and academic discussions everywhere. The Partition Museum in Amritsar, Lahore Museum, London Museum and others do not display Mashriqi and the Khaksar Tehrik’s artifacts. Despite the current state of affairs, the ground realities speak loudly to Mashriqi’s heroic fight; without Mashriqi’s private army of Khaksars, the British rulers would not have even come to the table to discuss the freedom of the Indian sub-continent (now Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan), leave alone quit the lucrative sub-continent. As such, both countries owe their independence to Mashriqi and he is a founding father of India and Pakistan.
By: Mr.Nasim Yousaf
Source: Nasim Yousaf is a biographer and grandson of Allama Mashriqi. Yousaf ’s works have been published in peer-reviewed encyclopedias and academic journals (including at Harvard University and by Springer of Europe), and he has presented papers at academic conferences, including at Cornell University.
11
Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
l o ca l / B C ELE C T I O N
B.C. Election 2020: Horgan faces attacks after calling election for Oct. 24
British Columbians will vote in the general election a year early.
By: Rob Shaw VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan found his character under attack moments after calling a snap election Monday, with opponents and former allies questioning how voters can trust a leader who reneged on written agreement with the B.C. Greens to not call an early election. Horgan announced the election campaign in his suburban Langford riding, flanked by a backyard lacrosse net and a cul-de-sac of ordinary homes that he said represented voters who want to go to the polls early to secure him a four-year mandate. “I want to get the election behind us, not for myself but for the people of B.C. because they can’t afford to have partisan hectoring and uncertainty about whether bills will pass or not, which is what we’ve experienced over the past 3½
years,” said Horgan, who added that a proper economic recovery plan requires a new full term in office. “I believe stability will come by asking the people of British Columbia where they want to go and who they want to lead them.” British Columbians will vote Oct. 24, with advance voting starting Oct. 15, according to Elections B.C. The snap vote appears to be a gamble by Horgan that his public popularity will overcome any voter blowback caused by plunging the province into electoral uncertainty during record-high COVID-19 cases. B.C. recorded 366 new cases over the weekend. “I’ve struggled mightily with this decision and it did not come easily to me,” said Horgan. “This pandemic will be with us for a year or more and that’s why I believe we need to have an election now.” His decision violated the written powersharing agreement he signed with the B.C.
Greens in 2017, in which he promised to wait until the next scheduled election in Oct. 16, 2021. He also disregarded B.C.’s fixed election date law, though there is no penalty for doing so. “He has to recognize that he cannot lay blame for this election on anybody except for himself,” said B.C. Green leader Sonia Furstenau. “There’s no reason in any world to call an unnecessary election during a global pandemic. This is on John Horgan and on John Horgan alone.” New Democrats hope a snap vote will turn the party’s 41-seat minority government into a majority of at least 44 seats, shaking off the need for any further Green co-operation and, perhaps, eliminating their former allies entirely by targeting the three Vancou-
ver Island seats last won by the Greens. Furstenau said she met with Horgan Friday to assure him the Greens would continue to provide the votes necessary for the NDP to pass matters of confidence, as the two parties have done consistently since 2017. But Horgan said he was upset the Greens tried to amend and block some of his bills this spring, and he no longer felt bound by the deal. Source: vancouversun.com
John Horgan and the NDP force unnecessary pandemic election, Wilkinson calls for three televised debates
for three in-person, televised debates between John Horgan, Sonia Furstenau, and himself, given that access and exposure of candidates will be far more limited due to the pandemic than during a ‘normal’ election period. “This will be an election like none we have ever experienced, and that’s why I’m calling on John Horgan to agree to three televised leaders debates so voters can see the contrast between our visions,” said BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson. “Voters deserve to see the difference between the NDP vision, which is By: Carlie Pochynok about dividing us and playing partisan poliVANCOUVER (September 22, 2020) – BC tics during a global pandemic, compared to Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson is calling the BC Liberal vision, which is about coming
together and helping British Columbians get through this stronger than before.” British Columbia is leading Canada with the highest levels of COVID-19 cases per capita and the NDP’s decision to call an unnecessary snap election has voters questioning Horgan’s values. “Yesterday, John Horgan called an unnecessary snap election for no good reason with B.C leading the country with the highest COVID-19 cases per capita,” said BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson. “Horgan had the confidence of the Legislature and promised to govern until the fixed-date election set for October 2021. Horgan has broken his promise and has proven his pri-
orities aren’t your priorities.” Wilkinson also noted the BC Liberals are promising strong, disciplined leadership at a time that our province continues to face the challenges of COVID-19. “In the coming days, we look forward to presenting a bold plan to get more people back to work, a plan to make it easier for moms and dads to work while raising a family, a plan to roll back the terrible toll of drug addiction and restore safety in our communities, a plan to increase the supply of housing, and a plan to get B.C. back on track and get us excited once again about our futures and the futures of our kids.” Source: BC Liberals <communications
‘Irresponsible and unnecessary’: B.C. Green leader tears into Horgan over snap election
By: Carly Yoshida-Butryn VANCOUVER -- B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau wasted no time in calling out John Horgan’s snap election call, calling it “irresponsible and unnecessary.” Ending weeks of speculation, Horgan announced Monday British Columbians would be heading to the polls on Oct. 24. “Let’s be clear, this is about him and his party putting their fortunes ahead of British Columbians at a time when people are worried about their jobs, their financial security, their children and their health,” she said, speaking outside the legislature. Furstenau said she met with Horgan on Friday and told him he had a stable government, and accused him of playing politics during the pandemic, putting party interests ahead of British Columbians. “I am disappointed that this is what John Horgan has chosen to do. And I fully intend to hold him accountable for this decision,” she said.Furstenau, the candidate for Cowichan Valley, only just accepted the leader-
ship of the party on Sept. 14. The leadership election came after Andrew Weaver announced he would be stepping down as leader and sit as an independent MLA. Weaver has already announced he would not run for re-election. Addressing questions about whether her party would be ready on such short notice, Furstenau said they would be “absolutely prepared” to run a province-wide campaign. “We are ready and we are going to be putting a campaign forward that will give British Columbians an alternative to the style of politics that the NDP is doing right now,” she said.During the news conference announcing the election, Horgan said the Greens did not support two NDP bills, one of which would have allowed youth to be detained in hospital up to seven days after they overdose. At the time, then Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy said the ministry was planning to take more time for consultations to ensure the rights of young people were protected.
Horgan argued that weathering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic required a “stable and secure government,” which is why the province needs an election now. Furstenau was adamant that this has not been a time of instability in government and that there has been “unbelievable co-operation” and collaboration. “The confidence and supply agreement very clearly lays out that what we agreed to, is we would support confidence bills and budget bills, and we have done that at every step of the way,” she said. “We have supported every budget bill. We have supported every confidence bill. Nowhere in that agreement does it say we have to support every bill.”After the 2017 election, the Greens and NDP signed the confidence and supply agreement, guaranteeing support for confidence motions and budgets. It also detailed that Horgan would wait to call an election until the fixed date, which would have fallen in 2021. Furstenau said her party has adhered to
every part of the agreement and that it did not stipulate “utter and total obedience to the NDP.” She added it was “irresponsible” for Horgan to frame the snap election as anything other than putting politics ahead of British Columbians. “This has been a historically positive three years for British Columbia,” she said. “We were absolutely committed to continuing with it. It is him who made the decision to tear down, and tear up this agreement.” Source: bc.ctvnews.ca
“Shaukat Khan” a fresh face and a new chapter for Surrey Whalley.
M
y name is Shaukat Khan and I have been living in Surrey since 2003. I emigrated from Pakistan with my family in 2000. My wife Mariya and I have been blessed with three beautiful children-one daughter and two sons. I completed my first Master’s degree from Pakistan in 1998 and then completed my MBA from Alberta in 2015. Since I’ve been in Canada, I have been associated with the banking and finance industry. I started my career from an entry-level position and moved through the ranks to senior leadership and executive positions in retail banking. I worked throughout the Fraser Valley for most of my career. During my career, I have been fortunate to work with incredible, dedicated,
smart, and hardworking people in multicultural teams and organizations. I have served as President of Pakistan Canada Association over the past three and a half years, a large community based non-profit organization. I am an annual participant of community initiatives such as the Canadian Cancer Society’s Run for the Cure. I am a proud member of the South Asian focus group for BC Children’s Hospital Cancer Foundation and have been involved in Tree Day Campaigns across Surrey. My passion for community and public service encouraged me to put my name forward for this election under the BC Liberal Party banner. This will enable me to continue my journey of giving back to the community and ensuring Surrey Whalley is a place to live and work for
people of all walks of life for generations to come. I believe in a society where everyone is equal and respected, can live freely, and has an equal chance at the opportunities this great province has to offer. I will champion diversity and that includes the underprivileged and people with disabilities. I want to serve as your MLA, a MLA who listens and connects with the community on a regular basis and works diligently to make Surrey Whalley a better and safer place for all. I am committed to making our neighborhoods safer and ensuring responsible development in the core. Please vote for “Shaukat Khan” on Oct 24th, a fresh face and a new chapter for Surrey Whalley.
12
Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
Ayyaz
Adeeb
(Realtor)
PREC
604 - (Realtor) 839 - 7863
604 518 - 3782
adeeb.shums@century21.ca ayyazrealtor@gmail.com
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13
Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
Adeeb
Ayyaz
(Realtor)
PREC
(Realtor)
604 - A2Z 604 518 - 3782 Team 839 - 7863
adeeb.shums@century21.ca ayyazrealtor@gmail.com
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Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
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Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
Educati o n / YO U T H
Sacrifices vs. safety: Why some families are keeping their kids home from school Social Sharing? Issues for households range from who might be put at risk at home, to how to get students to class on time. By: Perlita Stroh &
Ioanna Roumeliotis · CBC News · Tens of thousands of parents across the Toronto area have opted to keep their children home this school year, afraid of sending them back amid rising COVID-19 infection rates. For some families, though, the decision was never really a matter of choice. “We had to sacrifice something we could sacrifice, and we had to keep safe something we couldn’t sacrifice. We had to compare the risks,” said Chloe Yan from Richmond Hill, Ont., who has made the decision to keep her eight-year-old daughter Madison home from school this year. In making her decision, Yan had to weigh her daughter’s desire to return to school and be with friends, versus the safety of her parents and mother-in-law, all of whom are currently living with her. “The risk is she will bring home the virus and then pass it to the seniors living in our house. And because they have medical conditions, once they get in contact with my daughter who could have the virus, they could be really sick,” she said. “It could be life threatening, so we don’t want to take that high risk,” she said. Multigenerational homes opt for virtual school Yan’s family isn’t the only one in this predicament. The latest data from Statistics Canada shows that 2.2 million Canadians live in multigenerational homes. That living situation is one of the factors that has caused some parents to keep their kids home from school. The Toronto District School Board alone has reported that there are currently 77,600 students participating in virtual learning, out of approximately 247,000 students across 583 schools. The board says the number of students learning online has been going up since school began, as the number of COVID-19 cases surged. Joy Henderson is a community education activist and lives in Scarborough, Ont. Although she opted to send her son to school, she said many of the parents in her community have not because they, too, live with grandparents and can’t afford to take the risk to their health. “I know my son’s best friend, they’re a multigenerational home, and their kids are staying home,” Henderson said. “There are a lot
Online education comes with costs
of kids who live with their grandparents, and they can’t necessarily go to school and then go home.” Henderson said a lot of the teachers in her area also live with grandparents in the home, causing them to apply for virtual teaching exemptions as well. Toronto’s largest school board says 20 per cent of its teachers have applied for COVID-19 related exemptions.
It’s not OK, kids should not have to choose between grandparents and schools.- Joy Henderson
Henderson says much of the wariness among families is tied to class sizes. She is lobbying the government to make classes smaller, because she said parents shouldn’t be faced with these tough choices. “It’s not OK. Kids should not have to choose between grandparents and schools.” So, you know, smaller class sizes would be ideal, I still don’t understand why the government is refusing to do this,” she said. “They’ve seen the [COVID-19 case] numbers rise. They’ve seen it escalating. They’ve scaled back on how many people are allowed to go to events and so on, so apparently it’s not OK to go into crowded events but OK to go into crowded classrooms. So, it’s just basic math to me.”
Marginalized kids more vulnerable
Adding to the dilemma of living in multigenerational households, Henderson said the communities in the greater Toronto area (GTA) that are opting for online schooling in the largest numbers are the communities that are already marginalized, coming from lower income brackets and more reliant on social services. It’s a reality that angers her. “Anyone who’s seen the data plotted out on a map, it’s largely Scarborough, West End of Toronto, and so a lot of these communities
are highly racialized and so are a lot of the parents,” Henderson said. “Typically, marginalized kids are left marginalized, and so they’re left at the borders, and their needs aren’t necessarily met. They are, you know, missing out on so many social supports within schools, such as extracurriculars, breakfast clubs and, of course, their peers which they need more than others.” How does school work when students and teachers are in and out of quarantine? Virtual schools face rocky start — with delays, confusion and technical problems Henderson also points out that some kids from marginalized and less-affluent communities are also opting out of in-class learning because they live in high-rise apartment buildings. The wait times at elevators in those buildings have become impossible to navigate because of restrictions and social distancing guidelines. Shakhlo Sharipova lives in Thorncliffe Park, a densely populated neighbourhood in Toronto’s East York area. The neighbourhood houses upwards of 30,000 residents over a few square blocks in mid- to high-rise apartment buildings. Sharipova said the wait for elevators in her building is one of the main reasons she decided to keep her five-yearold daughter, Khadija, home from kindergarten this year. “They are every time busy, and it’s even scary,” Sharipova said. “Before it was OK, because there was no limit to the elevators entrance. Right now, they are limited to two or three people, and you can’t go in if there are three people, so lines are much bigger.” She said she often waits 20 to 30 minutes to get on an elevator each time she needs to use one. Making that trip several times per day has proven troublesome for Sharipova and many in her building.
But Sharipova said living in a working-class area like hers has added a burden for parents who have chosen to keep their kids home. “Online education is not an easy one,” she said. “You have to have, at least, a computer and reliable internet, WiFi. And when you have two or three kids taking online education, having one computer is not enough. “Parents even message me asking if I know of any resources to donate refurbished or used laptops for their kids.” High school hopes: B.C. teens share their dreams and fears as they return to class School custodians strive to keep COVID out. But here’s what they do when there’s an outbreak Weighing the risks and benefits has also meant different schooling arrangements for children within the same households. Sharipova is keeping Khadija home, but her son Ayub, 19, has severe developmental disabilities and is going to school. She runs a support network for parents of children with special needs, and made the difficult decision to send Ayub back to his day program because of how hard the lockdown in the spring was on him. “He’s immune-compromised and, of course, I am concerned about him,” she said. “He has a lot of medical conditions that make him very vulnerable to those infections and the virus, but I sent him to school because he needs those social interactions and the types of therapies he gets at school. “During this time he was at home, I found that he was regressing, actually, some of the skills he had before he’s lost.” Sharipova finds comfort in the fact that Ayub’s classes are limited to four or five students, because of the special needs his peers have — something that’s very different in Khadija’s mainstream kindergarten classroom of 20-plus students. And parents will face another round of decisions soon. All of the parents in the GTA who have opted for virtual school, regardless of their reasons, are able to reassess their choice later in the year. Already, though, more and more families who originally chose in-class learning have switched to online after the September uptick of COVID-19 cases in Toronto. Since the start of school, an additional 5,000 students have switched to online learning, bringing the number up from 72,000. Source: cbc.ca/news
really dangerous. We call this a “false alarm.” Although anxiety protects us in the face of real danger, it can become a problem when it… Goes off when there is no real or immediate danger (e.g., like a smoke alarm that goes off when you’re just making toast) Happens a lot Feels pretty intense Is upsetting and causes you distress Stops you from doing fun and important things (e.g., like going to school dances or parties, making friends or dating, getting
your homework done, or getting a job or your driver’s license) If you think anxiety might be a problem for you, take the quiz below. It’s also important to reach out to others for help. Talk to a trusted adult (e.g., parents, family members) or your family doctor. Or, get some support from a mental health professional (like your school counsellor, or a psychologist or psychiatrist). Check out the tools on the MindShift CBT app for more tools and information. Source: anxietycanada.com
Anxiety in Youth
Anxiety is our body’s normal reaction to perceived danger or important events. Anxiety is like an internal alarm system. It alerts us to danger and helps our body prepare to deal with it. For example, it allows you to jump out of the way of a speeding car. It also lets us know when something important is happening and helps us perform at our best. For example, anxiety can prompt you to bring home your textbook to study for a final exam or motivate you to practice for a class presentation. Anxiety is something that everyone experiences from time to time. Anxiety triggers something called the “fight-flight-freeze” response (F3). This automatic response affects our thoughts, body, and behaviors. When faced with a potential threat, your thoughts focus on the danger, your body revs up to help protect you, and you take action (fight, flight, or freeze). For example, imagine that you’re out walking your dog and a skunk pops out of the bushes. You have thoughts about the skunk such as “What if it sprays us?” which helps
you identify the potential danger. Your body also reacts (heart beats faster, muscle tense up) to help you get prepared to protect yourself. And, you take action, such as remaining very still and hoping the skunk doesn’t notice you (freeze) or running away (flight). As you can see, anxiety protects you. In fact, without it, we’d be extinct! The F3 system is critical to our survival from true threat or danger, but what happens when there is no real danger? Interestingly, anxiety can also trigger this system into action when we believe there is a threat or danger even if there isn’t. For example, you may yell at your mum for bugging you about taking your driving test when you don’t feel ready (fight). Or you may call your dad to pick you up early from a new activity because you don’t feel comfortable around unfamiliar people (flight). Or, you may feel as though your mind goes blank when the teacher asks you a question (freeze). These are examples of anxiety triggering the F3 alarm even though these situations are not
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Safar 07,2020 September 25, 2020
h e a l t h / W o m e n / sp o rts
Are immigrants healthier than native-born Canadians? A systematic review of the healthy immigrant effect in Canada By: Zoua M.Vang ABSTRACT
Objectives: Immigrants are typically healthier than the native-born population in the receiving country and also tend to be healthier than non-migrants in the countries of origin. This foreign-born health advantage has been referred to as the healthy immigrant effect (HIE). We examined evidence for the HIE in Canada. Design: We employed a systematic search of the literature on immigration and health and identified 78 eligible studies. We used a narrative method to synthesize the HIE across different stages of the life-course and different health outcomes within each stage. We also examined the empirical evidence for positive selection and duration effects – two common explanations of migrants’ health advantage and deterioration, respectively. Results: We find that the HIE appears to be strongest during adulthood but less so during childhood/adolescence and late life. A foreign-born health advantage is also more robust for mortality but less so for morbidity. The HIE is also stronger for more recent immigrants but further research is needed to determine the critical threshold for when migrants’ advantage disappears. Positive selection as an explanation for the HIE remains underdeveloped.
Conclusions: There is an absence of a uniform foreign-born health advantage across different life-course stages and health outcomes in Canada. Nonetheless, it remains the case that the HIE characterizes the majority of contemporary migrants since Canada’s foreign-born population Gratitude consists mostly of core working age adults. Simply put, gratitude is feeling appreciative of Key messages the things you have and being thankful of all Immigrants’ health advantage varies across the people and situations that provide benefits the life-course, and within each stage of the in your life. Many of us practise gratitude allife-course, by different health outcomes. ready in our daily lives when we say “thank The healthy immigrant effect appears to be you” to someone who has given us a gift or strongest during adulthood but less so dur- “I appreciate all the help you have given me” when someone helps us in a difficult situation. ing childhood/adolescence and late life. A foreign-born health advantage is robust Science says it’s a little deeper than simply saying “thank you”, it’s a deeper appreciation for for mortality but less so for morbidity. Immigrant women have worse maternal someone or something that brings longer lasthealth than Canadian-born women. Mental ing feeling of positivity. health among immigrant mothers is espe- Some other words for gratitude are recognition, thankfulness, praise, grace, appreciacially poor. Source: tandfonline.com tiveness, and more. If you practise actions or thoughts towards persons or things with these avenues in mind, you are already practicing gratefulness. You are training your mind to look at the positives in each person or situa-
Wonder kid Imaad bounces back to clinch scrabble event
KARACHI: Syed Imaad Ali, the brilliant 14-year-old wonder kid clinched the Gladiators 32nd Pakistan Scrabble Champ ionship (masters category) after staging the most astonishing comebacks ever witnessed in the national championship history Waseem Khatri enjoyed a great run on day two and was looking very safe at the top with a healthy lead. After 20 rounds Imaad seemed out of contention as he was four wins behind Waseem. Known for his ice cool temperament, the reigning junior world champion Imaad didn’t give up and calmly started climbing up the ladder. He saved his best for the king-of-the-hill stage when he beat his mentor and 8-time national champion Waseem four games in a row to snatch a fairytale victory. Poor Waseem, who was looking pretty set for his 9th national title, had to be content with the runner up trophy for the third time in a row. Imaad and Waseem both won 19 of their 27 games but Imaad won on a better spread 1469 compared with 1210 of Waseem. Hammad Hadi Khan finished third
By: Asma Shums, There have been many debates and research projects dedicated to find out the true source of happiness? Is it money, having plenty of loved ones, friends, a wonderful job, health, or all of them? All of us know people in our lives with a pessimist approach to our life and could do with some happiness and others who seem unphased by the lows of life. Many people can identify the happiness that each part of their life provides for them. For many of us it’s a combination of feeling accomplished after a busy day of work, spending quality time with friends and family, winning a prize, or hitting a goal such as losing weight or levels in our hobby. These are often fleeting moments and almost no one can sustain a constant feeling of happiness. What is the secret of those people who are always happy?
Secret to Happiness
tion compared to looking at what is wrong or not meeting your expectations. It teaches you to be confident in your ability to manage a disappointing event in life or truly be happy in a situation without comparison for longer than a few minutes. It helps center our being and eventually this practice helps us to truly be in the moment. Other physiological benefits include reduced anxiety and depression, increased energy, better quality of sleep, and ultimately increased happiness.
Practicing Gratitude
Although practicing gratitude sounds like a magic pill, it takes consistent effort and practice to make it second nature to our emotions and state of being. There are many ways of practising gratitude but there are some good starting points that all of us can use, regardless of age, gender, orientation, and ethnicity. 1.Waking up with gratitude - this can be practised with thinking about five or ten things you are grateful for when you wake up in the morning. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. 2. Saying a prayer (or a general thanks to the universe)- focus on giving thanks to God or simply the universe for all the things that you have in your life that are right. 3. Keep a gratitude journal- this helps us think more deeply about the things that we can be grateful for in our daily lives. It’s also a good source to use as a prompt on the days we feel like there is nothing to be grateful for. 4. Practise medication with gratitude – concentrate and reflect on what you are grateful for in a peaceful setting. 5.Take a walk – observe and acknowledge the beauty in your surroundings as you walk. 6.Write thank you notes – it helps people know the things you are thankful and appreciate of and as a bonus makes you feel good too. info at: asmashums@gmail.com
How do generals show Be thankful when you’re their gratitude to their left out of the loop. It usutroops? They give tanks. ally means less work.
New domestic system, deal with PTV to be game changers: Wasim Khan
with 18 wins and a spread of 1333 just edging out his younger brother and defending champion Hasham Hadi Khan who also won 18 games but had a lower spread 967. Basil Khan, Ahad Riaz, Taha Mirza, Monis Khan, Sohaib Sanaullah and Hassan Hadi Khan made up the rest of the top ten. All senior players in the championship including former national champions found it very tough to compete with the rising wave of the youth. Even the 9 years old Bilal Asher finished ahead of all senior players including former national champions. Haroon Qasim was the chief guest on the occasion and distributed trophies. Source:dawn.com
ISLAMABAD: The new domestic cricket model and Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent deal with PTV are game changers for country’s cricket and will help produce world’s best cricketers in the years to come. This was stated by Chief Executive PCB Wasim Khan. during his conversation with Dawn here in Islamabad. Wasim spoke about domestic and international cricket, particularly about expected tours of the world’s four best teams in next two years. He said that Pakistan is all set to host Zimbabwe in November this year and during the next two years, New Zealand ( in September 2021), South Africa and some other top teams of the world are expected to tour Pakistan. Talking about the recent broadcasting deal between PCB and PTV, he said PCB expects to earn US$200 million over the next three years which will be spent on promotion of cricket. He added that Pakistan is blessed with best raw talents which needed plat-
forms to excel. “Under new domestic system, young talent will participate in highlevel of competitions with reduced numbers of teams and high standards of game to hone their skills properly.” Wasim further said that from the upcoming domestic session, Pakistani cricket fans will see domestic players in action on their tv screen and television coverage of domestic events will also be a big boost for young players. Source: dawn.com
Zimbabwe to tour Pakistan next month for ODI, T20 series Zimbabwe Cricket have received government permission for a six-match limited overs tour of Pakistan in October-November, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The teams will play three One-Day Internationals between October 30 and November 3, and another three Twenty20 International fixtures that have been pencilled in for Nov 7-10. The ODI series will be part of the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. It is also a further boost for Pakistan cricket, who recently welcomed back visitors after Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
toured the country last December and January. According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the 50-over matches will be played in Multan, while Rawalpindi will host the three T20Is. The matches will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced the Super League to “provide context to ODI cricket” and will serve as a qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with the top seven sides automatically booking their berth in the India event. Featuring 13
teams, the 12 Test playing countries and the Netherlands, the Super League will see each side play four home and four away three-match series, the PCB said. PCB’s Director (International Cricket) Zakir Khan said the confirmation of the series schedule against Zimbabwe “after having successfully hosted Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as Marylebone Cricket Club and HBL Pakistan Super League V, in the 2019-20 season not only strengthens Pakistan’s reputation as a safe and secure country but also a healthy one after having successfully overcome the Covid-19 pandemic”. Source:dawn.com
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