Pakistan Link - February 13, 2015

Pakistan Link

VOL. 25/7 - 24 Rabi ‘u-thani 1436 H PAGE 11

Nawaz Accuses India of Kashmir Violations Govt. to Ensure Ban on Proscribed Organizations

The Largest Circulated Pakistani-American Newspaper in North America

Friday, February 13, 2015

PAGE 11

PAGE 11

Modi May Use Military Option: Ex-US Ambassador

Pakistan for Reforms in UN Security Council

Reserves Could End ‘Begging Bowl’ Culture

Islamabad:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Wednesday that the government will ensure a ban on all proscribed organizations mentioned in the blacklist of the United Nations within the next few days.

“There is some confusion regarding the list of banned outfits but I want to make it clear that the government will ban all proscribed organizations mentioned in the blacklist of the United Nations, as Pakistan is a signatory of the UN,” said the minister, while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly.

Nisar underscored that the government would not ban an organization under pressure from any country, including the United States and India. He, however, said Pakistan would fulfill its obligations as a signatory of the United Nations, adding that such a step would be in the country’s interest.

“According to the procedure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes to the Ministry of Interior to put a ban on an organization

BAN, P29

Three Muslim Students Killed in North Carolina

STUDENTS, P29

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Qaim Welcomes MQM to Sindh Government Karachi: Chief Minister Sindh Syed

Flanked by CM Shabaz Sharif and Dr Samar Mubarakmand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is photographed at Chiniot during his visit

Chiniot: Major reserves of iron ore as well as copper, silver and gold were discovered in Chiniot on Wednesday, which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said could end the country’s “begging bowl” culture.

The reserves were found in Chiniot city in Punjab by a Chinese group, the Metallurgical Cooperation of China.

A senior provincial administrative official told AFP that initial estimates indicated 500 million tons of iron ore —

a primary ingredient in steelmaking — had been discovered.

He said the Chinese company has expressed interest in setting up a steel mill on the site, adding that the

RESERVES, P29

Serious Differences between Bilawal and Zardari

Chapel Hill, NC: A long-running

parking dispute between neighbors motivated a man to kill a woman, her newlywed husband and her sister at a quiet condominium complex near the University of North Carolina, police said Wednesday.

A Muslim advocacy organization asked authorities to address speculation — much of it on social media — about possible religious bias in Tuesday’s shooting of the three Muslims.

“We understand the concerns about the possibility that this

US & Canada $1.00

“Bilawal wanted to run party affairs like his mother, but he found himself stymied by vested interests,” claims Dr Zulfikar Mirza

Badin/Karachi: A dis-

gruntled leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party has said there were ‘serious differences’ between party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-

Zardari and his father, former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, over the ‘poor’ performance of the Sindh government — a claim re-

jected by the party.

“All those sycophants who are denying the differences between the father and the son are telling a lie but I confirm

such differences between the two with a big yes,” claimed Dr Zulfikar Mirza — a former provincial home minister and once a close aide to Mr Zardari — while talking to a group of journalists in Golarchi town at his farmhouse in Mourjhar late Monday evening.

Dr Mirza said Mr Bhutto-Zardari was “extremely unhappy and dissatisfied” with the performance of the Sindh government and its “inept, corrupt and incompetent ministers” whom, he alleged, had deviated from the mission envisaged by the slain party leader Benazir Bhutto.

Firing a broadside at provincial ministers, an angry Dr Mirza said DIFFERENCES, P29

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Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) welcomes the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) decision of rejoining the provincial government.

“MQM leaders are our friends and we keep in touch with them,” he said in a statement issued here.

The chief minister said that the rift between the two parties was not wide enough to keep them apart any longer, adding that the decision of rejoining the coalition was taken by the ‘elders’.

Shah said that a two-member committee would be formed soon to negotiate with the MQM. The MQM had parted ways with the ruling party in Sindh after developing differences against the backdrop of ongoing operation in Karachi to eradicate it of criminals and terrorists.

The party has claimed that the operation by security agencies was targeting innocent MQM workers.

Meanwhile, sources said the PPP and MQM leadership QAIM, P29

A Confidence-boosting Win before Encounter with India

Sydney: Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored a majestic 91 not out to lead Pakistan to a thrilling four-wicket victory over England in their final World Cup warm-up at Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old notched up five fours and two sixes in his 99ball knock, turning the match in a fourth-wicket partnership of 133 with Umar Akmal.

Akmal fell for 65 to leave Sohaib Maqsood (20) and then Shahid Afridi to help their captain guide the 1992 world champions CRICKET, P29

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OPINION

P4 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Pakistan Link Pakistan’s Crucible: The Peshawar School Massacre - Part II President

n By Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry

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“

A smooth sea never develops a skillful sailor.” - Ancient proverb

The real tragedy of a nation is when it loses its sense of priorities and its sense of honor and conscience. Rob Roy, a 1995 movie, shows a dialogue that takes place between a son and a father. The son asks the father as to what is honor. The father tells his son, “All men with honor are kings - but not all kings have honor… honor is what no man can give you, and none can take away. Honor is a man’s gift to himself… honor grows in you and speaks to you. All you need to do is: Listen.”

Arthur Miller in “The Crucible”, through his main character, Proctor, equates honor with a person’s name. (Our ancestors in the Indian subcontinent honored this name-legacy to a great extent. Oral transactions were always honored).

A person’s name is his legacy to his children. A defiled name of a father is a perennial curse for his children.

At least it used to be so once. The priest in the play wants Proctor to sign his confession as he intends to nail it on the church door. Proctor objects by saying, “I am John Proctor! You will not use me!... I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends? I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church… this is my name! I cannot have another in my life!” Now our politicians tell lies, and thanks to the TV camera, when their lies are replayed as a reminder to them, they are heard saying, “I did not say this. I did not mean it. It is not me”.

Bank loan defaulters when shown the bank papers on TV Just keep on saying, “It is wrong. It is politically motivated. This loan was adjusted”.

So, ours is not a case of simple “Broken Windows”. The whole country is broken and needs immediate fixing. This term of Broken Windows comes from the metaphor that was used to describe the concept, “If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge.” This theory of Professor James Q. Wilson and Professor George Kelling was picked up and applied by a former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to rid the city of its criminals. He ordered that all the graffiti be washed nightly from subway cars; all subway turnstile jumpers who travel without tickets be arrested; all trash be picked up, all broken windows be fixed immediately. The crime rate in New York fell dramatically. The Missoula Police Department make the Broken Window theory an integral part of their law enforcement strategy.

Poet Jafer Tahir once said a similar thing in his beautiful verse, “Meri Ghar ki Faseel kia tooti: Logo na usay rah guzar bana lia-The fence of my house got broken, and people soon made it a thoroughfare”.

I agree with Ayaz Amir when he says in his column of January 2, 2015, “So what exactly was anyone expecting? That these knights would suddenly turn into blazing Tarzans, leaping from tree to tree, perform-

ing feats of valor that would leave us awe-struck?...a steady chorus in the punditocracy is rising, bewailing the government’s endless sitting - and standing”. Some wise commentators on Imran Khan’s change of heart still believe that it was his large-heartedness and his sheer show of grace that he opted to cooperate with the government in the wake of the Peshawar School tragedy. He did the

Is there a solution?

Yes! Do what President Abraham Lincoln had to do, though he was opposed by the Congress and the Supreme Court: he suspended the right of habeas corpus during the Civil War in 1863, explaining to the Congress, “We have a case of rebellion, and the public safety does require” suspension of the writ. While Lincoln talked and acted, Congress talked without acting. Same is the case with the parliament of Pakistan right thing, though he had no other choice. The point is that now they all should honor the 21st Amendment that allowed the formation of military courts in the same spirit that they honored the 18th Amendment that brought to their Provinces immense amount of money. Nations take extraordinary and even very unpleasant steps in order to protect their countries.

Pakistan as a nation is living under tremendous amount of selfinduced and self-created stress.

People carry mines of stress in them; domestic fights; kidnappings; insecurity; health issues; lack of livelihood; shortages of power/gas; helplessness; heart troubles; migraine, arthritis etc. all are coming from the failure of the government to be effective and functional. If there are dumps of dirt and filth; if there is litter on the roads and in the streets; if the cars are dirty and the lawns if

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any are over-weeded; if there is lack of happiness in life; if people have become lean and mean and heedless; if the society as a whole is awash with the culture of acquisition, and not with the culture of sharing; if the youth is hooked up to watching pornography; if the immune system has become so weak that the allergies, infections and diseases like cancer thrive on peoples’ bodies; it is all coming from stress. I hold the leadership of Pakistan solely responsible for all these inflictions. The politicians are inflicting “the inflicted” in the most cruel fashion.

Is the case of Pakistan beyond repair, beyond fixing? Certainly not. Most of these problems are man-made. There is a law called the principle of 80/20. Some 20 percent people own 80 percent wealth; only 20 percent do the work of 80 percent people; 20 percent criminals make hell of the life of 80 percent good people; in business only 20% percent customers bring the 80 percent profits; 20 percent of people use 80 percent of the same shoes and clothes/utensils/rooms and items of furniture at home. In short, 80 percent of good results come from 20 percent people, and in reverse, 80 percent corruption also comes from 20 percent people. So the need is to just fix those 20 percent bad people, the rest would all fall in line automatically.

Pakistan is a simple case of unattended behavior of leaders that has led to the breakdown of the community as a whole. Pakistan had been for long like an abandoned piece of property. Weeds grew, windows got smashed; rowdy children and minor shoplifters and pick-pockets got emboldened and became bank robbers, child kidnappers and rapists; good families moved out; uncommitted people moved in; fights ensued; problems of drinking, gambling, womanizing multiplied; parks and playgrounds disappeared; beggars increased; serious crimes flourished. As a result, most people developed the mentality, “Don’t get involved.”. And all this happened not overnight; it happened in decades.

Initially, the leaders began ignoring such small matters as the case of Broken Windows, or litter on the streets, and then they stopped discerning major matters like those of terrorism. Now the situation is that the whole nation appears to be spinning out of control.

When the minister responsible for maintaining law and order in the country, Ch. Nisar, acts like a coroner, whose sole job is to determine

the causes of death, and then report, “How the patient died?” how can he with such a strategy, diagnose clinically as to what the patient needs to get cured. It is just pathetic to watch this man going into sickening details, describing in mono tone, how the judge got shot by his own guard in a court in Islamabad; how the terrorists entered, and where they disappeared!

The country needs a major reshuffle, and Mian Nawaz Sharif has neither the potential, nor the competence to do that. He could not fire those who had day and night counted the virtues of “Talks”. The country lost close to five hundred people in those four months leading finally to the Peshawar massacre of innocent children. Currently the country is in the grip of petrol shortage. Is there a solution? Yes! Do what President Abraham Lincoln had to do, though he was opposed by the Congress and the Supreme Court: he suspended the right of habeas corpus during the Civil War in 1863, explaining to the Congress, “We have a case of rebellion, and the public safety does require” suspension of the writ. While Lincoln talked and acted; Congress talked without acting. Same is the case with the parliament of Pakistan.

Through its inaction and inefficiency, failing to pass any tangible laws benefiting the people and ensuring their security; it rendered itself redundant, rather it replaced itself through its four sessions of All Parties Conference. The country’s courts also failed to deliver. They should now improve themselves and must swallow this bitter pill of military courts, by helping them to function justly during the period of the next two years. Cleaning the house, mending its leaking roof, and four walls, fixing its windows and doors must precede before the job of any renovation can take place.

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OPINION

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Extremism in Punjab

n By Syed Kamran Hashmi

A

Westfield, IN

video in which a young boy recites a poem praising the religious spirit of Taliban has recently (re) emerged in the social media. Although, it may have been shot before the operation Zarb e Azab was launched, it still stays equally relevant today and raises some important concerns.

The clip shows a large hall located inside a mosque (probably) filled with few hundred people sitting on the floor. They wave their flags with excitement as they listen to the eleven-year-old disciple who declaims: “Taliban have come, the true representatives of the religion of Ahmed (Muhammad) have arrived, now the Christians and the Jews are screaming (with fear).”

Behind him on the stage we see a cleric perched on a high chair with few armed guards standing on each side, their rifles stretched out, their bandolier slung across their shoulders. Just a few steps down, on the other end of the stage, is a small group of enthusiasts huddled together like the choir in a church carrying their own separate microphone. They stay quiet during most of the recital except in the middle when they interrupt the vocalist for a short time and start chanting slogans in favor of the Taliban too, calling them the savior of Pakistan, announcing their victory to rule the

country in near future.

Had this program been held in Khyber PakhtunKhwa (KPK) or FATA, it would not have caught many eyes, since we realize that the infrastructure of these radical organizations runs deep in Pashtun predominant areas. The regulatory authorities and intelligence bureaus on the other hand, although claim tall about their presence, lack penetration within the banned outfits who operate without fear. And because of that (failure), the information we obtain from our sources stay vague and inaccurate, unable to cover the fundamental elements, the three basic Ts, of a good report: Type of the attack, its Target and the Timing of the assault. So, a congregation like this in FATA would not strike us with surprise, and to be honest, that situation will not change for a while. It would require years of focused and coordinated effort to break their infrastructure and replace it with a somewhat functional government framework. Keeping that in mind, the military operation - if we believe, it is started to take down every violent organization - has just begun and stands in no position to yield conclusive results.

The problem with this short clip however, is that the people in the video are not Pashtuns. They are Punjabis. Everyone, including the chief cleric wearing the black robe with golden lining, his bodyguards, the chanting choir, the

F m

young lad and the people sitting in the mosque can be recognized as someone from Lahore, Faisalabad or Sahiwal. I base my assessment on their non-Pashtun accents, their facial features and their

Remember, we have seen a trend of worsening extremism in central Punjab for years now.

And for years, we have done our best to deny it, defuse it, justify it, or sometimes even twist it by giving it a nonreligious color. For instance, a Christian community was burnt down in the small city of Gojra, a Tahsil of District Toba Tek Singh located in Central Punjab just a few years ago in which eight people were killed including four women and a child clothes including their unique shalwar kameez, their caps, shawls and turbans. No, not Southern Punjab, where the presence of

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Taliban has been reported for a while; they look like people from Central Punjab, the heart of Pakistan, a place where the activity of these organizations is supposed to be minimal or absent.

If this video is professionally identified and confirmed to have originated from Punjab, it would confirm the fears of many experts who have either been ignored or defied by the current Muslim League’s Punjab-based administration. These analysts, worried about worsening law and order, have pointed out on numerous occasions that the Taliban phenomenon is not limited to KPK or FATA, and that Punjab may need as strong an operation cleanup as Karachi or NWFP. And since the nation has waged a war against terrorism, it’s about time that every part of the nation is dealt with the same authority and force irrespective of its ethnicity or location. No, not anymore, we cannot afford to play favorites: acting against one group and turning a blind eye on others. We did that exercise in the past and suffered from its backlash, a lesson which we must not forget and the price we must not be ready to pay again. Whether we like it or not, we need to work on every seminary, every school and every mosque in Punjab that has connections with the extremist groups. Along with that, we need to investigate every preacher, every cleric, every student, and every donor. Without taking these

measures, our efforts to eliminate religion-based violence would be rendered useless, the sacrifices of our soldiers wasted, and the loss of civilian lives and capital thrown away. Is this the path we are choosing for ourselves and for our generations? Or we would stand firm and support abortive action?

Remember, we have seen a trend of worsening extremism in central Punjab for years now.

And for years, we have done our best to deny it, defuse it, justify it, or sometimes even twist it by giving it a non-religious color.

For instance, a Christian community was burnt down in the small city of Gojra, a Tahsil of District Toba Tek Singh located in Central Punjab just a few years ago in which eight people were killed including four women and a child. Then, Asia Bibi belonged to Sheikhupura, another district of Central Punjab. Rimsha Masih’s incident too, took place in Islamabad. Shahzad Masih and Shaima Bibi were also burnt alive in Kasur, twenty miles south of Lahore, the capital of the province. And in the end, Governor Taseer’s assassination resulted from the same phenomenon.

I agree they are isolated incidents to some extent but we have to understand that all these events had religious undertones. What we are asking the administration, both civilian and military, is to consider all of them as a continuum of the same process and get to the bottom and do what has been long due: eliminate extremism, a problem that almost always eludes our attention.

OPINION

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7

n By Dr Mohammad Taqi

T

Florida

he bombing at the Shikarpur imambargah (mosque/worship place) may have been carried out by the terrorist group Jundullah but over 60 Shia who perished there were actually slaughtered by collective national apathy. While the Shias were picking up the bits and pieces of what remained of their loved ones after Jundullah’s bomb ripped through the imambargah, the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, Mr Nawaz Sharif, was literally joking about his lunch being subpar at the Karachi Stock Exchange ceremony. The PM did not say one word of sympathy for the Shias of Shikarpur at the time.

At the same time the self-exiled leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mr Altaf Hussain, was live on assorted television channels along with his lieutenant Mr Ishratul Ibad, the governor of Sindh, and the business tycoon Mr Malik Riaz. None, including Mr Hussain, who is known for his longwinded speeches, bothered to utter even a single line about the tragedy that shell-shocked Shia were going through right at that moment.

The chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Mr Imran Khan, fared better at his press conference, which was also being televised live then and spent about three out of 20 minutes offering commemorative prayers for the fallen Shia and condemning the attack. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that has been ruling Sindh since 2008 took the cake, however, for callous pettiness:

Shias of Shikarpur: Slaughtered by Apathy it suspended the area’s police Station House Officer (SHO)!

Most political parties have now deplored the barbarity perpetrated on the Shia during Friday prayers but little if any action is expected beyond these mealy-mouthed denunciations. The National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism apparently consists of mere condemnations, token mourning and the perpetual refrain that “no Muslim could have done it”. For all practical purposes, it is a national inaction plan. Jihadist atrocities against the Shia are nothing more than a pinprick on Pakistan’s skin. Tens of thousands of Shia have been slaughtered in a slow genocide over the past several years, yet those who publicly vow to purge Pakistan of the Shia roam free. The banned anti-Shia terrorist outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) continues to operate under the Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamat (ASWJ) garb and at their rallies its president, Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi, and its general secretary, Aurangzeb Farooqi, do not even pretend that the two are separate entities. Aurangzeb Farooqi carries on with his vitriolic anti-Shia speeches and activities right under the nose of the Sindh government. Similarly, Ludhianvi led a virulently anti-Shia rally on the government-run Gomal University’s grounds in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, just a few months ago.

The ASWJ leaders’ non-stop hate speeches and incitement to violence provide the breeding milieu and recruitment grounds for bombers like the one who carried out the

Shikarpur massacre. The stated mission of the SSP since its foundation on September 6, 1985 by Haq Nawaz Jhangvi has been to make life so difficult for Pakistan’s Shias that they either abandon their faith and rituals or the country. The SSP/ASWJ wants Pakistan declared a Sunni state and the Shia as kafirs (apostates), along with a ban on them from observing their rituals publicly. While the SSP/ ASWJ claim to pursue this agenda through “constitutional” means, it remains joined at the hip with the internationally banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), named eponymously after the SSP’s founder. The creed, tactics, logistics and funding of the SSP/ASWJ have not changed much in the 30 years of its existence. While a lot is said about the outfit receiving funds from Gulf Arab countries and individuals, successive governments have conveniently ignored the terror group’s lo-

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cal financial patrons since its inception.

In the book Lived Islam in South Asia: Adaptation, Accommodation and Conflict, Mariam Abou Zahab notes: “Sheikh Yousaf, once a small contractor of Jhang settled in Lahore, had become very rich in the 1980s.

He now owns Hasnain Construction Company to which the contract of the Islamabad-Lahore motorway, among other lucrative contracts, was awarded. This former MPA, well connected in army circles, was the major financier of Haq Nawaz and of the SSP in general, providing Pajeros and the like, financing election campaigns.” Yousaf was to later contest elections on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket against the SSP. The overlap between the extremist-militant outfits and the country’s political and security establishment as in Sheikh Yousaf ’s case continues to date. The SSP did

turn on Mr Nawaz Sharif in his second prime ministerial stint and tried to bomb his motorcade in January 1999. Mr Sharif ’s government then wrote a “non-paper”, in Pashto, to Mullah Omar’s Taliban government in Afghanistan asking for the return of nine LeJ terrorists, including its co-founders Riaz Basra and Akram Lahori (who is currently on death row), as well as to shut down four training camps. Not coincidentally, eight of the nine LeJ men were at camps run by the Harkat-ul-Ansar, which was a Pakistani security establishment proxy fighting in Kashmir then. At the behest of his Pakistani handlers, Mullah Omar spurned Mr Sharif ’s request to extradite the LeJ terrorists.

As in the 1990s, the SSP/ASWJ/ LeJ continue to consort with other domestic and transnational jihadists such as the ones elements of the security establishment inducted in Balochistan and Sindh over the last few years to neutralize the secular nationalists. Traditional Baloch secular nationalism and historic Sindhi Sufi asceticism, however, is no match for modern, militarised jihadism with powerful patrons. Parts of southern Punjab and Sindh, especially those next to or near Balochistan like Shikarpur, are teeming with anti-Shia jihadists. The ruling political parties are reluctant to act against these bigoted killers as they fear them and also do not wish to annoy their patrons in the security establishment. Journalist Carlotta Gall had noted in her book, The Wrong Enemy, that when the LeJ’s current chief, Malik Ishaq, was negotiating with the GHQ attackers on behalf of the army, General Ashfaq SHIKARPUR, P29

OPINION

P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

The Latest Craze in the Muslim World n By Dr Aslam Abdullah

E

Los Vegas, Nevada

very second some 30,000 men and women visit a porn website. 70 percent of them are males between the ages of 18 and 34.

Women account for 25 percent.

These visitors account for 35 percent internet downloads and they generate some 2.5 billion sex-related e mails daily. Pornographic websites occupy 12 percent of the web space, yet they generate billions of dollars every year, some $13 billion in US alone

Of these 30,000 visitors the majority come from the following countries: Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Morocco, Iran, Egypt ,Vietnam, Poland and the Philippines. Six of them are Muslim-majority states with 37 percent of the Muslim world population. However, Utah tops the list of cities with highest number of paid subscribers of the porno site users.

The statistics coming from web search engines are quite revealing and shocking. In gay sex, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran are among the top most countries. In animal sex Pakistan tops the list in pig, donkey, goat, cat horse, moneky, snake, bear and elephant sex categories while Saudi Arabia heads the list in fox sex.

Almost all of these Muslim countries have blocked websites promoting pornography, yet people find creating methods to log on and enjoy it now even on their smartphones. It is estimated that some 30 percent smart phone holders use the device to take care of their lust. Imagine, the number of users in the Muslim world, if internet access becomes free and unblocked, and if the internet is available to all.

Religious groups have called for a ban on pornographic sites.

The existing censorship of such sites in the Muslim world proves that it would not make any significant change. It is a problem that requires serious and urgent attention if we want to avoid the damaging after-effects of porn viewing.

Despite an overwhelming number of Muslim youth getting exposed to all sorts of pornography, there is strong resistance to sex-related education in schools and religious institutions on the part of education experts as well as religious clergy in the Muslim world. There is not much written about this issue among Muslims.

There are few clerics who are willing to tackle this issue in their Friday sermons or religious discourses. Not only in the Muslim world, but in the US and Europe where sex education has become part of school curriculum, Muslim institutions have been hesitant to introduce it as a subject within their moral framework.

If extraordinary measures are not taken care immediately, the entire world would plunge into a state of affairs where sex-related deviations would become norma-

There is not much written about this issue among Muslims. There are few clerics who are willing to tackle this issue in their Friday sermons or religious discourses. Not only in the Muslim world, but in the US and Europe where sex education has become part of school curriculum, Muslim institutions have been hesitant to introduce it as a subject within their moral framework tive for all. The way to handle this situation is to develop effective educational tools to be used at home and at schools and seminaries and other institutions of learning.

At what age a child should be

exposed to this education would be a challenging question. What would be included and excluded in the discussion and discourse would be another. How would one respond to the ever changing scenario within an ethical framework would be another challenging issue. Apparently, Muslim scholars tend to believe that by reciting the verse of the Qur’an: “Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).(17:32) is not going to solve the problem. After all, there are instances that suggest that those who have memorized the Qur’an and often teach it to others are also among the violators of this verse.

Reminding people of hadith dealing with sex-related issues alone would not convince the people to avoid porn sites. One has to focus on the causes for such a habit and address its root effectively.

The religious clergy in its present intellectual capacity is unable to address the issue. We need a larger pool of experts in all aspects of life to focus on this. Such an effort would be more meaningful if it is addressed at interfaith level as every religious community is involved in it. The least can be done is to talk about the problem openly with youth who are its most frequent users.

(Dr Aslam Abdullah is the Editor of the Muslim Observer and director of the Islamic Society of Nevada)

KASHMIR FROM P9

then why one and not the other?

It may also be that the Simla Agreement is being invoked because of lack of knowledge about its actual terms and the circumstances in which it was signed. India is taking full advantage of this factor to spread the misinformation that the Simla Agreement sanctions the perpetuation of the status quo in Kashmir and absolves her from the responsibility of striving for a settlement of the dispute. By citing the Simla Agreement at this stage, or encouraging others to do so, India obviously seeks to prevent those basic issues of the dispute being addressed that were fully taken into account by the United Nations. The agreement is pressed into service as a formula for evasion.

A sincere and serious effort towards a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute must squarely deal with the realities of the situation and fully respond to the people’s rights involved in it. The Simla Agreement does neither. Indeed, it was not intended to do so; at best, it is reticent on the issues that need to be grappled with. A peace process mounted on its fragile platform is bound to collapse. Indeed, any process that ignores the wishes of the people of all five zones of the State of Jammu & Kashmir and is designed to sidetrack the United Nations will not only prove to be an exercise in futility but can also cause incalculable human and political damage.

(This is the first part of the series of articles on “Kashmir: Setting the Stage for the settlement”. Dr Fai can be reached at: 1-202-607-6435 or gnfai2003@yahoo.com)

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OPINION

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9

Kashmir: Setting the Stage for the Settlement - Part 1 n By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

“

Washington, DC

Let us remember here that the future of Jammu and Kashmir is not something that the governments of India and Pakistan can decide without involving the Kashmiri people. How this diverse people’s representatives should be identified, and then associated with the process toward a possible settlement, are crucial if difficult questions, but every human and democratic principle demands this association.” - Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, July 24, 2003.

If you intend to build a house, the first prerequisite is that you have a piece of land on which to build it. A foundation for conflict resolution is similar. Yet no platform, formal process, forum, conference, or any agency involved in conflict resolution is now in place, to the best of my knowledge, for mediating the dispute among the countries which purport to have a stake in the future of Kashmir.

Since the Simla Agreement of 1972, India has refused to permit any third party, such as the United Nations, to be involved in negotiating a settlement, declaring that the Simla Agreement specifically narrowed such a process exclusively to bilateral discussions. However, this is absolutely not true. A reading of the international law indicates that the point of departure for determining a just and lasting basis for Kashmir dispute should be: (a) the Charter of the United Nations which, in its very first article, speaks of “respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples” and (b) the international agreements between the parties to the dispute – the Governments of India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have concluded multiple agreements which fall in this context. The first is embodied in the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan ( UNCIP) on August 13, 1948 and January 5, 1949. These resolutions constitute an agreement because, unlike most resolutions of the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations, their provisions were first negotiated with the parties and, in written statements, explicitly accepted by them.

These agreements were written out in detail and are self-explanatory. Since it binds both India and Pakistan to respect the verdict of the

people of Kashmir to be obtained through a free vote under the impartial supervision of the United Nations. When India seeks to propagate the impression that the United Nations resolutions have been superseded by the Simla Agreement, that impression is false.

That the implication is false can be readily seen from a comparison of the two texts: one that of the UN resolutions and second that of the Simla Agreement. But even if it were true, it would run counter to a standing principle of international relations which is set out in Article 103 of the Charter of the United Nations (ac-

ment are: The Agreement nowhere precludes a settlement of the Kashmir dispute along the lines laid down by the United Nations with the consent of both India and Pakistan. Nor does it require that the United Nations be by-passed in the effort towards a settlement. On the contrary, it expressly says that the relations between the two countries shall be governed by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. One of the basic principles of the Charter ( Article 33) is to seek a solution of any dispute by negotiation, enquiry, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies

It may also be that the Simla Agreement is being invoked because of lack of knowledge about its actual terms and the circumstances in which it was signed. India is taking full advantage of this factor to spread the misinformation that the Simla Agreement sanctions the perpetuation of the status quo in Kashmir and absolves her from the responsibility of striving for a settlement of the dispute cepted by every Member of the United Nations, including India and Pakistan). The Article says: “In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the present Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the present Charter shall prevail.”

What, then, is the relevance of the Simla Agreement as far as instituting a peace process between India and Pakistan, fully recognizing Kashmir’s inherent right of self-determination, is concerned?

The pertinent facts about the Simla Agree-

or arrangements or other peaceful means. The linked principle (Article 34) is that the Security Council may investigate any dispute and (Article 36) at any stage recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. The Agreement thus reinforces the obligations of both parties to achieve a settlement in accordance with the resolutions endorsed by the Security Council, i.e.

UNCIP resolutions and, if their bilateral efforts fail, to turn to the United Nations for assistance.

Nothing would be more contrary to the Charter -- and, therefore, to the Simla Agreement itself -- than to bar recourse to the United Nations.

The Agreement makes mention of “a final

settlement of Jammu and Kashmir” as one of the objectives of the two parties. It provides that, pending the final settlement of any of the problems between the two countries, neither side shall unilaterally alter the situation. This obviously is not a license for leaving problems unresolved. If anything, it implies a commitment to making efforts towards a final settlement.

It is thus a misconception that the Simla Agreement has in any way superseded the resolutions of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) accepted by both parties. Nor can it be supposed to have narrowed the gulf between them and, to that extent, simplified the task of evolving a settlement. Even if it has done so, its impact on the Kashmir situation would have been open to question. Nothing in international law confers on two parties the authority to make decisions or conclude agreements which adversely affect the rights of a third.

The third party here is the people of Kashmir.

In ignorance or disregard of all these facts and their logical corollaries, the recommendation is being currently made by some governments friendly to both India and Pakistan ( including the United States) that the two countries must resolve the Kashmir problem in accordance with the Simla Agreement of 1972.

Why is the Simla Agreement put in the forefront rather than the UNCIP resolutions?

There can be several explanations. One is deference to India because of its superior might. If this motivates the current US diplomatic stance, it is, to say the least, undignified and contrary to the enduring principles of US policy towards all situations which involve inalienable human rights. Another reason can be the impression that the Simla Agreement, being of more recent origin than the UNCIP resolutions, might be more effective in activating the process. This is wrong in view of the fact that, for 43 years, the Agreement has signally failed to shake India out of its obdurate refusal to negotiate a settlement of the Kashmir problem. The current Indian position is that India is prepared to talk but there is nothing to talk about except how to perpetuate the status question of Kashmir.

If non-implementation were to render an agreement defunct, then the Simla Agreement is in no better state than the earlier, far more concrete and comprehensive agreement painstakingly worked out by the United Nations and concluded under its auspices in 1948-49. If passage of time were allowed to extinguish solemn international agreements, then the Simla Agreement has already suffered the same fate as the UNCIP resolutions. If agreements are to be revived, KASHMIR, P8

Three Reasons You Should Care about Loretta Lynch

P

n By Asma Hasan

industry in those states where it has been legalized, since federal law (under which pot is banned) preempts state laws. This is unlikely — Lynch herself said she probably wouldn’t start enforcing such laws that her predecessor hadn’t — but having her in office definitely could slow down legalization in new states.

resident Obama’s nominee for US Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, is likely just a few days away from making history as the first African-American woman to ever hold that post.

She’s expected to be confirmed by the Judiciary Committee this week, after which the full Senate is likely to vote her in. Lynch currently serves as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. For you non-lawyers out there, that basically means that Lynch is in charge of prosecuting all the federal crimes that take place in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island, an appointment she has actually held twice, first under President Bill Clinton and then again under President Obama. As one can imagine, Lynch has been quite busy for the past few decades, prosecuting everyone from Wall Street bankers to terrorists.

So, who is she?

Lynch is a study in legal career success. The 55-year-old, who was born in North Carolina, went to Harvard and then steadily climbed her way from lowly corporate law firm associate up. By the end of this week, she may arrive at the top, as the nation’s chief attorney. In an eloquent but understated opening statement to the Judiciary Committee (which kicked off a marathon day of hearing testimony), Lynch spoke movingly of her librarian/teacher mother and minister father.

Almost as moving for me, as a fellow female attorney of color, was Lynch’s uncanny ability to dodge, quite graciously, the venomous spitballs lobbed at her by many of the Republican members of the committee, who expressed bitterness towards Obama and current Attorney General Eric Holder. These in-

teractions showed what Lynch would likely take on as Attorney General, and how she would deal.

She’s against Legal Marijuana: Unlike Obama and her predecessor Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch has taken a public stance against the legalization of marijuana. The current administration has been content to look the other way as states start legalizing weed, but Lynch, in a moment of candor, said that she felt increased use of the drug brings increased associated criminal activity to communities.

An impassioned attorney general against marijuana legalization, which Lynch may very well be, could shut down the pot

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She Agrees with Obama’s Exec Action to Stop Deportation: In another bit of testimony that has received less airplay, Lynch slipped in that she felt Obama’s recent executive action to stop the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants was not amnesty but a “temporary deferral.” Technically, she is correct in that the executive action merely delays deportation of the affected immigrants for three years. The realistic implications, though, are wide — and Lynch did not address them. Anyone with a green card can, after a certain number of years, apply for citizenship or a renewal of status.

She’s Not Afraid to Go After Police: When Lynch was a prosecutor in the US Attorney’s Office, she sent a police officer to prison for 30 years for a violent attack on a Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima. The 1997 case was nationally known and became a symbol of broken relationships between cops and the people they police.

Now, nearly 20 years later, Lynch will take over potential prosecution of recent police brutality incidents, which have shocked the nation into a state of distrust towards law enforcement. In December, Attorney General Holder said the Justice Department will investigate the death of Eric Garner, the LYNCH, P29

OPINION

P10 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Prophethood of Muhammad SA: Journey from Captivating Miracles to Convincing Motivation n By Dr Basheer Ahmed Khan

W

Garden Grove, CA

hile Adam AS ignored the majesty of Allah swt even after seeing Him and ate from the forbidden tree, Allah sent him down to the life on earth so that his desperation of life on it will make him search Him, find Him and follow Him with self-effort; for what is achieved through self-effort is not lost as easily as what is bequeathed. Man has the canny knack of denying what he does not want to accept under one or the other pretext.

Adam saw the majesty and glory of God with the eyes of his head and still he disobeyed Him and we his progeny disobey Him because we do not see Him. This expediency of man originates from his crass cupidity.

Prophet Abraham (PBUH) realized the reality of the existence of Allah swt and the life of The Hereafter at an intellectual level (Ch 6 V74-79 & Ch2 V258-260). Those who wanted to become gods themselves and exploit people for their personal gains diluted this understanding of Allah swt by Abraham (PBUH) at an intellectual plane. They diverted peoples’ attention to frivolities of magic, fairytales and superstition to carry on their deceit on the misled masses. Allah sent His messengers with captivating miracles to wean the people away from the sway of prevailing atmosphere of heedlessness and to authenticate His message and His messengers. Muhammad SA as His last messenger shifted the paradigm to its original form by basing Islam on reasoned motivation as was done by Abraham (Ch 26 V71-85 Ch 21 V52-67).

Earlier Moses (Musa AS) was made a prophet with a simple message backed with powerful miracles. The first message to him from Allah swt was: I am the Allah (which literally means The One to Whom everything belongs) and there is none worthy of servitude except Me therefore serve Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. The Hour is sure to come. But I have concealed it to reward or punish the people appropriately for their efforts. Let not those who disbelieve in Me and The Hereafter, and follow their own desire swerve you from this message lest you perish (Ch 20 V13-16). With this simple message Moses (PBUH) was given the miracle of staff turning to python, and several other powerful miracles (Ch7 V131-136) to establish the authenticity of his prophethood and aid him in his mission of securing the release of children of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh (Ch 27 V 10-12).

Jesus (Isa AS) was born to Virgin Mary (PBUH) through a miracle without a biological father (Ch19 V16-30). Jesus (PBUH) spoke to his detractors as an infant thus: I am the servant of Allah. Allah has given me the book and made me His prophet. Allah blessed me and advised me to establish prayer and be charitable as long as I live. Allah has made me dutiful to my mother and has advised me not to be arrogant and cruel (Ch19 V30-36). Jesus (PBUH) was sent to restore the children of Israel who had gone astray under the influence of the Pagan civilizations of Egypt, Babylonia, Persia and Rome and to bring them back on the teachings of their prophets (Ch3 V 49, Matthew Ch5 V17). He was a prophet of simple and profound sermons backed by numerous powerful miracles that are listed in Bible and in Qur’an (Ch 5 V110-115).

Some people believed in the prophets, but most people detested them and harmed them ignoring their simple, inspiring, universal and beneficial message and the powerful miracles (Ch3 V112). These people did not want to believe in the messengers because their moral teachings restricted their freedom to exploit and enjoy their lives at the expense of others. They ridiculed the message and dismissed the miracles as magic.

They considered the prophets to be magicians and lunatics (Ch 11 V50-100). These so-called wise people forgot that no magician and no lunatic has ever stood steadfastly and suffered for the cause of reforming mankind.

Muhammad SA, the Final Messenger: Because of the treatment meted out to Jesus and John the Baptist (peace be upon both of them) by the people of their time, no messenger was sent for about five hundred years.

When humanity was at the ebb of destruction in that period of history called “Dark Age”, there was a genuine yearning in some quarters for a prophet to guide them out of it (Ch 5 V19).

Muhammad SA was sent as the last prophet. He was the fulfillment of prayer of Abraham (Ch2 V 129). All the prophets mentioned in the Holy Bible were from the children of Isaac and Jacob (PBUT). Muhammad SA was from the progeny of Ishmael, the other son of Abraham. In making Muhammad SA a prophet with a following of more than 1.5 billion people in the progeny of Ishmael AS spread all across the world, God fulfilled His promise which He made to Hagar (Hajira AS), the mother of Ishmael: I (God) will make him (Ishmael) a great nation (Genesis Ch 21 V18).

It is unfortunate that the following verses from The Holy Bible which prophesy about the coming of Muhammad SA are either ignored or wrongly interpreted: Deuteronomy, Ch.18, V

15-19, Gospel of John, Ch. 14, Verse 16-17, V 25-26, and V30, Gospel of John, Ch. 15, Verse 26, Gospel of John Ch. 16, V12-14.

After forty years of living a normal life in the city of Mecca as a child, an honest businessman, a family man, a loving husband, a caring father, and a respectable member of his society, Muhammad SA was anointed as prophet. The only thing which differentiated him from the others in society was his deep contemplative mood that was essential to understand things in proper perspective by connecting himself with source of allknowing Allah.

Prophet Muhammad SA has told about himself in a Hadith: He was first to be created and last to be anointed as prophet (Al Badaya Wan Nahya Vol 2). It is mentioned that when Adam AS suffered the ignominy after eating from the forbidden tree, he sought forgiveness from Allah swt in the name of Muhammad SA. When Allah swt asked Adam AS about how he knew about Muhammad SA, Adam AS told Allah swt that he saw Muhammad’s name on the Allah’s Arsh (Throne) on which it was written thus: There is no one worthy of worship but Allah and

While Allah swt sent the other prophets with miracles to motivate people, He sent Muhammad SA with the book of motivation to bring about the miracle of ending the Dark Age of history. As the most read and memorized book of the world transforming and reforming lives of billions of people unto this age the Qur’an is a proof that Nabi SA was a prophet of persuasive motivation Muhammad is his messenger (Al Badaya Wan Nahaya Vol 1).

When one thinks about the purpose behind the creation of the consciousness (Noor) of Muhammad SA first and sending him as a prophet at the end the following becomes evident.

Consciousness of Muhammad SA got an opportunity to absorb and utilize the experiences of all the previous prophets to present the most comprehensive religion at the end of time when consciousness of man was also ripe to receive it. That is why Jesus (PBUH) said before he was lifted by God: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself, but what he shall hear, that he speak (John Ch 16Verse 12-13).

Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad SA little by little over 23 years of prophetic life explaining to him all the situations he faced. Al Qur’an argued on an intellectual level about the existence of God, purpose of life, accountability before God, the authenticity of prophethood, prowess and weakness of man, destiny etc. It explained some of the enigmas and dilemmas which man faces but is unable to fathom, and gave some basic rules of life to live a life of knowledge and fulfillment for eternity.

Nabi SA has told about Qur’an in one of his Hadith: In it (Qur’an) is the news of what happened before you, information about what comes after you, and judgment for what happens between you. It is the criterion between right and wrong without jest. Oppressors who abandons it, Allah will crush them, whoever seeks guidance from source other than it Allah will allow him to go astray. It is the strong rope of Allah, it is a wise remembrance, it is the straight path, and it is the one which desires can’t distort, nor tongue twist. Scholars are never satiated and they never get bored by its repeated study as its amazement does not diminish. Whoever speaks according to it speaks the truth, Whoever acts according to it has his reward, whoever judges according to it has judged justly, whoever invites to it is sure to be guided (Tirmizi 2906).

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Through Qur’an Muhammad SA performed the miracle of establishing faith using sound argument instead of captivating miracles. Even though several miracles are authentically attributed to his life, their authenticity is recognized only by those who have accepted him as prophet. Those who have accepted him as prophets and live as practicing Muslims did so not because of his miracles but because of the sound teachings of Qur’an which had transformed many lives and created a better society. While Allah swt sent the other prophets with miracles to motivate people, He sent Muhammad SA with the book of motivation to bring about the miracle of ending the Dark Age of history. As the most read and memorized book of the world transforming and reforming lives of billions of people unto this age Qur’an is a proof that Nabi SA was a prophet of persuasive motivation.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Arguments which Qur’an makes are acceptable only to those minds that are unbiased and to those hearts which are pure. Those who have darkened their hearts through a life of sin and extravagance and polluted their mind with selfish thoughts and desires get no guidance from this book. Allah ridicules such people who do not ponder in His books and reject the messengers in the following words: He (Allah) throws filth on the minds of those who do not use their common sense to see His signs in the universe (to understand this message) which are so vital to understand life correctly and to live a good life (Ch10 V100-102). Allah swt further says that He will soon make it evident through the signs in universe and in their own lives that what Qur’an is telling is the truth (Ch41 V53).

The discoveries in the various disciplines of physical and social sciences in modern times have given an understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the human mind to all the right thinking people. They have understood that there is a Creator and Absolute Administrator of this world and we have limited capacity to play our role in it according to His plan. While possibilities of our intellect are predicated by its judicious use, its indiscriminate abuse has thrown us into quagmires in every aspect of our personal and collective life and this seems to have brought us to our senses and brought us closer to prophetic teachings than at any time before.

The first revelation to Muhammad SA after forty years of his life with purity of thought and sincerity of action was: Read with the name of your Lord who created you from a clot. Read the name of your Lord who is Kind to teach man through pen what he knew not. But man becomes rebellious with this knowledge and thinks that he is independent of the need of his Lord (V1-7 Ch.96).

This first revelation to Muhammad SA was a declaration of the end of the age of dogma and heralding the era of learning, reason and knowledge. Knowledge being the product of observation, thought, analysis and synthesis, it was likely that Satanical influences could mislead us to believe in our skewed understanding of things and our prejudices as knowledge. To save mankind from this predicament, Allah cautioned us through this first revelation to Muhammad SA to be wary of becoming arrogant with the dawning of few facts of life and ignoring Him. At present stage of our history we are in this phase of arrogance where our discoveries and our inventions have made us not only neglectful in remembrance of the Lord who has gifted us with the intelligence and means to make these discoveries, but even go to the extent of denying Him and ridiculing those who believe in Him. Mankind is paying a heavy price for neglecting the principles of universal good given to us by His messengers and following our vain and base desires to the detriment of our personal well being and collective harmony despite all the material progress we have made (Ch30 V41).

When people demanded miracles from Muhammad SA, Allah told them: We refrain from sending miracles because the people before you rejected them as magic and therefore faced severe collective punishment (V59 Ch.17). By corollary it means, that Muhammad SA was sent without any miracle as a mercy to mankind (Ch 21 V107) so that mankind may be spared from across-the-board punishment for denying the prophet even after seeing the miracles. Thus Almighty Allah gave enough opportunity to the people to understand the truth through their life experiences in their life time under the guidance of Qur’an (Ch41 V53).

Satanical forces are trying to take Islam back from this enlightened path of honest intellectual enquiry into the dogmas of distant past to wean mankind away from the charm of real Islam which is winning the hearts and minds of people in great numbers in all parts of the world. Those who are aiding and abetting in this might be thinking that they are doing a great service to our modern civilization by such antics, but the fact is that they are jeopardizing its bright future by this deceit.

Muhammad SA suffered the most to receive and convey this revelation in its final and the fullest form and Allah consoled him by saying that this revelation is not made to put him into hardship (Ch26 V3). It is a blessing of Allah that PROPHETHOOD, P26

PAKISTAN

Nawaz Accuses India of Kashmir Violations

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11

Pakistan Supports Reforms in UNSC, Favors No New Power Centers

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz

Sharif has harshly criticized rival India for using “delaying tactics” to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir. Relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have plunged to new lows in recent months and their armies have regularly traded cross-border fire in the disputed region.

Pakistan officially observes a Kashmir Day every year on the fifth of February to pledge its “political, moral and diplomatic” support for groups fighting Indian rule in the divided Himalayan region.

In his message on this year’s annual day, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused Indian security forces of committing human rights violations in Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region.

Later, Sharif traveled to the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, to address the region’s legislature.

The prime minister said despite the “delaying tactics” India has been employing, Pakistan has always sought a “meaningful and result-oriented” dialogue to settle the Kashmir dispute. He emphasized lasting regional peace is linked to the resolution of the conflict and any agenda for talks with India must contain Kashmir. Sharif again described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”

The tensions prompted armies of the two countries to regularly trade fire across the disputed Kashmir border with both sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict in violation of a decade-old mutual cease-fire. The clashes have caused mostly civilian deaths on both sides and displaced thousands of people.

Border tensions in Kashmir ap-

pear to have subsided in recent days; but, speaking recently at a seminar in Islamabad, the former editor-inchief of The Hindu newspaper, Siddharth Varadarajan, said he did not expect improvement in the situation anytime soon.

“The bad news is that I do not foresee the prospect for the resumption of dialogue at any time in the next five or six months. I think the kind of barren patch that we are going through right now will continue for some time. The government of India could agree to dialogue, but whether that dialogue would produce something substantive would depend on the level of trust that India has in Pakistan and Pakistan has in India,” said Varadarajan.

Pakistani leaders say they want resumption of the peace dialogue, but that the initiative rests with India because it canceled the latest planned meeting. New Delhi also demands Islamabad rein in Pakistan-based Islamic groups allegedly involved in terrorist attacks on Indian soil and

fueling troubles in Kashmir.

Pakistan Raises Kashmir Issue in Washington

Washington, DC: Pakistan raised

the Kashmir issue in the US capital last weekend, urging India to work with it for resolving the long-standing dispute.

At a seminar at the Pakistan Embassy here, speakers warned India against changing the special constitutional status of the disputed territory and attempts to alter its demographics could have dangerous consequences. The seminar was the first Kashmir Solidarity Day event organized at the embassy in many years.

“The UN Security Council resolutions have the legitimacy KASHMIR, P29

Islamabad: Foreign Office (FO) spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam on Friday said that Pakistan’s reservations over the permanent membership of India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) were based on principles.

Addressing a weekly media briefing, FO spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said UNSC should be reformed instead of inducting new permanent members, adding the inclusion of new members in UNSC would create new power centers.

She said India was organizing elections at the gun point in Kashmir, adding that such elections can’t replace the right of self determination. Tasneem said more than 100K young Kashmiris have rendered sacrifices in the last few decades and it has been proved that the people of

Kashmir don’t support enforced affiliation with India.

“The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would visit Pakistan this month, while Premiere Xi Jiping would also arrive in Pakistan on an official visit this year”, Tasneem told the newsmen.

She said the date and agenda of the Chinese FM’s visit were under discussion. Tasneem added bilateral relationship, matters of mutual interest and the situation in the region would be discussed on his arrival.

“Embassy personnel are in contact with the airline over the 300 Pakistani pilgrims who have been trapped in Baghdad”, she said.

She claimed that the process of sending Afghan refugees back to their country would be completed by December 2015.

Modi May Use Military Option if Terror Attack Traced to Pakistan: Ex-US Ambassador

Afghan Cadets Arrive for First Training in Pakistan Islamabad: The Afghan government

has sent some of its soldiers to be trained in Pakistan for the first time as part of an attempt to secure vital regional help to end the decade-long Taliban insurgency.

Overcoming years of distrust, six Afghan cadets arrived on Thursday night to begin 18 months of training at the elite officer academy in Abbottabad.

The Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, is determined to improve relations between the two countries. His predecessor Hamid Karzai persistently refused offers of military assistance from Pakistan, which many in Kabul believe secretly supports the Taliban.

Afghan officials in the past have expressed fears that soldiers sent to Pakistan could be recruited as spies or that their careers would be stunted by the deep hostility that Afghans harbor towards Pakistan.

Janan Mosazai, the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad, urged the cadets to befriend their Pakistani counterparts at the training academy.

He said the scheme was an “important step in both countries’ efforts to strengthen, broaden and deepen security and particularly military-tomilitary cooperation”.

Rifaat Hussain, a defenSe expert, said the Pakistani military had long wanted to train Afghan soldiers to provide a counter-balance to training offered by the arch-enemy India.

“The Pakistani military offered training facilities for as long as Karzai was

Robert Blackwill (left) and Professor Stephen Cohen

Washington, DC: Indian Prime Min-

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (seen above with Pakistan’s PM Nawaz Sharif) is determined to improve relations between the two countries

there,” he said. “This is a step in the right direction because it will help remove doubts Pakistan had about the pro-India orientation of the Afghan forces.”

Ghani has won plaudits for a well-received visit to Islamabad and for announcing that Afghanistan would not pursue an offer of weapons from India.

Soldiers and police have been diverted to Afghanistan’s eastern provinces to fight militant enemies of Pakistan who launch attacks from Afghan territory. And Pakistani officials have been given access to interrogate militants captured in Afghanistan.

The Afghan government hopes the measures will help secure Pakistan’s support to curb the Taliban.

But so far Ghani has received little in return for his efforts to woo Pakistan, which are politically unpopular at home. Afghan officials complain that Taliban attacks have not subsided and that Pakistan has not taken steps to control Taliban groups on its territory, despite the launch of a military operation against militants in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan.

“Time is running out, we need to see real action,” said one Afghan official, adding that Pakistan needed to facilitate a peace process with willing members of the Taliban and expel those uninterested in negotiating with Kabul. “We want Pakistan to either confront those who are not willing to engage in peace or, at the very least, ask them to pack up and leave.”

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ister Narendra Modi is likely to use the military option if the next terrorist attack in India is traced back to Pakistan, a former top US diplomat has warned.

“Every Indian Prime Minister since the attack on the Parliament in Delhi now heading on 15 years ago has looked seriously at a military response when these incidents occur and has stepped back. But I believe that sentiment inside India has changed substantially and I think this Prime Minister is unlikely to step back,” former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill said.

“If there is a major terrorist attack whose breadcrumbs lead to Pakistan and the Pakistan military and ISI, I think that this Prime Minister is likely to use military force against Pakistan territory. It’s not a certainty,” Blackwill told reporters during a conference call organized by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a top American think-tank.

Blackwill, who is a close watcher of India and South Asia, said Modi’s predecessors have been briefed by the Indian military on options and have never found them attractive.

“But I think Modi, both as a personality and reflecting Indian public opinion and political sentiment across the society will be much more likely to use military force than his predecessors,” he said.

“Now how that might be applied is another matter. To try to diminish the likelihood of escalation between two nuclear weapon states, but hopefully the Pakistanis understand that their behavior in the past is unlikely to be tolerable to this Indian Prime Minister,” Blackwill said in response to a question.

Stephen Cohen, senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institute, agreed that Prime Minister Modi’s response to a terrorist attack emanating from Pakistan would be a different one than that of his predecessor.

“I think based on what he (Modi) said and I think based on the Indian public sentiment, if there was another Mumbai attack, which I don’t think it’s going to be that likely, it (India’s response) may be something quite different. There will be a vigorous Indian response. Perhaps even direct attacks on Pakistani territory, hitting camps,” Cohen said.

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EU Trade Deal Boosts Exports by $1Bn ‘A Deficit of Common Sense’

Islamabad: Pakistani exports to

the European Union increased by more than a billion dollars after a landmark trade deal last year which made its products more competitive, Pakistan commerce minister told AFP. The EU signed a law in late 2013 granting Pakistan so-called “GSP-plus” status, which means firms pay no tax on certain categories of goods exported to the 27-nation bloc for 10 years.

The EU makes GSP-plus conditional on implementing international conventions on human and labor rights, and there have been fears Pakistan’s decision to end a moratorium on executions could affect the deal.

Pakistan’s key textile industry in particular welcomed the agreement, which came into force in January 2014, and in an interview with AFP commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan hailed its impact.

“As a result of GSP-plus, Pakistan’s exports to the EU have increased by $1.08 billion during the period January to October 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013,” Khan said.

Exports to the EU in JanuaryOctober 2014 totaled $6.38 billion, up by just over 20 per cent from the $5.3 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2013, he said.

Before GSP-plus, textile exports faced customs tariffs of between 6.4 and 12 per cent and leather goods and footwear up to six per cent, he said.

The textile industry is the backbone of Pakistan’s exports, making up more than 50 per cent of the country’s total overseas ship-

Pakistan’s key textile industry in particular welcomed the agreement, which came into force in January 2014, and in an interview with AFP commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan hailed its impact

ments.

“Now these exports have dutyfree access in EU and it has helped Pakistani products to become more competitive vis-a-vis its competitors, including Bangladesh, India and Vietnam,” he said.

Khan played down the possibility that resuming executions could threaten GSP-plus status.

“There is no legal obligation to EU regarding death penalty, though they have expressed concern over it,” Khan said.

“They understand our situation that GSP-plus would help us create jobs and when we create jobs, it keeps young men and women away from terrorism.” Pakistan has executed 22 convicts since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted a six-year death penalty moratorium in the wake of a Taliban massacre at a school.

Heavily-armed gunmen murdered 153 people, including 134

ATC Indicts Sufi Muhammad in Sedition Case

Peshawar: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has indicted Maulana Sufi Muhammad, chief of the banned Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM), in a sedition case. The cleric, who is also fatherin-law of Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, had delivered an anti-government speech at the Timergara Rest House in Lower Dir district in 2009. He had called the democratically elected government ‘un-Islamic’.

In all, 13 cases had been registered against Maulana Sufi Muhammad, who had led a movement for the enforcement of his own version of Sharia in the region. However, he has been acquitted in 10 cases while three are pending.

On Saturday, the ATC formally charged Sufi with sedition inside Peshawar’s Central Jail, where he has been incarcerated since July 2009.

Hearing of the charges will formally begin on February 21 when witnesses would be presented before the court. Sufi was shifted to the Pe-

shawar Central Jail due to security concerns in Malakand, particularly in Swat.

“The accused was indicted for delivering an anti-state speech along with his two sons and three accomplices,” Adil Majeed, the counsel of Sufi, told The Express Tribune.

He added that the police have inserted Section 153-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 11-F3 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 in the FIR. Section 153-A deals with promoting enmity between different groups, creating disharmony, hatred and ill-will between different religious, racial, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities, while Section 11-F3 deals with the meeting or gathering of a proscribed organiZation.

Sufi denied all the charges.

The K-P government has shortlisted 423 cases to be tried in the military courts. The list that also features the names of Sufi and Fazlullah has been sent to the federal interior ministry for consideration.

On 17 December 2014, the court had dismissed a plea for acquittal of Sufi and his accomplices in a case involving an armed attack on the Kabal police station in Swat. The hearing was adjourned till February 14, 2015. The police station staff had registered a case against Sufi along with 800 unidentified men under different sections of the PPC and ATA. Other cases were related to his anti-state speeches.

children, at the school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in Pakistan’s deadliest ever terror attack.

Opposition to the death penalty is a key EU policy and the bloc’s mission in Islamabad condemned the resumption of executions in December.

But EU diplomats in Islamabad have said that while they are concerned about the return to hangings, the development was unlikely to affect the GSP-plus arrangement immediately.

Improving the economy after years of drift and sluggish growth under the last Pakistan People’s Party government was a key pledge in Sharif ’s election campaign in 2013, when he was swept to power for a third term.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last week the government’s reform program, tied to a $6.6 billion loan from the Washington-based lender, was on track.

PML-N Announces Candidates for Senate Polls

Islamabad: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday announced the names of its candidates for the upcoming Senate elections.

Incumbent Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq and Professor Sajid Mir succeeded in getting party tickets from Punjab on technocrat’s seats. The PML-N also awarded tickets to Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Chaudhry Tanveer Ahmed, Lt-Gen (retired) Abdul Qayyum, Nihal Hashmi, Dr Asif Kirmani and Dr Ghous Niazi to contest elections on general seats from Punjab.

The party also nominated Senator Begum Najma Hameed and Kiran Dar to contest elections on seats reserved for women from Punjab. Senior PMLN Leader Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also succeeded in getting the party ticket to contest elections from Islamabad while Dr Raheela Magsi will contest Senate elections on seats reserved for women from Islamabad.

Lt.-Gen Salahuddin Tirmizi and Pir Sabir Shah have been named as PML-N contestants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while Syed Zafar Ali Shah has been given ticket from Sindh on general seat.

Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir, Mir Afzal Khan Mandokel, Mir Naimatullah Zehri, Shahbaz Khan Durrani, Ayaz Khan Swati, Kulsum Parveen, Sydaal Khan Nasir, and Mir Irfan Kurd will contest elections on PML-N tickets from Balochistan while Dhanish Kumar will be PML-N candidate on Senate seat reserved for minorities.

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Anna Suvorova, author of ‘Benazir Bhutto: A multidimensional portrait,’ answers a question at the launch of her book on Saturday. Moderator of the panel discussion Victoria Schofield (left) and Syeda Abida Hussain look on. —Fahim Siddiqi/White Star

n By Qasim A. Moini Karachi: While challenges such as ter-

rorism and religious extremism were among the country’s major concerns, there was a “deficit of logic and common sense in governance” that was compounding such issues, senior lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir said here on Saturday. She was addressing a panel discussion on ‘the changing face of Pakistani politics’ at the Karachi Literature Festival.

“Terrorism and religious extremism are huge challenges. They go hand in glove. Without addressing these two issues there can be no economic development, [which means we] will not have a governable Pakistan,” she observed.

Ms Jahangir said there were also some ways in which the country had progressed. She cited the fact that people were now more aware of the poetry of Habib Jalib as an example of this progress, while adding that when she was younger, fewer people believed that the illiterate and the poor had rights.

In other ways, such as maintaining law and order and delivering basic services, the state had failed. “People have been able to help themselves.”

Discussing the youth, Asma Jahangir said that one thing missing in today’s younger generation was that “we have not trained them. Today’s politics is that of the bandwagon, not of commitment.”

She added that religiosity has increased. “We eat, drink and sleep religion but we do not do good.”

She felt that if one wanted to move up in bureaucracy, it was essential to have a religious persona, even if one indulged in bribery.

Speaking as part of the same panel, senior journalist I.A. Rehman said he didn’t see any change in politics.

“If you see the broader picture every [few] years we start a movement for the restoration of democracy. Have we realized the dreams mentioned in the Charter of Democracy?

“Have the basic issues of politics been resolved? We are constantly regressing.”

Veteran politician Syeda Abida Hussain said that in her view, change in Pakistan was signified by a “far more vibrant civil society than earlier”.

She also praised a “vibrant social and electronic media”, while she felt “young Pakistan” was the country’s biggest asset.

Scholar Sahar Shafqat said that since faces in politics don’t change “it’s easy to fall into the trap that nothing has changed.”

But she felt there were two major changes in the recent past: the completion of a full five-year term by an elected government, and the trial of a mili-

tary ruler [Gen Musharraf].

She said that “there is a lot of controversy over the lawyers’ movement, but from my perspective it was very important. It was the first time the judiciary stood up.”

She added that the rise of a politically engaged urban middle class which wanted deliverables was also important, as was the rise of the Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Portraits of Benazir: Earlier, at the launch of Benazir Bhutto: a multidimensional portrait by Russian scholar Anna Suvorova, participants of a panel discussion shared their experience of working with the late Ms Bhutto.

Ms Suvorova said she met Ms Bhutto only once, but the meeting had such an impact on her that she was motivated to write the book. She said although she had met leaders such as Sri Lanka’s Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Bangladesh’s Hasina Wajed as well as India’s Indira Gandhi, none had listened to her as “humanly” as Ms Bhutto.

Abida Hussain admitted that initially she and Benazir Bhutto did not get along and “sparred on the floor” of parliament. However, during Pervez Musharraf ’s rule they met in Washington DC and mended fences “to rid Pakistan” of the general. Ms Hussain observed that Ms Bhutto “did not take well to criticism”.

Veteran former diplomat Zafar Hilaly spoke fondly of his memories of Benazir Bhutto, saying that the slain PPP chief stood out amongst world leaders. However, Mr Hilaly said Ms Bhutto “had no idea about how to deal with the military. I told her the army wants to be led, it does not want to be consulted”, which ended up infuriating her.

He revealed that following the Oct 2007 Karsaz bombing, then US ambassador Anne Patterson made it “very clear” to Ms Bhutto in a meeting that she should continue to cooperate with Gen Musharraf. Mr Hilaly said that following the US diplomat’s remark, which displeased Ms Bhutto intensely, he knew the “deal” brokered by the Americans between her and the general “was over”.

Political personalities: In a session on the politics and personalities of Pakistan, senior journalist Najam Sethi reminisced about his meetings with the country’s major political players through the decades.

He grew close to many Baloch leaders while in Hyderabad Prison, incarcerated during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s rule for “trying to help the Baloch in a small way”.

He said while Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo wanted a negotiated settlement with Mr Bhutto, Khair Bakhsh Marri “wanted to fight”. During the 1970s’ SENSE, P29

PAKISTAN

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P13

Trials in Military Courts Begin This Week Islamabad: Military courts would begin trial in 12 terrorism cases from this week, the army announced on Saturday.

Military spokesman Maj Gen Asim Bajwa in a twitter posting said: “To begin with 12 cases (have been) assigned to military courts. Legal process kicks off.”

The announcement came a day after Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for getting a go-ahead for the start of trial of terrorism accused by military courts.

The interior ministry had forwarded 39 cases to the army for trial by the military courts, out of which 12 have been assigned to the courts for hearing.

The military neither named the cases that were to be heard in the first phase nor clarified the procedure that would be adopted for the trial of the accused.

However, an interior ministry source revealed that most of the cases being taken up at this stage were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had been hit hardest by terrorism.

Another source revealed that cases from Punjab and those related to sectarian killings were not among the 12 placed before the newly instituted military tribunals. The claim could not be verified independently.

A military source said the accused would be free to hire their counsel.

Lawyer retd Col Inamur Rahim

said it was still unclear whether the military courts would adopt some special procedure or follow the Army Act. Under the Army Act the accused is given a charge sheet and summary of evidence 24 hours before the commencement of the trial.

Mr Rahim said that since articles 10 and 10-A of the Constitution held the field these provisions guaranteed freedom to choose counsel and fair trial.

The military courts were agreed upon by the political leadership under the National Action Plan against terrorism adopted in December after the Peshawar school tragedy in which 150 students and staff lost their lives.

The parliament later amended the Constitution and the Army Act

to pave the way for the establishment of military courts for a period of two years.

The army has set up nine courts — three each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab; while Sindh and Balochistan have two and one, respectively.

Gen Bajwa said that provincial apex committees, comprising the civilian and military leadership of the four provinces, had selected the terrorism cases and forwarded them to the interior ministry, which vetted them before handing them over to the army.

The military courts open trial in terrorism cases as the Supreme Court resumes hearing on Feb 12 in a petition filed by the Lahore High Court Bar Association challenging their creation.

Climate Change: Karachi Could Submerge into the Sea by 2060

Islamabad: A top oceanographer issued an eerie warn-

ing on Monday about the possible submerging of Karachi and other coastal districts into the sea by 2060, counting the potential damage that environmental changes could inflict on the country.

“Some parts of Karachi’s Malir area have already gone under water while Sindh’s Thatta and Badin districts will also sink into the water by 2050,” Dr Asif Inam, director general of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), told a parliamentary panel.

Dr Inam was briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, headed by Professor Sajjid Mir. The meeting was called to discuss the rising threat of sea intrusion along the coasts of Balochistan and Sindh, as well as the post- and pre-partition status of islands.

“During the last 35 years, almost two kilometers of

coastline near Sindh and Balochistan has submerged into the sea as well as 200,000 acres of land in Sindh,” he informed.

The Senate panel members were told that the United Nations Environment Program and its program on regional oceans in 1989 had included Pakistan in the list of the countries that could be affected due to rising sea levels.

He cited “abrupt environmental changes, severity in monsoon and increased flooding” as prime causes of soil erosion and change in the coastline near Badin and Thatta. “This abrupt change has disturbed the oceanic lifecycle for which data from many areas is unavailable,” he added.

Commenting on the emerging threat, Science and Technology Secretary Kamran Ali Qureshi said it was an issue of grave significance.

Speaking before the panel, Sindh University’s Professor Sarfraz Hussain Solangi discussed the issues of global warming, climate change and its impact on people.

“We have to prepare for climate change as the temperature of Karachi will rise by three degrees and northern areas are to witness five degrees increase in temperature,” he said.

Similarly, as the country’s water table is turning more brackish in certain areas, “we should undertake a comprehensive study and research to sort this out”.

An official at Balochistan’s Coastal Development Authority also expressed similar fears and said water in some areas of Balochistan had also become salty and brackish.

Solangi also shared a World Wildlife Federation’s report which stated that one kilometer area along the 770 kilometer coastline had already gone under the sea.

“There is a need to counter these threats on a war footing.

We should ban the cutting of mangroves trees,” he added.

Senator Taj Haider shared the Sindh government initiative to build a 220-kilometer, four-lane road along the coastline to stop land erosion. “However, for this purpose, we also need 50 per cent financial assistance from the federal government,” he said.

Given the gravity of the situation, Senator Dr Karim Ahmed Khawaja proposed that the Council of Common Interests take up the issue as well. “In this regard a letter should be written to the prime minister to formulate a comprehensive plan

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MQM to Challenge Baldia Town JIT Report in Court: Dr Farooq Sattar

Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Move-

ment (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar said his party has decided to challenge in a court of law the findings of the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report on the Baldia Town factory fire.

Addressing a press conference here at Nine Zero, Dr Sattar flanked by members of MQM Rabitta Committee termed the JIT report on the Model Town tragedy as fabricated and based on lies.

“An attempt has been made under a conspiracy to implicate MQM through a baseless report,” he said.

Haider Abbas Rizvi on the occasion said thousands of concocted JIT reports were also prepared in the

MQM Should Disassociate Itself from Altaf: Imran

past to indiscriminately target the party chief Altaf Hussain as well as workers.

He said the JIT report of Model Town tragedy was made on hearsays, as the ‘report is based purely on anecdotal evidence’.

He said the report was prepared about one-and-a-half-years ago in 2013 and made public now.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui termed the report part of a conspiracy against the MQM. Earlier, party chief Altaf Hussain strongly condemned the JIT report on Balida Town factory blaze – the worst incident of fire in Pakistan’s history in which more than 250 people lost their lives.

Imran’s Allegations Baseless and Condemnable: MQM

Islamabad: In a strongly-worded

Karachi: Responding to Pakistan

IMRAN, P29

MQM, P29

attack on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday requested members of the MQM to disassociate themselves from their party leader, while repeatedly referring to him as a ‘psychopath’ and a ‘coward’.

Addressing the media, Imran accused Altaf Hussain of being behind the murders of former PTI Sindh women’s wing president of Zahra Shahid and journalist Wali Babar Khan.

The PTI chief said that after the findings of a joint investigation team (JIT) had called on the government to bring the MQM chief back to the country and try him for the death of the Baldia Town factory workers, alleging that they fell victim to the party’s ‘extortionist agenda’.

“The whole nation should unite against Altaf Hussain’s terrorism in Karachi,” the PTI chief said.

He said taking action on the results of the report from the JIT is Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s responsibility.

“The prime minister can do anything about it. But when they are in rule, and business in the country flourishes, they forget that their actual responsibility is towards the people of the country.”

Imran further added that they will press the British government to initiate legal proceedings against Altaf.

“The two witnesses, who are in custody of the Pakistan government, in regard to the murder of Imran Farooq, should be sent to England to give evidence against the MQM chief,” he said.

Imran said he would not attend any APC now. “Mian sahib, we have given you all the backing we can despite the rigging that took place in

Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s strongly worded attack against the Muttahida Qoumi Movement (MQM) and its chief Altaf Hussain, the party’s coordination committee termed the PTI chief ’s statements as “baseless and condemnable”, and part of a pre-planned scheme against the party. “…this conference (PTI’ press conference) was not abrupt…just like the Islamabad sit-in, it is a part of a pre-planned scheme,” said MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, while addressing the media at party headquarters Nine-Zero in Karachi on Monday evening.

Calling it a “Black Day” in Pakistan’s political history, Rizvi said that MQM workers were in shock and sorrow over Imran’s incitement against their party chief.

While referring to Imran’s stance regarding talks with the Taliban, he said, “You are a Taliban supporter… their political wing. You just want to become the prime minister, even if the people are being killed in bomb blasts.”

Rizvi further alleged that the “Taliban had pre-rigged the elections for PTI by attacking party offices of political opponents”.

“A party that could hold political rallies following a few hours notice, was unable to openly campaign for elections,” Rizvi complained.

The MQM leader called Imran a “political vulture” who conducted his politics over people’s lives.

He revealed that Shah Mehmood Qureshi often called his party chief for ‘favors’, i.e. for their rallies to be held in Karachi unhindered, but instead the MQM was blamed for PTI Sindh women’s wing president Zahra Shahid’s murder. “You could not

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P14 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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PAKISTAN

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15

Has Imran Khan Shot Himself in the Foot?

n By Salahuddin Haider

A

Karachi, Pakistan

s Pakistan moves from crisis to crisis, the focus seems to have shifted from prime minister Nawaz Sharif to the future of cricketerturned-politician Imran Khan. Has he doomed himself by shooting himself in the foot? Is he in some kind of dilemma? Or would he manage to extricate himself from the present impasse and be back on the road to success?

These, and many more, are some of the crucial questions about the fate of a person, who shot to overnight popularity, but now appears lost in midstream.

An unbalanced view will be rather uncharitable, but a two-week earlier announcement from the chief of the Tehrik-i-Insaaf to concentrate more on improving and developing Khyber Pukhtoonkhawa (KPK) where his party is in power for well over 20 months now, came as a rude shock, not only for party-men, supporters, and sympathizers, but for the general masses as well.

By staging four-months of sit-ins at Islamabad’s high security zone --from August to December 16 -- Imran had raised his image enormously. He had almost begun to be idolized by most Pakistanis, disappointed, and disillusioned by Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, whose misrule since the 2008 elections, has driven people to support even an undemocratic rule, if it helped them to recover from the present morass and

prolonged mis-governance Consensus has developed that his three-point plan to project a new image of the north-western province, deserved appreciation but it simultaneously gave rise to a debate as to whether this strategy would help the PTI chief to retain his place as a national leader.

His boldness to challenge a well entrenched government had jolted the ruling Muslim League party of Sharif to the hilt, and though the latter managed to rally the parliament behind him, he never looked comfortable against an opponent, who had taken the country by storm.

Sharif must have heaved a sigh of relief by Khan’s latest press conference, but he should really be pondering as to whether he can really have a chance to be in peace at least for a couple of years.

Hardly one crisis passes when another emerges from phoenix, the latest being the petrol shortages, which has badly tarnished the NLeague image in the public. The irony is that he faces the worst ever crisis of his political career in his home province of the Punjab, where agitation had been so vociferous and abrupt because of petrol shortages and persistent absence of electricity, gas and water for daily use that the government had to spend sleepless nights.

This was a golden opportunity for Khan to strike at his formidable rival, but the post-Peshawar scene( when 142 children were massacred in an army public school) stood in his way. His marriage with BBC weather girl, Reham Khan, caused consternation for no fault of his own. The media built such a hype that Khan, visiting the army public school to

sympathize with the students surviving the mass killing of 16th December, had to face a hostile crowd of grief-stricken parents, shouting “go Imran go” slogans.

Such a humiliation could have been easily overcome, but Khan also knew that continuing the tirade against a settled government may irk the army as well, and chances for recovery could then be slim.

He therefore opted to confine himself to KPK, putting off for the time being the demand for the removal of the Sharif administration, and fresh elections. He and his key supporters have kept harping on the tune that the demand for judicial probe into election rigging will not be withdrawn; analysts were quick to assess that Khan’s game, at least for the time being, was over.

However PTI chief also knows that he has a chance now to win 6 or 7 seats from KPK in the Parliament’s upper house of Senate, and may well get one or two seats from the Punjab.

He will thus, for the first time, have representation in the true sense in the parliament. The Senate elections are due on March 3, and nominations are to be filed on February 11. He therefore hardly has time to waste .Obviously he would not be misguided by his party-men at this critical juncture to quit national assembly and KPK seats. By being in the Senate, he will have enormous leverage in national politics. How would he react in future to safeguard against being wiped off from the national scene is a vital question, which he and his party’s key functionaries will now need to answer.

But in conclusion general consensus prevails that Imran had awakened the people, injecting a new life in them to catch the rulers for follies or misgovernance. That in itself is Khan’s immense contribution. PML(N) had trained all its guns on the PTI chief, but that is all part of the game. It is the end result that counts.

India, Pakistan Suspend Trade on Kashmir Border

Truck supply check point at the Line of Control (LoC) in Chakothi

Muzaffrabad: India and Pakistan have suspended trade across their de facto border in the disputed territory of Kashmir after Indian authorities detained a truck driver accused of drug trafficking, Pakistani officials said on Sunday.

Barter trade across the de facto border began in 2008 as part of peace efforts but it is frequently disrupted over disputes.

“We were informed by the Indian authorities on Friday evening that they have stopped 22 Pakistani trucks which crossed the Line of Control (LOC) earlier that day,” Basharat Iqbal, trade facilitation officer on the Pakistani side of the border, told AFP. “They told us that they had discovered 12 kilograms of opium from a truck carrying oranges and were taking an action against the driver.

After the incident, we also held 50

Indian trucks in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), because traffic crosses the border simultaneously,” said Iqbal.

Imtiaz Wayen, director-general of AJK’s trade and travel authority, said India was not entitled to stop Pakistani drivers on grounds of smuggling.

“According to our agreement, if they find any banned item in our trucks they are bound to hand over that item and the relevant truck driver to us for further action,” he said.

“We have informed the officials of the ministry of foreign affairs about this matter and have asked them to take up this issue,” he added.

In addition to barter trade, families separated by the de facto border may apply for special passes to visit their relatives on buses that operate two days a week.

Job opportunity at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles Position: Consular Assistant Job Description: Duties involve office job as well as outside activities as per requirement at odd hours during the weekend.

Qualific Qualification: (i) Graduate degree (ii) Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office and Excel. Good linguistic and inter personnel skills.

Apply along with resume and copy of legal status document and color photograph.

Two references may be provided.

Address: 10700 Santa Monica Blvd.

Suite 211, Los Angeles CA-90025 E-mail: apstocg@gmail.com Fax: 310-441-9256 Preference will be given to those candidates who reside in close proximity to the Consulate.

Last date for receiving the application is Febr uar y 05, 2015. www.PakistanLink.com

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TIME (PST)

14:00 19:30 17:00 19:30 14:00 14:00 19:30 14:00 17:00 14:00 19:30 14:00 19:30 14:00 19:30 19:30 14:00 19:30 19:30 17:00 22:30 14:00 19:30 19:30 17:00 22:30 14:00 22:30 17:00 19:30 14:00 18:30 19:30 17:00 19:30 17:00 17:00 19:30 17:00 19:30 14:00 19:30 19:30 19:30 19:30 17:00 17:00 19:30 19:30

MATCH DETAILS

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 1st Match, Pool A Australia vs England, 2nd Match, Pool A South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 3rd Match, Pool B India vs Pakistan, 4th Match, Pool B Ireland vs West Indies, 5th Match, Pool B New Zealand vs Scotland, 6th Match, Pool A Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 7th Match, Pool A United Arab Emirates vs Zimbabwe, 8th Match, Pool B New Zealand vs England, 9th Match, Pool A Pakistan vs West Indies, 10th Match, Pool B Australia vs Bangladesh, 11th Match, Pool A Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, 12th Match, Pool A India vs South Africa, 13th Match, Pool B England vs Scotland, 14th Match, Pool A West Indies vs Zimbabwe, 15th Match, Pool B Ireland vs United Arab Emirates, 16th Match, Pool B Afghanistan vs Scotland, 17th Match, Pool A Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 18th Match, Pool A South Africa vs West Indies, 19th Match, Pool B New Zealand vs Australia, 20th Match, Pool A India vs United Arab Emirates, 21st Match, Pool B England vs Sri Lanka, 22nd Match, Pool A Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 23rd Match, Pool B Ireland vs South Africa, 24th Match, Pool B Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates, 25th Match, Pool B Australia vs Afghanistan, 26th Match, Pool A Bangladesh vs Scotland, 27th Match, Pool A India vs West Indies, 28th Match, Pool B Pakistan vs South Africa, 29th Match, Pool B Ireland vs Zimbabwe, 30th Match, Pool B New Zealand vs Afghanistan, 31st Match, Pool A Australia vs Sri Lanka, 32nd Match, Pool A England vs Bangladesh, 33rd Match, Pool A India vs Ireland, 34th Match, Pool B Sri Lanka vs Scotland, 35th Match, Pool A South Africa vs United Arab Emirates, 36th Match, Pool B New Zealand vs Bangladesh, 37th Match, Pool A Afghanistan vs England, 38th Match, Pool A India vs Zimbabwe, 39th Match, Pool B Australia vs Scotland, 40th Match, Pool A West Indies vs United Arab Emirates, 41st Match, Pool B Ireland vs Pakistan, 42nd Match, Pool B TBC vs TBC, 1st Quarter-Final (A1 v B4) TBC vs TBC, 2nd Quarter-Final (A2 v B3) TBC vs TBC, 3rd Quarter-Final (A3 v B2) TBC vs TBC, 4th Quarter-Final (A4 v B1) TBC vs TBC, 1st Semi-Final TBC vs TBC, 2nd Semi-Final TBC vs TBC, Final

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FEBRUARY 13, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

WOMEN

P18 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

By M. Shirazi

C

ome February and you start feeling the romance in the air. It definitely has to do everything with Valentine's Day. When one has to focus on what to give, what to wear and where to go, one also has to have the perfect look for the Valentine's Day. You have waited for this day the whole year. You have to look gorgeous, you have to look stunning, you have to beat the rest. Of course you wouldn't want your man to set his eyes on someone else and that too on V-Day. On this day you should opt for a sexy look. And what is more seductive than red? Right? If you think wearing red is cliched, you can go for a subtle colour dress and add red to your makeup. Trust us, it will not be overdone. In fact, it will be perfect for the day. You can wear whatever you want and paint your lips red and it will add that oomph to your entire personality. It's apt for the occasion and looks hot!

This Valentine's Day, beautician Anam Falak shares some makeup tips that will help you look sizzling for your special loved one.

Set the base: Start off with your base/foun-

dation. According to Anam it is important to have a flawless base so that your face looks smooth and glowing. "The first thing to do is to hydrate and prime your skin before anything else. It helps the skin remain soft and supple giving a youthful finish. And it also helps the foundation to settle in much better. I personally love Laura Mercier's Hydrating Foundation Primer," shares Anam.

The next step is to apply a light liquid based foundation matching your skin tone before you apply a concealer. "Give the foundation a few minutes to sink in the skin before applying your concealer.

Armani and Troy Surratt offer amazing foundation and concealer brushes.

"Make sure you set your foundation with a translucent powder like Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening powder and then spritz your face with a makeup fixing spray like Urban Decay's All Nighter," she adds.

Blushing beauty: Keep it all natural. You don't want too much colour on your cheeks as you want your lip colour to stand out. After you are done with your base/foundation, apply light peach or baby pink blusher.

"And in the end to add that youthful glow apply a powder highlighter like Anam Makeup Dewy Skin Pro Highlighter in either Angel or Breathless or Mac's Mineralize in Soft and Gentle on the areas you want to add that glowy touch too, which are the Middle of the forehead, bridge of the nose, chin and just above the cheeks on the sides," explains Anam.

Bare eyes: Go bare with your eyes this Valentine's Day as you want to keep your emphasis on your glowing skin and bright lips. If you are fair or have a wheatish complexion, just add a little gold shimmer on your eyes and apply a little mascara and you are all set to go.

Red hot lips: "My ultimate lip saviour is by Hourglass cosmetics called No 28 Lip Treatment oil. A dab of it on your lips before applying any lip stain or lipstick prevents the lipstick from chapping off and lasts for hours," says Anam.

Red lipstick can stain your face if it spreads, so Anam advises to outline your lips with a slightly darker or same shade of red before filling it in with your lipstick.

"Filling your lips in with the same lip liner will add intensity before you apply your lipstick on top," she shares.

Tress talk: For your hair just wash and get a blow-dry with gentle natural looking curls at the ends and slightly backcombed on the crown to give light volume at the top.

Anam recommends using Bumble and Bumble Surf foam Wash Shampoo which wipes out impurities and makes way for buoyant body and soft, sea breezy texture.

If you have frizzy hair, go for Bumble and Bumble Defrizz serum in the end to control unnecessary flyaway and frizziness.

For darker skin tones Don't fret girls, Anam has some tips for all you wheatish complexioned girls out there too. "In winter, deeper skin tends to get ashy

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due to the dry weather so it is important to keep your skin moisturised. Drink plenty of water, especially coconut water, as it helps in keeping your skin fresh, glowy and youthful," advises Anam.

For deeper/darker skin tones, use gold based highlighters for your face like the Anam Dewy Skin Pro Highlighter in Breathless, as deep skin has more of a yellow undertone. A gold based highlighter will give a very natural look. The

same applies when choosing a foundation. "If a dark girl applies a light coloured base, she will end up looking grey. Make sure you use a foundation that suits your natural skin tone. Aim for a flawless yet natural looking skin," she stresses.

According to the beautician, red lip colours that would look gorgeous on wheatish girls include Fire Engine by Gerard Cosmetics; Terre de Feu by Nars and Red Sinner by the Lipstick Queen. And voila you are all set to dazzle.`

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FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P19

Friday, February 13, 2015

VOL. 25/7 PAGE 22

PAGE PAGE 24 17

egum PAGE 23

The Helen Keller of Pakistan & Angel of Hope

24 Rabi ‘u-thani 1436 H

What Nobody Says about Muslims and Arabs

OP Nayyar – When Rhythm Was King

Meeting the President to Expand Muslim Civic Participation

n By Hoda Elshishtawy National Policy Analyst Muslim Public Affairs Council

T

oday (Feb 4), I had the honor of participating in the first meeting between President Obama and American Muslims to discuss a range of national and domestic issues. It is historic in that it was the first meeting with our President to address pressing issues impacting our community.

After a brief address by President Obama, American Muslim scholar Dr. Sherman Jackson pointed out that American Muslims are part of the broader American society, and that Islam and Muslims have a great deal to contribute and have contributed to American civic life.

I began by highlighting the remarks made by the President during his conversation with British Prime Minister David Cameron with respect to the unique experience of American Muslims and that they, like every other American, are part of this nation. I also discussed the impact of role models and how important they are in inspiring civic and political engagement in young people, as well as the value of American Muslims serving their country in senior-level positions in the government.

n By C. Naseer Ahmad Washington, DC: World renowned

scholar and author of “How to Read Islamic Carpets” Dr Walter E. Denny presented a fascinating lecture at the Freer Gallery of Art - Meyer Auditorium on January 29, 2015 in Washington. During this lecture, Dr Denny explained how examining the structure, design and placement of carpets in past paintings can be interpreted. The lecture was both entertaining and educational – from historical, cultural as well as trade perspective.

The intellectually invigorating event was hosted by the World Affairs Council DC in collabora-

We are aware of the various challenges American Muslims face to enter into careers in government and we want to ensure that American Muslim involvement, especially from young people, are part of the process and at the highest levels. The impact of having American Muslims serving at Cabinet-level and Undersecretary positions will demonstrate that American Muslims really are part of the process.

I personally handed the President a list of highly qualified American Muslim professionals to consider for appointed positions within the Administration. These individu-

als come from a variety of industries including STEM, national security, foreign policy and education. These Americans are building bridges between our nation and Muslim communities worldwide and are eager to serve our country at the highest levels possible.

Other issues raised during the meeting were the intersection of national security and civil liberties and the continuing reform of the Department of Justice racial profiling guidance to eliminate the border and national security loopholes.

American Muslim leaders around the table also brought up healthcare,

technology and entrepreneurship, and youth development.

We discussed the administration’s potential role in pushing back against anti-Muslim bigotry, especially when it comes from public officials. Foreign policy and issues of religious freedom, both domestically and internationally, were also raised during the meeting. Leaders focused on the protection of minorities in Muslim-majority countries.

We look forward to the Administration engaging the broader American Muslim community for the remainder of President Obama’s term.

Fascinating Lecture on How to Read Islamic Carpets tion with Freer Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Textile Museum at The George Washington University (GWU) and the Turkish Cultural Foundation. To underscore the commitment to advancing education and higher learning, Dr Steven Knapp, President, the George Washington University also attended the talk along with his wife.

Diplomats, scholars, students, government workers and Washington area business professionals were in the large audience. The conversations during the reception prior to the lecture revealed a continuing interest about Islamic history and soci-

eties in Washington.

Introducing Dr Denny’s book,

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rich with knowledge and historical perspective, the Yale University Press

For news, updated round the clock, visit

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President Urged to Address Issues of Profiling Washington, DC: On Feb 4 “Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera met with President Barack Obama at a historic meeting to discuss issues concerning the American Muslim community,” according to an email message.

“Participants at the roundtable discussed a range of issues, including racial and religious profiling, antiMuslim hate and discrimination, and the need for greater representation of American Muslims in government and the federal judiciary. “ ‘This meeting could not have come at a better time. With public officials from statehouses to Congress questioning the loyalty of Americans simply because they are Muslim, I commend the President for sitting down with American Muslims to discuss our hopes and dreams for our nation,’ said Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates. ‘As he prioritizes his work in these last two years in office, I urged the President to make real and lasting reforms on racial and religious profiling and countering antiMuslim hate a part of his legacy.’

“At the meeting, Khera asked the President to work with his new Attorney General to modify and strengthen profiling guidance to ban racial, religious and ethnic profiling in all its forms, including at the border and in the national security context. ..

“Khera and others ISSUES, P20

says: “Carpets made in the “Rug Belt”—an area that includes Morocco, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and northern India— have been a source of fascination and collecting since the 13th century.”

During his lecture, Dr Denny shared with the audience some of the beautiful photographs of the carpets from different eras. There are fifty-one new photographs with revealing details in the book.

In his lively and humorous lecture, Dr Denny discussed the design techniques, the materials and the craftsmanship. He then discussed the carpet trade and the socioeconomic context of the works of carpet weavers in different CARPETS, P20

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P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

In Unison, Muslim Clerics Lash out against Islamic State n By Vivian Salama

Baghdad: The immolation of a Jorda-

nian pilot by the Islamic State group has brought a unified outcry Friday from top religious clerics across the Muslim world — including a prominent jihadi preacher — who insisted the militants have gone too far.

Abu Mohammed al-Maqdesi, considered a spiritual mentor for many alQaida militants, said the killing of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh is “not acceptable in any religion.” He spoke in an interview with Jordan’s Roya TV a day after being released from more than three months in detention.

At Friday prayers in neighboring Iraq, where the militant group has seized territory in a third of the country, top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani declared in a sermon that the “savage” act demonstrates the extremists know no boundaries and violate “Islamic values and humanity.”

Religious groups, often at odds with one another over ideologies or politics, are increasingly speaking out in unison against the militants, who continue to enforce their rule in Iraq and Syria through massacres, kidnapping, forced marriages, stoning and other acts of brutality.

Iranian Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani claimed in his sermon that militant groups like the Islamic State are created by Western nations as a means for promoting “an ugly picture of Islam.”

Earlier this week, Islamic State militants released a video of al-Kaseasbeh, a Muslim, being burned to death in a cage. While the beheading of hostages from the US, Britain and Japan brought condemnation from most religious sects within Islam, the gruesome images of the airman’s slaying served as a unifying battle-cry for Muslims across the world.

Jordan joined a US-led military coalition against the militants in September, but said it would intensify its airstrikes in response to the killing of its air force pilot. On Thursday, dozens of CARPETS FROM P19

historical periods and geographic regions. His discussion on these carpets covered the cultural and social realm of their production. Dr Denny gave examples of nomadic encampments, rural and urban workshop settings.

One of the amazing photographs he shared with the audience was a carpet made in Lahore – commissioned during the British rule in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent. There are in fact a number of references to Lahore in his book. He also shared pictures of Islamic carpets in European churches. Dr Denny informed the audience about the carpets as a symbol of wealth and that the presence of such carpets in the background of royal portraits in Europe and elsewhere.

Both Dr Denny’s discussion as well as the displays told the story of Islamic carpets evolving into precious objects in the art galleries around the world. He showed pictures of some of the most exquisite carpets on display in art galleries in US, Europe, and most recently, in Qatar. He showed the picture of a magnificent carpet on display in the Lyndon B. Johnson Library, Austin, Texas.

According to the Yale University Press, Dr. Denny’s book “is an essential guide for students, collectors, and professionals who want to understand the art of the Islamic car-

Jordanians attend the Friday prayers, surrounding posters of slain Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh taped on a light pole, ahead of an anti-IS group rally in Amman, Jordan, Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. Several thousand people marched after Muslim Friday prayers in support

fighter jets struck Islamic State weapons depots and training sites, Jordan’s military said.

Outrage escalated in the capital of Amman following Friday prayers, with demonstrators unfurling a large Jordanian flag and holding up banners supporting King Abdullah II’s pledge for a tough military response to avenge alKaseasbeh’s death.

“We all stand united with the Hashemite leadership in facing terrorism,” one banner read.

It is unusual to see such a unified response from religious institutions, because moderate camps often represent drastically different views to those of hard-line minority groups. The recent attacks on journalists at the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, for instance, brought a range of responses in the Muslim world, with many condemning the death of innocent people but disagreeing on whether the publication crossed the line in its caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

Even clerics aligned with the Islamic State group are said to be speaking out against the pilot’s killing. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said extremists dismissed one of pet.” But, for those in the audience, it was history coming alive through the words and pictures presented by Dr Denny.

By hosting Dr Denny, together with the Smithsonian Institution and GWU, the World Affairs Council DC once again proved that Washington is “where learning happens.”

And, carpets as gifts are not just relegated to the books. For a number of years, the National Press Club in Washington proudly displayed a carpet gifted from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – in his earlier tenures.

ISSUES FROM P19

highlighted the palpable rise in anti-Muslim bigotry and hate crimes across the nation. Khera also asked for the President’s leadership in addressing this serious problem by using his pulpit to reset the national conversation on hate against Muslims and other religious minority communities.

“Noting that no American Muslim has served as a federal judge, Khera also urged for the nomination of one or more qualified American Muslim lawyers to the federal judiciary.

“Today’s meeting was attended by a small group of American Muslim leaders, and marks the first time President Obama has held a roundtable with the American Muslim community...”

its religious officials in Aleppo province after he objected to how the Jordanian pilot was put to death.

The religious official, a Saudi cleric known as Abu Musab al-Jazrawi, said during a meeting that such killings contradict the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Abdurrahman said. Other clerics in the meeting in the northern town of Bab began a verbal attack against the Saudi cleric, who was later sacked and referred to a religious court, he said. The incident could not be confirmed independently.

Many Facebook users in Bosnia posted pictures Friday of the Jordanian king in his military uniform, hailing his pledge to take a “severe response” for the pilot’s death. The head of Bosnia’s Islamic community, Husein Kavazovic, denounced the militant group, saying “there is no ‘but’ in condemning those

crimes.” At least 150 Bosnians have reportedly joined the Islamic State group, and Kavazovic called on his government to strip them of their citizenship.

Al-Maqdesi criticized the militants for declaring a caliphate, or an Islamic state, last year in the areas under their control. Al-Maqdesi said such a state run according to Islamic law is meant to unite Muslims, but the extremists have been divisive.

Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, head of the world’s most prestigious seat of Sunni Islam learning, Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque, said earlier this week that the IS militants deserve the Qur’anic punishment of death, crucifixion or chopping off their arms for being enemies of God and the Prophet Muhammad.

“Islam prohibits the taking of an innocent life,” al-Tayeb said. By burning the pilot to death, he added, the militants violated Islam’s prohibition on the immolation or mutilation of bodies — even during wartime.

Iraq’s top Sunni mufti, Sheik Mahdi al-Sumaidaie, said the crime against al-Kaseasbeh is “unprecedented,” adding that “the Prophet Muhammad said that only God can punish with fire.”

Pakistani Sunni cleric Munir Ahmed, in his sermon in Islamabad, also dismissed any theological basis for the crime, saying the “gruesome” death of the Jordanian pilot “is the most horrible act of cruelty.” It’s a punishment that “Allah has kept for its own CLERICS, P29

Sam Sultan Ahmad Running for Cerritos City Council

Cerritos, CA: Sam Sul-

tan Ahmad is running for the Cerritos City Council with the election scheduled for March 3rd, 2015, says a press release. January 10th marked his campaign kickoff at the Shahnawaz Restaurant where more than 100 of his ardent supporters were present and pledged to work for his success. He reports that his fundraising efforts are ahead of schedule allowing him to run a spirited campaign.

One of his early supporters is John Paul Drayer, Cerritos College Board of Trustees. “I have known Sam for quite some time, and have found him to be a man of integrity who will make an exceptional City Council member. I urge all of my friends and supporters to endorse him and help get Sam elected on March 3rd.” “ I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving my community, including the South Asian community,” said Sam Sultan Ahmad,. “I have realized so many personal and professional dreams that giving back to the residents of my wonderful community, Cerritos, is the right thing to do.”

Sam says that the past City Council, for the most part, has done a terrific job.

“But the areas where they have come up short are the areas of my expertise. That’s why I am running for a seat on the City Council.”

“I will use my extensive business and financial experience to promote higher standards of living in our City by creating a more prosperous business environment, more jobs, and greater revenue to support better City services sometimes by thinking outside the box.”

Sam points out that the Cerritos

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Killing of Muslim Students Mourned The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California mourns the senseless killing of three young Muslim students at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill yesterday, says a message. It adds: “Hate has no boundaries and ignorance no borders” said Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Shura Council; in response to the tragic killings of Deah Barakat (23); his wife,Yusor Abu-Salha (21) and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha (19). We extend our most sincere condolences and prayers to the families of the victims and ask Allah (swt) to shower them with His mercy.

The Shura Council calls upon all Masajid to hold special prayers for the victims and asks Khateebs to speak on the topic of hate and bigotry vs. love and compassion. The Shura Council is working closely with MSA-West to ensure the safety and security of Muslim students on all campuses.

We call upon law enforcement to investigate these tragic killings and hold those responsible to the fullest extent of the law, the message ended.

CAIR: The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, Wednesday called on law enforcement authorities to address speculation about a possible bias motive for the killing of three young Muslims who were shot in the head yesterday in Chapel Hill, NC. The alleged killer, 46-year-old Craig Stephen Hicks, has been arrested and charged three counts of first-degree murder. He is accused of shooting Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor AbuSalha, 21, and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha, 19.Both female victims are pictured online wearing Islamic head scarves (hijab). No motive for the shootings has been released.

On Facebook, Hicks describes himself as an “anti-theist” and has posted condemnations of all religions. One post, a picture from United Atheists of America, asks “why radical Christians and radical Muslims are so opposed to each others’ influence when they agree about so many ideological issues.”

Reports of the incident led to widespread speculation on social media that the killings were motivated by anti-Muslim bias.

“Based on the brutal nature of this crime, the past anti-religion statements of the alleged perpetrator, the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to quickly address speculation of a possible bias motive in this case,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the local community.”

MPAC: The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is shocked and saddened by the cold-blooded killings of three young American Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The three young people were shot execution style by a self-proclaimed Atheist while they were in their home.

“MPAC expresses its deepest condolences to the families in this tragic time as they grieve the loss of these three young people,” Salam Al-Marayati President of MPAC. “We also express our condolences to the American Muslim community and urge them to be vigilant at this time as the facts of this case are made public.”

MPAC urges the FBI and the Department of Justice to open an immediate investigation and consider this a

Center for the Performing Arts only has about 5 or 6 shows per month. He believes that if we work to book more events there we can reduce the subsidy that the City makes, which in turn, can be invested in our Public Safety programs.

He says that a dollar earned is a dollar saved and a dollar that can be reinvested elsewhere like providing additional support to the police and fire departments to reduce response times in the event of an emergency. “I believe that public safety is job one for the City!” Sam said.

“I am also against raising taxes and fees for our residents - which is why I am against the proposed increase in the Water Tax, but I am for the Hotel Bed Tax which will appear on the ballot. It has been estimated that the increase in the Bed Tax - the first time since the 1980’s - will bring in almost an additional $500,000 to the City mostly by visitors that live outside the area. This increase in revenue could go to pay any increase in our water rates, as well as an increased schedule to fix our sidewalks and trim our trees.”

Sam Sultan Ahmad has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Engineering, a Master’s of Business Administration degree, and a J.D. in Criminal Justice Administration. Sam has been married to his wife Razia, for 28 years. They have two children; their daughter Shumesa, 27, and son Adeel, 12.

“I am running for Cerritos City Council to make Cerritos a better place to live and work ... not just for my family, but for all the families that live here,” concluded Ahmad.

For more information about the candidacy of Sam Sultan Ahmad, please visit his website at: www.Sam4Cerritos.com KILLING, P24

COMMUNITY

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21

Kashmir Solidarity Day Celebrated in Washington

Washington, DC: An impressive and jam-packed event of friends of Kashmir was held in Northern Virginia to express their solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Chairman of the event, said the resolution of the Kashmir dispute would guarantee peace and security in the region of South Asia.

He quoted Jonathan Tipperman who had said, ‘The road to Kabul runs through Kashmir.”

Fai questioned the statement of India’s foreign ministry spokesman who said on February 7, 2015 that “the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir is and will always remain an integral part of the Indian Union.” Fai said that the statement goes against the very foundation of the international agreements which were negotiated by the United Nations and accepted by both India and Pakistan. Under these resolutions, Kashmir is a disputed territory and does not belong to any member country of the United Nations. So, the claim that Kashmir was an integral part of India does not stand.

Fai appealed to Professor Christoff Heynes of South Africa, ‘the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions,’ to persuade the Government of India to return the mortal remains of Mohammad Maqbool Butt and Mohammad Afzal Guru to their respective families as it has been documented that the trial was not fair. Shashi kumar Velath, program director, Amnesty International India, said, “He (Guru) did not receive legal representation of his choice or a lawyer with adequate experience at the trial stage. These concerns were not addressed.”

Azad Kashmir Minister, Raja Faisal Rathore, gave a very emotional speech. He discounted any hope that the Kashmir dispute could be settled through bilateral talks between India and Pakistan.

The leadership of the people of Kashmir is an essential element whose inclusion will pave the way for setting a stage for the settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

Faisal further said that the United States has paved the way for freedom around the world and the United States can help the people of Kashmir achieve their dream – the right of self-determination.

Faisal emphasized that we must respect the sanctity of the Kashmir cause whose legality has been recognized by the United Nations. He reiterated that India and Pakistan both being nuclearweapon states make the Kashmir dispute potentially the most dangerous in the world. It is therefore in the interest of the US to prevent this dispute from exploding into a conflict which can be catastrophic for a large proportion of the human race.

Faisal said that Pakistan as a party to the dispute has a greater responsibility to galvanize the support of the international community to help settle the Kashmir dispute. The international community should not ignore the Kashmiri perspective which is more important than the perspective of India or Pakistan, Faisal added. But unfortunately, the in-

ternational community has maintained silence at the unending atrocities perpetrated on the innocent people of Kashmir. It is beyond any doubt that there would be no peace in Afghanistan until there is a solution of the Kashmir conflict. The road to peace in Afghanistan goes through Kashmir.

Mr Murtaza Durrani, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and the special guest, said that the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir demand that the Government and people of Pakistan, irrespective of their political affiliations, must support the people of Kashmir at the diplomatic front.

He said there is no doubt that the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir is a legitimate right which needs to be supported at all costs.

Durrani appealed to President Obama to remember what he said on October 30, 2008 that “We should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis.” He also urged the United States to respond to the plight of the Kashmiri people who have been suffering for the last 68 years. He said that Pakistani and Kashmiri American community could do better in seeking the understanding of the United States to help settle the Kashmir issue.

Durrani insisted that the Modi Administration should respond positively to Pakistan’s willingness for a peaceful settlement of all issues, including the Kashmir dispute. He added that Kashmiris are the real sufferers and unless they are taken on board no such process can make any headway. The trade between India and Pakistan will not bring peace to the region but the resolution of Kashmir will, Durrani added.

Senator Dr. Akbar Khawja said that the Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest issues pending on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. The United Nations resolutions need to be implemented and the people of Jammu & Kashmir should be associated with the peace process.

He emphasized that no solution would be acceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir unless they are the part of the negotiations.

Mr Javid Rathore, leader of Kashmiri American community from Chicago, highlighted the contribution of Mohtarma Benazir Sahiba in internationalizing the cause of Kashmir. He said leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party should invest in material-

The event was jointly sponsored by Kashmiri American Council; Peoples Party of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir; Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conferences; Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party; Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front; Jammu Kashmir Muslim League; Jamaat-eIslamic Azad Kashmir; Jammu Kashmir Liberation League; Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf; Pakistan Muslim League-N; Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement of Pakistan

izing the dream of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto – the freedom of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Javid demanded that the Government of India must release all political prisoners and repeal all black laws. A suppression of the freedom of opinion and assembly means empowering terroristic elements.

Sardar Zarif Khan said that there must be an early durable resolution to the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that the people of Occupied Kashmir should never feel alone in their struggle. The people and leadership of Azad Kashmir stand by them.

Sardar Zubair Khan spoke about the huge sacrifices given by the people of Kashmir in seeking their birth right of self-determina-

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tion. He stated that we must work to build awareness of the situation in Kashmir by redoubling our outreach to activists for human rights and human dignity. He said that the people of Kashmir should remember that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

Sardar Gulfaraz Inqilabi explained that the presence of 700,000 Indian military and paramilitary forces has made Kashmir the largest army concentration anywhere in the world. He said that the United States should use its moral authority to urge both India and Pakistan to initiate a peace process along with the Kashmiri leadership. He said that there is an urgency of American intervention because of the importance of South Asia to the future of the United States not only in light of the dangerous ongoing nuclear and missile proliferation in the area but also to guarantee peace and stability of the region

after the withdrawal of the United States troops from Afghanistan.

Mr Hamid Malik said that it is our moral obligation to help our brethren in Jammu & Kashmir. He reiterated that it is only fair that the Kashmir dispute be decided in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The world community must accept whatever the people of Kashmir decide.

Johnny Bgood suggested that we must educate the American policy makers about the ground realities in Kashmir. We need to seek the understanding of our Congressmen to help resolve the dispute according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Johnny suggested to take an initiative to educate the US Administration about the situation in Kashmir.

Dr Haroon of AAPNA said that Kashmir conflict remains the bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Without resolving the Kashmir dispute, trying to reduce missile and nuclear arsenals in South Asia will be an exercise in futility.

Ms. Zouqia Aziz of Sangham group said that we look forward to continuing to work with the Kashmiri-American community.

We know that the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people is a genuine demand. We look forward to working with a broader coalition to support human rights in Kashmir, she added.

Imran Butt said that the United States should not abandon the cause of the people of Kashmir to the whims of India and Pakistan.

The United States must intervene to facilitate any understanding between them to help resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Sardar Zulfiqar Khan, the MC of the event, said that there is no military solution to the Kashmir dispute. Kashmir is a political issue and has to be resolved through political means. He further stated that talks must be held between India, Pakistan and leadership of the people of Kashmir; Others who spoke included Mr Zahid Hamidi, Sardar Asghar Khan, Sardar Aftab Khan, Mr Anwar Iqbal, and others.

The event was jointly sponsored by Kashmiri American Council; Peoples Party of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir; Jammu Kashmir Muslim Conferences; Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party; Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front; Jammu Kashmir Muslim League; Jamaat-e-Islamic Azad Kashmir; Jammu Kashmir Liberation League; Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf; Pakistan Muslim League, N; Pakistan Peoples Party and Mutahida-Qaumi Movement of Pakistan.

Earlier the AJK delegation met with Congressman Tim Walberg and Congressman Robert Aderholt and apprised them of the situation in Kashmir. The delegation told the members of Congress that the people of Kashmir have high hopes that President Obama will impress upon both India and Pakistan to help settle the dispute. The members of Congress thanked the delegation for bringing the situation in Kashmir to their attention. They said that they were interested in getting updates about the situation there.

COMMENTARY

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Meet Saima Saleem: The Helen Keller of Pakistan & Ambassador of Hope

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his will give many of you immense inspiration and motivation. I sincerely hope that after reading this, many of us understand that most of the limitations we think of might just be in our mind. Saima is a beacon of hope. She has turned all odds presented to her and time and again has proven that no matter what ‘cards’ are dealt to you, you are in control of your own destiny. My weak effort to her beautiful journey is merely just an attempt to highlight different facets of how she bravely faced adversity.

Some people in the world are bestowed with the ‘vision’ and change course their own history. I happen to come across Saima, and was driven to this conclusion that she happens to be one of them. In 2008, she became the first blind diplomat of Pakistan. Yes, you guys read that right. Read on, it happens to be an amazing story and I found myself dumbfounded.

Due to a genetic disease (Retinitis Pigmentosa), Saima lost her sight in her teenage. Here, where millions of people with special abilities are treated as social outcastes, face all forms of discrimination, are denied fundamental human rights, including, among others, right to education and employment, this ambassador of hope decided to turn every stumbling-block into a stepping- stone. Negative social attitudes, lack of resources, never changing rules and policies and many such obstacles could not match Saima’s unflinching resolve to do something extraordinary in life and change the perception of our society regarding persons with special abilities.

Saima rose like a phoenix. She was the most outstanding student of her school. Due to her academic excellence, she was given a gold medal in Bachelor’s and Master’s by Kinnaird College University for Women. For the first time in Pakistan, all her exams were conducted in Braille because she fought for her rights and refused to appear in exams with the help of a writer who could mar her future due to negligence and lack of

capacity. After her Master’s, she decided to appear in the CSS exams with the resolve to become the first blind Civil Servant of Pakistan.

At first, FPSC refused to conduct her exam because she requested for a computer-based exam which had never been conducted in Pakistan. Through a divine intervention and

her relentless pursuits, her wish was granted and President of Pakistan ordered FPSC to conduct a computer-based exam. It is pertinent to mention that she uses Screen-Reader software (JAWS) for working independently on the computer and software for scanning the books and other material for reading.

The leader got sixth position in the country and first among female candidates. Through an ordinance, FPSC had only allowed disabled candidates to choose only four occupational groups - Accounts, Commerce, Information and Postal.

Once again, Saima refused to accept this discriminatory treatment and chose Foreign Service for she had always wanted to become a diplomat and represent Pakistan. Rules had to face a defeat in front of her indomitable resolve and the Prime Minister of Pakistan allowed her to join Foreign Service on merit.

After joining Foreign Service, she topped all training tests and exams and was given another Gold Medal by the Foreign Service Academy. In addition, she won a Fulbright Scholarship and went to study at the prestigious School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University USA. Upon joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due to her passion to improve human rights in the country, she developed expertise in human rights and had been working on human rights issues for the last five years.

Saima is currently serving the Pakistan Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva (Switzerland) and is working on human rights issues. It is a matter of great pride for the nation that Pakistan is represented by an outstanding young diplomat who has fought incessantly for human rights and has overcome all challenges. Her charismatic personality and stunning achievements have given a big boost to the soft image of the country. What an awesome future prospect for our country that Helen Keller of the 21st century is the face of Pakistan!

Please drop in a line of encouragement in the comments for Saima as she bravely sets foot in the future.

Bold Selection Policies Could Have Redeemed Pakistan’s Cup Build-up

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n By Khalid H. Khan

n hindsight the followers of Pakistan cricket would never have anticipated at the start of the World Cup season that the men in green will head into the mega event in a state of turbulent mindset.

None expected them to lose four straight limited-overs series, starting from the tour of Sri Lanka last August.

None had envisaged that come Feb 3, 2015 the team at Misbah-ul-Haq’s disposal will be walloped by New Zealand like a boxer venting his anger on a punching bag in the gym during the two One-day Internationals ahead of the six-week jamboree which begins simultaneously from the 14th in Christchurch and Melbourne.

While most of the top guns had done their homework before arriving at the World Cup as regards to preparing themselves for the quadrennial competition, Pakistan were found looking in other direction. For them rational policies were not adopted in building a decent World Cup squad. No professional planning or strategy was worked out, neither any sound preparation for the mega event which was, perhaps, considered a waste of energy if nothing more.

Now compare Pakistan’s shambolic approach to that of India. The defending champions chose to phase out the core of players who were the heroes of the 2011 World Cup, sensing well that their presence would jeopardize their prospects at the 2015 campaign.

India’s was not an overnight process as the likes of Yuvraj Singh, the player of the tournament four years ago, Zaheer Khan, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh were shunted out and replaced by a fitter, younger brigade of players.

Had Yuvraj and Zaheer been playing for Pakistan, they would have been labeled as certain participants this time and that speaks of how our cricketing system functions.

In the past, India used to stick to a policy where big names were persisted in the one-day format even if their game was well past sell-by-date. Not so now.

Unlike their Pakistani counterparts, the Indians in the modern era give a lot of emphasis when it comes to preparing for the big tournaments.

The reason why the Indians have such a larger pool of players to choose from is they have learned their lessons well from past drubbings. In stark contrast, the Pakistanis hardly give importance to such notions. One can’t ever remember our cricket board planning

sadly never been read by those who occupy the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The state of Pakistan cricket draws a remarkable parallel with the West Indies setup. It is no co-incidence that both of them are always regarded as utterly unpredictable on the playing fields where they have proved time and again the uncanny tendency to be either mercurially brilliant or horribly pathetic.

History is full of such stories.

Australia and South Africa.

The simple philosophy of always thinking positive sits appropriately with Australia, South Africa and the Black Caps. All three of them had assiduously undertaken the planning for the event with an apparent selection policy firmly entrenched.

Players of those three nations were repeatedly rotated in different combinations for the past couple of years to get

Miracles do happen in nearly every sphere of life and Pakistan certainly require one, for the obvious reasons, to prove they are a side that cannot be written off just yet. As for the inspiration, they only need to remember the 1992 World Cup where against heavy odds Imran Khan’s team conquered the world Down Under with a futuristic mindset.

Words like ‘planning for the future’ are meant only for media briefings by our cricket administrators. The ground reality is that there is no truth in this phrase whatsoever. We keep on picking more or less the same lot who usually end as huge flops on the big stage if we gauge the situation from the 2003 World Cup onwards. The writing on wall has

Of all the big boys, Pakistan and West Indies have gone into the World Cup without knowing which route to take and are obviously going to stutter and stumble once the action starts. In sharp contrast to their struggles, just take note of New Zealand’s rise as a true powerhouse. The perennial also-rans of the previous 10 World Cups are now major contenders for the title alongside

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the right mix for the World Cup. Pakistan, on the other hand, kept on relying on a specific group of players who had been given repeated opportunities despite their failure and are retained because there was no back-up for them.

And those touted in the media as future stars never got a taste of international cricket. Mercifully, the selectors have at least done a favor by ignoring

the untried but highly talented young guns who have been spared the daunting prospect of being thrown in at the deep end of what will be a challenging World Cup for the first-timers.

To be fair to Pakistan, they are now ‘forced’ by circumstances to play on the unfamiliar territories of Australia and New Zealand after yawning gaps of five and four years respectively. Our administrators may have tried their level best to arrange a bilateral, or even a triangular series or two in these countries in the post-2011 World Cup period to give our players a fair knowledge of the conditions they are now finding difficult to get accustomed to. But, apparently, it was all in vain.

Just imagine when a side like Pakistan, more often than not, struggled in the ODIs to come to terms with the slow pitches of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah — their home away from home since 2009 — what chances do they have now when they need to prove their worth on the seaming tracks in the coming few weeks.

It is pointless blaming anyone for the run of depressing results: 10 losses in the last 13 one-day internationals.

Over the years, many unexpected stories have unfolded in Pakistan cricket.

Had they adopted an adventurous ploy as far as team selection matters against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand over the past six months ago, much of the humiliation could have been averted.

Misbah and his men need inspiration to derive confidence from the hammering they got at the McLean Park on Tuesday. If the intentions are clear, and an honest playing XI selection policy is adhered to, Pakistan do have a chance like everyone else.

Miracles do happen in nearly every sphere of life and Pakistan certainly require one, for the obvious reasons, to prove they are a side that cannot be written off just yet. As for the inspiration, they only need to remember the 1992 World Cup where against heavy odds Imran Khan’s team conquered the world Down Under.

COMMENTARY

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n By Essraa nawar

or a long time, media scholars and researchers across the world have been talking about “The three B syndrome” in which Muslims and/or Arabs are always being portrayed as one of the three B’s: billionaire, bomber, and belly dancer. I can also add “terrorists, bedouins and uneducated.” It frustrates me as an Arab American to see that we are portrayed in a way that is far away from reality, and no matter how hard Arabs and/or Muslims are trying to fight these misconceptions, it is still really a challenge to erase them knowing how effective the media is on every household whether we like it or not.

According to Dr Sahar Khamis, Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Maryland, “This is a common way of looking at Arabs in the media, and describing their flawed media portrayal.”

Thus, I decided to put together a list of things that most mainstream Americans do not know about Arabs and/or Muslims. I know that it is neither fair nor reasonable to keep explaining to people why or why not you do certain things or whether what they see in the media is true or not, but I guess building bridges and having the opportunity to dialogue is what matters the most. The fact that we as Arabs and/ or Muslims know that these portrayals are false is not enough. Arab and/or Muslim Americans need to get out of their way to know the people who they live with. There are many reasons besides the media that created these misconceptions; part of this is the fact that Arabs and/or Muslims started immigrating and relocating to the United States way after the original settlers. Most of them (in the beginning) came for education and did not even have the time to erase these misconceptions nor expected them to even exist. Another part of the problem is the fact that Americans (second and third generations of the early settlers and those of Hispanic and African American origins) in general are not world travelers, they tend to focus on local traveling within the county itself.

Part of this relies on the fact that the United States is a huge country that many would like to explore first and it is also too expensive and tiring to travel. Of course, add to that the effect of the media that portrays the untruthful image of Muslims and Arabs, and never allows the real image to appear and here you have it, a total negative and false image that we have to fight and change all the time!

As a Muslim/Arab community, I think we even have to put ourselves in everyone else’s shoes and give them the benefit of the doubt.

I also ask every American (of nonArab/non-Muslim origin) to give himself/herself a chance to know their fellow Americans of an Arab and/or Islamic background; I assure you that your idea will be totally changed the same way mine did when I moved to America, but you have to give yourself the chance and be willing to truly educate yourself and accept others the way they are.

I personally found it to be an excellent way to erase misconceptions and to feel welcomed and empowered.

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23

What Nobody Tells You about Muslims and Arabs

depending on the school you went to, how further you continued your English studies and so on. Thus, you should not be surprised -- especially if you see someone who was born and raised in the USA (or went to an international school) -- if they speak perfect English. We still try to keep our Arabic language alive and strong. It might not be easy to force it on our kids sometimes, but we try to keep it as it comes in handy in many situations -- especially if you end up with a career in translation, politics or diplomacy.

5. Muslims and Arabs support violence and terrorism.

I do not claim that the list is complete by any means but I am trying to bring my own experience to the mix, add some of the questions that I get asked frequently, and the surprises (sometimes shocking reactions) that I get from people that meet me and my family to the context of this list. I am sure many Arabs and/or Muslim Americans will relate to the list.

1. Not every Muslim is an Arab and not every Arab is a Muslim.

According to Drew DeSilver from the Pew Research Center, the world’s Muslim population is more widespread than you might think.

While many people, especially in the United States, may associate Islam with countries in the Middle East or North Africa, nearly twothirds (62 percent) of Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, not all Arabs are Muslims. There are millions of Arabs that are Christians (and probably some other religions too that I am not aware of). Some of my best friends growing up were Coptic Christians. I would attend their weddings and funerals in their churches, celebrate their feasts the same way they celebrated Ramadan, Eid and other Islamic celebrations and we had absolutely no problem with that growing up (and we still do not!). Whatever you hear/ see in the news is not even close to the truth. My mom and her siblings, who grew up in Egypt in the ‘50s used to call a Coptic Christian neighbor of them Grandma. It took me a while to understand the fact that they were so close that they considered themselves family. They celebrated nearly all feasts together and had so many things in common. What mattered for them is that they were all Egyptians.

2. Yes, you can be a Muslim and/or Arab and an American.

My kids go to an Islamic American school -- the only reason is that we want them to stay connected to who they are and learn how to read/write Arabic. it was so interesting when a colleague of mine came up to me and asked me if my kids have Veterans Day off. I was very surprised with the ques-

tion, and I immediately assured him that they do. I wondered why he was asking this question, and he said he did not think that an Islamic school would be interested in American holidays! I was very surprised yet I blamed myself (and the whole Islamic/Arab community) for not communicating (and making clear) how loyal Arab/Muslim Americans are to their country. At the school, the only flag up is the US flag, and the only national anthem sung is the American National Anthem. While these kids learn the teachings of their faith, they still hold their American identity above

While these kids learn the teachings of their faith, they still hold their American identity above all.

Just like kids who go to Catholic, Jewish or Punjabi schools, there is no difference.

We are all Americans, hard workers and understand the basic obligations of a loyal citizen. There are even Americans of Arab and Muslim origin who serve in the American Army all. Just like kids who go to Catholic, Jewish or Punjabi schools, there is no difference. We are all Americans, hard workers and understand the basic obligations of a loyal citizen.

There are even Americans of Arab and Muslim origin who serve in the American Army. The only difference is that many Arabs/Muslims still maintain strong connections to their own homelands because they are still first or second generations.

Also, many of them come here leaving their families behind thus they still maintain the connection, but they are faithful, loyal, and embed themselves in the American society

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just like anyone else. In fact, Muslim Americans are one of the most respected Muslim groups worldwide. They are among the best wellpracticing Muslims and they do not see anything in the American lifestyle that can contradict with their religion. Whether they do certain things or don’t (like drinking alcohol, eating pork, etc.), these are personal choices that do not differ in any ways from choosing to be a vegetarian, vegan or even gluten-free!

3. Muslim and Arab Men oppress women.

I am not sure what else Muslim/Arab women can do to show that they are empowered. They have fought for education, won Nobel prizes, excelled in almost every career track, participated in the Olympics, held governmental positions (even in the US) and more!

While we feel empowered, others are still talking -- and thinking -that we are oppressed. Often, people are surprised by me attending a gala alone while my husband (who is an international scientist himself) is babysitting the kids! It is not only us; millions of Muslim/Arab Women are strongly supported by their spouses, dads, brothers, etc. While we still hear the stories of oppression, I feel that they are no different than any other abusive stories that we hear about anywhere in the world -- like women in the USA not receiving the same pay as their men counterparts. Aren’t all women trying to “lean in” any way?

It is not a Muslim/Arab Women problem; it is a universal problem that has nothing to do with a woman’s origin. Muslim/Arab women have a right to divorce, to education, to financial independence. They do not even change their last names after marriage so they can keep their identities, pedigree and heritage alive.

4. We speak English too!

It might come as a surprise for many when they see us (Arabs/Muslims) speak English. Often times I have seen people’s jaws drop because I speak English so well.

While it mostly depends on where you got your education, most Arabs know how to speak English. The dialects and accents are different

If you want to know how many times Muslims and Arabs condemned violence and extremism just google “Muslims against terrorism” or “Muslims Condemning ISIS” or any similar words and you will be surprised by the thousands of Muslim institutions, scholars, and governments that are condemning and fighting terrorism while assuring everyone that this does not have anything to do with the peaceful message of Islam and the Arab world. The majority of Muslims are moderate, peaceful people who have been affected by terrorism and violence more than non-Muslims/ non-Arabs. In fact, a new report by the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at the United States’ Military Academy at West Point in New York has shown that the vast majority of al‐Qa’ida’s victims are Muslims.

They prove that Al-Qaida kills eight times the amount of Muslims than non-Muslims. They had to depend on Arabic media sources and look into the terrorism trend through a non‐Western prism. Unfortunately, this is not shown in the mainstream media for reasons I do not really know.

6. Muslims and Arabs don’t value education.

While today many Muslims and Arabs lack the right educational opportunities because of the economic and political circumstances, most Arab and Muslim household place a high value on educating their children. A typical Arab/Muslim family will do the most they can to have their children go to good schools and colleges. The families set high expectations and many children end up with master’s degrees and PhDs; others are entrepreneurs, restaurant owners, doctors, government officials, athletes and so on. On the other hand, Arabs and Muslims have a huge interest in movie making, singing, architecture, art, and literature. All forms of art are welcomed and the world has to remember that the European renaissance happened as a result of the ancient and new knowledge reacquired from Muslim scholars.

(1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization.)

While I can keep going with the list, I think these points are the most important ones for mainstream Americans (and others living in the West) to understand. I might be too optimistic -- many of my family and friends think that I definitely am -- but I have faith in humans, and I feel that if every one of us did his/her own part we can change misconceptions in the world one person at a time. Everyone, though, must be willing to do his/her own part to help spread the truth, erase misconceptions and live in peace.

COMMENTARY

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015 n By Siraj Khan

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Boston, MA

anuary is a Nayyar month. Well, what else to say when a person was born and also died in this month. OP Nayyar, also lovingly referred to as OP (his fans are OPiums), besides being the creator of immortal and timeless melodies led a life that was colorful and at the same time controversial. Babujee and I never felt the distance of thousands of miles between us. This bond is clearly spiritual, because it continues unchanged even after his death.

Even now when I think of the only man I have ever idolized, I visualize him in his stark, white clothes, white shoes, looking dashing in his black hat and blazer, walking erect with his radiant smile as timeless as his tunes, even in his twilight years.

His steely character and that unmistaken gleam on his handsome face, stood by him to tackle the ups and downs of fate, that took him from his posh residence in Churchgate to the streets of Mumbai and then to the warmth of the Nakhwa home in Thane, where he breathed his last.

Idolizing OP Nayyar comes easily for anyone who has heard ahead-of-his-times, romantic and breezy music he created. He changed the easygoing gentle music scenario in the film industry of the 1950s with his lilting, come hither style of music and the listeners were blown away. If the timeless classics in Rafi, Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle’s scintillating voices have left you mesmerized, it is all thanks to the genius of the man, whose life was as interesting as the man himself.

School and college never really excited him.

Preetam Aan Milo sung by CH Atma for HMV was the song that launched OP as a composer at the age of 17 in 1943, but by then OP was also a confirmed college dropout and aren’t we glad that he was!

After partition, OP relocated to Mumbai and after many years of struggle finally landed himself a full-blown project with the film Aasman. Geeta Dutt who was impressed with OP’s unique style while singing for the film and introduced him to her husband, the legendary filmmaker, Guru Dutt for Baaz. The rest, as they say, is history. OP used to call this journey A to Z (from Aasman in 1952 to Zid in 1993—a total of 73 films). The Geeta Dutt-OP Nayyar duo created magic starting with Aar Paar, Mr & Mrs 55 and CID, which are indelibly etched in people’s memories forever.

Geeta Dutt lent that tantalizing lilt and seductive allure to his songs. Ankhon Hee Ankhon Mein Ishara is an all-time hit among people of all ages even today, 60 years after it was created.

Strange as it may sound now, but the state-controlled AIR, had placed a ban on many of OP’s popular songs from being broadcast, as they considered the lyrics as well as his melodies too daring and a bad influence on the young generation. Jaata kahan hai deewane was one of them. However, OP continued unfazed with Radio Ceylon and it had

OP Nayyar – When Rhythm Was King

to take nothing less than a minister to lift the ban.

On the other hand, producers were forming a beeline to sign him up. He was the first music director to demand Rs one lakh for a film, a substantial amount in those days. It was probably around that time that people first started to refer to him as Rhythm King. He was barely 30.

Naya Daur released in 1957, rocked India and came as a turning point not only for OP but also for his protégé, Asha Bhosle who until then was living under the shadow of her sister Lata Mangeshkar. Many of us fondly remember the 50s, OP and the black and white era, with a night club cabaret scene with the haunting and sensuous Geeta Dutt voice. The string of such movies continued but an interesting and silent change had taken shape. Geeta Dutt and Shamshad Begum, who until now had lent their voices heartily to OP, were replaced by Asha Bhosle. OP had once remarked ‘Love is not only blind. It is also deaf ’” referring to his romance with Asha, and in the process, ignoring all other female singers.

However, that magical combination of Asha and OP is now an integral part of Bollywood’s folklore and one doubts whether a musical partnership like this could ever emerge again. OP exploited Asha’s versatile qualities and range of her voice to the hilt. Their romantic relationship which probably started in 1958, provided the add-

ed spark to the songs. Asha was number one for OP. For all others (including RD Burman whom she married later) she was always the second choice after Lata Mangeshkar. Interestingly, OP had decided very early that he had to become successful without ever using Lata’s voice and remains the only composer in Bollywood’s history to do so!

People felt that OP’s songs had a unique freshness, a rare robust beat, a flowing breezy style, blending Punjabi folk music with a rare Westernstyle orchestration, never heard before or since.

His variety of rhythm patterns baffles the film industry, even today. OP had become the most sought-after composer and recording studios were booked up for months. He moved around in a Chevrolet, while many prominent producers and actors were running around in taxis and taangas.

OP usually would get signed up even before the leading stars and his name appeared on the billboards of films over and above the cast. This had never happened before and has never happened since OP left the stage.

Chain se hamko kabhi, clearly an OP classic, was historically also the Asha-OP swan song. They eventually split in August 1972, never to stand under the same roof again. Ironically, the song bagged the Filmfare Award for the best female singer for Asha. Although he composed for many years more (almost 150 songs) and tried no less

than 18 other female singers, the magic of the past was just not there. OP the man may have died on January 28, 2007 but OP the composer had clearly phased out much earlier.

OP’s life was certainly a roller-coaster going from the heights of fame to the depths of anonymity and then finally finding family love. The Nakhwa family and myself continue to remain in close touch, just as we were when OP was alive.

Our many collective efforts include the receiving of royalties from SaReGaMa and the formation of the OP Nayyar Memorial Trust in Mumbai.

OP Nayyar will be most remembered for being a trailblazer in the field of Indian film music.

What better way to end with a quote from the man himself. In his prime days, a media person once asked him how he ranked himself amongst the company of great contemporaries. He said, ‘I think I am the second best in the industry. The rest can fight for the first place.’ An interesting perspective from a musical genius, who did not follow any rules, except his own. For us OPiums, who adore the man and the musical legacy which he has left behind, he will still be the best.

(Siraj Khan is a world citizen who lives a life without boundaries. He is a connoisseur of South Asian film music and has been the creative director of some of the most engaging and entertaining musical concerts in New England, using music, poetry and the performing arts effectively for outreach and connecting people of all ages, faiths and nationalities. While the OP Nayyar concerts presented in Boston and elsewhere have been his signature events, he has managed and directed several other concerts like Adnan Sami Live in 2013 and, more recently, directed the widely acclaimed Gul-o-Gulzar, a musical drama to celebrate and showcase Gulzar’s 50 years in Bollywood. Siraj is a finance and audit professional, working in the global non-profit space. He also serves on the Board of several non-profits in the US and overseas, including OP Nayyar Memorial Trust (India), Pathfinders (Pakistan), The Fourth World and writes for Aman ki Asha on music and cricket. He is passionate about propagating knowledge awareness and education and is currently also involved in a project of Educational TV channel in Canada.)

KILLING FROM P20

terrorist attack if the motives of the shooter are confirmed based on his previous social media posts. There is an intentional effort on the case of federal authorities to understand the issue of violent extremism and this case illustrates that violent extremism is not the product of only one community.

MPAC calls on all law enforcement agencies both federal and local police departments to increase security and coordination with houses of worship and local institutions. MPAC will work with law enforcement to help bolster security.

Social Security Facts You Need to Know in 2015 n By Chuck Saletta

F

or the most part, Social Security is a straightforward concept. You pay taxes to the program throughout your working life, and then, upon reaching retirement age, you collect monthly benefits based in large part on the amount you paid into the system over that career.

Still, there are small shifts to the program every year, and 2015 will be no different. Let’s go over three developments to watch for in 2015 if you’re one of the millions of Americans either paying into or receiving money from Social Security.

Payment amounts and income subject to taxes are rising In January, Social Security payments will increase 1.7% thanks to the annual cost-of-living increase, and the income limit subject to Social Security taxes increases to $118,500 from $117,500. The average monthly payment to a retiree will be $1,328, up from $1,306 prior to the

adjustment.

The maximum possible Social Security benefit to a new retiree just reaching full retirement age in 2015 will also increase to $2,663 per month from $2,642 per month in 2014.

If the payments and increases seem woefully inadequate to cover your lifestyle in retirement, you’re not alone. Social Security was never designed to be your only source of income in retirement -- just a foundation to be supplemented with pensions and/or personal savings.

Mailed personal statements are making a comeback (for some people) Until 2011, Social Security mailed out annual statements telling people who weren’t collecting payments what their eventual benefits would be. Budget cuts curtailed that practice, but it’s making a partial comeback. If you are turning 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 in 2015, and you haven’t signed up for an online Social Security account, then you

can expect to receive a statement this year.

The statement provides an excellent estimate of your benefit and a copy of your earnings record. If you don’t want to wait until your multiple-of-five birthday to see your statement, you can sign up online.

The financial health of the program will be evaluated around April 1 Every year, the Social Security

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Trustees publish a report detailing the program’s stability and financial health. The report is due by April 1, but it doesn’t always get published on time. The 2014 report, for instance, was published on July 28.

Key in that report will be an update on the estimated timeline of when the Social Security Trust Funds will empty. In the last report, the trustees estimated that the funds would empty by 2033 and that payments would be cut by about 23%.

History suggests Congress will likely pass some combination of tax hikes and benefit cuts to shore up the system between now and then.

Unless and until that happens, though, your best bet is to invest as if you will have to make up for that cut on your own. After all, if taxes rise to cover the gap, it’s easier to dial back your investing to cover the reduction in your take-home pay than to cut your basic costs of living. On the flip side, if benefits are cut, you’ll be glad you have a buffer built up.

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SPORTS

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

SPORTS

Maqsood and Irfan Star in Close Win

Sohaib Maqsood and Shahid Afridi shared a crucial stand of 41 runs for the seventh wicket.

SYDNEY: A five-wicket haul from Mohammad Irfan, followed by an unbeaten 93 from Sohaib Maqsood helped Pakistan edge Bangladesh by three wickets in their warm-up game in Sydney.

Bangladesh, opting to bat, lost two early wickets, but Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah counterattacked, adding 168 for the third wicket.

Tamim stroked five fours during his 81, as did Mahmudullah during his

83. The pair took Bangladesh close to the 200-run mark, but Mahmudullah was run out in the 40th over, triggering a collapse that led to the team losing its last eight wickets for just 62 runs. Apart from Shakib Al Hasan, who chipped in with 31, none of Bangladesh's last seven batsmen could make more than 15. Irfan collected 5 for 52, including three scalps in the final over, to wipe out the tail and dismiss Bangladesh for 246.

Pakistan's openers departed early in the chase, leaving the team precariously placed at 8 for 2, but their middle order led a recovery. Haris Sohail (39) first put up a 51-run partnership with Younis Khan (25), after which Maqsood took charge. With the asking rate rising, Maqsood and Umar Akmal eased the pressure by adding 63 for the fifth wicket.

Bangladesh fought back with two quick wickets, but Shahid Afridi muscled three crucial fours to race to 24 off 20 balls, before he was dismissed by Shakib. It meant that Pakistan needed just seven more runs from three overs, and Maqsood, who hit nine fours and two sixes during his 90-ball knock, helped overhaul the target in 48.1 overs. J

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25

Injured Shehzad More Confident After Head Injury

SYDNEY: While talking to media on Monday the daring Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad disclosed his feeling after his head injury that left him idle.

He said, Pakistani nation motivates me to keep moving ahead.

The tragic death of Phillip Hughes, an Australian batsman who was hit by a fast bowler in Abu Dhabi.

That incident left Shehzad dazed and traumatized. "It was scary; it left me in fear besides saying thanks to Almighty Allah for saving me. I love my country and the green cap is a pride. My country is the most important thing in my life," local media reported.

But Shehzad's injury is being motivated by his fans and his family members. He is also being monitored

and he and his doctors are also very much hopeful that he will remain fine while playing in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Shehzad declared that the most important thing for him is to play for his beloved country. For him, cricket is his only passion and he feels really honored to play for his country. He added that he is trying to ignore routine gossips about his fitness but still things always come in one's mind. He and his family definitely faced a tough time after his head injury.

Ahmed Shehzad is one of the versatile batsmen in Pakistan cricket squad and looking forward to blaze the ground by his tremendous batting in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. J

India Under Pressure in World Cup: Muhammad Amir

World Cup warm-up: Rohit Ton Gives India First win on Australian Tour

ADELAIDE: Riding on Rohit Sharma's strokeful 150, an under-fire India finally registered a win after a long time as they crushed minnows Afghanistan by 153 runs in their second and final World Cup warm-up match.

Electing to bat, India did not have the best of starts as they lost opener Shikhar Dhawan (4) and Virat Kohli (5) early but Rohit's knock helped the Men in Blue post 364 for five.

Chasing a mammoth score, Afghanistan, who are making their first 50-over World Cup appearance, played cautious cricket but could only manage to score 211 for eight in 50 overs.

The Indian bowling though fared

a touch better with Mohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja sharing two wickets each but Mohammed Shami went wicketless.

But the day belonged to Rohit, whose dominating innings laid the foundation of a strong batting show.

He stitched a 158-run third wicket partnership with Suresh Raina (75) to help India gain ground.

The left-handed Raina was unlucky to be run out after hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes in his 71-ball stay but Rohit carried on the good work with Ajinkya Rahane (88 not out).

The duo stitched a 95-run fourth wicket partnership to deflate the Afghan hopes. Rohit was finally picked up by off-spinner Mohammad

Nabi but not after he had hit 12 fours and 7 sixes in his 122-ball knock.

Dhoni (10) once again failed to get going and looked completely out of sorts in his 20-ball stay at the wicket but Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja (11 not out) made sure the score was challenging enough.

Afghanistan started on a cautious note as opener Usman Ghani and former captain Nawroz Mangal managed a 63-run second wicket partnership but the strategy did not work and the asking-rate kept mounting.

Asghar Stanikzai (20) and later wicketkeeper-batsman Afsar Zazai (24 not out) also contributed but the target proved beyond reach for World Cup first-timers. J

LAHORE: Pakistan's banned fast bowler Muhammad Amir participated in a match played by a local cricket club in Lahore, pursuing efforts to polish his bowling skills.

"I'm practicing daily and working hard on my fitness. It's PCB's job to decide about me whereas my duty

is just to show performance," he said.

Replying to a question about Pakistan's clash with India on Feb 15, he said India was under pressure; therefore the Green Shirts can take advantage of it.

"I wish Pakistan beats India in World Cup match," he added. J

Junaid Khan Hopes to Make ICC 'Confident' Rahat, Jamshed Feels No Pressure Ahead of WC World Cup 2015 Comeback ADELAIDE: Pakistan's quick sub- Mohammad Hafeez, said that as a pro- the same if he is selected for the match,

KARACHI: Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan, who got married in his hometown of Swabi recently, is still hoping to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, despite being ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Junaid said he was making a quick recovery from his injury.

"When I was ruled out of the tournament last week I was at 50 percent fitness but the rehabilitation and recovery has been very good after that and presently I am at 70 percent fitness," he told PTI. "I just want to regain my fitness as soon as possible so that if a chance

comes up to play in this World Cup I can be considered as a replacement player," he said.

Pakistan has already been forced to make two replacements to their World Cup squad with Junaid first being replaced by Rahat Ali and then Mohammad Hafeez making way for out-of-form opener, Nasir Jamshed.

Nasir and Rahat both flew out to Australia late on Monday night.

Junaid, 25, has married Khansa Khan, 18, a British national after being engaged to her last year.

"It is a big moment in my life but I will be reporting at the national cricket academy on Thursday to regain my rehabilitation process because I am praying I get a chance to still play in this World Cup," he said.

The left-arm pacer has had a hard last few months as he had to return home from Dubai before the ODI series against Australia last September due to a knee injury.

He recovered to return to domestic cricket by leading his province, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa to the Pentangular Cup one-day title with five wickets in the final and was named in the World Cup squad.

But just few days before leaving for New Zealand, Junaid suffered a hamstring injury during practice in Lahore. J

stitutes Nasir Jamshed and Rahat Ali said that they will be under no pressure if they get selected for the World Cup opener against India recently in Adelaide.

Left-hand opening batsman Jamshed, deputizing for injured

fessional cricketer one has to perform whether the match is against India, Australia or South Africa.

Hoping to replicate his back-toback tons against India two years back, Jamshed said that he still remember those two innings and hopes to repeat

adding that there was no pressure on him, the report added.

Banking on impressive Test match figures, fast bowler Rahat Ali, who replaced injured Junaid Khan, said that Test cricket was not an easy game and he had performed well in it. J

Fast Bowler Rahat Ali and Batsman Jamshed Nasir talking to the media persons before leaving to take part in the Cricket World Cup.

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COMMENTARY

P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Many Styles, Many Sectors n By Saghir Aslam Rawalpindi, Pakistan (The following information is provided solely to educate the Muslim community about investing and financial planning. It is hoped that the Ummah will benefit from this effort through greater financial empowerment, enabling the community to live in security and dignity and fulfill their religious and moral obligations towards charitable activities) Asset allocation at its simplest refers to the three major asset classes: stocks, real estate and cash. You can subdivide these classes further, however, and add even more diversification to your portfolio.

Stocks, for instance, have multiple subgroups. First, they are either domestic or international – although the proliferation of truly global corporation is beginning to blur the distinction. They can also be categorized by size (market capitalization) or by their style (value versus growth).

Stock categories tend to move in cycles: Large-company stocks outperformed small-company stocks in the latter half of the 1990s, but small company stocks have frequently outperformed their large counterparts.

Value stocks (those that appear to be trading at less than their true worth) as a category tend to move in the opposite direction as growth stocks (those that are growing rapidly and are priced at a premium). Over the past 25 years, value and growth have taken turns out-performing each other. Of course, these trends may not continue. As a matter of fact, recently, this has been false.

Asset allocation tells us that most PROPHETHOOD FROM P10

He preserved this revelation in form of Qur’an for posterity (V9 Ch.15). Much more than this, Allah swt preserved the record of prophet’s words and deeds (Sunnah), and the practices of faithful companions of the prophet SA to preserve the letter and spirit of His message. The honest scholars and the practicing Muslims who followed the Nusoos (clearly understood verses of Qur’an and texts of Hadith without any explanation) have kept the religion in its pristine form even today. It is a perfect testimony to the authenticity of the divine message of Islam (which means loving Allah with all their heart, soul and mind), which Muhammad SA brought one last time.

Billions of Muslims still cling to this message in its minutest detail in spite of all the hardship that goes with it.

Having made all the arrangement to preserve His last revelation, Allah put a seal on the prophet hood by His mercy (V40 Ch.22). No prophet is going to come after Muhammad SA because no more prophets are needed. Allah is not like we human beings who want to reinvent the wheel again and again. Anyone who claims to be a prophet after Muhammad SA is a misguided megalomaniac who is serving his ego more than the need of guidance of the people.

Why Muhammad SA Was Made the Last Prophet?

The process of analyzing our stray thoughts invoked by our erratic sensory perception and arriving at a

investors ought to have both growth and value stocks in their portfolio, for diversification’s sake. It doesn’t give guidance, however, on what percentage of each style ought to be in your own portfolio. That depends on your personal goals and risk tolerance.

Most importantly, asset allocation can help you form a plan. In the current investment climate, it’s easy to be sidetracked by the media buzz about what’s hot and what’s not. If your own plan sufficiently spreads your assets among various styles and sectors, you have a good chance that you will participate when one of the hot sectors shoots upwards, and be less traumatized when one of the sectors takes a dive. lio

Four Steps to a Sensible Portfo-

If you’re convinced by the common sense of asset allocation, how do you get started? Four basic steps will help you construct a portfolio that works for you.

The first step of the asset allocation process is constructing an objective and thorough financial profile – your assets, your liabilities, your future goals and the various time horizons to each of those goals. Your family situation, children’s education, weddings and other important events should be taken into consideration. The next step is to seriously gauge your tolerance for

correct conclusion to the benefit of both the self and society is not an easy job. To separate the substance of reality from the chaff of our stray thoughts is not an ordinary exercise.

This becomes all the more difficult when it pertains to understanding of metaphysical and abstract realities like God, purpose of life, the correct way to live our life etc. When preferences and prejudices poison this process, which is usual with all of us, this becomes impossible. Only an Omniscient entity who owns and controls everything can give this point of universal reference with due consideration to uniform and unflinching justice to all irrespective of gender, race and nationality. Prophets were endowed with the capacities to secure this code of universal reference from Allah who has all the knowledge and who owns everything. What is strange in the behavior of those who deny revelation is that they believe in dot and dash message which was deciphered for them by the one who understood this language of telegraph while denying the revelation made to prophets. If they are waiting to confirm the authenticity of revelation like they do for the telegram it is not going to happen till we go to see God and then it is of no use. Greater irony is that some of those who believe in other prophets deny prophethood of Muhammad SA because he does not belong to their clan.

When prophets contemplate to find solution to the problems of mankind, Satan to whom Allah has

risk. Remember that investors commonly overstate their risk tolerance while markets are good and understate their risk tolerance when markets are down.

Smart investing doesn’t happen by itself. It requires planning, monitoring and occasional fine-tuning.

Once you’ve determined your goals and your risk tolerance, you can construct the asset allocation mix most suitable to your needs. The construction of your portfolio will consequently reflect who you are, the goals you want to reach, and how best to reach them in the allotted time.

The fourth step: On a regular basis – at least once a year – you should review and rebalance your portfolio.

Are the allocations still aligned with your plan? Have your goals changed?

Whenever specific goals are reached – such as the financing of a child’s higher education, weddings, responsibilities to parents and other commitments – you should review your portfolio and adjust it in accordance with your new circumstances.

Finally, remember that smart investing doesn’t happen by itself. It requires planning, monitoring, and occasional fine-tuning. Asset allocation provides the foundation.

(Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given.

Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, nor does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)

given respite to mislead progeny of Adam (Ch7 V15-17), interjects with his distractions. The dilemma of this double jeopardy of personal limitation and satanical intervention is referred to in Ch22 V52-54 of Qur’an.

True prophets alone can sail out of this quandary and understand the universal principles on which mankind can solve its problems. The solution suggested by prophets is not the one that is given by the pundits on talk show to change the governments, to wage wars or to adopt a certain economic model; but to reform the individuals by instilling God consciousness and the consciousness of accountability before Him. After substantiating this important tenet through sound argument in 114 chapters of Qur’an and preserving it for eternity (Ch 15 V9), the door of prophethood was sealed (Ch33 V40). All our understanding outside the pale of the correct understanding of Qur’an and authentic Sunnah is only waywardness (Ch10 V32) and a path to hell, both in this world and in the Hereafter (Ch2 V119). To those who do not want to believe in prophet and follow their teachings, Qur’an says: I am responsible for my deeds and you for yours; I am not accountable for what you do nor you are for my deeds (Ch10 V41). We all return to Him and He will show us the reality of our deeds (Ch10 V23). This assertion by Allah and His messenger should make it clear that there is no place in Islam to force beliefs and practices on PROPHETHOOD, P29

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101.00 154.10 26.91 0.8504 114.51 27.50

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RELIGION

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P27

Wisdom: Action with Understanding the Consequences

Gems from the Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Khutbah at ISOC – Rabi’ul Thani 2, 1436/ January 23, 2015

H

e grants wisdom unto whom He wills; and whosoever is granted wisdom is granted abundant fortune; but none will bear this in mind except the people of understanding. (AlBaqarah 2:269)

Wisdom (al-Hikmah) is to understand, to learn and to speak and act in an appropriate manner.

Wisdom is a gift of Allah. The people of minds and reason benefit from it.

Wisdom is Allah’s attribute. Allah with all His power and knowledge is Al-Hakim (the Wise one). Allah is al-‘Aziz al-Hakim (the Mighty the Wise). He is al-‘Alim al-Hakim (the Knower, the Wise), al-Hakim al-Khabir (the Wise, the Aware). He is al-Wasi’ al-Hakim (The Comprehensive, the Wise). He is al-Tawwab al-Hakim (the Acceptor of repentance, the Wise). Allah’s revelation is called al-Hikmah. Allah has mentioned that He gave to His Prophets Book and Wisdom (Al-Imran 3:81).

Luqman was not a Prophet but it is mentioned that he was also granted great wisdom (Luqman 31:12).

Allah sent His Last and Final Prophet Muhammad –peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- to teach the Book and Wisdom. His followers are supposed to be the people of wisdom: Whatever is in the heavens and on earth glorifies Allah; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered a Messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, - although they had been, before, in manifest error; - As well as (to confer all these benefits upon) others of them, who have not already joined them: and He is Exalted in Might, Wise. (Al-Jumu’ah 62:1-3) Islam always emphasizes that we should learn wisdom and use it in our life. Shari’ah, the law of Islam, is to promote wisdom, human wellbeing, justice and mercy. (Ibn al-Qayyim). Islamic law is not just rules of

From the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss) (Recently, a media talk show host, well known for his anti-Muslim bias, saw it fit to make scornful remarks against the Qur’an on TV. In these columns, selections from this Holy Book will be published, so that unacquainted readers of the Pakistan Link may be able to judge for themselves.)

what is permissible and what is not permissible (halal and haram).Islam is not just a list of do’s and don’ts. The Shari’ah came to bring benefits (masaleh) and remove harms (mafasid).

It teaches us what is appropriate and what not appropriate. The Shari’ah has objectives (maqasid) and priorities (awlawiyat). It teaches how to make comparative analysis (muwazanah) and it reminds us to understand the consequences (‘awaqib or ma’alat) of all our actions.

Under the rules of priorities, it tells us that the real benefits have preference over the imagined benefits. The major benefits have preference over the minor benefits. Benefits of the group have preference over the benefit of the individuals.

Permanent benefits are preferred over the temporary benefits.

In a similar way, Shari’ah teaches us that whatever we do we should always think of the consequences.

It is not enough to be brave but one should be wise and brave. It is not enough to know that something is right, but one should also know whether it is good to do or not to do at this time. Actions should not be taken due to excitement, anger or provocation, without thinking about the consequences for one’s self, one’s

family, community, neighbors and the world at large. One should think of the consequences both now and later in time, both here and in the Hereafter. If an action causes more harm than benefit or if it opens the door of harms then it should not be done. Allah says in the Qur’an, Do not revile those they worship beside Allah in case they, in their hostility and ignorance, revile Allah. To each community We make their own actions seem alluring, but in the end they will return to their Lord and He will inform them of all they did. (AlAn’am 6:108) In the terminology of Islamic law, it is called ‘sadd al-dhara’i’ (blocking the wrong or harmful means) or some scholars use the term ‘fiqh al-ma’lat’ (understanding the consequences). The Prophet –peace be upon him- wanted to get rid of the hypocrites from his community, but he did not do that thinking that it will divide the community and harm his work of da’wah.

Understanding the consequences means that we should pay attention to our situation, the time, place, habits of the people and circumstances before taking or not taking an action. It means that we understand what is happening now (waqi’) and what may happen in future (mutawaqqi’).

It means understanding what is ideal (mithali) and what is possible and practical (mumkin and ‘amali), between what is beneficial (nafi’) and what is harmful (dharr).

We are not preaching isolation or inaction. Muslims should be active and involved in social change, but with wisdom and un-

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derstanding the consequences. Extremism and radicalism are wrong and harmful. One should always use the most appropriate means for change and the objective must be to remove evil with good, not to remove evil with more evil. Allah says in the Qur’an, Who speaks better than someone who calls people to Allah, does what is right, and says, ‘I am one of those devoted to Allah’? Good and evil cannot be equal. Repel evil with what is better; so the one between you and him there is enmity become a close friend. Only those who are steadfast in patience, only those who are blessed with great righteousness, will attain to such goodness. (Fussilat 41:33-35) The ayah gives us the best method and objective of social action: 1. Always do good things.

2. Invite people to Allah.

3. Remove the evil with good.

4. Try to make your enemies your friends 5. Be patient. Only those who are patient and steadfast will win.

Sabr is part of wisdom. It means patience, perseverance and persistence without getting frustrated or excited. Patience means that you act, not over-react. The Qur’an emphasizes: patience when angry, patience when hurt, patience when sick, patience under stress and difficulty, patience during conflict, patience when exited with lusts and desires, patience in the obedience of Allah, patience to avoid the prohibition of Allah. In Surah al-‘Asr we are reminded: By the time, indeed man is in loss, except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, urge one another to the Truth, and urge one another to steadfastness. (Al-Asr 103:1-3) The Prophet – peace be upon him- advised Ibn ‘Abbas: And know that there is a great good in patience when in difficulties.

The victory comes with patience. The comfort is with pain and where there is difficulty, there is ease.

(Musnad Ahmad Hadith no.

2666)

About the translator: Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss, was born of Jewish parents in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in 1900, and at the age of 22 made his first visit to the Middle East. He later became an outstanding foreign correspondent for the Franfurter Zeitung, and after his conversion to Islam travelled and worked throughout the Muslim world, from North Africa to as far East as Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. After years of devoted study he became one of the leading Muslim scholars of our age. His translation of the Holy Qur’an is one of the most lucid and well-referenced works in this category.

Chapter 22, Verses 39 - 41 Permission [to fight] is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged – and, verily, God indeed has the power to succour them-: those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying, “Our Sustainer is God!” For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, [all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques – in [all of] which God’s name is abundantly extolled –would surely have been destroyed [ere now].

And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty, [well aware of] those who, [even] if We firmly establish them on earth, remain constant in prayer, and give in charity, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong: but with God rests the final outcome of all events.

Chapter 22, Verses 67 – 68 Unto every community have We appointed [different] ways of worship, which they ought to observe.

Hence [O believer,] do not let those [who follow ways other than thine] draw thee into disputes on this score, but summon [them all] unto thy Sustainer: for, behold, thou art indeed on the right way, and if they try to argue with thee, say [only]: “God knows best what you are doing.”

Chapter 22, Verse 73 O men! A parable is set forth [herewith]; hearken, then, to it! Behold, those beings whom you invoke instead of God cannot create [as much as] a fly, even were they to join all their forces to that end! And if a fly robs them of anything, they GEMS, P29

CLASSIFIED & MATRIMONIAL

P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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PAKISTAN GEMS FROM P27

cannot [even] rescue it from him!

Weak indeed is the seeker, and week the sought!

Chapter 22, Verse 77 O you who have attained to faith! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Sustainer [alone], and do good, so that you might attain to a happy state! ________________ SECURITY FROM P24

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SHIKARPUR FROM P7

Parvez Kayani “asked Ishaq to ‘please stop sectarian killings’ but the Sunni extremist and longtime protégé answered, ‘We are your children, but we will not follow this.’ Kayani had no response. He remained silent.”

Malik Ishaq’s words remain a damning indictment of the Faustian pact that the security establishment has had with his ilk. Taking a cue from the security establishment, many political parties adopted the policy, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’, giving the killers velvet-glove treatment.

The PPP stalwart from Sindh and the leader of the opposition in Sindh, Mr Khursheed Shah, is right in questioning the failure of the intelligence agencies in preventing the Shikarpur massacre but is he and his parliamentary colleagues ready to hold their feet to the fire? I am afraid not. The Shias of Pakistan are doomed to face a vicious cycle of apathy and massacres.

(The writer can be reached at mazdaki@me.com and he tweets @ mazdaki) LYNCH FROM P9

New York man killed by a police stranglehold earlier this year, after a grand jury failed to indict the officers involved. Given the timing, actually conducting that investigation will likely fall to Lynch.

Lynch’s style in her hearing shows that she supports the antiseptic beauty of technical interpretations over bold, controversial statements.

It is this kind of thinking that, while somewhat boring, may actually result in progress in those areas where Obama and the Justice Department have spectacularly failed: specifically, the closing of the detainee prison in Guantanamo Bay (a commitment made by President Obama in his initial presidential campaign), and the

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29 successful prosecution of Chinese and Asian cyber-attacks on American websites, e-mail, and data. It may take a less-vocal — but collegial and by-the-book — thinker to finally move these tasks along.

Whatever Lynch chooses to take on (and as AG, she would have some discretion to choose), she will have to tap all her evident abilities in order to face several hurdles, the primary one being time. Even with an early February confirmation, Lynch will have barely two years on the job.

Repairing the relationship between Congress and the Department of Justice, which Lynch would take over from the embattled Holder, will be no easy task. Fortunately, she is already on her way; she’s clearly won over several of the Republican Committee members, explaining that she wants to work with them and hopes to learn from their knowledge. She actually seemed sincere, too.

After seeing Lynch in action during her testimony, it seems clear that, if confirmed, her work will likely merit more than just a footnote in history textbooks. Here’s hoping she won’t simply be the first AfricanAmerican female AG, but a professional who helped repair a nation that was fractured — both by outsiders and from within.

PROPHETHOOD FROM P26

others. Some of the allegations which are made against Islamic laws and practices stem out of ignorance and others out of sheer dislike of values and some are genuinely true and abhorring. It is important that we address to all of them appropriately in a spirit of educating the masses about true Islam.

Those who are unable to fathom the reality of divine inspiration and satanical whispers, succumb to satanical whispers under the influence of their prides and prejudices.

The skewed understanding of these false prophets may appears genuine for a short period of time, but very soon the absurdity and fallacy of their promises comes to haunt all those who believed in them. We have seen enough of these false prophets and prognosticators in the last few decades. To keep mankind safe from the predicament of falling prey to these false prophets, Allah ended the prophethood after giving Muhammad SA His last message which encompassed and authenticated the true teachings of earlier prophets (Ch 10 V37). As mankind needed no more than what was given to it through Muhammad SA to live their lives in peace and in comfort till the end of time, Allah stopped sending any more prophets and sealed the institution of prophethood (Ch 33 V40).

If the Muslim world is presenting an image different than this, it is not because of the deficiency in Islam but because of its faulty understanding, wrong implementation and media portrayal. Muslims need to use the principles enunciated in Qur’an and Sunnah in accordance with the consciousness and needs of our time to solve our problems and present the real image of Islam that is above rebuke and ridicule. If we adhere to the understanding of the scholars of previous centuries who practiced Islam in accordance with the consciousness of their time we will lose the dynamism of Islam and thus force Muslims to abandon their faith as irrelevant relic of bygone era. Muslims need to address this internal weakness to be safe from the media bias which is exacerbating their problems.

SENSE FROM P12

insurgency, Mr Sethi dubbed talk of the Baloch wanting an independent state as “nonsense”.

Commenting on a meeting with Mr Bhutto in 1967, he asked the PPP founder how he could wear Savile Row suits and still consider himself a socialist, to which Mr Bhutto retorted: “What’s wrong with that?”

IMRAN FROM P13

the elections. Now is the time for action. It is time for you to take action against terrorism – without discrimination.”

MQM FROM P13

even lodge an FIR over her murder.”

Rizvi said the party would not accept any hatred against Altaf Hussain, and that despite the outrage, they will not respond in a similar manner. “We are responding by showing our love and affection for Altaf Hussain,” Rizvi explained.

CLERICS FROM P20

authority and no human is authorized to do it,” Ahmed said. - Courtesy AP KASHMIR FROM P11

of the international contract, accepted by both India and Pakistan before the international community,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani.

He said that denying the people of Kashmir what had been pledged to them by the United Nations would be a violation of this international contract.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Electricity Raja Faisal Rathore asked the international community to alleviate the plight of the Kashmiri people suffering at the hands of Indian occupation forces.

BAN FROM P1

after the UN announcement to include such proscribed organizations in the blacklist,” the minister added.

A day earlier, the interior minister had directed Secretary Interior Shahid Khan to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reconcile a ‘national list’ of proscribed organizations as per the blacklist of the United Nations.

RESERVES FROM P1

extracted iron had been tested in Swiss and Canadian laboratories, which found 60-65 percent of it to be of high grade.

The official added that silver, copper and gold samples would also be sent for testing soon.

Speaking at the site on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the discovery could help Pakistan’s stuttering economy turn a corner and end its “begging bowl” culture.

“Instead of asking for coal from abroad, we will ask for it from Thar,” the prime minister said, while speaking at a briefing regarding the discovery of precious deposits of gold, copper and iron at Rajua in Chiniot on Wednesday.

He added that the natural resources of the country will be fully exploited

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for the prosperity and development of Pakistan.

The prime minister said local and foreign investors will be invited to invest in projects after the completion of tests, adding that the government will fully facilitate the investors.

“It is Allah’s blessing that under the lush green fields rich deposits of copper, iron and gold have been found, which will help the country to get rid of the ‘begging bowl’ for good,” PM Nawaz said.

QAIM FROM P1

were meeting late Wednesday to deliberate matters pertaining to forming of government. CM Shah, Governor Ishratul Ebad, Rehman Malik, Sharjeel Memon, Nisar Khuhro and Murad Ali Shah were reported to be part of the meeting.

DIFFERENCES FROM P1

they were “involved in selling jobs by grabbing hefty amounts even from committed party activists”.

“Bilawal wanted to run party affairs like his mother, but he found himself stymied by vested interests,” he added.

He said his ‘forthrightness’ had brought a slew of issues for him.

Dr Mirza said he might take his own way before the next general elections to serve the downtrodden and deprived people of Sindh if his reservations were not addressed by the party leadership.

He said the party had totally been hijacked by “corrupt and opportunistic people who lacked the vision of the founding fathers and martyrs of the party”.

Dr Mirza accused the Sindh government of allotment of thousands of acres of land to builders and rendering hundreds of families homeless by using state power. He vowed that he would retrieve the encroached land and distribute it among the people.

The media adviser to Mr Bhutto-Zardari, meanwhile, rejected all the accusations made by Mr Mirza by saying that it was not the first time the party had dismissed such allegations and rumors. “There are no differences between the two leaders and we have refuted such claims and rumors many times in the past,” said Jamil Soomro while speaking to Dawn on Tuesday.

CRICKET FROM P1

past England’s total of 250 for eight with seven balls to spare.

Misbah brought up his half century with a thumping six into the

noisy band of Pakistan fans packed into the members’ stand and Akmal reached the milestone in the same manner 10 overs later.

Ehsan Adil had earlier set the tone for a fine Pakistan bowling performance in an opening over which accounted for Moeen Ali (4).

STUDENTS FROM P1

was hate-motivated, and we will exhaust every lead to determine if that is the case,” Chapel Hill police Chief Chris Blue said in an email.

The couple had graduated from North Carolina State, and one was studying to be a dentist at UNC. The sister was an undergraduate at NC State. UNC’s chancellor called it a loss for both campus communities, and the school planned a vigil Wednesday evening.

“This was like the power couple of our community,” said Ali Sajjad, president of NC State’s Muslim Student Association.

Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting of Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, and wife Yusor Mohammad, 21, both of Chapel Hill, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, of Raleigh.

Hicks appeared briefly in court Wednesday. He is being held without bond and will be appointed a public defender. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for March 4.

Police said Hicks turned himself in and was cooperating. They said the preliminary investigation showed the parking dispute was the motive.

But outrage spread among some American Muslims who viewed the homicides as an outgrowth of antiMuslim opinions. Many posted social media updates with the hashtags #MuslimLivesMatter and #CallItTerrorism.

“Based on the brutal nature of this crime ... the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to quickly address speculation of a possible bias motive in this case,” Nihad Awad, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement.

Durham district attorney Roger Echols said he couldn’t discuss motive or whether Hicks could be charged with a hate crime.

US Attorney Ripley Rand said his office was monitoring the investigation but that it was not yet a federal investigation. He said the shooting appeared to be “an isolated incident.”

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

ENTERTAINMENT

P30 – PAKISTAN LINK – FEBRUARY 13, 2015

P

akistani stars have presented touching tributes to the victims of the Army Public School in Peshawar in various forms of art and one such artist is Ali Zafar.

A little over a month since the heinous attack, the singer united the film fraternity on one common platform in the video of his song, Urain Ge (We Will Fly), which aired today on ARY Digital, ARY

Musik and ARY Zindagi simultaneously.

The song, which may become the anthem for hope for our nation, features many famous celebrities from all facets of the media. The stars who came together for the video include Bushra Ansari, Fawad Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Aamina Sheikh, Humayun Saeed, Behroz Sabzwari, Saba Qamar, Fahad Mustafa,Sajjad Ali, Ali

Azmet, Shoaib Malik, Meesha Shafi, Imran Abbas, Bilal Lashari, Marina Khan, Javed Sheikh, Humaima Malick among others.

The video has been directed by Bilal Khan and the poignant lyrics have been penned by Zafar himself.

The lyrics for the song are: Urain ge us aasman mein, Rahainge aisay jahaan mein, Jahaan dard ka koi maara na ho, Akaila na ho be-sahara na ho, Koi maa say bichara dulaara no ho, Siva ishq kay koi chaara na ho.

Talking about being a part of the video, Bushra Ansari shares: "When Ali called, I was so grateful to him. It gave me an outlet for the grief I felt. Being a media personality, if we go out on the streets, the attention shifts from important issues to people wanting to take selfies. I mourned in silence until now. I am so proud of Ali to provide us with this avenue for self-expression and to unite us as a nation."

Jackson Heights actress Aamina Sheikh says, "It was amazing to be part of this initiative. We came together as a fraternity for a good cause and we got to send out a message of hope and positivity to the nation in one, undivided voice."

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Humaima Malick felt proud to be a part of this tribute and said, "The message of unity and hope portrayed in the song couldn't be presented more aptly, as done by Ali Zafar, calling everyone from the industry and putting forth an awakening call collectively."

Actor Imran Abbas stressed that initiatives taken in the right direction should be commended.

"This tribute should serve as a memory of the beautiful souls we lost that dreadful day," he said.

"What really made me happy was the fact that I got to raise my opinion regarding this tragedy. I was devastated upon hearing the news of this sad incident and couldn't cope with the number of young minds we had lost.

"The sight and the thought were both unbearable. The nation,

however, did unite; stronger than ever and we vow to eradicate this menace from our society. We say, no more!" Imran said.

Many of the stars involved also took to social media to express their sentiments and tell the nation about their involvement: Veteran actor Behroz Sabzwari revealed: "I am truly honoured to be a part of this project. May God fulfill Ali's vision, and may we always retain the strength to fight back terrorism as a nation collectively."

Ali plans to take his video to the Army Public School and meet the students and parents.

The proceeds from his music will go to help charities in building academic institutions and promoting education in Pakistan, he said.

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