Pakistan Link - October 3, 2014 by PL PUBLICATIONS

Pakistan Link

VOL. 24/40 - 9 Dhul-Hijjah 1435 H PAGE 12

Bilawal Apologizes to Party Workers

The Largest Circulated Pakistani-American Newspaper in North America

Friday, October 3, 2014

PAGE 19

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Pak-China Economic Corridor to Revive Economy

Cultural Fusion – East Meets West on the North Side

PM Criticizes India over Collapse of Kashmir Talks

Pakistan Welcomes US-Afghan Agreement

United Nations: Prime Minister

Under the terms of the agreement, 12,000 foreign military personnel are expected to stay after 2014 when the combat mission of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force in Afghanistan ends. The source also said that Wednesday’s meeting was a follow-up after the premier’s talk with US Vice President Joe Biden in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. A spokesman for the PM House said the two discussed bilateral relations. Sartaj Aziz: Welcoming the new security agreement Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan has always maintained the stance that it is an issue between the USA and Afghanistan.

Nawaz Sharif criticized India in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday for withdrawing from planned peace talks over the disputed region of Kashmir. “We were disappointed at the cancellation of the foreign secretarylevel talks by India,” Sharif told the 193 member countries of the General Assembly. “The world community, too, rightly saw it as another missed opportunity.” Sharif has made improving relations with India a political priority. Pakistan, he said, wanted to resolve the problem “through negotiations.” Sharif traveled to India’s capital, New Delhi, in May for the inauguration of Narendra Modi as the country’s prime minister. The visit raised hopes of progress in the six-decadeold dispute, which has resulted in one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders. Those hopes stalled in August when India announced it was withdrawing from the planned peace KASHMIR, P29

Documentary ‘Outlawed in Pakistan’ Brings Emmy Home

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shakes hands with US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson — File photo

Islamabad: US Ambassa-

dor to Pakistan Richard Olson called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday at the Prime Minister House and briefed the premier on the Border Security Agree-

ment (BSA) recently signed between the US and Afghanistan and assured that Pakistan’s reservation would e paid adequate attention, a senior government source told Dawn.

Newly sworn in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had Tuesday signed the long-delayed security pact allowing American troops to stay in Afghanistan after the end of the year.

AGREEMENT, P29

Political Crisis Carries over to Overseas Youth

New York: It was almost a month before Prime Minister

‘Outlawed in Pakistan’ team members celebrate their triumph – Photo courtesy M. Ali’s Instagram

Karachi: Outlawed in Pakistan, a

short film made by Pakistani-Canadian journalist Habiba Nosheen and German journalist Hilke Schellmann, has won an Emmy Award for its heart-wrenching story of a rape survivor, Kainat Soomro. The story portrays the young Pakistani girl who was allegedly raped on her way back home from school by four men in a rural village in Sindh. The 45-minute film was one of the 15 short documentary films to be screened at the

DOCUMENTARY, P29

US & Canada $1.00

Nawaz Sharif ’s address at the 69th United Nations General Assembly Session when Pakistanis in the US started circulating a note on social media to gather outside the UN Headquarters and welcome the Prime Minister with ‘Go Nawaz Go’ chants, reports Maha Mussadaq in The Express Tribune. Friday morning, sounds of beating drums and loud music echoed from the 47th Street close to UN Headquarters. Hundreds of people started assembling swinging flags of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and chanting ‘Go Nawaz Go’. They had come with the hope of chanting slogans against Nawaz Sharif as his car would pass the avenue to enter. Pakistani nationals settled in US and Canada had travelled miles to support PTI and register their protest. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Junaid Bashir, a PTI supporter from Virginia said more than 200 people had come in two buses, mini vans and fifteen cars from Chicago, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Atlanta, Boston to support the cause. “Go Nawaz Go. Go Nawaz Go” chants picked momentum as more people started filling the space. “I work with a medical company here on daily wages and for me each day counts. But when I heard about this protest, I decided to make a sacrifice and try to do my bit for the country,” said Jamal Khokhar from New Jersey.

Pakistani kids demonstrate in New York. Courtesy Tracy Jarrett, NBC

In another story ‘Pakistan’s Political Crisis Carries Over to US Youth’ Tracy Jarrett reported for the NBC: Thousands of Pakistani protesters crowded the streets across from the United Nations Headquarters Friday, while the country’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, addressed world leaders at the General Assembly. Among the crowd were many US-raised Pakistanis, most of whom have never even been to the country but feel strong ties to a place that they say intensely defines who they are and their hopes for the future. YOUTH, P22

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Threats Can’t Force Mid-term Polls: Shah

Islamabad: Opposition Leader in

the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah has said that threats cannot force mid-term elections in the country and the PPP does not support any such action. “It will not be appropriate, if someone talks about mid-term polls in a threatening manner. I personally don’t approve of this. However, it will be a different issue, if a situation arises that (the Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif himself decides to go for mid-term polls,” Mr Shah said while talking to reporters here on Tuesday. Peoples Party (PPP) leader

SHAH, P29

Musharraf Senses ‘Winds of Change’ in Country Karachi: Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday that he can sense ‘winds of change’ blowing in Pakistan. Musharraf, appearing via video conference wearing a traditional Sindhi Ajrak shawl on his shoulders, was speaking to workers of his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) in Karachi. “I can sense winds of change blowing in Pakistan. The demonstrators are within their right to protest; my sympathies are with them,” he said. Musharraf was referring to the anti-government protests led by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and firebrand cleric Dr Allama Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT). “Pakistan was in dire need of political change in the 2013 elections: a third force capable of good governance and able to steer the country to safer waters. This is why, despite all hurdles I decided to come back MUSHARRAF, P29

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OPINION

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n By Mowahid Hussain Shah

n mid-September in Springfield, Virginia, a large gathering of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, a first major legislative step to empower the black community with fundamental rights. There was no reference to the sacrifices of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, who firmly stamped their class in the American arena. Perhaps there remains an apparent fear of incurring the displeasure of the mainstream white establishment.

Defeatism, too, is a factor. Advocated was the legalization of marijuana on the grounds that a disproportionate number of blacks have been arrested or incarcerated because of marijuana possession or use. Race remains a cloud hovering over the American landscape. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders mentioned that no other US President faced the obstructionism encountered by Obama. Visiting Charleston, South Carolina was instructive. South Carolina was the first state in the US to secede from the Union in 1860. Six more states in the American South quickly followed, forming the rebel Confederacy in 1861, and igniting the US Civil War, which lasted through 1865, culminating in the surrender of the seceding South and assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Charleston was one of the wealthiest cit-

Out of Darkness

ies, and South Carolina was one of the wealthiest states. Its economic opulence was built and ensured by slave labor and

its mutiny from the Federation was the trauma of relinquishing privileged continuity. Without slave labor, the plantations were

There was no reference to the sacrifices of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, who firmly stamped their class in the American arena a particularly brutal plantation culture, wherein on large farms rice, tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane were grown. Underlying

unsustainable and could not operate. Though checked by law, the legacy of racism lingers. An ar-

ticle in the Charleston City Paper of September 9 pointed to the Southern white community’s “insistence that the black community as a whole is responsible for the criminal behavior of a select few young black men. More specifically, they are flabbergasted that the NAACP refused to address this problem.” A critic of the NAACP states: “Look at yourself. You are literally standing on the sidelines blaming everyone else while the black community kills itself … The organization is TOTALLY SILENT on the high amount of blacks killed by other blacks.” Interestingly, it is similar to the criticism heaped on the entire Muslim community for the misdeeds of the few. When Malcolm X went to Mecca, he witnessed first-hand the inclusive equality of Muslims paying homage to the ultimate and sole Superpower – the Almighty Allah. There, he had the eye-opening discovery of the corrupt futility of racist hate. Self-esteem comes through selfscrutiny. Many US blacks are uncomfortable with acknowledging the impact of Islam as a redemptive force showing a pathway out of darkness. Noteworthy to see is “12 Years A Slave,” which won the 2014 Oscar for Best Picture. Based on true events, the movie suggests that the massive cruelty of 19th century US slavery was partly enabled by black passivity. Appeasement of tyranny incites more tyranny. When the hero is advised by a fellow slave on what he must do to survive, he retorts: “I don’t want to survive; I want to live.”

Containers, Drones, Music, Social Media and the Urban Middle Class n By Riaz Haq

TI’s sit-in led by Imran Khan is setting new standards for political protest rallies in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of urban middle class Pakistanis are joining in to enthusiastically listen to the PTI chief ’s speeches from the top of a shipping container, with pauses filled with music and dance. Media drones hover overhead to cover the lively proceedings 24X7. Social media is abuzz with regular tweets and facebook posts from the attendees and their followers keeping millions updated on the proceedings of PTI’s over a month-long dharna in Islamabad. Urban Middle Class Historically, Pakistani politics has been dominated by feudal politicians who hold political rallies with their peasants in attendance who are guaranteed to cast their votes for their landlords in every election. The growth of the urban middle class in years 20002008 and the emergence of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) as a political force is changing all that. For the first time in the last 6+ decades, Pakistan’s middleclass city dwellers are participating in the political process by voting in elections and attending rallies. Shipping Containers Both the government and the PTI and PAT dharna organizers are making extensive use of shipping containers.

The government uses them to try and block the people’s participation in Opposition marches and rallies while the Opposition uses them to house leaders and the container roofs as raised platforms for making speeches. It seems that the containers have now become a must-accessory for the modern politician in Pakistan. The cost of converting such containers into mobile homes and speech platforms can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars. Journalism Drones Drones fitted with high-definition cameras are making history in drone journalism in Islamabad. Since tens of thousands of supporters of Imran Khan and Allama Tahir ul Qadri marched into Islamabad more than a month ago, there have been continuous live aerial images and spectacular videos of Pakistan Tehrike-Insaf ’s and Pakistan Awami Tehrik’s massive but peaceful sit-in protest broadcasts directly from Islamabad by

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several Pakistani TV channels. This breathtaking live drone camera coverage of a major media event has made drone journalism history in the South Asian country of over 180 million people. Music Well-timed pauses in Imran Khan’s speeches are filled with preselected music played by DJ Butt, a professional disk jockey. Thousands of attendees dance to the music drawing the ire of conservative right-wingers. Some of them dismiss it as just a concert while others pull out their wellworn fatwas declaring the whole thing “haram” (forbidden) in Islam. The government feels so threatened by it that they have arrested DJ Butt on terrorism charges. DJ Butt plays national and devotional songs during the course of the speeches - from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to Junoon to Ataullah Eesa Khelvi to some tracks especially created by Yousaf Salahuddin. A song played of-

ten at Imran Khan’s rallies is “Jab Ayega Imran/ Banega Naya Pakistan” by Ataullah Eesa Khelvi. Social Media PTI activists, and to a lesser extent PAT supporters, have dominated the social media in Pakistan for at least a month now to get their messages and news out to millions of Facebook and Twitter users in the country and across the world. Summary Regardless of the outcome of the PTI-PAT dharna (sit-in), the protest movement has already broken new ground in terms of the demographics of the participants and the effective use of shipping containers, drones, music and social media. The 24X7 TV coverage has also served to start a broad public discussion of corruption, nepotism, misrule and abuse of power by Pakistan’s ruling politicians.

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OPINION

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014 n By Syed Kamran Hashmi

Westfield, IN

hile talking to the BBC last week about the North Waziristan Operation, General Asim Bajwa, the Director General of ISPR, disclosed that the Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has lost the capability to launch coordinated assaults. “Because terrorists have been scattered, they are only able to carry out random attacks,” he boasted.“The second-level leadership of the banned TTP had been either killed or arrested during the operation.” This statement which comes straight from the horse’s mouth must not be ignored. It reinforces the commitment of our armed forces to assert the writ of the state even in those areas of the tribal belt where it was never established. Not too long ago, there was a time when fear possessed the hearts of Pakistanis. The terrorists had struck all the major cities one after another, killing tens of people and wounding hundreds in every attack. From Peshawar to Karachi, the streets were packed with the fallen bodies of Pakistani men, women and children, their lives inexpensive and their blood dispensable. Yet, the people in power did not show any resolve to bring the culprits to book, a strategy that allowed them to literally convert Pakistan into a slaughter house. What made our reputation worse was the general impression

Waziristan Operation: Is It Too Late? both in the local and international press that the deep state and the terrorist groups were hand in glove with each other - if not completely then at least on certain issues - even when the military installations and the offices of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were being targeted. As embarrassing as it was, Pakistanis having no clue of such a nexus, on the other hand, wished to fight the war against terrorism, united as one nation just like the Americans did after 9/11, but there was no one to fight for them or, if nothing else, at least to try to keep them united. Specially right wing political parties did everything they could to disunite the people. I am not sure why - although there are theories about them getting the instructions from Rawalpindi too - but they always chose one of the three options to misguide them: deliberately hide the ground realities from the people, adulterate the facts with their personal opinions or simply deny them while looking the other way because what lay in front of them was too onerous to confront or too odious to be shared with ordinary Pakistanis. Often times, they relied on lies about the local origin of most terrorists, their agenda to take over the state apparatus and their association with the international terror organizations like Al-Qaeda. In essence, they played an extremely divisive role. Further confusing their right leaning constituency, who although wanted to fight but was much more willing to identify USA as the enemy instead of local militia, these politicians used

terrorism as a political slogan to further spur anti-American sentiment, to score political points against their liberal yet more realistic rivals and to gain short-term popular support. Today, few months have gone by since the operation has begun in the North Waziristan(NWA). The military’s grip is firm on the undertak-

we must admit that it would be hard for the terrorists now to recruit, train and motivate enough foot soldiers to launch new attacks in the battle ground Pakistan. If we all agree on that point, and believe - as we should - that the backbone of the organizational structure of TTP has been shattered by the

The military’s grip is firm on the undertaking, its morale high with the support of the nation, and its death toll low because of superior technology and excellent planning ing, its morale high with the support of the nation and its death toll low because of superior technology and excellent planning, They have killed more than one thousand terrorists and they are satisfied with the speed and the extent of their victory. Notwithstanding that the top tier leadership has managed to slip out of Miran Shah into Afghanistan probably,

military onslaught, then the real question we have to ask ourselves is not only that how long it will take for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to go back to their homes, or what is the cost of keeping them in those camps, or what is our strategy to rehabilitate them in their home districts, but to ask why did we sacrifice fifty thousand people, all those

F m

men, women and children who will never be able to reach their homes back to loved ones and why did we wait for that long. I am seriously not ready to think that the people in power waited for almost a decade because they wanted to build a consensus or they believed in giving peace a chance or they held back to see the outcome of the dialogue process. They never wait, we all know that, nor do they care much about building a consensus or think high of negotiations led by the civilian authorities. And if they really wished for the nation to support them, they can modulate a consensus in a matter of few hours - what to talk about days or weeks. Remember, it took them fifteen days and one short video of a woman being flogged by Taliban in public to bring the whole country on one page for the Swat operation. The question becomes even more significant when the operation in North Waziristan has not turned out to be a huge challenge for the military. Neither the death toll is very high, as we discussed, nor the economy has suffered because of the intervention; on the contrary, if there had been less political turmoil in Islamabad, the economy according to some estimates would have been growing at faster pace than it had been in the last two or three years. We also need to ask ourselves why the nation is still kept in the dark about this delay. Why did, except for the few - the ones who may not be answerable to the public - no one knows about the obstacles? And if they have erred in their assessment, a mistake that has caused thousands of lives during the process, how could the nation make them accountable?

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OPINION n By Dr Mohammad Taqi

“

Florida

Strike harder, squeeze him, don’t leave any slack!

He’s very clever at finding ways out of impossible situations” — Aeschylus in Prometheus Bound. Seeing the artist Dirck Van Baburen’s painting Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan on a recent visit to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum brought to mind the above lines from the Greek tragedy and then immediately the imagery of the September 26, 1996 assassination of former Afghan President Dr Mohammed Najibullah by the Taliban. In Aeschylus’ work, the ‘power’ is giving instructions to the Vulcan to pin the mythical revolutionary down. There also seem to have been instructions in the case of Dr Najibullah’s assassination from a menacing power to its quislings. Peter Tomsen, the former US special envoy to Afghanistan, notes in his book The Wars of Afghanistan, “Najib’s entrapment and execution carried the hallmarks of a classic intelligence operation. The Taliban, on their own, would not have taken such elaborate precautions to avoid violating the UN’s diplomatic premises (where Dr Najibullah had taken sanctuary since stepping down in 1992).” Ambassador Tomsen has also noted, “Four Taliban, including, by one account, a Pakistani ISI officer disguised as Taliban, drove directly to the UN compound in a Japanese Datsun pickup. Their mission was to lure the former Afghan

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7

Dr Najibullah: The Afghan Prometheus

president out of the diplomatically protected UN premises.” Mullah Abdul Razzaq was the Taliban ringleader who carried out the torture, killing, mutilation and desecration of the corpses — a war crime by any definition — at the behest of his Pakistani minders. In her recent book The Wrong Enemy, the New York Times reporter Carlotta Gall has corroborated the US diplomat’s detailed account of murder most foul. The Pakistani security establishment did not want the Afghan Prometheus out alive. He had withstood the combined PakistaniArab-US onslaught through Afghan rebels and Arab mercenaries even after the Soviet withdrawal. In fact, Dr Najibullah inflicted the most humiliating defeat on the mujahideen in the March 1989 battle of Jalalabad after the Soviet pullout. But the Pakistani junta was perhaps more wary of Dr Najibullah’s Afghan nationalist credentials and a larger than life stature that he had attained on both sides of the Durand Line after the Soviet departure. His opponents knew that, if left alive, Dr Najibullah would continue to stand resolutely against Pakistani meddling in Afghanistan. Dr Najibullah was born in Kabul in 1947 to Mr Muhammad Akhtar, an Ahmadzai Pashtun of the Ghilzai tribal confederacy. The family originally hailed from Paktia. Dr Najibullah spent a few years in Peshawar where his father was posted as a trade attaché with the Afghan consulate. Dr Najibullah went to the Habibia High School and then to the faculty of medicine at

Kabul University. He was one of the leading lights of the student wing of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). His Kabul background drew him to the rather Persianized Parcham (the flag) faction, named thus after its party organ, of the PDPA. He was imprisoned at least twice during King Zahir Shah’s era for political activities on campus. He, along with his schoolmate Mahmud Biryalay — a stepbrother of the Parcham leader Babrak Karmal — contributed prolifically to the party organ. He got his medical degree in 1975 but never did practice medicine. Dr Najibullah became a member of the unified PDPA’s central committee in 1977, member of the Revolutionary Council after the Saur Revolution in 1978 and was elevated as a full member of the politburo in 1981. When the Khalq (the people) faction of the PDPA purged the Parchamites, especially Babrak Karmal’s confidants, after the 1978 revolution, Dr Najibullah was exiled to Iran as an ambassador. He

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was drawn closer to Babrak Karmal perhaps due to similar backgrounds but had a diametrically opposite style of leadership. While Karmal was rather standoffish, Dr Najibullah was a people’s man who could relate to the Afghans in Kabul and the countryside with equal ease. Dr Najibullah had the intellect of the Parcham ideologue ustad (teacher), Mir Akbar Khyber, finesse of a Western democrat and craft of a tribal leader. His linguistic prowess in both Persian and Pashto was breathtaking and his oratory remains unmatched in contemporary Afghan history. Dr Najibullah had the voice and delivery command of a seasoned broadcaster. He was at equal ease talking in Marxist jargon at a PDPA plenum, to the Afghan troops in Jalalabad garrison and to the tribal assemblies (jirgas). The doctor sure knew how to take his audience and indeed his people’s political pulse. The Parcham faction was certainly a numeric minority in the PDPA

when Dr Najibullah became the Afghan president in 1986 and the party’s general secretary. His knack for understanding the ethno-tribal complexities of Afghanistan was remarkable and was the primary reason for the support that he did manage to muster, especially after the Soviet exit. From encouraging non-Marxist nationalist groups to eventually changing the PDPA’s name to the Hizb-e-Watan (National Party) with a clear national democratic charter rather than an overtly communist agenda, all contributed to Dr Najibullah’s longevity at the helm in Kabul. I would venture to say that the only modern Afghan leader, whether monarch, Marxist or republican, that comes close to Dr Najibullah’s leadership style and ability was Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan, whom the PDPA had toppled and replaced. Like Daud Khan, Dr Najibullah was an Afghan first and foremost. His creed most certainly was Afghan nationalism and his ultimate agenda was national reconciliation that he pushed with utmost sincerity. He was prophetic in warning about the dangers of the PakSaudi-US backing of the jihadists and foretold its disastrous impact on Afghanistan and the region in speech after speech. His National Reconciliation Policy and the 1988 Geneva Peace Accords have even more relevance today to negotiate peace within Afghanistan and to keep the intruders out. Dr Najibullah was immensely popular among the Pashtun nationalist rank and file in Pakistan. However, while many of the NAJIBULLAH, P9

OPINION

P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014 n By Dr Mahjabeen Islam

Toledo, Ohio

major event can hold public attention for a maximum of two weeks. After this point people get bored and irritated and tend to move on. Pakistanis have been held hostage to a staring contest that shows no signs of anyone blinking. For six torturous weeks now.

In even small personal projects or efforts, people tend to have a plan B. Pros and cons, plan A and plan B get written down. It appears that Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri went gung-ho with freedom and revolution with little other than their characteristic bluster and rhetoric. The age of technology gave them an audience of millions and their complaints against the Sharif clan resonate with a large segment of the population and a wave of furious discontent currently sweeps Pakistan. Within a week of the sit-ins the government was willing to set up a judicial commission for investigation of electoral rigging but Imran Khan had set out for the prize of Nawaz Sharif ’s resignation and he ignored the offer. He probably thought that he had gotten to this point with such difficulty he might as well stay for the kill. But this, like so much of life, is a gamble which Kenny Rogers sang about so well: “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to run”. Interestingly, the same premise applies to the Sharifs. One expose’

Energy, Political Terrorism and Twitter Power after another, embarrassment after embarrassment, but the king and all his men just strut around in blissful ignorance. The electricity bill scandal is shocking in its stupidity. No meter readings were done, bills were simply written up with an over 500% markup, and the due date was written as the date that the bill was sent. Burning electricity bills is conduct unbecoming Imran Khan and sets up a bad example for his fans and other Pakistanis. But opening the envelope of the electricity bill and reading an amount that could be higher than 2 months of one’s salary is nothing short of terrifying. The electric supply corporations now say that people should pay their bills and their refund, after meter reading and correction, would show up after two billing cycles. Seriously? Have they heard of that saying: getting blood from a turnip? Nawaz Sharif ’s private-jet journey, Islamabad-London-New York and his stay at the presidential suite of New York’s Waldorf Astoria at over $1000 per night financed by the Pakistani taxpayer and a nation of shelterless millions may well be his last hurrah. I often wonder about how many sleeping pills it must take to quiet that wretched thing called a conscience. Kenny Rogers’ song is very instructive here. How long can Nawaz be the cloistered prime minister? That tiresome “Go Nawaz go” is ubiquitous: chanted, written, painted, posted. His own party chanted it, instead of “Go Imran go”! It followed him to London and New Yorkers will join in too.

The sit-ins have changed the Pakistani mindset and awakened it to massive Sharif corruption and misrule. MPAs and senators removed from flights by angry passengers could be prefaces for a great deal

The PPP, MQM and even members of the PML-N should latch onto the Election Commission report and demand a re-election under a caretaker government after a consensus on electoral reforms worse. The careless display of power and wealth as well as uncompromising arrogance by the Sharif clan is actually asking for the public to unleash violence. Though this is the

course of events in civil disorder, it is unwise for Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan to scream about the potential of a bloody revolution. Hunger, unemployment, disease, floods, crushing poverty, rampant drug use and religious and sectarian intolerance is a ticking time-bomb. Responsibility and not rhetoric is what Pakistan needs. Video tapes of provincial law minister Rana Mashood and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif demanding money and allegiance from Asim Malik and his wife MPA Zubia Rubab Malik, leave you open-mouthed. Pretty terrifying to have to fork over Rs. 20 lakh, arrange for your children to quickly leave the country, completely lose your business and have your home with all its possessions occupied by Mashood’s lackeys. All that aside, what we were arguing about arrived quite unannounced. The Election Commission of Pakistan released its report of the 2013 elections. According to the report the integrity and character of the candidates were not properly or completely verified and loan and bill defaulters slipped in. Trained staff at election booths was replaced with non-trained individuals. Ballots were stamped en bloc. Elections were conducted in a substandard manner and now UNDP, the Commonwealth and the European Union have also expressed their dissatisfaction. Even more interestingly election records stored in the basement of a school have been burned beyond recognition. Former law minister Babar Awan facetiously called this not the

beauty of coincidence but the beauty of organization. And the report has also been burned off your computer screens, for it has been removed from the Election Commission website. Joint sessions of parliament witness much chest thumping in favor of democracy and self-righteous claims to strengthen it. Now’s the chance for every parliamentarian to do just that. The PPP, MQM and even members of the PML-N should latch onto the Election Commission report and demand a re-election under a caretaker government after a consensus on electoral reforms. We must drop this personality rather than processes culture. The Election Commission Report makes the current parliament unelected. The army will most likely stay out of this fiasco. Relying on the Supreme Court to intervene will be circuitous and protracted and serve to further bankrupt Pakistan; the economic cost of the sit-ins is massive. Bilawal Bhutto can yank himself from the uncles and aunties crowd and tweet #EnoughIsEnough and get his party to sponsor a no-confidence motion in parliament based on the Election Commission Report. You’ve worked on your Urdu and I was so proud to see you wade through knee deep water even though it was for a photo opp with the flood victims. This would give you a place in history. You will redeem the Bhuttos: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s breaking Pakistan, your mother’s mis-governance and your father’s massive corruption. A 24-year old and a simple tweet. How very awesome! (Dr Mahjabeen Islam specializes in addiction and family medicine. She can be reached atmahjabeen.islam@gmail.com)

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OPINION n By Dr Syed Amir Bethesda, MD

n a little over two years, Barrack Obama’s term as president of the United States will end. Many have remarked that he has noticeably aged during the six years in office. The phenomenon, however, is not unique to him as all recent presidents have shown signs of accelerated aging, reflective of the overwhelming amount of stress they undergo. Mr Obama, uniquely, carries the extra burden of being the first black president.

He came into office with high hopes. The most popular elements of his agenda during his election campaign were the promises to end the American involvement in the twin wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, and to bring the US combat troops home. He kept his promise and, in December 2011, the last US troop left Iraq in the face of stiff opposition from some Republicans opponents who opposed the withdrawal. There are still some 30,000 US combat troops in Afghanistan, but their number is set to go down drastically to 9,800 by the end of the year. Nonetheless, the unfolding geopolitical events threaten to upend Obama’s carefully laid out agenda for the remaining two years of his presidency, focused on keeping the US out of military entanglements. Since the failure of the so-called Arab Spring, the MuslimArab world has been in a state of convulsions, with brutal sectarian wars raging in Iraq and Syria. The uprising against Bashar al Assad in Syria has claimed over 200,000 lives and virtually half the population of the country has sought refuge in the neighboring countries of Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. A particularly egregious development has been the recent emergence from the ashes of

n By Faiza Rahman Karachi, Pakistan

ith the intellectuallyhumble discussion on Islam fast becoming a casualty of bickering and bloodletting, the university classroom is the last opportunity where some semblance of justice can be done.

Most well-reputed universities today claim an environment of unhindered inquiry to help the young religious scholar negotiate the tricky terrains of scripture, sect and school without blowing gaskets, which makes the secular university the most fitting site for the study of Islam in today’s world. Observing the Observer: The State of Islamic Studies in American University is a compilation of essays by topmost Islamic Studies scholars, who are aware of these realities and of the grave responsibilities borne by their course outlines in an era where faith-based quarrels are drenching entire regions in blood and a newfound but fearful curiosity is causing enrolment databases to overspill in most Islamic, Middle Eastern and Near Eastern Studies departments of US universities. That’s the problem, right there. Key scholars of Islamic Studies in the US, such as Seyyed Hossein Nasr of George Washington University, John Voll and Zahid Bukhari of Georgetown University and Faisal Islam of Brandeis University, are apprehensive of the trend whereby those who wish

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9

US Fighting the Third Mideast War? the Syrian and Iraqi civil wars of a malignant new force that variously calls itself Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Islamic Caliphate or just Islamic State, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the self-proclaimed caliph. The origin of the militant outfit is obscure, but is believed to comprise mostly disaffected Sunni soldiers and officers of Saddam Hussein’s disbanded army in Iraq and some elements of the Free Syrian Army fighting against Assad’s regime. The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, declared recently that his Government would not use the term ISIS, for it is an affront to Islam and Muslims who consider the term pejorative. The so-called Islamic State has achieved stunning success, easily crushing weak opposing forces, capturing large swaths of Syrian and Iraqi territory. Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq fell to them without difficulty, while the American-trained Iraqi army melted away, leaving behind their heavy sophisticated weapons. Even the legendary, but poorly equipped, Kurdish fighters, Peshmerga (meaning, ready to face death), from the northern region of Iraq could not resist their onslaught. Soon, ISIS was knocking at the Kurdish capital of Irbil, which was saved by American air attacks. Besides Syria and Iraq, ISIS has become a potent menace to the governments of surrounding Sunni states--Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey--as it promises to replace their monarchies and constitutions with its own brand of Sharia law. The ISIS has been denounced by Sunni Arab states, the US and European countries alike, for it aspires to establish a Caliphate based on a narrow, distorted view of Islamic law. They have summarily executed thousands of Shias, Christians and

even Sunnis who do not subscribe to their interpretation of Islam. They have destroyed ancient Sufi shrines, Christian churches and other places of worship. The Yazidis, an ancient religious sect in Syria and Iraq that predates Islam, which they regard as apostates, have been the special target of their wrath. Mr Obama has long been reluc-

used, the success of air power alone is uncertain at best. Also, many Americans worry about the country being dragged into another Middle East quagmire, especially as ISIS poses no direct threat to the homeland, being two oceans and half a world away. The memories of the US involvement in the disastrous Iraqi adventure are too recent to for-

Unlike in Europe, Muslims have done very well in the US. They are among the most highly educated, talented and prosperous segments of the population and also well integrated tant to intervene. The barbaric beheadings of two American journalists and one British charity worker, and the proud display on the internet of the grisly pictures sickened most viewers. It finally pushed the US Government to deploy air power against ISIS in an attempt to repulse it. Since no ground troops will be

get.

Whatever may be the ultimate fate of ISIS, its actions have already caused grave damage to the cause of Islam and Muslims, especially in the West. Reports that hundreds of European Muslims and even some American Muslim youths have gone to join ISIS are widespread. There is

Islamic Studies in American Universities

to be schooled in the study of Islam seek out departments that teach the culture, language and history of the Middle East. A number of such university departments in the US offer throwaway courses in Islamic Studies that are taught in an offhandish manner by those specializing in the culture and history of just one of the many Muslim civilizations, thereby entrapping all the nuance and vastness of religion in a suffocated, intellectuallyguarded cocoon. As Seyyed Hossein Nasr points out, many graduates in Islamic Studies churned out by Middle Eastern Studies departments are alien to the religious life, culture and contributions made to Islam by several hundred million Muslims in South Asia, China, Malaysia and Africa. “One can attain the highest degree in Islamic Studies and yet not know about the great Islamic empires of Mali,” he writes. The abovementioned essay writers would agree that unlike studies in Judaism, Christianity or Hinduism, the study of Islam has been reduced to the study of a certain geography. Nasr and Voll are particularly forceful in arguing that Islam should not be treated as a mere social or cultural phenomena at universities, but as a wholesome religion whose study demands exhaustive application to symbols, sources of law, philosophy and theology. The first step towards such a track

Nasr and Voll are particularly forceful in arguing that Islam should not be treated as a mere social or cultural phenomena at universities, but as a wholesome religion whose study demands exhaustive application to symbols, sources of law, philosophy and theology of study is to place the discipline of Islamic Studies at either a specialized Islamic Studies department, or to offer it at a department of Religious Studies where faculty members specializing in areas of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), tafseer (exegesis) and Sufism are assigned courses according to their research work. Even in university departments that cater exclusively to Islamic Studies, a number of theoretical ‘mistakes’ are made while teaching certain kinds of courses. Courses such as ‘Islam and the modern world’, ‘Islam and

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modernism’ and ‘Islam and the West: a confrontation’ come with titles that are skewed by ideological baggage, with a punitive dichotomy established in the very name. Whole volumes of scholarship continue to argue that the ‘West’ or ‘modernity’ is not an antithesis of ‘Islam’ and this sea of scholarship is not fairly regarded by those who devise such titles. Moreover, a myriad of Islamic scholars in the US continue to use the Western intellectual tradition to engage with Islam, trying their best to make it palatable to a Western student

even a suggestion that the voice of the man with a British accent who is shown on YouTube beheading the American and British civilians belongs to a person of South Asian descent. It is a mystery why Muslim youths who were born and brought up in the West, apparently living comfortable lives, taking advantage of all the facilities their adopted countries had to offer, become radicalized and so alienated from that society that they are willing to fight against it. In Britain in particular, parents or grandparents of the present generation came there in the fifties and sixties from conservative areas of Pakistan, such as Azad Kashmir, to work as unskilled laborers. Faced with language and cultural barriers, they led mostly insulated lives with little or no interaction with the local communities. They often did not find any need to learn English, but they were all hard working, peaceful people. In many parts of Britain, new generations still live in small ghettos, untouched by the surrounding cultural milieu and social mores. A recent article in the New York Times (September 15, 2014) by Sarfaraz Manzoor portrays a life of drugs and prostitution in the northern English town of Rotherham, in which Pakistani youth have been involved. (http://www.nytimes. com/2014/09/16/opinion/multiculturalism-and-rape-in-rotherham. html). Unlike in Europe, Muslims have done very well in the US. They are among the most highly educated, talented and prosperous segments of the population and also well integrated. While otherwise considered a model minority, we are impacted negatively by the actions and pronouncements of foreign extremist groups, Boko Haram in Nigeria, Taliban in Pakistan, and ISIS in Iraq and Syria, operating in the name of Islam. They deserve only repudiation and no sympathy from American or Europan Muslims. body by jostling it into the stiff theoretical constructs of Orientalism. This reduces the entire academic exercise into something of a pathetic apology. Overall, Observing the Observer: The State of Islamic Studies in American University is a treasure for anyone who seeks to read critique on one of the key spaces of the study of Islam — the American university. (Faiza Rahman is a subeditor for the Opinion & Editorial pages of The Express Tribune, Karachi) NAJIBULLAH FROM P7

Pakistani Pashtun leaders stood by him, the top ones did not take up his languishing in the UN compound seriously. Not so much as a strike was called in the almost five years that Dr Najibullah remained confined in that ill-fated building. Those who routinely talked of greater Afghanistan and Pashtunistan were perhaps too vested in Islamabad’s politics to see how and why the Afghan Prometheus was being tied down. A full treatise is in order to discuss the orientation of Pashtun nationalism in Pakistan but suffice it to say that both major Pashtun parties, minus a few individual leaders, let Dr Najibullah down. RIP Dr Najibullah. To rephrase Aeschylus, you were too audacious and unyielding in the face of bitter pains, and you spoke too freely. (The writer can be reached at mazdaki@me.com and he tweets @ mazdaki)

OPINION

P10 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014 n By Susan Moeller University of Maryland

small boy ekes out a daily meal of naan and curry by picking up garbage in the streets of Lahore. That’s the premise of “I am Agha,” a short documentary film posted by three Pakistani filmmakers on a site called Pakistan Calling.

Watch the film to find out what Agha says about his life and what he thinks about terrorism. Then reconsider what you think are Pakistan’s greatest problems. I Am Agha I am Agha” is a powerful example of how artists, activists and academics can both inform their audiences and prompt them to question their habitual ways of looking at the world. Pakistan Calling, the platform on which the video appears is also an example of the latest online trend — the launch (and success) of makea-difference news platforms… or at least good-news sites. What’s surprising about many of these sites is that they aren’t take-your-medicine boring. Think Buzzfeed-type headlines (such as “What Agha the Pakistani Street Child Thinks About Terrorism Will Surprise You”) married to Amnesty International-type crusading. Archimedes once (supposedly) said: Find me a lever long enough and I can move the world. These sites are evidence that at least at the moment, media — and perhaps especially films and photography — are our lever to move the world. A lot of people, it turns out, are looking to media for answers. A lot of people want more than breaking news driblets of violence, smarmy pssst-wanna-know? celebrity factoids and incessant scare-tactic you-must-keep-up-to-date-withyour-profession updates.

What Agha the Pakistani Street Child Thinks about Terrorism Will Surprise You There’s the popular Upworthy, with its tagline “Things that matter. Pass ‘em on.”— a site that aggregates videos about people who challenge the powerful and who act to counter stereotypes and -isms of all kinds. Huffington Post has not one, but two sections of positive stories: one simply called “Good News” and the other called “Impact.” Then there’s the TED talks, and NPR’s TED Radio Hour (and podcast) spin-off. There’s Carlos Watson’s OZY, a daily news brief on “What Happened & Why It Matters.” Quora’s business model has readers taking time to answer other readers’ questions. The Daily Beast has a news section on Women in the World. Fast Company, which won “Magazine of the Year” this year has sections (and daily emails) called Co-Design, Co-Exist and Co-Create — all focusing on solutions to global problems. And beyond all of those is the trend for do-good initiatives that cross social media, such as the ALS ice-bucket challenge taken by everyone from Britney Spears to Steven Spielberg to Bill Gates to George Bush 43.[1] The site that posted the film about Agha is another such change outlet and another one worth paying attention to. In essence, Pakistan Calling is a less-well-known version of Upworthy. Like Upworthy, Pakistan Calling is an aggregator of short videos from professionals as well as amateurs. Like Upworthy, Pakistan Calling hosts a range of films: some are investigative, others are calls to action. Launched by The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, manufactures and commerce and in partnership with The Somosa, a media blog, Pakistan Calling aims to inspire a new generation of filmmakers — students, journalists and activists

The Murder of History

— by giving them a platform to bear witness and tell their stories. Its site includes video profiles of Pakistani intellectuals; documentaries about

Pakistan Calling has a specific target audience. It wants to leverage the estimated 7 million Pakistanis in the diaspora, most notably the 1.2 million in the United Kingdom and the 700,000 in the US indigenous civil society organizations; day-in-the-life features of children, women and the handicapped; and interviews with members of the working class, such as bus drivers and ambulance drivers.

n By Farrah N. Khan

Chicago, IL

Irvine, CA

Majid Nizami suffered from Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder (PAPD), with demonstrable personality traits of those who indirectly express hostility through procrastination, sarcasm, stubbornness, sullenness, and deliberate suppression of information for personal satisfaction. But history binds to relate to facts faithfully and truthfully for the guidance of future generations. Using this yardstick our friend failed to pass the test and is guilty of fraction and callous behavior as a trustee of national relics. I am also disappointed at the willful blindness of the members of the board of trustees of the Nazaria Pakistan Trust. They hardly did what was expected of them in the role of advisors. When you login to the website of NAZRIA PAKISTAN TRUST and

In addition, it appears that Irvine’s biggest developer wants to demolish the popular neighborhood Woodbridge Village Center that currently houses the Woodbridge

Theater, Pedego Electric Bikes and Barnes and Noble, to build more condos. Residents may not know this, but the City Council has the authority to halt this and any upcoming development. So why don’t they do so? The team headed by Mayor Choi, Councilman Jeff Lalloway and Councilwoman Christina Shea simply won’t say ‘No’ to a big developer. On the other hand, Mayoral candidate Mary Ann Gaido, Councilman Larry Agran and Community Services Commissioner/City Council candidate Melissa Fox are promising to insist on an immediate moratorium on all new development. This is in response to the growing number of complaints from residents who feel their voices are not heard. Over-development and overcrowding can and will stop with a change in Council, but it will take every person to realize that their individual vote can make a real difference. There is a large Muslim community in Irvine and they are registered voters, but statistics show that they have had a very low turn-out at the polls. This year must be the

year that our community steps up to the plate and registers, and most importantly, votes. Registration is simple, go to www.ocvote.org, it only takes a couple minutes. Even better, request a Vote By Mail ballot, since people who receive their ballot in the mail are more likely to actually vote. The deadline to register to vote is October 20th. However, Vote by Mail ballots will be mailed out by October 6th,so register now. Voting is every citizen’s right and it must be applied. If you have any questions, are interested in volunteering, or would like to learn more about local campaigns, you can contact me at farrahnk@yahoo.com or follow me on Facebook: CSCommissionerKhan. If you are interested in becoming a co-host for a fundraising event for Gaido/Agran/Fox on October 9th, please let me know. (Farrah N. Khan is currently serving as a Community Services Commissioner for the City of Irvine. She is a business owner and serves on the Board for CAIR-PAC, a Muslim Political Action Committee -www.caircapac.org)

of well-known Unionists, Congress sympathizers, many unknown ladies and some anti-Pakistan movement individuals listed as Musheers. Lo and behold! Is this an accidental

oversight or a criminal suppression of historical facts relating to the history of the Pakistani movement that the name of Chaudhry Rahmat Ali is found missing?

I would like to pose a clincher question to all the Trustees of the Nazria Pakistan Trust. Who gave the name to a hypothetical

watch the list of MASHAHEERS, tell me where is the mention of a name or photo of the man who played a singular role in the struggle for Pakistan, who single-handedly worked for the realization of the vision of Allama Iqbal in England damay ,dirmay and sukhnay and published a number of books for distribution among members of the British Parliament and the world. A famous pamphlet entitled Now or Never (circa 1933) and a book Pakistan (circa 1935-36) are available on the Internet as well as in the Library of Islamia College, Railway Road, Lahore. This trend of suppressing and distorting historical facts by our intellectuals was lamented by historian Dr K.K. Aziz in his book Murder Of History. You find names and pictures

But here’s the Dragnet ending[2] to the “I am Agha” video, however: Not all stories end well. Pakistan has one of the world’s largest populations of street children, estimated by the United Nations in 2005 to be 1.2 to 1.5 million — a number undoubtedly greater today. The film about Agha was made four years ago. No one now knows what has become of him. The RSA Pakistan Calling www. thersa.org/pkcalling project has built partnerships across education, civil society, welfare and development groups in both Pakistan and the UK. Those interested in learning more can contact @aakhtar on Twitter or contact info@thesamosa.org.uk. [1] That viral sensation actually worked: The ALS association wrote on its website: “As of Thursday, August 21, The ALS Association has received $41.8 million in donations compared to $2.1 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 21). These donations have come from existing donors and 739,275 new donors to The Association.” [2] Nearly every show on the long-running American radio and television police show Dragnet ended with an announcer relating the fate of the suspect. (The author is Director of the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda (ICMPA), University of Maryland, College Park)

Irvine Politics: The Six-Week Countdown

n By Dr Mukhtar Chaudhry have been hearing all the dirges to mourn the death of Majid Nizami and have also watched the accolades showered upon him. It is said that one should not talk bad about a man who is dead and gone. But while chronicling history, it becomes imperative to faithfully describe the roles of both heroes and villains, who played their respective parts at different junctures and critical phases of national history.

Unlike Upworthy, Pakistan Calling has a specific target audience. It wants to leverage the estimated 7 million Pakistanis in the diaspora, most notably the 1.2 million in the United Kingdom and the 700,000 in the US. Many Pakistanis in the global diaspora have great influence on Pakistan via direct economic and family ties. According to the World Bank, Pakistan ranks among the top 10 nations in the world for remittances sent home, transferring $13.5 billion in 2012. Pakistan Calling aims to encourage the diaspora community to bridge trade, economic and development networks between South Asia and the diaspora countries. Pakistan Calling also aims to encourage the diaspora to support conflict resolution in Pakistan, to wage campaigns on minority rights issues and on gender equality and girls’ education — all issues difficult for local development networks and delivery NGOs to address.

Pakistan Calling is an intriguing platform, but it is also intriguing as a model for other places: Harness the journalistic, artistic and progressive impulses within a country to tell stories of kindnesses and commitments that aren’t being told by mainstream media outlets. Use those stories to link diaspora populations to civil society organizations. Bind a country’s wounds with stories of leadership and future possibilities; they can help a country heal.

ne of the most heated elections this year is in Irvine, CA. It’s a fight between over-growth and slow-growth for a city that has grown drastically in the past two years. The current Mayor, Steven Choi, and the majority council have rubberstamped approvals for developers, allowing 10,000 new homes near what was to be the Great Park, with another 1800 units of apartment/condos in the Irvine Business Center. The result has been a quick growth in population without proper planning, leading to increased traffic, reduced park space and overcrowded schools. New home owners are realizing that there is no space for their children at their local neighborhood school and end up driving their children to schools that are miles away.

www.PakistanLink.com

HISTORY, P29

PAKISTAN

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11

PTI’s Impressive Show of Strength in Lahore

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not be able to rule now as the ‘Go Nawaz, Go’ chant will chase him wherever he goes,” PTI chairman Imran Khan told hundreds of thousands of his frenzied supporters in the shadow of Minar-e-Pakistan

Lahore: After a massive rally in Karachi, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday staged another impressive show of political strength in Lahore, a city considered as a bastion of power of its main political nemesis, the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N). “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not be able to rule now as the ‘Go Nawaz, Go’ chant will chase him wherever he goes,” PTI chairman Imran Khan told hundreds of thousands of his frenzied supporters in the shadow of Minar-e-Pakistan. It was a carnival atmosphere as men, women and children, waving party flags and donning party color caps, sang and danced to songs. “This slogan will not let him sleep,” he said, adding that one day someone from the prime minister’s own household would shout ‘Go Nawaz, Go’. Since August 14, Imran has been leading a street campaign for an audit of the 2013 elections which, he alleges, were massively rigged in favor of the PML-N. “Justice cannot be served so long as Nawaz Sharif is in power,” he said. Imran renewed his demand for the prime minister to step down, appoint someone to step into his shoes and order an independent inquiry into the rigging allegations. The PTI chairman said he would not end the Islamabad sit-in, which started on August 16, until the prime minister resigned.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may have survived the challenge thrown to his rule by the resilient marchers of Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri, but “the haranguing twins” remain a pain in the neck of his PML-N. Signs are that the rank and file of the party feel the pain more. They believe their leadership compromised its position in dealing with “the political rowdies”. Even second tier PML-N leaders ask why the leadership had to seek the help of the opposition parties when it had the strength inside and outside the parliament to confront the challengers on its own. Some of them view the mauling of their mighty leaders as deserved. “A little bit of coordination within the party would have put up a much better defense against the challengers and their marchers than

Judiciary Not Conspiring against Govt.

Talking about his speech at the 69th UN General Assembly in New York, PM Nawaz said his stance on Kashmir represented the aspirations of the people of Pakistan

“If the inquiry proves me wrong, I will apologize. But if it confirms our allegations, then all who rigged the elections, their facilitators and abettors will face cases under Article 6 of the Constitution,” he said. Imran said that after 18 years of political struggle he was happy to see that the Pakistani nation had awakened. “I haven’t seen a bigger rally than this. I challenge Nawaz Sharif to gather even 10 per cent of the crowd present here,” Imran said as the charged crowd shouted ‘Go Nawaz, Go’. He vowed no let-up in his antigovernment campaign, saying that he would stage the next rally in his hometown of Mianwali on Thursday, followed by another one in Multan. The PTI chairman said the Nawaz government had increased electricity tariffs by up to 80%in one year and charged consumers Rs70 billion in inflated bills. “If you pay your electricity bills, the prices will go further up in next two months. Don’t pay your bills. I have burnt my bills as well,” Imran told his supporters. About the alleged rigging in the 2013 elections, the PTI chairman said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had yet not published ‘Form 14’, which presiding officers submit to returning officers (ROs), on its website “This means the ROs issued results without counting the ballots. If the ECP doesn’t upload Form 14 on the website, we will believe that the ECP

was also involved in the rigging,” he added. Imran said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif had a secret agreement whereby they support each other on the pretext of saving democracy. “We are happy that the joint session of Parliament was convened. Now, the whole Pakistan knows who stands with whom,” he added. The PTI leader said that his Islamabad dharna had achievements to its credit, including registration of a criminal case against the prime minister. “The Supreme Court has also admitted petitions seeking disqualification of Nawaz Sharif for lying to the parliament,” he added. Highlighting his vision of ‘Naya Pakistan’, Imran said a PTI government would focus on three areas: justice, education and humanity. “We will introduce the same education system for the whole country. Currently, 800,000 children go to English-medium schools, 30 million to Urdu-medium schools and two million get education at Islamic seminaries.” He also vowed to turn governor and chief minister houses into libraries, ensure austerity and run the government with simplicity. Earlier, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, other leaders of the party and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed also addressed the rally.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that he does not believe that the judiciary is conspiring against the government. Nawaz spoke to reporters at the end of a stop-over in London before returning to Pakistan late on Monday evening. He said that the Parliament had played a significant role in strengthening democracy. Talking about his speech at the 69th UN General Assembly in New York, he said that his stance on Kashmir represented the aspirations of the people of Pakistan. Nawaz vows to continue serving masses despite sit-ins: PM Sharif said that his government was serving the masses relentlessly despite disturbance being created by the PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri in Islamabad. Speaking to reporters before heading to Heathrow airport to return to Pakistan, he said that he did not want to speak about those who were engaged in ‘negative politics’. Sharif said that his government too wanted to remove anomalies in the system. Govt. will Complete Its Term: Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that people elect a government through ballots, not through sit-ins. In a statement, he said it seemed that PTI chairman Imran Khan has re-

alized that elections would be held in 2018 and accordingly he had started canvassing for it. The democratic government will complete its tenure as people have given it a mandate to rule for five years. Separately talking to the media, he said no one should unconstitutionally demand resignation of the elected prime minister on the basis of the support of a few thousand people. He said the PML-N leadership never asked its workers to use indecent language against others, while Imran was himself delivering provocative speeches and inciting people to use abusive language. “He even encouraged his party workers to attack the Parliament and PTV,” he added. He said the PML-N had a large number of workers in Lahore which was also home of all political parties. The party has not taught its workers to be discourteous and to show disregard to other democratic forces, he claimed. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif admitted that the government lacks the resources to counter natural calamities, but felt the government still needed to take remedial measures to avert floods in the future. “A national committee on prevention of floods is the need of the hour to propose measures to prevent floods and mitigate losses in the future,” the premier said while speaking at a ceremony in Wazirabad.

what our government achieved by running to the other parties,” the disgruntled argued in background discussions. According to them the PML-N leadership and government “overexposed” themselves by seeking the support of parliamentary parties. In their view the government weakened its position by winning the likes of PPP on its side to battle with the anti-democratic protesters. “Almost every PPP lawmaker who addressed the joint sitting of the parliament decried our way of governance. Some, notably Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, not only called the PML-N government corrupt but also endorsed PTI’s allegation of election rigging. Do you call this support?” rued a PML-N MNA recalling the stormy session. Just seeing PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah and JUI-F Chief Fazlur

Rehman flanking Mian Nawaz Sharif during the crisis was revolting “to the real, hard-core Muslim Leaguers like me,” he said. “After all, we had been baying for their blood until recently. Now the popular perception is that our government survived only because of the so-called critical support of (the former president) Zardari.” Many PML-N lawmakers, not part of the party’s inner sanctum, hold the view that the Sharif brothers should have taken the party into confidence and worked out its own strategy rather than looking for help from outside the party. Whichever way the events turn, it will be the PML-N legislators and its workers who will be bearing the consequences eventually. So why not take them on board in the first instant in matters of life or death for the party? asked one PML-N MNA.

But that looked “a fat chance” to him when the prime minister has not bothered to meet the parliamentary board of the party, what to speak of meeting the ordinary workers of the party. Even the Central Executive Committee of the PML-N last met around the May 2013 general elections. “Other political parties try to close their ranks in times of crisis. Ours remains on auto-pilot all the time,” responded a senior PML-N office-bearer when inquired about the party’s line of action as the painin-the-neck Imran Khan stormed Lahore, the citadel of PML-N on Sunday. After his PTI’s successful rally in Karachi the previous Sunday, the Kaptaan and his team threaten to take their tsunami all over the country. But the PML-N ranks feel de-

pressed that their party is just about the two Sharif brothers, and by extension, in descending order, to relative Senator Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information Minister Senator Pervez Rashid and lately retired Lt-Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, according to the party office-bearer. An MNA who was elected as independent but joined the PMLN described his experience in the party as “nightmarish”. “I am feeling like a rudderless ship,” he told Dawn. “You can imagine that feeling in a party where even cabinet ministers are heard complaining about lack of government support. We stand nowhere there.” And he is least bothered about the outcome of the ongoing political impasse. “It doesn’t matter to me because I am in position to be of any use to my constituents,” he said.

Rank and File of PML-N Feel the Pain of Public Bashing

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P12 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

Bilawal Apologizes to Party Workers for Unexplained Mistakes

In an open letter to supporters, Bilawal Bhutto conceded that mistakes had been committed in the past and pledged to correct them to regain workers’ trust

KarachiI: For unexplained reasons, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari apologized to his party’s estranged workers on Sunday and appealed to them to reconsider their decision to join other parties. He said that being a democratic party the PPP welcomed differences of opinion, adding that the best way for workers was to attend party meetings and strive for bringing about changes they wanted and put the country on the road to progress and prosperity. In an open letter to supporters, Bilawal Bhutto conceded that mistakes had been committed in the past and pledged to correct them to

regain workers’ trust. But he did not spell out what mistakes the party had made which called for an apology or the differences of opinion expressed by some workers. “To those who have been with the PPP but now feel let down, first of all allow me to apologize personally for letting you down. We do not claim to be perfect; we acknowledge that mistakes have been made in the past and are committed to rectifying them and regaining your trust. “In the interim period, if you are considering to switch over to another political party, please act

discreetly. Do not punish Pakistan or its democracy for my shortcomings. Please do not support undemocratic party or a party appeasing extremists. Pakistan has rightwing parties which support dictatorship and appease the TTP. If you are frustrated with the party, I would suggest to you ways to legitimately practice opposition politics. “The PPP is a democratic party and welcomes internal dissent. The best way to influence the PPP’s policy is to join us and bring about changes in the party and in the country from within. If party policy is unacceptable to you and you are considering to join another party, I would suggest you to join pro-democracy and pro-people political parties. “The PPP welcomes and encourages other leftwing parties to join the political process. In fact, if a former sympathizer desires to attend a political event, I would suggest to him to attend the AWP Congress in Islamabad. “No-one can claim to have once supported Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto or Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto but can now support dictatorship or extremism. I look forward to regaining your trust and also proving that the PPP is the only party that can build a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan. Jeay Bhutto, Pakistan

Pakistan Seeks Improved Ties with New Afghan Leader New York: Pakistan hopes to reverse

a recent sharp deterioration in its relations with Kabul, Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz said, as Afghanistan’s new president, Ashraf Ghani, was sworn in on Monday. Ties between the neighboring countries inexplicably deteriorated in the final months of President Hamid Karzai’s administration, Mr Aziz said. “We had good talks with President Karzai, and the relationship improved with Afghanistan in transit and trade, building motorways and power stations and rail links,” Mr Aziz said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “But at the turning of the year things began to cool off. Frankly, we have not understood why.” Afghan officials in the outgoing administration have publicly accused Pakistan, and in particular its powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, of recruiting and training Afghan Taliban insurgents and sending them into Afghanistan to fight the Kabul government. They also accused Pakistan of firing thousands of rockets into Afghan territory. Such actions wouldn’t make sense, Mr Aziz said, because for “the Afghan Taliban to come into power isn’t in our security interest.” The ISI hadn’t had ties to the Taliban since the 1980s, he said, adding, “Pakistan has decided not to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, not to support any group like the Taliban.” The foreign minister said Afghanistan had a responsibility to prevent Pakistan Taliban based in Afghanistan from launching attacks on Pakistani territory. He acknowledged that when such attacks have occurred, Pakistan has fired into Afghan terri-

tory.

“So it’s not that we are firing rockets at the Afghanistan side. Why would we do that?” Mr Aziz asked. “The main thing is that they should not allow attacks from their territory against us.” Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of letting Afghan Taliban remain in havens in Pakistan to launch attacks on the Afghan side of the border, a charge Mr Aziz denied. “We will not allow our side to be used against your territory,” he said. Tension along the border should have declined since Pakistan began a major military offensive in June that cleared 80% of Waziristan province of Taliban fighters, Mr Aziz said. Most have disappeared into Pakistani towns and cities, where they are being pursued, he said. Mr Aziz said he hoped President Ghani’s administration would put into operation an agreement made with the Karzai government on better management of their common border. The deal envisions contacts on the ground and at the commander, intelligence and political levels in the event of incidents along the 2,250-kilometer

(1,398-mile) mountainous frontier. Mr Aziz renewed criticism of US drone attacks on Pakistani territory, saying they had nothing to do with Pakistan’s recent military success in the tribal regions along the Afghan border. “Drones were in the past,” he said. “They stopped because we started taking action on the ground,” Mr Aziz said. US drone strikes, which Pakistan has vehemently opposed because of civilian casualties, had dropped from about 100 a year, to only 15 last year, he said. “Since last November there have been only about four or five,” he said. But on Sunday the US reportedly killed four Taliban militants along the Afghan border. On India, Mr Aziz said it is up to New Delhi to resume talks after India abruptly canceled a high-level meeting last month when Pakistan’s ambassador to India met leaders of a Kashmiri resistance group in the Indian capital. Mr Aziz admitted the timing of the meeting might not have been right, as local elections were under way in Indian-controlled Kashmir. “But timing doesn’t mean we give up our right to have this meeting,” he said, since the Pakistani government has been meeting with Kashmiri resistance leaders for 30 years. He said the meeting was to prepare for the planned discussions with India on August 25 that New Delhi canceled. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that if Pakistan created the “appropriate atmosphere,” India was ready for serious talks as long as they weren’t held under “a shadow of terrorism.” Mr Modi has accused Islamabad of fighting a “proxy war” against India through terror groups because it is too weak to fight a conventional conflict.

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National Assembly Speaker Faces a Tough Choice

Mr Sadiq is caught between making a decision on the already-submitted PTI resignations and acceding to requests to delay their acceptance so that a political solution could be negotiated

Islamabad: With the country firmly

in the grip of a political crisis, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq faces a tough choice. The Assembly Secretariat is already awash with the uncertainty surrounding the resignations from parliament of 30 Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf MNAs. But despite pressure to end the impasse swiftly and amicably, the speaker may yet have to defer a decision in the matter. On October 5, the speaker is due to attend the 60th Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in Cameroon. The week-long conference promises to keep the speaker away from his duties in the capital until at least October 11. If this were any other event, the speaker may have sent in his regrets. But because Pakistan is expected to host the next CPA conference, Mr Sadiq’s attendance is of utmost importance, as he is expected to issue invitations to the next conference during this visit. Mr Sadiq is also caught between making a decision on the alreadysubmitted PTI resignations and acceding to requests to delay their acceptance, so that a political solution could be negotiated. An opposition jirga, which has been trying to mediate between the protesting parties and the government, recently called on the speaker and urged him to hold off on a decision on the resignations. Jamaat-i-

Islami Emir Sirajul Haq, who leads the group of mediators, has already told the speaker that processing the resignations at this point would only deepen the divide between the two sides and may exacerbate the standoff. The speaker has maintained that unless he could personally verify each member’s intent to resign -- as stipulated in Rule 43(2)B of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the National Assembly, 2007 -- he would not proceed. However, the PTI, apprehensive of moves aiming at dividing the party and already wary because of an apparent rebellion by three MNAs who have declined to resign, has refused to adhere to a schedule for meetings issued by the speaker’s office and says that since they submitted their resignations en masse, they will appear together to confirm their intent as well. However, in view of the gravity of the situation it is also possible that the speaker could be asked by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to shelve his visit. “It seems the NA speaker will not take his decision on resignations of PTI members before Eidul Azha, which falls on October 6. If he leaves for the Common¬wealth conference the issue will be further delayed,” a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader told Dawn. The speaker has already made it clear that he will stick to the law and the Constitution in dealing with the issue of the resignations.

TTP Network in Karachi ‘Destroyed beyond Repair’: Rangers

Karachi: In a report submitted to

the Standing Committee on Interior Affairs, Rangers official Colonel Tahir Mehmood said security forces have destroyed Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan’s network in Karachi beyond repair. Rangers submitted a oneyear review report to the committee and briefed its members about the operation in which they arrested hundreds of alleged criminals since September 7 last year. Giving numbers, Col Mehmood said more than 3,000 targeted operations were carried out in the crime-infested port city and around 5,500 suspects were rounded up. He said around 2,300 were handed over to the police while more than 4,000 weapons were seized during the raids. Col Mehmood informed the committee that land grabbing and street crime do not fall under the

jurisdiction of the Rangers, however, they have submitted a summary to the premier on how these crimes can be controlled. Speaking about targets achieved in Lyari, the Rangers official said incidents of kidnapping and extortion have reduced by 55% since the beginning of the operation. Col Mehmood said the law and order situation improved in the neighborhood as Rangers set up pickets in the area. Briefing the committee about what transpired on the night of September 24 when Rangers personnel arrested MQM members, Col Mehmood said the security officials went inside the party office after their patrol was fired at in Gulshan-e-Maymar. Rangers arrested three target killers during the raid while many of the arrested MQM workers were released soon after.

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OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P13

Pakistan Stands for Universal Ban on Nukes

The Biden-Sharif meeting lasted longer than initially expected. They had two half-an-hour sessions, one with their aides and the other with only the two of them

Washington, DC: Paki-

stan is not against nuclear disarmament but it should be universal and non-discriminatory, says Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry. During the 69th General Assembly, the United Nations observed the first-ever annual day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. In a message released by his office, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told member states that “the time has come for the total elimination of nuclear weapons stockpiles”. While most active members of one group lobbied for a complete, across the board ban on all nuclear arms, others quietly tried to put the spotlight on Pakistan. India led this group, which argued that Pakistan was an instable coun-

try, facing widespread terrorism and political chaos. They also drew attention to PTI’s dharna, both outside the parliament building in Islamabad and near the UN headquarters during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s address on Sept 26. Terrorism and this political chaos showed that Pakistan was an inherently weak state, which cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. Pakistan dealt with this onslaught by arguing that it was not against elimination of nuclear weapons but “would like to see a universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament”, as Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry explained. Mr Chaudhry also urged the international community “not to forget

what caused Pakistan to go for the nuclear option”. He said that India’s nuclear tests had disturbed the strategic balance in South Asia and Pakistan had no option but to restore the balance. Also during the session, a spokesperson for the US State Department told the Pakistani media that US Vice President Joe Biden would ask Pakistan to join the international coalition against the Islamic State during his meeting with Mr Sharif. Initial remarks by the two sides did not mention this request but statements issued a day after the meeting acknowledged that the two leaders spent part of their time discussing terrorism. The White House said that the two leaders “affirmed … the importance of continuing to

combat terrorism together”. The Pakistani statement said that Mr Sharif and Mr Biden “agreed that terrorism was a common threat to Pakistan and the United States”. Later, a Pakistani official explained that while Pakistan “wholeheartedly supports the international coalition against ISIS, it is reluctant to chew more than it can handle”. The official pointed out that Pakistan was already conducting a major campaign against terrorists in the tribal area and it believed that eliminating terrorists in Fata would also help the international fight against terrorism. The Biden-Sharif meeting lasted longer than initially expected. They had two, half-anhour sessions, once with their aides and then just the two of them. Before the meeting, Mr Biden said the US was pleased that Pakistan had an elected government and similar sentiments were issued in the White House statement too. The decision to include this point in the statement released after the meeting underlined the importance the White House attaches to this issue. Pakistan’s official statement, issued after that of the White House, mentioned a “positive momentum in the growth of bilateral cooperation”.

Kashmiris Call for Freedom as Modi Addresses UN

Chanting “We want freedom from India”, the demonstrators raised vociferous slogans urging the international community to raise its voice against rights abuses by Indian security forces in Kashmir

New York: A large number of freedom-seeking Kashmiris staged a demonstration in front of the UN building on Saturday as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the UN General Assembly. Chanting “We want freedom from India”, the demonstrators raised vociferous slogans urging the international community to raise its voice against rights abuses by Indian security forces in Kashmir. The Kashmiris also carried placard calling on UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon to implement UN resolutions that provide for the exercise of the right of selfdetermination by the Kashmiri people. They also called for an end

Pak-China Economic Corridor to Help Revive Economy: Mushahid

What Became of Pakistan’s Space Program? n By Gibran Ashraf Karachi: Nearly 20 years ago, I re-

member walking through the packed halls of the then Taj Mahal hotel in Karachi where the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Commission (Suparco) had set up a magnificent display of the cosmos and their crowning jewel, the first Pakistani satellite Badar-1. I remember, though young I was, how it captured the imagination of the young and old alike. How travel to the galaxy of stars, which at the time was only felt to be a figment of Hollywood’s unrestrained imagination, seemed like a reality to us. The Mars rover program of Nasa in 1998 threw the world into a frenzy as it watched the first-ever set of photos from the Red Planet’s surface. In Pakistan though, we continued to grapple with the uncertainty of our political and economic future. Fast forward to present day, space is once again capturing our attention with neighboring India managing a successful program of not just launching into space but orchestrating the highly complex mission of sending a satellite to Mars – and that too on a shoestring budget. It speaks volumes about their focus and of the capacity they have managed to build. Suparco, initially formed under Pakistan’s sole Nobel laureate

Islamabad: Chairman of Pakistan-Chi-

The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Commission (Suparco) had set up a magnificent display of the cosmos and their crowning jewel, the first Pakistani satellite Badar-1

Dr Abdus Salam, seems to be creaking along to its Indian counterparts. Starved of funds, its focus has been limited to communication satellites, tracking weather in addition to working on specific military applications. From being at the forefront of space exploration and development in Asia with the launch of Rehbar-I in the early 1960s, Pakistan today is far behind its neighbors including Iran, India and China. The government, which gave impetus to our space program by putting ink to a 30-year program in

2011 in concert with the launch of our first communications satellite, needs to expand that to work with our educational institutions and expatriates. It must focus on building our capacity to produce the kind of minds which can help expand our capacities at a much faster pace and secure the space future of our country. Perhaps, Suparco should hold more events such as the one in the Taj Mahal around the country to generate greater interest in the public to help take our space program beyond the stars.

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to atrocities being committed by Indian occupation forces in Kashmir. Azad Kashmir President Sardar Yaqoob Khan; Sardar Sawar Khan, a former member of the Kashmir Council; and Raheel Dar, president of the PML-N USA, said in their speeches that the unresolved Kashmir dispute warrants the immediate attention of the world body. The speakers rejected the Indian prime minister’s stand on Kashmir and said relevant UN resolutions explicitly state that it is an internationally recognized disputed area and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be given the long-denied right to determine their future.

na Institute, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, said on Friday Pakistani youth and varsities must benefit from the Online Chinese Language classes being offered by Pakistan-China Institute in order to capture the huge job market in projects related to the Pak-China Economic Corridor. He made these remarks while addressing a ceremony at the NUML University to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Confucius Institute in Islamabad, the first in the Muslim World. Mushahid, while terming Confucius Institute as a bridge for enhancing friendship between China and the outer world, said the ancient Chinese scholar Confucius was an exemplary educator, thinker, and statesman and his influence on China has shaped Chinese values and culture to promote the soft image, peace and harmony. He said the balance of economic, political and cultural power was shifting from the West to the East, with the 21st Century becoming the ‘Asian Century’ with the peaceful rise of China. In this transformation ‘soft power’ would play a key role in the ‘battle of ideas’, and Chinese language and culture are a key component of this ‘soft power’. He appreciated the role of NUML University and Roots Schools to promote

Chinese language in Pakistan and emphasized the need of popularizing the Chinese language. He hoped that events such as this anniversary would not only open new windows in the fields of education and culture, but would also serve to open up broader cooperation in every walk of life. The two-day anniversary celebrations, held at the National University of Modern Languages, featured a variety of cultural shows that served to exhibit and promote Pakistani and Chinese culture. The closing ceremony was also attended by rector of NUML, Masood Hasan and Ms Riffat Mushtaq, founder of Roots International Schools.

FIR Registered against PM Nawaz, 10 Others

Islamabad: The Secretariat police on Monday registered a case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and eight others on charges of murder, attempt to murder and terrorism over the alleged killing of three political activists on August 30. The FIR comes days after an additional sessions judge ordered the Secretariat police to register the case against the 11 while disposing of a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). PTI had approached the Secretariat police station to register an FIR against Nawaz, Shahbaz, Nisar, Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique, IG Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, IG Railways and three others over the August 30 incident that led to the death of three individuals.

P14 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

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OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15

Pakistan Tops the List of Countries with Highest Consumer Confidence

Karachi: Pakistan’s politics might be

baffling and its macroeconomic data disturbing, but these have failed to dampen the spirits of consumers, who appear to be in a ‘get go’ mode, both online and offline. Little wonder that not so affluent Pakistan tops the list of countries with the highest consumer confidence. The trend is endorsed by the findings of US companies Deloitte and Nielsen, besides scores of local researchers. The State Bank’s Consumer Confidence Index also points in the same direction. While the informal economy is said to be fueling the hyper-market activity by supplementing incomes generated in the formal sector, it is the media and the power of connectivity that is altering the lifestyle aspirations of about 40m households in the country. Besides, Pakistanis — who save the least in the region — are said to be eating into their past savings to meet both ends of their budget. The average rate of savings is currently at a historic low of 8pc of GDP, against 30.1pc in India and 26pc in Bangladesh. In its latest report, Nielsen, a provider of information and insight into consumer markets, reported online consumer confidence held steady in the second quarter of calendar year 2014. “Pakistani consumers are generally optimistic as seen by mostly high consumer confidence scores over the past three years. However, a score of 99 in the first as well as second quarter this year is the highest we’ve seen since the second quarter of 2011,” said Mustafa Moosajee, MD Nielsen Pakistan. “A growing middle class, rapid urbanization and an increasing number of women in the workforce have led to an increase in disposable incomes. While convenience is often the deciding factor for purchasing products and services, many consumers are becoming brand-conscious and altering their shopping habits. Growing internet access and mobile technology have increased the power of the consumer, resulting in more online shopping and effective buying decisions,” says Deloitte’s consumer lifestyle report. It provides snapshots of unique behaviors and spending patterns of consumers. The SBP’s Consumer Confidence Index reported a score 142.26 in July, a tad less than 143.99 in May, but higher

when compared with 109.8 in July 2012. The SBP states, “The index covers households’ perceptions relative to the last six months and their expectations for the next semester, including personal financial conditions, overall economy, unemployment and consumption of durable goods. The index is based on the stratified random telephonic survey of more than 1,600 households across Pakistan”. Consumer giants (Unilever, P&G, Nestle, Coke, Pepsi etc), retailers and global brands (McDonalds, Nike, Levis, Debenhams, Mark & Spencer etc) are aware, and are strategizing to suit their interest. Local companies in pharmaceutical, textile and fashion industries etc are not lagging behind either. The analysts and fund operators can’t explain the trend satisfactorily but are conscious of the expansion in market activity, which includes rising online traffic. Economists who deal exclusively in verifiable data find it difficult to justify the persistent surge in the consumer market when Pakistan’s GDP growth rate for the last five years has been anemic and the wage trend broadly static. Unfortunately, the hierarchy in economic ministries was found to be least informed about the quiet transformation. They had no clue of the confidence level of consumers or its drivers. A federal secretary, reached over phone in Islamabad, took time to understand the question and then excused himself. Another federal secretary said: “It does not make sense. How can Pakistanis be spending more when they are earning less?” He explained that the average real income should actually be declining in an average household because of static wage levels and 8pc annual inflation.

Imran Afzal Cheema, secretary of the Board of Investment, responded to a query: “The salaried people are opting for cheaper options to sustain themselves”. He was probably referring to erosion in consumers’ buying capacity because of inflation. Faisal Bari, an economist, told Dawn from Lahore that the growth in the consumer market points towards massive expansion in the parallel economy. “If you exclude the informal economy from the matrix, you can simply not explain the quantum of activity in the market which is visible to anyone who cares to observe.” He, however, cautioned drawing cross-country conclusions as most indices are based on tricky perception surveys. “The recent surge in consumer confidence is said to be weaning somewhat over the last two months,” Dr Hafiz Pasha commented over telephone. Sayem Ali, chief economist at SCB, attributed the consumer spending spike to easing of inflation, both locally and globally. He thought that smart marketing practices laced with sales and discount deals, allured discretionary spenders to the market. “A portion of new spending is financed by savings. The propensity to save has bottomed out and there is a LIST, P29

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Deepak Perwani Would Love to Design for Deepika

New Delhi: Deepak Perwani is a fan of Bollywood celebrities. After styling Indian stars, such as veteran actor Shabana Azmi and her husband, lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, he now seeks to design for contemporary stars, such as Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor. Deepak admitted that he and fellow designers and friends love the “cuisine, clothes, songs, dance and Bollywood.” When asked who he would like to make clothes for, the designer, who was in New Delhi for Aalishan Pakistan, said, “Deepika would be a great choice. She is stunning and gorgeous. I’ve always liked dark and dusky women. [I would also like to design for] Nandita Das. She is stunning. She is the epitome of an Indian woman.” “Among male actors, [I would prefer designing for] Ranbir [Kapoor] and Varun Dhawan. They are the new kids on the block and I make clothes for those aged between 25 and 40. They are fashionable kids,” said Deepak, who started his menswear line in 1994. He may have entered the fashion industry with menswear, but he thinks women are more inclined towards fashion. “Men don’t buy as much clothes as women. Women like to look at collections and are more fashion-oriented. They like to wear separate pieces for day and evening,” he commented. “Men are okay with black trousers and a shirt. They can go on with their lives like that,” said the designer, who launched his women’s wear collection in 1996. Known for creating

fusion wear with minimal embellishment and using pure fabrics, such as silk and chiffon, Deepak feels that Pakistani fashion is “on the rise.” “When I started, there were just a handful of designers. We had to put up fashion shows ourselves. Now, we are travelling to places, such as Singapore, Doha and London and exhibiting all over the world. We travel at least six to seven times in a year,” he stated. “What’s interesting to see is the curiosity people have for Pakistani fashion. It’s natural,” he added. The designer, who has collaborated with brands, such as Mercedes Benz and Hugo Boss perfume, is keen on doing business in India. But like his fellow designers, he wants the governments of both the nations to ease travelling rules and regulations. “Make getting visas easier and come and buy. If you are able to travel anywhere in the world, then business is easier. Once that is DESIGN, P29

P16 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

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OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P17

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P18 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

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OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P19

Friday, October 3, 2014

VOL. 24/40 PAGE 21

Sir Syed Day 2014 in the San Francisco Bay Area

egum PAGE 22

Global Peace Leadership Conference

9 Dhul-Hijjah 1435 H

PAGE PAGE25 17

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An Amazing Cultural Fusion – East Meets West on the North Side

“In our journey, we hope to entice musical ‘goose bumps’, and become a philosophical experience,” rubab player Farhan Bogra said. Through their stellar performance Rawail and his band members charmed the audience - which stretched far into the massive hall – and gave them more than goose bumps

n By C. Naseer Ahmad Pictures by Robert Henderson

Washington, DC: Khumariyaan – the intoxicators – which has reawakened the live music scene in Peshawar thrilled the audience at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Pakistani Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani and his wife were also there on September 16, 2014 to see an amazing cultural fusion where the East harmoniously met the West on the North Side of the Millennium Stage in the magnificent Kennedy Center. “Music is the international language of peace,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry while welcoming young Afghan performers in February 2013. Such words and sentiments were also expressed by Eileen O’Connor, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, who welcomed Ambassador Jilani and his wife while enthusiastically introduc-

ing the performers to the audience. “In our country and particularly in our region, playing music, or indeed anything that is art is a form of resistance, a resistance that may have paid for with their lives, yet Pushtoons love their music,” lead guitarist Sparlay Rawail was quoted in the hand-out distributed at the event. “By introducing Western and local instruments in one line-up, we hope to remove the stereotypes from our culture, and bring back a love for music, and indeed more importantly, a love for the musician,” he added. “In our journey, we hope to entice musical ‘goose bumps’, and become a philosophical experience,” rubab player Farhan Bogra said. Through their stellar performance Rawail and his band members charmed the audience - which stretched far into the massive hall – and gave them more than goose bumps. Khumariyaan’s melodies made many in the audience jump with joy and it was a sight not seen often in

the Millennium Stage. Khumariyaan was followed by Ribab Fusion – a talented and popular Moroccan band of musicians. If Khumariyaan was the delicious appetizer then “Ribab Fusion” was an irresistible desert that the audience did not want to pass on. In fact, not only did the children run towards the stage and dance to the tune but also the grownups were mesmerized. “We began Ribab Fusion in 2008 with the idea to explore the world, and share with the world what Amazigh music is,” said Foulane Bouhssine. “The Amazigh culture is very strong, elastic, charismatic and very potent,” Brahim El Mazned, the founding Artistic Director of Agadir’s famed Timitar Festival in Morocco, was quoted as saying. “Rooted and proud of their culture, this generation of artists understands the sounds and rhythms, the underlying impulses, and this knowledge fuels their creativity,” he said.

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Perhaps, it was the underlying impulses and the love of their music that even a man in wheel chair became like a swirling dervish. And, the leaves on the terrace trees overlooking the Potomac River seemed to have caught the bug too. With the glowing sunlight of this delightful late summer evening, Khumariyaan and Ribab Fusion were the perfect combination to bring out

the hidden Pushtoon and the Berber spirits in us. “Lahore, Casablanca, and Agadir, Ho Chi Minh City, Peshawar, and Hanoi. Each has served as a global and cultural hub for centuries. As sons and daughters of these ancient crossroads, the artists touring the US as part of Center Stage in 2014 FUSION, P22

COMMUNITY

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

Candle Light Vigil of Kashmiri Americans at the White House

Washington, DC: “The presence of hundreds of Americans of Kashmiri heritage in front of the White House is the expression of solidarity with the oppressed people of Jammu & Kashmir,” said Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General of the World Kashmir Awareness. “Our message is loud and clear that the people of Kashmir demand what was pledged to them by both India and Paki-

Kashmir the largest military concentration anywhere in the world. He said that our demand is simple, let the people of Jammu and Kashmir determine their own future without any external coercion and intimidation. Sardar Sawar said that Prime Minister Modi needs to be reminded that India must fulfill its pledge given to the people of Kashmir at the Security Council before its candi-

that there should be no doubt that Kashmir is a disputed territory and not an integral part of any member state of the United Nations. Sardar Zulfiqar Khan reminded that the history of the past sixty-six years testifies that the bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have been always fruitless. So Kashmiris need to be included in the talks. Sardar Tahir Iqbal said, “Al-

about the mass graves which have been discovered in the Valley of Kashmir. He quoted Indian journalists who spoke about the latest discovery of more than 6,700 mass graves in Kashmir. Sardar Taj Khan said that the Kashmiri resistance demands the unity of action among the leadership not only in Azad Kashmir but in Indian Occupied Kashmir as well.

es of the people of Kashmir demand that the Government of Pakistan, irrespective of its political affiliation, must support the people of Kashmir at the diplomatic front. He said there is a consensus in Pakistan that the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir is a legitimate right which needs to be supported at all costs. The following slogans

stan and guaranteed by the Security Council, with the unequivocal endorsement of the United States, namely demilitarization of Kashmir and a free vote organized impartially to ascertain popular will.” Fai added that the unresolved Kashmir dispute is a rebuke to the international community for its inaction. The United States paved the way for freedom around the world and the United States can help the people of Kashmir achieve peace, freedom and self-determination. Fai quoted Jonathan Tipperman of Newsweek who said, ‘The Road to Kabul Runs Through Kashmir.” Sardar Sawar Khan, former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir said that the presence of over 700,000 Indian forces has made

dacy is considered for its permanent membership. Ignoring that fact will be a rebuke to the conscience of the world powers. Mr Ishtiaq Hameed of All Parties Hurriyet Conference said that Kashmir is recognized by the United Nations as a disputed territory whose status is yet to be determined by its people. And as president Bill Clinton observed ‘Kashmir is the most dangerous place in the world.’ Its resolution will guarantee peace and stability in the region of South Asia. Ms Naseema Wani of Srinagar reminded President Obama of the pledge that he made on October 30, 2008, “We should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis.” She said

though there are three parties concerned with the Kashmir dispute -India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir - but the primary and principal party is the people of Kashmir, because it is ultimately their future, the future of 18 million people of Jammu & Kashmir that is at stake.” Gulfaraz Inqilabi said that the Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest issues on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. The United Nations has passed resolutions that have given the people of Jammu & Kashmir the right to decide their future. He added that no solution would be acceptable to the people of Jammu & Kashmir unless the negotiations include the Kashmiri leadership. Sardar Imtiaz Giralavi spoke

He said the world powers should respect the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir which is the elementary right of every human being in any civilized society. Sahibzada Imtiaz Zafar spoke about the huge sacrifices given by the people of Kashmir in seeking their birth right of Azaadi. He said that the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir will not go in vain. Sardar Zubair Khan highlighted the presence of 700,000 Indian military and paramilitary forces which had made Kashmir virtually a hell for its inhabitants. He said that the United States has a moral responsibility to come to the rescue of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir. Johnny Bgood said the sacrific-

were chanted during the threehour‘Candle Light Vigil.’ Modi, Modi don’t you see, all we want is to be free Modi, Modi don’t you note, even Scots got the vote Ban Ki Moon, Ban Ki Moon, we want plebiscite very soon Hey-hey, ho-ho, the occupation has got to go What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now! What do we want? Plebiscite! When do we want it? Now! Kashmir drowned, Modi got crowned Indian democracy is hypocrisy 1, 2, 3, 4, We don’t want this bloody war 5, 6, 7, 8 Let Kashmiris decide their fate.

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Launches Data.gov/AAPI

he White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI), in partnership with Data.gov, has launched Data.gov/ AAPI, the most comprehensive hub of government data on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The goal of this new resource is to help policymakers and the public understand and address disparities in socioeconomic status, educational attainment, health, and other areas of importance to the AAPI community.

“The launch of Data.gov/ AAPI marks an important milestone for better understanding and responding to the complex needs of AAPIs, now the fastest growing racial group in the country,” says WHIAAPI Executive Director Kiran Ahuja. When President Obama reestablished WHIAAPI under Executive Order 13515 in October 2009, he detailed the need to foster evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis on AAPI populations and subpopulations. Data.gov/AAPI reveals stories about the AAPI community that are not widely told. For example: • Asian American veterans are among the oldest in age. Explore the data. • In the first year of college,

Is Your Acting Career Where it Could Be?

PAC’s Hollywood Bureau is hosting an actors intensive workshop at Scott Sedita Acting Studio in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 26 for those pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Asian American and black students have the highest enrollment rates in remedial education courses. Explore the data. • Of the immigrant orphans adopted by United States citizens, nearly half are of Asian descent. Explore the data. • Pacific Islanders have among the highest unemployment rates of all racial and ethnic groups. Explore the data. • The AAPI community is expected to more than double to over 47 million by 2060. Explore the data. Data.gov/AAPI features approximately 2,000 datasets and re-

ports from nearly 50 federal, state, county, and city sources pertaining to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. These data have been categorized and tagged according to a wide variety of themes, designed to give researchers easy access to disaggregated data from the government. Says Ahuja, “We hope that this effort propels new research and analysis to more clearly define the needs of AAPI subgroups and create more effective policies and programs to better serve the community in the long term.”

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The four-hour workshop will be taught by two of Hollywood’s most influential acting coaches, Scott Sedita and Mariko Ballentine. Sedita and Ballentine will share with the workshop participants ways to move their career forward and invaluable audition techniques that will get them noticed. MPAC Actors Intensive Workshop Saturday, October 26 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. *Space is limited Fee: $35 *Must be one of the first 30 participants to sign-up by contacting Deana Nassar at (323) 258-6722 or deana@mpac.org by Oct. 17. Lunch will be provided. Scott Sedita is an awardwinning, highly in-demand acting coach, motivational speaker, and a best-selling author. He helped launch the careers of many of today’s top stars, including Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and Vincent D’Onofrio. Sedita

runs Scott Sedita Acting Studios, where he teaches the craft of acting to hundreds of actors, including Emma Roberts, 50 Cent, Josh Duhamel, and Paula Abdul, as well as new actors on shows like “Glee,” “American Horror Story,” “The Leftovers,” “True Blood,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Suburgatory,” and “Shameless.” Everyone who attends MPAC’s Acting Intensive Workshop will receive a free copy of Sedita’s book “Scott Sedita’s Guide To Making It In Hollywood: 3 Steps to Success, 3 Steps to Failure.” Mariko Ballentine runs Mariko Ballentine Casting where he casts commercials, coaches actors through Skype, and is the theatrical agent for Minc Talent, an across the board boutique talent agency. While many great acting coaches focus on the technical aspects of acting, Ballentine focuses on what happens inside the hearts and minds of an actor. Ballentine’s seminars can help shift your perceptions about acting, auditions, agents and casting directors. Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council improves public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities.

COMMUNITY

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21

Sir Syed Day 2014 and AEEF Benefit Dinner in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Aligarh Alumni Association of Northern California once again needs to be congratulated for holding this gathering where everyone enjoyed the food, revisited Sir Syed’s vision and participated in quality entertainment

n By Ras H. Siddiqui

he Aligarh Muslim University Alumni Association of Northern California carried on its annual tradition of holding Sir Syed Day in the San Francisco Bay Area with a fine evening of cultural expression, reflection and entertainment at the ICC in Milpitas on Saturday, September 20th. One can add here that this evening was also one for a good cause during which funds were collected for the Aligarh Education Endowment Fund (AEEF) which supports those whose path to education is impacted by lack of funds or social mobility. Both children and youth are assisted through this AEEF vehicle and one can commend Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) alumni for making their annual homage to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of their Alma Mater an added purpose. After a fine dinner of Mughlai cuisine the formalities began with the traditional recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Mohammed Nadeem. Emcee for the evening Dr. Shaheer Khan made the necessary introductions. He said that everyone here needs to be thanked for their dedication, because the hall tonight is full to its maximum capacity and people unfortunately had to be turned away. He added that the Mushaira or Urdu poetry recital held here attracts many people but it is the cause which is the prime reason for this gathering, which is Sir Syed and AMU. He said that Aligarh

was, and is, a movement and not just a place. He also took the opportunity to thank the sponsors and supporters along with the ICC for making this event possible. He also recognized local South Asians who are running for positions in the upcoming elections (Mohammed Nadeem running for Santa Clara City Council and Moina Shaiq running for Fremont School Board were here. Congressional candidate Ro Khanna was to arrive later). Next was the President’s Welcome which this year was given by the new head of the AMU Alumni Association of Northern California, Mr Shachindra Nath. In his short speech Shachindra Sahib welcomed everyone and took the opportunity to share his familial connection with Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) which his father also had the good fortune to attend. He pointed out the mutual respect and tolerance which he found at AMU. “I am so proud to be an Aligarian,” he said. Shachindra Sahib has been a dedicated member of the AMU Alumni Association for several years and it should come as no surprise that today he is the President of this organization. The Sir Syed Day keynote address this year was presented by Ambassador Islam A. Siddiqui. Dr Siddiqui till recently served as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative and has now joined a think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as a senior adviser in its Global Food Security Project in

Washington DC. He is also a very familiar face to many of us in northern California because of his many years working for the State of California in Sacramento and for his long-time community activism; he is one of the founders of UMA and has been the President of the Downtown Sacramento Muslim Mosque. Although not an alumni of AMU, Dr Siddiqui said that he was forever indebted to the campus because that is where he met his wife over 40 years ago! “When I think of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s contributions to India and the world at large, it is about Education, Economic Empowerment and Moderation,” said Siddiqui. Giving the audience a backdrop of BritishIndian history, and the poor state of Muslims after the 1857 war of independence (the first attempt by Indians to gain independence) which failed, Sir Syed’s unique role was highlighted. “Here came a thinker and a visionary, who had worked for the British East India Company, had studied the causes of the Indian revolt, published a commentary on the Bible and was even instrumental in establishing The Scientific Society of Aligarh,” he said. He added that Sir Syed was fighting for the educational, social and economic uplift of Indian Muslims about the same time as President Abraham Lincoln was fighting for the cause of African Americans to abolish slavery in the United States. He said that today the situation of the Muslim masses in India is not great and cited some relevant statistics

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from the Sachar Committee Report of 2006 which concluded that “when it comes to education the situation of Indian Muslims is indeed depressing as compared to other socio-religious communities and the problem is more acute among girls and women”. Siddiqui remained hopeful that as India’s economy grows, economic opportunities for all Indians will expand. “As the saying goes: A rising tide lifts all boats,” he said. He also reinforced the charter of the AEEF and its fundraising activity by saying that it is our moral obligation to give back to the under-privileged in the community and country that made it possible for us to reach where we are today. Dr Shaheer Khan returned to present an AEEF Update. The Aligarh Education Endowment Fund needs about $100,000 for 2014-2015 academic year to fund its projects which include the sponsorship of excellence in education through scholarships, Aligarh Modern School, Hamara School Aligarh, Faizabad Public School (Faizabad), Faiz-e-Aam Muslim Inter College (Faizabad), Hira Public School (Ambedkar Nagar), J.A.B.I.C. Bhadarsa (Ambedkar Nagar), J.D.J.B.Anand P.G. College (Faizabad), M.I. Girls Inter College (Faizabad), Rishiraz Singh Maha Vidyalya (Faizabad), and many others. It is also supporting Saiema Mansoor Public School (Hathras), vocational training for women, a mentorship program and students at premier institutions in India. A short

fundraising appeal was made with a target of $60,000 in mind. And in the process, just before the entertainment, the Aligarh Tarana or anthem was enthusiastically played and sung by some of the alumni of AMU present. The second part of Sir Syed Day is the “International Mushaira” which brings together some of the finest poets or practitioners of Urdu language poetry from around the globe (mainly from where it is used most, India and Pakistan). Countries can be partitioned but one cannot do that with a language. Urdu’s birthplace is in India where AMU is physically located too, but Urdu ironically is the national language of Pakistan. Where borders and governments divide, languageculture and family unite. I did get an opportunity at this event to meet the Consul of India in San Francisco and air the trials and tribulations of getting a visa for India for a person of Pakistani origin! This year the list of poets was “Pakistan heavy” for the lack of a better term. The Mezban or host poets in order of appearance were Shahid Siddiqi (Canada), Misum Samer (Bay Area), Faisal Azeem (Canada), and Ahmar Shehwaar and Tashie Zaheer (both from the Bay Area). The Mehman or guest poets were Ambareen Haseeb ‘Amber’(Pakistan), Nusrat Mehdi (India), Abbas Tabish (Pakistan) and Sarfraz Shahid (Pakistan). Two new aspects were noted in this year’s Mushaira. One, the Nizamat AEEF, P22

COMMUNITY

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

Global Peace Leadership Conference Seeks Agreement on Values, Renewal of American Ideals

aith leaders and “leaders of faith” from 20 states and 4 nations called for a renewal of American founding values to build social cohesion and meet the urgent domestic and international challenges confronting the country at the 2014 Global Peace Leadership Conference, America at a Crossroads: Leading Our Nation to Live Up to Its Founding Ideals, on September 19-21, 2014.

Addressing the conference, co-chairs Dr Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University; Rev Fred Luter, former President of the Southern Baptist Convention; and Dr Robert A. Schuller, co-chair of the Coalition for American Renewal, cited often under-recognized expressions of faith and respect for diverse religious traditions among the Founding Fathers. They also appealed to the assembled leaders to vigorously advocate faith perspectives in the public square and in policy debates. Dr Schuller movingly described an earlier crossroads of the nation’s history, during the British attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore in 1814, when an American observer in a boat in the harbor during the long hours British bombardment saw the American flag waving above the ramparts at the break of dawn and penned the words that would become the National Anthem. The Star Spangled Banner was then poignantly presented by Shannon Wise, Director of Liturgical Music at Herndon United Methodist Church, and harpist-Jamie Schermer. Dr Ahmed said that he came to Washington, DC in August 2001 as Chair of Islamic Studies at American

From left: Prof Akbar Ahmed, Rev Dr Deforest Blake ‘Buster’ Soaries Jr., Dr Mathew Spalding and James Flynn

are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” Global Peace Foundation President James Flynn called the American story “the human story,” and the founding “a turning point not only in American history but for all people in our journey together as human beings.” By grounding the new republic and national life in the “selfevident truth that all are endowed by the Creator with rights,” Flynn said, Americans could bring cohesion among peoples of increasingly diverse national, ethnic and religious backgrounds. .“When we have confusion about values, we need to go back to the principles,” Flynn said. “Transcendent principles don’t need an argument to prove them; they are not religious doctrines, but self-evident,” which he illustrated with examples of the outpouring of compassion and relief efforts following the 2010 Haitian earthquake. Flynn quoted Founding Father Benjamin Rush, who explicitly connected liberty and self-government to virtue, the capacity to govern oneself, which ultimately derives from principles and values grounded in faith. “Liberty requires virtue, and virtue requires faith, ” he said. The Conference convened additional sessions for policy makers, civil society leaders and experts including “Family Values: Rebuilding Consensus out of Confusion,” “Civic Engagement for the Common Good: Promoting an American Culture of Service,” and “The Role of Faith Leaders in the Public Square.”

University and was in class when the terrorists flew a hijacked passenger plane into the Pentagon just weeks later. “When that incident happened I realized over the course of the day that my life will completely change and I would have to give back to this great country that had been so generous,” Dr Amhed said. “But the big question was, what was this country and what does it stand for?” When his sabbatical came up he took a year with his students and travelled the length and breadth of America and wrote a book, Journey to America. “What I discovered amazed me, it stunned me,” he said. “Many don’t know, for example, there is a statue outside of the university Jefferson created, dated 1786, and it starts by mentioning the name of God for Christianity, Yahweh for Judaism, Allah for Islam, Brahma for Hinduism. Consider the date, 1786.” Citing the writings and correspondence of other Founding Fathers, Dr Ahmed said Americans ought not to “put a fence” around them. “These are world figures. Why can’t people in China and India and Africa look up to these figures and say, ‘We too want to share these ide-

als.’”

Speaking to the conference in a recorded message, Rev Luter said families, schools, churches and government are being affected by the erosion of values, and he thanked participants for undertaking the cause of American renewal. “I am convinced that the world will not get any better, society will not get any better, the nation will not get any better until believers stand up at the plate and become a light to the dark world and salt in a salt-less society.” Other speakers made special note of the founding principles that enabled the nation to mature and transcend what has been called the “birth defect” of slavery. Rev Dr. Deforest Blake ‘Buster’ Soaries Jr., former New Jersey Secretary of State and a senior Baptist pastor, said we sometimes fail to recognize that America is the outgrowth of an ideal. “The ideals were bigger than the capacity of the people who wrote the words [and] exceeded the capacity of the people to heed the words that were written,” he said. “The ideal is bigger than the heritage. If the ideal had not been bigger than the heritage we would have been trapped by the heritage. Our heritage may be flawed

but our ideal comes from God, and the genius of America is our ability to self-correct.” Dr Matthew Spalding, Associate Vice President and Dean of Educational Programs at Hillsdale College, observed that American history is a narrative based upon two documents, the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. “The Declaration was a statement of principles,” Spalding told the conference participants. “American patriots wanted their rights as Englishmen; but you can’t beat the English King by claiming the rights of Englishmen. So they did something different. They looked behind that, reached back in history and they said ‘we are men and we are endowed with those rights and you can’t take them away.’ He said that the Declaration’s most important lines, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights . . .” significantly appealed to “the laws of nature and nature’s God,” and not any human author. Quoting Alexander Hamilton, Spaulding declared, “The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They

those who moved to the States years ago for better educational opportunities, or with their parents as young children, share Afzal’s beliefs, and say

that it is a strong cultural tie with their families that makes them care about what is happening 7,000 miles away. TRA

“I feel like in Pakistan, looking at all of the people it really breaks my heart to see kids there. I have younger brothers and when I see kids there,

they don’t have food, or they are dying, they don’t go to school, they are picking up garbage on the streets, they

FUSION FROM P19

Center Stage - is a public-private initiative of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and produced by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) in cooperation of regional arts organizations and some private donors. General Management for Center Stage is provided by Lisa Booth

Management Inc. which has been very effective in finding talented artists who can further the cause of cultural exchange. One of the gems discovered through this exchange is Arieb Azhar, based in Islamabad, who in addition to his Sufi music plays an instrumental role in identifying artists for Center Stage.

From the personal interactions at a reception at the District Commons restaurant with the artists of bands, the State Department officials and all the people who make Center Stage so enjoyable, one sees the East meet West through an amazing cultural fusion bringing hope for sanity to prevail in a turbulent world

beset by violence. And, historians might note that the District Commons restaurant physically exists in a place which was once the emergency room of the George Washington University Hospital where the late President Ronald Reagan was brought in after being shot by a lunatic in 1981.

AEEF FROM P21

entire Mezbaan Shayir group (locals) as amongst the most talented that he has ever seen. All of them were worthy and it was good to see young Faisal Azeem back in this area. I just had to thank Tashie Bhai personally for his one line that made us proud. In a nutshell none of the local “amateur” poets were less than professional! Amongst the four Mehman Shayir’s (guests) Ambareen was extremely entertaining both as a poet

and in her “Tum Bhi Naa” and in her Nizamat role. Nusrat Mehdi was the feminist voice of the evening and she was amazing in Tarannum especially with her “Mein Bhi to Hoon”. Abbas Tabish was his usual pensive self with his “Intizar ke Lamhe” and his ode to mothers everywhere. And last but not least Sarfraz Shahid who in his Sadarat role provided enough comic relief to us that many had smiles on our faces as we made our way out of the

door. His take on “Maulana and Hoorain”, romance in cricket “Musalman mard ko char hi run ki Ijazat Hai” and his political cutlery were all very well received. The Annual Sir Syed Day Aligarh magazine was also released on this occasion. The magazine is dedicated to Hali and Shibli. This year marks the 100th death anniversary of Maulana Altaf Husain Hali and Maulana Shibli Nomani, two pivotal members of the

team of Sir Syed’s ‘Rufaqaa’ in the establishment of the MAO College. In conclusion we did not stay for the doosra daur (round two) of the poetry but it was already quite a rewarding and satisfying event for us. The Aligarh Alumni Association of Northern California once again needs to be congratulated for holding this gathering where everyone enjoyed the food, revisited Sir Syed’s vision and participated in quality entertainment.

YOUTH FROM P1

These young Pakistani-Americans, some as young as four years old, represent an American contingent of a several-weeks-long political protest playing out in Islamabad, Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people have virtually shut down the capital city, sleeping in the streets, calling for the Prime Minister to step down because, according to protesters, he won as the result of a rigged and unfair election. “The connection is, I have brothers and sisters there, people living in Pakistan are my family, they run the same blood, we are all humans at the end, so we need to act like humans. Humanity is my connection,” 15-yearold Zareen Afzal told NBC News. Afzal was born in Connecticut and has never visited Pakistan. Protestors born in the US and

create work from within rich and storied cultures. Through music and movement, they engage the new and the historic and help shape the complex societies in which they live in,” says the cover of a sample CD with truly wonderful works of art. This unique cultural exchange –

was done by a young lady (Amber) and, two, the Sadarat and closing poet (Sarfraz) was the one who provided comic relief (possibly designed so that people went home in a good mood). It would take another full article here just to cover the Mushaira segment of the evening. But just to highlight some of the activity here, senior poet Abbas Tabish aptly described the

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YOUTH, P29

WOMEN WOMENS WORLD

OCTOBER 3, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P23 SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 - PAKISTAN LINK

earing your foundation wrong is one of the most common mistakes made by people on a daily basis; having said that, wrong

either achieve a flawless skin or on the contrary, overdo it and end up looking caked. Here is how you can achieve a perfect looking skin in five

foundation can make you look like a mess and ruin your entire look. The foundation application process is the first step in wearing your make-up and there are two ways you can go about it,

simple steps. Step 1: Find the Perfect Colour The most common misconception of foundation is that the colour should match that of your face, when in fact the best

matched foundation will blend with the color of your neck. The most effective area for an accurate skin match is just below and in front of the ear. The neck joins the face in this area, which allows you to see the undertone (the intrinsic colour of the skin) and the shade (lightness or darkness) of the face and neck. If the colour is correct, it will disappear without blending. Don't be afraid to mix two or even three foundations to achieve your perfect colour. Step 2: Prepare your Skin Clean, tone and moisturize your face and let it set for 5 to10 minutes before you apply primer. Primer is the base for your foundation. It will protect your skin, smooth the fine lines and fill in pores. Preparing your skin will not only help you achieve flawless application but it will also make your make-up last longer. Step 3: Applying it the right way Before you start applying your foundation, always remember "less is more". When applying, it is important to use the product in moderation so you have control over the quality of the finished look. It is always easier to add product, if needed, rather than having too much which can result in streaking and leaving the application uneven. You can use a sponge or a brush to apply, just remember to blend, blend, and blend! Your face and neck should not have a line where the foundation ends. 'The Beauty Blender' cosmetic sponge is my personal favourite; it leaves just the right amount on your skin and gives an airbrushed finish. Step 4:Conceal after foundation If you use the concealer before foundation you will end up using more than required. The foundation itself will cover most of the redness or imperfections. Dab a tiny amount of concealer with a small brush to hide those imperfections that you can see even after applying foundation. A concealer should be one shade lighter than you skin tone; going too light can make it look fake and blotchy. Step 5: Set it with Powder Apply loose powder with a fluffy brush lightly all over the face, especially where the face can get oily. A brush gives the most natural finish. Under the eyes and on trouble spots, pat the tiniest amount of powder with a small brush to keep concealer in place. My favourite is MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder as it is translucent and slightly matte's the skin. Courtesy Dawn

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COMMENTARY

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

n By Dr Asif Javed

Hadji Murad: The Tragic Hero of Daghestan

Williamsport, PA

apoleon Bonaparte called his Marshal Ney, bravest of the brave; Jackson, a General in the American Civil War, was affectionately called Stonewall, a reflection of his calmness while under attack. There are many other examples: There was Bhagat Singh who walked to the gallows with hardly any sign of fear; there were defenders of Alamo. I was thinking of men like these when I came across Hadji Murad, a novelette by Leo Tolstoy some time ago.

As my hero of this day, continues to roar like a Lion in Islamabad, I began to think of HM: His magnanimity, integrity, daring, almost reckless disregard of danger and personal safety. My hero also has another trait in common with HM: The nation is not supporting him the way they should. While he continues his sagging campaign, Pakistanis, like the Caucasians of 150 years ago, remain divided; we have our own Imam Shamyls and Czars to contend with. So who was this HM? The introduction to Tolstoy’s HM, calls him ‘an epic hero’. To the invading Russians, he was the Red Devil: He wore a red cap and dyed his beard red. In the Caucasus, he remains a legend to this day. According to Lesley Blanch, the author of Sabers of Paradise, “HM was Shamyl’s greatest Naib, his most valued Lieutenant, and Russia’s most deadly foe after Shamyl.” HM’s exploits are recalled to this day: He once surprised a Russian garrison town and escaped having done considerable damage while a ball was underway next door. On another occasion, he assassinated Imam Hamzad Beg, to avenge his foster-brother’s death, accompanied by his brother Osman only. Hamzad was surrounded by thirty murids, with drawn swords. While Osman perished during the struggle, HM escaped, having killed Hamzad. Legend has it that he made off with the widow of his arch enemy, Ahmat Khan from Djengoutai, another garrison town, with streets full of soldiers. As a prisoner, once he was being escorted by forty Russian soldiers in heavy snowfall. The path went over a high mountain, was dangerously narrow and had a precipice on one side. “HM walked like a prince although his hands were tied. He went sure-footed, stepping cat-like beside the precipices. This was his native terrain,” writes Lesley Blanch. “As they reached the highest, most precipitous ledge, HM suddenly turned on his captors and hurled himself headlong in to the abyss, dragging one of the guards after him….He was written off as dead.” HM survived the120-yard fall---he had counted on the snow to break his fall---albeit with serious injuries from which he recovered except for a residual limp. Tolstoy has left a brief physical description of HM: “HM’s smile struck Poltoratsky by its childlike kindliness, a sort of innocence, who had never expected to see the terrible mountain chief look like that; and here was a vivacious person….He had but one peculiar-

ity: his eyes, set wide apart, gazed from under their black brows attentively, penetratingly and calmly into the eyes of others.” While making a serious statement, HM would put his right hand over his chest, as he did while talking to Gen Vorontsov, after defection to the Russians. HM’s daring made him being elevated to the Naib of Imam Shamyl who was then directing a heroic struggle of the Caucasians against the Czar’s Army. Shamyl fought against the Russians from 1834 through 1859 against heavy odds with hardly any outside support. Shamyl valued HM who was hoping to succeed Shamyl. But Shamyl felt that HM had become too powerful and too arrogant and nominated his own son, as heir. This started a rift and an enraged HM defected to the Russians while his family was taken hostage by Shamyl. The Russians were thrilled to have HM on their side. HM was hoping to get their support to get his family released from Shamyl in prisoner exchange. After that, he wanted to lead an assault on Shamyl with Russian support. The Russian Viceroy, Gen Vorontsov, promised help but then procrastinated for months while HM family’s fate was hanging by a thread. There were rumors that Shamyl was going to gouge his son’s eyes and give away his mother and wife to his murids unless HM returned to Shamyl. HM was in a predicament: While Shamyl continued to make offers of pardon, HM knew that the fox-like Shamyl could not be trusted. The Russians, too, never believed his sincerity and kept on making false promises. Time was running out for him. He was very attached to his son and worried about his fate. Though apparently free, he was really in a gilded cage in Tiflis, Georgia. HM planned a daring escape in broad daylight. As a desperate measure, he had decided to try and rescue his family from Shamyl on his own. During one of his morning rides that Russians allowed him, HM and his henchmen suddenly galloped away after killing their Cossack guards. Having gone six miles, they stopped to rest for the night in a thicket. They were hoping to resume their flight, expecting

to be in the mountains in a few hours where they would be safe. As fate would have it, they were discovered and soon surrounded by Russian Soldiers. HM’s last stand with five of his followers is beautifully written by Lesly Blanch in Sabres of Paradise; so read on: Within an hour, the troops had surrounded the coppice, and HM and his five men were trapped and outnumbered, a hundred to one. The game was up, and they knew it. But not one of them spoke of surrender. While the Russian officers were shouting to them to lay down their arms, they set about making their last stand….As the five hundred attackers closed in, they could hear the Murids intoning their ritual death-chant, mournful and glorious. HM and his men unsheathed their shashkas; their ammunition was almost gone, but they still had their steel. The rest of narrative is by that master story teller Tolstoy: HM and his men fired only when any of the militiamen came forward, and rarely missed their aim…So it continued for more than an hour….Then HM was wounded, the bullet piercing his shoulder…..Another bullet hit HM in the left side. He lay down in the ditch, and again plugged the wound with cotton. This wound in the side was fatal, and he felt that he was dying. Memories and pictures succeeded one another with extraordinary rapidity in his imagination….Yet his strong body continued the things that he had commenced. Gathering together his last strength, he rose from behind the bank, fired his pistol at a man who was running towards him, and hit him. Then HM got quite out of the ditch, and limping heavily, went dagger in hand straight at the foe…..Some shots cracked, and he reeled and fell…..But the body that seemed to be dead, suddenly moved. First the uncovered bleeding shaven head rose; then, with hands holding to the trunk of the tree, the body rose. He seemed so terrible that those who were running towards him stopped short. But suddenly a shudder passed through him; he staggered away from the tree and fell on his face, stretched out at full length, like a thistle

that had been mown down, and he moved no more. And so it came to pass that the most haunting and extraordinary character among the Caucasian heroes was no more, defiant to the very end. A young Winston Churchill, while working as a war correspondent in Sudan in 1898 had witnessed Khalifa Abdullah’s fearless charge before being shot and with admiration called it “a dramatic dignity sometimes denied to more civilized warriors.” HM certainly had this dramatic dignity in abundance although Mr Churchill may not have been aware of it. The news of HM’s death was conveyed to the Czar by Gen Vorontsov with a tribute: Thus on April 24, 1852, HM died, as he had lived, desperately brave. His ambition equaled his courage, and to that there was no bound. Czar was later to receive HM’s severed head as a battle trophy in St. Petersburg. Little did the despot know that just two generations later, his great grandson Czar Nicholas — along with his entire family -- will be butchered by the Bolsheviks bringing an end to the Romanov Dynasty. As for Shamyl, the so-called Imam was to surrender tamely to the Russians in 1859. Having lost HM, his most daring Naib for nothing else but nepotism, he was never the same force again. His designated successor and son, Khazi Mohammad, also surrendered with him bringing to an end the Murid Wars, a tragic chapter in the history of Caucasia. The memory of HM lives on and he is widely believed to be the most haunting and extraordinary character among the Caucasian heroes. A mountain song from Daghestan runs like this: The earth will dry on my grave, Mother, my Mother! And thou wilt forget me, And over me rank grasses wave, Father, my Father! Nor wilt thou regret me, When tears cease thy dark eye to lave, Sister, dear Sister! No more will grief fret thee! But thou my Brother, the Elder, wilt never forget, With vengeance denied me! And thou, my Brother, the Younger, wilt ever regret, Till thou liest beside me! Hotly thou camest, O death-bearing ball that I spurned, For thou wast my Slave! And thou, black earth, that battle-steed trampled and churned, Wilt cover my grave! Cold art thou, O Death, yet I was thy Lord and thy Master! My body sinks fast to earth; my Soul to Heaven flies faster. We are told that HM was very fond of this song and would often ask one of his followers to sing for him. He would listen intently, and as the song would come to the end with its mournful tone, HM would close his eyes; perhaps the valiant warrior had a premonition of things to come. (The writer is a physician in Williamsport, PA and may be reached at asifjaved@comcast.net)

With Their Feet and a Tweet, Europe’s Muslims Stand up to IS

s Islamic State extremists call for random murders throughout Europe in the name of religion, the continent’s Muslims are hitting back with mass peace demonstrations and a Twitter campaign to say “not in my name”.

From Norway in the far north to Germany and France, Muslims have taken to the streets to denounce the IS militants controlling large areas of Iraq and Syria who they say have hijacked their religion and terminology to spread hate and breed violence. The IS group are “terrorists and murderers who drag Islam into the

dirt and bring hatred and suffering to the people, including to their own fellow Muslims, in Syria, in Iraq and elsewhere,” said Aiman Mazyek, chairman of Germany’s central council of Muslims. Along with other Muslim groups, Mazyek’s council organized last week a day of prayers and rallies across Germany, which is home to around four million Muslims, mainly with Turkish roots. Under the open sky in the Berlin suburb of Kreuzberg — known affectionately as little Istanbul for its large Turkish population — thousands knelt on prayer mats and listened to speeches

against violent extremism. “They are acting under the banner of the Prophet, but their crimes show that they have not understood a word of what Allah has revealed to us and how our Prophet lived by these commandments,” said a statement read out in mosques across Germany. Similar marches have taken place in Norway and Denmark under the banner “say no to the (non) Islamic State. “Other Muslims have taken to social media to combat the Islamic State group, which itself has used Twitter effectively to recruit potential recruits. The London-based Active MUSLIMS, P29

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SPORTS SPORTS

OCTOBER 3, 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P25

Pakistan Beat Malaysia to Set Up Final Against India

INCHEON: The Pakistani hockey won the semi-final against Malaysia in the Asian Games recently. The team fled to victory after defeating the Malaysian team in a penalty shoot out. Pakistan will now take on India in the hockey final. Previously, Pakistan beat Oman 8-0 in their final Pool B match of the at the Seonhak Hockey Stadium. Captain Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Irfan and Abdul Haseem Khan scored two goals each, while Muhammad Umar Bhutta and Muhammad Dilber scored one goal each. On September 25, Pakistan qualified for the hockey semi-finals after defeating arch-rivals India 2-1 in their third Pool B match at the Munhak Hockey Stadium. J

Younis Will Not Be Disciplined By Pakistan KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided not to penalise batsman Younis Khan for criticizing the selectors after being dropped from the one-day international series against Australia. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan says, "For the moment, we will not take any disciplinary action against him, and hope he will settle down now." The chairman adds he plans to meet Younis soon to "hear out his grievances."

day bowler, faces a race against time to complete remedial work by the World Cup, to be held from February to March in Australia andNew Zealand. He was suspended earlier this month after he was found to straighten his elbow up to 43 degrees - well beyond the 15 degree limit prescribed under the rules, the point where a kink becomes noticeable to the naked eye. Since then, Hafeez and Sunil Narine have been among four players reported during an Indian tournament. Though the action has no direct bearing on international cricket,

Misbah: My Point of View Isn't Always Accepted

KARACHI: Captain Misbah-ulHaq has suggested the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to omit the veteran Younis Khan from October's ODI series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates is incorrect. Khan had not played ODI cricket since March 2013 prior to last month's tour of Sri Lanka. He scored just three in the opening fixture before returning home due to a death in the family. The veteran right-hander has not been included in a relatively new-look 15-man squad for three ODIs against the Australians in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Talented quartet Umar Amin, Sarfraz Ahmed, Raza Hasan and Asad Shafiq, meanwhile, have been recalled. "I don't want to comment on this issue because Younis is a senior team-mate and I also have to look at the PCB code of conduct, but I want

to make it clear it is not necessary that my point of view is accepted all the time when teams are selected," IBN quoted Misbah as saying. "When a team is selected discussions are held and sometimes your arguments are accepted and sometimes they are rejected. You also have to respect and accept the views and decisions of others being part of a team set-up." The 40-year-old Misbah has retained the ODI captaincy ahead of next year's World Cup in Austraila and New Zealand, where Pakistan have been pooled with South Africa, India, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and United Arab Emirates. "If I was a defensive captain or batsman would the team have achieved the notable successes it has achieved in the last four years? I always decide how to play and try to combine aggression with defence," he concluded. J

When Younis, who has played in 254 ODIs, was dropped last week, he said, "What should players like us do? Should we shoot ourselves?" He also threatened to be unavailable for the test team until after the Cricket World Cup, which he was keen to be a part of in February and March. The first of three one-dayers against Australia is next Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates. There's a one-off Twenty20. J

Waqar Younis Not Impressed on ICC's Timing of Suspect Bowling Action

KARACHI: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has questioned the timing of cricket authorities' crackdown against chucking just months away from the World Cup, and suggested that rules on bowling actions be relaxed for spinners. In an interview with AFP, the former pace great said key all rounder Mohammed Hafeez's confidence was left shattered after he was reported for a suspect action in an Indian domestic tournament, a fresh blow to Pakistan following the loss ofSaeed Ajmal to a chucking ban. Ajmal, the world's leading one-

OCTOBER 3, 2014 - PAKISTAN LINK

Waqar said the bowlers would now be under intense scrutiny. "Is this the right time to enforce the protocols and the technology?" he said. "I am asking this because every team plans ahead of the World Cup, and the suspensions will badly hit the teams whose bowlers got suspended or questioned. I mean the protocols and the technology should have been enforced after the World Cup," he added. Ajmal's suspension came as part of a wider drive by the International Cricket Council against bowlers with suspect actions, with Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayakeand Kane Williamson being suspended in July this year. Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi and Al-Amin Hossain along with Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya were all reported after Ajmal. The bans have thrown a spotlight on the controversial "doosra" delivery, which turns in the opposite direction to orthodox offspin but is delivered using the same wrist action. Waqar suggested that the delivery could not be bowled legally and the ICC should amend their laws to accommodate it. "When a bowler bowls a doosra, his elbow must bend beyond limits, that's natural and I think a solution must be found." he said. Waqar added that Hafeez, who is a major part of Pakistan's limited overs teams, had been left scarred by the experience of being reported. "I know they have reported him under a process but that is confidence-shattering for one of our key bowlers." he quoted. The Pakistan Cricket Board is facing something of a chucking crisis at home, suspending 16 bowlers last week after 30 were reported for suspect actions. J

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Pakistan Boxer Waseem Qualifies for Semifinals

INCHEON: Pakistan's star boxer and medal hope Mohammad Waseem qualified for the semifinals of the 17th Asian Games Boxing Tournament after winning his 52kg flyweight category bout against Azat Usenaliev of Kyrgyzstan in the quarterfinal at Seonhak Gymnasium here on Monday. Waseem and Azat accidentally clashed heads moments after the starting bell with the Kyrgyzstan boxer suffering a nasty gash above his eye. Unable to continue, the referee had no option but to stop the fight with just 28 seconds gone and award Waseem a technical knockout win. Earlier, Waseem defeated RI Chungil of South Korea in the quarters. The 27-year-old Commonwealth Games silver-medallist is the country's hope for a medal in the boxing event. Waseem had received a bye in the first round. Waseem will face Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in the semifinals on October 2 (Thursday). Kabaddi: Pakistan defeated Bangladesh 24-11 in kabbadi to record their second successive victory at Songdo Global University Gymnasium here on Monday. With this victory, Pakistan qualified for the semifinals. 2010 Asiad bronze medallists Pakistan will now meet their archrivals India in the third and last league match recently. In their opening match, Pakistan had thrashed Thailand 51-30. Pakistan have a good chance to secure a medal at the Incheon Asiad. Volleyball: Pakistan defeated Myanmar 3-0 in the volleyball competition at Ansan Sangroksu Gymnasium recently. The score-line was 25-21, 2522, 25-23 after an interesting 66-minute

tussle. Pakistan will play classification match against Taiwan for 9th-12th position on Tuesday (today). Wrestling: Pakistan's wrestlers Muhammad Inam and Muhammad Asad Butt lost their respective 86kg and 74 kg fights at Dowon Gymnasium recently. Asad Butt lost his 74kg bronze bout against a Korean rival while Inam lost his quarterfinal and repchage bouts against Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan opponents.

Table Tennis: Pakistan's men and women gave a disappointing performance in table tennis competition at Suwon Gymnasium here on Monday. Except for Muhammad Rameez, who got a walkover against Lam Long Che of Mongolia in the men's singles, Pakistan players lost all their matches of the day. Aisha Iqbal Ansari, Rahila Anjum, Shabnum Bilal, Asim Quereshi and Saleem Abbas Kazmi lost their mixed doubles, women's singles and women's doubles matches against their Thailand, Taiwan and India rivals. J

COMMENTARY

P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

Most People Appear Optimistic about the Economy & Jobs 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) To follow up on my previous article on stock market and economy. It is looking stock markets with some bumps here and there which is natural and healthy. All major indexes continue to hit new highs S.P has been the leader right after is NASDAQ although hitting new. Even DOW is up generously. It is good time and fun time for investor. Having said that one must do his homework, work on good research once you have done all that only then you put your hard earned money to work. U.S. Consumers viewed the economy with increased optimism. The Recovery Good News The U.S. economy’s second quarter rebound was more robust than previously estimated and corporate profits surged, putting the recovery back on track as it ended its fifth year. Gross domestic product, the

broadest measure of goods and services produced across the economy, grew at a reasonably adjusted annual rate of 4.2% in the second quarter when adjusted for inflation. The agency had previously estimated the second quarter’s growth at 4% relying on incomplete data for international trade, inventories and other sectors. Home Demand Grows The number of contracts signed to buy previously owned homes rose in July, a sign that steady job growth is supporting a rebound in housing demand. An index of pending home sales, reflecting purchases under contract but not yet closed, rose 3.3% to 105.9 in July from June, the National Association of Realtors said that was a bigger gain than the 0.6% rise forecast by economists and placed the index comfortably over the 100 level. Pending home sales have now risen four of the past five months, though the index remains 2.1% below its level from a year ago. A regional

break down of the July data showed sales rising in the Northeast, South and West, though they fell in the Midwest. Bank Lending Growing US banks increased their loan balances in the second quarter of 2014 by levels not seen since before the financial crisis, offering evidence of a pickup in lending as the economy slowly recovers. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said bank’s loan and lease balances grew by $178.5 billion to $8.11 trillion, a 2.3% increase over the previous quarter and the largest quarterly jump since the last quarter of 2007. Commercial and industrial loans, residential mortgages, credit-card balances, and auto loans contributed to the growth, the agency said in its quarterly report of bank’s health. The FDIC also said the banking industry continued to recover from the financial crisis, though banks are still having trouble boosting revenues in a low-interest-rate environment. Nonbank Mortgages also Grew Nonbank lenders made almost a quarter of all mortgage loans in the first half of the year, the highest level since at least, the highest level since at least the financial crisis, accordance to data on the top-30 mortgage originators from industry newsletter Inside Mortgage Finance. Mortgage lending at big banks such as Wells Fargo & Co. and J.P. Morgan Chase has dropped more quickly than the rest of the industry. The rise of nonbank lenders is good news for consumers who otherwise might not be able to get a bank loan in the current environment. For banks, this marks a retreat from a business that used to be very profitable but has turned in to a legal and financial. Orders for big-ticket manufactured goods jumped to a record in July thanks to a surge in aircraft purchases, while under lying gauges of demand indicated strong momentum in broad business spending. Purchases of durable goods products like airplanes, cars and heavy machinery that are designed to last at least three year. That was the sharpest increase and highest level in a data series dating back to 1992. Fewer Took less Pay More Americans are bouncing back after losing their JOBS, P29

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(*September 30, 2014)

US VISA AVAILABILITY IN OCTOBER, 2014 For Pakistan, Bangladesh & India Compiled by Hasan Chishti FAMILY SPONSORED PREFERENCES

Pakistan/Bangladesh

1st Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. Citizens

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2-A Spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents

Feb., 1, 2013

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

Nov., 1, 2007

Married sons & daughters of US citizens Dec., 1, 2003

Dec., 1, 2003

4th Brothers & sisters of adult U.S. citizens

Jan. 22, 2002

India

Jan. 22, 2002

EMPLOYMENT BASED CATEGORY 1st Priority workers

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3rd Skilled workers Other workers

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RELIGION

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P27

Prophet Muhammad: Allah’s Mercy to the Worlds and Favor to the Faithful

Gems from the Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

e sent you not except as a mercy for the worlds. (Al-Anbiya’ 21:107)

Allah did confer a great favor on the Believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while before that, they had been in manifest error. (Al ‘Imran 3:164) Prophet Muhammad – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him - was the “Rahmah of Allah” to the worlds. Rahmah is mercy and grace. Whatever exists in this world exists by the mercy of Allah; but one of the greatest signs of Allah’s mercy is His Last and Final Prophet Muhammad. Through Prophet Muhammad Allah completed His mercy to the whole world. Before him the Prophets used to come only to their own people; but Prophet Muhammad brought Allah’s love and mercy to all people and to all creation. In a Hadith the Prophet explained in this way: Narrated by Abu Musa alAsh’ari: The Prophet told us some of his names. He said, “I am Muhammad, Ahmad, alMuqaffa (the Final One), alHashir (the one who gathers humanity), Nabi al-Tawbah (the Prophet of Repentance) and Nabi al-Rahmah (the Prophet of Mercy).” (Muslim 4344) Besides being “the Mercy of Allah to the Worlds,” the Prophet was also “the Favor of Allah” (Mann Allah). However, the favor is to the faithful only because they are the ones who will benefit from his teachings, his message and mission and take the lead in spreading Allah’s mercy. Allah says that the Prophet is from among them (min anfusihim), meaning that he is from among the human beings. Imam Qurtubi says that there

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

are several meanings in this favor of Allah: One of them is that he is from amongst them. That is his being from the human race is a favor to human race and his being from among the humans make it easy for the human to follow him. Was he from among the angels or some extra-terrestrial creatures, it would have been very difficult for them to take him and his example seriously. In some readings of the Qur’an, it is read “min anfasihim” not “min anfusihim” and the meaning is that he was the most “nafis” (precious and valuable) among the human beings. Prophet Muhammad is the favor of Allah to the faithful for the following reasons: 1. He recites the ayat of Allah to them 2. He purifies them 3. He teaches them the Book and Wisdom 1. He recites to them the Ayat of Allah: Allah revealed to him His Book, the Qur’an and he recites the Ayat of this Book to them. He gives them

the Book as it was given to him from Allah. He is not only to deliver the book to them, but he is also to show them how to read this book. He is to make sure that the book is recited in the

After the departure of the Prophet from this world, it is the responsibility of his Ummah to benefit from this favor and then spread his mercy and grace to the worlds right way without any mistakes or errors. He makes sure that the book is preserved not only in the written but also in the spoken form. 2. He purifies them: Tazkiyah is both: purification and growth. Prophet Muhammad purifies the believers from sin, cor r upt ion, bad habits and customs. He purifies them individually and collectively. He purifies their societies: their cultures, their economic dealings, their political structures. He purifies every aspect of their life. He makes them grow to become better human beings. They are the deputies of Allah (khali-

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fah) on this earth; he brings them up to their potential. He upgrades their human level and makes them pride of humanity. Before him they were living in error and sin; he changed their condition. The humanity saw that suddenly the people who had no history and had no place among the nations of the world, they became the pride to the world. 3. He teaches them the book and wisdom: Prophet Muhammad did not only deliver the Qur’an to the believers; he also taught them the Qur’an. He explained the words of Allah and told them the teachings of the Qur’an and the way to follow those teachings. He did this through his Sunnah: his words and his personal example. Without Sunnah one cannot understand the Qur’an as it ought to be understood. The Sunnah is the Companion of the Qur’an. Some people explain “hikmah” as the Sunnah while others have taken “hikmah” as wisdom in the general sense of the word. Prophet Muhammad gave both the practical explanation of the Qur’an and he also gave us deeper meaning and wisdom of Allah’s words and commands. By knowing the wisdom of the Qur’an we can interpret the Qur’an in all situations and in all times. The Prophet was not only to give us textual meanings, but he also gave us the understanding of the text in its proper context and its application in different times and places. This is the basic role of the Sunnah and Hadith. It is important that we as Muslims benefit from Allah’s favor and then make Allah’s Mercy available to all people. After the departure of the Prophet from this world, it is the responsibility of his Ummah to benefit from this favor and then spread his mercy and grace to the worlds.

Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss, was born in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in 1900, and at the age of 22 made his first visit to the Middle East. He later became an outstanding foreign correspondent for the Franfurter Zeitung, and after his conversion to Islam travelled and worked throughout the Muslim world, from North Africa to as far East as Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. After years of devoted study he became one of the leading Muslim scholars of our age. His translation of the Holy Qur’an is one of the most lucid and well-referenced works in this category. Chapter 17, Verses 61-65 And Lo! We said unto the angels, “prostrate yourselves before Adam” – whereupon they all prostrated themselves, save Iblis. Said he: “Shall I prostrate myself before one whom Thou hast created out of clay?” [And] he added : “Tell me, is this [foolish being] the one whom Thou hast exalted above me? Indeed, if Thou wilt but allow me a respite till the Day of Resurrection, I shall most certainly cause his descendants – all but a few – to obey me blindly!” [God] answered: “Go [the way thou hast chosen]! But as for such of them as shall follow thee – behold, hell will be the recompense of you [all], a recompense most ample! Entice, then, with thy voice such of them as thou canst, and bear upon them with all thy horses and all thy men, and be their partner in [all sins relating to] worldly goods and children [ 1 ], and hold out [all manner of] promises to them: and [they will not know that] whatever Satan promises them is but meant to delude the mind. “[And yet,] behold, thou shalt have no power over [such of] My servants [as place their trust in Me]: for none is as worthy of trust as thy Sustainer.” Translator’s Notes [ 1 ] An allusion to possessions acquired by sinful means or spent on sinful purposes, and to the begetting of children through fornication or adultery. (It must, however, be pointed out that in the ethics and the canon law of Islam no moral stigma and no legal disability whatever attaches to the child thus begotten.

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P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

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Matrimonial Link We are looking for a suitable match for our sister. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1986. Cast UP, India, Urdu Speaking, Sunni -Hanafi - Deobandi. Fair complexion, height 5’-2” - Master’s Degree Holder, Canadian Citizen. Contact phone # (647) 779-1765. We are looking for a suitable match for our 35 year old MD daughter. She is born/raised/ educated in USA. Works as a clinical faculty at a prestigious university on East Coast. She is slim, fair complexioned and moderately religious. Never married. Serious inquiries from US residents only. Please contact us with personal, professional and family details in full confidence at

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Email: Sales@pakistanlink.com Pakistani Sunni Muslim Male, 32, US. Seeking Simple Sunni Muslim woman to get married in sunnah way who follows the basic Islamic rules eats halal pray. 5 Times a day, Send Bio-data with recent photos. age 21 to 35 US Residents/Citizens only Please contact sunnahwaynikah@yahoo.com Sunni Muslim Urdu-speaking Indian parents from religious family seek alliance for their daughter Pharm.D from USA,5’3’’, 35 years, pious (performs hajj/umrah), never married , good natured ,beautiful, seeking educated professional from similar background. Pediatric Pharmacist in a prestigious hospital in Maryland. Contact: 91- 7498625965 OR 443-858-2605(MD)

Urdu-speaking sunni Muslim parents seeking compatible match for their US born daughter, 25, 5’7”, slim/fair, 4 year college graduate, professional. Applicant must be educated and professional with sound family background & religious/ cultural values. Reply at 54musafir@gmail.com Daughter 25,5-5,fair,Pharm-D,Urdu speaking, US born. Educated family with high moral and cultural values looking for a professional suitable Muslim match for their daughter in East coast area. Interested families please contact with full details and pictures Male, 50 years old, professional, established, divorced, originally from Pakistan settled in Southern California, sincere, moderate in life style and open minded person seeking an educated, mature lady under 45 year old preferably from Indian or Pakistani ancestry. Contact: warmweather2014@ outlook.com

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PAKISTAN JOBS FROM P26

jobs, and fever are accepting a pay cut as the price of returning to work. Some 9.5 million people lost their jobs between January 2011 and December 2013, including 4.3 million who lost jobs they had held for at least three years. (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, or 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.) MUSLIMS FROM P24

Change Foundation has started a hashtag campaign #notinmyname that has spread rapidly across Twitter. “Tell the world that ISIS are the real enemies of Islam. It’s nothing to do with us,” says the group on its website, using an alternative name for IS, alongside videos of young Muslims holding placards with the slogan. “Tell ISIS that they can’t murder in your name.” As well as standing up against the horrors of IS, Muslim groups across Europe are taking measures to try to prevent their youth — misguided they say — from travelling to Syria and Iraq in their thousands to wage what they call jihad. In Sweden for example, a volunteer group has set up an Internet and telephone hotline for people to alert authorities if they suspect a friend or relative has been radicalized. French Muslims issued a clarion call in a “Paris appeal” for young people “not to get their battles mixed up.” “The real jihad is not in Syria or Iraq, it is in France: it’s the battle for integration, for social success, to live together,” said Anouar Kbibech, president of a group representing 550 mosques. Ghaleb Bencheikh, chairman of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, complained: “They’ve stolen our vocabulary. “ “The words of Islam have been confiscated by criminals and terrorists. The words ‘fatwa’, ‘caliphate’, ‘jihad’ have all been perverted,” he added. “Jihad used to be an effort in the service of God. Now it’s become a symbol of barbarism.” But amid the anger is also fear, as Muslims everywhere worry it could be their children that die in a faraway conflict. Danish politician Nur Mohamed, a Muslim with Somalia roots, warned recently that “the recruiters are extremely professional, are targeting young men between 16 and 25 and, unfortunately, have succeeded several times. “Muslim families “do not want to lose their children and are refusing to give an inch to IS,” he said. HISTORY FROM P10

country “PAKISTAN” seven years before the passage of the Lahore Resolution? It is a documented fact that Chaudhry Rahmat Ali coined the name “PAKISTAN” almost six years before the Lahore Resolution. I am sure the Board Members knew the name but looked the other way for fear of annoying the megalomaniacal veteran journalist. He shamelessly remained glued to his chair to spawn misinformation about our history and invited selective speak-

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29 ers to sing the swan songs of patriotism of the Nizami Brothers. The selection of speakers at the seminars displaysed nothing but an attempt to camouflage his hidden hostility to Chaudhry Rahmat Ali. This, among many other mean antics, clearly demonstrates his mindset and penchant for intellectual dishonesty. My niece did her master’s in Pakistan Studies sponsored by the Trust. I was highly disappointed at the contents of the subject matter of the curriculum. As a retired university professor I analyzed the oral and written content of the courses that were nothing but rudimentary and disappointingly deficient in material information. For certain unknown reasons, Majid Nizami intensely hated Chaudhry Rahmat Ali and Faiz Ahmad Faiz. One certainly has his inalienable right to choose his friends and foes but has no right whatsoever to distort historical facts. The willful omission of Chaudhry Rahmat Ali from the history of Nazria Pakistan is blatant denial of credit due to a prime worker of the Pakistani movement. Without Rahamat Ali, the history of Pakistan is incomplete. Period. And those who kept their eyes closed and mouths shut during all these years are guilty of a colossal crime - the murder of history of Pakistan. I am at a loss to understand where the Nazria’s history starts and where it ends? DESIGN FROM P15

sorted out, economies will open up to each other.” “There is a lot of love and affection between Indians and Pakistanis. There should be cross-cultural exchange all the time,” said Deepak, a frequent visitor to India. He recalled his childhood days when he used to make frequent trips to the country. “I have been visiting Mumbai since I was a kid. I have family in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore, Jodhpur, Indore and Pune.” “My summer holidays were spent here as a kid. I used to be weak in Mathematics. We used to have a teacher who taught us Maths and English. So, our English and Maths were better than everyone else’s in our class when we went back home,” he shared. LIST FROM P15

real possibility that as the burden of fiscal adjustments in the form of higher utility tariffs increases, people would turn to family savings to cover for demands of their lifestyle,” he said. Muhammad Sohail, CEO of Topline Securities, sees the growth in population and urbanization and changed lifestyle aspirations as key drivers of consumer market expansion. “The media has played a huge role in altering the choices of consumers and in spreading awareness about the evolving global culture.” “I know for a fact that at least six mega malls are coming up here with huge investment, and the success of innumerable brands already in the country has aroused a lot of interest in Pakistan as a target market,” Yousuf Jamshed, CEO of LXY Global, informed this writer two weeks back. According to an index available on the website of Trading Economics, Pakistan occupies the top position (142.26 points), followed by India (128), Indonesia (120.2), New Zealand (116.7) and UAE (109).

YOUTH FROM P22

don’t have clean water. I feel like that could have been my life, and I feel like I must stand up for Pakistan.” -- Khansa Abbasi, 21 “My whole family lives in Pakistan. I’ve only got my mom, my dad, and my sister here--they are my only family here. Everybody else is back in Pakistan, and I’m worried for them, so that’s why I am here.” -- Mohammed Massab Sohil, 14 “I may have been born here, but I will go there [Pakistan] someday.” -Bukuriya Choudhry, 14 “I came today because I am not only thinking about only myself, I have to think about all people. Americans don’t care about only themselves, Americans care about every people. Whoever is in Pakistan we have to care about them, they are our people.” -- Chaman Gulzar, 25 “I care because my parents are from Pakistan. I still care for Pakistan—it’s my mom’s land so we have to care about it.” -- Humad Basharat, 25 “I care about the world, those people who die every day, they matter a lot to me. If they die because there is no food, that’s very shameful…I want to see children going to school, adults going to jobs, I would want to see better houses, I don’t want to see poor people or dirty roads, dirty water, I don’t want to see disease, I want to see a better Pakistan.” -- Zuha Ajzal, 14 - Courtesy NBC News, The Express Tribune. Pictures by Tracy Jarrett KASHMIR FROM P1

talks in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, between the two nuclear-armed neighbors because of plans by Pakistan to consult Kashmiri separatists ahead of the meeting. DOCUMENTARY FROM P1

2013 Sundance Film Festival and was also aired on PBS Frontline. According to PBS, the documentary addresses deep rooted issues in Pakistan’s society: “In Pakistan, women and girls who allege rape are often more strongly condemned than their alleged rapists. Some are even killed by their own families. For this unforgettable documentary, filmmakers Habiba Nosheen and Hilke Schellmann spent years tracing one alleged rape victim’s odyssey through Pakistan’s flawed justice system—as well as her alleged rapists’ quest to clear their names.” Nosheen and Schellmann followed Kainat on her journey for justice in a deeply flawed and morally bankrupt justice system for four years. “To be honest, we were also struck by a teenager who was that outspoken and determined. There’s something special about the way she’s been able to be so public about an issue that’s such a taboo in Pakistan, and that you don’t see often in Pakistan,” the dynamic duo told PBS. Talking to Dawn.com, Associate Producer Muhamamd Ali Sheikh said, “When I first heard about this

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project I was really moved by this little girl’s story and I immediately wanted to get on board. It was a tough challenge and also a dangerous one. But it was important to tell this story.” About winning the award he said that it’s a great honor for the whole team and is a recognition for the art-form which is rarely in the spotlight. “Winning the Emmy was a surprise and for me it just reinforced my belief in why we must continue to tell stories from Pakistan,” he added. Sheikh was approached by Nosheen and Schellmann in 2013 and he knew that he had to be a part of the film because Kainat’s story had to be told – and told well. Talking about rape in a society that turns a blind eye to the offence not only made Kainat vulnerable to persecution but also her family; her brother was murdered, her father was repeatedly assaulted. The family was shunned from their home and forced to relocate to Karachi but they did not give up. The gut-wrenching portrayal of Kainat’s story and struggle earned the documentary an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informational Programming — Long Form & Outstanding Research, which also resulted in a win. The team that worked on the documentary included a few Pakistani journalists, a couple of whom shared the news of their big Emmy win via Twitter and Instagram. AGREEMENT FROM P1

According to experts, this agreement would lead to improved safety. US and NATO forces would remain in Afghanistan for the training and assistance of Afghan forces, he added. “In my opinion it is very important that Afghanistan could get military and economic aid as a result of this agreement”, he remarked. Responding to a question, he described the maiden speech of the new Afghan President as very positive. The start is good and mechanism of monitoring borders could also be finalized, he added. He hoped that the trust deficit between the two sides would be narrowed down in due course of time. SHAH FROM P1

Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday refuted media reports which quoted Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah as saying the prime minister could call snap polls if he voluntarily decided

to do so. The PPP leader, while speaking at the Lahore Press Club, said he had been screaming himself hoarse since yesterday to clarify that Shah had not made any such statement. “Ask Khursheed sb, ask me, Shah sb did not say anything like that,” Kaira added. The PPP leader went on to rebuke those criticizing Shah unnecessarily. “What is the reason for Khursheed sb to be a victim of this character assassination?” he asked. “That too for something he has not done. He is a senior political worker and he should be treated like one.” Earlier, Shah had told journalists in his chamber at the Parliament House that if the situation arises, the prime minister could himself call for snap elections. “It will not be appropriate to force the prime minister to resign at gunpoint. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will not accept any midterm polls in such a situation,” Shah was quoted as saying. MUSHARRAF FROM P1

to Pakistan,” he told his supporters. But he added that the legal and security threats he faced after his return were far greater than what he had anticipated. Musharraf said that even after five years since he stepped down, things had barely changed. “It was the same system and same people,” he claimed. “If you look at the current situation, you will see that the country is racing towards destruction. What we need is free and fair elections without any form of rigging. (But) first we need electoral reforms before elections in Pakistan,” he added.

P30 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014

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ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

isney's Khoobsurat - also known as Fawad Khan's long-awaited Bollywood debut - has finally released and as rom-coms go, this one comes with an entire bucket-load of expectations attached to it. As Disney's maiden Bollywood venture, audiences expect the movie to have all the trappings of the quintessential fairytale romance, complete with a Prince Charming, Princess and a 'whole new world' of magic and music. Khoobsurat, in addition, is the remake of a Hrishikesh Mukherjee classic; no less than a Rekha-Rakesh Roshan-Ashok Kumar starrer and that is a tall order to lay claim to, in any case. And of course, all eyes are on Fawad Khan, the dreamboat leading man who's had Pakistan swooning ever since Humsafar and now has his smoldering gaze set firmly on India. Does the movie manage to pack in the punches? Yes and no. Does Fawad manage to make his mark? Definitely, yes! He may not have swooped in on a magic carpet but he still works the magic very well as the chiseled, urbane Raja Vikram. But before we dissect the 'whys' and whats' to #Fawadfever - the hashtag that's gone viral on social media - let's discuss the movie … And they lived happily ever after … Once upon a time Khoobsurat narrates the story of the royal Rathod family, living a regimented and boring life in their picturesque Rajasthani palace. The matriarch - the Rani enacted to tight-lipped, frowning perfection by Ratna Pathak Shah - dictates the rules to a tee: dinner is no later than 8pm, the daughter of the house is preparing to go to Oxford, the son has his eyes on business while the Raja sits sullenly indisposed in his wheelchair. In comes the insouciant, over-the-top, catastrophically

OCTOBER 3, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P31

OCTOBER 3, 2014 - PAKISTAN LINK

silly Dr Milli, a physiotherapist called in from Delhi to treat the Raja. She is, as the title proclaims, the 'royal misfit'; proudly Punjabi, outspoken, with a garish wardrobe. In no time, she has the Rani sniveling and Prince Vikram cocking that infamous eyebrow. Somewhere down the line, while boisterously chucking a chicken leg from the serving tray, breaking popadums noisily over dinner and drunkenly canoodling that her bum dolay with the kitchen staff, Milli manages to soften the royalty and sweep the 'frog' Vikram off his feet, turning him into a 'prince'. Sonam is unable to discern the fine line between being adorably funny and irritating. Perhaps she should have toned down her character to make it more likeable and less cringeworthy. She's occasionally funny but for most of the movie, she's barely bearable. That's the story in a nutshell. There's a kidnapping episode, plenty of funny one-liners and a chemistry that begins mildly and sizzles by the end. Yes, it's your typical opposites attract story, featuring the clumsy Milli and the Mr Darcy-esque Prince; entirely predictable though not boring. And yes, you will occasionally wonder how this couple could possibly survive post their 'Happily Ever After'. Then again, this is a Disney romantic-comedy and from that viewpoint, it delivers by bringing on the fluff and frivolity in droves. Khoobsurat is the quintessential chick flick, wrapped in shiny candy foil and vibrant colours for audiences with a sweet tooth. Others, with more austere tastes, may not like it as much. Prince Charming, Princess not-so-charming and the usual doses of good ol' Punjabi comedy For one, this is a heroine-cen-

tric movie where the heroine is unable to discern the fine line between being adorably funny

he effervescent Indian actress Nargis Fakhri has landed a role in a Hollywood film titled Spy. To her excitement, she is working alongside one of her favourite British actors Jude Law. Apparently, the two have hit it off big time and Nargis F has managed to arouse Jude L's interest in India and Indian culture. So much so, that the actor now soon plans to visit India, despite the fact that he had already been there in 2007. One wonders what else she managed to evoke his interest in?

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and irritating. It's hard to believe that Milli is a successful doctor considering her bawdy manners, clumsiness and general obnoxiousness. This was Sonam's home-production, with father Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea Kapoor co-producing. Perhaps she should have toned down her character to make it more likeable and less cringe-worthy. Sonam tries too hard and sadly, it shows. She's occasionally funny but for most of the movie, she's barely bearable. The soundtrack features peppy, foot-tapping numbers that - except for the emotionallycharged, beautifully composed Naina - may make it to discotheques for a while but are entirely forgettable. What works for Khoobsurat, then, are the two performances that literally carry the movie forward. Kirron Kher is brilliant as Milli's emotional, matchmaking mum. This may be her umpteenth role as a Punjabi mum but she's still endearing and hilarious and her tongue-in-cheek repartees with her daughter are one of the movie's highlights. Fawad Khan plays the gorgeous romantic hero to the hilt it's a role that he has managed to master over the years but credit

goes to him for breathing fresh air into Prince Vikram. He looks fabulous in his well-tailored suits - as well as without! - and never lets his character veer towards the mundane. It remains to be seen how Fawad fares in trickier roles as Bollywood is fiercely competitive. Khoobsurat, though, was a great choice for a debut where he does what he does best. For now, he has all of Bollywood, and beyond, swooning over his dashing prince. Credit also goes to director Shashanka Ghosh for masterfully playing up the romance between the two leads. The covert glances and flirtations, with the inner thoughts of the leads contradicting what they're actually saying, are designed to please the hopelessly romantics amongst the audience. And Khoobsurat, essentially, is a movie for the romantically inclined. It's no unforgettable magnum opus and nor does it claim to be. Give it a miss if your tastes veer towards hard-hitting, message-laden cinema. But if you love chick flicks, lighthearted romance, Fawad Khan and have the forbearance to stand Sonam Kapoor's more irritating moments, do watch it. You may love it enough to watch it again. Courtesy Dawn

P32 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 3, 2014