Pakistan Link - March 6, 2015 by PL PUBLICATIONS

Pakistan Link

VOL. 25/10 - 15 Jumadal-ula 1436 H PAGE 4

Anti-Terrorist Enthusiasm Wanes again? PTI to Disband KP Assembly if MPAs Vote for Other Parties

The Largest Circulated Pakistani-American Newspaper in North America

Friday, March 6, 2015

PAGE 12

PAGE 11

Mufti Sayeed Praises Pakistan on First Day as CM

PTI Facing Internal Pressure to Return to Parliament

Nawaz Holds Talks with Saudi King Salman

Peshawar: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

(PTI) chief Imran Khan said the KP Assembly’s future hinges on a crucial meeting between the ruling PTI and its coalition members on Thursday. The meeting, which is to be held at the CM House, will make clear whether the provincial assembly will be dissolved, said the PTI chief in a press conference on Wednesday. Mr Khan said he will not bear horse trading and those MPAs who do not vote on party lines in the upcoming Senate elections on Friday will be dealt with strictly. The PTI chief said if a majority does not vote for the party’s nominated candidate, he will have no option but to dissolve the KP assembly. He maintained his opposition to secret balloting and said elections for the Upper House should also be conducted directly. “PTI members will vote only for government and its coalition nominees,” Khan said. Imran Khan also criticized Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for laying down the foundations of

PTI, P29

New York Schools to Observe Eid Holidays

HOLIDAYS, P29

For news, updated round the clock, visit

www.PakistanLink.com India, Pakistan Agree to Find Common Ground Islamabad:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at the King’s Palace in Riyadh, March 4 2015

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz

Sharif held talks with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud after arriving in the Kingdom on Wednesday on a three-day official visit

He was received at the airport by the King himself and was presented with a guard of honor. During the talks, both the leaders underscored the close and brotherly na-

ture of relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of fields including energy, trade, investment NAWAZ, P29

US Acknowledges Efficacy of Zarb-e-Azb

New York: New York’s Mayor Bill

de Blasio announced on Wednesday that schools in the city will now observe two Muslim holidays on Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha, New York Times reported. Schools in the city already observe a number of religious holidays including that of Christian and Jewish faiths. Blasio, who had promised to include the two holidays in the school calendar as part of his election campaign, made the announcement at the Mary White Ovington School (PS/IS30) where 36 per cent of the students were absent the last time Eid al-Adha fell on an instructional day. “We made a pledge to families that we would change our school calendar to reflect the strength and diversity of our city. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim families will no longer have to choose between honoring the most sacred days on their calendar or attending

US & Canada $1.00

Foreign Secretaries from India and Pakistan agreed Tuesday to find common ground but there was no decision on whether the rare meeting between the wary rivals would result in future negotiations. India’s Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyan Jaishankar was in Pakistan on a two-day visit that marked the first high-level meeting between India and Pakistan since talks last year broke down. Both Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart, Aizaz Chaudhry, stressed the need to work together. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. “We engaged on each other’s concerns and interests in an open manner. We agreed to work together to find common ground and narrow differences,” Jaishankar said after meeting Chaudhry. “The overall tone of the meeting was positive,” Chaudhry said at a separate press conference. GROUND, P29

Waqar Says Sarfaraz Cannot Open Innings Napier, New Zealand: All eyes were

Ground operation in and around Miranshah

Washington, DC: The United

States has pledged continued cooperative relationship with Pakistan, with a top military general acknowledging the effectiveness of the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation in clearing militant strongholds in North

Waziristan. “The Pakistani military’s recent operations to clear militant strongholds in North Waziristan and other FATA regions and to prevent the militants’ return have achieved near-term successes,”

General Lloyd J Austin, Commander of the Central Command said. In a testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, the Centcom chief also expressed support for stronger bilateral EFFICACY, P29

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on Pakistan Coach Waqar Younis as he addressed the media following his team’s win against the UAE. Waqar was asked why regular wicket-keeper Sarafaz Ahmed has not been given a chance in the playing 11, especially in light of three failed outings by opener Nasir Jamshed. Waqar’s answer caught several reporters off-guard as he said he was not aware that Sarafaz was capable of opening the innings. Pakistan’s coach added that Sarafaz could not be used as an opener in the team. The pressure to include Sarafaz Ahmed in the squad has been building up not only due to the dismal performance of Nasir Jamshed but also as Umer Akmal has looked shaky behind the stumps. During his news conference Waqar also erased doubts over the fitness of seamer Mohammad Irfan who was injured during the WAQAR, P29

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uring the brutal cold of February in Washington, I received a book from world-record-holding spinner emeritus of England and captain of Surrey, Pat Pocock. The book, “Letters to My Grandchildren,” written by venerable British Labor Party statesman, Tony Benn, who passed away last March, is a distillation of wit, intellect, and judgment conveyed to his grandchildren in the form of letters.

The art of letter writing has declined and so, too, with it thoughtfulness. Benn’s book is a welcome break from the sameness that defines modern living. Fired by moral purpose and equipped with a formidable intellect, Benn furnishes illuminating guideposts to purpose-driven living. In an unobtrusive way, he punctures the smugness of arrogance: “I’ve also become aware as I have got older how little I know.” Benn believes that “the world is literally one small community locked together.” It is all the more reason, therefore, to reexamine the impact of information propagated by the powerful. The threat perception of the global elites is elucidated by pointing out: “what has always

brief and to the point. Letters without full name, complete address, and a daytime phone number will not be published. Also, copies of letters sent to other newspapers are not encouraged. Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to the Editor at the Pakistan Link Headquarters address listed below. Pakistan Link (ISSN 1074-0406) is published weekly for $65 a year by JAZ LLC, DBA PL Publications, LLC, 1501 North Raymond Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801. Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA and additional mailing offices. POST MASTER: Send address changes to Pakistan Link, P O Box 1238, Anaheim, CA 92815 The management has the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news, article, letter or any other material. In case of any errors in advertisement the management will not be liable for more than the amount paid for the advertisement to the Link. Advertisements in Pakistan Link are placed in good faith. The newspaper is not responsible nor endorses the contents of any advertisement. In case of a frivolous lawsuit, the plaintiff will bear the total cost of the suit, including but not limited to the Link’s costs and the attorney’s fees.

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frightened the rich and powerful has been the appearance from among the oppressed of self-confident leaders who could alter the balance of power.” (page 39) It has held true in the case of Ché Guevara, Malcolm

necessarily change anything.” It is a message that many in Pakistan have not fully heard or listened to. Here, too, the Labor leader questions the hereditary system which, in its broader scope, erodes

Benn is cognizant about the perils of enjoying power without responsibility. He reminds that “just getting rid of one government and replacing it with another one did not necessarily change anything.” It is a message that many in Pakistan have not fully heard or listened to. Here, too, the Labor leader questions the hereditary system which, in its broader scope, erodes democratic legitimacy in Pakistan X, and Nelson Mandela. Benn is cognizant about the perils of enjoying power without responsibility. He reminds that “just getting rid of one government and replacing it with another one did not

democratic legitimacy in Pakistan as well as in America, where the upcoming 2016 Bush versus Clinton Presidential clash is an action replay for the Bush versus Clinton tussle of 1992.

Benn warns the West that “America is itself in decline.” (page 100). On Mideast, he finds “ludicrous the Zionist argument that God gave Palestine to the Jews” (page 37) while stating that “Israel has absolutely ignored the United Nations, and been protected by America.” He further posits: “We are always being told that nukes are essential for our defense, while any other country that uses the same argument is denounced and threatened with military strikes as some Americans and Israelis have done against Iran.” (page 86) Those who bank on the overwhelming use of military and technological power would do well to heed Tony Benn’s counsel: “In the nuclear age, it is the suicide bombers who cannot be deterred by the threat of death. Indeed, they welcome it.” (page 85) Significantly, he sees the current world crisis as a “rerun of the 1930s.” Certainly, the 21st century scapegoating of Muslims is a push in that direction. Benn cautions his grandchildren and through them the younger generation to be vigilant of those “continually trying to frighten you”, to verify facts on their own, not to yield to the self-imposed prison of pessimism, and to keep burning “the flame of anger against injustice.” And that is what converts “popular aspirations into practical politics.”

Pakistan’s anti-Terrorist Enthusiasm Wanes . . . again

Letters to the Editor Readers are welcome to express their opinion in these columns. Please keep your letters

Letters from a Grandfather

n By Farheen Rizvi

Ashburn, VA

hen terrorists killed 160 teachers and children at a Peshawar school last December, a burst of commentary suggested that Pakistan would now change its ambivalence about Islamist extremism. Two months later, it seems that Pakistan’s government and military are back to business as usual. A terrorist attack on a private school in Karachi on Feb. 3 went virtually unnoticed. Admittedly, there were no fatalities in the Karachi attack. But the terrorists did lob a bomb and sent out a warning letter about attacking more schools if the government did not cease the executions of convicted terrorists on death row.

The terrorists are clearly serious about continuing and even expanding their war. But the authorities’ response is far from serious. For almost three decades, successive Pakistani governments have seen religious terrorists as assets for regional influence. As the terrorists turned inward, attacking Pakistanis and not just Americans in Afghanistan or Indians in disputed Kashmir, Pakistan started making distinctions among the terrorists. Those attacking abroad and adding to Pakistan’s regional clout were “good Taliban” while those fighting Pakistanis were deemed “bad Taliban.” Pakistan’s liberals, as well as its friends abroad, pointed out the critical flaw in this policy. The “good Taliban” often protected and helped the “bad Taliban.” Several thousand Pakistanis have died in terrorist attacks inside the country as a result of the collaboration between “good Taliban” and “bad Taliban.” Targets have included military bases, army headquarters and intelligence service offices. Major political figures have been killed and members of religious minorities, as well as the large Shia Muslim community, massacred. The Peshawar school attack was supposed to be a turning point. The military, which had already started an operation to clear the country’s northwest tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan of terrorist safe havens, promised to expand its fight. The government promised not to make distinctions among terrorist groups. A moratorium on the death

penalty was ended and hangings of convicted terrorists on death row began amid public pressure. Two convicted terrorists were hanged in Karachi at dawn on the day the terrorists threw their warning bomb at a local school. The terror, however, continues and is spreading to various cities of the country. The federal and provincial governments still seem clueless about a comprehensive strategy to deal with the terrorists. For

Will the military establishment really give up on “good Taliban” who advance strategic objectives across the border? Will the politicians stop supporting organizations banned by law but still operating openly? Will preaching hate against other religions or neighboring countries stop? Will Pakistan go beyond just condemning terrorist violence when it occurs instead of preventing it? example, schools have been asked to arrange their own security. The provincial government in KhyberPakhtunkhwa (where the Peshawar massacre took place) decided to arm school teachers, as if teachers with guns in classrooms would make children more secure. The refusal to take the threat seriously is partly

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rooted in politics. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is run by the party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who has often shown sympathy and supported their narrative of a war between Muslims and the West. While campaigning in the 2013 election, Khan demanded “political space” and offices for Taliban in major cities of Pakistan, shocking the country’s embattled liberals. Imran Khan’s campaign slogans of “Change” and for building a “New Pakistan” never attracted the ire of the Taliban. They violently interfered with the 2013 election campaign of liberal parties in Pakistan, but Imran Khan’s PTI had a free run. Activists and senior leaders of liberal political forces were killed by terrorists during the campaign, but Khan’s PTI and other right wing parties faced no such threat. Khan was busy organizing street protests against the federal government headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (on grounds that the 2013 election poll was rigged) when the Taliban attacked the Army Public School in his province. The incident forced him to stop the protests, but he has yet to take the terrorist threat seriously. Hence the dangerous symbolic gesture of providing guns to school teachers instead of identifying and arresting Taliban masterminds. Under pressure by the military in the northwest, the Taliban and other nominally banned organizations are regrouping in the southern port city of Karachi. The city is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious cauldron of 20 million people without local government. It has become a battleground for sectarian conflict and reports suggest the city is surrounded by Taliban groups. ENTHUSIASM, P6

Views and opinions expressed by authors and contributors in articles, letters, opinion pieces, reports, advertisements, etc appearing in Pakistan Link and Urdu Link are their own. The paper neither shares nor endorses them and thus should not be held responsible for the views/opinions of the writers & advertisers.

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P5

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OPINION

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015

Parental Anguish and the Lone Wolf n By Dr Mahjabeen Islam

Toledo, Ohio

he murder of three young Muslims in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, hit home at so many levels. My daughter is a student at the University of North Carolina. She just happened not to be in Chapel Hill that day.

I think of those parents almost every day and how they lost two daughters and a son-in-law simultaneously. I keep wondering if their murders could have been prevented. Craig Hicks lived next door to the victims and seemed to have two obsessions: parking spots and guns. He had a concealed carry permit and reportedly a dozen handguns, rifles, shotguns, and cases of ammunition in his home. Yusor Abu-Salha had told her parents that Hicks had come to their apartment a few weeks earlier with a gun on his belt, haranguing about the parking spot. If Abu-Salha and her husband had reported the menacing to the police would things have been different? Our presumptions are so predictable. If a Muslim kills an entire religion is guilty, if an AfricanAmerican kills a whole race is, but if a white person kills he is mentally troubled. Or a lone wolf. It took a global outcry for the North Carolina murders to be investigated as a hate crime. I wonder why armed menacing with finally killing is not classified as terrorism?

According to a study just published by the Southern Poverty Law Center entitled, Age of the Wolf: A Study of the Rise of Lone Wolf and Leaderless Resistance Terrorism, the vast majority of domestic terrorism and extremism comes from lone wolf terrorists who are not Muslim and identify with the radical right. Muslim extremists make up only a very small percentage. The study, which covers the period between April 1, 2009, and Feb. 1, 2015, and includes violence from both the radical right and homegrown jihadists, finds that a domestic terrorist attack or foiled attack occurred, on average, every 34 days. It also shows that fully 74% of the more than 60 incidents examined were carried out, or planned, by a lone wolf, a single person operating entirely alone. Attorney General Eric Holder is most afraid of a terrorist attack on the United States from a so-called “lone wolf,” such as the attackers involved in the Washington Navy Yard and Los Angeles International Airport shootings. Craig Hicks’ actions are reminiscent of those of Randy Linn, who set fire to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo in 2012. Linn roamed the halls of the Center armed with a gun. Four ladies had left just a half hour previously and fortunately no one stood in his way as he set the prayer area alight. He testified in court that he was incensed by the Islamophobia constantly spewed by Fox News. Reprisals against Muslims have risen dramatically across the United

F m

that the majority of Muslims the world over denounce the targeting of innocents. But the ultra-right and media dehumanization of Muslims has reached fever pitch and parental anguish over the safety of their chil-

States since the so-called Islamic State’s barbaric beheadings and burnings. A portion of the Quba Islamic Institute in Houston was burned to the ground allegedly by a homeless man who “hated Muslims”. While the Houston fire department was battling the flames, a retired firefighter Dustin Herron posted on Facebook: “Let it burn…. block the fire hydrant”. Muslims are harassed, threatened and attacked on a daily basis as though all of us identify with ISIS. The recalcitrant chorus that Muslims don’t denounce terrorism is annoying in its ignorance. Professor Charles Kurzman of the Department of Sociology in the University of North Carolina maintains a list of “Islamic Statements against Terrorism”. It begins in September 2001 and continues till now. It follows Muslim condemnation of terrorism across the world and is a chronological, dispassionate proof

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The recalcitrant chorus that Muslims don’t denounce terrorism is annoying in its ignorance. Professor Charles Kurzman of the Department of Sociology in the University of North Carolina maintains a list of “Islamic Statements against Terrorism”. It begins in September 2001 and continues till now. It follows Muslim condemnation of terrorism across the world and is a chronological, dispassionate proof that the majority of Muslims the world over denounce the targeting of innocents. But the ultra-right and media dehumanization of Muslims has reached fever pitch and parental anguish over the safety of their children is now a daily dread dren is now a daily dread. And I hope against hope that as a nation we see terrorism for what it is and not by the religion of the perpetrator. Marginalizing a religious minority does not make us safer;

engaging and protecting it does. (Dr Mahjabeen Islam specializes in addiction and family medicine. mahjabeen.islam@gmail.com) TERROR FROM P7

Mohammad, al Qaeda’s number three.” That the mastermind of the Pearl murder, Omar Saeed Sheikh, had also trained in the exact same camps as the LeJ underscores the vicious nexus between Pakistani sectarian outfits like the LeJ/SSP/ASWJ, al Qaeda and the Kashmir-oriented jihadists. The officials deflecting the blame away from the jihadist and sectarian mass murderers are actually throwing a lifeline to their venomous nexus and condemning the Shias to another 30 years of takfiri terror. The vipers, however, are bound to turn back on their benefactors. (The writer can be reached at mazdaki@me.com and he tweets @ mazdaki)

ENTHIUSIASM FROM P4

Since 2008, the province is run by the Pakistan Peoples Party of former President Asif Zardari. In 2013, the provincial government in Sindh, which includes Karachi, launched a paramilitary operation ostensibly against “killers and criminals” of the metropolis. But somehow that operation has targeted the party’s opponents more than hardcore terrorists. The Taliban are still able to threaten schools in the city. Pakistan’s leaders have wasted enough time in political squabbles and dithering while the Taliban slowly take over their cities. The country still faces the questions it did before the brutal murder of schoolchildren in Peshawar on Dec. 16: Will its military establishment really give up ENTHUSIASM, P26

OPINION n By Dr Mohammad Taqi

Florida

he predominant narrative in Pakistan now seems to be that India and its intelligence agency RAW are responsible for all acts of terrorism, including the vicious attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar by the Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The federal defense minister, Punjab’s home minister and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief have all blamed India for stoking terrorism in Pakistan via Afghanistan.

Many analysts and ex-officials like the former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf and his interior minister, General Moinuddin Haider, have been playing up Indian involvement in Pakistan. The logic put forth is that since Pakistan has started acting against the TTP, the “Indians want to distract the Pakistani security forces and keep Pakistan internally weak”. That Pakistan’s social, political, ethnic and sectarian rifts can be exploited by any hostile power is not moot. However, pinning all violence, including the weekly massacres of the Shias, on India and Afghanistan is a convenient cop-out for the state and its functionaries at a time when they should be hunting down the perpetrators. Instead, the culprits are being mainstreamed and projected into living rooms through prime time television exposure. The patron-in-chief of the virulently anti-Shia outfit, the Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamat (ASWJ),

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7

Thirty Years of Terror Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, was interviewed by a private television channel this past weekend. Citing various edicts (fatwas), Ludhianvi indulged in takfir (apostatizing) of the Shias without any hard followup questions being asked by the said anchor. Whether or not an arch bigot should have gone unquestioned or given prime time space to begin with is another debate but the edicts that Ludhianvi alluded to have been issued by Deobandi seminaries such as the Jamia Islamia Binori Town, Karachi and Dar-ul-uloom Haqqaniah, Akora Khattak, which are the alma maters of the who’s who of jihadist terrorism. The Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) was founded in September 1985 in Jhang and armed with such poisonous fatwas and deadly weaponry it has unleashed a reign of takfiri terror on the Shias for the past 30 years while the Pakistani state sat on its hands. These seminaries have groomed the leaders who apostatize and have indoctrinated the cadres who carry out killings with impunity because the state either deflected the blame as it is doing now or, even more ominously, gave them patronage. Names like Jhangvi’s Tigers and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), eponymously named after SSP founder Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, were first heard of in 1995 when the SSP’s executioners led by Riaz Basra killed the founderpresident of the Shia group Imamia Students Organization, Dr Muhammad Ali Naqvi, along with five others on Multan Road, Lahore. Before that, Basra had been arrested for the 1990 murder of Iranian diplomat

Sadeq Ganji but escaped from police custody. The formal announcement of the LeJ ostensibly parting ways with the parent outfit, the SSP, came in 1996. Basra, Muhammad Ajmal

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and the LeJ remained joined at the hip. The SSP was nominally banned by General Musharraf in 2002 but has continued to operate openly under the ASWJ name. The ASWJ leadership neither pretends that it is any different from the SSP in agenda or organization nor has it severed ties to the LeJ. In fact, the SSP/ASWJ leader, Azam Tariq, had offered to pay diyat (blood money) for the murder of another Iranian diplomat to get the LeJ man, Sheikh Haq Nawaz, off death row. Azam Tariq’s son, Muawiyah Azam Tariq, had vowed publicly to spring LeJ honcho Malik Ishaq from Multan prison if the government did not release him. Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi has attended rallies along with Malik Ishaq where they made rabidly anti-Shia speeches. In the aforementioned interview, Ludhianvi backtracked on his speeches by saying that it was just “hawaee firing” (aerial firing or blowing hot air) but the fact is that wall-chalking, distributing fatwas and such vitriol have set the stage for Shia massacres as the ones perpetrated on Quetta’s Hazara Shias. Generals Musharraf and Moinuddin Haider, and Prime Minister (PM)Nawaz Sharif know full well that almost all of the LeJ top leaders and cadres trained in Afghanistan in camps run by Kashmir-oriented Pakistanis Qari Saifullah Akhtar, FazlurRahman Khalil and Maulana Masud Azhar, all of whom were alumni of the Binori Town madrassa (seminary) just like their host, Mullah Omar, and the SSP’s late leader, Azam Tariq. India or the US was nowhere near the Durand Line when the Paki-

stani security establishment turned both its sides into a jihadist viper pit. Musharraf and Mr Sharif were targeted by these very same groups and, according to Sindh police officials, General Moinuddin Haider’s brother, Ehtishamuddin Haider, was killed by the LeJ. As Hillary Clinton had said, “It is like that old story: you cannot keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors. Eventually, those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard.” These vipers, however, do not just have regional designs or associations; their ambition is global and links transnational. General Musharraf writes in his autobiography, In the Line of Fire, “On February 21, 2002, the horrifying videotape of Pearl’s murder was released. It did not show the faces of his murderers. In addition, we had nobody. Then, in May 2002, we arrested someone named Fazal Karim, an activist of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the militant wing of the Sunni sect known as Sipah-e-Sahaba. We had arrested him for other reasons, but when we interrogated him we discovered that he was involved in Pearl’s slaughter. He also told us that he knew where Pearl was buried. He was asked how he knew. Chillingly, he replied — without remorse — that he knew because he had actually participated in the slaughter by holding one of Pearl’s legs. But he did not know the name of the person who had actually slit Pearl’s throat. All he could say is that this person was ‘Arab-looking’. The man who may have actually killed Pearl or at least participated in his butchery, we eventually discovered, was none other than Khalid Sheikh TERROR, P6

OPINION

P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015 n By Dr Aslam Abdullah Las Vegas, Nevada

he elders of the Chicago Muslim community tried to protect a Hifz (Qur’an memoriization) school they had contributed to build for their children by not reporting the allegation a 23-year-oldgirl had brought against its 75-yearold founder, a graduate of Darul Uloom Deoband, the seat of orthodox Sunni school in North India. The school that offers courses for boys and girls in religious studies was paid by Muslims from all over the country. They tried to avoid the issue and advised people not to leak it to the media. But months later when the two leading newspapers of the country, the New York Times and the Washington Post published articles giving details of the accusation, the reaction of some of the elders as well as community members appeared even more irresponsible. “It’s a conspiracy against Islam and Muslims and Jewish and Christian Islamophobes have published this information to defame Islam so that the Hifz school can be closed down.”

What conspiracy and what closing down? If they had any concern to the book they refer to as their source of guidance they should have at least known that the Qur’an asks its believers to stand for justice even if it

Sexual Misconduct in Holy Places is against oneself. “O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” (4:135) The right course of action should have been the following: 1. Encourage the victim to report to law enforcement agencies. 2. The board of directors of the school should have instituted an inquiry to look into the matter. 3. The accused should have been suspended until the completion of the inquiry. 4. All those who knew about the incident in the school and did not report it to the board of directors should have been suspended too for not reporting it. 5. Students should have been informed about this incident. 6. An orientation session for the students and the staff should have been organized to ensure that they knew their rights if their dignity was violated by any staff. 7. The accused should have been restricted in his dealings with the student and staff of the school. But what was done was different. 1. Instead, a private arbitration committee was formed to mediate between the victim and the alleged perpetrator.

2. The recommendation was given to cover up the matter if the accused did not resume his religious activities such as giving sermons or speaking in public. 3. The family and friends encouraged the accused to return to India. 4. Stories were circulated by those close to the accused that the girl had apologized and the religious leader was gracious to forgive

They tried to avoid the issue and advised people not to leak it to the media. But months later when the two leading newspapers of the country, the New York Times and the Washington Post published articles giving details of the accusation, the reaction of some of the elders as well as community members appeared even more irresponsible her.

5. The arbitrary committee arranged a meeting between the accused and the family of the victim and elicited a confession. 6. The accused promised not to give the Friday sermon or talks anywhere for two years. 7. The accused later denied the charges and retracted his statement. 8. The accused called a meeting of his advisory council and ap-

pointed his sons and grandson as in-charge of various position in schools. 9. The accused paid thousands of dollars to attorneys to defend the accused. Obviously, every norm of justice, both secular and Islamic, was violated by those who swear by Islam. They refused to empathize with the victim. Some of them believed her but tried to persuade her not to report the case to the police. They tried to act as a court and judge and arbitrator. They argued that their community would be defamed and their religious institutions would come under close scrutiny and Islam would become a target of Islamophones once again. They did not bother to give any respect to the victim or her family or their feelings. They did not bother to refer to the norms of justice as taught by their holy book and lived by their Prophet. They forgot the teachings of the Prophet who is reported to have told one of his companions that “even if her daughter was involved in an act of theft, he would have punished her.” They did not realize that ultimately it is to God Almighty they have to respond for their deeds. Who knows how many women, men and children have gone through or have been going through the pains of being molested by someone religious they trusted? In Southern California, the community leadership advised a religious leader accused of molest-

ing a girl to leave the country. This leader was involved in a similar case earlier and the leadership forced the girl to withdraw the case. He is still giving religious sermons and claiming his innocence. They say that a person should not be held guilty unless proven otherwise. Well, the community leadership did not give the victim an opportunity to state her case in a court of law. They shut her up under the false assumptions that the image of Islam would be badly impacted by that. In another state, an Imam was sent back to the country of his origin once a man filed charges against him for sexual molestation. In another incident, a widow refused to file charges against an Imam who had allegedly raped her in a mosque where she had gone to seek religious advise to raise her two daughters. The woman did not want anyone else in the community to know about it out of shame when she wanted some advice on how to deal with this trauma.. These and many similar cases are out there and yet the community leadership has been persistently refusing to take appropriate action. Rather, it is defending its action by encouraging the people not to report it to the police. In general, there are no religiously defined policies for these situations that our community has established from its own resources. It is generally assumed that holy men are incapable of doing these acts of sexual molestation as they are men of God. Our community does not want to face the reality that Muslims too commit acts of MISCONDUCT, P26

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OPINION

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9

What Is Feeding the Cricket Paranoia in Pakistan? n By Karamatullah K. Ghori Toronto, Canada

o denying that the Pakistani squad’s performance at the 2015 World Cup, so far, has been deeply disappointing, to say the very least. It has lost both its matches— against India and the West Indies— with huge margins and little face-saving.

But are two successive defeats too much for Pakistanis the world over to fly into tantrums befitting spoiled brats and bordering on paranoia? Cricket—until not too long ago—was known for being the gentlemen’s sport. And it, in fact, had all that cool poise and reserve, dignity and decorum associated with the well-bred English upper crust. Everything about Cricket oozed serenity: its au rigueur whites, its leisurely pace, its drink-breaks, its afternoon-tea, its pavilions where the puffed-ups treated themselves to leisurely luncheons and high-teas. It was much more than a mere sport: it was an excuse for picnics at which every class of society could enjoy themselves to their own tastes. Cricket, of late, has been robbed of its gentlemanly past by the incursion of two egregious elements into its sanctum: money and media. Cricket didn’t have money, and cricketers—even the legendary ones—lived mostly on their fame but not on pelf. One never heard of a legendary cricketer with earnings, per annum, into six figures, much less seven—which is now the norm and taken for granted for anyone in the big league. I remember when I was joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan—back in 1966—a well-wisher of mine bemoaned my selection of one ‘superior’ service of Pakistan that was known for being ‘barren.’ Why was it barren, I asked him completely bowled by his repartee. He said there was as little money in the Foreign Service as there was in Cricket; both, he quipped, were barren of ‘fringe benefits’ and windfalls, common to other ‘superior’ services of Pakistan. One-Day Cricket (ODIs) brought money into the game; the bunyas of India, with their unrivalled gift of making money virtually out of nothing came right in tow behind, and that was the end of the gentlemen’s game. The game of cricket hasn’t recovered from that shock; its tremors can be seen and felt in every game of cricket these days. The virtual Indian monopoly over betting has myriad manifestations. One is the obvious panoply of Indian Premiere League (IPL) which has turned the gentlemen’s sport on its head and transformed it into a circus. The way players from around the world are auctioned and bought at open auctions, every year, before the start of a new IPL season is reminiscent, to history buffs, of Rome at its zenith when gladiators were groomed to display their talent at the Coliseum of Rome in front of howling spectators. The spectators at IPL games—howling and shriek-

ing at every boundary and sixer— come close to re-enacting the spectacle of the Coliseum. Money has opened the flood gates to corruption and all those unethical practices that were unheard of as long as it was a gentlemen’s sport. Bookies and touts working for those who are prepared to invest millions into betting—in preparation to reap tens of millions in windfall benefits—regularly induce and trap unsuspecting cricketers into their net. They have ruined the careers of so many promising cricketers through their machinations. The example of three Pakistani cricketers trapped in UK, five years ago, best illustrates the lethal effect of the betters’ shenanigans at the cost of cricketer X, Y, or Z’ career. The news media—on the prowl for money-making more than scoops making sensational headlines—couldn’t keep its fingers from poking into the new and radically transformed formats of classical cricket. The media barons, egged on by their corporate bosses, could sniff big bucks in latching on to the lure of ‘new cricket.’ Media is almost universally owned by multi-faceted global corporations. Their culture is anchored in money-making. Because of the corrosive influence of money-making, journalistic ethics of yore have been corrupted beyond recognition; it’s now nothing more than a wishful slogan for any newspaper or television channel to claim that it stands for journalistic probity and transparency. It stands, more than anything else, for ensuring that the bottom line of the corporate ledger of annual profit reflects healthy numbers—many zeros—to massage the egos of corporate bosses and money-lust of the share-holders. So, that, more or less, reflects the current—though distasteful and unsavory--reality of the once sport of gentlemen. It’s, in its mutated visage, a spectator sport geared to making money—and thick wads of it—for gamblers, bookies and media barons. The ethics and refinement of culture for which cricket was known and admired have gone out of the window. It was rare, very rare, in the halcyon days of cricket for a bowler to behave like a circus clown

when he took a wicket. There was no high-five or kangaroo-like jumping, or throwing fists in the air, or show the big finger to the batsman going out. Now it’s not only a common sight but is regarded as a ‘must’ to keep the spectators enjoying the spectacle. Cricket teams, in most cricket-

The Pakistani team still has the potential to bounce back and claw its way back to the winning ways, as it did so illustriously in 1992, at the same venues. It’s the people of Pakistan who, regrettably, lack the potential to live up to the requirements of the day. They need a heavier make-over playing countries of the world, are now seen as investments. India is the most telling example of the new culture of the game. The cricket board of that country is headed by a man like Srinivasan, who has been declared a crook and a gambler by the highest court of India. However, the taint on his character hasn’t handicapped him, one bit; he goes on as before. Where does it all leave Pakistani cricket and what’s its effect on Pakistan? Whereas most cricket-playing countries seem to have realized that cricket is as much a commercial undertaking, like investing in oilprospecting or search for lucrative minerals, and adapted themselves to suit the new requirements, Pakistan remains hopelessly wedded to its past. In Pakistan cricket-management is still one more lever of power in the hands of the PM. The PCB, cricket’s mother-goose, is just

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another department under the PM’s belt; its stewardship is awarded to one PM deems worthy of his favour and patronage. I’ve the highest personal regard for the incumbent PCB head-honcho, Mian Shehryar. He’s a former senior service colleague of mine and not just I but any other Foreign Service officer who served under him would vouch for his integrity and sterling character. He’s the antithesis of Najam Sethi. Mian would be a stellar PCB chief had the game of cricket still retained its old poise and patina. But he, sadly, is a misfit in the new culture of cricket. However, Pakistan’s great misfortune is that at the other end of the spectrum in Pakistan’s culture of cricket, one comes across a wheelerdealer like Sethi—who could easily be a mirror-image of a crook like Srinivasan. But wheeler-dealers end up lining only their own nest and end up ruining the face of cricket in the country. That’s the damage wrought on Pakistani cricket by the likes of Sethi and inept and ill-prepared serving or retired generals of the army who thought their swagger would make up for their inefficiency and inadequacy for the job. So if the team performs poorly—as it has thus far in the ongoing World Cup in Australia and New Zeeland—it’s a reflection of the ongoing malaise of poor or inane supervision that’s completely out of sync with the new demands of cricket management. But why should the people of Pakistan be so enraged so early in the game? It’s only two games lost, while there are many more to go. So what explains this frenzy, this chestbeating and shedding of tears, as if Pakistan has already been kicked out of the tournament? Basically, it’s a sad reflection of the nation’s psychological imbalance. It’s yet another manifestation of level-headedness and emotional stability long been missing from the collective psyche of the nation. Pakistanis in their rage—which is a national outrage, to be honest— often remind me of those Roman spectators at the Coliseum who wanted their gladiators to come on top, every time, and slay the beast without mercy. It’s a sign of collective immatu-

rity. But more than that, it’s a symptom of that gargantuan frustration that has long been the bane of the country and its people. There’s hardly anything else in the dismal panorama of Pakistan for its people to cheer on, save the occasional glory their cricket heroes bring to them. So when they fail to oblige and fail to win laurels for the country they must be condemned and ridiculed savagely. The people of Pakistan have lost that poise, the societal balance and equilibrium that tutor a people, a nation, to see not just black or white but also shades of grey. The country’s political leadership has failed the nation so regularly—and shamelessly, too—that the people have lost all faith in any healing touch coming from it. That, once again, burdens the poor cricketers with all the expectations to be the winners every time. Given the nature of the game of cricket, it’s amateurish, if not stupid, to expect your side to come out on top every time they take to the field. But that’s how vacuous the people of Pakistan are. The news media of Pakistan shares a large portion of blame for feeding to the people an unhealthy diet of expectations in regard to the team. Every game of cricket turns into a forum of speculation and debate for TV anchors who may never have held a cricket bat in their hands. The so-called experts invited to ad lib to whatever the anchor may spew out literally pour oil on a burning fire every time the team loses a game. This is sheer madness, if not outright dishonesty, with the team and the audience. Even in its heavily-watereddown version of the once gentlemanly game, cricket still demands some input of decency and decorum. And that applies equally to players, managers and spectators or audiences. The Pakistani team still has the potential to bounce back and claw its way back to the winning ways, as it did so illustriously in 1992, at the same venues. It’s the people of Pakistan who, regrettably, lack the potential to live up to the requirements of the day. They need a heavier make-over. (The author is a former ambassador and career diplomat) K_K_ghori@hotmail.com ILLEGAL FROM P10

EU – and the US – had much to learn from Sicily. In a practical sense, Europe is already facing a huge problem in the waves of immigrants arriving ceaselessly. It is going to get worse considering that the turmoil in Asia and Africa, which is the underlying cause of the migrations, continues unabated. A practical, humane and long-term policy must therefore be urgently introduced. Letting people die in the Mediterranean or locking them in airless containers is no answer. Islam and immigrants are at the center of the point where the ideas of the Pope, the PEGIDA movement, the Mayor of Palermo, the murderers in Paris and notions of a civilized, compassionate Europe concerned about human rights intersect. Young Ahmedu has arrived in a world more complex and changing than he can ever imagine.

OPINION

P10 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015

Illegal — The Story of a Young African Immigrant in Europe n By Dr Akbar Ahmed

American University Washington DC

oung Ahmedu landed in Sicily in the last wintery days of 2014. He was following a long and illustrious list of names of visitors to this island which included Ulysses who on his way back from Troy battled the Cyclops by the port of Catania, philosophers like Goethe, musicians like Wagner, novelists like Maupassant, an American President, a German emperor and the King of Siam.

And it was here, at the young age of 16, that Ahmedu Jalo from Gambia arrived in the port of Catania after traveling for one year and two months. In Sicily, at one stroke, officials had stripped him of his identity and dignity by putting him in the category of “illegal”. Being in that category, he was in limbo. He existed outside all the legally and socially recognized structures of Europe. Zealous officials would now do everything possible to isolate him from their societies while actively planning to send him back to Africa. Soon after arriving in Europe, his home became the pavements of Catania. It was cold, and he had no warm clothes. He foraged for food in rubbish heaps and drank as much water as he could to stave off his hunger. He may have frozen to death if a kindly Sicilian had not informed him about the central mosque that could provide shelter. That is where we met Ahmedu a few days later. The Imam of the central mosque, a cheerful and welcoming Arab, was taking us around the building. Ahmedu, like many other desperate immigrants before him, was helping to clean the mosque as a token of gratitude. Something about him had struck me. He had an air about him, the way he carried himself. His long journey from home had not demolished his poise and confidence. Despite his hardships and wearing borrowed threadbare clothes, Ahmedu was standing with a broom in his hand as if he were a warrior with a spear. I went up and talked to him. He seemed distant and defensive. When I asked him his name, he gave it mechanically, as if answering an official. I then said with a smile that my name is also Ahmed. We were connected, I said. There was a faint smile on his face. Beneath his poise, I sensed that here was an extraordinary man with an extraordinary story to tell. I was determined to interview him but he left shortly afterwards and when we arrived the next day, it was not certain if he would be there at all. Just as we were about to leave he turned up. He was reluctant to talk. Illegals know that talking to strangers can land them in trouble. We were persistent. We began our long interview with a tense Ahmedu holding the stage. The Imam sat through the interview leaving for short periods to answer calls and discreetly looking at his watch not quite sure why so much fuss was being made about this young man. Ahmedu said he was the eldest son, the pride of his parents, and had four siblings. When his mother and father separated his life changed. He was determined to make his fortune in order to re-unite his parents and help his siblings. He said, “I want something to make my family happy”. His father bade him well, and he set out on a hellish journey without documents or money that took him through the vast expanse of Africa through Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Libya. Ahmedu recounted the horrors he encountered on the way, of the times he was jailed by corrupt policemen, of the pain he felt in his body due to the hunger in his stomach. There were many times when all he could feed himself with was water. When he could, he found employment as a helper to a barber, hawking water, or serving

Ahmedu (center) being interviewed by Drs Akbar Ahmed and Amineh Hoti (right) in Catania Sicily

food which gave him enough money to get to the next destination. Sometimes he could save something to send to his father always with a request to include his mother. He would also try to ring when he could so that he would have news of his family. He also talked of a Libyan driver who was good to him once he reached Libya. He struggled merely to survive, never quite sure when he would be able to continue his journey towards his ultimate destination of Europe. He repeated two words as he talked, “not easy”, “not easy”. He recounts the climax to this nightmare journey when he was crammed with about 100 people into a small open boat on the shores of North Africa, nearly drowning in the process. The passengers were heading for Europe with no money and no papers. What they had was nothing more than the dreams that travelers carry with them. Water was scarce and the food tasted of petrol. Ahmedu felt sick. Very soon the boat developed leaks. The passengers were asked to use their plastic water bottles to bail out the water before the boat sank. Cold, hungry, confused and uncertain Ahmedu was rescued by the Italian coastal authorities and found himself in Sicily.

man spirit. It was almost as if someone far away began to come into focus, someone almost faded began to take on sharp features. As he went deeper and deeper into his story and as my team began to show visible signs of emotion at what they were hearing a slow transformation began to take place in Ahmedu. His voice became slightly stronger, his posture straighter and he began to show signs of a smile. We listened to Ahmedu’s tale as if in a trance. His courage and faith in the face of what looked like impossible odds and commitment to his family could not but fail to move us. Amineh with her compassionate mother’s heart had been reduced to tears by this time as she thought of her own son Ibrahim who was about Ahmedu’s age. Even the confirmed bachelors Frankie and Harrison had a look on their faces that showed how profoundly moved they were and Frankie’s eyes were glistening. At the conclusion of the interview, I embraced Ahmedu like a son and he thanked us, repeating I will never forget you. Amineh quietly gave him something and he repeated, I will never forget you. I asked him not to forget to be cheerful. A surge of confi-

I was so happy to see Frankie and Harrison now happily posing with him as if they were fraternity brothers on a Western university campus. At that moment our differences ceased to separate us. Americans and Africans, Christians and Muslims, legals and illegals, we all belonged to a common humanity They were herded into a school hall. They were given clothes and after a few days allowed to leave. But if Ahmedu thought his problems in Europe were over he was mistaken. They were just beginning. He was just at the foot of Mount Everest and had a long, hard and uncertain climb ahead. He was forced to sleep on the streets of Catania. On one occasion, an Italian policeman headbutted him for no apparent reason. Perhaps he wished to express his dislike for immigrants, perhaps for dark-skinned people, or Muslims. Shocked, Ahmedu collapsed in a heap of tears. When recounting the incident his eyes filled up with tears. The indignity and humiliation were too much to bear. He could do “nothing,” he said: “I can just sit and cry. I just sit and cry.” Without an official document or a single dollar in his pocket, Ahmedu’s only concern was that he had not spoken to his family and did not have the means to do so. It was playing on his mind and kept coming up in our conversation. When we gave him the means to ring home, he was visibly moved. He became like a child who could now re-connect with his parents; all would be well. When I asked him what kept him going he mentioned his faith but most of all the thought of doing something that would help his family and bring his parents back together again. The thawing – or re-humanizing – of Ahmedu as we got to know each other was a wondrous testament to the power of the hu-

dence came to Ahmedu and flashing a broad smile he reached out to Frankie and pulled him towards himself in an embrace. I was so happy to see Frankie and Harrison now happily posing with him as if they were fraternity brothers on a Western university campus. At that moment our differences ceased to separate us. Americans and Africans, Christians and Muslims, legals and illegals, we all belonged to a common humanity. Ahmedu’s story raised some fundamental human issues that concern all of us, including the very idea of survival. If you were a spirited healthy young African male, deeply conscious of your position as the eldest son of a family that was struggling with poverty, lived in a country where almost half the population existed under the internationally recognized poverty line and were ruled by a president known for his cruelty, tyranny and obsession with witchcraft, you would probably be thinking like Ahmedu. You would leave to seek your fortune elsewhere with the idea of returning to help your family. If you were desperate enough nothing would stop you, not even the thought of crossing the Sahara or the dangerous Mediterranean Sea without money or official documents. Yet to too many in the West a young man like Ahmedu represents an Islamic threat in which fanatic Muslims are hell-bent on re-conquering parts of Europe to impose their Islamic caliphate. As for the argument that immigrants simply mean more recruits for terrorists, not once

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in the two sets of interviews that we had did Ahmedu mention words like sharia or jihad. The reality is that right-wing movements are growing exponentially across Europe, and they derive their life-blood from the fear of immigrants and Islam. PEGIDA, the antiIslam movement, which began in Germany is able to gather vast numbers of demonstrators and is set to create similar movements throughout Europe including the UK. In this environment of fear and distrust around Muslims, there have been an alarming number of violent attacks both by and against Muslims reaching a shocking climax with the recent murders in Paris. But without knowing it, Ahmedu had friends in high places. Pope Francis traveled to Lampedusa in July 2013 to highlight the plight of the immigrants. This was the pontiff ’s first visit outside Rome and therefore highly symbolic. He held mass in the island’s sports stadium that was a reception center for many of the immigrants arriving there. In the mass he said: “Immigrants dying at sea, in boats which were vehicles of hope and became vehicles of death. Since I first heard of this tragedy a few weeks ago, and realized that it happens too frequently, it has constantly come back to me like a painful thorn in my heart. So, I felt that I had to come here today, to pray and to offer a sign of my closeness, but also to challenge our consciences lest this tragedy be repeated. Please, let it not be repeated!” The Pope also threw a wreath of flowers into the sea as a sign of remembrance for those who died immigrating to Europe and he met a number of Muslim migrants about to begin Ramadan. Another friend of the immigrants was the eloquent Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando. Fully aware of the economic crisis that faced his own society, Leoluca’s heart was still large enough to embrace the world. Leoluca rejected the very notion of calling an immigrant illegal and needing residency permits, saying: “I will never accept to imagine that a human being can be illegal.” The Mayor asked: “Why everybody tries to land in Sicily?” “Because”, he said, answering his own question with a flash of Sicilian pride, “for Sicilians, no man is illegal.” He talked with pride of the time a thousand years ago when Christians, Muslims and Jews could live in harmony in the spirit of La Convivencia, or co-existence. He made it a point of having street signs in Italian, Hebrew and Arabic in the old Jewish and Arabic quarter. To drive home his point the Mayor emphasized that he was merely reflecting the sentiments of his people. He had been reelected four times with over seventy percent of the electorate voting for him because they agreed with me “saying what I say.” This was the Sicilian response. Here was the paradox of Europe: the rich, comfortable and affluent nations of the north had ceased to look on immigrants as fellow human beings. Immigrants were being forced into categories that denied them a legal status and effectively the right to even exist in their countries. Here, in contrast was Sicily, commonly seen in the US and Europe as the caricature of a perennially backward, sleepy and rustic society dominated and infiltrated by gangsters. It was the land of Puzo’s The Godfather, the place where Michael Corleone was sent to lie low after he committed murder in the US; indeed there is a town carrying the Corleone name. Yet it was this very same “backward” Sicily that still retained the spirit of compassion and humanity for their fellow beings. In spite of high unemployment and economic stagnation, it still accommodated the waves of immigrants. If it could not do very much to alleviate their suffering, it would not add to their burdens by deporting them or locking them away. Even the officials hinted they were not entirely in agreement with the strict policies of the EU. The remote and powerful authorities that ran immigration policy in the ILLEGAL, P9

PAKISTAN

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11

Breaking the Deadlock: Pakistan to Offer India New CBMs

Prime ministers of India and Pakistan meet in Delhi (File photo)

Islamabad / Lahore: After months of belligerent rhetoric and saberrattling, the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was planning to send its top diplomat on foreign policy to Pakistan on March 3. And Islamabad is expected to propose a series of new confidence-building measures (CBMs) in an effort to put the rollercoaster relationship back on track. The new CBMs include a proposal to restore the 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two archrivals along their de facto and de jure borders where sporadic outbreak of hostilities has bedeviled relations in recent months. India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on March 3 for a two-day visit as this report was filed. A senior official said Pakistan was ready to restore the sanctity of the 2003 ceasefire agreement as it could not afford tensions along its eastern border and the Line of Control (LoC) at a time when its troops were fighting terrorism in the tribal areas. Last Thursday, army chief General Raheel Sharif accused India of distracting Pakistan from its battle against terrorists by resorting to ‘un-

“It is premature to predict the outcome of foreign secretary level talks ...” , says Aziz

provoked’ firing along the LoC and working boundary. The official told The Express Tribune that Pakistan would offer an end to months-long hostilities along the LoC and working boundary. “The proposal is part of CBMs Pakistan intends to put forward during the foreign secretary-level talks in Islamabad,” said the official who spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Other proposals include an understanding to avoid public statements against each other at the official level. “It really vitiates atmosphere when strong statements are issued at the official level,” the official said. The two neighbors have been trading not just fire but also belligerent statements against each other. According to the official, an agreement on not issuing statements against each other would ensure diplomacy between the two countries was not conducted through the media. Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz hoped that the Indian foreign secretary’s visit would lower tensions between the two hostile neighbors. Talking to re-

porters at the Shahid Barki Institute of Public Policy on Sunday, Aziz said it was a good sign that Pakistan and India have resumed dialogue and hoped it would help improve the situation. Aziz pointed out that it was India that had suspended dialogue with Pakistan in August last year. “And the process was revived after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and invited him to resume talks from where they were suspended,” he added. Aziz said all issues, including Kashmir dispute, would be discussed with India in the foreign secretarylevel talks. “These negotiations will help to lower hostilities along the working boundary,” he added. “The prime ministers of India and Pakistan can also meet at some point after the resumption of talks.” Referring to India’s defense budget which was jacked up by 8%, Aziz said Pakistan did not want to enter an arms race in the region. “However, it is important to keep balance in conventional weaponry. The Pakistan government has fulfilled defense needs despite difficulties and will keep doing so in the future,” he added.

Mufti Sayeed Praises Pakistan on First Day as Indian Kashmir CM New Delhi: On his first day as Chief Minister of Indianadministered Kashmir Mufti Muhammed Sayeed praised Pakistan, Hurriyat leaders, and other outfits for the conduct of peaceful assembly elections, The Economic Times reported. “I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister (also) that we must credit Hurriyat, Pakistan, militant outfits for the conduct of assembly elections,” Sayeed said at his maiden news conference as chief minister. “People from across the border made the atmosphere conducive,” he said. “They also allowed the democratic process to continue in the state. This gives us hope.” Sayeed said any subversive activity could have affected electoral participation, especially in Srinagar. “I am proud that Srinagar, the heart of Kashmir, also came forward and voted,” he said. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah reacted to Sayeed’s comment. He tweeted: “Dear @BJP4India Please explain roll of security forces & polling staff considering your CM just said “Pakistan allowed elections in J&K”. Meanwhile, the Indian government dissociated itself with Sayeed’s statement, NDTV reported. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said his government and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distances itself from Sayeed’s remarks in Lok Sabha, where opposition parties

Kashmir Issue also on Agenda for Talks with India: Sartaj

Lahore: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz says normalization of Indo-Pakistan relations is urgently needed to reduce tension on the Line of Control (LoC). “It is premature to predict the outcome of foreign secretary level talks between Pakistan and India scheduled for next week but chances of a decision to resume a composite dialogue are likely either in the upcoming or the follow-up meetings,” Mr Aziz told newsmen at the launching ceremony of economist Shahid Javed Burki’s Institute of Public Policy (IPP) at NetSol Technologies Ltd on Sunday. Mr Aziz said all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, had been part of the agenda for talks with India. About the recent eight per cent increase in India’s defense allocation, the PM’s adviser said Pakistan had never been involved in an arms race. However, Pakistan would never compromise on the availability of conventional weapons for its armed forces. Answering a question that foreign policy was being controlled by the army chief, the PM’s adviser said: “Harmony between political and military leadership is essential for national security which is an integral part of country’s foreign policy. It is not possible to implement the priorities on security issues without coordination with the armed forces.” Mr Aziz said the time of blame game between Afghanistan and Pakistan was over. Cooperation between Kabul

and Islamabad in intelligence sharing and defense sector had improved as confidence building environment had been restored with Afghanistan, he said. “Pakistan will never allow its soil to be used against Afghanistan,” he said while adding at present no mechanism to jointly conduct operation against terrorism existed between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, both countries have agreed to take steps against terrorists in their respective jurisdiction. Now there is no difference between good and bad Taliban, he said. Earlier, in his keynote speech at the launching ceremony, Mr Aziz elaborated on the background of the institute and pointed out that seven reports on the state of economy have been published till date. He appreciated Beaconhouse National University (BNU) for providing logistics for the institute and expressed his deep gratitude to the Shahid Javed Burki and Jehan Ara Burki Foundation for providing endowment fund. He said the institute would set up series of centre of excellence and the first one would be the setting up of Dr Afaaf Centre for Science, who was a close companion of Nobel Laureate Dr Abdus Salam. He appreciated the idea of placing the institute at the NetSol Technologies, saying that science and technology would play a major role in future. Former federal minister Dr Zubair Khan, BNU head Mrs Nasreen Mehmood Kasuri and NetSol Technologies Ltd chairman Salim Ghauri also spoke.

Islamabad Police Foil Terror Attack Planned for Pakistan Day Islamabad: Police in the federal capi-

shouted demands for an explanation from the government. “The credit for conducive environment for polls in Jammu and Kashmir goes to the Election Commission, our armed forces and people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said. The home minister said he was making the statement after discussing it with the Prime Minister. The Congress questioned why Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not raise objections to Mufti’s comment and walk out of the Lok Sabha.

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tal on Sunday foiled a terrorist attack that aimed to strike the Pakistan Day parade on 23 March, DawnNews reported. Police sources said that two suspected terrorists were arrested during recent raids and confessed to planning an attack. They said the men were arrested from Ghouri Town in connection with the attack on the Qasar-e-Sakina Imambargah which occurred on February 19. Sources said the arrested men confessed to planning an attack dur-

ing their interrogation. A large cache of weapons was also seized from their possession. Earlier in February, it was announced that a joint military parade of Pakistan’s armed forces would take place on Pakistan Day after a gap of seven years. The decision to resume the military parade appeared to be a manifestation of the military’s show of strength in the wake of the shocking attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar last year, which left 150 people dead, including 132 schoolchildren.

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PTI Facing Internal Pressure to Return to Parliament

Islamabad: In the wake of the ap-

parent thaw between the ruling PML-N and PTI following their convergence on the issue of horsetrading in the Senate elections, PTI Chairman Imran Khan appears to be at a crossroads, wondering whether to carry on with his antigovernment stance or fall in line with the rest of his party, who want to go back to the National Assembly. Until last week, the PTI chief twice — once during an address to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa investors’ conference in the UAE and later in an interview with a private TV channel — had predicted that the next general elections would be held in 2015. This stance was based on his oft-repeated assertion that the current government came to power in rigged elections, and therefore had to go. However, other party leaders in their interaction with the government have reportedly expressed a readiness to return to the National Assembly if the government brings about the 22nd amendment to hold Senate elections through open balloting. There are also indications the government might constitute a judicial inquiry commission to look into allegations of rigging in the May 2013 general elections, paving the way for PTI’s return to the National Assembly. At the height of PTI’s protest movement in August last year, the party resigned en masse from the National Assembly. In background discussions, more than one PTI source told Dawn that a majority of the party leadership, notably those who are members of the National Assembly, could be heard feverishly arguing for a return to the lower house of parliament. “Last month, PTI missed a golden opportunity when it supported the 21st Amendment, setting up of military courts but didn’t go to the National Assembly to vote for the new act,” an incumbent PTI lawmaker told Dawn. Now, if the government decides to bring the 22nd amendment, which was originally proposed by

the PTI, “we should have no qualms in going and voting for the change”. After a meeting of parliamentary party heads last Friday, PTI legislator Dr Arif Alvi, in his personal capacity, supported the idea of going back to the house to vote on the amendment. “Now that we have decided to become part of the parliament – evident from the party’s decision to contest the Senate elections from KP, what’s wrong with sitting in the National Assembly since both the houses comprise parliament,” another PTI MNA told Dawn, refusing to speak on the record. Simultaneously, however, party leaders not part of the parliament oppose a return to the National Assembly until such time that the government constitutes a powerful judicial commission to investigate the last general elections. “Now, it’s up to the PTI chairman to decide if the party is going to return to the same house he has been railing against since August last year,” a PTI office-bearer told Dawn. Political analysts feel that after failing to squeeze a judicial commission of their liking out of the government and apparently receiving results from the election tribunals contrary to the party’s expectations, many in the PTI have realized that they should head back to the national and provincial assemblies at the center and in Punjab and Sindh. If the PTI and PPP join hands

for the Senate elections in KP, which does seem to be a possibility, there is every likelihood the party lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly will vote for a PPP candidate, a PTI MPA told Dawn. The party has also softened its stance on the judicial commission over time. Withdrawing from its earlier terms of reference, the party now suggests that Article 218(III) of the Constitution be the framework of the commission. The article reads: “It shall be the duty of the Election Commission to organize and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against.” “Last Friday, in a meeting with Ishaq Dar, it seemed that the government was willing to constitute the judicial commission according to our new suggestion, following which the PTI will have no objection to returning to the National Assembly,” Dr Arif Alvi told Dawn. Show cause notice: Separately, the PTI served a show-cause notice on Sunday on MPA Javed Nasim from PK-3 for sponsoring a nonPTI candidate for the Senate from KP. An official statement released by the PTI central secretariat, said that under Section 7 of the Political Parties Order 2002 and the PTI Constitution, Mr Nasim has been given 24 hours to respond, failing which he will stand expelled from the party.

Senate Passes Bills against Rape, Honor Killing Islamabad: The Upper House on

Monday passed four bills including anti-honor killings and anti-rape laws. The Senate passed Anti-Rape Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014, and Anti-Honor Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2014, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Senator Syeda Sughra Imam. Senator Sughra Imam said that honor killings are common throughout the country, claiming the lives of hundreds of victims every year. She quoted the Aurat Foundation’s statistics, saying that 432 women were reportedly killed in the name of honor in Pakistan in 2012, 705 in 2011, 557 in 2010, 604 in 2009 and 475 women were killed in 2008. Imam said the above figures do not include unreported cases or, indeed, the number of men who are often killed alongside women in the name of honor.

“In order to deter and prevent honor killings in Pakistan it is necessary to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to address the loopholes and lacunae in the existing laws,” the PPP Senator said. Imam had tabled the bill in Senate on February 24, 2014. “In Pakistan, rape cases are reported and registered, however, the conviction rates of the accused are abysmally low. According to the figures revealed in Senate, in the last five years for instance, of the 103 reported rape cases registered in the Islamabad Capital Territory none of the culprits or accused have been convicted or brought to justice,” the PPP Senator said. Imam said the purpose of the bill is to address lacunas in the existing laws in order to improve conviction rates, and bring the culprits within the ambit of law. “The objective of the bill is to

amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 and the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 to provide justice to the victims’ of this heinous crime by convicting the criminals responsible for this offence,” she added. The Senate also passed ‘the Torture, Custodial Death and Custodial Rape (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2014’ moved by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar. According to the statement of the bill, the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1975. He said that Pakistan signed the convention in 2008 and thereafter ratified the convention in 2010 while ratification of the convention requires enabling legislation to reflect the definition and punishment for “torture”.

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Imran Accuses PPP of Horsetrading in Collusion with JUI-F Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of being “deeply involved” in horse-trading along with the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F). The statement came after Imran’s conversation with PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari to end horse-trading in Senate polls. According to a PTI press release, Imran stated he had spoken with Zardari on a one-point agenda: to bring an end to horse-trading in the Senate elections. Imran also claimed that his efforts to persuade Zardari to oppose horse-trading have failed. He further claimed that PPP remains opposed to open balloting because it is deeply involved in horse trading along with JUI-F. Given the bitter rivalry between the PPP and the PTI in recent months, political observers had been viewing the telephonic conversation between Mr Zardari and Imran as a “significant political development”. However, Imran’s fresh statement indicates that talks between the leaders hit a dead-end. Imran added that PTI would in no way support either PPP or PMLN in “undemocratic, corrupt designs” for the Senate. Instead, he himself would lead PTI’s efforts to ensure a clean Senate election in KP and expose the horse-trading currently taking place. He further maintained that his party will never make a ‘deal’ with any political party with regards to Senate polls, adding that PTI will now fight the Senate elections with a renewed commitment to expose and

defeat those trying to buy their way into the Senate. An earlier statement issued by PTI Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari regarding Mr Khan’s conversation with the PPP co-chairperson had created confusion in political circles. “Asif Zardari called Imran Khan after agreement between (KP Chief Minister) Pervez Khattak and PPP on cooperation in Senate. Pervez Khattak will issue a detailed statement tomorrow (Monday),” a text message quoting Dr Mazari was circulated by the PTI press office on Sunday night. Later however, Dr Mazari clarified that there had been no “understanding” or seat adjustment with the PPP and the “agreement” mentioned was on the 22nd amendment. She said all these developments had taken place after a PPP delegation, headed by former interior minister Rehman Malik, had called on the KP chief minister. She claimed that Imran had actually asked Mr Zardari to support the proposed amendment allowing open balloting in the Senate polls. She said Mr Khan had told the PPP leader that such an amendment would strengthen democracy and democratic norms in the country. On the other hand, Mr Zardari’s spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar claimed that Mr Zardari was returning the PTI chief ’s call, which he had been unable to receive. “It really doesn’t matter who made the call. This shows that all parties are equally concerned over the practice of the use of money in the Senate elections and want to discourage such practices,” he said. The PPP was not ready to support the idea of open ballots for the Senate, he added.

Lakhvi Living Comfortable ‘Detention’ Life in Jail: BBC Report London: According to a report published by BBC Urdu on Sunday, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi – the prime suspect and alleged mastermind in the Mumbai attacks of 2008 – is living a life of comfort while being held in detention at Adiala Jail. After a long drawn legal battle post-Mumbai attacks, Lakhvi had been granted bail by an Anti-terrorism court that was trying him, a day after the horrific Peshawar Army Public School massacre. The ill-timed decision was met with outrage from the international community, especially India. He was then detained by the government under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. Fast forward to today however, and, according to the BBC report, his detention remains highly unorthodox and suspect. “He [Lakhvi] can receive any number of guests, any time of the day or night, seven days a week,” a jail official told BBC. It was further alleged in the report that inside his jail cell, Lakhvi enjoys the use of a television, mobile phone and internet access. Moreover, none of his visitors have to identify themselves to jail officials. Zakir-ur-Rehman Lakhvi,

now 55, hails from the Okara district of Punjab - the same place as Ajmal Kasab, one of the gunmen in the Mumbai attacks. It is reported he joined the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith (JAH) in 1990, eventually graduating to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an armed militant outfit alleged to be active in Indian administered Kashmir. At the time of the Mumbai attacks, Lakhvi was believed to be the operational head of (bythen) banned LeT that had been accused by India of planning and executing the atrocity.

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Sovereign Ratings: Pak-China Economic Corridor a ‘Credit Positive’, Says Moody’s the economy. Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio is 14.6%, far lower than the median of 22.9% for countries with a B-rating, said Moody’s. Another reason Moody’s believes this project will be positive for Pakistan is their belief that Islamabad will be able to get Beijing to finance several energy projects throughout the country that would reduce the cost of power generation, ultimately lowering the need for electricity subsidies – a key burden on the federal budget – and improving economic growth, which would in turn increase tax revenues for the government. Those two effects combined could substantially reduce the budget deficit. The rating agency acknowledged that much of the project’s The influx of investment into Pakistan is what prompted Moody’s to view the econom- key benefits would not materialize until 2017, but stated that it beic corridor as a positive from a credit perspective lieves at least some of the benefits Karachi: Even though the project Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balo- from the economic corridor would had not yet got off the ground, the chistan to match the one originally likely begin accruing even before China-Pakistan Economic Cor- built by the British (and expanded then. While China is Pakistan’s largridor, Moody’s Investor Services by successive Pakistani govern– one of the three largest credit ments) in Punjab and Sindh. est trading partner, foreign investrating agencies in the world – has Moody’s has the lowest rat- ment from China has historically described the project as a ‘credit ing for Pakistan, at Caa1, just two been relatively low. Over the past positive’ for the country, implying grades above default. The rating decade, more than a quarter of the that the economic growth gener- implies that Pakistan is dependent $30 billion in foreign investment ated will eventually help the gov- on favorable economic conditions into Pakistan has come from the to be able to pay its obligations. United States, with China’s investernment’s finances. “The government’s support Standard & Poor’s – a rival credit ment being among the lowest from for the implementation of the so- rating agency – has a rating of B, larger economies. However, during called China-Pakistan Economic two notches above the Moody’s last year, China was Pakistan’s largCorridor (CPEC) is credit positive rating. Fitch, the third credit rat- est foreign investor. for Pakistan because it will spur ing agency, does not have a current The project has run into some investment activity, boost bilat- credit rating for Pakistan. Both snags in the Senate, with lawmakeral trade flows and help ease the Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s ers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa country’s growing energy short- have a stable outlook for Pakistan. and Balochistan alleging that the The influx of investment into Nawaz administration is redirectages,” Moody’s said in a note issued to clients on Monday, according to Pakistan is what prompted Moody’s ing the route of the corridor to pass a report in the International Busi- to view the economic corridor as a through Punjab and Sindh rather positive from a credit perspective. than their provinces. In addition, ness Times. The $46-billion project would The credit rating agency uses sev- Beijing has balked at funding projcreate a 2,000-kilometer road and eral macroeconomic indicators to ects that are not directly related to rail link from China’s western hin- determine its rating for Pakistan’s connecting its economically deterlands to the Gwadar Port, creat- government, including investment prived western regions to Gwadar ing a network of infrastructure in as a percentage of the total size of Port.

Shaharyar Khan, Najam Sethi Differ over Team Selection Karachi: The ongoing cold war between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan and his predecessor Najam Sethi came out into the open on Sunday over selection matters.(Pakistan Record First Win in World Cup) After Pakistan registered their first win in the World Cup over Zimbabwe, Shaharyar said that he would like to see wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed play in the next few games. (Full Coverage of World Cup) Khan didn’t just stop at that, he made it clear that out of form opener Nasir Jamshed needed to be replaced by Sarfaraz in the playing eleven and he should open the innings. “I think Sarfaraz should be selected in place of Nasir Jamshed and open the innings against UAE and South Africa,” Khan was quoted as saying by Geo News. His comments are clearly a direct foray into selection matters but with the chief selector Moin Khan called back home from the World Cup over the Casino fiasco and his future unclear, Khan perhaps felt it was the best time to show everyone who was boss. Khan under the PCB constitu-

tion has the final word in selection matters and can veto the selectors and even the team management. But normally former heads of the board have preferred to use their veto powers in selection matters privately and not publicly. But apparently Khan has lost his patience with not only the chief selector but also the tour selection committee in the World Cup. “I am very happy to see Pakistan win today but the team needs to show more improvement to progress further,” he said. The PCB chief also made it clear that finally the decision to play

five bowlers had paid dividends. “I have been saying that playing five bowlers is essential in this World Cup.” The tour selection committee has so far resisted playing Sarfaraz in the tournament and have used Umar Akmal as the part time keeper. In their last match against West Indies the tour selectors also preferred to go in with three specialist bowlers and Afridi. But if Khan was clear in his mind about the need for Sarfaraz to play than Najam Sethi had a differing view. “I don’t think I would want to interfere in selection matters and it is for experts to comment on cricket matters not mine,” Sethi said on the same channel when asked about the selection issues. For sometime now it has become clear that Shaharyar and Sethi are not on the same wavelength as the latter has remained in the board even after leaving the post of chairman. He now heads the PCB executive committee and is also a member of the board of governors.

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A Taste of Americana in Karachi

McBride, who is visiting the country for the second time, says the group has collaborated with local musicians like Gumby

Enjoying a camel ride at the beach

Karachi: International musicians have always been a rarity in Pakistan so whenever a group from overseas visits the country, it is bound to draw attention. Recently, the Americana group, Mary McBride graced Karachi with their presence for a series of performances. The group which was on a whirlwind tour of the city performing at different events, collaborating with local artistes, took out some time in between their performance at Dar-ul-Sukun to speak to The Express Tribune about their musical journey and time in the country. Mary McBride, the lead singer of the band, spoke of how they’ve come a long way from being a cover group to evolving into a band with four original albums under their belt. “I started my band in 2002 mainly for fun and we played in a little place in New York City, initially only playing covers,” she reveals, adding, “After I wrote my first record, we soon started touring.” The band, since then, has toured a total of 23 countries. The eponymous band is a five-member group comprising of Mary McBride (vocals), John Kengla (guitars), Jon Spurney (keyboards), Greg Beshers (bass) and Mark Stepro (drums). Unlike any other band, Mary McBride’s group members reside in different cities but they do not consider it as a major obstacle. “We tour enough that we don’t have to get together and rehearse, we usually rehearse when we’re on the road,”

says the vocalist. While describing the bands style of music, the singer said that the group plays mainly genre music which in America is referred to as “Americana.” The genre is a combination of various styles like country, blues, gospel and rock and roll. As evident by their choice of genre, the band wants to avoid being typecast into one particular style or sound and have continued to experiment with their music and performances while on tour. “Since we’re in Pakistan, we’re also trying to learn some Urdu. We played ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ and also translated the chorus for one of my songs into Urdu. So pray for me, I need all the help I can get,” joked McBride. Currently functioning as an independent music group in America, the band is not officially signed to a particular record label. They believe that the current ‘label system’ is changing a lot and being an independent group would serve them better — allowing members to retain the creative control of their music. McBride, who is visiting the country for the second time, says the group has collaborated with local musicians like Gumby and his crew for a new track during their recent visit. “Ahsan Bari is producing the track, he wrote the arrangement and helped me with my Urdu,” remarked McBride. She is hopeful that the song would go onto becoming a major hit in AMERICANA, P29

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Talking Books and Politics at the Lahore Literary Festival n By John Elliott Lahore: The hope that one day Paki-

stan will escape from the clutches of jihadist terrorism, corrupt politicians and an overbearing army came alive last weekend at the Lahore Literary Festival, where mostly young audiences averaging 25,000 people a day applauded criticisms and wider worries about the functioning of the country as well as enjoying other sessions on literature and the arts. The festival took place in the shadow of a bomb blast in the city on February 17 that killed more than six people, but it matched the famous Jaipur Literature Festival for the mood, the energy and the excitement in the relaxed surroundings of the Alhambra Arts Centre, and it beat Jaipur for passion. The enthusiasm during the three days was evident not only from the audience participation, but also from long lines of people waiting outside the five auditoriums and a queue that stretched 100 yards at a well stocked bookshop. People remembered and celebrated how Lahore had always been a center for the arts. The secret that the organizers kept to themselves until the end was that the Punjab government, worried about security risks, had canceled permission for the festival to take place on the afternoon before it was due to start, just as people were arriving from abroad and other parts of Pakistan. It took Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister and elder brother of Punjab’s chief minister Shabaz, to intervene and give the permission at 9 pm that evening. Some music and other outside events were canceled, but otherwise the festival went ahead without fuss and included a stimulating exhibition that displayed the country’s vibrant contemporary art scene. There were several rings of highly visible security around the venue, though the police and other guards looked relatively relaxed and showed none of the officious heavy presence one would expect in India. A couple of foreign governments and agencies, including the British Council, panicked because of the bomb blast and withdrew approval for their sponsored speakers’ presence. “People are almost surprised to see themselves here,” I was told by Salima Hashmi, a painter and writer, and daughter of the famous Urdu poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz. “They see it almost as an act of defiance, and they are speak-

ing with the freedom to say what they want.” Hashmi was talking about the volatile and engaged audiences, especially in the biggest of the festival’s five venues that housed over 700 people and staged the main political subjects. There were debates on all aspects of Pakistan’s troubled history and current political, religious and social realities, and those of the region. People were not consistent in their views, judging by the frequent contradictory cheers and applause. My overriding impression was that, having been buffeted by everything from the Russian invasion of Afghanistan just over 34 years ago to the current jihadist terrorism, and with its own ineffective military and elected governments and their confrontations with India, the people of Pakistan are no longer sure who to trust, at home or abroad. “We are a confused nation in the process of getting clarity,” Asma Jehangir, a leading human rights activist and lawyer based in Lahore, told me. Ayesha Jalal, a Pakistani historian and author, said that the Pakistan Taliban’s killing of 134 children in Peshawar two months ago had upset the usual Pakistani narrative that such things (including the 9/11 US terrorist attacks and the killing in Pakistan of Osama bin Laden) could not be done by Muslims and must have been done by an external hand. “Denial is now being addressed and people are looking for answers,” she said. That had led to the festival

having “a dynamic you don’t often see in Pakistan.” Her recent new book, The Struggle for Pakistan, explains, among other things, why the army-dominated country has failed to match India’s democracy. The audience at one session voted with a show of hands for China to have more influence in Pakistan than the US, though they inevitably thought no interference the best. Equally mixed were views on Afghanistan and India. “The problem is deciding who the enemy is. We need to sort it out,” said Ayesha Jalal. Pakistan’s relationship with the US, its chief economic aid source, has been tortuous for decades, worsened recently by drone strikes, so the show-of-hands vote was not a surprise. China by contrast has been a lower-key strategic ally providing nuclear and other defense support. That seems to be about to change, and China is stepping up its economic support at a time when the US is withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and thus losing some of its interest in Pakistan. It is also emerging as a likely mediator

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and facilitator in Afghanistan’s peace process, mobilizing its contacts with the Afghan Taliban. As debates at the festival indicated, this is partly to increase its regional clout and partly because it is concerned about growing unrest and terrorism in its mostly Muslim western province of Xinjiang. Inevitably, this might lead to India being sidelined, though it is not yet clear how strongly New Delhi would object to China’s role. One Indian view I’ve heard is that “Afghanistan needs all the help it can get.” Authors and others came from various countries. Those from India included veteran historian Romila Thapar, 83, who delivered a memorable opening address on the need to

keep the writing and interpretation of history free from political interference–a potent subject in India with its current Hindu nationalist government. There was a heavy presence of two policy specialists from the US – Roger Cohen, a New York Times columnist who several times said he did not know Pakistan well, and Barnett Rubin, a former US government adviser based in New York University–who seemed out of sync with the mood. In a raucous final session in Hall 1, Rubin apparently upset many in the audience when, I’m told, he said “use your brains.” (Unfortunately, I missed the session, so we will have to wait for it to go online to verify the words.) Peter Oborne, a British political columnist and a cricket enthusiast who has just written Wounded Tiger on Pakistan cricket, was better versed – with the added spice that he was escaping from a furor he’d created in the UK a few days earlier by resigning from the Daily Telegraph, accusing it of pandering in its editorial coverage to HSBC, the scam-scarred bank. At the end of a debate on Afghanistan, the ambassador to Pakistan, Janan Mosazai, painted a rarely heard rosy picture of a “transformed country” and a “young democracy” with education and a vibrant media. He looked forward with the “hope next year of a Kabul version of the Lahore Literary Festival.” That’s an intriguing prospect, given the lasting impression from the festival discussions of growing roles in Kabul for the Taliban and China. Newsweek

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Live in Concert 10 RAHAT FATEH ALI KHAN Born in Lyallpur, Pakistan, in 1974, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was inducted into his family’s tradition of qawwali and Sufi music at a very tender age. The nephew of the internationally acclaimed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat learnt the nuances and complexities of Sufi devotional music from his extremely talented uncle. Rahat carved a niche for himself, performing in public at the age of nine. Thereafter he

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became a member of the Nusrat entourage, and was noticed for his solo pieces in international concerts.

love

songs

and Pakistan, with countless hit songs and innumerable awards.

The core of his talent stems from his In 1995 he contributed towards the music traditional classical training and from the of the Sean Penn movie, “Dead Man Walk- sublime ethos of Sufi music. The rich texing,” and set his sights on a canvas that was ture of his voice coupled with the emotionnot restricted to his home town audience. It al depth of his music captivates the collecwas his debut in the 2004 Indian film, “Paap’ tive soul of his fans, and with each passing with the hit song, “Mann ki lagan,” that cata- year Rahat Fateh Ali Khan improves and pulted him to stardom. Since then his talent his music surmounts any regional, politihas been appreciated by audiences in India cal or linguistic boundaries.

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WOMENS WORLD

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WOMEN

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By Sumeha Khalid

aeeda Mandviwalla hardly needs an introduction. She is one of the most sought-after names in the fashion circuit both on national and international level. She has many firsts to her credit which makes her an apt choice for our special issue. In December 2003, Saeeda brought to Pakistan ESSENSUALS, sister concern of the largest British Hairdressing Company TONI&GUY, the first hairdressing franchise in the South East Asian region. This was followed by the opening up of the largest state-of-the-art TONI&GUY salon in 2008 in Karachi. There's more! Saeeda Mandviwalla is recognised as the Pond's Skin Expert and a key innovator in the Skin Care services profession in Pakistan. She is the major force behind the industry's leading and premium hair and skin collaboration TONI&GUY POND'S Skin Centre. In June 2013, Saeeda was honoured to be part of the Business Roundtable with the British Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron. She was recently chosen as one of the ten Pond's Miracle Mentors from all across Pakistan and she in turn nominated 10 women. Saeeda is a strong believer and supporter of women empowerment and feels that as a successful person it is her responsibility to encourage women to stand up

on their own and work alongside their male counterparts. Just recently she attended London Fashion Week 2015 at Freemasons, the biggest and most coveted event on the international fashion calendar, where

she worked with the TONI&GUY Art team to create sizzling looks for spring/summer 2015. Here, our ace beautician/stylist shares some of the hottest hair and make-up trends and tips straight off the ramp. You! What is the best makeup look for 2015? Saeeda Mandviwalla: Black eyeliner never goes out of style, but the current trend is to wear it drawn as close to your eyes as you can get it for a rebellious twist on the beauty classic. The focus point to note is the waterline - the area between your lower lashes and your eye. You! What kind of a base is best for a smooth finish? S.M: Mousse or Whipped Foundation Mousse - also marketed as 'whipped foundation' - is liquid makeup with air whipped in. Mousse foundations tend to have a perfect matte finish and a weightless feel. It is typically good for all skin types. For women interested in natural, organic makeup, mineral foundation is the best bet. Mineral makeup is great for women with sensitive skin or allergies. Mineral foundation is best applied with a big, fluffy brush. You! Should primer be used? What does it do? S.M: Skin has natural imperfections and often your complexion can change. Primer, a formula applied after cleansing and moisturising yet before foundation, creates an ultra-smooth canvas for long wear. It preps your skin for makeup by filling in every crease and crevice or line and wrinkle on your face to even out the skin. If your skin is dull and has no glow then a light pink primer can add a glow. You! Share some tips for longlasting makeup... S.M: Prime it: Adding layers may seem tedious, but primer is vital. They refine pores, act like a barrier to the skin with some versions offering SPF, corrective and reparative properties all in one. Beyond acting like a protective glove for your skin, primer creates a layer for makeup to rest on top of. Water based primers do your skin right. Read it: Labels baring the words 'long-wearing' and 'water proof' can be the key to your success. For long-lasting eyeliner and mascaras this is a must-have.

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Set it: Set the face with a light dusting of your favourite loose powder. The lighter the version, the better for you. You! Popular lip colours this season... S.M: Lip colours for 2015 are deep red, browns and Bordeaux, wine colours also bronze red tones are really in for 2015. You should look for moisturising lipsticks with beeswax and manuka honey to keep lips hydrated. You! How can we avoid chapped lips? S.M: Extreme cold or hot weather causes chapped dry lips. Use a lip balm or a chap stick. Drink lots of water and also use lipsticks that moisturise. Avoid matte lipsticks. You! Is applying lip liner important? S.M: Lip liners and lip pencils are essential in keeping your lipstick from feathering. Use a mineral or studio fix lip liner to define lips and shape it to perfection. You! Party looks of the season.... S.M: We've always been told never to pair a strong eye with a bold lip but the holiday season is the perfect time to really play with this look. Celebrities like Keira Knightley and Cara Delevinge have both been spotted glamming it up on the red carpet with a smokey eye and bright red lip, and the result is sheer perfection. This is how perfect this bold beauty look is strong bold and very glamorous Hollywood style. You! What is the current rage in hair styles? S.M: The modern Farrah Fawcett this popular cut takes inspiration from the 1970s beauty icon, but is still completely oh-so-cool. The shoulderlength feathery layers will work with or without bangs like Taylor Swift's and complement all face shapes. The blunt midi cut - this blunt midlength style is having a major moment, too. It has absolutely no layers, just a straight across cut with a bit of feathering at the ends, and works best on those with an oval face shape like Kendall Jenner. Full graduated layers instead of the been there, done that, mermaid waves that we usually see on the red carpet. Starlets like Suki Waterhouse are opting for shorter, more graduated waves that fall just below the collar bone.

You! Tell us about Hi Brow definition that you have recently introduced? S.M: Hi Brow is the new beauty salon service and products exclusively for eyebrows. A unique eyebrow salon service suitable for every client whatever their age, face shape or image. Hi Brow training provides a therapist with a range of practical skills that can be selected collectively, or individually to give a unique result. You! Also tell us about the recently introduced semi permanent and express extension eyelash in Pakistan? S.M: Eyelash extensions are one of the fastest growing beauty treatments internationally especially in the UK. Lash Perfect semi permanent eyelashes enhance your natural lashes by adhering a synthetic individual eyelash to each natural eyelash using the finest medical grade adhesive that is EU compliant and comes with an allocated ISO number. They are light and comfortable and are available in various curls, lengths and thicknesses. Lash Perfect individual eyelash extensions are semi permanent and can last up to 8-12 weeks, depending on your natural lash growth cycle. We recommend infill maintenance every 2-3 weeks. With expert application by a Lash Perfect trained technician and by avoiding the use of oil-based eye products, these eyelash extensions behave just like natural lashes and achieve a thicker, fuller and more flattering look. You! Share some makeup/grooming tips girls need to look into before getting married? S.M: Flawless, glowing skin and shiny glossy hair are often high on the priority list of a bride-to-be. The number one priority for healthy glowing skin is hydration. Dehydration often makes the skin dull and lack lustre. The general rule for adequate hydration is 40ml of water per kilo of your body weight per day. This, with a balanced diet particularly high in vitamin C, strengthens the cellular walls inside your skin. As well as focusing on your internal vitamin intake, feeding the skin topically is equally important. So, book in for a facial regime one month prior to the big day. For those with chemically weakened or naturally delicate hair, a protein based treatment to restore the hairs' elasticity will help. If you have a hairstyle in mind for your wedding day that requires showcasing wave or curl, it's important to have hair with a healthy spring and elasticity in order to support and hold the curl. One of my favourite treatments is the gold mask treatment that we offer at TONI&GUY which contains silk proteins and keratin and is also very hydrating for brittle, dry hair. Remember to work back from your wedding day and book all your beauty and hair services in advance, especially for your last pre-wedding facial, peel, or haircut and colour. Don't forget to sit back, relax and enjoy all the wonderful pampering.

COMMUNITY

Community Link

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P19

Friday, March 6, 2015

VOL. 25/10 PAGE 21

M. Akhter on Saddleback’s Board of Governors

15 Jumadal-ula 1436 H

PAGE PAGE 25 17

egum PAGE 22

Urdu Academy Pays Tribute to Jaun Elia, Saghir Siddiqui

Tons by Hashim Amla, Du Plessis Pummel Ireland

For news, updated round the clock, visit

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Over 400 Players Participate in 3rd Joint Masjid Basketball Tournament

n one day alone, 86 basketball matches were played at a brisk pace at American Sports Center on Dec 27, 2014. Congratula-

tions are due to all volunteers, players, sponsors and organizers for successfully holding the mega event in such a spirited manner.

At the outset, the Rules and Regulation Committee member Amaar Ashraf explained the rules of engagement to the participating

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players. Basim Awan ably acted as the Event spokesman. Local religious leader Imam Farhan Zubairi opened the proceedings

by according a warm welcome to the players and audience. He emphasized the importance of patience in sports in the light of Islamic teachings.

COMMUNITY

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015

13 & U First Place ISOC

16 & U ICOI

Second Place

MASJID AL- ISOC ANSAR (WEST COAST I.S.) MVP JOINT MVP KHALID MOHAMED , MUTAF HUSSEIN BEST COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT SCMCO Chairperson Dawar Naqvi thanked all volunteers and his organizational team who worked

diligently to bring the community together and making the sports event a great success. Lunch was served to

all volunteers and players. As the day wore on salat was performed at the appointed hour. Dr Ahmed Sobo,

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member, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, was the chief guest on the occasion . He said it was

19 & U MASJID MUMIN, LOS ANGELES ISOC

39 & U ISOC

Over 40 ISOC

AUCSCV ICIE

Girls ISOC

ISCN

ABDURRAHMAN USAMA ZAID ZAID

ADIL NYEAR (ISOC) gratifying to see all masajid together. He praised the organizers for organizing such a unifying event.

COMMUNITY

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A Lesson from our Founders: Cultural Competency, Security and Islam n By Brennon Thompson American University Washington, DC

“

Class, this is an American you can be proud of!” Our professor, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed ushered our guest speaker to the front of the class. Almost weekly my class, Researching Islam at American University’s School of International Service, has the honor of hosting a distinguished guest lecturer. This week was no different. Daniel Sutherland, currently the Associate General Counsel of the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the US Department of Homeland Security and an experienced human rights lawyer would be offering some valuable insights to our undergraduate class.

Mr Sutherland stood in front of the class, thanked Ambassador Ahmed, and pointed out the window to the Department Homeland Security complex across Massachusetts Avenue. “That used to be a naval facility, some of you might be to young to remember but Homeland Security didn’t exist before 9/11.” When Homeland Security was first established in 2003, they were given two spare floors in one of the naval buildings. Mr Sutherland recalls with nostalgia, “In the early days, we were all crammed together, I shared a typing table with two other guys. You couldn’t really tell who was important and who wasn’t, so you had to be nice to everybody.” President Bush appointed Mr Sutherland as the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, a new position being piloted by the agency. His job was to advise the Department on their policies ensuring a balance between security and liberty. “I’m a White Christian from Northern Maine, they used to call me White Bread,” Mr Sutherland joked. “How could I go from that to having working relationships with people from different backgrounds?” He had never met a Muslim until he met Ambassador Ahmed, and that was typical of most of his colleagues as well. This was true of even the most senior officials, former Secretary Chertoff himself had no experience with Muslims. In an effort to correct this ignorance, Chertoff tasked Sutherland with organizing a meeting with top Muslim intellectuals. A meeting was scheduled for 45 minutes, staffers asked for the agenda and talking points to which Sutherland replied, “No agenda, we’re just going to talk.” At the meeting with Secretary Chertoff were three prominent Muslim intellects: the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed; the author of No God but God, Reza Azlan and the third an influential business man. Ambassador Ahmed recalls, “Chertoff really engaged with us, he didn’t just nod his head. He challenged us and asked us questions. I thought to myself, this is a man that is thinking.” As the 45 minutes drew to an end

Daniel Sutherland (left) and Ambassador Akbar Ahmed (right)

Sutherland attempted to wrap up the discussion, but was repeatedly waved off by Chertoff. The meeting lasted over an hour and a half. At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Ahmed gave the Secretary his latest book Journey into Islam. Later that day, Secretary Chertoff was on a plane somewhere over the middle of the Atlantic, when he emailed Mr Sutherland for a clarification of a passage on page 76 of his book. Not only had Chertoff listened to the

interviews, agents would perceive the women’s behavior as shifty and suspicious. They were completely unaware of cultural norms such as maintaining a modest distance and avoiding direct eye contact. Mr Sutherland moderated an hour-long panel discussion, featuring Ambassador Ahmed and other cultural authorities, which was filmed and distributed to educate thousands of TSA agents. Similarly, Mr Sutherland worked on policies to ensure

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed (left), Daniel Sutherland (middle), and author Brennon Thompson (right)

three men in their discussion, he was actively learning from them. One of the programs that both Mr Sutherland and Ambassador Ahmed worked on together was a TSA training DVD. After 9/11 customs agents in immigration were running into difficulties with women coming from the Middle East and South Asia. During routine

proper respect for religious attire, such as the Sikh Dastaar (head wrap) and Muslim Hijab, during TSA security screenings. Daniel Sutherland has cultivated a brilliant cultural competence. As a resource for all of us, he has compiled much of what he has learned of cultural intelligence into a short comprehensive online guide, www.culturalin-

telligencenetwork.com. An Unlikely Friendship: Lessons in Cultural Intelligence, is broken down into four lessons illustrated through the working relationship formed between President Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. Mr Sutherland assured us that these are the most valuable lessons we can take into our fieldwork. Lesson One, Respect: Before Lincoln ever said a word to Douglass, he won him over by inviting him to the White House and making time to meet him personally. Lesson Two, Learn: Douglass had many issues to discuss with Lincoln and the President sat, listened, and learned about every one of Douglass’ concerns. In Sutherland’s own experience, he was the first government official to ever ask the Muslim community about their security concerns. Lesson Three, Take Action: After Douglass outlined his issues to the President, Lincoln went through one by one and addressed them. Many of them he could do nothing about, but where he could take action he did. Lesson Four, Keep Going: Long after this first meeting between the two men, Lincoln worked to maintain his relationship with Douglass. As Lincoln drafted his inaugural address, he wrote Douglass to ask for his input. These four lessons are key cornerstones to any relationship, especially one that must break through barriers of culture and religion. One important conclusion I drew from this lecture was the significance of Americas Founding Fathers and early leadership. This conclusion might not be clear to many readers without a more intimate knowledge of Ambassador Ahmed and Mr Sutherland. I have noticed a habit of my professor, in every lecture, article, book, and interview Ambassador Ahmed faithfully references the Founding Fathers, Jefferson in particular. I have never met a man more engaged with the principles and philosophies of our founders, quoting and referencing them as if they were old friends. WWJD, an acronym most widely known as “what would Jesus do?” has been adapted for our class to “what would Jefferson do?” This is the motto Ambassador Ahmed lives by. He often asks us questions, most of us American citizens, testing our knowledge of our forefathers. “What was George Washington’s stance on torture?” The class falls silent. “He categorically rejected torture, it was imperative not to compromise the moral high ground.” I’m always impressed with Ambassador Ahmed’s intimate connection to the Founding Fathers, and embarrassed for my classmates and myself in our ignorance. As citizens and students we have taken for granted and forgotten our founding. This is a critical mistake. The bond between these two distinguished men, Ambassador Ahmed and Mr Sutherland, is the true ability to learn from greater teachers that came before them. A lesson we all should learn. (Brennon Thompson is a sophomore at American University studying International Relations, Development and Public Health)

Mahboob Akhter Appointed to Board of Governors of Saddleback College Foundation

t isn’t often that public service is recognized but it is a joyful moment when it is. Mr Mahboob Akhter was appointed to the Board of Governors of Saddleback College Foundation (http:// www.saddleback.edu/foundation. The nomination was made by The Honorable Gary Capata, former Mayor of Laguna Niguel in California. Mr Akhter will be serving a three-year term on the Board. He has been serving on the Board since August 2014. Since then he has been appointed to the Strategic Planning and Finance Committees. He is closely working with the College’s Business School on entrepreneurship program.

The Foundation is a 501(C)3 organization chartered to establish

to promote Saddleback College and its programs. The Governors represent the college in the community, promote its programs and help boost the image of college and community college education in general. The Governors will also develop a strategic plan for the Foundation and will be fully responsible for its fiscal affairs. The funds raised by the Foundation support infrastructure projects and scholarship programs at Saddleback College. “I am humbled to be called upon to serve on the Foundation’s board. It will give me a chance to be part of strategic development of the Foundation aligned with Saddleback College itself; it will also be

a great experience for me to know how academic institutions and associated foundations plan strategically. I also plan to align social services with student needs to help

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increase graduation outcomes”, said Mr. Akhter. Mr Akhter also serves on the Board of Directors of 2-1-1 Orange County (www.211oc.org); a national organization with operational units which run on a county basis – 2-1-1 Orange County being one example. 2-1-1 Orange County is to non-emergency health and social services what 9-1-1 is to emergency services. Its mission is to “connect Orange County’s most vulnerable with the health and human service resources they need.” 211OC serves all citizens of Orange County In 2012 Mr Akhter served as Chairman of the Board of 2-1-1 Orange County. One of the achievements during his tenure was to identify and execute a merger with

Orange County Partnership – an umbrella organization which serves in the homeless arena. This resulted in a much larger organization with broader charter for homeless services in Orange County. 211OC is one of the key partners of Orange County’s Ending Homelessness 2020 Plan. “I have been involved in volunteer services at small community level for many years. 2-1-1 Orange County gave me a chance to help build an organization and be involved at a much larger scale. Imagine that 211OC’s reach is 3.2 million citizens of the county and we have an organization which is accessible to all. It is a privilege to be in a serving position”, said Mr Akhter.

COMMUNITY

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015

Urdu Academy Pays Tribute to Jaun Elia and Saghir Siddiqui

n By Abdus Sattar Ghazali he Urdu Academy of North America’s February 15, 2015 event was dedicated to the life and work of two great Urdu poets, Jaun Elia and Saghir Siddiqui. The literary event, at the Chandni Restaurant, Newark CA, was presided over by Hatim Rani, a prominent community member.

At the outset Khalid Rana, a senior member of the Academy, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Urdu Academy. He thanked entrepreneur Syed Sarwat for patronizing the Urdu Academy by providing venue to hold its monthly literary event. The first session was dedicated to the work of Jaun Elia. Kausar Syed was MC of the first session. Tashie Zaheer, President of the Urdu Academy, introduced Kausar Syed for conducting the first session on Jaun Elia. It was the first time that Kausar Syed was presenting any Urdu Academy literary event. And she did a good job. She presented a well researched maqala on the life and distinguished poetry of Jaun Elia. As usual, a number of Urdu lovers recited the poetry of Jaun Elia: Abdus Sattar Ghazali, Syed Aslam, Hatim Rani, Tasadduq Attari, Syed Babar, Moiz Khan, Zafar Khan, Ahmar Shehwar, Salman Siddiq and Nagesh Avadhani

Jaun Elia was born on 15 December 1931 in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He was the youngest among his siblings. His father, Shafiq Hasan Elia, was a poet and was involved in art and literature. He was the brother of journalist and psychoanalyst Rais Amrohvi and journalist Syed Muhammad Taqi, and husband of columnist Zahida Hina. He was fluent in Arabic, English, Persian, Sanskrit and Hebrew. He migrated to Pakistan in 1957 and made Karachi his home. His poetry won him both acclaim and admiration in the local literary circles. Poet Pirzada Qasim said: “Jaun was very particular about language. While his diction is rooted in the classical tradition, he touches on new subjects. He remained in quest of an ideal all his life. Unable to find the ideal eventually, he became angry and frustrated. He felt, perhaps with reason, that he had squandered his talent.” His first poetry collection Shayad (an Urdu word which means “maybe”) was published in 1991, when he was 60. His preface in this collection provided deep insights into his works and the culture within which he was expressing his ideas. The preface can also be considered as a fine example of modern Urdu prose. The second collection of his poetry Ya’ani was published posthumous-

ly in 2003. Later, his companion, Khalid Ansari, compiled and published his three consecutive collections, Gumaan in 2004, Lekin in 2006 and Goya in 2008. An eminent Urdu literary critic, Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, has called Elia one of the three most eminent ghazal poets of Urdu of the second half of the twentieth century. Elia was an open anarchist and nihilist in generally a conservative and religious society. His elder brother Rais Amrohvi, himself a poet and influential intellectual, was murdered. Jaun Elia had a distinctive sense of humor and was a person who loved ‘fantasizing’ about various aspects of life. Many literary critiques believe that Jaun’s poetry was influenced by the likes of John Keats and T.S. Eliot. Similar to Eliot’s poetry which laments the spiritual hollowness in the West, a subject that can be found in some of Jaun’s poems. Jaun Elia died after a protracted illness on 8 November 2002 in Karachi. Urdu Academy pays tribute to Saghir Siddiqui The second session was dedicated to the life and work of another prominent Urdu poet, Saghir Siddiqui. Poet Arshad Rashid, a senior member of the Urdu Academy, was MC of the second literary session. Arshad Rashid

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presented a well researched maqala on the tragic life and work of Saghir Siddiqui. Saghir Siddiqui was born in 1928 in Ambala, East Punjab. He was named Muhammad Akhtar at birth. Saghar was the only child of his parents and he spent the early years of his life in Ambala and Saharanpur (UP, India). Young Akhtar got interested in Urdu poetry. He started writing at the age of seven or eight and soon became so fluent in Urdu that people used to come to him to get their letters written. At age 16, he would regularly attend mushairas. He was also active in an Urdu Majlis (society) formed for the advancement of Urdu literature by Dr M. D. Tasir and Maulana Tajwar Najibabadi and attended its mushairas. Upon creation of Pakistan, Saghir moved to Lahore, Pakistan where his poetry blossomed. 1950’s were the golden creative years for Saghir. A career that was going nowhere, unrequited love and the general apathy of Lahore’s intelligentsia towards a poor young man who was head and shoulders above most of them in literary talent and the sheer fire of creativity, led to a downward spiral, with morphine addiction. Sometimes he would have to sell his ghazals to other poets for a few rupees. He would use the waste

paper spread around to light fires to stay warm during winter nights while wandering at streets. Ultimately, he passed away on a street in Lahore on 19 July 1974 at age 46. His dead body was found one early morning outside one of the shops. Despite his shattered life, some of his verses (ash’aar) are among the best in Urdu poetry. It is unbelievable that he kept his inner self so pure and so transcending. His long time friend Younis Adeeb collaborated with the renowned Lahore publisher Safdar Husain (AlHamd Publishers, Lahore) to publish his collected verse as “Kulliyaat e Saghir Siddiqui” which is a masterpiece in modern Urdu poetry. The Urdu ghazals of Saghir Siddiqui are steeped in the birth pangs of a newly born, raw and bloody Pakistan. A number of Urdu lovers recited Saghir Siddiqui’s poetry: Abdus Sattar Ghazali, Syed Aslam, Hatim Rani, Tasadduq Attari, Syed Babar, Moiz Khan, Zafar Khan, Ahmar Shehwar, Salman Siddiq, Nagesh Avadhani, Mehmoodul Hasan, Syed Mujeebur Rehman, Khalid Rana, Jaafar Shah and Mobeen Khalil. Nagesh Avadhani stole the show by singing Saghir Siddiqui’s ghazal Hay dua yaad magar harf-e-dua yaad naheen in his melodious voice.

COMMENTARY n By Kaleem Kawaja

Washington, DC

he beautiful Urdu language that was born out of the common man’s vocabulary in north India in the late 1700s and was known as Rekhta, gradually acquired many Persian and Arabic words to become a powerful language of the masses and the court. The word ‘Urdu’ was first used for this language in 1780 by poet Ghulam Hamdan Mushafi. In about one hundred years leading to Ghadar in Delhi, it became a beautiful literary language.

In 1837 the British Indian government recognized Urdu as a replacement for Persian and as one of the major languages of India. In post-independence India, Urdu was recognized by the Indian constitution as one of the 22 scheduled languages of the country. The 2001 Indian government census has certified that Urdu is the native language of 52 million or 6 percent of Indian citizens. Also in Pakistan Urdu is the native language of 10 million Pakistanis. First there were three important centers of Urdu literature: Delhi, Lucknow, and Lahore. Mid-1800s onwards Hyderabad became the fourth important center of Urdu literature. After the partition of India, Pakistan made Urdu its official language even though it was not the mother tongue of the majority of people in any of the provinces of Pakistan, namely Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan, and Bengal. With the active support of the government Urdu literature and language flourished in

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Indian Urdu, Pakistani Urdu Pakistan. At the same time with the opposition to Urdu from influential elements in the Indian government, teaching of Urdu in schools in Delhi, UP, Bihar, MP, Hyderabad, where it was the mother tongue of the Muslims, declined rapidly. Urdu is also the native language of many Muslims in Kashmir, Karnatak, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In undivided India the Urdu afficiandos in Delhi and Lucknow had long felt that in comparison to Punjab theirs was the cradle of Urdu. Punjab produced many highly regarded Urdu poets yet the Avadhi Urduwalas declined to accept them at par. With the rise of Allama Iqbal, the ‘Shaaer-e-Mashriq’ in Lahore in 1915 onwards, writing volumes upon volumes of highly inspiring and unmatchable poems in luxuriant Urdu, Avadhis had to acknowledge the exalted status of Urdu in Punjab. Yet while in UP, Bihar, MP etc Urdu was the only language of Muslims, in Punjab, Punjabi was the language of the Muslims of Punjab. Thus one heard parting shots from the Urduwala Avadhis on the Urdu of Punjabis. There is the well known pun of a Urdu noble from Lucknow who visited Iqbal at his house in Lahore. When he returned to Lucknow his friends, awed by Iqbal’s exalted status as the great Urdu poet, asked him about the meeting. The snobbish Lucknovi noble said, “Main ji-haan kahta raha aur wuh han-ji kahtey rahay” . For reasons mentioned above the quality, finesse and literary depth of Urdu in Pakistan has continued to climb to higher levels. The essayists, playwrights, poets of Urdu

in Pakistan are continuing to nurture richness in Urdu language. The vocabulary that one comes across from educated Pakistani people in ordinary conversation and in Urdu essays or books of Urdu poetry by poets is of higher quality - the way it used to be before the partition of India. In contrast, the vocabulary and quality of Urdu even from Urdu poets and well educated people in India is a notch below, and either contains Hindi words liberally or uses nonliterary sounding Hindustani words rather than Urdu words. For instance, one does not often hear quality Urdu words like takrar, jirah, atraf, qurbat, ghum, musarrat from India’s educated Urduwala Muslims in conversation. But in talking to Pakistani folks you always hear such good Urdu vocabulary. An Indian Urduwala is more likely to use simpler colloquial Hindustani words like bahas, paas, nazdik, dukh, khushi, etc.

About fifteen years ago when I heard Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz say that Pakistan’s Urdu shaaers were better than India’s Urdu shaaers, my self-esteem made me feel resentful. But as I continued to hear Urdu shaaers from India in mushairas in America and also shaaers from Pakistan, I felt that Ahmad Faraz was right. Not only shaaers who have passed away in recent decades like Faiz, Faraz, Habib Jalib, Parveen Shakir, Qateel Shafaae, Hazfiz Jallandari, but also the current generation of shaaers from Pakistan are using better quality Urdu vocabulary compared to India’s Urdu shaaers. Additionally, the shaeree of India’s Urdu poets is more melancholic and full of feelings of mazloomiat, hopelessness, despair as Urdu in India has been relegated from darbar to bazar. When it comes to serious essays, commentaries, plays, analyses in Urdu written in India, the volume of such new material and such writ-

ers is very small. Go to India and try to look for Urdu newspapers, magazines etc in the hope of reading some good Urdu material and you will be very disappointed. The only Urdu journalism that one comes across is mostly about India’s politicians, political parties and their machinations or complaints of the Muslim community or religious material. As for the Aligarh Muslim University or Jamia Milia Islamia, not even professors from their Urdu departments, are producing much quality Urdu material. As mushairas in India are increasingly becoming entertainment events, one does not even hear much good Urdu poetry there. Instead geets, tarannum and bhandpun labeled as mazahia shaaeri are becoming the staples of mushaeras. During my recent visit to India I was pleasantly surprised to come across a TV channel on which poet Javed Akhtar regularly gives commentary on the various genre of Urdu poetry, Urdu vocabulary and the growth of Urdu poetry and language. Aside from that for the common Indian Urdu is just an entertainment language that you hear when you are in a bar or in a Bollywood movie cinema hall. At the same time I was very pleased to watch some scintillating Urdu plays on the Pakistani TV channel Zindagee. It is a sophisticated channel that uses no references to any religious issue and is keenly and regularly watched by many non-Muslims in north India these days. (The writer (kaleemkawaja@ gmail.com) is executive director of the Association of Indian Muslims of America, Washington DC)

Movie Review: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel n By Ras H. Siddiqui

he first movie of this series - released in the USA in 2012 was very well-received and could have been described as a one hit wonder except that its sequel, “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is going to open in theatres across the United States during the first week of March 2015. Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) is back with almost the entire cast from the original film. This is as much Sonny’s story as it is that of the geriatric residents of his seemingly dysfunctional hotel in Jaipur, India. The film has continued in the very capable hands of Director John Madden and a script written by Ol Parker. And some might even find this sequel better than the first. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was viewed for this review at a special screening for the media on February 9th in Sacramento.

We open with Sonny and his partner Muriel Donnelly (Maggie Smith) speeding in a convertible on Route 66 in America heading to a meeting where they will seek funding assistance for Sonny’s dream of a franchise-expansion of his concept hotel. While trying to decide who will do all the talking both Sonny and Muriel make their pitch to wouldbe financiers and right off we are exposed to Sonny’s naiveté and Muriel’s English roots where tea and its preparation reign supreme! Next, we jump to Jaipur, India to the struggling local British expatriate club which is watering down the drinks to make ends meet (the grandeur of empires does not last forever). And soon we meet a tour guide who knows very little about local history and depends on the direct help of a local kid on computer who instructs him on what to say (remotely by earphones). Together, they produce some painfully funny moments where the guide is trying to do his job while his instructional support often disappears. And then there is the Marigold Hotel itself which is almost full and also full of some of the most interesting senior citizens one could ever meet. Sonny has a great deal going on in his life beyond dreams of business expansion. His upcoming marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai) who is pushing their wedding preparations which include Bollywood style dancing where Sonny gets touchy because their friend Kushal (Shazad Latif)

always upstages him and makes him feel inadequate. For Sonny, the straw that breaks the camel’s back is when Kushal buys the property which he was eyeing for the expansion of the Marigold Hotel chain. Sonny considers this a stab in the back even though Kushal did not even know that he was

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interested in that property and even agrees to partner with him as a gesture of peace. But Sonny is not convinced easily. A late presentation of opening credits is also preceded by auto-rickshaw (Tuk Tuk) rides while inebriated and the fear of scorpions both real and imaginary. And there are pancake breakfasts thrown into meetings at a choice location too. The movie is certainly rich in the pursuit of romance no matter what one’s age. The senior male characters here - Norma Cousins (Ronald Pickup) and Douglas (Bill Nighy) are not powerful here but still convey their message. And then there is a younger male Guy (Richard Gere) who takes inter-cultural romance to the next level as he succeeds in his pursuit of Mrs Kapoor (Lilette Dubey), Sonny’s widowed mother. The success of this movie rests within the colorful background of Jaipur and the leading lady characters. Maggie Smith’s portrayal of Muriel Donnelly is the first to grab a viewer’s attention and at times simply amazing. But powerfully naughty Madge (played by Celia Imrie) also shines here as she is busy juggling more than one (Indian) suitor and makes some interesting choices along the way. Left or right or is she about to go straight too? And last but not least Evelyn (Judi Dench) who steals this movie in more ways than one. Evelyn is sought after for her expertise in fabrics and her ability to negotiate better pricing. Her new job takes her to Mumbai where, with the help of an assistant, she pulls off a great deal from a businessman who intended to gouge her with very high pricing because of her obvious foreign background. This bargaining episode makes for one of the most humorous parts of the movie. Judi Dench’s performance just like that of Maggie Smith is top notch throughout this film. Overall, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has a great deal going for it in spite of the fact that the newness or novelty of the story is no longer present as it was in the first movie. But one would not hesitate to recommend it because the stories of the residents of the hotel are better developed. The significance of the daily morning “Roll Call” is carried throughout the film. The main characters are at the sunset of their lives and represent the legacy of the old British Empire. Jaipur is as colorful as ever in the setting and the music is certainly appealing. (Rating 3.5 out of 5 Stars)

COMMENTARY

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015

MQM Suffers Media Bias

n By Syed Kamran Hashmi

Westfield, IN

fter the release of JIT (Joint Investigation Team) report regarding the Baldia Town incidence that killed over two hundred and fifty people in a private garment factory in 2012, MQM has once again come under attack. Although every attribute of the report, its legality, reliability, veracity and timing can be questioned, yet the impetuous Pakistani media for its inherent bias against the Karachi-based political party, has delivered its verdict in favor of it as if it was a word of God.

Leaving no ambiguity, JIT finds MQM responsible for extortion, coercion and black mailing. It also incriminates the party for violence leading to the blood bath in Baldia Town upon its failure to collect money from the factory owner, which may or may not be true. However, there exists another side of the picture, the aspect that most people either out of fear and shame or their partiality and prejudice do not bring up often. It unravels the incompetency, lack of training, absence of legal insight and poor investigative skills of our law-enforcing agencies. At best, without presenting any concrete evidence, the so-called ‘fact finding mission’ must be regarded as hearsay or a confession of a suspect under the threat of torture. Besides being poor in quality, what makes the investigation more untrustworthy is the manner through which it was released to the media. According to the news updates, it seems that a government organization handed over the report to a ‘specific’ media group that started campaigning against the MQM based on the confessions of a former member of the party, a confession which would have been thrown out of the window as trash by any court since it was obtained by setting aside all the rules and regulations and by ignoring legal requirements. As a matter of fact, if police or Rangers had captured me in a raid instead of Mr. Qureshi (the suspect) and treated me like one of their ‘usual guests’ I would have confessed to the crimes I have

never committed or even imagined within five minutes. Not only me anyone without proper training to endure pain and torture would do the same, a fact known to everyone. There is overwhelming evidence in the literature which supports my argument that captives, to avoid physical discomfort, tell their investigators anything and everything that the authorities want to hear. At the time, when every inch of their body burns with pain, they exaggerate, confabulate, concoct and many times deliberately mislead, having no problem in admitting to be the President of Pakistan, a serial killer or a trained terrorist. To keep the records straight, let me state my position first. In no way I am trying to exonerate the MQM from the crime, nor do I intend to give them a free pass against such activities let alone the massacre in the garment factory. If anyone has committed a crime, be it a political party or its workers, they should be treated according to the law

of the land, without rendering any favors or keeping any grudge. Notwithstanding that, they should not be bullied through coercion, propaganda and under the table handshakes. Looking at the content of the investigation, the media should have demanded concrete evidence against the accused as it happens in the rest of the world, instead of promoting petty and nonsensical quarrels between political parties in talk shows. However, every channel has refused to somehow dig on that issue. The question is why did they behave so irresponsibly? Does more independence of media mean more irresponsibility? I think, first, in an environment of cut throat competition, sensationalism can pay big bucks. So calling a political worker a terrorist would sound much more attractive to the audience than asking a legal expert about the regulatory procedures which were ignored during the investigation. Then, it has happened because of the

pure laziness, lack of intellectual curiosity and professional incompetency of the television anchors and their production teams. I mean, to ask intelligent questions, one has to be intelligent, well read and articulate himself -some basic characteristics that most of our anchors lack. Remember the ‘breakthrough invention’ of the car that ran on water and its creator “Engineer” Waqar who reversed all the laws of thermodynamics and was greeted as a savior on Primetime television! Third, the people of Pakistan blindly believe in every report against MQM, India, Israel and most of the times USA as part of their national duty irrespective of the absence of evidence. Contrary to that, when it comes to admitting the atrocities of Taliban even when they accept responsibility and even when there exists irrefutable evidence against them, Pakistanis struggle hard to deny it. And somehow, they always find a foreign hand behind it to blame. How convenient, isn’t it? Many political leaders (you know who I am talking about) who come out blazing at MQM do not even call out the name, TTP, after a terrorist attack as the responsible party to avoid backlash - a great strategy and display of ‘real’ courage. Last, we count on the patriotism of our security institutions as the solution to all our problems, without realizing that patriotism does not always translate into competence. Many times overzealous patriotism can in fact turn out to be counter-productive, especially if it encroaches on the domain of other organizations. We have ventured out on that route in the past, only to find out after years that the country travels backwards in time when the military and para military forces instead of focusing on border security attempt to uncover financial irregularities, maintain law and order or formulate political alliances. Karachi’s situation reflects the same problem. The presence of Rangers in the city for such a long time, of course, does not help solve its lawlessness, it hampers it.. It is a part of the problem, not a part of the solution anymore.

After Killings, a Muslim Girl Questions Her Place in America n By Alisha Ahmed

n Feb. 10, three Muslim American college students were shot and killed in their apartment in Chapel Hill, NC. Their names were Deah Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. Yusor and Razan wore religious headscarves, just like the one I wear every single day.

These killings not only sadden me, but terrify me to the point where I am questioning my identity, my place as a Muslim girl in America. This is the first time I have felt unsafe in my own country. Every day I leave my house wearing the hijab, an open symbol of Islam, and recently I can’t help but feel that people would hate me for my religion. But I know that Islam teaches me peace, modesty, mercy, love, compassion and service – and this is the religion that every Muslim in the United States strives to embody. I am writing because I want you to know that millions of Muslims in America are grieving at the deaths of Deah, Yusor and Razan. I want you to not only understand the true, peaceful meaning of Islam, but to defend and protect Muslims. I want you to grieve with us at the loss of three

Dr Mohammad Abu-Salha, center, leads mourners in prayer over the caskets of his daughters Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and Razan Abu-Salha, 19, and Yusor’s husband Deah Barakat, 23, during a funeral service Feb. 12 in Raleigh, NC. Officials say that 5,500 people attended the event for the three young Muslims who were shot and killed in Chapel Hill. COREY LEWENSTEIN THE NEWS & OBSERVER

beautiful, bright Americans who had a future of serving our country and world. I want you to start questioning – not only why three precious souls were gunned down, but why some

in the media are brushing it off as a parking dispute. The accused killer is a hateful, ignorant bigot who only saw the headscarf and no meaning beneath it. This terrorist is blinded by the media’s false representation of Islam, such as “American Sniper,” a

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film that broke box-office records but that glorifies the killing of Muslims. I see the memory of these three victims slowly sliding away, and it terrifies me. I can’t help but wonder what the reaction would have been had the situation been reversed – had

the gunman been Muslim and the victims not. I believe their pictures would have been spread all over every news channel around the globe. People would be talking about the victims. The words “parking lot dispute” would not have been brought up, only that the suspect was Muslim. Because this situation doesn’t fit neatly into the media’s preferred stereotypes, the slayings are being erased. It is important that we mourn our fellow students because the same attitude that is making it so easy to forget them is what caused their killings in the first place – the lack of value placed on Muslim lives. Last week, President Barack Obama addressed extremism and the name of Islam that is being associated with terrorism. Listening to his speech gave me hope in the future of Muslims living in America. He said, “You come from a great tradition that stands for education, not ignorance; innovation, not destruction; the dignity of life, not murder. Those who call you away from this path are betraying this tradition, not defending it.” These words resonate with me on many levels. As a young Muslim American student, I not only wholeheartedly agree with the president, but I also find solace in the fact that he understands the struggle of Muslims in America today. And I GIRL, P29

SPORTS SPORTS

MARCH 6, 6, 2015 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;-PAKISTAN LINKLINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P25 MARCH PAKISTAN

Pak Beat Zimbabwe by 20 Runs in World Cup

BRISBANE: Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 20 runs to claim their first win of the World Cup recently and so keep their campaign alive. Chasing 236 to win, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 215 with Pakistan left-arm seamers Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz taking four wickets apiece at Brisbane's Gabba ground. Brendan Taylor top-scored for the Africans with 50. Earlier, captain Misbah-ul-Haq struck a defiant 73 as Zimbabwe held Pakistan to 235 for seven. Misbah strode to the crease with

his side in desperate trouble at 4-2 at the end of the fourth over and was out 121 balls later in the 47th with Pakistan 202-7. Wahab Riaz struck a career-best 54 from 46 balls at the end of the innings to lift Pakistan, who struggled throughout their 50 overs against a spirited Zimbabwe attack. Pakistan have been in terrible form during the World Cup, suffering big losses in their opening games against India and the West Indies. They began just as poorly on Sunday, losing openers Nasir

Jamshed (1) and Ahmad Shahzad (0) inside the first four overs to some superb seam bowling from Tendai Chatara. Haris Sohail (27) and Misbah steadied the ship, but they crawled along at a snail's pace, taking 18.4 overs to reach 50 runs. Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura brought on part-time spinner Sikandar Raza to use up some overs, and the change paid off immediately as a disbelieving Haris pulled a long hop straight to Sean Williams at midwicket. Pakistan promoted Umar Akmal ahead of Sohaib Maqsood and the wicketkeeper set about lifting the run rate, but after scoring 33 from 42 balls he was deceived by a straight ball from the left-arm spin of Williams and was bowled. Williams struck again two balls later when he got one to turn sharply past Shahid Afridi's outside edge and take off stump to leave Pakistan 1275 after 34 overs. It was a miserable way for Afridi to celebrate his 35th birthday. Craig Ervine dropped the dangerous Maqsood (21) on eight, but the missed chance didn't prove too costly, with Tawanda Mupawira taking a simple catch off his own bowling to leave the Pakistanis struggling on 155-6. Riaz came to the crease and gave solid support to Misbah, but when his skipper departed the 29-year-old took over, smashing six fours and a six as Zimbabwe's pace attack faltered towards the end. J

PCB Boss Says 'Chapter Closed' in Moin Khan's Casino Controversy Post Apology

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan has put an end to the Moin Khan's casino controversy, calling the chapter as 'closed' following the chief selector's apology over the issue. Earlier, PCB had recalled its chief selector Moin Khan from the ongoing World Cup after he allegedly visited a casino in Christchurch, New Zealand on the eve of a group stage match. Reflecting on the matter,

Shahryar said that Moin realised that it was inappropriate to have visited a casino ahead of Pakistan's match against the West Indies, adding that Moin reiterated that he only had dinner over there and nothing else, the Dawn reported. Calling the matter as closed, Shahryar further said that Moin had apologised as he admitted that perhaps a casino was not the right place to have dinner.

However, Shahryar confirmed that Moin would not be travelling back to Australia. Pakistan scraped out a 20-run win over Zimbabwe on Sunday in Brisbane after suffering humiliating defeats against the West Indies and India in their first two matches. Pakistan will next meet the United Arab Emirates in their fourth Pool B match at Napier, New Zealand recently. J

Hashim Amla, du Plessis Tons Pummel Ireland

CANBERRA: Just another day with 400 scored in a one-day international. Twice in two innings South Africa have now crossed the milestone, this time anchored by hundreds from Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, as they overwhelmed Ireland by 201 runs which did severe damage to their net run rate, which could be a factor in quarter-final qualification. Given the margin it is stretching the point to suggest one dropped catch changed the game, but Ireland found out how costly it can be to reprieve Amla when he was shelled on 10 by Ed Joyce at short midwicket. It would have left South Africa 25 for 2. Amla and du Plessis forged a 247-run stand for the second wicket before Rilee Rossouw and David Miller closed the innings with a partnership of 110 off 51 balls for the fifth wicket. They could even afford for AB de Villiers to fall for 24 - albeit off nine balls - and still enjoy a super-charged finish. Rossouw brought up the 400 with his third six, clubbed over deep midwicket in the final over which cost 24, to carry South Africa beyond 400 for the third time this year. Next stop, 450. Ireland have not been frightened by chasing 300 at World Cups, having done it successfully three times including against West Indies in this tournament, but this target would have been beyond their compass even without such a terminal early slide to 48 for 5 against South Africa's pace attack. Kyle Abbott continued to flourish as Vernon Philander's understudy with 4 for 21. The Brendon McCullum School Of Captaincy would have been to aim for the swift finish, but de Villiers opted to try a few of his fifth-bowler combinations (including himself, with the reward of a wicket) and Ireland showed their spirit. Andy Balbirnie, who was picked out by many of his team-mates before the tournament as a player to watch, struck a plucky half-century from 66 balls and Kevin O'Brien hit 48 which moved the defeat away from record-breaking territory. The lowerorder runs could yet be crucial in future calculations. There was inevitability to South Africa's mammoth total once Amla and du Plessis had settled them-

Hashim Amla became the fastest to 20 ODI centuries, Ireland v South Africa, World Cup 2015, Group B, Canberra.

selves inside the opening Powerplay. The ten-over splits highlighted the team's seamless progress: 57, 58, 66, 99 and 131 - the last block dominated by Rossouw, with 27-ball fifty, and Miller. Amla's hundred, his 20th in his 108th innings, which made him comfortably the fastest to that landmark, came at a calculated run-a-ball and as he skipped past his previous best of 153 with nine overs remaining, the second double-hundred of the tournament was there for the taking before he picked out long-off. J

Fight for Quarter-Final Place is Tough: Misbah-ul-Haq Misbah-ul-Haq speaks to the media prior to training ahead of their World Cup Pool B match against United Arab Emirates in Napier. AFP NAPIER: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hopes his team's exhausting trans-Tasman flight schedule won't undermine their World Cup hopes as they prepare to tackle the amateurs of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. "The next six days are going to be very tough for us with flights and three games but that's how it is," said Misbah. Pakistan flew to Brisbane from Christchurch last week to play Zimbabwe and then hopped back to New Zealand to play UAE at Napier Park on Wednesday and then South Africa in Auckland on March 7. Their pool stage games end in Adelaide against Ireland on March 15. Misbah said the long gaps between games break the momentum of preparation after Pakistan's opening game against India in Adelaide on Feb 15 was followed by a meeting with the West Indies in Christchurch six days later. "You don't get rhythm so it's tough for any team as you have to play in different conditions and

weather but you can't change that. We have to put this aside, handle it and this is the only way out. "These are very important games. We have to travel almost after every game so that could be really challenging but we have to do that." Misbah said confidence was on the rise after the narrow 20-run win over Zimbabwe, their first in the World Cup on Sunday which gave

them two points in three outings. "Of course a win is always good for confidence and everybody is feeling good and looking forward to tomorrow's game," said Misbah, who admitted the fight for a quarter-final place was tough. "This pool is open. Anything can happen and every game is important in this pool, all the teams are still interested in making the quarter-

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finals. "We are also fighting for the quarter-finals. We have to go out there and improve our performance. "We have to do it if we want to go into the next round and perform tomorrow, then against South Africa and then against Ireland (March 15) and if we are unable to perform in one game then we are out of the tournament."

Ireland, who were facing South Africa on Tuesday, have four points in two games while the West Indies have four points in four. Title holders India and South Africa are favourites to take the top two slots in Pool B. If teams finish on equal points, they will be separated on number of wins and then net run-rate, something which Misbah said his team will look to boost against the UAE. "I think that net run-rate is another question," said Misbah, whose team stands at -1.37 after 76-run and 150-run losses in their first two matches. "It all depends on how we start, if you have a good start we can capitalise. We couldn't get a good start and struggled to beat Zimbabwe so if we have control over the game on Wednesday then we can push for the net run-rate." Despite the top order failure, Misbah stressed opener Nasir Jamshed, who has a duck and one in the last two games, will keep his place. "Nasir has played just two innings, not nine or ten so we have to look at it then and decide. Cricket is a game of uncertainties, you get four five poor innings and suddenly you have a hundred. J

COMMENTARY

P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 6, 2015

Traditional IRA or Roth IRA? Reasons to Take the Roth IRA Plunge - 2 n By Saghir Aslam Rawalpindi, Pakistan (The following information is provided solely to educate the Muslim community about investing and financial planning. It is hoped that the Ummah will benefit from this effort through greater financial empowerment, enabling the community to live in security and dignity and fulfill their religious and moral obligations towards charitable activities) After Changing to a Roth, would you still need your Accountant? No. There would be nothing for the accountant to figure out. Once you begin withdrawing money out of a traditional IRA, the headaches begin. First, if you made nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA, you may have a tough time figuring out what portion of each withdrawal is taxable. Second, after you turn 70 ½, you have to contend with minimum distribution requirements, which force you to withdraw at least some money each year from your IRA. But if you convert your IRA to a Roth IRA, both these hassles disappear. Suppose you and your spouse earn more than $160,000 a year, which means you don’t qualify for the Roth. Instead, your only choice is to make nondeductible IRA contributions. Deterred by the potential accounting headaches associated with a nondeductible IRA? Don’t be. You can kill off the problem when you retire, by converting your IRA to a Roth. To be eligible for the conversion, your MISCONDUCT FROM P8

sexual abuse. They too are vulnerable to every vice that human beings have ever indulged in. The religious clergy involved in these acts finds itself protected. It repeats a few verses of the Qur’an and a few statements of the Prophet in a mesmerizing manner to convince an already captive audience to hide its sins against God and crimes against humanity. It is true that not everyone in the clergy is involved in these acts. Yet the absence of any defined policies and the despotic and dictatorial way in which most Islamic institutions are run raise doubts about the character of many. The community leadership must act with responsibility if they are serious in their commitment to Islam and preserving it for their future generation. The protection of children as well as men and women is part of the social obligation that the leadership contracts with the community once it assumes that position. It cannot act in an irresponsible or arrogant manner by protecting the accused and denying victims the rights to seek justice to their grievances and injustices inflicted upon. There are some measures that the Chicago community as well as the Muslim community in general must take if it really wants to effectively handle the situation.. Steps the Chicago Community should take: 1. Ensure that the victim and her family are provided full protec-

income has to be $100,000 or less. Similarly, if you convert your IRA to a Roth, you are no longer bound by the minimum distribution requirements. That means you can leave money in your retirement account for longer and thus benefit even more from the Roth’s tax-free growth. I am sure you will enjoy all of the benefits of the Roth IRA. Leave them Smiling If you leave behind a large inheritance, your heirs will remember you fondly. If you leave that large inheritance in a traditional IRA, those fond memories may lose some of their luster. Here’s the problem. If anybody other than your spouse inherits a regular IRA they will potentially owe both estate taxes on the inheritance and income taxes on the IRA withdrawals. When money is withdrawn from the IRA, your heirs can take a tax deduction for the federal estate taxes paid. But many people don’t take the deduction, either out of ignorance or because they don’t itemize. If they do take the deduction, it is horribly complicated.

tion and access to legal help. 2. The accused should not be given any religious podium by any religious institution for ever. 3. The school that the community helped build should be taken away from his family and a group of Islamic academics from Chicago should be given the responsibility to run it. 4. The matter should be left to the court. 5. Even if the accused accepts his crime and apologizes, he should not be religiously rehabilitated in the community. 6 Sensitivity training should be given to the staff and students as well as board members. 7. Trained councilors should be hired to deal with this situation. The steps the Muslim Community in general should take: 1. General policy guidelines should be created to deal with these situations. 2. Employees of the Islamic institutions should be given orientation on this policy. 3. Students should be given orientation about such policies. 4. Any violation of law should be reported to the police. 5. Muslim institutions should not be considered the property of a family or ethnicity if those institutions are built by Muslim resources. 6. Rules of khalwa (privacy) should be elaborated and the community should be educated about them. Let us hope that someone in the community listens to the cries

You can eliminate all these hassles for your heirs, by converting your IRA to a Roth. They may still owe estate taxes but the income-tax bill will be gone. Moreover, if you convert to a Roth, your heirs will be able to take withdrawals over their life expectancy, provided they follow the tax rules. That ensures that they will get years and years of tax-free growth. By contrast, if somebody other than your spouse inherits your regular IRA, the rules are much more restrictive, and your heirs may be compelled to empty the account almost immediately. I really like people to do Roth conversions for estate-planning purposes. But because of the pitfalls, if we are talking about a person with a $100,000 IRA, it’s worth paying someone to crunch the numbers. This isn’t slam-dunk. Check with you accountant if a Roth IRA is right for you. I believe people should convert to Roth IRAs. May Allah (SWT) help us all to make the right decision. (Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given. Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, nor does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)

of the victims and do what is recommended and often mandated by the Qur’an. (Dr Aslam Abdullah is the editor of the Muslim Observer, published from Detroit, as well as director of the Islamic Society of Nevada) ENTHUSIASM FROM P6

on “good Taliban” who advance strategic objectives across the border? Will the politicians stop supporting organizations banned by law but still operating openly? Will preaching hate against other religions or neighboring countries stop? Will Pakistan go beyond just condemning terrorist violence when it occurs instead of preventing it? as well as several second-tier cities like Mangalore, and none would compare favorably on maintenance and city planning, especially when it came to potholes and waste management. This was the first surprise; I was expecting that piles of garbage and dirt would line the roads and beggars would overflow onto the streets. Surely there is dirt and poverty in Karachi, but far less than I was expecting. Karachi was also less dense and crowded than India’s cities. My second pleasant surprise was to see numerous large development projects under way. I had read about Pakistan’s sluggish GDP growth and corruption in public works and foreign aid disbursement. This may be true, but construction was going on all over the place: new movie theaters, new malls, new skyscrapers, new roads, and entire new neighborhoods being built from scratch. In this regard it was similar to

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Marriage Support Hidaya Foundation supports impoverished families who are trying to get their daughters married by providing basic items necessary for newlywed girls, including dresses, shoes, utensils, bedding, fans, sewing machines, and more, along with some financial assistance to offset marriage expenses. Depending on the region, it costs approximately $200 to $300 to support the marriage of one young woman.

Donate Zakat & Sadaqah for Marriage Support.

Hidaya Foundation 866.2.HIDAYA | www.hidaya.org Hidaya Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization with Tax ID # 77-0502583

Exchange Rates for Currency Notes* Countries

USA UK S.Arabia Japan Euro UAE

Buying Rs.

Selling Rs.

101.30 156.74 27.01 0.8532 114.96 27.58

101.50 157.05 27.06 0.8549 115.19 27.63

(*25 February, 2015) US VISA AVAILABILITY IN MARCH 2015 For Pakistan, Bangladesh & India Compiled by Hasan Chishti FAMILY SPONSORED PREFERENCES

Pakistan/Bangladesh

India

1 Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. Citizens

August 1, 2007

2-A Spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents

June 22, 2013

2-B Unmarried sons & daughters (21 years of age or older) of permanent residents

July 8, 2008

3rd Married sons & daughters of US citizens Jan., 22, 2004 4

Brothers & sisters of adult U.S. citizens

May 15, 2002

Jan., 22, 2004 May 15, 2002

EMPLOYMENT BASED CATEGORY 1st Priority workers

Current

2nd Members of the professions holding advanced degree or persons of exceptional ability

Current

Jan., 1, 2007

3rd Skilled workers Other workers

June, 1, 2014 June, 1, 2014

Jan., 1, 2004 Jan., 1, 2004

4th Certain special immigrants Certain religious workers

Current Current

5th Employment creation Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers and Pilot Programs

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

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P27

Issues and Questions Du’a after Fard Prayers, Fasting in Shawal, Nikah through E-mail

Gems from the Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi Q. Is there any Dalil from the sayings of Prophet (saw) or his practice that he used to say collective Du’a or supplications after each Fard Salah. In our community we have a difference of opinion. Basically, our Arab brothers are saying that Prophet (saw) did not say the Du’a collectively, therefore, we should not do it, while others say that he (saw) has done it. I would really appreciate if you could clarify this matter. A. There is a great reward in making Du’a after the Fard prayers. It is reported in a Hadith that the Prophet - peace be upon him - was asked, “Which Du’a is more heard (by Allah)?” The Prophet - peace be upon him - said, “The Du’a during the last part of the night and after the Fard prayers,” (see al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 3421). Imam Bukhari and Muslim have mentioned many Adhkar and Du’as of the Prophet - peace be upon him - that he used to make after the Fard prayers. This means that the Prophet used to make these Du’as audibly (bil-jihr). Many Sahabah have mentioned such Adhkar and the Du’as that they heard from the Prophet - peace be upon him. I am sure the Sahabah used to sit and listen to those Adhkar and Du’as from the Prophet - peace be upon him. It is a good habit to make Dhikr and Du’a after the Fard prayers. It is, however, not mentioned that the Prophet - peace be upon him - used to have a collective Dhikr or Du’a after each prayer. He never asked the Sahabah to sit with him after the prayer to make Du’a with him. Thus, we can say that it is permissible for the Imam to make Du’a audibly or quietly after the Fard Salah. However, it is up to the people to stay or not to stay. Those who want they can stay and make the Du’a with the Imam or by themselves and those who want to leave without making Du’a or to begin their Sunnah prayers, they can do so. Muslims should not make it an issue of division or dissension among them. It is not right to insist on all Musallis to stay until the Du’a is finished and it is also not right to

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.)

criticize those who make Du’a with their Imam after the Salah. For the sake of those who want to make Sunnah immediately, it is better that the Imam make a short or quiet Du’a after Zuhr, Maghrib and Isha prayers, but he may make an audible and longer Du’a after Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. And if the Imam sometimes leaves without making a Du’a that is also permissible. Q. Is it allowed to perform Nikah through email? A. According to Muslim jurists, it is not permissible to marry someone by mail or phone. The same thing can be said about the email. Marriage in Islam is a formal legal contract. It should be very clear who is marrying whom. The Shari’ah emphasizes the announcement of marriage and does not allow any ambiguity in this matter. It is for this reason that witnesses for Nikah are necessary. If the parties who want to get married are not present, they can appoint a Wakil (representative). The person who is getting married has to appoint his/her Wakil. It is permissible to appoint a Wakil through telephone, fax or email. The Wakil then should do the Ijab or Qubool, in person, on behalf of the person who appointed him. Two witnesses who also personally know the party

that is not present are necessary for the contract of marriage. Q. If a person has doubt in his Salah whether he prayed three rak’ah or four, what should he do? A. The rule of the Shari’ah is that in the case of doubt, one should follow that which is certain or more probable. It is reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet - peace be upon him - said, “If a person among you had a doubt in his prayer and did not know whether he prayed three or four, then he should leave the doubt and follow that which is certain. Then he should make two Sajdahs before the Salam. If he prayed five rak’ah then the two Sajdahs would make even his prayer. But if he prayed four, then these Sajdahs would disgrace the Shaitan.” (Muslim, Hadith no. 888.) In another Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is mentioned that if one had doubt in his prayer, then he should do that which is most likely or probable and then at the end he should make two Sajdahs for Sahw. (see Hadith no. 386) So if a person had a doubt whether he prayed three or four Raka’at, then three is certain. In this case he should add one more rak’ah to complete four and then at the end make two Sajdahs for Sahw. But if he has more inclination that he prayed four, then he should not add another rak’ah; he should only make two Sajdahs for Sahw at the end of the prayer. Q. What is the significance of fasting in the month of Shawwal? Is this based on the Qur’an and Sunnah? Please enlighten. A. Fasting of six days in the month of Shawwal is mentioned in a Hadith of the Prophet peace be upon

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him. He said, “Whosoever observes fast in Ramadan and then follows up with six fasts in Shawwal, will be regarded as though he had been fasting every day.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith no. 1984) The meaning is that the reward is like the reward of a person who is always in fast every day of his/her life. It is highly recommended to fast six days in Shawwal, but it is not obligatory (fard). For those who want to fast, it is better that they start fasting from the second day of Shawwal, but they can fast after the Eidul Fitr any six days during the whole month of Shawwal. It is not required to fast six days continuously without any interruption. One can fast according to convenience any time during the month and the fast is very much like the fasts of Ramadan. Q. I fast now regularly during Ramadan, but in the past I missed many fasts without any excuse. I regret that very much and I want to make up for the days that I missed. Please tell me how I could do that. A. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an obligation (fard) upon every adult Muslim who is not sick or on a journey. It is a sin to miss the fasts of Ramadan without any excuse. The Prophet - peace be upon him - said, “Whosoever broke even one fast of Ramadan without an excuse or sickness, even if he/ she fasted the whole life after that it will not compensate what he/she missed.” (Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith no. 655) Since you regret your negligence, I suggest that you repent sincerely and ask Allah’s forgiveness. Allah has promised that those who repent sincerely, Allah accepts their repentance and forgives them. You should also try to make up for your missed days. Calculate how many days of Ramadan you missed. Make qada’ for those days by fasting one day for each day that you missed. If you cannot then give the Kaffarah, which is a day’s meals or its value to be given to a needy person. We estimate about ten dollars per day for each day’s fast. Thus by doing these deeds, you may not be able to compensate totally for the missed days of Ramadan, but at least you will express your sincere repentance and effort to fulfill the commands of Allah.

About the translator: Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss, was born of Jewish parents in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in 1900, and at the age of 22 made his first visit to the Middle East. He later became an outstanding foreign correspondent for the Franfurter Zeitung, and after his conversion to Islam travelled and worked throughout the Muslim world, from North Africa to as far East as Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. After years of devoted study he became one of the leading Muslim scholars of our age. His translation of the Holy Qur’an is one of the most lucid and well-referenced works in this category. Chapter 23, Verses 1-11 Truly, to a happy state shall attain the believers: those who humble themselves in their prayer, and who turn away from all that is frivolous, and who are intent on inner purity; and who are mindful of their chastity, [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses – that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] -: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are transgressors; and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges, and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. It is they, they who shall be the inheritors that will inherit the paradise; [and] therein shall they abide. Chapter 23, Verses 72-75 Or dost thou [O Muhammad] ask of them any worldly recompense? But [they ought to know that] a recompense from thy Sustainer is best, since He is the best of providers! And, verily, thou callest them onto a straight way – but, behold, those who will not believe in the life to come are bound to deviate from that way. And even were We to show them mercy and remove whatever distress might befall them [in this life], they would still persist in their overweening arrogance, blindly stumbling to and fro. Chapter 23, Verses 91-92 Never did God take unto Himself any offspring, nor has there ever been any deity side by side with Him: [for, had here been any,] lo! Each deity would surely have stood apart [from the others] in whatever it had created, and they would surely have [tried to] overcome one another! Limitless in His glory is God, [far] above anything that men may devise by way of definition, knowing all that is beyond the reach of a GEMS, P29

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PAKISTAN GEMS FROM P27

created being’s perception as well as all that can be witnessed by a creature’s senses or mind – and, hence, sublimely exalted is He above anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity. GIRL FROM P24

hope that you understand our point of view as well so we can move forward toward equality and peace in our country and the world. (Alisha Ahmed is a junior at St. Francis Catholic High School, vicechair of the Sacramento Youth Commission, and a volunteer for local Islamic organizations and mosques. - Courtesy The Sacramento Bee) AMERICANA FROM P13

Pakistan once released. Recalling their previous visit to the country the band members spoke of how their experiences during both trips have been similar with the major difference being that they got a chance to hear some of the local music during this trip. It has not all been smooth-sailing for the group as the week-long tour of the city seems to have finally taken a toll on them with some of the band members falling sick and missing out on one of their final performances in the city at Dar-ul-Sukun. Talking about their future projects the group is hopeful of releasing an album later this year only if they “can get home long enough to finish it.”McBride will be coming back to perform with local musicians at the Music Mela in April and plans on returning for an extended tour sometime in the near future. PTI FROM P1

horse trading in Pakistan’s politics. With the Senate polls approaching, the issue of horse-trading has been debated heatedly in the past few weeks. The KP Assembly, in particular, passed a unanimous resolution against the use of money to buy votes in Senate election. There were even talks of a 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, whereby Senate polls would have taken place by show of hands instead of secret ballots. The proposition was also backed by PML-N in addition to the PTI and its coalition members. But the government was unable to gather enough support from other political parties to table the bill. In such a scenario, there are fears that some MPs may deviate from party lines and not vote for their party’s nominated candidates in the upcoming Senate election. According to another report, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that if PTI’s members in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do not vote tomorrow for their own party candidates then he will disband the KP Assembly. Speaking to the media regarding tomorrow’s Senate elections, the PTI chief said that he has informed his MPAs that if anybody is found guilty of selling their vote they will be put behind bars. He added that PTI would take strong action against those selling their conscience for money. Khan further said that the core committee of PTI will decide day after on action to be taken for the next polls. He went on to say that if PTI came into power, they would conduct the Senate polls ‘live’ through the votes of the people.

MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29 NAWAZ FROM P1

and security, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. This is the premier’s first official visit to the Kingdom since King Salman bin Abdul Aziz assumed the throne. Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, Governor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Bandar and a number of princes and ministers — accompanied by Saudi military leadership — were also present at the airport to receive the prime minister. King Salman bin Abdulaziz accompanied the Prime Minister from the airport to his Palace, where he hosted a luncheon in his honor. The luncheon was followed by official talks with the King. The premier is accompanied by a high-level delegation which includes Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Punjab Mr Shahbaz Sharif, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi. In his pre-departure statement, the PM had said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are brotherly countries which are tied in bonds of shared faith and values. He added that the relationship between the two countries has grown stronger with the passage of time. WARM RELATIONS: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said the presence of King Salman to receive the PM at Riyadh airport spoke volumes of not only warm personal relations between the two leaders but also close ties between the two countries. The minister, in a statement here, said that the government and people of Pakistan were indebted to the people and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their love and affection for the people and leadership of Pakistan. He thanked the Saudi leadership for the affection shown, which he said reflected the esteem with which they hold the leadership and people of Pakistan. EARLIER REPORT: As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif departed on Wednesday on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, reports suggest that Riyadh is set to press the premier to boost the number of Pakistani troops in the Kingdom to fight militants, including the Islamic State. However, as per a report published in Gulf News, Islamabad is cautious about broadening its security relationship with Riyadh. “There is uncertainty in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia deals with the wider Islamic State“Pakistan has to be careful to avoid getting embroiled in a relationship with the Saudis which only exposes us to new controversies.” Riyadh is concerned about Islamic State, which has taken over large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, seeking to target the kingdom. “The Saudis are very keen to boost their security apparatus, and Pakistan as a friend with a history of services to the kingdom is of great interest,” a western diplomat said. Similar to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia faces a militant threat. However, the two countries face challenges in their bilateral relations as the simmering issue of foreign funding to Madrassahs topped an agenda of the National Action Plan to wipe out terrorism. After nearly a year-long denial, authorities in the Punjab government finally admitted that some 17 Muslim and non-Muslim countries were contributing hundreds of millions of rupees to around 1,000 religious seminaries in the province. The last time PM Nawaz met King

Salman bin Abdul Aziz was when he was still the crown prince. The premier has taken the then crown prince into confidence about measures taken to tackle terrorism and militancy in Pakistan and discussed trade and economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. GROUND FROM P1

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a statement that both countries need to start a new chapter in their relationship. When asked whether any plans were made for future talks, Chaudhry said both sides would reflect on Tuesday’s meetings and then decide how to proceed. The biggest sticking point in the relationship between India and Pakistan is Kashmir, a Himalayan region both claim. Relations were also severely damaged by the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which India blames on Pakistani militants. “I reiterated our known concerns on cross-border terrorism, including on the Mumbai case,” Jaishankar said. In a sign of progress, Sharif attended the oath-taking of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi last May. But in August, India called off talks after Islamabad’s ambassador in New Delhi met with Kashmiri separatist leaders. Tensions escalated late last year when both countries traded fire along the de-facto border, killing several people. During Tuesday’s meeting, “we agreed that ensuring peace and tranquility on the border was vital,” Jaishankar said. From the Pakistani side, Chaudhry said he stressed the importance of Kashmir to his country. “We need to make a concerted effort to resolve this dispute,” he said. – Courtesy AP HOLIDAYS FROM P1

school. This is a common sense change, and one that recognizes our growing Muslim community and honors its contributions to our City,” a statement released by the New York department of education quoted him. “We as a city need to do more to deepen our connection to Muslim communities all over the city.” Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said that the new addition will also “enable a teachable moment in the classroom for our students to learn about religious tolerance and the societal contributions of various cultures.” With this change, New York’s schools join other school districts in states such as Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey which close in observance of Muslim holidays. Current school regulations in the state allowed students to be excused absence from school for their religious and cultural observances, though it still meant those children would miss classes. “With Muslim students representing nearly 10% of our overall pub-

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lic school enrollment, today’s announcement is an important lesson in respecting and celebrating the great diversity of our City,” said the Executive Director of DC 37Henry Garrido. Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid, President of the Islamic Leadership Council of Metropolitan New York, welcomed the move. “The Majlis Ash-Shura (Islamic Leadership Council) of Metropolitan New York welcomes this latest affirmation of the will and hope of Muslim New Yorkers, who continue during difficult times to claim our place in American society, by demanding equal rights and recognition for our faith community.” EFFICACY FROM P1

cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and noted that Pakistan-India tensions threatened regional security. Appearing in the same hearing, Under Secretary of Defense Christine Wormuth said the United States would continue to work with Pakistan and the Central Asian states to address existing and emerging threats in the region. “Pakistan is an important partner in our fight against al Qaeda, and plays a role in Afghanistan’s security. Sustained US support that recognizes positive developments in these initiatives will help to promote long-term regional stability,” Wormuth emphasized. In his statement, Gen Austin said amidst the challenges posed by the current situation in Afghanistan is the opportunity to foster a strong relationship between the United States and Afghanistan and with other partner nations in the Central and South Asia (CASA) sub-region. “In particular, this would contribute to improved Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, which would allow for increased counter-terrorism cooperation in the region, along with possibilities for reconciliation,” the military commander, responsible for the larger Middle East operations, said. In the regional perspective, Austin noted that tension between Pakistan and India also continue to threaten regional stability and largely drives Pakistan’s regional strategy, especially as it relates to Afghanistan. “Our drawdown from Afghanistan has created an opportunity to normalize our relationships with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and this may, in turn, encourage the two countries to find

common ground in countering the VEOs (violent extremist organizations) operating in their border region. We are working to identify and facilitate implementation of confidence-and trust-building measures between Pakistan and Afghanistan to further reduce border tensions and increase military cooperation.” “We have made substantial progress in our efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan over the past year. We are encouraged by the leaderships’ commitment to counter-insurgency operations in the FATA and openness to improve relations with Afghanistan,” he said, citing improvement in US-Pakistan relations. At the same time, he referred to challenges facing Pakistan, saying violent extremists operating in the country exploit conditions for their own purposes and hinder the security forces’ ability to protect the population from terrorist attacks. The US-Pakistan military-to-military relationship continues to improve, he said. Key contributing factors are the FMF, international military education and training, and the Coalition Support Fund. “In December 2014, we addressed respective expectations for the scope and scale of our future military-to-military engagements. We also prioritized our security cooperation at the Defense Consultative Group Conference with the goal to help Pakistan to build additional capacity in support of their counter-insurgency and CT operations and other common objectives.” Pakistan, he said, will likely continue to face the threat of VEOs for the foreseeable future. WAQAR FROM P1

match against UAE. “I don´t think it´s a major concern,” said Waqar after the match. “He has an issue with his gluteus and it´s an old problem. “Irfan will be fine in the next couple of days and will play against South Africa.” Irfan, the tallest ever cricketer at 7 feet one inch, managed to bowl just three overs and hurt his hip in the field on Wednesday. The 32-year-old paceman has taken six wickets in the tournament with a best of 4-30 against Zimbabwe in Brisbane on Sunday. He will be a key player in Pakistan´s cruicial game against South Africa in Auckland on Saturday.

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he second episode of 'Tonite With HSY' featured the oh-sofamous off-screen couple, ruggedly handsome Danish Taimoor and pretty Ayza Khan, as they candidly shared stories of their marriage and declared that they were 'Team Fawad'. Danish, who has done more than a 100 telefilms along with many dramas, will soon be seen as Billu in Yasir Jaswal's debut film Jalaibee. The actor, who is known for being a loner, keeping aloof from his other co-stars, revealed that he is an ardent cricket fan and a horror movie buff. He also shared that he loves music and is an exceptional mimic -- mimicking the likes of Humayun Saeed or even host Hasan Shehryar Yasin himself. Danish keeps himself updated on all things Bollywood and Lollywood and didn't hesitate to name Ali Zafar, Imran Abbas and Fawad Khan as Pakistan's top three actors. "Fawad. I think he has that class. He is brilliant in his acting circle- I think neither Pakistan nor India have anyone better than him. So he'll be the next big thing," said Danish. While Danish has been in the industry for quite some time now, Ayza is fairly new. She's made quite a name for herself a short time, though she said she felt other actors do a tad better job than her. It does turn out, though, that Ayza was Pakistan's number one celebrity to be searched on Google last year. Her drama Pyare Afzal alongside Hamza Ali Abbasi shot her to new heights of fame. The actor loves commercial films which involve ghagra,choli and dance moves but would never do one because she believes a Pakistani audience wouldn't accept her that way. She also added that she wouldn't do the same for Bollywood either because if something doesn't seem fit for Pakistan, it shouldn't work out in India either.

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MARCH 6, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P31

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