Pakistan Link
VOL. 24/43 - 30 Dhul-Hijjah 1435 H
The Largest Circulated Pakistani-American Newspaper in North America
Friday, October 24, 2014
PAGE 22
PAGE 13
PAGE 7
The PPP’s Politics: Reinventing or Recycling?
Army Chief Warns against Aggression in Kashmir
NED Convention: A Torrent of Memories
Ambassador Olson’s Exclusive Interview with Pakistan Link
Pak-US Relationship “on a Very Positive Trajectory”
Dr Tahirul Qadri Winds
up His Marathon Sit-in
Islamabad: Fiery cleric Dr Tahirul Qadri, who galvanized his Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) followers in a campaign to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, called off his Inquilab sit-in on Tuesday after a record 67 days in the nation’s capital. “I announce the end of the sitin at the D-Chowk,” Qadri told his supporters. The PAT leader claimed the sit-in had morphed into a revolution which will be spread to each and every corner of the country. “I allow you to pack your belongings and proceed towards your homes. God bless you”, said Qadri, saluting the courage and commitment of his supporters. Despite the government’s brutalities against PAT workers and the hurdles it placed in their way, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Islamabad to voice their demands and play their part QADRI, P29
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India Unsettled as US Backs ‘Smartest Choice’ Diamer-Bhasha Dam
trajectory. It is no secret that we went through a difficult period in 2011,
New Delhi: A recent move by the US to mobilize funds for the 4,500MW Diamer-Bhasha dam, while calling it Pakistan’s “smartest choice” for economic development, has left India unsettled, The Times of India reported. The comments were made at a fund-raising event in Washington organized by the Obama administration to seek support for the Diamer-Bhasha project. The gesture by the US has distressed India as the new project is to be launched in Gilgit-Baltistan, which India perceives to be illegally occupied by Islamabad. The statement also comes amid recent ceasefire violations along the Line of Cotrol (LoC), further upsetting Modi’s government, according to sources. The Indian government is developing a diplomatic and tactful approach to address the issue with the US. Last week, the United States hosted a one-day conference in Washington to help Pakistan raise funds for the 4,500MW
Imran Will Continue Protest till PM Quits
Pakistan Will Respond to Any Form of Aggression
Los Angeles, CA: US
Ambassador to Pakistan Richard G. Olson and Pakistani Board of Investment Chairman Dr Miftah Ismail led an information and communications technology (ICT) trade mission to Washington, DC, and California’s Silicon Valley October 13-17. During the five-day mission, a delegation of 20 Pakistani government and business leaders promoted trade and investment linkages between the United States and Pakistan. This was the second trade mission in less than twelve months led by Ambassador Olson. In November 2013, Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Shahid Abbasi and Ambassador Olson co-led a trade mission comprising 17 Pakistani oil and gas firms to Houston. American and Pakistani companies considered that trade mission a great success, with business deals worth tens of millions of dollars resulting from the trip. After completion of the ICT trade mission, Ambassador Olson sat down with Pakistan Link for an exclusive interview at his hotel in Santa Monica, California.
US & Canada $1.00
US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard G. Olson peruses contents of Pakistan Link during the course of the interview
PL: How do you see the current state of the US-Pakistan relations, and what future do you foresee for the US-
Pakistan ties? Ambassador Olson: I think that the relationship is on a very positive
OLSON, P19
“I will not leave this container until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns and an independent investigation into rigging in the 2013 elections is held,” Imran declared
Islamabad: While Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri called off his dharna after 69
days, Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan announced on Tuesday to continue his party’s
sit-in till the resignation of the prime minister. Addressing the participants of the sit-in, he
said, “I will not leave this container until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns and an independent investigation into rigging in the 2013 elections is held.” He said the system would not change if those involved in the rigging were not held accountable and dealt with in accordance with the law. Electoral reforms would be useless without accountability of rigging in the last elections. “A government was formed as a result of rigged elections in violation of the constitution while we are still being denied justice,” Mr Khan lamented. He said the IMRAN, P29
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INDIA, P29
Islamabad: Pakistan’s top military
spokesman on Wednesday said that the country wants peace on its borders, but is ready to respond to any form of aggression from its neighbors. “We do not want to disrupt peace but if the other side resorts to aggression then it will be responded accordingly,” said Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa while speaking to reporters. The spokesman’s words follow an intense exchange of mortar and gunfire by Indian and Pakistani forces along the working boundary and border dividing disputed Kashmir. The recent violence killed at least 20 civilians and wounded dozens in the worst violation to date of a 2003 ceasefire. While the firing has abated, tension remains high along a 200-kilometer stretch of the AGGRESSION, P29
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OPINION
P4 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014
Pakistan Link Hazrat Khalid Bin Walid’s Suspension & Pakistan’s Leadership n By Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry President
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azrat Omer perhaps would deliberately have missed such a possibility that there would emerge in Muslim countries in the distant future a brand of leadership that would be exceedingly rich, but that would also be most power-hungry and not up to the mark. He and early Muslims were equipped with such sublimity and purity of thinking and service that they would not burden and demean themselves by anticipating that Muslims and the true followers of the Noble Prophet (s) could one day be such a lot of utterly blatant liars, and such heedless and callous custodians of the Umma as we find them today.
“It is to him who masters our minds by the force of truth, and not to those who enslave them by violence, that we owe our reverence” – Voltaire. Hazrat Khalid Bin Walid’s Status: “When God decided to have mercy on me, He softened my heart towards Islam,” Hazrat Khalid bin Walid once admitted, and said so. There was hardly a battle that Khalid bin Walid had not fought to harm Islam and Prophet Muhammad (s). In 625 he solely had been responsible for inflicting a severe defeat on Muslims in the Battle of Uhud, causing an injury to the Prophet even. During the Prophet’s stay near Makkah at Hudaybiyyah in 628, Hazrat Khalid in particular had hovered around him like an eagle along with his followers to do Muslims maximum harm. “We had decided to make the attack on the Prophet(s) as he would lead the Zuhr prayers, but we could not,” he admitted. The Prophet sensed the danger and offered the Isr prayers as `Khuf/Fear prayers’. When the Prophet (s) left for Medina after the Hudaybiyyah Peace Pact, Khalid’s brother, Walid bin Walid, already a Muslim, left for him, Khalid bin Walid, a letter. In this letter he wrote: “The Prophet (s) particularly enquired about you and asked, `Where is Khalid?’ and then the Prophet said, `Khalid! and staying ignorant about Islam!... we would prefer Khalid over others. It would be good for him too, if he spends his efforts and energies for Islam.’ “ And finally when the moment for the change of heart came, Hazrat Khalid reached Medina. The news of his arrival had already reached the Prophet (s) and he felt very happy. On meeting Khalid, the Prophet said, “Keeping in view your intellect and foresight, I always hoped that one day God would bless you to do what is good”. Hazrat Khalid then said, “And how about my opposition to you and all my hostilities of the past?”. The Prophet cheered him up by saying, “Islam cuts/wipes out all the sins committed prior to embracing Islam”, narrates Allama Shibli in his book, “Al-Farooq”. In the Battle of Muta in the 8th Hijra, in 630, when about 3,000 Muslims confronted 100,000 Romans, and initially suffered some major losses in the death of their great commanders, it was this newly converted Muslim, Hazrat Khalid who picked up the banner and saved the day for them. Back in Medina, the Prophet who was seeing the developments of the battle with his Prophetic eyes, narrated the scene to the Ansaars in these words, “One of the Swords of Allah took it (the banner) until Allah gave them victory”. The Prophet (s) clearly was referring to Hazrat Khalid who earned this most prestigious and rare title, `Saifullah”, in this battle. Hazrat Khalid also killed the strongest man, Hurmuz, in the entire Arab single-handedly. Words fail to encompass his true courage and chivalry. In the year 635, in one of the adventures in Syria, Hazrat Khalid alone with his militaristic ingenuity, and in a daring manner, crossed the moat on a sheep skin, climbed the fence with the help of his spear, and jumping on the other side, opened the main gates, resulting in the total defeat of the enemy. Today’s SSG (special services group) wing in the army owes its origin to him. It was one of his favorite tactics to keep the army on the alert, and on the move, and at the breaking point of readiness. He, as a commander, won for the Muslims during the period of Hazrat Omer, not cities or towns, but countries like Syria and Iraq. Why would Hazrat Omer then decide to remove such a great warrior, general and militaristic genius just three years later
Cartoon courtesy Daily Times
in 638 AD? Ibn-ul Asir contends that Hazrat Khalid’s suspension was based on Hazrat Omer’s personal dislike/displeasure for him. And this is a gross distortion of the historical facts. Maulana Shibli in his famous book, Al-Farooq, and from which most of the material for this article has been taken, describes the incident differently. According to Maulana Shibli Nomani, historical facts present a different explanation. Hazrat Omer had received reports of some financial extravagancies and irregularities committed in Syria under Hazrat Khalid’s commandership. In one case, Hazrat Khalid was particularly asked to submit a detailed
What Hazrat Omer perhaps missed was that there would emerge in Muslim countries in the distant future a brand of leadership that would be exceedingly rich, but that would also be most power-hungry and most corrupt. Iqbal called such people as filled with “Bui Gadai”, “replete with the hunger of a beggar” report of the revenue collection and dispensation, which he refused to do, contending, “I have been following the practice of not sending any financial details in the past to your predecessor, Amir-ul-Momineen, Abu Bakr, and I will not do so now.” Hazrat Omer did not like his tone and his response to a charge; nor did he hold anybody above accountability. He wrote back to Hazrat Khalid, “You can stay as Commander of the army only if you condescend to regularly submit the report of all the spending.” Hazrat Khalid refused to do so and was thus removed as commander. Muslims, and for that matter, other nations have fallen from glory only when they compromised with honesty and fair-play, and fiddled with the public exchequer without any fear of accountability. Public money is a trust. Even God Who is All-Forgiving and All Merciful, refuses to be soft on those who mishandle it. Violation of human rights and of financial matters pre-demand their readdress with the compensation awarded to the affected people, before Istighfar, Allah’s Forgiveness, is asked for. It once used to be the most serious matter in Islam. Hafiz ibn Hajr in his book, `Kitab Al-Asahaba”, writes that Hazrat Khalid bin Walid was not totally removed from his post; he was only placed under Hazrat Abu Ubaida. What was the main incident that actually caught Hazrat Omer’s attention leading to Hazrat Khalid’s suspension? Hazrat Khalid bin Walid had awarded a big amount of 10 thousand in the currency of the time to a certain poet. On hearing of this Hazrat Omer ® wrote to Hazrat Abu Obaida, “If Khalid has donated
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this money out of his own pocket, then it is an instance of sheer extravagance. And if he has given it out of the Treasury, then it is a serious breach of the public trust. In either case he (Khalid) should stand suspended”. The matter became worse as the messenger assigned to deliver the letter of suspension began reading the Furman/Order in the public. "Explain from where you got this money,” he read. Hazrat Omer had instructed that if Hazrat Khalid bin Walid confessed his mistake, then he be forgiven. But Hazrat Khalid remained adamant. As a consequence, the government official designated for the task, as per the custom publicly, removed Hazrat Khalid’s “Kulla”, or cap. The matter did not end there. For further punishment, he removed the cloth/turban wrapped around Hazrat Khalid’s Kulla/Cap, and tied Hazrat Khalid’s neck. Where would the present-day brand of leaders like the Zardaris/Sharifs/Altafs/Sardars/Vaderas/ Maliks/Chaudhrys/Generals/ Parliamentarians/ Judges, and add to the lot the Qadris and Captains of Cricket, stand when judged with Hazrat Omar’s yardstick? Certainly, in the prison attired only in their shorts and vests. It was a strange and sad sight. There stood in utter humiliation and helplessness, the Commander of the Commanders, the bravest and the brightest general of Islamic history, the one who had won Iraq and Syria for Islam - just for donating 10K and for failing to supply a befitting justification of its source. This incident on the one hand establishes Hazrat Khalid’s loyalty to Islam, to the Caliphate, and to the course of accountability; and on the other hand it points out the un-compromising stance of Hazrat Omer in matters of accountability and justice and Tawhid. Hazrat Khalid on reaching Humus, made one speech in which he said, “Amir ul Momineen, Omer once appointed me a commander of Syria, and I won him the entire Syria. And now he suspends me”. One soldier stood up there and then, and said, “O, Commander. Keep quiet. Such talks breed disunity.” "Yes, you are right. But who can dare revolting when Omer is the Caliph?” Hazrat Khalid on reaching Medina, went to see the Caliph. There he said, “Omer, by God, in my case you have not been fair”. Hazrat Omer said, “Why don’t you explain from where you got that amount...from war booty or from any other source?” Hazrat Khalid then replied, “My entire assets do not exceed 60 thousand. Any amount that exceeds this figure is yours”. Physical counting of Hazrat Khalid’s assets was ordered, and about 20 thousand were found in excess, and were duly confiscated. It was on this occasion that Hazrat Omer then addressed Hazrat Khalid, “Khalid, God knows, I love you dearly, and I greatly respect you”. He then issued one order for circulation in the entire Caliphate. "I didn’t suspend Khalid for any personal differences or for his dishonesty. I did so because I felt that people under him had begun feeling personally indebted to him (Khalid) for what he had accomplished for Islam, and not to God. I did what I did so that people may understand that all our achievements are only and only due to God”. That is what they understood by the concept of Tawhid. The present-day leadership is simply `Heedless. Forgetting God is forgetting Tawhid. They indulge in corruption and in the abuse of public trust because they have become heedless, and they do not listen to cries of the poor and the powerless. God identifies such people in the Qur’an: “We have created for Gehenna many jinn and men. They have hearts, but understand not with them. They have eyes, but see not with them. They have ears, LEADERSHIP, P29
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OPINION
P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014
Malala’s Strategy
n By Syed Kamran Hashmi
T
Westfield, IN
he legend goes that one day, as the two girls were riding the bus home, a young, ordinary looking man hopped in the vehicle. Upon getting in, he prowled towards the girls like a wolf focusing on its pray. Once he reached them, he inquired about their names as if he was a distant relative trying to recognize a family member. It was a casual encounter; there was no fear, no intimidation. Oblivious of his plans, they confirmed their identities, a mistake they would soon realize.
Spotting his target, he pulled out his gun immediately and shot one of them in the head while injuring the other. The girl was Malala Yousafzai, 15, a high school student, determined to read, write and be independent. The assassin belonged to Taliban, an organization infamous for its disdain towards women who later took the responsibility through a public letter explaining that they shot her not because she wanted to read and write, as they do not oppose women education, but because her writings and views were too Western. It was a stupefying explanation, wasn’t it? That they would approve killing of a defenseless young girl just because she was too progressive or liberal, in their opinion. Anyway, blood gushed out of her head as she lay injured on the floor, her eyes closed, her mind slipping into darkness, her pulse fading away. There was little hope for
her survival. The perpetuator, after watching her hit, ran from the crime scene anticipating his mission was accomplished, the mission in which he had put down one of his most dangerous enemy: a fiercely independent woman. He was wrong. He did not know that she was a real fighter, a brave soldier unlike him, a coward who takes the lives of innocent people in the name of Islam, nor did he reckon that she would survive the injuries. The gun which was supposed to have killed her too, he could not believe would backfire. Indeed, there is no doubt that the gun backfired, but not in the literal sense, because after the attack, she had to undergo surgery and then had to travel to the United Kingdom for specialized treatment. It backfired, indeed, because the firearm missed all its objectives. First, it failed to eliminate Malala Yousafzai. Second, it could not suppress her ideology. And third, the attack on a young girl would, from then on always haunt them like a nightmare, exposing their savagery to the world and threatening their philosophy to be eradicated altogether. Knowing her story, most of us would agree that Malala is courageous and a real fighter. Although these two personality traits - chivalry and resilience - are most revered in our society but Malala is controversial, if not one hundred percent villainous. I have also listened, just like you, to the stories about how she was first spotted and later trained by the Western journalists to use her to
F m
Malala with members of her family
promote their values disregarding her local traditions. I do not believe them, though. Now let us imagine a soldier for a moment who while wearing his uniform dies in the line of duty
istics that the soldier has shown, if you think, are the same: courage and resilience. I wonder then why does one person who shows the same characteristic is esteemed so high whereas the other is made to look
Victory lies in extending a helping hand; it slips away from the hands holding a gun. Patience is also a form of courage; it wins over hearts and souls. Wars can be fought with a peaceful struggle without promoting violence. Malala is fighting that war and defeating the enemy. Her strategy is working. Isn’t it time for us to apply the same strategy as a nation? for his country. The whole nation, without any controversy, would appreciate his service. To be regarded as a hero, the two basic character-
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controversial. Is there a double standard that we harbor in ourselves? Or we have learnt as a nation to promote violence, even in the traits we
deem important for our moral and religious wellbeing? Let me further elaborate my point: in the midst of an argument, you must also have heard the claim that we would destroy our enemy no matter how strong with our valor, commitment and of course our atomic bombs. Listening to them, do you not agree that chivalry accompanied with violence is a covetable virtue in Pakistan? I guess the answer is yes. May be as a security state we feel threatened by our much bigger and much more powerful neighboring country. We consider anyone who takes up arms against the mighty foe is a hero. At the same time, the one who works to improve the relationship or tries to reduce the animosity between the two nuclear armed states is a coward, a paid enemy agent and unpatriotic leader. Malala has followed the path of similar cowardice leading to the controversy surrounding her in Pakistan. But for the rest of the world, by taking the bullet in her head, she has proved that her mind and her intelligence are more powerful than the guns, the suicide bombings and the public executions of all the jihadists combined together. That terrorism can only spawn more enemies whereas her mission is to make friends. That victory lies in extending a helping hand; it slips away from the hands holding a gun. That patience is also a form of courage; it wins over the hearts and souls. And that the wars can be fought with peaceful struggle without promoting violence. She is fighting that war and defeating the enemy. Her strategy is working. Isn’t it time for us to apply the same strategy as a nation?
OPINION n By Dr Mohammad Taqi
T
Florida
he Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) seeks to restore its dwindling political fortunes through formally launching its bright young chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at a rally at the tomb of Mr Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Bilawal’s mother and the chairperson of the PPP, the late and much lamented Benazir Bhutto, returned home on October 18, 2007 and was on her way to Mr Jinnah’s tomb for a rally when her procession was bombed, killing over 150 PPP workers.
Benazir Bhutto survived that attack but never could address a rally at Mr Jinnah’s tomb. She was martyred in another bombing in Rawalpindi a little over two months later. Bilawal apparently seeks to start where his illustrious mother left off. However, the PPP’s chairman seems to have taken a page from his maternal grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s political playbook rather than his mother’s. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had resigned as General Ayub Khan’s foreign minister in June 1966 and, after a largely positive response from the public, went overseas. He returned in October that same year and after initially toying with the idea of joining an existing political party, including his eventual nemesis the National Awami Party (NAP), he set out in earnest to form his own party. The PPP was eventually founded on November 30, 1967 and 10 foundation documents were presented at the time. According to Zulfikar Bhutto’s close associate,
OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7
The PPP’s Politics: Reinventing or Recycling? Barrister Rafi Raza, Zulfikar and Dr Mubashir Hasan each wrote one document, ‘Why a New Party’ and ‘The Declaration of the Unity of People’, respectively, while the rest were contributed by the PPP’s leftist ideologue J A Rahim. Rahim also summed up the party’s vision as a four-point dictum, i.e. “Islam is our faith, democracy is our polity, socialism is our economy and all power to the people.” However, unlike almost any other political party in Pakistan, the PPP’s eighth founding document incorporated the Jammu and Kashmir (JK) issue as its core mission. According to Barrister Raza, that document noted, “This JK mission takes precedence over all other internal and external responsibilities of the party...Pakistan without Kashmir is as incomplete as is a body without a head.” During the PPP’s 1970 election campaign in Punjab, Zulfikar Bhutto honed in on the Kashmir issue. Fully cognizant of then Punjab’s anti-India sentiment, Bhutto went from a nationalistic to highly jingoistic tone in his speeches. He berated the 1966 Tashkent Declaration that helped end the 1965 war and restore bilateral relations, including trade, only to sign the Simla Agreement under worse terms in 1972, salvaging whatever he could for vivisected Pakistan. Bilawal’s current rhetoric on Kashmir and against India seems to be along the lines of Zulfikar Bhutto promising a “1,000-year-war against India” and a “Glory of Islam Day (Yawm-e-Shaukat-e-Islam)” in Delhi and Srinagar. One wonders whether the PPP is reinventing or merely recycling itself in an attempt to recapture
its lost glory in the Punjabi heartland. The Kashmir problem did not sell well as an election issue in Sindh, Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (then NWFP) in the 1970 campaign and is unlikely to do so 44 years on. But the question is whether it will be a
wrestle back its political space in Punjab, proclaim to focus on economic issues. With its massive active service and retired military population, the Kashmir issue perhaps still resonates in parts of central and upper Punjab but moving it to the top of the PPP’s
Bilawal’s current rhetoric on Kashmir and against India seems to be along the lines of Zulfikar Bhutto promising a “1,000-year-war against India” and a “Glory of Islam Day (Yawm-e-Shaukat-eIslam)” in Delhi and Srinagar. One wonders whether the PPP is reinventing or merely recycling itself in an attempt to recapture its lost glory in the Punjabi heartland good pitch to today’s Punjab. Punjab-based parties like the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaaf (PTI) seem to have moved on and hardly bring up Kashmir in zero-sum terms. Both the PML-N and PTI, from whom the PPP has to
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political agenda may just be overkill, the current Pak-India border tensions notwithstanding. The PPP’s 1970 electoral success in Punjab was due not merely to the Kashmir issue. The party caught the public’s imagination thanks to Zulfikar Bhutto’s personal charisma,
indefatigable campaigning and perhaps a clever and creative adaptation of the Indian leftist slogan: “Maang raha hai har insaan: roti kapra aur makan” (Everyone has but this demand: bread, clothing and shelter).” The PPP’s leftist founding fathers had appropriated and abridged the slogan to just roti, kapra aur makan to communicate their quite overt socialist agenda to people in the catchiest possible terms. The idea is not that the current PPP should fall back on socialist sloganeering but it must put forth an economic program that is in sync with the times, the public’s mood and its needs. But health, education and social welfare are not commodities and market forces will never regulate them equitably. If the PPP has to go back to the basics then why not look at its social democratic origins? The PPP’s 2013 election manifesto was perhaps the most progressive in the socioeconomic realm and could still be a building block for its future campaigns. With millions of people deprived of food, shelter, health and education, an inward focus to make peace within borders rather than a war across them ought to be the PPP’s priority. Benazir Bhutto laid down the ground rules for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s associates who tried to patronize her like a niece very early in her career. She cut the ‘uncles’ to size and stood tall as a leader on her own with her own style and thought. She built on her father’s legacy but did not necessarily borrow all of it and tempered it where needed. In her last book, Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West, Benazir Bhutto’s emphasis was on a “composite dialogue” to resolve the Kashmir issue. She PPP, P10
OPINION
P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014 n By Andrew Lam
A
CA
sians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) are a fast-growing population and as a voting bloc, their numbers have nearly doubled since 2000, but political candidates continue to ignore them, according to a new study. APIs are the fastest growing population in the United States, having outpaced Hispanic growth in 2012. In terms of political power, the API electorate nearly doubled to 3.9 million voters between 2000 to 2012, according to a poll of 1337 registered Asian American voters by Asian Americans Advancing Justice. The study highlighted several characteristics of this increasingly powerful electorate. 1. About a third (27 percent) of about 4 million API voters are “up for grabs.” “The largest group is ‘independent,’ or ‘don’t know,’” the survey found, “while among partisans, Democrats have a 2 to1 advantage.” The results are similar to findings in 2012, with one big difference: “There’s a stronger identification with Democrats among women in 2014 than in 2012,” according to the study, 2. Asian American voters tend to favor Democrats on key issues. “The Democratic advantage is strongest on healthcare, income inequality, moderate gun control, immigration and smallest on taxes.” Republicans, on the other hand, are seen as stronger on national security. Notably, Vietnamese Americans by far find national
Why Candidates Shouldn’t Ignore Asian American Voters security a “very important issue” at 72 percent, followed by Korean Americans at 56 percent. 3. The role of ethnic media is a crucial source of information for API voters. Since API voters have the highest rates of limited English proficiency, (35 percent) and since 77 percent speak another language other than English at home, many rely on ethnic media to get their primary source of information. Vietnamese Americans lead among the groups at 61 percent followed by Chinese Americans at slightly over half, Korean Americans at just over a third. 4. As a group, API voters favor Democrats in US House races. Asian Indians emerged as the group with highest Democratic Party favorability at 68 percent, whereas Korean Americans leaned toward GOP candidates more than half the time, followed by Vietnamese Americans at 45 percent. But, there are two exceptions. “The two parties are evenly matched among Chinese Americans and Republican candidates hold an advantage among Vietnamese American voters,” according to the report. 5. Voter enthusiasm is the same as before. Overall, women are not as enthusiastic as they were last election, and Vietnamese American voters and Republicans are the most enthusiastic this time around. “In elections to come, it is clear Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders will have the opportunity to influence positive change,” the study noted. “By 2025, APIs will make up five percent of the national electorate and by 2044, the group will constitute 10 of the national electorate.” This year, Asian American votes can also matter in battle-
of the district’s citizen voting age population,” the study noted. In May of 2014, Slate.com published a story with maps that got policy wonks talking. Entitled “Tagalog in California, Cherokee in Arkansas,” it showed how counterintuitive it might be for Americans to guess who’s where
It’s clear that in potential battleground states like Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona, ignoring immigrant and minority voters would be detrimental to candidates of any political stripe ground states. In competitive races, the API vote could mean the margin of victory. In Virginia, for instance, Asian Americans make up about 10 percent of eligible voters, and in Nevada, that number is about 11 percent, according to AAJC. “In 60 House races in the midterm elections, Asian Americans make up more than 8 percent
in America. Under the section of “Most common Language Spoken Other Than English and Spanish,” (in other words, the 3rd most popular language spoken) one is surprised to find that it’s Vietnamese in states like Washington, Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. In Virginia and Georgia, it’s Korean. And in Hawaii, Nevada and Cali-
fornia, it’s Tagalog. The map raises these questions: What are the fourth popular languages spoken in these states? Which will form formidable swing votes in the coming midterm and, more importantly, the primary in 2016? How will an increasingly powerful Asian American electorate affect American politics? The answers remain to be seen, but it’s clear that in potential battleground states like Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona, ignoring immigrant and minority voters would be detrimental to candidates of any political stripe. “The Asian American community is building civic and political infrastructures across the country,” writes the study authors, noting that, for example, Congressional candidates of API descent increased nearly fourfold to 39 in the last four years. The report warned that “it would be a mistake for political parties and candidates to overlook the Asian American vote.” It recommended reaching API voters through ethnic media, in multiple languages, and candidates “must also think about the Asian American community from the start, not as an afterthought.” (Andrew Lam is an editor with New America Media and author of “Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora,” and “East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres.” His latest book is “Birds of Paradise Lost,” a short story collection, that was published in 2013 and won a Pen/ Josephine Miles Literary Award in 2014)
$195,000 FOR SALE!!!
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OPINION n By Riaz Haq
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CA
All members of the Commission (on Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation) were agreed, Pakistan is a land of opportunity” - i-genius Opportunity Pakistan Report April, 2014 i-genius, headquartered in London, calls itself a “World Community of Social Entrepreneurs”. It promotes social entrepreneurship to a network in over 200 countries. Last year in September, it sent fifteen people (Commissioners) from Australia, Italy, Pakistan and the United Kingdom to Pakistan to survey its social entrepreneurship landscape. At the end of their trip, all 15 members of the team unanimously concluded that “Pakistan is a land of opportunity” for social entrepreneurship and innovation. They said: “The population (of Pakistan) is proportionately one of the youngest in the world. The youth predominately feel passionate about their country and are determined for it to succeed. Entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship seem almost natural to them, perhaps in part due to the lack of large employers. Where their parents forged family businesses in traditional practices often around clothes, food and retail, Pakistani youth are embracing new opportunities that arise from
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OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9
A Land of Opportunity for Social Entrepreneurs? modern technology and creative industries. Likewise, women (young and old) are making an important contribution to the economy and becoming founders of their own businesses. Pakistanis have had to overcome many hardships, but this in turn has made them resourceful, robust and resilient. Such characteristics are ideal in shaping successful social entrepreneurs.” Particular areas they focused on include energy, water and housing. Writing for the Guardian newspaper, Nishat Ahmad identified some of the key efforts being made in these two areas. Clean Water Nishat Ahmad highlights Pharmagen Water. Founded in 2007, Pharmagen aims to provide poor communities in Pakistan’s second largest city, Lahore, with affordable clean and purified drinking water. It is supported by the Acumen, which invests in entrepreneurs and creates venture capital which can provide solutions to causes of poverty. Off-grid Energy In the energy sector, SRE Solutions is helping with affordable solar panels for the poor. Established just last year with Acumen’s support it offers to harness solar energy for off-grid customers in districts of Punjab and Khayber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Affordable Housing Established after the 2005 earthquake, Ghonsla is working
to build affordable housing for the poor. In the coming months Ghonsla is looking into increasing production and collaborating with another insulation firm based in Germany while working locally to increase the company’s footprint in Pakistan’s
Where their parents forged family businesses in traditional practices often around clothes, food and retail, Pakistani youth are embracing new opportunities that arise from modern technology and creative industries. Likewise, women are making an important contribution to the economy northern district of Chitral, a scenic yet underdeveloped area bordering the Himalayas. Startup Finance In finance, Nishat Ahmed cites SEED, Social Entrepreneurship and Equity Development, a venture which supports startups and grassroots innovations. SEED provided initial funding for Ghonsla. Its incubation center in Pakistan
American Muslims Must Champion Principles of Human Dignity and Freedom
recent New York Times op-ed published by MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati titled “American Muslims Must Champion Principles of Human Dignity and Freedom” calls on American Muslims to utilize their voices and right to worship freely to “[respond] to extremism and...take a leading role in this response.”
Al-Marayati wrote the op-ed as a part of the New York Times “Room for Debate” series where he tackled the question, “How should Muslims respond to the threat of extremism within Islam?” Other debaters included associate professor M. A. Muqtedar Khan, Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), Linda Sarsour, Director of Inspire Sarah Khan, Founder of Interfaith Youth Core Eboo Patel, journalist Hanin Ghaddar and author Jonathan Wright. Below is the text of the article. People look to the Middle East to judge the standards of Islam. Unfortunately, the Middle East has become a breeding ground for fanaticism and despair, and there is no reason to expect it to change soon. So when change arises, it will be from the West, and in particular the United States, where Muslims are free to worship without coercion by religious authorities or state power. Here, we Muslims must form independent religious and political thinking from those who have created an unholy alliance between mosque and state in the Middle East. We must demand respect for an independent religious understanding of Islam while remaining connected to the Muslim peoples worldwide. Western Muslim thinkers like Khaled Abou El Fadl, Sherman Jack-
provides opportunities for young entrepreneurs in their early years of startup. It was established by friends Faraz Khan and Khusro Ansari and runs five distinct projects, including StartUp Dosti, a business plan based competition for early stage startups
in India and Pakistan. It seeks to build relationships between the next generation of entrepreneurs from the two countries and the wider South Asian diaspora. As part of this it also launched Pakistan’s first television program closely based on the BBC’s Dragons Den format. It is to be aired in India and Pakistan in November. Other Sectors
India’s Offensive Tactics and Pakistan’s Politics n By Rafiq Ebrahim Valjee
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son, Fathi Osman and Tariq Ramadan have written frequently about reform. They’ve championed ideas like principles of Islam that respect human dignity and equality as an obligation in monotheism. They’ve made clear that Abrahamic understanding of faith demands respect for the rights of other religions and that Islamic law makes Muslims responsible to protect life. The US government must bring American Muslims into the fold. We are America’s greatest asset in responding to extremism and are ready to take a leading role in this response. But President Obama has not met with American Muslim thinkers and leaders to be a part of the administration’s long-term or short-term strategy. American Muslims must create safe spaces in mosques for conversations with young people about an array of issues, including reform, policy failures of our own government, dealing with anti-Muslim public opinion, countering religious and political extremism and civic engagement. That’s what our group’s Safe Spaces Initiative is about -- creating conversations with young people and community
leaders to develop healthier communities that will create a new future for Islam.
Early Voting: Our Right, Our Duty n By Azher Quader
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President, CBC Chicago, IL
uring the last five years we have witnessed the birth and rise of the Tea Party movement alarming in their rhetoric, uncompromising in their positions, hawkish in their attitudes. Along with that for a short while we also saw the drama of the Occupy Movement creating chaos and trouble for the institutions of power and authority in the nation. We saw also the progressive use of Muslim bashing to excite emotions, gain cheap votes and defame a whole community. Hate speech became more organized, more common and more hateful. The
VOTING, P29
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The i-genius report on Pakistan also mentions their commissioners’ meetings with other important social entrepreneurs such the Citizens Foundation (TCF) in the education sector and Zacky Farms in sustainable agriculture. i-genius report says that Pakistan’s social entrepreneurs are actively seeking ways to fill the huge gaps created by successive governments’ continuing neglect of the country’s social sector and infrastructure needs. Pakistan has many problems in almost all areas including education, health care, food, water, energy, housing and infrastructure. But the country is also home to one of the youngest and most passionate populations which, in the words of i-genius commissioners, is “determined for it to succeed. Entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship seem almost natural to them, perhaps in part due to the lack of large employers. Where their parents forged family businesses in traditional practices often around clothes, food and retail, Pakistani youth are embracing new opportunities that arise from modern technology and creative industries. Likewise, women (young and old) are making an important contribution to the economy and becoming founders of their own businesses. Pakistanis have had to overcome many hardships, but this in turn has made them resourceful, robust and resilient. Such characteristics are ideal in shaping successful social entrepreneurs”.
Winfield, IL
ccording to Roman History, when Rome was aflame, Nero was playing a flute. History repeats itself, sometimes in another country. This time it seems to be in Pakistan. India’s aggression in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir has caused a number of killings and injuries of civilians and devastation in the territories of Pakistan. It is a clear act of warfare, mastered by the anti-Muslim Prime Minister of India, who has come out in his true colours. And what is the response of Pakistan? The army is responding to the attack in a befitting manner, but what about the political leaders? Defense minister Khwaja Asif says that he doesn’t want confrontation with India, and the three-time Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif seems to be largely unconcerned. On the television screen we see him nodding his head or shaking it, or doing both at the same time. Obviously, he does not want to be bothered by any crisis. One wonders if he plays a flute in his ‘palace.’ The country at present is facing external threats, terrorism, pitiable sufferings of the common man, and a possible internal revolution resulting from the successful dharnas of Imran Khan and Táhirul Quadri, who are gaining the support of the people every passing day. The only supporters of the ruling party are some political parties of little importance, and of course the ex-accidental president, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, who got enormous help from the Pakistan Muslim League(N) when his term was over. Just to be in good books, he is now openly fa-
vouring the ruling party – but at the wrong time. He has also dragged his young son Bilawal into politics again at the wrong time. Bilawal, it seems at this stage, knows very little about politics in Pakistan. His recent declaration in an address to his few supporters was that he would take occupied Kashimir from India. What a naïve promise! Does he think that the Kashmir crisis is a piece of cake? So many futile wars have been fought to get Kashmir. Continuous efforts are being made to establish friendship with India. We have tried cricket diplomacy, cultural diplomacy; prime ministers ‘shaking hands’ diplomacy, but what did we gain? Unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved to the satisfaction of both countries and the wishes of the Kashmiris, no real friendship can exist between India and Pakistan, and the people of Kashmir are going to live under the oppressive rule of India, now governed by the anti-Muslim Prime Minister, Narinder Modi. Be wary of India. Narinder Modi hates Muslims and he would do anything possible to destabilize Pakistan. He has even ordered his Education Minister to replace the history books in schools with those written by Dinnanath Batra, who has molded the history of India to suit the right wing Hindu ideology. That means that the glory of Muslim conquerors and past rulers of India will be overshadowed by the unscrupulous victories of Hindu kings and plunderers. This step is only the beginning, and we are going to see many more such actions to humiliate Muslims. The time has come for the government to wake up from the deep slumber it has been enjoying right from the time it came into power.
OPINION
P10 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014 n By Dr Basheer Ahmed Khan
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Gaden Grove, CA
hen we read the life and work of Socrates, as described by his great student Plato and interpreted by the esteemed historian and philosopher Bertrand Russell in his book “The History of Western Philosophy,” we see a lot of similarities between the teachings of Socrates and those of the prophets to suggest that Socrates could be Luqman the wise. All the scholars of exegesis are almost unanimous that Luqman was not a prophet. Yet his name is mentioned in the Qur’an to prove the point that the message of the Qur’an is not something alien, but what all people of true wisdom have arrived at in the past, and Luqman’s story is cited as an example.
The holy Qur’an introduces Luqman thus: We bestowed upon Luqman Wisdom (Ch 31 V 12) and then goes into detail his advise to his son, which epitomizes the gist of faith and religion. Plato’s work “Apology,” which is supposedly an account of the statements made by Socrates before the judges during his trial, is a testimony to the fact that Socratic wisdom was akin to the Qur’anic concept of wisdom and not the sophistry of a sophist to suggest that Socrates could be the Luqman mentioned in the Qur’an. Socrates lived in the brief oligarchic period at the end of the Peloponnesian wars. The Oligarchs of his time put Socrates on trial because the emphasis on virtue in his teachings was a threat to their rabid authority. In fact, some of the children of these Oligarchs were pupils of Socrates; they were granted exemption from giving testimony in the trial, lest they testify the facts that absolve Socrates of the allegation leveled against him. One of the charges leveled against Socrates was that he was using his eloquence to mislead the younger generation. Socrates responded by saying, “The only eloquence I am capable of is that of truth.” He further says, “Men of Athens, I honor and love you, but I shall obey God rather than you” (HOWP). This is the same reply which Abraham (PBUH) gave to his people (Ch 2 V131). Religious beliefs and intellectual inquiries are both essential for a balanced life. If someone tries to force something wrong in the name of religion, then intellect comes to our rescue to repulse it. Conversely, if someone wants to convince us of the permissibility of something loathsome through crafty arguments, then religion comes to save us from the evil consequences of it. Thus religion and intellect are two wheels of the cart which facilitate our journey in life and they should be perfectly balanced for us to advance in this journey. If one of these wheels dominates over the other, we will be working like a bull around the mill, coming back to the same place where we started. The fact that we are human beings and not bulls only exacerbates the results; for the wasted effort has its own adverse psychological, economic and social consequences on us and on society. Socrates knew this well and he advanced the cause of both religion and intellect to work in unison for the benefit of man and society. Explaining that real wisdom is with God and what we enjoy is what is given to us by God, Socrates says: I have found that a poet does not write his poetry by his wisdom but by a sort of inspiration. The same is true of an artisan, a politician, etc., but the poet, the artisan and the politician think that they are wise and all their achievements are because of their wisdom. In the process of showing these accomplished men of society the reality of their intelligence, I have made many dangerous enemies. Socrates goes on to say: “He, O men, is the wisest who like Socrates knows that his wisdom is worth nothing, God only is wise” (HOWP). This is the reality of our knowledge and our wisdom which is epitomized in Verse 255 of Ch 2 of the Qur’an: “You do not encompass anything more from Allah’s knowledge other than what He bestows upon you. Socrates further emphasizes that knowl-
Socrates and Luqman the Wise (Part II) edge is not only obtainable, but is of the utmost importance to differentiate between vice and virtue and to live a virtuous life. This fact was emphasized on Nabi SA in the very first revelation (Ch 96), and Nabi SA was asked to pray: O Allah increase me in my knowledge (Ch 20 V114). All of us repent and return from our sinful lives after learning about the short-term and long-term consequences of our mistakes the hard way. Speaking on this subject, Socrates says: “No man commits sin wittingly.” Therefore, he advocates the search for knowledge in order to become virtuous. Socrates’ life was a life of this search, so much so that he cared less for his personal upkeep and was seen lost in himself, spending his time in contemplation of solutions to the problems that plague both individuals and societies. He was a teacher, but was not making money from his teaching. In fact, he pokes fun at sophist and disclaims the knowledge that they advance to seek material benefit (HOWP). This was in consonance with the prophetic tradition where every prophet and messenger has said: I do not seek any reward from you for my reward is with Allah, Who takes care of everyone and everything (Ch26 V109). Oligarchs of Socrates’ time, who had to protect their interest through unjust practices, did not like the talk of morality and virtue and condemned Socrates to death under the excuse of “protecting the interest of the State.” Bertrand Russell contends that “if Socrates had pursued dialectic the way Plato describes in Apology the hostility towards him is easily explained “all the humbugs in Athens would combine against him”. The charge(s) leveled against Socrates was that “he was an evil-doer; a curious person searching into things under the earth and above the heavens, making the worse appear the better cause and teaching all this to others. He was also charged with not worshiping the gods of the state, introducing new divinities and corrupting the young minds through his eloquence (HOWP).” It is odd that Socrates, who was a Godly man, was accused of not worshiping the gods of the state and introducing new divinities. The fact was that his accusers were only willing to accept gods who had no power to restrain them in their greed for possession and power; and gods who only served as objects of solace in moments of distress. An Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God; the One whose worship was advocated by Socrates in order to motivate his fellow countrymen to refrain from inequitable pursuit of power and possession out of awe and reverence for such a God, was not acceptable to those who put Socrates on trial. Socrates said to the court trying him: “If you think that by killing men you can prevent someone from censuring your evil lives, you are mistaken, that is not the way of escape which is either possible or honorable; the easiest and the noblest way is not to be disabling others but to be improving yourselves.” He further said: “The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways - I to die and you to live. Which is better God only knows” (HOWP). This was the same reply which Nabi SA gave to his detractors who ridiculed him and tortured him and his companions (Ch46 V9& Ch 67 V28-29). Socrates further said: I would have you know that if you kill (a gadfly) such a one as I am, you will injure yourself more than you injure me. You may think that you may easily strike me dead and then you would sleep on for the remainder of your lives, unless God in his care of you sent you another gadfly (HOWP). The popular view about the end of Socrates’ life is that the alternative fine of thirty minae was rejected by the court; however, Socrates preferred death to the shackles that restrained him from speaking the truth. As he
did not want to bring discredit to the state by allowing it to execute him, he agreed to take his own life by consuming poison. The tragic death of Socrates is immortalized for the Urdu-speaking people forever by this couplet of Faiz Ahmed Faiz which means: As you get a goblet of poison for speaking the truth don’t muster courage to speak the truth if you desire to live long: Such Baath pe Milta hai yahan Zahr ka Piyala Jeena hai to phir jur’athe Izhar na maango The Roman mindset forcibly ended the life of Socrates under the alibi of “the good of the state,” and attempted to “crucify” Jesus (Peace be upon him) under the alibi of “atonement for the sins of mankind.” Yet men continue to sin grievously and states continue to err dangerously. The Cross, which was the instrument of Greco-Roman persecution, is displayed on our bodies and in places of our worship as an object of reverence; while the Ten Commandments, which sneer at the behavior of our selfish leaders, struggle to maintain their presence in state offices. Socrates was a man who was very self-assured, high-minded, and indifferent to worldly success. Mr Russell contends that if we have to believe in what Plato has mentioned about Socrates as true, then Socrates is a perfect Orphic saint in the dualism of heavenly soul and earthly body. His indifference to death is the final proof of the mastery of his soul over his body. At the same time, he is not an orthodox Orphic; it is only the fundamental doctrines of Orphism that he accepts and not the superstition and ceremonies of purification (HOWP). To me Socrates was not only a heavenly soul in an earthly body but also a person who had the capacity to strike a healthy balance between intellect and intuition; to understand the truth not as it appears but as it actually is. In religion ethics is associated with pure heart but Socrates links ethics to knowledge. The two approaches are not contradictory but complementary. When the heart misleads, knowledge comes to our rescue and when knowledge is misleading then pure religion leads us on the way. Allama Iqbal has succinctly put this interrelationship in the following couplet, which means that emotions of heart and intuitions of mind should always be questioned by the intellect except in rare cases (where intellect is confused and heart is satisfied): La’Zim Hai Dil Ke Pass Rahe Pasban-eAkh’l Laikin Kabhi Kabhi Ise Tanha Bhi Chod De. It is true that the interest of the State is supreme. But when individual and group interests are projected as “national interest” by the Sophist of our time in various think tanks through 24/7 media channels, then nations
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suffer at the altar of the greed of the vested interests. The world is in a dangerous conflict with the truth that governs the universe while the Oligarchs in every country are promoting their self-interest in the name of state and religion. In an attempt to safeguard the interest of the oligarchs, we have put our values and our ideals to great risk. If it was not for the few honest and sincere leaders which God is still sending to awaken us from our slumber our problems would be much worse. Martin Luther King had to give his life to awaken us to establish the civil rights that were enshrined in the constitution to all the constituents. President Dwight Eisenhower warned us about the dangers looming on the world by Military Industrial Complex. Abraham Lincoln told us that civilizations are not destroyed by the strength of the adversaries but by our own weakness. Thomas Jefferson cautioned us adequately when he said: I shudder for my country when I know that God is a just God. In the spirit of showing reverence to our leaders, and in the spirit of atoning to the wrong we have done to Socrates, we should work to erase the wrong mottos we have set for ourselves by pronouncing that Greed is Good and Morality is relative and irrelevant. Greed and immorality are at the root of all the dangers that threaten the peace and security of both the Muslim world and Western world and we should jointly work towards fixing it. For this we should revisit both religion and the life of Socrates with a clean heart and an open mind. A healthy heart and an open mind alone are privy to truth which is essential for personal happiness, and social harmony. In conclusion I want to recount a scene from one of the films made on the life of Jesus (PBUH) which I watched on Trinity Broadcasting Network recently. It very well summarizes the situation now. I am only paraphrasing the dialogues as I don’t have access to that film. The Roman governor of Jerusalem returns to his home after ordering the crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH) when his wife asks him about the commotion taking place outside their palace. He says: This guy (Jesus, peace be upon him) says his God speaks to him but his coreligionists say that it is blasphemy. Then he asks his wife: Does your God speak to you? She says: of course! The governor says: But my God never speaks to me. His wife responds to this and says: God speaks only to those who want to listen to Him. At this the Roman Governor Pilates says: I only listen to the command of Caesar who wants me to maintain peace in Jerusalem. Sound reason and sound religion are both essential for peace. Unfortunately, that is what is missing to cause unimaginable misery to millions of innocent people in our world. PPP FROM P7
wrote, “We cannot go back 60 years to whether the people of Kashmir, pursuant to the terms of partition and to the mandate of UN resolutions, should have been allowed to determine their own future. They were denied that right, and for the last 60 years the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been a catalyst for war, anger and militancy.” She might not have been able to trounce the security establishment but realized fully well that such rhetoric ultimately plays right into their hands as does picking unnecessary battles with political adversaries like the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which cannot be simply wished away. Zulfikar Bhutto and the NAP’s 1970s conflict weakened both and only strengthened non-political actors. However, in her book Benazir Bhutto also noted that her father’s slogan, roti, kapra aur makan, a call for economic and social development, continues to be at the heart of the program of today’s PPP. One can only wish the PPP’s chairman safety and success, and hope that moving forward he tries to reinvent the PPP’s program and capture the public’s imagination. (The writer can be reached at mazdaki@ me.com and he tweets @mazdaki)
PAKISTAN
OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11
Pakistan, Afghanistan Working on ‘Roadmap’ for Tension-free Ties: Aziz
Operation’s Next Target Will Be Shawal Valley
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz addreses the Trilateral Dialogue between China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in Islamabad on Monday
“This is a war against the militants, targeting all groups, including the Haqqani Network, the Punjabi Taliban and all others,” an official said
Islamabad: Pakistan said on Monday that it was working with Afghanistan on a “comprehensive road-map” to improve bilateral relations between the two countries, which will be free of mistrust and will focus on constructive engagement and economic cooperation. Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who in a daylong visit to Kabul on Sunday met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other leaders, told reporters in Islamabad that both sides agreed not to allow anyone to use their territories against each other. “It was agreed during my visit to Afghanistan that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used and Afghanistan will not allow its territory,” Aziz said. Pakistan and Afghanistan have a nearly 2,200-kilometer border, mostly porous, and both blame each other for loose control that enables the militants to illegally cross it. For this purpose, Aziz said both sides had also agreed to put in place a mechanism for better border management. Further, discussions will be held on the issue of implementing bio-metric systems, opening of new routes and documentation. “There will be a mechanism on local level so that local commanders could talk if there is any issue, then higher commanders, then intelligence agencies, then at foreign policy level the political level,” he said. The adviser said that both countries will devise a comprehen-
Washington, DC: Shawal Val-
sive mechanism through which political interaction, military-tomilitary interaction, foreign policy interaction and people-to- people interaction will be enhanced. “This mechanism is being evolved and a draft standing operating procedure for border management has been prepared. These measures will address to mistrust. We will build economic and trade cooperation on their basis,” Sartaj said. Mistrust and blame game between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the years badly affected bilateral cooperation on security matters between the two neighboring countries. He said that these issues will be discussed in coming days and will be finalized when President Ghani visits Pakistan, adding that the dates of the visit are being finalized. No repeat of 1990s: During the Trilateral dialogue on China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Aziz warned that as Afghanistan enters a transition, there should be no repeat of the 1990s with outside attempts to fill any void in Afghanistan. “Conscious of the lessons of history, Pakistan has been consistently stressing that there should be no repeat of the 1990s. In our view, every effort should be made to ensure that neither there is any attempt from outside to fill any perceived security vacuum in Afghanistan, nor is there any economic vacuum allowed to emerge.” Aziz added that the international community’s enhanced
engagement for Afghanistan’s economic development and reconstruction remains critical as it would have “reinforcing effect on efforts for peace and stability.” Trilateral contribution for Afghanistan: The adviser further listed Pakistan’s vision for trilateral cooperation in the following areas: i) Supporting Afghanistan’s efforts for peace and stability. ii) Addressing common challenges of extremism and terrorism. iii) Strengthening capacitybuilding of Afghan national security forces (ANSF). iv) Reinforcing Afghanistan’s economic development, particularly in the mining sector. v) Promoting connectivity for trade and energy corridors. vi) Advancing a regional consensus on non-interference. vii) Mobilizing regional and international support for stability in Afghanistan. Iran- Pak tensions: Replying to questions about the recent Iran-Pakistan border tension that have led to troop casualties on both sides, the Pakistani adviser said a large number of militant groups, smugglers and criminal elements are operating in the border areas who are responsible for the current escalations. Iran and Pakistani troops traded fire along their border in Balochsitan which resulted in the killing of at least four troops on both sides. Aziz said that both countries are working on a mechanism to ward off such incidents.
Lashkar-i-Islam Commander Surrenders along with 80 Men Peshawar: A key commander of the outlawed militant
group Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) has surrendered to security forces along with 80 of his men. Sources said that LI commander Haji Faqeer and his men handed in their weapons in Khyber Agency’s Shalobar area. Earlier, another commander, Malam Khan, also surrendered along with several of his men. Militants later destroyed the homes of nearly 30 LI activists who had defected and surrendered to the government. Meanwhile, three FC personnel were injured in an attack along the Pak-Afghan border in Bajaur Agency. Official sources confirmed that the cross-border attack targeted Pakistani security forces in Kakhi Pass area,
injuring the three personnel. Sources also said that both heavy and light fire was received from across the border.
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ley is the next target of the armed forces operating in North Waziristan, senior officials told a gathering of Pakistani-Americans at the embassy. Last weekend, the embassy in Washington hosted the firstever convention of the PakistaniAmerican community and briefed them on various issues confronting the country. Officials told the gathering that the government was forced to launch Zarb-i-Azab military operation after all other efforts failed. Even so, the government consulted all political forces in the country before launching the operation. They said that the militants were never serious about negotiations and continued to attack both civilian and military targets across the country even while holding talks with the government. “We were worried about the blowback but then the entire country came to the conclusion that the state has to reestablish its writ,” said one of the officials. “And that’s when the operation was launched.” Another official pointed out that the blowback was “milder than feared because our coordinated efforts did not give them the chance to retaliate”. The official also informed the audience that all security agencies — police, Rangers, IB, ISI and the armed forces — were participating in the effort to eliminate the militants. “While the main effort is focused on North Waziristan, agencies are also fighting militants across the country, including Karachi,” another official said. “We successfully neutralized their sleeper cells and sympathizers and reduced the space for retaliation.” The officials explained that the militants hiding in North Waziristan fled in four directions, within the operation area, to other tribal areas, to major cities in the country and to Afghanistan. “The armed forces have pushed the militants out of their
hideouts but some are still hiding in Shawal Valley,” one official said. “So we plan to enter the valley before December this year and destroy their hideouts.” The official rejected the allegation that the armed forces had orders not to target certain militant groups, such as the Haqqani Network. “This is a war against the militants, targeting all groups, including the Haqqani Network, the Punjabi Taliban and all others,” he said. “Those who surrender are captured, those who fight are killed.” The official, however, pointed out that since the process of seeking political consensus took several months, some militants moved to safe locations. “But we are going after them too and have requested Afghanistan to tackle those hiding there,” he said. The official said that the government received two-dozen IED-proof vehicles from the United States before launching the operation and was seeking another 200 vehicles. Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani said the government planned to hold a donors’ conference in Islamabad later this year to assess what Pakistan needed to deal with militancy. Pakistan’s immediate, “and the most urgent task”, he said was to resettle the IDPs. The country will also need some assistance to deal with the military cost of the operation. The ambassador said that the country would need at least $2.5 billion for this purpose and was hoping that friendly nations, including the United States, would contribute. Another senior official said that all precautions would be taken to ensure that the militants do not return to the tribal areas with the IDPs. “Both civilian and military intelligence agencies are engaged in this exercise and we are confident that we will not allow them to return,” he said. “Remember, thousands of soldiers have died while fighting these militants and we have no sympathy for them.”
PAKISTAN
P12 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014
MQM Announces Decision to Part Ways with Sindh Government
MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui (center) announces the MQM decision
Karachi: The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leaders on Sunday night announced their decision to separate from the Sindh provincial government. The MQM’s Rabita Committee held a press conference at NineZero where the party announced its decision following statements made against their leader Altaf Hussain and against Mohajir people by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership. Speaking at the press conference, MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui criticized the PPP and accused the party of indulging in politics of hatred and ethnicity. “Mohajir Quami Movement became Muttahida Quami Movement after a brutal operation was conducted against us,” said Siddiqui. “Great patience has been
shown on our part,” he said. He further stated that it was not possible to continue in coalition any longer and that any support for the PPP government would be like supporting “undemocratic forces”. “Again and again language has been used against our leader which we would not tolerate and have only shown patience at the insistence of Altaf Hussain,” Siddiqui said. “Every MQM worker is furious over the remarks made by Bilawal...There will be no compromise on our leader Altaf Hussain,” he said. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also spoke out against PPP leader Khursheed Shah and said that the alleged remarks made against Mohajir people were “intolerable”. During the press conference,
Siddiqui also took shots at Bilawal saying that “Bhutto’s heir can only be a Bhutto not a Zardari”. “Bilawal has made politics into a business... what qualities does he have to be the chairman of the PPP?” he asked. Resolution against Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday submitted a resolution in the National Assembly calling for the removal of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Khursheed Shah as Leader of the Opposition in the House, Express News reported. The move came after MQM decided to quit the PPP-led coalition in Sindh on Sunday. On Monday, MQM submitted a resolution against Shah in the NA secretariat. If MQM wants to unseat Shah, then it would need the help of other opposition members in the assembly including Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf. PPP have 46 seats in the Lower House, while MQM has 24. If MQM can secure PTI’s support, who have 33 legislators in the assembly, the party may be able to elect an Opposition Leader of its own choice. It is worth mentioning here that all but three PTI MNAs had submitted their resignations to the speaker of the House. While those who had tendered their resignation have yet to appear before the speaker of the assembly to validate their resignations, former PTI President Javed Hashmi had resigned during the joint session of the assembly in September.
Vice Chancellor Ajmal Khan Recalls His Experience during Taliban Captivity
Peshawar: Released in August after
spending four years in Taliban captivity, Professor Ajmal Khan offers interesting insight on the men in the mountains. “As far as I have come to know, lack of education is among the root causes of the emergence of the Taliban in Pakistan,” the vice chancellor of Islamia College University tells The Express Tribune. He says he spent the initial six months of his captivity in North Waziristan, after which he was shifted to South Waziristan. Earlier, he had told the media he spent most of his time teaching the children of his captors. Now, he reveals what he learnt during his time with the militants that the world has come to fear so much. “They (the Taliban) don’t know what is happening in the world,” says Khan. “The government needs to provide educational and economic facilities to tribesmen. Once provided, these facilities will change the fate of the people living in the tribal areas.” Khan’s main reservations are over primary education. “I don’t think a uniform educational policy is implementable. It is indeed a good initiative but is not sustainable, as is evident from past experiences. To teach in English, you need to have qualified and trained teachers. We don’t have such staff.” The vice chancellor, however, seems satisfied with the standard of higher education in the province. He shares a campus of Islamia College University being built in Kurram Agency; another project will be initiated in North Waziristan. This, he maintains,
Pakistan Asks Iran Not to ‘Externalize’ Its Problems
Pakistan has accused Iran of repeatedly making violent incursions into its territory
Islamabad: The Foreign Office asked Iran on Friday not to ‘externalize’ its problems, but focus on fighting militancy at home. “It is not helpful to externalize problems. We need to focus on eliminating terrorism from our countries,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said at the weekly media briefing. She was responding to Iranian threat of hot pursuit of militants allegedly launching cross-border attacks on Iran’s border posts from their sanctuaries in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Militants belonging to Jaishul Adl have stepped up attacks on Iranian posts along the Pakistan-Iran border over the past fortnight. The attacks prompted Iranian officials to ask Pakistan to control the activity on its border or allow them (Iranian border guards) to take action. “The Pakistani government has practically no control over the border areas, and if they really cannot control the common border, they should tell us so that we ourselves can take action,” an Iranian official was quoted by Iranian media as having said. Ms Aslam did not out-rightly deny cross-border activity and asked Iran to share available evidence with Pakistan. “There may be cross-border activities or other transnational crimes like narcotic and drug trafficking,” she said. “We believe that if Iran has evi-
dence that elements from Pakistan are involved in activities against Iran, they should share it with us”. The spokesperson asked Tehran to use the border management committee of the two countries for investigating the allegations. “With Iran, we have mechanisms like the border management committee. We have mechanisms which can investigate such events as was done in the past when the Iranian guards were kidnapped and released inside Iran,” she maintained. But she challenged the Iranian account of the events and said information available with Pakistan suggests that the incidents took place inside Iranian territory and were carried out by Iranian militants. Emphasizing counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries she said that Pakistan and Iran were neighbors who shared a long border and both had been affected by the events in this region. Responding to another question about terrorists’ safe havens along the Pak-Afghan border, the spokesperson said: “We are against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We are also determined not to allow our territory to be used against any other country. We expect that other countries would also not allow their territories to be used against Pakistan. It is a two- way responsibility.”
Edhi Head Office Robbed!
“As far as I have come to know, lack of education is among the root causes of the emergence of the Taliban in Pakistan,”said the Vice Chancellor of Islamia College University
will help tribesmen reap the benefits of quality education. So why was this soft-spoken, unassuming professor whisked away? “I think the reasons behind picking me up could be that I was a government official as well as my family affiliation with the Awami National Party (ANP), which was in power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at the time,” he says, referring to his relationship with ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, who is his cousin. “The ANP leadership tried their level best to recover me, but a lot of things were beyond their control.” Ajmal Khan says his eventual release was the result of the conflict between two groups of the Taliban, one led by Said Khan Sajna and the other by Shehryar Mehsud. He said the former had taken him under his wing and had told him he was free to move around but should be wary of stray bullets due
to the fighting. Khan says he met both Hakimullah Mehsud and present Taliban chief Fazlullah during his time in captivity, claiming both were “friendly”. The professor, however, says he never met Shahbaz Taseer or Ali Haider Gillani, who could have been under the captivity of al Qaeda. He did spend over four months with Colonel Sultan Amir Tarar, best known as Colonel Imam, who was shown to be assassinated in a video released in January 2011 that also featured Hakimullah Mehsud. “They took him (Colonel Imam) away and when he did not return the same night, I felt he could have been killed. I came to know about his assassination the next day,” Khan said. Khan himself was repeatedly told he would not be harmed. And this was enough to keep the thought of meeting the same fate as Colonel Imam at bay.
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Karachi: In what is described as a most shameful incident, the head office of the country’s leading charity organization headed by Abdul Sattar Edhi was robbed on Sunday morning. The robbers took away about Rs30 million worth of gold and cash. According to Edhi Founda¬tion officials and police, eight robbers stormed the office in Mithadar area at about 9.45am, held its staff hostage at gunpoint and woke up Mr Edhi to get keys of lockers in which gold ornaments, other valuables and cash had been kept. According to SSP Sheeraz Nazeer, the Edhi family lives in the office. The robbers came on motorcycles and four of them entered the office and locked the staff members in a room. He said that most of the cash and gold ornaments had been kept by people for safe-keeping because they trusted Mr Edhi. The SSP quoted the staff as saying that the robbers knew where the cash and gold had been kept. He said the possibility of involvement of an insider could not be ruled out. A special team is investigating the matter from different angles. He said the authorities had provid-
ed four police guards to the office but Mr Edhi returned them some three months ago saying that he did not need any special protocol. According to the SSP, Mr Edhi told police that since the office was located in a small room, the presence of guards could affect the working environment. Edhi Foundation’s spokesperson Anwar Kazmi told Dawn that five persons aged over 30, one of them wearing a mask, had entered the office. They asked three female staff members to hand over the lockers’ keys. They then entered EDHI, P29
PAKISTAN
OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P13
Hashmi’s Defeat a Lesson for PML-N and PPP, Says Imran
PTI chief Imran Khan addresses PTI activists and workers in Sargodha
Sarghoda: Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday called the defeat of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in the Multan by-elections ‘a lesson’ for both the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and said that the ‘friendly politics’ of the two parties had backfired. Hashmi, who had full backing of the PML-N, lost to Amir Dogar, who enjoyed the support of PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in Thursday’s by-election on NA-149 which was described by political pundits as a virtual contest between the PML-N and PTI. “The surety bond of the PPP candidate for Multan by-election was confiscated, simply because the party chose to play friendly opposition to please Nawaz Sharif ’s government,” the PTI chairman said while addressing a massive public gathering in Sargodha – a district considered a stronghold of the PML-N. “You both [PML-N and PPP] have cut a clandestine deal to take turns [in power], but the masses have rejected this,” the PTI chief added. Predicting general elections next year, Imran urged the nation to prepare for ousting ‘looters and
plunderers’ from the country. “The time has come to bring in a government which believes in transparency, fair-play and justice, and which will steer the country out of poverty, unemployment and lawlessness and put it on the path to prosperity and progress,” he said. “Those who used to say that there are only two political parties in Pakistan will see the PTI emerging as the single largest party in the next elections,” he added. In a sharp rejoinder to Prime Minister Nawaz’s jibe about ‘Naya KhyberPakhtunkhwa’, Imran challenged the PML-N to compare its performance in Punjab with his party’s performance in K-P. “K-P is emerging as the new face of Pakistan… a place where there’s no political interference in the affairs of police or other institutions, and no lawmaker from the PTI or any other party can have relatives posted against high positions,” he said. “In Punjab, on the other hand, SHOs still cannot be appointed without a prior approval from Raiwind.” The PTI chief added that soon, an accountability bureau in K-P would hold every corrupt official and politician accountable regardless of influence, “unlike NAB [National Accountability Bureau]
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif
which gives out clean chits to Nawaz and Zardari.” “You [Nawaz] asked me to make a new K-P before Naya Pakistan. I want to tell you that it is in the making.” Imran continued with his criticism of the PML-N and PPP leadership, and urged their workers to ask their leaders to disclose their assets and sources of income. “I’m addressing the workers of the PML-N and PPP,” he said. “If you are worried about the future of your children, hold your leaders accountable.” “The Sharifs are ruling Pakistan but making huge investments in the UK, using wealth they stole from the people of Pakistan,” he said. The PTI chief added that the government was doling out funds for hundreds of thousands of tribesmen displaced by the North Waziristan operation without any audit. The PTI chairman announced his party will hold a political rally in Gujrat next Friday. He also warned the PPP that he was coming to Larkana, the hometown of the Bhutto family, in November, and said he was sure that the Sindhis will turn out in large numbers. “I’m coming to Larkana on November 21,” he said, adding that “the Sindhis are fed up with the politics of the PPP.”
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar Decides to Resign Lahore: Punjab governor Chaudhry Sarwar has decided to play a more active role in Pakistani politics from the PML-N platform, sources told Daily Express. “Sarwar will resign as Punjab governor and assume responsibilities in the center in a few days,” a person privy to the development revealed. “With this the rumors of Sarwar leaving PML-N, or joining PTI, or PAT, have died down,” the source said. Fact is that the PML-N leadership is ready to give more responsibilities to Sarwar, the person said. Sources said that Sarwar, a former British MP, who gave up his British nationality to serve Pakistan on the invitation of Sharif brothers, is likely to get the charge of the ministry of human resource and overseas Pakistanis. Chaudhry Sarwar has been successful in getting the GSP Plus status, a trade benefit, from the EU for Pakistan. Sources said that Sarwar has informed PM Nawaz Sharif of his decision and important developments
are expected in the next week. FOREIGN AFFAIRS: According to another story, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) top leadership has politely refused to entertain Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar’s wish to handle Pakistan’s foreign affairs. According to sources, the party urged Sarwar to continue his role as governor of Punjab and mediator between the PML-N and protesting parties in the capital.
Army Chief Warns against ‘Aggression’ amid Kashmir Tensions
Sarwar, who maintains good relations with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, met with the CM last week and the governor was informed that demands on his ‘wish list’ have not been met. Sarwar was told that his role as mediator has been greatly appreciated by the chief minister. The governor was told that his current portfolio is ‘enough’ for the time being, sources said. Sources said the Punjab governor wishes to play a greater role in Pakistan’s foreign affairs. In December last year the European Union (EU) granted Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status to Pakistan with 406 votes, allowing Pakistani products duty-free access to European markets. Governor Sarwar is credited for this achievement as he successfully lobbied in European capitals for the grant of GSP Plus status to Pakistan.However, the prime minister’s advisers on foreign affairs Tariq Fatimi and Sartaj Aziz have reportedly strongly opposed a greater role for Sarwar in this area.
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Kakul: In a thinly-veiled warning to arch rival India after a spate of deadly cross-border firing incidents in Kashmir Army chief General Raheel Sharif vowed Saturday to thwart any “aggression” against the country. At least 12 civilians have been killed on the Pakistani side and thousands on both sides of the de facto border have fled their homes since October 6, which marked the beginning of some of the worst border shelling in years. “Sentiments of goodwill and amity notwithstanding, let there be no doubt that any aggression against our beloved country will get a befitting response and no sacrifice will be too great in this sacred cause,” Gen Raheel said, in an apparent swipe at India. The nuclear-armed neighbors, who have fought two wars over Muslim-majority Kashmir, have traded blame for the recent violence in the disputed Himalayan region. “We persistently seek peace in the region and beyond,” Sharif said while addressing a parade at a military academy near Islamabad. But “lasting peace in the region will only come about with the fair and just resolution of Kashmir issue,” he added. “Lasting peace in the region will only come about with a fair and just resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the will of Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the UN resolution,” said General Sharif. Speaking on the war against terrorism, General Sharif stated that Operation Zarb-e-Azb was not merely an operation but a concept and a resolve and a commitment of the nation. “The commitment is to cleanse Pakistan of the scourge of terrorism once and for all,” said General Sharif. The army chief said that the displaced people of FATA would return home sooner than expected as all intelligence agencies, law enforcement agencies and military operations were playing a commendable role in the operation. Concluding his address, General Sharif entrusted the newly trained cadets with the responsibility of leading the country with dignity and honor. Pakistan Army on Tuesday said it had voiced concern to India at continued firing across the Kashmir frontier and in Punjab
province when senior officials from both sides spoke via a special hotline. Clashes occur regularly along the disputed border known as Line of Control (LOC) as well as along the frontier dividing Indian Kashmir from Pakistan’s Punjab province. Pakistan Urges UN to Play Role in Refusing LoC Tension: Pakistan’s permanent representative to United Nations urged the UN to play its role in defusing tension on the Line of Control (LoC), Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday. Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in New York and informed him about the situation on LoC and the Working Boundary. Khan urged UN to play its role to end ceasefire violations which have resulted in the death of at least 12 Pakistanis since October 6.
Humayun Saeed, Wife Injured in Bangkok Car Crash
Bangkok: Pakistani actor Huma-
yun Saeed has been severely injured in a car crash in Bangkok, local media reported. The actor, his wife and crew were in Thailand to explore locations for an upcoming film produced jointly by Six Sigma Plus and ARY Films. Speaking to ARY News, producer Nadeem Baig, who was also in the van with Humayun, said that the accident happened when their driver took a U-turn and a bus hit their van from behind. As a result, their van crashed into a pillar. Baig further disclosed that Humayun was unconscious at the scene of the accident for 10 minutes. However, he is said to be out of danger now and is recovering. He is expected to be discharged in a day or two. Humayun, who has been in the industry since 1996, is also the CEO of Six Sigma Entertainment.
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P14 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014
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OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15
Counter Set up at Islamabad Airport to Scan Passengers for Ebola Virus
Islamabad: A counter has been es-
tablished at the Islamabad airport to scan passengers coming from African countries for the symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Members of the Pakistani peace missions returning from African countries on chartered flights would be checked in the aircraft. Moreover, people coming from three countries of West Africa Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone will be scanned for 21 days after their arrival in their native areas to ensure they were not affected by EVD. EVD has become endemic in Africa with the fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads through human-to-human transmission. The symptoms of the disease include fever, weakness, muscular pain, headache and sore throat. These are followed by diarrhoea, vomiting, impaired kidney and liver functions. In some cases, both internal and external bleeding also starts. According to health exports, Ebola virus spreads from close contact, sexual transmission, saliva and blood transfusion. The virus has lots of similarity with that of HIV/Aids but it is more dangerous than HIV. The incubation period for HIV is almost 10 years but that for Ebola is just a week. However, the method of transmission is the same. Ebola attacks the nerves system. An official deputed at the airport told Dawn that passengers would be checked physically and through the thermo-scan machines. But the most reliable method is the general declaration, he added. “The crew of the incoming airplane gives a report
about the situation of the flight and patients, if any, to the traffic control center before landing. That report is called the general declaration,” he explained. He said the part of the general declaration related to the health condition of the passengers would be checked by the staff deputed at the counter. If the declaration showed the presence of any patient having the symptoms of Ebola, arrangements would be made to scan the patient. He said around 4000 general passengers and over 1000 pilgrims were arriving at the airport on a daily basis these days. Airport Health Officer Dr Irfan Tahir told Dawn that a guideline for the Ebola patients had been received from the ministry of health. “Some passengers, who have health issues, also visit the health counters because they want to ensure that they were not carrying the yellow fever virus or other diseases that could be transmitted to their family members,” he said. An official of the Ministry of National Health Services said besides the counter to deal with the Ebola virus, the secretary interior and the secretary aviation and other stakeholders had been advised to ensure the precautionary measures. “Not a single flight comes directly from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Almost a dozen passengers come from these countries every month but they mostly change flights at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha,” he said. The immigration staff has been directed that if they find any passenger coming from the African countries, they should immediately
inform the Ebola counter, he said. “Focal persons have been nominated in provinces and the management of one hospital each in the federal and all the provincial capitals have been instructed to establish isolation wards for the Ebola patients,” he said. Minister of Health Saira Afzal Tarar said at the moment there were around 2000 officials of peace mission in Liberia and they return to Pakistan through chartered flights. “I have been informed that the World Health Organization (WHO) has made it sure that not a single person having the symptoms of Ebola virus is allowed to leave the three African countries,” she said. “It has been decided that whenever officials of the peace missions return to Pakistan, they will be examined in the airplane.” The minister said it had also been decided that information about people returning from any of the three African countries, even if they did not have the symptoms of Ebola, would be provided to the managements of their respective districts to check them for three weeks. They will be shifted to the isolation ward of the local hospital concerned if the symptoms appeared.
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ARY News Channel’s License Suspended for 15 Days
Islamabad: In compliance with
an order of the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned a local TV channel, ARY News, on Monday for a period of 15 days and imposed a fine of Rs10 million for airing a derogatory program against the judiciary. A special meeting of Pemra was called to review the talk show anchored by Mubasher Lucman on the orders of LHC. Pemra officials found the show in contravention of the Pemra act and its code of conduct. The regulatory authority also banned Lucman and his program “Khara Sach” on Saturday. Earlier on Friday, the LHC issued bailable arrest warrants of ARY News chief executive officer Salman Iqbal, Mubashir Lucman, the program’s producer and one Asim Malik for not appearing before the court
despite having been summoned. The court placed restrictions on airing of the show and participation of the anchor in any other TV program. It ordered inclusion of the name of Lucman in the Exit Control List (ECL) and summoned the attorney general, Punjab advocate general, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general and Lahore district coordination officer on Oct 21. Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi issued the orders while hearing a suo motu notice against the respondents for airing an interview of Asim Malik, owner of a firm, Future Concern, in which serious allegations had been leveled against him. Another story claimed ARY News had allied itself with Mr Imran Khan and cleric Tahir ul-Qadri, who both accuse Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of vote-rigging in last year’s elections.
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OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P19
Friday, October 24, 2014
VOL. 24/43 PAGE 23
An Open Letter to Bill Maher
egum PAGE 24
We Are All Disabled
30 Dhul-Hijjah 1435 H
PAGE PAGE30 17
Pakistan Model Ayyan Releases New Song
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The salient features of Pakistan Link are explained to Ambassador Richard G. Olson by Mr Arif Mansuri, President, PL Publications that brings out Pakistan Link and Urdu Link
OLSON FROM P1
but since then both sides have been rebuilding relationship based on principles of mutual respect and mutual interest. We have reestablished our strategic dialogue, we had a great visit by the Prime Minister to Washington about a year ago, and we have had visits by Secretary Kerry, Secretary Hagel, other senior members of the administration coming out to Pakistan. We have reestablished our strategic dialogue and have five working groups on the key items of interest and they continue to meet: we had the economic and finance working group in Washington two weeks ago. Finance Minister Dar participated in that and we recently organized an investment conference about the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, the mega project, which we are a leading supporter of. So I think the relationship is in much better shape. In terms of the future, I just want to mention that I am here on the West Coast because I was co-leading an ICT delegation, an information communications technology mission, to Silicon Valley. We actually started in Washington and then went to Silicon Valley. We met with Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Cisco to talk about business opportunities for American industry in Pakistan, but also for ways in which Pakistan can benefit from US technological superiority in these areas – and I think that is a good
indication of what we want to do – we think there is a lot of room for growth in the information communications technology sector. I led a trade mission to Houston last year about gas and oil. We think that the future lies much more with, if you will, in privatizing the relationship and building private sector to private sector links, because those will be more sustainable overtime and less variable in response to political dynamics. PL: The Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill that provided financial assistance to Pakistan for 5 years has just expired. Will this financial assistance be renewed? Ambassador Olson: It is important to understand that the Kerry-LugarBerman Bill was an authorization and so what it established was a notional level against which funds could be appropriated and we have done a significant amount under Kerry-Lugar-Berman so far – we have added 1400 MW to the national grid, addressing one of Pakistan’s critical needs, which is for energy as all Pakistanis know – we are in the process of building 126 schools, primary schools in Sindh Province, we have built 550 km of roads, especially connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan, so increasing the possibility for regional trade, and our assistance program will continue. We anticipate that all assistance levels are going down, all around the world not just with regard to Pakistan, but we expect that it will continue to be one of
the largest programs in the World going forward. PL: There have been reports that ISIS is now spreading its tentacles in Pakistan. Can you confirm these reports? How do you see these developments in Pakistan? Ambassador Olson: I can’t confirm these reports. We have seen the press reporting and, of course, we are concerned about it and we are looking into it. I have had dialogue with the government of Pakistan about these issues. Government of Pakistan is also concerned about Daesh, and I think that it remains to be seen exactly what all of these reports actually mean. It is not clear if these are sort of copycat incidents, because there have been reports of alignment between various groups and there have been denials, it’s very unclear exactly what is happening - but we nonetheless do remain concerned. PL: Besides urging India and Pakistan to resolve the tensions between them at the Line of Control through dialogue, is there something more substantive and tangible that the US could do to resolve the Kashmir dispute? Ambassador Olson: Our position remains constant on this that we think it is up to the two sides to determine the scope, pace and character of these bilateral discussions. We are supportive of the resumption of the dialogue. We are disappointed at the breaking of the dialogue and cancellation of the foreign
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secretary meetings. Of course we have, as you said, urged restraint with regard to the tensions along the working boundary. PL: Pakistan launched a massive campaign against terrorists in North Waziristan, the operation Zarb-e-Azb. How do you see these efforts to combat terrorism? Ambassador Olson: Well, first of all, let me say that this comes in a context where Pakistan is a country that perhaps has suffered more than any other country from the effects of terror-
who have died as a result of terrorism incidents over the past decade plus, so in that sense we welcome the decision of the government and the operations of the Pakistan Army to clear North Waziristan Agency which is the last of the 7 agencies to be cleared of militants - in particular we welcome the announcement by the government and the reiteration by the Army chief that Pakistan will deal with all militants that it finds and will not discriminate between so-called good and bad militants and we look forward to seeing the fulfillment of that
From left: Anwar Khawaja, Ambassador Olson and Arif Mansuri
ism. I believe Prime Minister (of Pakistan) cited a figure of 50,000 Pakistanis
commitment. PL: How do you see the continued
COMMUNITY
P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014 protests and sit-ins in Islamabad by Imran Khan and Dr Tahir-ul Qadri? In case of military take-over will the US intervene? Ambassador Olson: First of all, the most important thing is that this is internal, Pakistani domestic political issue. We don’t take any sides, we do not favor any individual or any particular party. Our position is one in favor of the Constitution and the rule of law and the democratic dispensation and so we think that the parties to this dispute should work it out between themselves and anyone who resorts to measures outside the Constitution would not enjoy our support. PL: A few years ago Pakistan
was awarded the highest number of Fulbright scholarships. What is the situation today? Ambassador Olson: We have one of the largest exchange programs in the world in Pakistan - the Fulbright program in Pakistan is still the most extensively funded of any US government Fulbright program anywhere in the world - and it’s not only Fulbright which is our flagship program that typically brings graduate students to the US , but we also have programs to bring undergraduates for a semester, the associate programs as well as some programs for high school students to participate in exchange student in the US and we even have some midcareer exchange
program as well. So we have a very extensive set of exchange programs. We also have a follow-up program in Pakistan - we have an alumni network that we coordinate through the US Embassy - we bring together our alumni regularly and we even have some funding available for them to do community service projects in Pakistan. We are very proud of the exchange program that we have. PL: You have lived in Pakistan for a couple of years now. What is your impression of Pakistan and its people, and especially the middle class? Ambassador Olson: I have to say it’s (Pakistan is) an extraordinarily hospitable country. Pakistanis
are very warm and hospitable people. I have been warmly welcomed in every home that I have been to and I have been to many. Notwithstanding sometimes we have some political differences with Pakistan, I have found that at the human level the interactions have been very warm and I greatly appreciate the kindness and hospitality of Pakistani people. PL: You have met several members of the Pakistani-American community from the information and communication technology field and other fields, on this mission. What is your opinion of the Pakistani-American community? Ambassador Olson: There is a large Diaspora community in the
United States – very committed to Pakistan. I see a number of Pakistani Americans in Islamabad – they come to my office often when they are in Islamabad. We have links with major organizations - we tend to do it through our office in Washington - through the Pakistan desk at the State Department – they are in more regular contact with the Diaspora community. One of the things that I find gratifying is the number of Pakistani Americans who want to do something for Pakistan and they are very involved in charitable donations. I think there is room for more cooperation between the US Government and the Diaspora community.
Collaborative Forum on the “Crisis of ISIS” Gets Robust Community Response
Over 200 attendees joined the event to learn and partake in the discussion that took place in the multipurpose room of the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley
Anaheim, CA: On the evening of
Friday, October 17, the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIRLA), in partnership with the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley (ICSGV) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) hosted an educational community forum on how to address the issue of ISIS and its negative effects on American Muslims and Muslims worldwide. The panelists who presented their views on the issue were Dr Muzammil Siqqidi, the Religious Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush, Shaykh AbuHaitham of ICSGV, MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati, and Usman As-
rar, the ICSGV Youth Advisor. Over 200 attendees joined the event to learn and partake in the discussion that took place in the multipurpose room of the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley. Shaykh Abu-Haitham opened the speakers’ forum with welcoming remarks, thanking the attendees for their interest in joining the forum and educating themselves about the issue. The first panelist, Usman Asrar deconstructed the origins and cause of ISIS. As one of the pioneer religious directors of North America, Dr Muzammil Siddiqi explicated from an Islamic scholar’s perspective as to why the extremist and violent ideology of ISIS contradicts Islam’s teachings
of mercy. He briefed the community on the joint effort of CAIR National and the Fiqh Council of North America to issue the first-of-its-kind open letter in Arabic (with English Translation) signed by more than 120 international Islamic scholars and prominent Muslim leaders refuting the ideology of that terrorist group. Following his speech was Hussam Ayloush, who addressed the issue on three fronts: one is to have our Imams and scholars continue to refute and challenge ISIS’ deviant and destructive ideology. The second is to understand the role and responsibility American Muslims have to work with fellow Americans to pressure our president and Congress not to support foreign governments that
engage in occupation, human rights violations and repression. Lastly, Ayloush stressed that a preventative and proactive approach for our communities, especially our youth, is to become more civically engaged and take advantage of the training and opportunities available to better equip themselves to address legitimate grievances by advocating for justice here and abroad. Salam Al-Marayati ended the discussion stating that the American Muslim community can contribute to the accurate portrayal of Islam by leading through example in their daily interactions with others and become well integrated as a community to positively influence public perception and public policy.
Salma Hayek Produces Documentary on Pakistani Educationist
Deauville: Actor and philanthropist
Salma Hayek unveiled the documentary Humaira: The Game Changer, which chronicles the life of a Pakistani education advocate Humaira Bachal, at the Women’s Forum Global Meeting in Deauville, France. The conference, which was attended by several female leaders in the fields of business, science, education and human rights, supported the mission to strengthen “women influence throughout the globe”. Before screening the documentary, the After the Sunset actor spoke in great detail about her desire and mission to bring justice to women around the globe through her philanthropic efforts. Humaira Bachal: Salma Hayek founded the ‘Chime for Change’ charity organization with singer Beyonce and Frida Giannini, the creative director of Gucci, a year, ago. In just over a year the charity organization has launched a film to ensure that the conversation about women’s rights remains current. The documentary, Humaira: The Game Changer, follows Pakistani education advocate Humaira Bachal as she fulfils her dream of creating a ‘Dream
Model Street School’ in the slums of Karachi, Pakistan, where education for girls is considered a taboo. “The Dream School has changed the lives of hundreds of children. Every girl deserves to go to school, regardless of where she was born,” said Madonna, who appeared onstage with Humaira at the Sound of Change Live concert last year. The singer further added, “Humaira is a freedom fighter. She is a hero for these girls and an example for all of us,” reported Daily Mail. During an emotional moment in the new documentary, 28-year-old Humaira says, “It feels like we have moved from a site of ruins into a palace.” The 18-room Dream Model Street
School was completed in summer 2014, and includes a playground, library and computer lab. The school enables nearly 1,000 local girls and boys to pursue education, and provides job opportunities for local women as teachers and assistants. According to Huffington Post, the documentary has been directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Chinoy who herself is a renowned human rights activist and documentary filmmaker won an Academy Award for her documentary film Saving Face. The actor said that she was motivated to fight for women’s rights after witnessing a disturbing incident at the age of six. She recalled that she saw a man beating up his own wife, while walking down the streets in Mexico City with her parents. When Salma’s father crossed the street to help the young lady, she started beating up her father, saying, “How dare you, he can do what he wants,” she told Daily Mail. Her Charity Chime for Change promotes education, health and justice for girls and women around the world.
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The forum was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by CAIR-LA’s Public Affairs Coordinator, Haroon Manjlai. The engaged attendees of the event asked a wide spectrum of questions related to the topic, making for a lively discussion post the forum. “Discussion forums like these serve as a platform to educate and empower our communities to respond to issues of such a scale with confidence and clarity,” said Hussam Ayloush, CAIR-LA Executive Director. “The very positive response we received for this event affirms that our community has a genuine desire to advance peace and justice here and abroad guided by the true teachings of Islam.”
Pakistani Co-invents Apple’s Latest Innovation
ne of the seven men behind tech giant Apple’s latest innovation — Apple Pay — is a Pakistani named Ahmer Ali Khan who hails from Rawalpindi, Newsweek Pakistan said in a report published earlier this month.
Khan, 38, had moved to Silicon Valley in 2002 after graduating from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology and now lives in Milpitas, California, with his wife and two children, said the report. The patent for Apple Pay, which was unveiled to the world by Apple CEO Tim Cook on September 9, was filed by Khan and six other co-inventors in February. It is due to be launched on October 20. It “will forever change the way all of us buy things”, Cook had said at the launch of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, where he also demoed Apply Pay. The company introduced Apple Pay to let people use iPhone 6, Apple Watch or iPad as a wallet to pay in stores and apps in “an easy, secure and private way”.
COMMUNITY
OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21
Eid Celebration at SALAM Sacramento
Congregations were extremely large this year and it was obvious that SALAM would soon need a bigger facility or an expanded venue
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n By Ras H. Siddiqui
id-Al-Adha or Bakra Eid was celebrated with a great deal of fervor in the Sacramento, California on two days by various Mosques throughout the region. The SALAM Masjid celebrated Eid on Saturday, October 4th while the Downtown “V” Street historic Mosque held their Eid prayers on Sunday, October 5th. Congregations were reported to be extremely large this year since both these dates luckily fell on the weekend holidays for working parents and when kids were not in school. This reporter was only able to attend the prayers and celebrations at SALAM’s venue at the McClellan Conference Center on Saturday where a few thousand Muslims congregated to pray and partake in the follow-up celebrations that catered to the entire family (great ethnic
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foods and entertainment for the kids). This year it almost seemed like SALAM will soon need an even bigger facility or an expanded venue. SALAM’s Imam Mohamed Abdul-Azeez led the prayers once again and delivered an incredibly inspiring Khutba. This might be his last time leading an Eid prayer at SALAM because he has announced his resignation (to be implemented in 6 months). Many in the community are trying to get him to change his mind and Facebook traffic is increasing on this topic. One will have to wait and see if the community can succeed in bringing the ever popular Imam and the SALAM Board to an agreement on whatever issues separate them but for now let us highlight his Khutba here. Imam Azeez spoke on “The Farewell Sermon” of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) where he reflected on many points which
are extremely relevant for Muslims today as they face the crisis of ISIS, treatment of minorities and women in Muslim societies worldwide. The Prophet’s guidance during his last sermon as opposed to some practices in Muslim countries today was discussed candidly. Imam Azeez started with “Allah is the Greatest,” beautiful worlds that are said on Eid. He said that on this day, the 10th of Hajj month we celebrate but the Hajis already celebrated yesterday on the 9th day of the month as they were standing in the Valley of Arafat which means “To Know”. On this day we get to know the Lord, he said. He shared a story about a Khalifa Umar purchasing a defective horse. He spoke of seeking justice through a mediator. A wise man from Yemen, one who was free of the Khalifa’s executive power, passed judgment and said that the Khalifa should have done his due diligence when purchasing the horse. He lost the
case against the seller but admired the independence of judgment and actually gave the wise man a high profile job so he could dispense justice. Respect for the law was stressed here which could not be bent for the ruling Khalifa. Imam Azeez said that this respect for justice came from a speech which the Prophet (PBUH) gave which we call “The Farewell Sermon” delivered when he was old and ailing in front of 120,000 Muslims. He did not talk about prayer and fasting or the rituals of Hajj or the practices of the Deen but he delivered a sermon which became a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is as if the prophet knew how far many of us are going to fall off tree, said the Imam. It is as he knew that groups of Muslims will come after him and corrupt the essence of his teachings (ISIS, Al-Qaida and Boko Haram) and make SALAM, P22
Open Mosque Day in Southern California for Better Understanding
he falafel, samosa, tabouli, baklawa and hummus spread out on a long table next to the Chocolate Chip cookies and potato chips. Some Mosques even had barbeque grilled sandwiches! This is how many Southern California Mosques set up their food table and their Saturday-Sunday afternoons during the 12th annual Open Mosque Day organized by the Islamic Shura Council.
Thousands of visitors showed up at the Open Mosque Day across Southern California and listened to Islam-101 presentations, asked questions, gazed at myriad translations of Qur’an, learnt culture and enjoyed a barbeque lunch. “People arrive a bit tense but leave a whole lot (Mosque) relaxed,” said Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of the Islamic Shura Council. The same is the story at more than twenty-eight other Mosques spreading from Riverside to West Los Angeles and Conejo Valley to Mission Viejo. One Open Mosque Day visitor wrote this: “I loved the presentation and learned so much. We left knowing that we share many beliefs with the Islamic faith and feeling great admiration for and fellowship with the Muslim community.” “We are very pleased to hear of organic relationships and initiatives between the visitors and the host Mosque,” said Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, the Chairman of the Islamic
Thousands of visitors showed up at the Open Mosque Day across Southern California and listened to Islam-101 presentations, asked questions, gazed at myriad translations of the Qur’an, learnt culture and enjoyed a barbeque lunch
Shura Council. He added, “We feel gratified when people of all faiths and traditions come together in the pursuit of the common and greater good. After all that’s the entire purpose of the Open Mosque Day. To foster relationships and build mutual respect while learning and sharing from each other.” The Mosques opened its doors in Southern California as part of the annual Open Mosque Day organized by the Shura Council of Southern California. For the first time this years’ Open Mosque Day was expanded to two days and also had presentations in multiple lan-
guages in English, Spanish and in Vietnamese language. Although several Mosques organize similar events on their own but a designated day each year was an idea that started a decade ago by the Islamic Shura Council and continues since. The annual Open Mosque Day does not replace or substitute existing efforts but is designed to strengthen and complement them. “The purpose of the Open Mosque Day is to dispel the myths surrounding Muslims and Islam and creating an environment for direct interaction, fostering relation-
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ships while enjoying samosa and shawarma,” said Shakeel Syed, ex-
ecutive director or the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.
P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014
Tenth NED Alumni Convention: A Torrent of Memories
COMMUNITY
Since 2005, an NED alumni convention has been held every year, and the large attendance of people at the Tenth Annual NED Alumni Convention organized in the Silicon Valley, California was a testimony to the popularity of the idea
n By A. H. Cemendtaur
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Pictures by Azmi Gill
here can be only one reason why so many NED alumni living in North America gravitate towards the annual NED Alumni Convention: they want to reconnect with their college friends and remember the best time of their lives.
Traditions, when repeated year after year, grow stronger. Organizing an annual gathering of the NED University alumni in a new city in North America, a program started in 2005 by Moin Ahmad and his associates, has taken a life of its own. Since 2005, an NED alumni convention has been held every year, and the large attendance of people at the Tenth Annual NED Alumni Convention organized in the Silicon Valley, California was a testimony to the popularity of the idea. What started as an engineering college in 1922 is now a large university spread over three campuses. This phenomenon of physical expansion probably explains why older NED graduates -- students who graduated in the 80s and earlier -- are more keen on attending the annual reunions than the younger ones: back then the NED University was a smaller place where everybody knew everybody else and the sense of camaraderie among students, teachers, and staff was very strong. One NED alumnus remembers his time at the NED in the backdrop of a cold war shaking the world of that time. The country had gone through a bloody civil war ending in the loss of its eastern limb. Within the intelligentsia there was a romance for egalitarian ideas associated with communism and Marxist poets promised of a revolution around the corner when ‘takht giraay jaaiN gaay aur taj uchchalay jaaiN
gaay’ (thrones will be turned upside down, and crowns will be tossed in the air). A desire to make this world a better place was seen strongly on college campuses -- student wings of leftleaning (progressive/socialist) political parties often clashed with the rightwingers (religious/pro-capitalism/ status quo groups). And there was beautiful music in the air. But Kishore Kumar and the genius of RD Burman were not heard over the eastern border; Kishore’s voice ricocheted to us from the Gulf where Pakistanis would go to toil on mega development projects, and bring back sofeene, Western perfumes, Danish cream cheese, electronic gadgets, and Indian music cassettes. And with this noisy but rich background the slog of engineering studies continued: lectures and late night group study sessions, midterms and finals, calculus and differential equations, and a superficial understanding of Quantum Physics reduced to a set of algebraic equations by teachers marginally more knowledgeable than their students. At the Tenth Annual NED Alumni Convention, reception of guests and dinner on Friday, October 10, was followed by a talent show featuring familiar NED faces and an outstanding singing performance by Asad Abbas. Audio of Friday Night Talent Show is here: https://archive.org/details/TenthAnnualNEDAlumniConventionFridayNightTalentShow Tenth NED Alumni Convention first day video highlights are here: http://youtu.be/amgVpl1vkmQ Saturday morning was the main conference day when people got to listen to Dr Afzal Haque, current Vice Chancellor of the NED University, and to Dr Ishrat Hussain, ex-Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, and current Director of the Institute of Business
Administration, Karachi. Dr Ishrat Hussain spoke eloquently and forcefully on our changing world where knowledge and innovation of a country and its people are -- and will be -- considered more precious and desirable than the country’s material wealth. A video of Dr Ishrat Hussain, truly the star of the convention, is present here: ht t p s : / / w w w. y out u b e . c om / watch?v=IRX9mykWo-A A panel discussion on Innovation, aptly suited to the entrepreneurial spirit of the Silicon Valley, followed. Besides Dr Afzal Haque and Dr Ishrat Hussain; Dr Mumtaz Hussain, exVice-Chancellor of the King Edward Medical University; Dr Abbdul Ghafoor, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, NUST; Dr Khurshid Qureshi of DICE, a non-profit dedicated to creating an atmosphere of innovation on college campuses in Pakistan; and Tanvir Mallick of ALEF (NED Alumni Endowment Fund) sat on the panel. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr Ali Minai, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Univeristy of Cincinnati. Dr Minai was introduced by Mukhtar Zaidi, a popular NED alumnus of Northern California. Zaidi was the force majeure behind the ‘Innovation’ panel, and was responsible for bringing high-profile speakers to the discussion. Complete audio of the panel discussion on ‘Innovation in Pakistan’ is here: https://archive.org/details/InnovationPanelDiscussionAtNEDAlumniConvention What have become the mainstays of an annual NED Alumni convention? A Friday night welcome dinner, daytime conference on Saturday, a Saturday afternoon city tour for out-oftown guests, a music program Saturday night, and commemorative coffee
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mugs for all the attendees. The Tenth Annual Alumni Convention followed the regime. Saturday night emceeing responsibilities were shared between Safwan Shah, Chairman of the Tenth Annual NED Alumni Convention Steering Committee, and Fauzia Timberlake, an NED alumna. Aftab Rizvi, a powerful student orator from the late 70s, was introduced by Tanvir Mallick. Rizvi in his speech read a short story he wrote on an NED student’s requital to his alma mater. Video of Aftab Rizvi’s talk is here: http://youtu.be/kQ9lN515T0Y Dr Naveed Sherwani, a noted NED alumnus and entrepreneur, was the Saturday evening keynote speaker. In late 2007, Unicorn Investment Bank announced acquisition of majority equity share of Open-Silicon, Inc., for a sum $190 million. Open-Silicon was founded by Dr Naveed Sherwani in 2003. Video of Dr Naveed Sherwani’s speech is here: http://youtu.be/LHk4Q5XWH0w Saturday dinner was followed by a music program. Shujat Ali Khan, and later Jawad Ahmad sang popular songs casting a spell that attracted people to the dance floor. Attendees danced and kept dancing. There it was, the NED University of the 1980s again: carefree, jubilant, youthful, and very much living in the moment. The three-day convention program was supported by a large number of sponsors. Individual sponsors included Amir-Ul-Islam, Imran Qureshi, Misbah Azam, Mukhtar Zaidi, Nisar Ali, Rashid Ali Baig, and Safwan Shah. Corporate sponsors inlcluded AI Engineers (President, Abul Islam), HE, JPC Holdings, Nexlogic (CEO, Zulki Khan), Pakistan Link (Owner, Arif Zaffar Mansuri), Perkan Concrete Cor-
poration, Prosurance Redeker Group, Ltd., SI Engineering, P.C. (President, Sarwat Izhar). Non-profit sponsors included Koshish Foundation (Chariman, Suhail Akbar), NED International Alumni Network of North America (NEDIAN-NA), NED Alumni Association of Tri-State, and NED Alumni Association DC (NEDA-DC). The Tenth Annual NED Alumni Convention Steering Committee that put in hundreds of hours of hard work to make the event successful comprised Ahsan Hameed, Imran Qureshi, Fauzia Timberlake, Mike (Mukhtar) Zaidi, Misbah Azam, Nadeem Haque, Nigar Raza, Nisar Ali, Safwan Shah, and Terry Andrade. SALAM FROM P21
his teachings into evil. He added that the Prophet’s last sermon dwelled on the rights that we owe each other. He said that Allah (SWT) had already completed our Deen but that the Prophet was worried about us and our treatment of each other. He talked to the Muslims present about universal brotherhood, about love and compassion and empathy. The Prophet spoke about respecting each other accepting differences, celebrating diversity, about coexistence, about peace and love. The Imam added that the Prophet said that if you cannot agree on how to worship the Lord, agree at least on how to serve humanity. Tantamount to a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, said the Imam. Imam Azeez moved some in the audience to tears with his words at this Eid gathering, one which finds its genesis in Abraham’s sacrifice. Let us stop this report on that thought and join the Imam in his call for worldwide peace both between faiths and within them. And let us seek Allah’s guidance and openly condemn what is wrong even if presented to us in the garb of our faith.
COMMENTARY
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OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23
n By Faryal Malik
ear Bill (I hope you don’t mind if I call you Bill because it’s the nicest word I can use to describe you at this point),
We get it. You are an aggressive atheist, you abhor religions. For you, it is fashionable to be controversial. Being edgy is part of your job description. Congratulations, you are now so edgy that Bill O’Reilly of Fox News agrees with your views. ‘Bill the Liberal’ and ‘Bill the Conservative’ have now found common ground – Islamophobic bigotry. Let me ask you, Bill, are you back-paddling out of the muddy creek you created on your HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, with your recent remarks: “We’re liberals! We’re liberals? We’re not crazy tea-baggers, you know.” Your definition of a liberal, and the responsibility of being one, is as ludicrous as ISIS’s distorted execution of Islam. You said, “Liberals need to stand up for liberal principles… these are liberal principles that liberals applaud for [pointing to his audience], but then when you say in the Muslim world this is what’s lacking, then they get upset.” When did principles “like freedom of speech, freedom to practice any religion…” become principles defended only by liberals? Your guest on the show, Sam Harris, added,“Liberals have really failed on the topic of theocracy…” Theocracy failed by liberals? Pandering much? These “principles” that you throw around are US constitutional rights championed by all liberals, non-liberals and anyone in between. Why must a liberal have a duty to “criticize” bad ideas where, according to Harris, “Islam is the mother lode of bad ideas.” Feel free to stereotype almost 1.6 billion people worldwide because this is your God-given liberal duty? Really? Since you have been pushing the envelope of bigotry, increasingly so in the past few years, I am glad Ben Affleck called you on it, if only to open a door for fair discussion. Go ahead and instigate debate on the general uselessness of religions. You may think Muslims can’t take a joke or two. ‘We’ can. What upsets ‘them’ is the persistent spin of Islamic views and utter lack of knowledge of the diverse 1.6 billion people so conveniently generalized and stereotyped. Bill, can I ask you a simple question: what does the ‘Muslim world’ look like to you? What is the color, race, age, or gender of the 1.6 billion people you casually label as “they”? Can’t answer this question? Don’t worry; there is no easy answer because we are not as homogeneous as you would make everyone believe “us” to be. It seems that sometimes you are so in love with your own views that you argue to spread bigotry and not to understand the multitudes of varied Muslims who universally champion
n By S. Dinakar
C
ricket in the United States has a history. The game was played way back in early 18th century by British colonists in Northern America.
It has since been overtaken by several sports that went on to become a part of the popular American culture. Despite mammoth odds, though, cricket has managed to survive in the US. The national side will, in the last week of October, take part in the ICC Division III one-day championship in Malaysia. Does the game have a future in the US? “The potential for the game is definitely there in the US. There are more people playing the sport, and the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) is striving to gradually introduce cricket in some schools, which is extremely important for the growth of the game,” Robin said. Cricket in the US is essentially played by the expatriates, those who have settled down from the sub-continent or many other cricket playing countries such as England, Australia, the West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand. This is reflected in the national team that includes former West Indian fast bowler Jermaine Lawson and former India under-19 cricketer Timil Patel, a leg-spinning all-rounder. In other words, the
A Muslim’s Open Letter to Bill Maher
human rights and all the “liberal principles” you mentioned. What would you accomplish by asking liberals to criticize 1.6 billion people? Present the caricature of Islam and Muslims as one homogeneous evil and intolerant group of 1.6 billion peo-
For the sake of variety, let’s also talk about the majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims who are peaceful and tolerant. For example, talk about the fact that five out of the last twelve Nobel Prize winners have been Muslims, out of which three were Muslim women. Focus on these Nobel Prize winners who do not represent the horrendous minority segment you love to highlight to spread Islamophobic bigotry ple? Stop propagating hate by equating a small subset of the 1.6 billion people to the whole of the 1.6 billion people. This concept is not rocket science, but let me simplify it even further. Would you say: all the creatures of the sea are sharks? No, you
wouldn’t because it is false and presents an incomplete picture of all the creatures of the sea. You are being immensely unintelligent when you lump together what you perceive to be “us”. I suggest you do your research, use your writers to provide credible, fair and historically correct information. Now, Bill, you said, “The only religion that acts like the mafia, that will %^&$*$@ kill you if you say the wrong thing.” Do you even realize how unintellectual this statement is? A religion in itself can’t act like a mafia, only individual elements can. And no, I will not “%^&$*$@ kill you”, as you hypothesized, because I think you said a “wrong thing”. But I will not laugh either because Islamophobic bigotry is not funny. Let’s address the white elephant in the room you so enjoy beating it to death. Yes, Muslims face an array of issues based on their region of residence and geo-economic factors. Yes, a radical element has taken a very sadistic turn, and unfortunately shaped up to be the ISIS or the Taliban or the numerous other fundamental groups and regimes, but the majority of Muslims also abhor and stand up against these. Thank you for highlighting the ad nauseum of the horrors of the ‘Muslim world’ but, for the sake of variety, let’s also talk about the majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims who are peaceful and tolerant. For example, talk about the fact that five out of the last twelve Nobel Prize winners have been Muslims, out of which three were Muslim women. Focus on these Nobel Prize winners who do not represent the horrendous minority segment you love to highlight to spread Islamophobic bigotry. Can you please stop making each and every Muslim accountable for the actions of the small unrepresentative minority? Stop stereotyping and stop spinning what a Muslim may or may not believe. Understand, for example, I, as a female Muslim, have not been brainwashed and I definitely don’t need to be rescued by a ‘liberal’ like yourself. And please, do not act like I don’t exist. Muslim women exist and excel in many shapes and forms all over the world. We do have grievances and issues just as women of any faith or set of beliefs do, in any part of the world. But the issues we face are as diverse as the colors we are. In veils, in scarves or in skirts (depending on which premium cable and satellite television you follow) we have arrived. And we are here to stay. So might as well acknowledge and embrace our diversity. In closing Bill, I request you to invite scholars to engage in a calm conversation about Islam to present real and representative views from all sides, and most importantly without the predisposed Islamophobic bigotry. What do you say, Bill? Salaam, Faryal Malik (Faryal Malik is an intellectual property attorney by profession and an avid backpacker by passion. She aspires to be kind, humble and generous to attain peace in the journey of life)
Cricket’s Next Big-ticket Destination Is the US US team is a melting pot of several cultures. There are as many as 48 established leagues and around 970 USACA affiliated clubs across the country. Nearly 200,000 Americans play the game over the weekends. Cricket has come quite some way in the US since the days when Indian cricketers travelled across the Atlantic to play exhibition games in the 80s. Yet, as Robin puts it across nicely, the game is not in the nation’s consciousness. “For a game to grow in any country, it should be a part of the country’s heritage like baseball and American football are in the US. “It should be passed on from one generation to another which would keep the fire burning.” Biggest hurdle Here lies the biggest hurdle for the development of the game in the country. Although, settlers from England attempted to popularize the game in the 18th century, another game with similarities to cricket, caught the country’s imagination. Baseball took wings. Cricket, however, has managed to cling on; the US is an associate member of the International Cricket Council. Successful
And international cricket has been successfully staged in the US over the past four years, thanks to a partnership between Cricket Holdings America (CHA), USACA and New Zealand Cricket. The New Zealand team has featured in a couple of two-match Twenty20 series, against Sri Lan-
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ka (in 2010) and the West Indies (2012). The venue was Fort Lauderdale in Miami; the stadium has a capacity of nearly 20,000. The games were successful. Indeed, the sport has interesting possibilities given the potential for television revenues from a booming expatriate population.
But then, it can be hard for the game to grow at the grassroots level. Robin said, “The US is a vast country. Travelling from one part of the country, say from the East Coast to the West Coast, can be demanding. You are dealing with different time zones. The logistics can test you.” And the weather can be vastly different too. Certain parts of the East can be extremely cold in the winters, making it impossible to play the game there at those times. Then there is a question of the availability of players for the matches. “All those who play the game at the senior level have good jobs and it is extremely difficult for them to get leave for the games. Unless you make the game professional, it can be hard to get the best players,” said Robin. Challenge Despite occasional triumphs such as winning the 2013 ICC Division I Twenty20 tournament in the Americas, cricket has to graduate from a weekend recreational sport to a more professional setup. That is the challenge before the game. The funds from the ICC do help but given the sheer size of the US, a lot more money needs to be pumped in. Yet, this much is certain. Cricket’s next big-ticket destination is the US. - THE HINDU
COMMENTARY
P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014 n By Shahid Athar, MD, FACE, FACP Endocrinologist, St. Vincent Medical Group Carmel, IN
A
ccording to the CDC, 25.8 million Americans have diabetes but 7 million do not know they suffer from the disease. About 79 million adults have pre Diabetes (or Metabolic Syndrome X). Type II Diabetes Mellitus is becoming more common in children and teens, especially in minority groups. About 26.9 million Americans of 65 years or older have Diabetes Mellitus . High Blood Glucose is not always Diabetes as high blood glucose is seen with other medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s and steroid use.
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease with persistent hyperglycemia. If not controlled it may lead to many chronic complications such as coronary artery disease, nerve, kidney or retinal damage. Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus Fasting blood glucose levels of >126 mg/dl, 2 hr after meal glucose levels of >200 and or A1C of >6.5%. Pre Diabetes is fasting blood glucose levels of 100-125, 2 hr after meal blood glucose levels of 140-199 and A1C of 5.7%-6.4%. Type I: The pancreas does not produce insulin. This usually occurs in younger patients and requires insulin as treatment. Patients are symptomatic with
n By Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
A
mmara Anwar strides into a room with confidence; she is smart, articulate and very forthright. It takes a few seconds for anyone to realize that she is in fact blind.
Her ‘disability’ — though she has an aversion to this word — is visible to the world, but she, like me, believes that we are all disabled in one way or another, some of us are just able to hide it better than others. Imagine: 10 per cent of Pakistan’s population is disabled. To give you perspective, that is like the entire city of Karachi being disabled! Yet, we don’t see them anywhere. They are hidden inside homes, many of them seldom go out, and when they do, they don’t want to attract attention and for good reason; we are a very unforgiving society. Ammara shatters all our stereotypes about disabilities. She works with the Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness (PFFB), to provide education and employment to the visually impaired. “Technology has enabled us to do anything we want to,” she says. “We just have to be given the opportunity.” PFFB does everything from providing psychological counseling to informal computer training. They have a library and resources, which enable people to study right up to the PhD level. They are a one-stop shop for visually impaired people in Pakistan, which is a blessing since only 20 educational institutes exist across the country for close to four million people having visual disabilities. If you think that is bad, consider these statistics: There are only 17 special edu-
Diabetes Mellitus 2014 increased thirst, urination, and weight loss and are prone to diabetic coma Type II: Usually occurs in the older group and has multiple factors such as slow insulin release, insulin resistance and high glucagon levels. Early symptoms include
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease with persistent hyperglycemia. If not controlled it may lead to many chronic complications such as coronary artery disease, nerve, kidney or retinal damage fatigue, weight loss, slow healing of sores and blurred vision. The current surge in the incidence of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 is due to many factors such as heredity, sedentary lifestyle, obesity (30% Americans are overweight) and consumption of fast food. Anyone with a BMI (body mass index) of >25, first degree relatives, certain ethnicities (African American, Latino, Asian Americans and Native American), women who have had babies weighing over 9 lb, anyone with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, PCOS, insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans, or history of gestational diabetes should be tested for Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome.
Can Diabetes Mellitus be prevented? Lifestyle modifications such as balanced diet and exercise have shown 58% reduction. Metformin and Rosiglitazone reported 31% reduction shown in DPP and DREAM trials. Treatment of Diabetes is a team work with the patient being the team leader, along with care providers (physicians, dietitians, and educators) and family mem-
bers. Diabetes is a disciplinary disease. In the process of controlling blood sugars, one may be able to control cholesterol, weight and blood pressure, thus delaying the chronic complications. The 2014 ADA and AACE goals of diabetes control are A1C (three month average blood glucose) of <6.5% for healthy patients with low risk of hypoglycemia and 6.5%-7% in older patients with
We Are All Disabled
cation institutes for the 7.2m people with physical disabilities. There are 24 institutes present in all of Pakistan for the 1.8m people with hearing disabilities.
challenge head on. “We have to convince people that they are an integral part of our society and they should be equipped with the necessary tools to function like everyone else,” she
they see us in the street. I am strong, but some people are sensitive and they stop coming out of their houses because of this.” Ammara was born in a village
She awaits the day that a visually impaired Pakistani is elected to the parliament. I am waiting for a day when all of us who are challenged in one way or another step into Ammara’s shoes to realize just how inspiring her attitude is There are 15 institutes for the 3.6m people with mental disabilities. Rather than lament about the sad state of affairs, Ammara and her colleagues have decided to take the
says.
“It is not so easy to be confident,” she says. “Some people start reciting verses from the Qur’an in an attempt to atone for their sins when
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near Faisalabad and moved to Islamabad when she was in grade 7. “Faisalabad was hard for me,” she says. “People behaved negatively towards me, but when we moved to Islam-
concurrent illness and risk for hypoglycemia. Self glucose monitoring and balanced nutrition are the cornerstone of treatment. Stress management and regular exercise are also needed. For Type I diabetics, insulin (basal/bolus regimen or insulin pump) is the best treatment. Symlin (Pramlintide) can be added to an unstable type 1 diabetic. For Type II diabetics, in addition to the diet and lifestyle modifications, many oral agents as well as GLPI Receptor Agonists ( Byetta and Victoza) are available. One can start with diet and Metformin, and then add Sulphonylurea, DPP4 inhibitor (such as Januvia). Usually combination therapy is needed and sometimes insulin may also need to be added. There are newer agents SGLT2 inhibitors (Invokana and Farxiga) available to control hyperglycemia. The goal is prevention of acute and long-term complications of both high and low blood glucose. For unstable difficult to control patients, consultation with an Endocrinologist may be considered. For obese Type II diabetics (BMI >35) bariatric surgery may cause reversal of diabetes mellitus or at least marked reduction in the dose of insulin. While treating diabetes mellitus, one must pay full attention to the co-morbid conditions including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and worsening of renal function. (Dr Athar is an Endocrinologist with St. Vincent Medical Group. His office is located at 12400 N. Meridian, Suite 100, Carmel, IN 46032. Phone (317)582-8900, Email: Shahid.Athar@stvincent.org) abad, the situation improved.” She went on to do her BBA and then her MBA and made it her life’s mission to empower others around her to “reach for the stars”, as she says. A blind woman has a double disadvantage in our society, because she is considered most vulnerable. Most people who have blind daughters hesitate to send them out; lest someone takes advantage of them. “If I am walking on the road holding a guy’s hand, the perception is that we are boyfriend and girlfriend. It is hard to fight against these stereotypes,” says Ammara “When I board a plane for a flight, they make sure that they send a female to hold my hand, even if I end up missing my flight.” And it doesn’t end there … “We cannot open our own bank accounts or be issued an ATM card. When we go to get a job, we are discouraged and throughout life, many people dissuade us from getting an education using the excuse that our blindness will only get us so far,” she says. People often ask me, what inspires me and I always say, “The resilience I see in other people.” I cannot even imagine Ammara’s reality or how she feels on a day-to-day basis. But I am inspired to know that she has taken into her stride whatever curve balls life has thrown at her. All of us are guilty in one-way or another; we contribute to these curve balls. Ammara doesn’t need our sympathy; she and millions like her need our encouragement. She awaits the day that a visually impaired Pakistani is elected to the parliament. I am waiting for a day when all of us who are challenged in one way or another step into Ammara’s shoes to realize just how inspiring her attitude is.
SPORTS SPORTS
OCTOBER 24, 2014 - PAKISTAN LINK
OCTOBER 24, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P25
Australia Set To Pick Two Legendary Inzamamul Haq Declared Spinners for First Test Against Pak Reliable Asian Batsman
KARACHI: Renowned cricket magazine 'Wisden India' has declared legendary former Pakistani batsman Inzamamul Haq as Asian giant and reliable batsman. The magazine, which is being published since 1864, honoured the Pakistani batsman for his extreme-
ly impressive batting performances throughout his career. Magazine writes: "Inzamam is the highest impact batsman in the world in the new millennium till date. No one has absorbed the pressure (of falling wickets) more than him." It further says, "No batsman in
Test history has more series-defining performances in his career than Inzamam-ul-Haq and Rahul Dravid. Dravid did it in 164 Tests, Inzamam in 120." Inzamam featured in 120 Test matches and 378 ODIs wherein he scored 8,830 runs and 11,739 runs, respectively. J
Dhoni Opts Out of First 3 Sri Lanka ODIs NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni has opted out of the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka, citing the need for a break to freshen up ahead of the tour to Australia and the World Cup. Virat Kohli will stand in as captain, and Wriddhiman Saha, who scored a century in the IPL final earlier this year, will take care of wicketkeeping duties. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested, making way for Varun Aaron. Sri Lanka are touring India as a replacement for West Indies, whose players refused to continue with their full tour because of payment structure disputes with the WICB and WIPA. R Ashwin, who was rested for the West Indies ODIs, came back into the side, replacing chinaman
bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who joined Sanju Samson and Karn Sharma in the India A squad as the players who have recently spent time in the India squad but have been dropped without getting a cap. Samson had been picked as back-up keeper only when Saha injured himself during the Tests in England. Now fit, Saha takes back his place as No. 2 wicketkeeper-batsman. India picked Rohit Sharma, who was India's first-choice ODI opener until he got injured in England, for the A side to play the warm-up match against the touring Sri Lankans, but he has been left out of the first three ODIs. The tour match will be played on October 30 at the
Brabourne Stadium. Rohit's role in the World Cup has sparked significant debate. He filled in the opening void left by the disposed Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, and scored heavily at home, including a double-century against Australia, but away from home his slow starts, often not converted into big innings, resulted in too much pressure on the middle order. Ajinkya Rahane has been opening in Rohit's absence, and where the two bat once Rohit returns remains a matter of interest. ESPNcricinfo understands that Rohit's fitness will be assessed during the warm-up game. If he is fully fit, he will walk into the side for the last two ODIs. J
SYDNEY: Australia begin the first of two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday knowing a series sweep will send them back to the top of the ICC rankings. Michael Clarke's side have the chance to overhaul South Africa at the summit, though their preparations for the opening match were not helped by a 153-run defeat to Pakistan A in their solitary warm-up fixture. However they have held sway over their opponents in recent times, winning 13 of the last 14 Tests between the two nations. Their cause is also helped by the absence from Pakistan's team of Saeed Ajmal, though they will still have to overcome a trial by spin on what is expected to be a dry track in Dubai that will turn more as the game goes on. Captain Misbah-ul Haq admits the absence of Ajmal, who has been suspended due to an illegal bowling action, is a big blow for Pakistan, particularly with frontline seamers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz also missing through injury. "Ajmal has left a big hole," said Misbah, who dropped himself from the final match of the one-day series against Australia due to his recent struggle for runs. "Everybody knows that Australia are a top and tough side so we need to play our best players and I think we have proven players who can fill in." At least Pakistan are boosted by the return of veteran batsman Younis Khan as they seek to remain unbeaten in a Test series in the UAE since secu-
rity fears prevented them from hosting matches on home soil. While Misbah may be under pressure due to a lack of form, opposite number Michael Clarke finds himself lacking match practice as he returns from a hamstring injury to lead Australia. "I wouldn't say lack of form. The last time I played I made 68 not out, that was in a one-day series against Zimbabwe," Clarke, who fell cheaply twice against Pakkistan A, said on the eve of the first Test. "The time before that I got a golden duck, the time before that I got 161 not out. So in my last three bats I think I'm doing okay in regards to form. So I don't feel there's a lack of form. I think there's certainly a lack of game practice under my belt." The tourists are hopeful all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will be fit to play, while the nature of the surface at the International Cricket Stadium means Nathan Lyon could be joined in the final XI by fellow slow bowler Steve O'Keefe. Clarke has announced he is fit to bowl himself if required, plus he has the option of using the leg-spin of opening batsman David Warner and all-rounder Steve Smith. Pakistan, meanwhile, will hand a debut to leg-spinner Yasir Shah, joining slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, experienced in terms of age at 35 but set to play in just his third Test, in the team. The second Test between the teams takes place in Abu Dhabi from October 30. J
Hafeez Likely to Become Vice-Captain of Pak Cricket Team
Shane Watson Fit Ahead of Long Summer SYDNEY: Australian allrounder Shane Watson said recently he was over the injury which has sidelined him for months and ready for a long summer schedule, beginning with a Twenty20 series against South Africa. The injury-prone star has not played since the Indian Premier League in May after sustaining a calf injury from stepping on a ball during training. "I have had time to freshen up and it has made me very excited to be playing again," he said. "To be able to start with T20
cricket and lead into the other cricket is a nice way to be able to build up my endurance over the next couple of weeks and couple of months leading into the summer." Watson, who was forced to sit out Australia`s tours of Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates, will make his return in the three-match Twenty20 series against the Proteas which kicks off at Adelaide Oval on November 5. Australia`s cricket season runs until late March and includes a fivematch ODI series with South Africa, a four-Test series against India and a
ODI series with India and England before culminating in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. "I haven`t played any cricket up until this point so I will be fresh going into the time when I am going to have to make the most of my freshness especially at the back end of the summer, towards the back end of the World Cup," said Watson. "The most important thing is to be performing over the next couple of months to give myself a chance to stay in the summer for the whole time. "To be a big part of the World Cup campaign as well." Young paceman Pat Cummins is also back from extended injury leave to play in the Twenty20 series against the Proteas. Cummins made a stunning Test debut against South Africa in 2011, taking 6-79 in the second innings to help win the match, but has not played in a Test since. The 21-year-old appears to finally have overcome lower back and foot problems which have kept him out of selection and has modified his actions to reduce wear on his body. "My running and my action is a little bit straighter to be more efficient," he said. "But it`s more about getting older and stronger and getting some more overs into the body." J
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LAHORE: Former Twenty 20 (T20) skipper and all-rounder Mohammad Haffeez is likely to be appointed as vice-captain of Pakistan cricket team. According to sources, the proposal to appoint Mohammad Hafeez as vice-captain of ODI side has been
sent to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). the all rounder will join the team against Australia in first test starting from October 22. He missed One Day International series and lone T20 against Aussies due to injury. J
De Villiers, Duminy Ace Clinical Chase MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Over the last few years, South Africa have mastered the art of batting in a bubble in Tests, distracted by nothing in the inexorable progress towards their goal. In Mount Maunganui, they adapted that method to one-day cricket, with AB de Villiers and JP Duminy pacing the chase to perfection. Their calmness against tight bowling, predatory fielding, and an asking rate inflated by a boundary drought, was in contrast to the helterskelter approach that had crippled New Zealand to a below-par total on a slow surface. The New Zealand innings - in their first ODI since January, and
their first international since July, at a venue they had never played at was a blur of boundaries and impatient partnerships cut down by disciplined bowling. Wickets fell in clutches, they were nine down in the 35th over before Luke Ronchi led a record last-wicket stand to frustrate the visitors. The pillars of South Africa's line-up, however, batted with tunnel vision. Hashim Amla, de Villiers and Duminy were unperturbed by the asking rate rising from 4.62 to over a run a ball. The contest was never as close as the equation seemed to indicate, and they eventually won with 11 balls to spare. J
COMMENTARY
P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 24, 2014
Of Hazrat Aisha’s Age at Marriage
I
n By Nilofar Ahmed
t is said that Hazrat Aisha was six years old when her nikah was performed with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Makkah, and nine years old when she moved in to live with her husband in Madina after Hijra. This piece of misinformation has led to the wrong view that child marriage has the sanction of Islam. It must be noted that establishing the authenticity of hadiths, the narrators’ circumstances and the conditions at that time have to be correlated with historical facts. There is only one hadith by Hisham which suggests the age of Hazrat Aisha as being nine when she came to live with her husband. Many authentic hadiths also show that Hisham’s narration is incongruous with several historical facts about the Prophet’s life, on which there is consensus. With reference to scholars such as Umar Ahmed Usmani, Hakim Niaz Ahmed and Habibur Rehman Kandhulvi, I would like to present some arguments in favor of the fact that Hazrat Aisha was at least 18 years old when her nikah was performed and at least 21 when she moved into the Prophet’s house to live with him. According to Umar Ahmed Usmani, in Surah Al-Nisa, it is said that the guardian of the orphans should keep testing them, until they reach the age of marriage, before returning their property (4:6). From this scholars have concluded that the Quran sets a minimum age of marriage which is at least puberty. Since the approval of the girl has a legal standing, she cannot be a minor.
Hisham bin Urwah is the main narrator of this hadith. His life is divided into two periods: in 131A.H. the Madani period ended, and the Iraqi period started, when Hisham was 71 years old. Hafiz Zehbi has spoken about Hisham’s loss of memory in his later period. His students in Madina, Imam Malik and Imam Abu Hanifah, do not mention this hadith. Imam Malik and the people of Madina criticized him for his Iraqi hadiths. All the narrators of this hadith are Iraqis who had heard it from Hisham. Allama Kandhulvi says that the words spoken in connection with Hazrat Aisha’s age were tissa ashara, meaning 19, when Hisham only heard (or remembered), tissa, meaning nine. Maulana Usmani thinks this change was purposely and maliciously made later. Historian Ibn Ishaq in his Sirat Rasul Allah has given a list of the people who accepted Islam in the first year of the proclamation of Islam, in which Hazrat Aisha’s name is mentioned as Abu Bakr’s “little daughter Aisha”. If we accept Hisham’s calculations, she was not even born at that time. Some time after the death of the Prophet’s first wife, Hazrat Khadija, Khawla suggested to the Prophet that he get married again, to a bikrun, referring to Hazrat Aisha (Musnad Ahmed). In Arabic bikrun is used for an unmarried girl who has crossed the age of puberty and is of marriageable age. The word cannot be used for a six-year-old girl. Some scholars think that Hazrat Aisha was married off so early because in Arabia girls mature at an early age. But this was not a common custom of
the Arabs at that time. According to Allama Kandhulvi, there is no such case on record either before or after Islam. Neither has this ever been promoted as a Sunnah of the Prophet. The Prophet married off his daughters Fatima at 21 and Ruquiyya at 23. Besides, Hazrat Abu Bakr, Aisha’s father, married off his eldest daughter Asma at the age of 26. Hazrat Aisha narrates that she was present on the battlefield at the Battle of Badar (Muslim). This leads one to conclude that Hazrat Aisha moved into the Prophet’s house in 1 A.H. But a nineyear-old could not have been taken on a rough and risky military mission. In 2 A.H, the Prophet refused to take boys of less than 15 years of age to the battle of Uhud. Would he have allowed a 10-year-old girl to accompany him? But Anas reported that he saw Aisha and Umme Sulaim carrying goatskins full of water and serving it to the soldiers (Bukhari). Umme Sulaim and Umme Ammara, the other women present at Uhud, were both strong, mature women whose duties were the lifting of the dead and injured, treating their wounds, carrying water in heavy goatskins, supplying ammunition and even taking up the sword. Hazrat Aisha used the kunniat, the title derived from the name of a child, of Umme Abdullah after her nephew and adopted son. If she was six when her nikah was performed, she would have been only eight years his senior, hardly making him eligible for adoption. Also, a little girl could not have given up on ever having her own child and used an adopted child’s name for her kunniat. Hazrat Aisha’s nephew Urwah once remarked that he was not surprised about her amazing knowledge of Islamic law, poetry and history because she was the wife of the Prophet and the daughter of Abu Bakr. If she was eight when her father migrated, when did she learn poetry and history from him? There is consensus that Hazrat Aisha was 10 years younger than her elder sister Asma, whose age at the time of the hijrah, or migration to Madina, was about 28. It can be concluded that Hazrat Aisha was about 18 years old at migration. On her moving to the Prophet’s house, she was a young woman at 21. Hisham is the single narrator of the hadith whose authenticity is challenged, for it does not correlate with the many historical facts of the time. (The writer is a scholar of the Qur’an and writes on contemporary issues. Dawn)
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Donate Zakat & Sadaqah for flood affected families.
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Exchange Rates for Currency Notes* Countries
USA S.Arabia UK Japan Euro UAE
Selling Rs. 102.5 27.32 163.09 0.956 129.62 27.91
Buying Rs. 102.7 27.38 163.41 0.9578 129.87 27.96
(*October 15, 2014)
US VISA AVAILABILITY IN OCTOBER, 2014 For Pakistan, Bangladesh & India Compiled by Hasan Chishti FAMILY SPONSORED PREFERENCES
Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. Citizens
May 22, 2007
May 22, 2007
2-A Spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents
Feb., 1, 2013
Feb., 1, 2013
2-B Unmarried sons & daughters (21 years of age or older) of permanent residents
Nov., 1, 2007
Nov., 1, 2007
Married sons & daughters of US citizens Dec., 1, 2003
Dec., 1, 2003
3
rd
4th Brothers & sisters of adult U.S. citizens
Jan. 22, 2002
India
Jan. 22, 2002
EMPLOYMENT BASED CATEGORY 1st Priority workers
Current
2nd Members of the professions holding advanced degree or persons of exceptional ability
Current
May 1, 2009
3rd Skilled workers Other workers
Oct., 1, 2011 Oct., 1, 2011
Nov. 15, 2003 Nov. 15, 2003
4th Certain special immigrants Certain religious workers
Current Current
5th Employment creation Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers and Pilot Programs
Current
Current
Current Current Current
UNLIMITED FAMILY-BASED Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR): The spouse, widow(er) and unmarried children under 21 of a U.S citizen, and the parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older. Returning Residents (SB): Immigrants who lived in the United States previously as lawful permanent residents and are returning to live in the U.S. after a temporary visit of more than one year abroad.
RELIGION
OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P27
Muslim Ummah: The Real Challenge
Gems from the Holy Qur’an
(Khutbah at ISOC – Dhul Hijjah 16, 1435/ October 10, 2014)
n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi
L
ast week was the week of huge gatherings of Muslims all over the world. Millions were in Makkah, Mina and Arafat, performing Hajj. They glorified Allah, praised him, asked for His forgiveness and pledged to follow the right path. May Allah accept their Hajj and return them safe, sound and blessed to their homes and families. All over the world Muslims also gathered in large numbers for Eidul Adha prayers and during the days of Tashriq we repeated together Takbirat after every prayer. Many people offered the sacrifices in remembrance of the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim. May Allah accept these prayers and sacrifices. May He bless this Ummah and may He increase our faith, our devotion and our good deeds.
We must continue doing good things. This is our duty as believers and this is our mission as the Ummah of Muhammad –peace be upon him. Allah says in the Qur’an: You are the best community ever raised for mankind, you enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil and you believe in Allah… (Al ‘Imran 3:110) When this ayah was revealed, it addressed primarily the Companions of the Prophet. Before Islam they were nothing but after accepting Islam they became the best community, because they did not only pray; they took the challenges of their time seriously and worked hard to fulfill their mission. We have to do the same things. We have millions of very pious and devout Muslims, but as an Ummah we are not fulfilling our purpose and our mission now. We do have the potential and we have enough spiritual, moral and intellectual resources to improve ourselves and to benefit the humanity. Gatherings of Hajj and large gatherings of Muslims in prayers and devotion fill the hearts of the believers with hope and expectations. We wish that these gatherings bring unity and harmony and help us to take right direction and fulfill our mission.
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.) About the translator:
The world is facing many challenges: increasing gap between the rich and poor, new ailments and diseases, climatic changes, draughts and floods, family breakdowns, immorality, violence and wars. There are economic problems, environmental problems, social problems and political problems. There is corruption all over. The Qur’anic term for corruption is al-Fasad. It means spoiling the order, disturbing the balance of justice and equity. It means greed, self-interest, deception and double talks. The Qur’an has used this word about 50 times. Al-Fasad could be in beliefs, in morals, in social order, in family system, in educational policies, in economics, in politics or in environment and echo system. Al-Fasad appears when people follow their lusts and vain desires, when they try to twist the truth and distort the facts. Instead of following the Truth and the Guidance of their Lord and Creator, they ignore and turn away from His message. If the Truth had been in accord with their desires, truly the heavens and the earth, and all beings therein would have been in confusion and corruption! Nay, We have sent them
their admonition, but they turn away from their admonition. (AlMu’minun 23:71) Al-Fasad comes when people tell lies, break promises and do not care for the family ties and relations. Those who break their confirmed agreements made in Allah’s name, who break apart what Allah has commanded to be joined and who spread corruption on earth: theirs is the curse and the dreadful home (AlRa’d 13:25) Al-Fasad happens when people cheat and deceive in business, deprive others of their rights and act in unfair and dishonest ways. Allah mentions Prophet Hud telling his people: My people, in fairness, give full measure and weight. Do not withhold from people things that are rightly theirs, and do not spread corruption in the land. (Hud 11:85) When the political order becomes unjust and people’s rights are denied then the cities and townships become corrupt and are filled with mischief and mischief-makers. The life then loses its meaning and purpose. People kill each other for no reason. The agricultural land, the livestock and the environment all suffer the evil of corruption and mischief. There is [a kind of] person whose views on the life of this world may please you, he even calls on Allah to witness what is in his heart, yet he is the bitterest of opponents. When he leaves, he sets out to spread corruption in the land, destroying crops and livestock— Allah does not like corruption.
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When he is told, ‘Beware of Allah,’ his arrogance leads him to sin. Hell is enough for him: a dreadful resting place. (Al-Baqarah 2:204-206) The rulers who rule their people without any care and consultation, they also make mischief. Pharaohs’ system in ancient Egypt was the paradigm of this mischief and corruption. Some of the Pharaohs used to mistreat their people and exploit one group against the other. Allah says: Pharaoh made himself high and mighty in the land and divided the people into different groups: one group he oppressed, slaughtering their sons and sparing their women—he was one of those who spread corruption (Al-Qasas 28:4) Al-Fasad brings violence, death and destruction. Allah warns people about the consequences of corruption here in this world before the Day of Reckoning in the Hereafter. He gives chance to people to repent, turn back from their evil ways, improve their condition and become better human beings. Corruption has flourished on land and sea as a result of people’s actions and He will make them taste the consequences of some of their own actions so that they may turn back. (Al-Rum 30:41) We are at a time of severe corruption in the world. The world needs sincere and honest reformers: 1. Those who care for all people; those whose interests are not racial, parochial or nationalistic 2. Those who follow the path of justice and fairness towards all people 3. Those who know how to work with wisdom and love, not with irrationality and hate. We are not required to bring all the changes at once but we all must involve in this great and blessed task of reform. We should remember what Prophet Shuaib –peace be upon him- said to his people: I do not want to do what I am forbidding you to do; I only want to put things right as far as I can. I cannot succeed without Allah’s help: I trust in Him, and always turn to Him. (Hud 11:88)
Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss, was born 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 18, Verses 46-50 Wealth and children are an adornment of this world’s life: but god deeds, the fruit whereof endures forever, are of far greater merit in thy Sustainer’s sight, and a far greater source of hope. Hence, [bear in mind] the Day on which We shall cause the mountains to disappear and thou shalt behold the earth void and bare: for [on that Day] We [will resurrect the dead and] gather them all together, leaving out none of them. And they will be lined up before thy Sustainer, [and He will say:] “Now, indeed as you have come unto Us [in a lonely state], even as We created you in the first instance – although you were wont to assert that We would never appoint for you a meeting [with Us]!” And the record of [everyone’s deeds] will be laid open; and thou wilt behold the guilty filled with dread at what [they see] therein; and they will exclaim: “Oh, woe unto us! What a record is this! It leaves out nothing, be it small or great, but takes everything into account!” Fr they will find all that they ever wrought [now] facing them, and [will know that] thy Sustainer does not wrong anyone. And [remember that] when We told the angels, “prostrate yourself before Adam,” they all prostrated themselves, save Iblis: he [too] was one of those invisible beings, but then he turned away from His Sustainer’s command. Will you, then, take him and his cohorts for [your] masters instead of Me although they are your foes? How vile an exchange on the evildoer’s part! ________________
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PAKISTAN LEADERSHIP FROM P4
but hear not with them. They are like cattle, no, they are further astray. Those they are the heedless” 7:179 Hazrat Omer or Hazrat Khalid did not think of any NRO’s, nor did they appoint judges and Qazis of their choice in order to win apparent exoneration from the charges. In fact, Hazrat Omer prescribed two basic qualities of a Qazi/Judge: one, he should be rich so that no amount of wealth is able to influence him or purchase him; and second, he should be a man of sterling reputation and character. What Hazrat Omer perhaps missed was that there would emerge in Muslim countries in the distant future a brand of leadership that would be exceedingly rich, but that would also be most power-hungry and most corrupt. Iqbal called such people as filled with “Bui Gadai”, “replete with the hunger of a beggar.” (Material for this article has mostly been sifted from Maulana Shibli’s famous book, “Al-Farooq”) EDHI FROM P12
a nearby room where Mr Edhi was sleeping. They woke him up and demanded the keys at gun point. According to the spokesman, Mr Edhi told them that the keys were in the custody of his wife, Bilquees Edhi, who had gone out for some work. The robbers made two or three calls from their mobile phones to get ‘instructions and later broke open two of the shelves. They tried to smash the third locker but did not succeed. “The robbers remained in the office for about half an hour,” Mr Kazmi said, adding that he suspected that they might have been helped by an insider because they knew the exact location of the gold and cash, including foreign currency. The office houses a room shared by five to six children, a maternity home and an outpatient department (OPD). According to Mr Kazmi, the robbers took away an estimated Rs30m worth of gold ornaments (about 5kg) and cash. Senior officers, including DIG South and Rangers commander, visited the office. The IG suspended the Kharadar SHO and formed an inquiry team comprising DIGs South and CIA and SSPs South and investigation. VOTING FROM P9
quest for a more perfect union arguably seems to have become more elusive in America today than it has been in years gone by. There is more violence in our neighborhoods. There is more disdain and dissent in our public discourse. There is more grid lock and impasse in the affairs of our government. Rarely before have we seen such division and such divide. Notwithstanding this anger and conflict, the system continues to inspire fierce love and loyalty for country, on both sides of the political divide. In less than 16 days now that spirit for democracy and that sense of citizenship will surely be tested again as the nation heads to the polls. Less than 60 percent of eligible voters in America have traditionally shown up at the ballot boxes to vote in the past. Considering the fact that around the globe people are willing to die in order to exercise this right, it is indeed quite distressing and disappointing that such poor participation exists in our country. Community Builders Council (CBC) believes that one reason for this apathy and indifference could be
OCTOBER 24, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29 the lack of education and understanding of the voters on issues that impact their lives. Without education, engagement is more difficult. Hence in a presidential election year, CBC has offered panel discussions to provide the public with education over the political issues of the day. During the non-presidential years we have used the websites of the candidates to educate the community on the positions of the candidates running for statewide positions and about candidates in those districts where our demographics are significant. This effort we hope will help remove some of the misinformation that is often spread through the play of sound bites in the media and counter claims by the candidates. Early voting began today Oct 20,2014. It is probably the best option for many of us strapped for time to go to a polling station on election day, which is Tue Nov 4, 2014. We encourage all to go and do their civic duty in the convenience of the next two weeks. Sites are many and you can go where it is the most convenient location for you. We would like to encourage you to visit the candidates’ websites and familiarize yourselves with their positions on some key issues of interest to us: Health Care, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Homeland Security, Energy, Immigration, etc. When visiting the candidates’ websites look under issues on their home page for their positions. Lastly we have included a website where information on the campaign treasure chests of each candidate is provided. We provide this only for perspective. The corrupting power of money can only be minimized by the greater power of individual votes, when they are exercised. QADRI FROM P1
in the unfolding revolution, he said. Dr Qadri’s decision to end the sit-in is expected to test the resolve of his partner in the cause, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, who is continuing his campaign against the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz at D-Chowk. Not too long after the PAT leader’s announcement, PTI made it clear that it would hold its ground till Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s resignation. “I will not leave this container unless Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf resigns and there is an independent inquiry into rigging in the 2013 general elections,” PTI chief Imran Khan said while addressing the sit-in at D-Chowk of the Constitution Avenue. Earlier Qadri said that government is not ready to form a neutral and independent Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the Model Town incident. “We cannot sell the blood of 14 martyrs by striking any deal with the government which is responsible for the killings”, the PAT chief said. INDIA FROM P1
Diamer-Bhasha project. USAID chief Rajiv Shah, US special representative for Afghanistan-Pakistan Dan Feldman, US ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson and other key officials attended the event. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif led the Pakistani delegation. Talking to the Pakistani media after the conference, Mr Dar rejected the Indian objection to the project as “irrelevant”, adding that
Younis Leads Pakistan Fight-back with 25th Century
during his five-day stay in Washington “no US official or investor showed any concern” about the Indian claim. The World Bank, which had earlier raised concerns about possible negative environmental impact of the dam, too “seems keen to help Pakistan build the dam,” Mr Dar said. IMRAN FROM P1
PTI would move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of Pakistan for its failure to upload Form 14 (result sheet at a polling station) and Form 15 on its website. Addressing National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, he said, “How long will you delay recounting of votes in your constituency? I will not leave this place until the audit of votes starts.” “What is this drama that you are not accepting our resignations? You should accept the resignations because we do not recognize you and your assembly,” he said. Mr Khan asked the people of Islamabad to get ready for a protest demonstration in front of the head offices of Pemra against its decision to suspend the license of ARY News channel. “The rulers have dented democracy by banning the channel,” he said. Addressing PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he said: “I will recognise you as leader if you ask your uncle Nawaz Sharif and your father Asif Ali Zardari to declare before the nation their `real assets’ which they earned after a lot of`hard work’. If you fail then I will perform this task.” He said Mr Zardari was raising questions about the funding of the PTI’s sit-in and rallies. “Your party spent a huge amount for its recent public meeting in Karachi. The same amount will be enough to carry on the PTI sit-in for three years,” he said. He said, “We just use a container and a sound system” and the PTI’s supporters participated in gatherings without any pressure. Mr Khan invited a TV channel and its anchor facing suspension of licence by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and a ban on the directives of a Lahore High
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Court judge to run their programme from his container. He demanded a Rs15 decrease in petroleum prices and announced that his party would protest on Wednesday outside district press clubs across the country against a hike in electricity tariff. “My dear supporters, your training is under way during the sitin and it is possible that someone among you may become the chairperson of the PTI in future,” he said. AGGRESSION FROM P1
border dividing the nuclear-armed neighbors. A fresh exchange of gunfire took place at Sialkot’s Charwa sector between Indian and Pakistani troops, sources in the Chenab Rangers said on Wednesday. No casualties were reported in the firing, sources said, adding that the exchange took place when Indian troops opened unprovoked fire on the Pakistani side. Sources added that firing from the Indian side subsided following retaliation by Pakistan. Both sides have been accusing one another for violation the ceasefire accord, leading to increased tension between the two neighbours. On Tuesday, India’s Defence minister Arun Jaitley warned Pakistan, saying India’s armed forces would strongly retaliate to any future unprovoked attacks by Pakistan, and that their strength is greater. “So if they persist with this, they’ll feel the pain of this adventurism,” Jaitley said in an interview. He claims that India is ready to have talks with Pakistan, provided Pakistan “creates” the environment for the talks to happen. In December last year, the two countries pledged to uphold the 2003 ceasefire accord which had been left in tatters by repeated violations that year. The truce breaches had put the nascent bilateral peace dialogue on hold.
Dubai: Younus Khan led Pakistan’s fight-back with a dogged century after the hosts made a terrible start to the first test against Australia in Dubai on Wednesday. After opting to bat first, Pakistan reached 219 for four wickets at stumps on the first day with captain Misbah-ul-haq (34) and Asad Shafiq (nine) at the crease. The 36-year-old Younus fell on 106, leg before to Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson’s second delivery with the second new ball. Younus walked in at number four with Pakistan having lost both their openers before the total had reached double figures. The stylish right-hander propped his side up with a 108run stand for the third wicket with Azhar Ali (53) and then added 83 for the next with Misbah. He hit 10 fours during his 223ball knock and got to his 25th test hundred with a huge six off spinner Nathan Lyon over mid-wicket. Azhar gave his senior batsman able support before he drove Johnson in the air and was caught by Alex Doolan at cover for Australia’s only success in the second session. Pakistan, without banned offspinner Saeed Ajmal, handed test debuts to fast bowler Imran Khan and leg-spinner Yasir Shah in a newlook bowling attack. Australia captain Michael Clarke used Johnson (three for 22) in short spells and the left-armer bowled with pace and venom to trouble the batsmen on the slow pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Johnson also struck in the first over of the match -- hitting the toe of Mohammad Hafeez with a fast, inswinging yorker to dismiss the right-handed batsman for a duck.
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akistani model Ayyan has recently released her new single, 'Making Dollars ft. Timo'. Though Ayyan's first single, 'You and I', was panned by the critics, she didn't let that discourage her. The Angelina Jolie doppelganger has branched out into the music industry to validate she's more than just a pretty face. 'Making Dollars ft. Timo' is second after 'You and I' and, according to Ayyan's official Facebook page, has already managed to get over 200000 views on YouTube and over 2400 shares on Facebook. Love it or hate it, it's definitely getting attention. Right off the bat, you wouldn't really be able to guess this hip hop number is a Pakistani music video. It's shot completely in black and white and would strike as a combination of a handful of other videos, such as Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' and Dev's 'Dancing in the Dark'. It's merely evident that Ayyan derived some inspiration from Western artists. The music is catchy and will have you bobbing your head to it, whether you like it or not. The lyrics are generic but it's not a critical flaw. Timo, a DJ and rapper from Greece, also does his part well, adding in that hip hop element. Ayyan's singing sounds awfully auto-tuned, but that's not really a bad thing. She doesn't have Noor Jehan's vocal range, but that doesn't mean she hasn't made a commendable effort. It must also be noted that she sings completely in English and surprisingly, her accent doesn't sound horribly forced. The video gets a little odd in places with skinny shirtless men wearing burglar masks as the backup dancers. Though the moves are repetitive, Ayyan dances better than most and is showcased as quite the femme fatale. Her outfit choices are a little questionable; they're very Lady Gaga-esque, but she manages to pull them off. 'Making Dollars' is from her upcoming album, Nothing like Everything so rest assured, this isn't the last we've heard from her. Courtesy Dawn
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