Miracle 607-October 6, 2023

India reportedly to expel 41 Canadian diplomats; Justin Trudeau says relations are ‘extremely difficult’

OTTAWA—The Canadian government admitted relations with India are at “an extremely difficult” juncture and underlined the need for “a strong diplomatic footprint in India” after the Indian government reportedly ordered the expulsions of 41 Canadian diplomats in the next week.

The ousters would be a sharp escalation of India’s rebuke following Ottawa’s

U.S. House chaos puts future Ukraine aid in doubt, Biden expresses ‘worry’

The ouster of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday has put the question of future U.S. military aid to Ukraine in further doubt, with President Joe Biden expressing “worry” on Wednesday. Biden’s request for another US$24 billion to ensure Ukraine’s defence effort is funded through the rest of the year was already in jeopardy after the funds were removed from a short-term spending deal that

COVID-19 outbreak declared at Victoria hospital Turkey says bombers came from Syria, threatens more cross-border strikes

A spokesperson for Island Health says eight cases remain active on unit 6C of the hospital Wednesday, one day after the respiratory-illness outbreak was declared.

Health authorities have declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Victoria General Hospital after 11 patients were found to have contracted the illness on an acute-care ward.

“At this time, all patients are experiencing mild illness,” the health authority said, noting the outbreak is limited to the unit and no other areas of the hospital are affected. The outbreak is the only active COVID-19 outbreak in a Vancouver Island health-care facility,

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Canadian oil output to hit new heights within 2 years: report

Turkey warns it could step up air strikes on Kurdish targets in Syria and Iraq in response to PKK’s weekend attack in Ankara. Turkey says all Kurdish facilities in

Syria and Iraq are valid military targets after it finds the two attackers who detonated a bomb in front of government buildings in Ankara at

@ page 5

The coming startup of the Trans Mountain pipeline will help boost Canadian oil production to an all-time high within the next two years, according to a new report. The report by Deloitte Canada said the extra capacity created by the currently ongoing pipeline expansion is expected to boost Canadian production by about 375,000 barrels a day over the next two years.That represents an eight per cent increase from the prvi-

5

The blast happened near a mosque in the south-western Balochistan province on Friday as people gathered to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Officials in Balochistan have declared a state of emergency. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, at least five people died in a separate blast at a mosque near Peshawar City in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Footage from the scene in the Baloch city of Mastung showed injured people being rescued by emergency responders and locals.

“Bodies were lying on top of one another,” said Saifullah, a local journalis-

Pakistan: More than 50 killed and dozens injured in Mastung blast

Cont.

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By: Linda Thayer , April 11, 2023

How is it that Allah is referred to as “He”? Is that to say that He is “masculine”? Meaning, is Allah ‘masculine’ and not ‘feminine’? Alternatively, is Allah more ‘masculine’ than ‘feminine’? Is Allah a male being, rather than a female being? Is Allah actually both feminine and masculine? Or, perhaps ‘He’ is neither?

Let not this issue be a hang-up for Muslims or for otherwise would-be Muslims—in this modern feminist-friendly world, where male dominance or supremacy in religious communities generally, and elsewhere, is seen as a mark of female repression and oppression.

Backlash: a Feminist Identification for Deity?

Should it bother us that we speak of Allah as He”; would there be anything wrong with speaking of Allah as “She”? Some Feminists have done just that. Maybe you have come across the Feminist-inspired slogan that reappears from time to time: “Pray to God—She will answer you”— suggesting a maternal protection and caring emotional bond. But do we really want to imply that God is female or feminine rather than male/masculine?

Why not look for—or create—a suitable pronoun reserved only for the unique Allah, something more dignified or “royal” than the “neuter” pronoun “it”—meaning belonging to a category neither masculine nor feminine. This might have the merit of avoiding implications of being male rather than female. Or vice versa! But frankly, our replacement term would still have to be a pronoun reserved for the single Deity alone. Otherwise, it would have the same unwanted associated gender implications—which is the perceived current situation with “He” and “She.”

Of course, we do have the English language convention of capitalizing “He” in reference to God—just as we capitalize “God” to mean the singular, unique, One Deity, as opposed to a false or man-made “god.” But this capitalization of “He” and “God” falls short of addressing an implied gender orientation in which the Creator, Allah/ Eloah/ God, is associated with a perception of an ordained patriarchal domination in human affairs and a divinely-approved domineering male half of society, oppressing the female other half. While the Arabic language does not have capitalization so as to distinguish the divine “He” from the human male “he,” it does distinguish allâh (the unique, sole Deity) from ilâh (a god or goddess) as conceptualized in pre-Islamic Arabia. Interestingly, ilâh (“god,” “goddess”—an idol or a personified force of nature [1]) is a feminine noun in Arabic grammar, in contrast to the noun allâh which is replaced with a masculine pronoun, huwa, “he”—making the two terms maximally distinct in grammar.

Abu Hurayrah (RA), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: Pride is my cloak and greatness My robe, and he who competes with Me in respect of either of them I shall cast into Hell-fire.

( Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Ahmad, Muslim)

Why Is allah “He” Rather than “She”? | Part 1

The Awe-Inspiring Female Force in Nature

Historically, the human reproductive capabilities of the female element in traditional cultures gave us such concepts as “Mother Nature,” a female personification of the natural forces at work in Allah’s creation, perhaps in counterbalance to a historically common male dominance in hunting-gathering-governing activities. Pre-Islamic Arab human society is said to have been matriarchal, as reflected in the continuing practice of equine bloodlines running through the dam (mother horse) and not through the sire (horse father). Thus a foal (horse offspring) takes the ‘family’ bloodline name of the mother. While it may not always be possible for people to know who fathered a foal, Islam made it a requirement to know the father of a human child—whose name the child will carry and who will be responsible for the child’s support and wellbeing. As Muslims we do not talk about Allah except in accordance with the ways that He is Self-revealed to us. The Quran freely refers to Allah using the Arabic pronoun, huwa (which translates as “he”), never hiya (translating as “she”). In polytheistic systems of religion there are posited both ‘male’ gods and ‘female’ goddesses. In pre-Islamic society, hiya would have been appropriate to refer to any of the alleged goddesses like Al-Lât, AlʿUzza and Manât, whom people thought of as ‘daughters’ of Allah, with Allah being recognized as their supreme Creator: Have you then, ever considered [what you are worshipping in] Al-Lât and AlʿUzza, as well as [in] Manât, the third and last [of this triad]? Why – for yourselves [you would choose only] male offspring, whereas to Him [you assign] female [offspring]: that, lo and behold, is an unfair division!

These [allegedly divine beings] are nothing but empty names which you have invented—you and your forefathers—[and] for which God [Allah] has bestowed no warrant from on high. They [who worship them] follow nothing but surmise and their own wishful thinking—and right guidance has now indeed come unto them from their Sustainer.

[Sûrat Al-Najm, 53:19-23]

The Meccan goddesses were ‘empty names,’ says Allah in the Quran, while the people’s equally wrong-headed preference for male children is used to point out the faulty reasoning of worshipping the female procreative element instead of the Creator of all. Al-Lât is said to have been the ‘mother goddess’ figure among the pre-Islamic Arabs.

The Mother Goddess has been a popular figure is many cultures as she is seen to represent the function of reproduction and nurturing, thus controlling soil fertility as well as animal and human pregnancy, delivery and other “female concerns.” Is the “mother goddess” figure to be seen as a precursor of the modern sentiment: “Pray to God—She will answer you”? Or is this slogan simply in reaction to the implication that God (‘He’) might be male, as opposed to female?

The common Western misconception of Islam as a male-dominated religion and of Islamic law as an authoritarian straight jacket, stifling the female contribution to

Muslim society and to the family cannot be laid at the feet of the use of “He” (huwa) in the Arabic Quran for Allah—nor for the use in English of “He” for God in the Jewish and Christian Bibles.

record his sustenance, his life span, his deeds and [whether he will be] unhappy [by entering Hell] or happy [by entering Paradise]…. (Bukhâri and Muslim)

Adam and Eve – the First Couple

The Creation of

Mankind and the Individual as a Responsible Soul

The Quran stands stanchly against credence in all elemental deities, male or female (or even neuter)—just as it stands for the value of all children, female as well as male. Furthermore, the Quran presents to us a Creator Who brings into being everything by His command—not through an elemental female power in the natural world. Accordingly, the Creator is not to be identified with, or remotely associated with, a Mother Goddess who reigns over procreative functions. The fact that an individual soul is enabled to enter this world through a process of biological interaction between a particular male and a particular female has social, psychological and political implications. O mankind! Reverence your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate, and from the two has spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Reverence God, through Whom you demand your rights of one another, and family relations. Truly God is a Watcher over you. [Sûrat Al-Nisâ’, 4:1]

Contrary to the reasoning of atheists, the biological relationship amongst the members of a family does not do away with the existential “need” for a Creator who has engineered the biological process and who implants a soul into each viable fetus at a particular stage of biological development. And your creation or your resurrection is in no wise but as an individual soul…

[Sûrat Luqmân, 31:28]

Does man [Adam/humanity] suppose that he would be left aimless? Was he not a drop of semen emitted? Then he was a blood clot; whereupon He created, then fashioned, and made from it the two genders, male and female. [Sûrat Al-Mu’minûn, 75:36-39]

On the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Masood who said: The Messenger of Allâh and he is the truthful, the believed, narrated to us: Verily, each of you is brought together in his mother’s abdomen for forty days in the form of a drop of fluid. Then it is a clinging object for a similar [period]. Thereafter, it is a lump looking like it has been chewed for a similar [period]. The angel is then sent to him and he breathes into him the spirit. He is also commanded to issue four decrees: to

One of the most widely known Biblical stories is that of Adam, the first human being, brought into being by an act of God; subsequently, by a further act of God, a second human was formed from the same biological material of the first. In the Biblical account, Adam, meaning “man” was formed from earth: [2] that is, from watered rock-soil, jump-started with air-breathing life (Genesis 22:6-7); as for the second human, referred to as a “woman,” [3] Eve (Arabic, Ḥawwâ’), she was formed from bone and flesh sourced from the biological material of the first (Genesis 2: 21-23). Many Quranic âyât reference the stages of the process through which the human fetus progresses before it can exit its mother’s womb. In the Biblical account, we take the pair to be what we recognize as a human male as distinct from a human female in that they are referred to as a “man” and his “wife” (Genesis 2: 24) and in that they had sexual relations resulting in pregnancy and children (Genesis 4:1-2, 17, 25; 5:1).

Accordingly, male and female human beings seem to have existed from the initial creation of humanity in the Biblical narrative. Some interesting details arise when we look at careful wording of the Quranic text concerning Allah’s creation of humanity as a single kind of being:

O mankind! … your Lord … created you from a single soul and from it created its mate, and from the two has spread abroad a multitude of men and women… [Sûrat Al-Nisâ’, 4:1]

“A single soul” has been understood as “Adam,” and “its mate” as Eve. Interestingly, “soul” (Arabic nafs) is grammatically feminine—even though it refers to the first male human being (Adam); just as intriguing, “mate” (Arabic zawj)—even though it refers to the first female human being—is grammatically masculine. Again, the grammatical gender in language is not set up always to reflect biological gender.

Clearly, in the Quran, the mate is of the same nature as the original single soul, and clearly there is a reciprocity between the first pair of humans. But whether we can say that the nafs and its zawj were, at that initial stage, fully

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver

To be Coninued at Page 16

naqshbandi Islamic Center of Vancouver celebrated annual Grand Mawlid un nabi(saw)

Bullay Shah academy and anjuman Khudam-e-Sufiya Celebrated Milad un nabi (saw) Pictures at Pg 4:

Masjid anwar e Madina Celebrates Eid Milad un nabi(saw) Pictures at Pg 4:

naqshbandi Islamic Center of Vancouver celebrated annual Grand Mawlid un nabi(saw)

Reported By: Zeeshan Ahmed

With hearts full of compassion and love, the Naqshbandi Islamic Center in Vancouver celebrated its 10th annual Grand Mawlid Al Nabi (saw) on Friday, 29th September, an event warmly sponsored by the selfless nonprofit international charities, Fatima Zahra Helping Hand and Muslim Charity. A decade-long tradition has seen the Naqshbandi Islamic Center come alive with profound love, devotion, and compassion, beautifully orchestrated under the graceful guidance of Hazrat Mawlana Shaykh Nurjan Mirahamdi.

It was a heartwarming sight to see students of Mawlana Shaykh Nurjan from the far reaches of our world - from places like Australia, Kenya, Pakistan, Switzerland, the

USA, and various corners of Canada - all congregating in unity and love. The event began with a soul-stirring flag march parade, a testament to the collective love for Mawlid Al Nabi (saw). This was followed by the melodious recitation of the Holy Quran, heartfelt Naat Sharif, a touching Zikar, and a spiritually enriching sermon by Mawlana Shaykh Sayed Nurjan Mirahamdi. He shed light on the profound significance of Mawlid and the protective aura that our immense love for the Holy Prophet Sayedna Muhammad (saw) offers, especially in challenging times. In moments when faith wavers or life’s trials seem overwhelming, he beautifully emphasizes that the remedy lies in the love for Sayedna Muhammad and the frequent recitation of Durwood and salawats

upon him.

The evening also saw many community pillars being honored with acknowledgement awards for their unwavering support to Mawlid Al Nabi (SAW). As the night deepened, attendees were treated to a delectable dinner and the blessed Ziarat of the Holy Relics of Sayedna Muhammad (SW).

For over a decade, Fatima Zahra Helping Hand has been a beacon of hope in our community, partnering with the Muslim food bank to consistently aid those in need. Their outreach isn’t just local; in recent years, they’ve extended a helping hand globally, undertaking numerous charity projects under the banner of Muslim Charity. Over 2000 water wells in Pakistan, massive food rescues, and generous Qurban meat distri-

butions in Pakistan, India, Kenya, USA, and Canada stand testament to their vast endeavors. Moreover, countless orphans find solace in the support extended by Muslim Charity and Fatima Zahra Helping Hand. For those inspired by these acts of kindness, we invite you to learn more and lend your support by visiting www.muslimcharity. com. As we embark on the blessed month of Mawlid Al Nabi (SAW), our hearts overflow with gratitude and hope. We eagerly anticipate reuniting with all of you for next year’s Grand Annual Celebrations, celebrating not just the event, but the unity, love, and compassion that binds us all.

Pictures at Pg 4:

Bullay Shah academy and anjuman Khudam-e-Sufiya Celebrated Milad un nabi (saw)

Eid Milad ul Nabi is universally celebrated in the Muslim world with religious fervour and festivity. Bullay Shah Academy and Anjuman Khudame-Sufiya too observed the occasion with due respect and traditional fanfare on September 28, 2023.

The program started shortly after Asr Prayers with the recitation of Holy Quran after which Pir Afzal Ahmed Naqshbandi led the recitation of Khatam-e-Pak and humbly offered the thawab in the court of Holy Prophet PBUH, His Children, Companions and the

rest of Ummah. The occasion was marked with recitation of nasheeds in the court of Holy Prophet PBUH.

In his masterful and transcendent keynote speech, Qibla Pir Afzal Ahmed Naqshbandi remarked that Holy Prophet SAW was sent to the mankind as a blessing in fulfillment of the prayer made by Prophet Abraham when he re-raised the walls of Kaaba. He enunciated that we are lucky to have been born in the Ummah of the Prophet PBUH whose care for us is symbolized by the fact that he sought forgiveness for us from Allah when his noor

was created, when he physically manifested in this world and even when he was veiled from this physical world by the will of Allah. He reminded the participants that Allah and His Angels send salutations upon Holy Prophet PBUH and orders all Muslims in Quran to do so likewise. Allah, for the sake of His Prophet PBUH, accepts the prayers of the person who sends salutations on him and makes his passing from this world easier on him, not to mention the inestimable benefits received on the Day of Judgement. The event was noteworthy for the attend-

ance of several non Muslims who attended to express their respect for Holy Prophet SAW. Bullay Shah Academy and Anjuman Khudam-e-Sufiya hold a monthly multifaith event on the last Saturday of every month. The next event will be held on November 24, 2022. The organizing committee invites everyone to attend and bring children along so they can learn more about their faith. Separate arrangements are made for sisters.

Reported by: Tuaha YounasPictures at Pg 4:

Masjid anwar e Madina Celebrates Eid Milad un nabi(saw) Pictures at Pg 4:

On September 23, the annual Milad un Nabi Jalsa was held at Masjid Anwar e Madina, Surrey and, the program was very successful in regard to knowledge, spirituality and blessings. Program started with Hafiz Mohammad Yousef’s recitation of the Holy Quran then a few Nasheed’s were recited including Qari Hafiz Amin, Saiyad Hamza Dean, Yaavar Yaqub, Saiyad Faraz, and Ali Ahmed in a group. Zeeshan Dean was the MC and he conducted the program very

efficiently. Imam and Khatib Maulana Saiyed Imroz Dean Saify have chosen the topic of “The belief about the Prophet Mohammad (saw). He presented his knowledge and wisdom filled speech from the direct quotations of the Holy Quran and Hadiths. He Said that we Ahel Sunnat wal Jhamaht belief about the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is clear from here that Mohammad (saw) are neither God nor partner of God, nor son of God, nor a piece of God, nor

a part of God. Saiyed Imroz quoted of Mirza Asad ullah Ghalib poem, who brooked his pen after these words that Muhammad(saw), Allah (swt) the one who knows his rank, we cannot praise the rank of the Holy Prophet. You can recognize the status of the Holy Prophet, therefore I leave the praise of the Holy Prophet to God, because the praise of Mustafa can only be given by God and no servant can do it. Imam said that I would like your attention now that we read the sermons

of the Holy Prophet, we who praise the Holy Prophet, we who read the naats now when we talk about the Holy Prophet, we recite peace and blessings upon the Holy Prophet, the purpose of this is not to think that we are glorifying the Holy Prophet, we should remember all the times the teachings of the Holy Prophet. Afterwards, salaam and salutations on the Prophet Mohammed(saw) and Duaa made by Br, Ali Asghar.

Turkey says bombers came from Syria, threatens more cross-border strikes

the weekend had come from Syria.

Turkey’s military conducted air strikes in northern Iraq and staged several raids across the country this week in response to the attack, detaining dozens of suspects with alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), listed as a “terrorist group” by Turkey and its Western allies. The Turkish government convened a national

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security meeting on Wednesday to prepare its response to Sunday’s attack. Turkish police shot dead one of the attackers while the other died in an apparent suicide blast outside the Ministry of the Interior. Two policemen were injured.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday said the attackers had entered Turkey

through Syria and received training there, adding that the Turkish response would be “very precise”.

“All infrastructure, superstructure and energy facilities that belong to the PKK and the YPG, especially in Iraq and Syria, are legitimate targets of our security forces, armed forces and intelligence units from now on,” he said. Turkey has carried out cross-border

incursions into northern Syria in recent years, targeting the YPG militia, which it sees as an affiliate of the PKK, which is now based in northern Iraq.

The YPG is also a key ally of the United States-led coalition fighting ISIL (ISIS). Support for the YPG by the US and other allies, including France, has strained ties with Ankara...Source: .ljazeera.com/

Pakistan: More than 50 killed and dozens injured in Mastung blast

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inhis 40s.“The crowd was waiting for a [celebratory] procession to begin. I was standing nearby when the bomb went off,” he said, adding that 10 to 12 of his relatives died. Haibullah, 22, was injured in the attack. Speaking to the BBC from his hospital bed in Quetta, the provincial capital of

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distinct male and female in the present biological sense, that would be a trail-blazing topic for modern-day genome researchers to take on—perhaps eventually tracing our genetic material back to mankind’s beginning!

Was that initial nafs neither male nor female in the current biological sense? Did a male vs. female biology come into being with the

Balochistan, he said: “Everything was ready on the stage. The bomb went off two minutes after I arrived.

“Everyone fell from its impact. I broke my foot.” Sarfaraz Ahmed Sasoli, in his 20s, was part of security for the procession. He said the suicide bomber approached the area while religious leaders were gather-

fashioning of the “mate”? Or perhaps the bifurcation into male and female began only with the children of Adam and Ḥawwâ’? I do not pretend to know the answer to such questions, but the Quranic text does not seem to have closed the door to such “outside-the-box” possibility. The point for us to realize here is that our present-day notion of masculinity vs. femininity does not reflect the nature of our Creator, Who is not

ing. “My elder and younger brothers were injured, along with my friends.

Everyone from our area has a brother, father or son injured,” he said. Local hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of casualties and local authorities appealed on social media for blood donations.

Balochistan’s police chief Abdul

Khaliq Sheikh confirmed the explosion was a suicide blast. He said a senior police officer was killed while trying to stop the attacker. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the blast was a “very heinous act” and condemned what he called “terrorist attacks” in both areas.

Source: .aljazeera.com/

| Part 1

a participant in the male-female reciprocity that He has built into the nature of our world—whether done instantly or in stages.

Maleness and femaleness are reciprocal elements of humankind, like the positive and negative electrical charges that make up the matter of the physical world in which we exist, including the make-up of our physical bodies. Allah created a biological reproductive mechanism for the proliferation of life

forms on earth, but He Himself is independent of that created system: Say, “He, God, is One, God, the Eternally Sufficient unto Himself. He begets not; nor was He begotten. And none is like unto Him.” [Sûrat AlIkhlâṣ, 112: 1-4]

But we have not yet exhausted our observations on gender in relation to Allah, His Revelation and the world He created and fashioned. Source:aljumuah.com/

Why Is allah “He” Rather than “She”?

OPINION

From hero to zero

A

S we obsess about the economy and the past mistakes which led to the economic crisis, the saga of Reko Diq comes up frequently. The story is brought up again and again, and among the lessons we are told to learn is the overreach of the judiciary. But then, the judiciary and its past mistakes are a pet theme, these days. It’s the new ‘black’ so to speak, in our politics. In order to learn from the past, it is important to remember more than just the events themselves. However, we find it convenient to do the exact opposite. This is just as true of the Reko Diq story and the role played by the judiciary. To do so, is perhaps to miss the wood for the trees.

retirement. So it was with Musharraf.

The infighting is so great that it infects everything around it.

Pakistan frequently ends up with dictators, but in comparison to many other countries where men on horseback gallop in as saviours and then never dismount, we tire of our uniformed saviours rather quickly. Elsewhere, there are examples of similar leaders having ruled for decades at a stretch. The problem is — and this is universally true — that the men on horseback, once they make a grand entrance, don’t have an exit plan, especially because they don’t believe in quiet

As a result, a ‘little help’ is offered, invisibly, and Musharraf was no exception. Pakistan was in turmoil for a good two years to convince him to make up his mind. If it began with the reversal of the Steel Mills privatisation, it gathered steam with the judiciary movement and then the siege of Lal Masjid. Each such event rocked the entire country and weakened the man in charge. Terrorist attacks picked up pace till Benazir Bhutto was assassinated; and eventually, Musharraf got the message and went home. But in this period, Musharraf was not just weakened but also delegitimised. And everything and everyone in his vicinity was tarnished, including the politicians. For instance, it was during those days that people such as Sher Afgan and Ahmed Reza Kasuri were attacked in public. And when Asif Ali Zardari called the PML-Q, the ‘Qatil League’, few felt it was perhaps unnecessary. To demonise all that was Musharraf was the flavour of those heady days.

It was within this larger context, which continued even after elections were held, that news began to trickle out about the big, bad Reko Diq deal which was then overturned (as had been the Steel Mills privatisation). Even the Musharrafera Gwadar Port deal was put aside. That there was a price to be paid for all this became evident years later,

when Reko Diq ended up in international arbitration. Even the cost of not privatising the Steel Mills back in 2006, as planned, has now become evident to many who highlight the large sums the government continues to sink into this black hole year after year. Hindsight, as the cliché goes, is 20-20. The point of narrating all this is not simply to impress upon the reader how long I have been rattling on for, watching Pakistani politics from the sidelines, but to point out that when we bemoan our inability to ensure consistency of policy, it is linked to our failure to have a consensus on a political system and the rules for allowing leaders to exit. And while this is true of the men on horseback, it is also true for our political leaders.

In fact, there is another way to view the Reko Diq story — a perspective in which the Reko Diq agreement became part of the larger story of Pervez Musharraf’s rise and fall. It was a story in which Musharraf was first welcomed when he took over the country, but then, over the years, his popularity and acceptability waned, leading to a political crisis.The former may have no exit plan but even those who are elected are then shunted out through a process which is anything but an election. And once again, this process includes instability and demonisation.

The infighting as the country tumbles from regime to regime and from set-up to set-up, and the accompanying polarisation, is so great that it infects everything around it.

The LNG deal by the PML-N was a case in point during the transition in 2018 as was the PDM’s treatment of the Sehat Insaaf card.

Policies are not shaped or abandoned because of a serious analysis of their costs and benefits but because of the larger political crisis of building up one side and demonising the other. Since the people’s choices have to be shaped and

moulded, demonisation and glorification have become an essential part of the process; worse still, the men and women are moved from hero to zero to hero again rather quickly. And until this comes to an end, the notion that a charter of economy can fix the larger economic problem is an idea that is bound to fail.

This has now become particularly problematic because our systemic swings from demonising one group and helping another to then pulling a switcheroo are now becoming shorter. And along with this, demonisation is now requiring a bigger and bigger effort. This time around, the efforts to dismantle PTI have required a level of effort and repression far greater than what was employed when the PMLN had to be pushed back 2017 onwards. This also raises fears about what the reaction will be like once the current policies are reversed. This perhaps is the reason for my scepticism about the steps taken by the caretaker government. The issue is not about whether or not the policies are right but the manner in which they are being put in place and by whom. Their continuity might be sacrificed once again at the altar of political expediency, once the swing is set in the opposite direction.

For nothing suggests any change in our inability to agree on transitions — political and institutional. And this is the primary issue Pakistan has to address but continues to ignore.

Courtesy By: Arifa Noor

U.S. House chaos puts future Ukraine aid in doubt, Biden expresses ‘worry’

News Coninued from Page 1

prevented a government shutdown last week.Now, Congress has been paralyzed by McCarthy’s unprecedented removal. Legislation cannot be brought up for votes in the House of Representatives before a new Speaker is elected, and lawmakers must first focus on passing spending legislation before Nov. 16, or else the government will shut down again. “It does worry me,” Biden told report-

ers on Wednesday when asked if the chaos in the House concerned him when it comes to further Ukraine aid. He suggested there may be “an alternate means” to get funding for Ukraine without Congress, but declined to explain further. Biden said he would be delivering a “major speech” soon about the importance of continuing to fund Ukraine’s defence effort, which he noted still has strong bipartisan support among a

majority of House and Senate members. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would not say when that speech will be delivered, telling reporters later on Wednesday she would not get ahead of Biden’s comments. She also noted the bipartisan support for Ukraine, but admitted the objections of some Republicans were proving to be an obstacle.

“When you have a small fraction of a party that is causing that type

of chaos, you know, it doesn’t look great across the globe,” Jean-Pierre said. “That doesn’t look very promising.” Biden on Tuesday convened a call with allies and partners to discuss Ukraine. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on the call along with leaders from the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and NATO...

Source: globalnews.ca/

Canadian oil output to hit new heights within 2 years: report

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ous production high set in November 2022, and a nearly nine per cent increase from the 4.18 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil that Canada produced in June of this year — the most recent month for which statistics are available through the Canadian Centre for Energy Information.

“The increase in volume is notable: it’s greater than the total amount added to Canada’s production levels over the past five years combined,” the report said. The Trans Mountain pipeline is Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil from Alberta to the West Coast. Its expansion, which is currently underway, will boost the pipeline’s capacity to 890,000 bpd from

300,000 bpd. Much of these additional exports will go to markets outside the United States, allowing Canadian producers to reduce their dependence on U.S. refinery operations.This, in turn, is expected to narrow the price discount Canadian bitumen producers typically receive for their product compared with higher-quality U.S. sweet crude.According to the De-

loitte report, the vast majority of the expected increase in Canadian oil production in the coming years will come from the oilsands, where companies are working on thermal expansion projects that will link new assets with existing facilities to speed up development at a lower cost...Source: globalnews.ca/

India reportedly to expel 41 Canadian diplomats; Justin Trudeau says

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charge that it has “credible allegations” that agents linked to the Indian government were involved in the June assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader.

The Canadian government refused Tuesday to confirm it had been warned to withdraw two-thirds of Canada’s diplomatic corps from India by Oct. 10. But it did not deny a Financial Times report that the expulsions are imminent. nstead,

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Tuesday that Indo-Canadian relations are “going through an extremely challenging time” and he stressed the need for diplomatic talks to continue. The move by the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes just days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly and privately urged the Indian government to co-operate with the Canadian criminal probe into the June shooting death of Hardeep

Singh Nijjar. On Sept. 18, Trudeau went public with the damning accusation, revealing in the House of Commons that Canadian security agencies were investigating “credible allegations” that Indian government agents were involved in Nijjar’s killing.Trudeau has been careful when talking about India’s possible involvement, but he has also made clear through his government’s actions that he takes the potential link seriously. The day after Trudeau levelled his ac-

cusation, Ottawa expelled an Indian diplomat, Pavan Kumar Rai, whom Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly identified as the head of India’s intelligence agency RAW in Canada, calling the expulsion a “consequence” of the allegations. Since then, Trudeau has refused to publicly offer details. The Indian government insists he has not provided it with specific information to support the allegations... Source: thestar.com/

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B.C. birthrates dropping amid high cost of living and childcare challenges

By: Amy Judd & Cassidy Mosconi Global News

The birthrate in B.C. is dropping with data from Stats Canada indicating there were more than 2,000 fewer births in the province between 2021 and 2022.

There were 41,833 babies born in B.C. last year, which is one of the lowest rates in more than 15 years.

Sarah Erskine, an analyst with Stats Canada, told Global News all provinces across Canada, with the exception of Nova Scotia, saw a decline in birth rates from 2021 to 2022.

“It’s about a five-per cent decline across Canada and similar figures for British Columbia,” she said.

“It’s probably the biggest decline that we’ve seen in a single year in quite some time. It’s kind of reverting to the trends since before

the pandemic. We saw a decrease in 2020 because, well, perhaps because of the pandemic and we saw another increase in 2021 and 2022.”

Sarah Dow-Fleisner, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at UBC Okanagan, said there are a few reasons why this decline is happening.

One of them is the rising cost of living and the lack of housing in B.C.

“We have so many young people in that 20 to 25 range who are unable to afford housing on their own and are actually returning back to their parent’s homes,” Dow-Fleisner said.

“That’s going to change their reproductive decisions, their family decisions.”

Another reason is access to child care and affordable child care. “The new bill that limits the costs to $10 a day is fantastic, but the

availability of child care remains a consistent issue,” Dow-Fleisner added. “They recommend that within the first few weeks of pregnancy to put your child on a waitlist in order to have child care when they’re one year old. That’s a huge problem and that’s going to shape how people make decisions around having children.”

She said another reason centres around the desire for women to be in the labour force and being unwilling to take time off to have children. “For every child that you have, that’s time that you take off from work and that’s impacting the way that people decide how many kids they’re going to have.”

Dow-Fleisner also said that women are reevaluating their role in society.

“I think more often than not, we’re seeing that sort of the rhetoric around the purpose

WWhy China’s economy won’t be fixed

hatever has gone wrong? After China rejoined the world economy in 1978, it became the most spectacular growth story in history. Farm reform, industrialisation and rising incomes lifted nearly 800m people out of extreme poverty. Having produced just a tenth as much as America in 1980, China’s economy is now about three-quarters the size. Yet in-

stead of roaring back after the government abandoned its “zero-covid” policy at the end of 2022, it is lurching from one ditch to the next. The economy grew at an annualised rate of just 3.2% in the second quarter, a disappointment that looks even worse given that, by one prominent estimate, America’s may be growing at almost 6%. House prices have fallen and property developers, who

of a woman or the purpose of a person with a uterus is just to have children is waning and it’s getting pushed back on,” she said. “So more people are really embracing the idea of their bodily autonomy and being outspoken.”Source: globalnews.ca/news

tend to sell houses before they are built, have hit the wall, scaring off buyers. Consumer spending, business investment and exports have all fallen short. And whereas much of the world battles inflation that is too high, China is suffering from the opposite problem: consumer prices fell in the year to July. Some analysts warn that China may enter a deflationary trap like Japan’s in the 1990s .

Source: https://www.economist.com/

9 Of The Biggest Differences Between Canadian & american Thanksgiving

For one, Canadians don’t sweat the Thanksgiving drama like their neighbours.

By: John MacFarlane

The fall harvest was a far bigger deal back when refrigerators were a block of ice and some sawdust and international shipping involved wooden ships with canvas sails — but many people in Canada and the USA take Thanksgiving pretty seriously even in this era of hydroponic lettuce and year-round tropical fruit.

Of course, if you’re a cynic, many or all of our modern holidays seem like they’ve had the historical and cultural significance scooped out and replaced with consumerism. And if you’re less jaded, you observe that many harvest activities — such as apple orchard visits, fall foliage tours and pumpkin picking — endure, plus the end of summer is a real thing and kind of a big deal. And can’t cynics just shut up and enjoy a chance

to hang out with friends and family?

In Canada, that chance happens on the second Monday of October, which is a full month and a half from the holiday celebrated in the U.S. But the timing is by no means the only, nor the most significant, difference between the two holidays. Here are the key differences, with everything from dumping summer loves to the inclusion of marshmallows in savoury dishes.

Why is American Thanksgiving in November and Canadian Thanksgiving in October?

The short (and kind of obvious) answer is that it gets cold here sooner. The Canadian harvest ends a lot sooner because Canada is further north. But as the Canadian Encyclopedia notes, Thanksgiving in Canada happened all over autumn for years, sometimes even overlapping with the U.S. event, until

it was finally fixed to the second Monday of October by Parliament on January 31, 1957. In the U.S., the event has generally been in late November.

Canadian Thanksgiving isn’t equated with family dysfunction

In spite of American Thanksgiving’s obligatory status, it can seem like nobody actually wants to be there. The internet is stacked with articles from U.S. publications offering tips on how to navigate family feuds, handle stress, stop grandparents from criticizing grandkids, avoid tricky dinner table topics and generally “survive” the holiday. Canadian Thanksgiving tends to swing towards a more laid-back celebration. While the emphasis is still on family and gratitude, there’s less societal pressure, and thus, fewer proverbial eggshells to tread on. The dinner

table north of the border often sees lively conversations and storytelling rather than tense debates and unsolicited advice. While every family has its quirks, Canadians often view their Thanksgiving as a simple, unpretentious time to enjoy good food and company without the high-stakes drama that sometimes permeates the American experience. ”Source: https://www.mtlblog.com/

Play On! Canada’s national Street Hockey festival Returns to Surrey in 2024.

tournaments, offering community members an action-packed weekend filled with fun, competition and community spirit.

“Surrey is proud to support and welcome back this inclusive street hockey event for participants of all ages and skill levels,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “Our city thrives on the positive impact such events bring, showcasing our welcoming and vibrant communities.”

rey as a premier sports tourism destination across the country. “We are thrilled to collaborate with the City of Surrey, to deliver an exceptional event that will be bigger than ever,” said Scott Hill, Chairman of Play On! Canada. “Using the beloved sport of hockey, we are bringing athletes, sports fans and communities together.”

Surrey, BC – Play On! Canada is returning to Surrey for their national tour of street hockey festivals in 2024. Play On! Canada is host to the country’s largest street hockey

Play On! Canada expects their upcoming event to include 200 teams with 4,000 players and attract up to 10,000 spectators to the City of Surrey. Furthermore, Play On! Canada’s extensive national level coverage through TV, social media, and radio, will play a significant role in promoting Sur-

“We are excited to be able to help bring this incredible event back to Surrey,” said Councillor Gordon Hepner, Chair of the Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism Committee.

“Play On! Canada has demonstrated their commitment to the City of Surrey, aligning with our vision and Sports Tourism Strategy.” Since its inception in 2003, Play On! Canada has seen over 2.5 million Canadians

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim released the following statement marking the national Day

“We are all on a path to reconciliation together. “We must recognize the failures of the past – the terrible and tragic legacy of Canada’s residential schools, the heartbreak of the Sixties Scoop, the erasure of cultures and languages have all contributed and compounded the challenges faced by too many today. “We must be able to confront the reality of history and to recognize these wrongs. They were wrong when they happened and they remain wrong today.

“We also must recognize empty rhetoric and words don’t change things for Indigenous

People. Words must be met with leadership. Rhetoric must set the stage for action - because it is in action that there is hope.

“There is hope for a brighter future, more opportunity and a city and country which can walk shoulder to shoulder with Indigenous Peoples, on the path of reconciliation together.

“The City of Vancouver is proud of our partnerships with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations on whose traditional land our communities sit. We are proud of the steps we have taken to empow-

in 37 communities participate. In 2022 Play On! Canada successfully hosted their street hockey festival in downtown Cloverdale, with an impressive 98 teams registered. Surrey’s welcoming, world-class, accessible, and award-winning facilities, makes it the premier place for hosting sporting events. The Sport Tourism Strategy has been developed to advance the City of Surrey as a leader in the sport tourism industry, maximizing both economic benefits and sport development opportunities.

For information about sport tourism in Surrey, visit surrey.ca/sportsurrey.

Media Enquiries: Jennifer Sundram Communications Specialist City of Surrey

for Truth and Reconciliation:

er and support all those Indigenous Peoples who call this city home.

“More work must be done, and we are committed to do it every day - not just on this day when we recognize the critical importance of Truth and Reconciliation.

“But let us realise the call to action this day represents. Let us answer that call, and together, we can build a brighter future.”

Media Enquiries: Harrison Fleming, Director of Communications Office of the Mayor

Grand Milad un nabi (saw) Celebrated by 3 United Sponsors at fiji Centre, Surrey

On September 30, the Muslims of Lower Mainland gathered at Fiji Islamic Centre in Surrey. A great combined Milad Un Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) program was organized by second time united by three (3) organizations included 1, Fiji Islamic Society of Canada (FISC) , 2, Fleetwood Islamic Centre, and 3, Bullay Shah Academy. All 3 organizations banners were displayed in front. Mr. Mo-

hammad Imraz from FISC was the MC of this event. After the recitation of Holy Quran By Saad Salis the local Naat Khawans recited Naats and Nasheeds from time to time in their beautiful voices. The Fleetwood Islamic Centre members presented a beautiful Nasheed at Daff. President FISC Mr. Aseem Akhtar welcomed all the community guests and thanked to all 4 organizations Executive bodies and volunteer. He acknowl-

edged the Al Hajj Molana Abdul Latif Naumani and late Al Hajj Mohammad Ramazan for their services in Fiji Islamic Centre and made Duaa for them. Mr. Khan introduced the special guest Hazrat Allama Shaikh Mohammed Tausif Raza Qadri, Khateeb and Imam of Jamia Riyadul Jannah, Saskatoon. Shaikh Tausif Raza started with the few verses of the Quran and Sunnah. His focus was on how to love with Prophet Moham-

mad (saw) and his teachings of Islam in the light Quran and Sunnah.

Last speaker was the president of Bullay Shah Academy of Canada Peer Afzal Ahmed. made Duaa for everyone and special Duaa for all Muslim Ummah.

A delicious dinner has been served, which prepared by the Fiji Centre volunteers team.

Dawat e Islami BC Celebrates the Birth of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam

October 1st, The Dawat e Islami BC celebrated the holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday at the Newton Community Centre in Surrey. Before Magrub the program was started with the recitation of Quran. by Molana Abid Attari, and he was the MC of this spiritual program, he talked about the Dawat e Islami’s tonight celebration for the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday and beautiful Naats o Nasheed and Zikar recited by local Naat Khawans included Muhammad Umair Attari Br, Abid Attari introduced the guest speaker, Br. Saeed Attari first recited with the verses of Quran and given Hadith refer-

ences about the Mulud e Nabi(saw). He also said that how we can use our knowledge to tell the stories of prophethood, and all those Prophets who are present in the form of souls in the world of spirits, and the Lord of the Universe continued to recite blessings and peace on his beloved prophet Mohammad(pbuh). He said that how Allah(swt) praise Him with other Messengers and descend into prostration (sajdah) before Him. It will be said ‘O Muhammad (saw)! Upraise your head. Speak; you shall be heard. Ask; you shall be granted what you ask for. Intercede; your intercession shall be accepted.’ I will say, ‘O Allah! My ummah, my ummah!.. Now it is time to

think that how we can use our knowledge to tell the stories of prophethood, and all those Prophets who are present in the form of souls in the world of spirits, and the Lord of the Universe continued to recite blessings and peace on his beloved prophet Mohammad(pbuh). He told the importance of our Islamic studies comparatively with the other routines world Universities degrees.  Now you should a ask your scholars to tell us how we should do the work of religion. Allah willing, we will serve religion side by side with you. Let us do something in life so that after we die, someone will remember what such and such a person does.  Brothers, make sure to

come to congregation on Thursdays every week in Dawat Islami Centre at Faizan e Madina, Surrey. Do you intend to follow the Sunnah?  Be associated with the monthly environment. You came for the forgiveness of our parents and children, may Allah reward you well. After that Br, Abid Attari made the English brief summary of guest SpeakerUrdu speech to the Youth.

A very spirtaul heart touches Duaa has been made by the Shaikh Saeed Attari Before the programm the many types of refershment displayed, then in the end a delicious Food has been served.

RCMP officer remembered at regimental funeral

Thousands gathered to pay respects to fallen B.C. RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien at a regimental funeral(opens in a new tab) Wednesday, remembering the former teacher for his humour, compassion and dedication to public service. Fellow officers and other first responders travelled from across Canada and the United States to attend the service at the Langley Events Centre, sharing tears and a few moments of laughter as O’Brien’s loved ones recalled some of their

favourite memories from his life. The most heartbreaking remarks came from his wife, Nicole Longacre-O’Brien, who thanked her departed husband for being such a warm and welcoming father to the three children she brought to their relationship. “I always knew you were my gift from the universe –exactly what me and the kids needed,” she wrote, in a eulogy delivered by family friend Stephanie Porter...

Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

COVID-19 outbreak declared at Victoria hospital

Cont. From Page 1

according to Island Health’s active outbreak list(opens in a new tab). The declaration was made on the same day that mask mandates returned for health

workers, volunteers and visitors at hospitals and other health-care facilities in B.C.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced last week that masks must be worn in all patient-care areas starting Oct. 3 as the province prepares to roll out its fall

flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Island Health says patients who need urgent medical care or who have existing appointments at Victoria General Hospital should not avoid the facility during to the outbreak. “VGH remains a safe place to seek care,” Is-

land Health said in a statement highlighting the hospital’s enhanced infection-control protocols honed over the past “three-plus years” of COVID-19 pandemic response.

Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

Canada-India tensions: How we got here and what’s at stake?

A little over a month ago, Canada and India were still negotiating a bi-lateral deal that would increase trade and expand investment between the two countries. Now those talks have halted, Canada has implicated the Indian government in a murder on Canadian soil and, as of yesterday, India has ordered Canada to remove most of its diplomats(opens in a new tab) from the country. Nightly Briefing newsletter: Sign up for an in-depth look at the day’s most compelling news The origin of this growing tension goes as far back as the 1940s, and while relations between Canada and India are generally friendly and productive, a handful of events in the last 75 years or so have caused tensions to flare up periodically.Here’s how Canada and India got to this point and what’s at stake.

HARDEEP SINGH NIJJAR KILLING

Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C.. For years, India alleged Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism. Nijjar was a prominent member of a political movement to create an independent Sikh

homeland known as Khalistan, but denied having any links to terrorists. At the time of his murder, he was working with the group Sikhs for Justice to organize an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora. The Indian government quickly denied any involvement in Nijjar’s murder and the two countries have traded diplomatic barbs since then, most recently culminating in India demanding Canada reduce its diplomatic presence there.

Speaking to reporters after a Liberal caucus meeting on Oct. 3, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said the two governments are in constant, private talks regarding an investigation into Nijjar’s death and the diplomatic fallout. ”In moments of tensions, because indeed there are tensions between both our governments, more than ever, it’s important that diplomats be on the ground and that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India,” she said.

THE KHALISTAN MOVEMENT

According to Maika Sondarjee, assistant professor of international development at the University of Ottawa, Canada’s friendliness – or lack of hostility – toward Sikh separatist activists has been a sore point for

India for decades. Sikh separatists associated with the Khalistan movement first began moving to Canada in large numbers after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. When the two countries were separated, the Punjab region, which is home to most of the world’s Sikhs, was split into the Indian state of Punjab and the Pakistani province of Punjab.While Sikhs form the majority of people living in Punjab, they form only two per cent of India’s population of 1.4 billion.

The modern movement to create a sovereign Sikh homeland called “Khalistan”(opens in a new tab) out of the state of Punjab emerged from negotiations preceding the partition, though Khalistan has never been recognized by the Indian government, which considers

the movement a national threat.

“With the separatist movement came a lot of violence, and then with the violence, a lot of people left India,” Sondarjee told CTVNews. ca in a phone interview on Monday. “And so since then, Canada has been a land of welcome for Sikh separatists historically.”

In one especially violent chapter(opens in a new tab) of the Khalistan movement, the Indian Armed Forces in 1984 launched an assault on a number of Sikh holy sites in Punjab, including the Golden Temple, the holiest site of Sikhism. The raid, known as the Blue Star Operation, was intended to remove Sikh separatist militants from the sites. However, it resulted in the deaths of at least 493 civilians...Source: ctvnews.ca/

‘Well done, Rick. We love you’: fallen B.C.

Grand Milad un nabi (saw) Celebrated by 3 United Sponsors at fiji Centre, Surrey

Dawat e Islami BC Celebrates the Birth of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam

liberal MP sides with Conservatives on failed motion to ‘repeal all carbon taxes’

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s latest unsuccessful attempt to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to repeal his carbon pricing system has secured the support of one Liberal MP. On Wednesday, Liberal MP for Avalon, Nfld. Ken McDonald was the only member of his caucus to vote in favour on a non-binding motion from the Official Opposition. While the proposal was defeated in a 209-119 vote, McDonald was the only member of the Liberal, Bloc Quebecois or NDP caucuses who sided with Poilievre’s proposal. The Conservative motion(opens

in a new tab), debated last Thursday, called out the other parties for their support for increasing the price on carbon, while imploring the House of Commons to “call on the government to introduce legislation, within seven days of this motion being adopted, to repeal all carbon taxes.”When McDonald rose in the House to vote in favour of the motion, he was greeted by loud applause and cheers from across the aisle. This was not the first time McDonald was the only Liberal MP to support a motion touting the Conservatives’ pledge to “axe the tax.”

In 2022, he sided with the Official Opposition(opens in a new tab) on their ask for the federal Liberal government to heed Liberal Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Andrew Furey’s request for a carbon tax exemption on home heating fuels.

Poilievre and Trudeau exchanged jabs over the division... Source::ctvnews.ca/

B.C. reveals 60,000-unit housing target for 10 municipalities

targets assigned to communities including Vancouver, Victoria and Kamloops, as part of the province’s plan to increase the housing supply in the places that need it most.

Ten municipalities in B.C. must build a total of 60,103 housing units over the next five years, the province’s housing minister announced Tuesday. At a news conference in Saanich, Ravi Kahlon revealed the housing

Kahlon announced the plan and the 10 selected municipalities back in May, aiming to reduce red tape and speed up the building process to help with housing affordability for families. “These will be homes for families, for renters and for people of all different income levels,” the housing minister said. “Our

aim with these targets is to work with municipalities to improve processes so we can get projects built quicker.” The highest target by far was handed to Vancouver, which is being asked to build 28,900 units over a five-year period.

The full list of housing targets is:

• City of Abbotsford- 7,240 units

• City of Delta- 3,607 units

• City of Kamloops- 4,236 units

• District of North Vancouver- 2,828 units

• District of Oak Bay- 644 units

• City of Port Moody- 1,694 units

• District of Saanich- 4,610

• City of Vancouver- 28,900 units

• City of Victoria- 4,902 units

• District of West Vancouver- 1,432 units

According to the province, the targets represent a 38-per-cent increase in housing compared to what would have been built without the imposed number, based on historic trends... Source: bc.ctvnews.ca/

anti-SOGI demonstrations at elementary schools prompt calls to renew protest legislation

unsafe,” Liew said. In a video posted to YouTube from the account 1 Million March 4 Children, one of the protestors can be heard speaking to students and parents about the march, which occurred Sept. 20 across the country and advocated for the removal of SOGI – that is, sexual orientation and gender identity – from education.

The protester can also be heard voicing his thoughts about the educational resources, which he refers to as “the SOGI agenda.”

Over 700 ‘illegal’ foreign nationals arrested in Quetta, Islamabad

without legal documents.

In a statement, an Islamabad police spokesperson said 1,126 people were interrogated during the operation, and 503 were allegedly found to be living illegally. They were booked under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and are currently in prison on judicial remand. Around 623 people were released after presenting the requisite legal documents, the statement added.

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. - Some North Vancouver parents want the province to reintroduce legislation prohibiting protests near schools, following a series of anti-SOGI demonstrations.

Justin Liew, a parent at Ridgeway Elementary, said in mid-September, a group of people were standing near school property during student drop-off, holding signs and voicing their opposition to SOGI 123, which helps provide educators with resources to create an inclusive education. Liew said both parents and students were wary about the demonstration. “One of our friends, their kid called home concerned that they were just trying to get to school and they felt a little

“We’re not against trans people,” the protester says in the video.

“We’re not against anything like that, we just don’t want our kids being taught things that the parents may not agree with.”

CTV News reached out to the individual for comment but did not hear back before publication.

‘IT’S FRUSTRATING’

Liew said SOGI provides students a safe environment to express how they feel.

“It is not about hiding things from parents,” said Liew. “It’s frustrating reading the official literature and what’s actually happening and hearing things from actual students and teachers, and then seeing it portrayed as a scary thing.”,,, Source: bc.ctvnews.ca/

EU member states reach deal on migration policy

ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: A day after the federal government gave illegal immigrants the deadline to leave Pakistan by Nov 1, police in Islamabad and Quetta detained over 700 foreign nationals for allegedly living

The entire process was carried out without any “unpleasant event,” the capital police said, adding that linking criminal elements to illegal foreign nationals was “false equivalence”. In Quetta, over 200 Afghans allegedly living illegally were arrested, Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said...Source:DAWN.com

nawaz ‘has to return to jail’, but his legal team thinks otherwise

LAHORE: The expected return of Nawaz Sharif remains the talk of the town, but legal opinion on what he can and cannot do upon his return seems to be divided.

EU members hope to finalise a migration and asylum overhaul before upcoming elections bring an expected rightward shift to the continent. European Union states have agreed on a series of new procedures to handle irregular immigration during times of high arrivals, removing a key obstacle to a larger agreement on the bloc’s asylum and migration rules by the end of the year.

Representatives from the EU’s 27 members reached a deal on Wednesday covering “crisis regulation”, allowing further negotiations to move forward and a push to make the changes legally binding before next year’s

EU elections. “Now we can move on with the negotiations,” Swedish Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said. “It is important to get the pact in place, to ensure order at the EU’s external borders and reduce flows.” The bloc hopes to make those changes into law before the next round of EU elections ushers in an expected shift to the right as support grows across the continent for political parties that have railed against immigration. The agreement was struck after a dispute between Germany and Italy focused on charities that rescue refugees from drowning at sea.

“We need the pact done and dusted before Europeans go out to vote,” said European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, who called Wednesday’s deal the “missing link” in a package on migration and asylum. Thousands of refugees, many of them fleeing war, conflict and economic hardship, have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, a testament to the high price of Europe’s already restrictive approach to immigration that has come under fire from human rights groups...Source: aljazeera.com/

Vancouver housing market more balanced after spring and summer slowdown: real estate board

Criminal lawyers believe that Mr Sharif would have to go straight to prison, while sources within the PML-N’s legal team suggest they have ‘a way out’ and that the threetime former PM would not be required to go back to jail. In 2019, a two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court — comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem — had allowed him to travel abroad, initially for a period of four weeks, which was extendable subject to medical opinion.“One can find all the answers on a careful reading of the court orders allowing Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment,” a member of the PML-N chief’s legal team told Dawn. He seemed to be referring to the text of the undertaking submitted by

Nawaz Sharif before the LHC, where he had vowed to “return to Pakistan as per my past record to face the process of law and justice within four weeks or as soon as I am declared healthy and fit to travel back to Pakistan by my doctors”. His brother Shehbaz had also submitted a similar undertaking. Earlier, the LHC had granted the elder Sharif bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, while the Islamabad High Court had suspended the sentence of the former premier for eight weeks in the Al Azizia case.

Source:DAWN.com

US sends 1.1 million rounds of seized Iranian ammunition to Ukraine

The United States has sent Ukraine more than one million rounds of previously seized Iranian ammunition, according to the US military. The US Central Command on Wednesday said the ammunition was confiscated last year from a vessel it accused of shipping weapons from Iran to the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. “The US government transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds to the Ukrainian armed forces” on Monday, the military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement, adding that it had “obtained ownership of these munitions on July 20, 2023, through the Department of Justice’s civil forfeiture claims”. The decision came amid

high tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran’s support for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine and the Houthi rebel group in Yemen being the points of contention.

Source: aljazeera.com

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says a jump in new listings is helping to bring some balance back to the region’s housing market. The board says September sales totalled 1,926, a 13.2 per cent increase from the 1,701 sales recorded the same month last year. But the total was 26.3 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average of 2,614 and marked a 16.1 per cent drop from 2,296 sales in August. The figures include

multifamily and land sales, which the board says typically account for less than one to two per cent of those totals.. There were 5,446 new listings last month, a 28.4 per cent increase from a year earlier, as new listings were 5.2 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average. The composite benchmark home price in September for Metro Vancouver was $1,203,300, a 4.4 per cent increase from September 2022 and a 0.4 per cent decrease from August 2023.

Andrew Lis, the board’s director of economics and data analytics, says the upward shift in new listings has allowed overall inventory levels to recover modestly after a spring and summer that saw reluctance by homeowners to list their homes amid high mortgage rates.

Source:bc.ctvnews.ca

Morocco-Spain-Portugal to host 2030 World Cup, Saudi arabia to bid for 2034

mark the 100-year anniversary of the tournament. The decision, announced on Wednesday, means the World Cup will be held in six different countries across three continents.

The first three games of the 2030 tournament will be held in South America to mark its 100th anniversary. The international football body FIFA has announced that the 2030 football World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with the first three matches held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay to

“The FIFA Council unanimously agreed that the sole candidacy will be the combined bid of Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, which will host the event in 2030 and qualify automatically from the existing slot allocation,” FIFA said in a statement. “Additionally, having taken into account the historical context of the first-ever FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Council further unanimously agreed to host a unique centenary celebration ceremony in the country’s capital, Montevideo … as well as three World Cup matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay respectively.”

Source: thedailystar.net

The Celebration Of The Honorable Birth

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Alhamdulillah I have started a new program designed to enhance the public speaking skills of the youth with some leadership skills in an Islamic environment.

The first program of eight weeks was conducted in January - February 2023, while the summer program of the Youth Leadership Program ended in September 2023. A graduation ceremony for the participants was held at the Al Iman Islamic Center in Surrey.

The participants presented a final speech on Gratitude ranging from 7-10 minutes, much to the surprise and joy of their parents and families. The evening concluded with the distribution of certificates to the participants and then the pot luck dinner.

In sha Allah I am planning to continue this program to enable Muslim youth to acquire communication skills for their personal and professional development. The next program will start in

in B.C., was the president of the Sikh temple where he was killed. Referred to as a “pillar” in the Sikh community, Nijjar’s death, and India’s alleged involvement, sparked protests across Canada earlier this week. In 2016, the year Nijjar wrote his letter to Trudeau, the government of India alleged he was linked to a 2007 bombing in Punjab. Nijjar strongly denied the allegations. “Mr. Prime Minister, I want to bring it to your attention that the Indian government’s campaign to label mepated in a campaign to collect signatures on a complaint to the United Nations Human

“I am a Sikh nationalist who believes in and supports Sikhs’ right to self-determination-

er were detained while visiting India and given a warning for him to curb his “anti-

October with 2 schedules: Friday evening from 5-6 pm and then the weekend session from 10-11am. Registrations are now open and parents of our youth wishing to enrol their children may contact me at 604-375-7011 or email at shakeelgayaBiz@gmail.com May Allah accept our efforts to support our youth on the Islamic path .

Shakeel Gaya Club Growth Director,

Public speaking skills of the youth with some leadership skills in an Islamic environment.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Five things you may not know about breast cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness

Month and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, in partnership with the South West Regional Cancer Program, is encouraging women between the ages of 50 and 74 to talk with their healthcare providers about getting screened regularly with a mammogram.

Unfortunately, many eligible women in Ontario are still not getting screened for breast cancer. The most recent Ontario statistics show that among Ontario women who had a mammogram through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) in 2014, 79 percent returned within 30 months for another mammogram (i.e., retention). This is a decrease from the 81 percent who returned in 2013. Retention was lowest in women ages 50 to 54 (74 percent), which means there are still many eligible women in this age group who could benefit from regular breast cancer screening.

Five things you may not know about breast cancer

Think you have all the facts on breast cancer? Here are five things you may not know.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ontario women.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In Ontario, breast cancer happens mostly in women ages 50 to 74 (61 percent of cases).

Regular breast cancer screening is important because it can find cancer early when it may be smaller and easier to treat.

Limiting alcohol can reduce your risk.

A healthy lifestyle, including limiting alcohol, can reduce your risk of breast cancer. Other factors that may lower a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer are not smoking or using tobacco products, having a healthy body weight, and being physically fit.

Breast cancer has one of the highest survival rates out of all of the cancers in Ontario.

Studies show that regular mammograms (and proper follow up testing for abnormal results) lower the risk of dying from breast cancer in women ages 50 to 74. Deaths from breast cancer in the Ontario population went down by about 47 percent in women ages 50 to 74 from 1990 to 2013. This decrease in deaths is probably due to improvements

October is Islamic Heritage Month

October is Islamic History Month. It gives us an opportunity to learn about the diversity of people who follow the Islamic faith, recognize their contributions, and honour the rich history of Islam. In October 2007, the Government of Canada designated October as Islamic History Month (IHM) to highlight the role that Muslim communities play in Canadian society.

Learn more about Islam and Muslims

Muslims are ethnically diverse and represent many interpretations of Islam. They come from and represent all six continents. As a school system, we need to recognize this and be aware of this diversity when teaching about Muslim identities, stories and realities

Acts of islamophobia continue against Muslim communities in our Region. It is critical that we engage in deeper learning and explore Islamic culture. Doing this will create safer, caring, more inclusive learning environments for Muslim students.

While October is Islamic Heritage Month, we want you to honour Muslim identities all year. Source: wrdsb.ca/

in breast cancer treatment and more women getting screened.

Between 1990 and 2017, more than 39,000 breast cancers have been found by the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) through mammography, most of which were in early stages. From the start of the program in 1990 to July 2017, over 1.9 million women ages 50 to 74 had a mammogram through the OBSP, resulting in more than 7.4 million mammograms completed. The OBSP recommends that most women ages 50 to 74 get screened every two years with mammography. Eligible women can make their own appointments or be referred for screening by a healthcare provider. Changes in the breast are not always signs of cancer. All women – regardless of age or risk factors – should be breast aware. This means knowing how your breasts normally look and feel so you can tell if there are changes.

Source: https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/

Exploring the Rise of Sustainable Fashion: How the Fashion Industry is Embracing Eco-Friendly Practices

By: Khadija Nadeem, Gr 12

In an era marked by increasing environmental concerns, the fashion industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing eco-friendly practices and ushering in the rise of sustainable fashion. This editorial aims to delve into this flourishing movement, exploring how the fashion industry is redefining its practices to reduce its environmental impact and promote ethical standards. Sustainable fashion encompasses a range of initiatives, from the use of organic and recycled materials to fair labor practices and waste reduction. Designers and brands are embracing innovative techniques and materials, such as organic cotton, hemp, and recycled fibers, to create stylish and sustainable clothing options. Moreover, there is a growing emphasis on transparency and traceability, with brands providing detailed information about their supply chains and production processes. The rise of sustainable fashion is not merely a passing trend; it is a response to the urgent need to address the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry. The detrimental effects of fast fashion, including excessive water consumption and textile waste, have become increasingly apparent. As consumers become more conscious of these issues, they are demanding change and seeking out sustainable alternatives. This shift in consumer behavior is driving the fashion industry to adopt greener practices and prioritize ethical considerations. An insight into the inspiring stories of designers, brands, and

organizations that are spearheading the sustainable fashion movement and their innovative approaches, the challenges they face, and the positive impact they are making is much needed. Join us on this journey as we uncover the exciting developments in sustainable fashion and highlight the collective effort to create a more responsible and sustainable industry. As the fashion industry grapples with the environmental and social impact of its practices, a remarkable shift towards sustainability is taking center stage. Designers and brands are increasingly recognizing the urgency to embrace eco-friendly practices, leading to the rise of sustainable fashion. One of the key pillars of this movement is the use of organic and recycled materials. By opting for organic cotton, hemp, and other sustainable fibers, fashion creators are reducing their reliance on harmful chemicals and minimizing the carbon footprint of their garments. Moreover, sustainable fashion is also driven by a commitment to fair labor practices and social responsibility. Brands are actively seeking out ethical manufacturing partners, ensuring safe working conditions, and fair wages for garment workers. This approach not only supports the well-being of individuals involved in the production process but also fosters a more inclusive and equitable industry. In addition to material choices and labor practices, sustainable fashion is also addressing the issue of textile waste. By embracing circular economy principles, designers are finding innovative ways to repurpose and recycle garments, extending their lifespan and diverting them from landfills. From upcycling vintage fabrics to implementing take-back programs, the industry is actively reimagining the lifecycle of clothing and reducing its overall environmental impact. The rise of sustainable fashion represents a fundamental shift in the way the industry operates. Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and accountability from brands, driving

the need for sustainable practices. As the fashion industry continues to embrace eco-friendly initiatives, it has the power to shape a more sustainable future, where style and ethics go hand in hand.

In addition to material choices and labor practices, another crucial aspect of the fashion industry’s embrace of ecofriendly practices lies in the adoption of sustainable production methods. This entails reevaluating traditional manufacturing processes and exploring innovative alternatives that minimize environmental impact. One notable approach is the incorporation of renewable energy sources in production facilities, such as solar or wind power. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, fashion brands can significantly decrease their carbon emissions and contribute to a greener future. Furthermore, sustainable fashion is also revolutionizing supply chain management. Brands are increasingly investing in transparent and traceable supply chains, ensuring that every step of the production process aligns with sustainable principles. This includes sourcing materials from responsible suppliers, implementing efficient transportation methods, and reducing packaging waste. By prioritizing transparency and accountability, the industry is fostering a culture of sustainability that resonates with conscious consumers. As awareness grows about the environmental and social impact of fast fashion, individuals are seeking out sustainable alternatives. This shift in consumer behavior is encouraging brands to further innovate and expand their eco-friendly offerings. From ecoconscious collections to rental and second-hand platforms, the fashion industry is evolving to meet the demands of a more sustainable future.

In conclusion, the fashion industry’s embrace of sustainable practices marks a pivotal moment in its evolution. As we navigate the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the fashion industry has recognized the urgent

need for change. Through the adoption of eco-friendly materials, fair labor practices, sustainable production methods, and transparent supply chains, brands are reshaping the narrative of fashion towards a more sustainable future. As consumers, we have the power to support and drive this change by making informed choices and demanding sustainability from the fashion industry. Together, we can create a world where fashion and sustainability coexist harmoniously. Our subjective belief and faith in sustainable fashion is slowly becoming the objective truth of the industry. A collective effort to address the environmental and social impact of the industry is a testament to the power of conscious consumerism. Furthermore, the fashion industry’s commitment to sustainability has far-reaching implications beyond the runway. It has the potential to inspire other sectors and industries to adopt similar practices, creating a ripple effect of positive change. By championing eco-friendly practices, the fashion industry is setting a new standard for innovation, creativity, and responsibility. As we move forward, it is crucial for all stakeholders - from fashion brands to consumers to policymakers - to continue pushing for sustainability in the industry. By working together, we can build a fashion ecosystem that respects both people and the planet. Let us celebrate the rise of sustainable fashion and embrace its potential to shape a more conscious and compassionate future.

Imran, Qureshi may be indicted in cipher case next week

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) seized with the cipher case against former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is likely to indict both Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Oct 9, it emerged during their trial behind bars on Wednesday.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which had submitted the challan to the court last month, declared both leaders as principal accused in the case, registered under Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act for disclosing the contents of classified diplomatic cable and misplacing the same.When the matter came up before Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain in Adiala Jail, the prosecution distributed copies of the challan among the defence counsel.

Sources in the legal team of Imran Khan said he briefly held a meeting with Mr Qureshi before the commencement of the court proceeding that continued for about an hour.

High court rejects FIA request to hear bail pleas in-camera

According to a lawyer who witnessed the proceeding, when the FIA sought in-camera proceedings of the case, the judge remarked that the trial would start only after framing of charges against the suspects while the proceedings were being conducted inside the Adiala Jail.

The court adjourned the proceedings till Oct

9 when it is likely to indict the PTI leaders. On the other hand, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq rejected FIA’s request for an in-camera hearing of their post-arrest bail petitions in cipher case. The court, however, ruled that the prosecution may seek in-camera proceedings of a discussion on any classified document. While citing the case of journalist Zahid Malik who authored a book on Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and faced trial under the Official Secrets Act, Advocate Niazullah Niazi, counsel for Imran Khan, said the court had ruled against in-camera proceedings of the case. Also, the PTI legal team filed a petition before the IHC, challenging the law ministry’s authority to issue a notification for their trial in Adiala Jail. The party claimed the notification was not binding on the judge, as it was issued without any legal backing. The petition requested the court to rule against the law ministry’s authority of issuing such notification.

No longer secret

Calling the possible in-camera trial of Imran Khan in the cipher case ‘a brutal murder of justice’, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan claimed the secret document had been declassified by the entire cabinet and the information contained in the communication could no longer be dubbed ‘secret’. “If, as is claimed, unimpeachable evidence is available against the alleged

‘criminals’, what are the prosecution and their patrons afraid of by conducting an open trial so that the people of this country could also ascertain the reality of this monstrous drama?”

“The fact that the cipher had been declassified by the entire cabinet was enough to drive a nail in the artificial balloon of this case as the information contained in the communication could no longer be dubbed as ‘secret’ after that,” he maintained.

Imran’s bail plea in cipher case to be heard in open court: IHC

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ruled that the hearing of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case would be held in an open court, but would be in-camera when “sensitive information” is discussed.

The decision came as the IHC disposed of the application filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking in-camera proceedings of the PTI chief’s bail plea in the case.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document which reportedly went missing from Imran’s possession. The PTI alleges that it contained a threat from the United States to oust the party chairman from office. Imran was shifted to Attock jail on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three

years in prison in the Toshakhana graft case. Following the suspension of the sentence, it had emerged that he had been on judicial remand in the cipher case. On September 26, both PTI leaders’ judicial remand was extended until October 10 and as per the IHC’s orders, the PTI chief was shifted to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail from Attock district jail. On September 30, the FIA submitted a challan (charge sheet) in the Special Court established under the Official Secrets Act, declaring Imran and Qureshi as principal accused in the cipher case.

Earlier this week, the FIA had sought incamera proceedings of the PTI chief’s bail plea in the cipher case and had informed the IHC that an open hearing of the same could pose a “risk of deteriorating relations with other countries”.

A day ago, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification for the jail trial of the ex-premier and former foreign minister in the cipher case.Source: https://www.dawn.com/

Revenge no longer on nawaz’s agenda, says Shehbaz

province with a ‘mission to make Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming historic’.

A party insider claimed that after Sunday’s poor show at Shahdara, Nawaz Sharif had directed his younger brother to enter the fray and spearhead the drive to mobilise workers for his reception at Minar-i-Pakistan.

propriate time”, with Shehbaz Sharif saying they knew who had caused misery to people by sending Mr Nawaz home in 2017. The party has not “forgotten these characters”, he added.

ful moon mission, Shehbaz Sharif said: “See where a neighbouring country has reached and are we… I’m feeling hurt.”

‘Establishment is neutral’

LAHORE: PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday declared that party supremo Nawaz Sharif is coming back to Pakistan, not to settle scores with those who toppled his government, but to address the people’s problems. The former PM apparently took the driver’s seat to mobilise party workers for the much-anticipated Minar-i-Pakistan rally on Oct 21 after Maryam Nawaz could not put up an impressive show at Shahdara a few days ago.

The younger Sharif brother spent several hours in his constituency in the city and addressed three back-to-back gatherings to charge up the supporters. His son, Hamza Shehbaz, and other party leaders like Saad Rafique, Awais Leghari and Javed Latif also spoke at gatherings in various parts of the

PESHAWAR: As the federal government has set the Oct 31 deadline for illegal migrants to leave the country, the threat of deportation is hanging over 0.3 million undocumented Afghans in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa like the sword of Damocles.Official documents show that the country has over 0.7 million ‘illegal’ Afghan refugees and over 0.3 million of them live in KP. They also revealed that the registered Afghan refugees in the country totalled 1.503 million by March 2023 with over half of them - around 0.76 million - living in KP. Around 0.345 million Afghan refugees live in 43 refugee camps across the province, according to official documents obtained by Dawn. They face deportation as Oct 31 deadline nears The documents showed that over 0.69 million Afghan refugees had Afghan Citizen Cards, while over one million Afghans possessed Proof of Registration Cards. Officials of the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees in the provincial capital told Dawn that over 1.5 million Afghan nationals entered Pakistan after August 2021 when Af-

The party has already announced that the elder Sharif would obtain protective bail ahead of his return and surrender to court in the Al Azizia corruption case after speaking at the Minar-i-Pakistan rally.

Addressing the workers, the former PM said: “The son of this soil is returning on Oct 21, not to take revenge but work for the prosperity of the country. God willing, he will change the destiny of people. Get ready to give him a rousing welcome.”

He made these remarks apparently to clarify his (Nawaz’s) earlier statements that he intended to hold accountability of former generals (Qamar Bajwa and Faiz Hamid) and former judges (Saqib Nisar and Asif Saeed Khosa) for toppling his government in 2017. However, PML-N has seemingly deferred the demand for accountability until an “ap-

“Nawaz Sharif has left this matter to Allah. On his return to the country on Oct 21, Nawaz will reach Minar-i-Pakistan and leave his matter to Allah. If Pakistan has to be rebuilt then people will have to support Nawaz Sharif,” he said, praising his elder brother’s contributions to the country.

He wondered why the Nawaz government was sent packing despite the fact that it was performing well on every front, be it CPEC, load-shedding or terrorism. He recalled that PML-N sacrificed politics for the sake of the country. “We came to power after removing Imran Khan only to save the country from default. Had we not signed the agreement with IMF, the country would have defaulted.”He accused Imran Khan of releasing terrorists from jails, destroying the economy and damaging Pakistan’s relations with friendly countries.

Citing the example of India for its success-

Over 0.3m illegal afghans living in KP

ghan Taliban took over Kabul.

They added that almost half of those Afghans got themselves registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement in Europe, the United States and other countries, while the rest stayed undocumented. “Those [Afghans], who came to Pakistan after August 15, 2021, but were not registered with the UNHCR, are not interested in leaving for any third country as they live with their family members in Pakistan,” Commissioner Afghan Refugees Mohammad Abbas Khan told Dawn.

He said most of the undocumented Afghan nationals lived in urban areas, especially Peshawar, Karachi and Mardan.

The official said the Afghans registered with the UNHCR were not registered with the commissionerate but “at least they’re documented somewhere.”

He, however, said a policy was being framed by the interior ministry for the registration

of those awaiting visas to leave for any third country for resettlement.

Official documents showed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa housed around 0.7 million registered Afghan refugees, including 0.35 million in urban areas and 0.345 million in refugee camps established across the province. They also revealed that as of May 31, 2023, the registered Afghans living in KP totalled 0.69 million with over 0.35 million being present in urban areas and over 0.34 million in refugee camps.

The documents showed that 221,308 Afghan refugees lived in Peshawar district, 80,352 in Nowshera, 73,082 in Haripur, 68,342 in Kohat, 44,620 in Swabi, 38,169 in Mansehra, 32,714 in Hangu, 32,336 in Lower Dir, 18,924 in Mardan, 14,324 in Charsadda, 10,225 in Buner, 6,891 in Lakki Marwat, 6,705 in Malakand, 5,623 in Dera Ismail Khan, 1,986 in Upper Dir and 505 in Tank, while 5,522 registered Afghan refu-

Separately, PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal said that the military establishment had become neutral.

“Establishment has decided not to interfere in politics. We should welcome this decision. When the establishment saw that it was facing the brunt of Imran’s follies it decided to step back,” Mr Ahsan told a presser, adding that national institutions needed to work within the constitutional framework. The PML-N leader further said that Nawaz Sharif would unite the nation.

“Nawaz-like politicians can end polarisation in the country. If he gets a chance to become the prime minister he will make the country economically strong,” he said and added that after winning the polls PML-N would initiate a grand dialogue.

Mr Iqbal said that action should have been taken against Imran Khan when he had attacked the parliament (in 2014).

Source: https://www.dawn.com/

gees lived in Bannu. They added that 14,348 Afghan refugees lived in urban areas of Abbottabad district, 5,609 in Khyber, 4,660 in South Waziristan, 1,992 in Mohmand, 1,972 in Swat, 1,564 in Karak, 197 in Battagram, 109 in Kurram, 64 in North Waziristan, 49 in Shangla, 31 in Bajaur, seven in Kohistan, 17 in the erstwhile tribal areas adjacent to Kohat and 10 in the erstwhile tribal areas adjacent to Peshawar, while just one registered Afghan refugee lived in the formerly tribal areas adjacent to Bannu district. Source: https://www.dawn.com/

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