Pakistan Link - March 18, 2016 by PL PUBLICATIONS

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SC Allows Musharraf to Go Abroad Pakistan Declares Hindu and Christian Festivals as Holidays ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday accepted a resolution moved by a ruling party lawmaker in the National Assembly seeking ‘closed holidays’ on the annual festivals of minority communities, including Holi, Diwali and Easter. Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a PNL-N MNA elected on a seat reserved for minorities in Tharparkar district of Sindh, presented the resolution which said: “This house is of the opinion that the government should take steps to declare Holi, Diwali and Easter as closed holidays for minorities.” Vankwani, who is also patronin-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, was of the view that the announcement was inevitable for the good image of Pakistan as such holidays were also being observed in the United States on Eid, and in India on Muharram. The State Minister for Religious Affairs, Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah said that the Interior Ministry had already given permission to federal institutions to grant leave to minorities on their festivals.

Major blow to MQM as Raza Haroon joins Mustafa Kamal

KARACHI: Former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal managed to rope Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) heavyweight Raza Haroon into his yet-unnamed party on Monday. “We are focused on the work we intend to do. Name, planning and branding come later,” Haroon said, referring to the party Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani announced earlier this month. Kamal said the party would be named on March 23. HAROON, P28

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Scapegoating the Refugee

US & Canada $1.00

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Dar for Ensuring Continued Support to PIA

Effective Efforts Urged to Combat Terrorism

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly signing agreements at the PM House on Wednesday

ISLAMABAD: Leaders of Pakistan and Turkmenistan said on Wednesday that extremism and terrorism needed to be countered collectively to ensure peace and stability in the region. Talking to journalists after delegation-level talks, Turkmen Presi-

dent Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the two countries had similar views on important issues. Mr Sharif said Pakistan shared the concern that terrorism and extremism were the root cause of insecurity and instability in the region.

`This menace also undermines our endeavours for socio-economic development. We have to work collectively to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism,` he said at the press stakeout held at the PM House. TURKMENISTAN, P28

Clinton, Trump Move Closer to White House

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Obama to Visit United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia Next Month WASHINGTON: Presi dent Barack Obama will travel to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia in April, a visit set to be dominated by doubts over Britain’s EU membership and concerns about turmoil in the Middle East. The White House said Obama will visit Windsor Castle — where he will have a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II — and 10 Downing Street for a joint press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron. His visit comes ahead of Britain’s hotly contested June referendum on European Union membership. Obama is likely to express his strong backing for keeping Britain in the European Union, but will have to rebuff allegations of interference. In Saudi Arabia, Obama will attend a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were Washington’s policies toward the Middle East are likely to come under the microscope.

Shafqat, Amitabh to Bring Patriotic Fervour to PakIndia World Twenty20

The Pakistani singer and Bollywood megastar will sing national anthems of thier respective countries before the match

US Election: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump moved a step closer to their parties’ nomination with the wins

CLEVELAND: Hillary Clinton took a monumental step toward clinching the Democratic party’s White House nomination Tuesday, while

Donald Trump’s seemingly unstoppable rush to victory hit a bump in Ohio. Trump won key Republican pri-

maries in Illinois, North Carolina and Florida - where he thumped home state Senator Marco Rubio, who ELECTION, P28

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KOLKATA: Will there be a Pak-India sing-off before the World Twenty 20 match on March 19 at the Eden Gardens? Not quite. But two megastars from Pakistan and India will sing the national anthem of their respective countries back-to-back before the first innings begins. While classical singer Shafqat SING-OFF, P28

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MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P3

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OPINION

P4 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

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n By Mowahid Hussain Shah

hose who are in want to stop others from getting in.

America is the land of immigrants. Yet, old immigrants dislike new immigrants, preferring not to see in them a mirror of their misery, which drove their forebears to seek a better and new world. Many Caucasians now feel unhorsed by the slow-motion browning of America, with its mix of race and religion. An estimated 10 percent of Americans (and 8 American Presidents) can trace their ancestry back to the 1620 voyage of the ship Mayflower, which transported over 100 passengers, today known as Pilgrims, from England and Leiden, Holland, to what is present-day Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After an arduous journey, disease and brutal winter decimated about half of them. Why then did they choose to risk it all? Confucius answered this query centuries ago when he posited that “an oppressive government is more to be feared than a maneating tiger.” A 2015 historical drama, “Saints and Strangers” depicts the ordeal of the Mayflower passengers. There are uncanny parallels to Muslim migrants streaming into Europe to escape death and destruction in their native homeland.

n By Syed Kamran Hashmi

Westfield, IN

ust like the key to a hidden treasure, language unlocks our potential as human beings to explore the universe way beyond the solar system and way below the seafloor. Not only does it provide us a medium to share our feelings and express our thoughts, it also helps us to acquire knowledge, improve our skills, register our experiences and then pass them on to the next generation so that they perform even better. Moreover, among all creatures, human beings are the only ones who possess the ability to read, write and speak, a characteristic that brings us in direct contact with the Divine. Notwithstanding these important attributes, language has multiple other and even more important tasks at hand to accomplish in Pakistan. It defines our ethnicity, shapes our political bias, uncovers our party associations, determines our financial status, reveals educational achievements, and is even bound to disclose our religious inklings. In a nutshell, we can agree that the cornerstone of our intellectual development has become the source of conflict, fragmentation, discrimination and even embarrassment in Pakistan. Ibn-e-Insha explains this situation aptly through a small story in his book Urdu ki Akhri Kitab. In sum, he says when asked who lives in Iran, England or France, our response is simple: “Iranians, English and French, respectively.” But if the question is: “Who lives in Pakistan?” the typical response is: “Sindhi, Baloch, Punjabi and Pashtun.” Each of these identities, as you can see, is based on the language that we speak.

Scapegoating the Refugee

Pertinent here is the awardwinning Italian documentary, “Fire

In striking contrast is the openheartedness, compassion, and empathy shown by Pakistan and its citizenry to millions of Afghans uprooted by the Soviet invasion. A 2015 UN report states that since 2002, it assisted in returning 3.8 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan, while nearly 1.5 million remain in Pakistan. , “the largest protracted refugee population globally.” at Sea”, which won the Golden Bear prize for Best Film at the February

2016 Berlin International Film Festival. It depicts the Mediterranean Sea crossing ordeal of desperate migrants striving to enter Europe, and its impact on the Italian isle of Lampedusa. Overall, Western has been a mixture of generosity, hostility and even outright cruelty. Shamefully, Denmark sees fit to confiscate the valuables of asylum seekers. When Hitler’s Panzers blitzed Denmark for 6 hours on April 9, 1940 – the briefest military campaign of WWII – the country collapsed like a house of cards. The ferocity of resistance to refugees now can be contrasted to the craven capitulation then of Danes in face of the German juggernaut. Neutral Switzerland during WWII did not exactly cover itself with glory. Many desperate refu-

Language: A Status Symbol in Pakistan Ibn-e-Insha explains this situation aptly through a small story in his book Urdu ki Akhri Kitab. In sum, he says when asked who lives in Iran, England or France, our response is simple: “Iranians, English and French, respectively.” But if the question is: “Who lives in Pakistan?” the typical response is: “Sindhi, Baloch, Punjabi and Pashtun.” Each of these identities, as you can see, is based on the language that we speak Realizing its power to divide, many Western states had reckoned these complications and had taken preventive measures to ensure unity. They allowed only one language as the medium of instruction in their countries. Decades later, it is evident that their policy worked and brought harmony and peace in their societies. That is why today most of them are economically stable and ideologically well anchored. However, this objective is difficult to accomplish in multiethnic societies like India where a consensus on one local language can never be reached peacefully. In these communities, a neutral and a more universal language like English, Spanish or Arabic can play the role of a unifying medium. As a result, English has become the language of choice in our neighboring country, and people from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu communicate with each other in it. In Pakistan, since there has

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been no serious effort to promote Urdu as a national language and multiple other languages like English and Arabic are encouraged officially, the language we speak becomes extremely important for us to protect our identity. It also means that the choice of our language and the command over foreign languages would epitomize our educational, financial, religious and social status. If we are illiterate and impoverished, which may mean we have never attended a school in our lives, we will be able to speak and understand only our local language, be it Punjabi, Urdu, Sindhi, Balochi or Pashto. If we have attended elementary school, we are in that case exposed to some Urdu and some Arabic, but we will still continue to communicate in our mother tongue predominantly. Other languages, although a little familiar, will largely remain foreign to us. In a government secondary school, we will eventually be exposed to

gees were shunned and abandoned with the frequent alibi “our boat is full.” A 1981 award-winning Swiss film, “The Boat is Full”, substantiates this sordid episode tellingly, demonstrating once again that being oblivious to the suffering of strangers remains a malignant facet of the human condition. Such a stance, as Pope Francis remonstrated, is inconsistent with the Christian ethic. In times of crisis, nations that appear bright are sometimes unveiled as dim. In striking contrast is the open-heartedness, compassion, and empathy shown by Pakistan and its citizenry to millions of Afghans uprooted by the Soviet invasion. A 2015 UN report states that since 2002, it assisted in returning 3.8 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan, while nearly 1.5 million remain in Pakistan, “the largest protracted refugee population globally.” One unexpected silver lining in refugee camps was the incubation of cricket culture, which now brings joy in war-torn Afghanistan. 500 years ago, after Muslim Spain was re-conquered by Christians, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella ordered the expulsion of Jews, it was Ottoman Turkey that provided sanctuary. The humanitarian crisis today is a classic opportunity for the West to show moral leadership and to self-correct its dark 20th century past. English, but of course, we will not be able to enjoy all its charms and will still think of it as a source of intimidation and discrimination. But we would know enough to read some lines without understanding them. Collectively, this is the story of more than 90 percent of the people who live below or just above the poverty line and cannot afford college education. For children born with a silver spoon, the exposure to all these languages starts at home from day one. Most likely, their parents talk to each other in their mother tongue. However, they prefer to communicate with their children in Urdu. They switch on the English channels on television for entertainment while the maulvi (priest) comes and teaches them the Qur’an in Arabic. These children are only allowed to speak in English with their friends at school until the time it becomes their second nature. After having mastered the English language in high school, they usually leave the country to obtain foreign education and settle down abroad. If they ever return to the motherland, they are even more intimidating than before and invar LANGUAGE, P28

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MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P5

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OPINION

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Lessons for Us in History from Khilafa to Dynasties - 2 n By Dr Basheer Ahmed Khan Garden Grove, CA

fter the incident of slander against his wife Ayesha RA, Nabi SA understood that people could go to any length to discredit anybody, even a prophet, if he was coming in the way of their power, and pleasure. Therefore, he kept his family away from power and dedicated them to the job of inculcating faith and good morals and manners without which no power could advance the wholesome development of society which was the ultimate goal of prophetic mission.

He denied his uncle Abbas the keys of Kaaba when Mecca fell to his control (Raheeq). His mission was to restore Kaaba to the worship of One True God for which Abraham and his son Ismael had built it (Ch2 V12729). His mission was not to take over its possession for his family to amass power, perks and prestige Nabi SA was highly appreciative of the knowledge and judicial sense of his cousin and son-in-law, Ali RA. Nabi SA said about Ali RA: Ali is the door to knowledge of which I am the house. And yet he spared Ali RA from the responsibility of governance and kept him free to impart knowledge to the people managing the affairs of the government. Ali RA did it so well in this role that Omar RA attributed the success of his Khilafa to his superb advisory role. Nabi SA gave his ascent to Abu-Bakr RA to be his successor because of his maturity, his understanding of the people and surrounding, and his commitment to faith which

he demonstrated by his generosity all through his life. Nabi SA had sent letters to the neighboring rulers inviting them to set the affairs of their states on the right course through faith and morals (Raheeq). These invitations are wrongly interpreted as a threat and a warning to the neighbors to embrace Islam or face war. This lie is repeated not just by the enemies of Islam but also by a section of Muslim society to this day to justify their “jihad”. When some of these emissaries were ill-treated and even killed, Nabi SA decided to take action against these rulers. He made an army ready for this, but he breathed his last before dispatching it. Abubakar RA had to undertake this responsibility at a time when the situation was deteriorating by claims of false prophet and mischiefs of the apostates. When Muslims got victories against the crumbling empires in the neighborhood, which had lost the confidence of their people due to their misrule, every one joined the bandwagon of success. The spirit of Islam was diluted, if not lost by the people of the conquered lands, who joined the Islamic forces in great numbers. It was difficult to train them to become honest and efficient functionaries to administer the vast areas under their rule. The few well trained companions of the prophet were sidelined. A nexus was formed between the warring army and the elites of the vanquished empires to fill this vacuum. The discredited elite of the vanquished empires succeeded in staying in power despite the change of government to continue their old game and discredit Islam for their follies. The disenfranchised people who got power

wrote their own laws and made their own rules to benefit themselves. As that change came in the name of Islam, they misinterpreted the Islamic teachings to suit their convenience. Through strange rules of semantics and logic they justified these changes. The common sense laws under which Nabi SA ruled over Medina were polluted in order to run the writ of the rulers in God’s name (Ch3 V78). The name of the Caesar was replaced by the name of Khalifa on the pulpit by the appointed Khateeb (one who delivers sermon). Religion and Liberty are a blessing in an honest society, and they become a curse in a society with dishonest and corrupt individuals holding on to power. Corruption of the powerful and the unjust demands of the disenfranchised created a chaos beyond control except through brute force unworthy of any human being. To continue their misrule the second Khalifa Omar RA was martyred. His crime was his unwavering commitment for establishing a just rule in the lands under his control. Osman RA was martyred for being lenient towards his governors and failing to stop them from living an ostentatious life. Ali RA took over the Khilafa after a lot of hesitation (Al Badaya, and Nehjul Balagha) to prevent the areas under Muslim rule from slipping into Dark Age which was imminent with the un-Islamic behavior of these rulers (Tareekh e Dawath vol 1 by Ali Miyan). Ali RA moved the seat of Khilafa from Medina to Koofa to be in control of this important cantonment. But the people in Koofa, who were worried about their power and pleasures, failed him by their dirty machinations and martyred him ulti-

Amitabh Bachchan’s Dialogues By one and Only RAHIM SHEKH .... The Best in Los Angeles Sunday, March 20, 2016

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mately. After the martyrdom of Ali RA, neither the abdication of claim to Khilafa in favor of Muawia RA by the grandson of Nabi SA, Hassan RA, nor the martyrdom of his younger brother Hussain RA through a conspiracy at Karbala stopped the confusion and mayhem in the nascent Islamic State. Abdullah bin Zubair RA had a chance to continue the Khilafa on the line of Abu Bakr, Omar and Osman RA, but like them he wanted to rule from Medina. His decision was based on his disillusionment with the people of the camp at Koofa. The presence of many sincere companions of the prophet living in Medina on whom he could rely for advice and support were also a motivation for it. Marwan Bin Hakam who was the Chief Secretary to Osman RA and who was then in Syria got a chance to take over the reign of government in Syria. He established the Umayyad dynasty for his son Abdul Malik. He sent Hajjaj bin Yusuf to Medina as governor to crush the voices of descent. He consolidated the Umayyad rule with an iron hand (History of Islam by Najibabadi Vol 2). Volumes have been written about the good and the bad which the Umayyad rule had given to Islam and to the world. The question of stability over liberty which started then is haunting the world to this day to benefit the camp leaders of both the camps of Liberty and Stability at the expense of life, honor and property of the common man in the region and the peace of the world. What happened in these conquests then is what we see happening now in the Middle East after the removal of Saddam and Qaddafi. With

practically no government in Iraq and Libya the ousted thugs who participated in these “revolutions” and armed with the armories of these regimes are carrying out mayhem in the name of Islam to establish their power. The rule of Muslims over the world continued to expand under Umayyad and other dynasties that succeeded them. Many of the practicing Jews and Christians in these lands found a hope for their survival, and revival of Abrahamic tradition in the enthusiasm of this fresh batch of Muslim conquerors, and they joined them. Muslims were asked to learn from the people of the book the things that they did not know (Ch16 V43). This led to the entry of Jewish and Christian thought into Islamic teachings and practices. Islam is the age-old Abrahamic tradition revealed one last time on Nabi SA in a pure and simple form to guide the unlettered Arab Bedouins by removing all far-fetched interpretation and superfluous practices (Ch22 V78, Ch4 V26 onwards). With the baggage of their understanding and interpretation which the Jewish and Christian converts brought to Islamic vocabulary and library, the simple teachings of Islam were corrupted once again; Muslims embraced this baggage for the convenience of the ruling elite. Companions of Nabi SA and their followers who were well rooted in the tenets and practices of true Islam did their best to keep the religion safe and pure by keeping themselves away from the politics and wars or sharing responsibilities in the corrupt governments that were going on in the name of Islam. While the true Islam is in LESSONS, P28

OPINION n By Dr Adil Najam

Lahore

n March 23 we went through the motions of celebrating Pakistan Day. With song, slogan and sincere banality we commemorated the single most important founding document of our republic.

A document that too many of us have never read. A document that too many others believe they know so well that they do not need to read. A document whose eventual impact its drafters could not have imagined. A document whose intent seems lost on those whose lives it transformed. Today, let us (re-)read that document. March 22, is not a bad day to do so. The 27th Annual Session of the All-India Muslim League actually began in Lahore on March 22, 1940, at what was then called Minto Park and has since been renamed Iqbal Park. Although we celebrate Pakistan Day on March 23, formal discussion on what was originally called the Qarardad-e-Lahore (Lahore Resolution) began on March 22, it was formally proposed by Sher-e-Bengal (Lion of Bengal) Fazlul Haq on March 23, and was not officially adopted until March 24. Newspapers of the time dubbed it the “Pakistan Resolution” (Qarardad-e-Pakistan), and from then onwards that is what it became. The resolution itself is not very long: a little more than 400 words, five paragraphs. Ambiguous as it

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March 1940: What Were They Thinking? was designed to be, it is remarkably well-crafted. The first paragraph sets the context by “approving and endorsing” decisions already taken by the Muslim League’s Council and Working Committee. Importantly, it “emphatically reiterates that the scheme of federation embodied in the Government of India Act 1935, is totally unsuited to, and unworkable in the peculiar conditions of this country and is altogether unacceptable to Muslim India.” The second paragraph is also about context. It very strategically reminds the viceroy that he has already agreed to reconsider the 1935 Act and goes on to very clearly assert that “Muslim India will not be satisfied unless the whole constitutional plan is reconsidered de novo and that no revised plan would be acceptable to Muslims unless it is framed with their approval and consent.” It is the third paragraph that lays out the substance of what today’s Pakistan has come to see as the gist of the resolution. It deserves to be quoted in full: “Resolved that it is the considered view of this Session of the All-India Muslim League that no constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to the Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principles, viz., that geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah arrives at the Manto Park on the historic day

majority as in the North Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute indepen-

ten about this part. Stanley Wolpert (Jinnah of Pakistan, 1984) points out that “Pakistan was not explicitly

Stanley Wolpert has described the speech as “truly a stellar performance, worthy of the lead role he alone could command” and the Times of India reported that “such was the dominance of his personality that, despite the improbability of more than a fraction of his audience understanding English, he held his hearers and played with palpable effects on their emotions” dent states in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign.” Much, of course, has been writ-

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mentioned; nor was it clear from the language of the resolution whether a single Muslim state of both “zones” had been envisioned or two separate

“autonomous” independent states.” Also ambiguous was the role of the ‘center’ and whether these states were to be part of a larger federation or not. But all of that was to come much later as history overtook events as well as intent. We were still, then, in 1940; 1947 had not yet been imagined; and 2014 was unimaginable. To me, however, the fourth paragraph is equally insightful about what was on the minds of our founding fathers on that spring day in Lahore as they debated the resolution amidst a crowd of over 100,000. This paragraph – which remains poignant in terms of today’s Pakistan – also deserves to be quoted in full: “That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in these units in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultations with them and in other parts of India where the Mussalmans are in a majority adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.” The final paragraph – in carefully crafted language – gave authority of the League’s working committee to settle the details of whatever was to happen within the “basic principles” of the resolution. It seems to me that there

THINKING, P28

OPINION

P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

Why Sir Syed Loses and Allama Iqbal Wins in Pakistan n By Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy

Islamabad, Pakistan

yed Ahmad Khan (1817– 1898) and Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) are described in Pakistani schoolbooks as the first Muslim leaders who stressed Hindu-Muslim separateness. Revered as the spiritual founders of Pakistan, they share many commonalities. Both were knighted for services to the British Empire (respectively in 1888 and 1923), both advocated purdah and had strongly traditional religious backgrounds, and both wished to liberate Islam from mullahs and pirs. But the similarity stops here. Although schoolbooks suddenly go silent on this, the two men actually belonged to clashing ideological universes. Sir Syed — as he became known — has now almost disappeared from public view whereas Sir Muhammad Iqbal, now commonly known as Allama Iqbal, has a ubiquitous presence. Lahore’s airport, a university, a literary society, housing blocks, many roads, and several schools bear his name.

For every 19th century Muslim intellectual, including Sir Syed and the Allama, the outstanding challenge of the time was to understand the ascendancy of Western civilization and the apparently unstoppable decline of Muslim society. Seven centuries had passed since the end

of the Golden Age, and Islamic societies everywhere were militarily feeble and intellectually sterile. Sir Syed and Iqbal courageously chose to confront this galling truth, but they arrived at dramatically different prescriptions for the rescue and reconstruction of Indian Muslims. A century later, these two national icons distinguish liberal Pakistanis from conservative ones. For Sir Syed, the trauma of Indian Muslims after the failed 1857 uprising against the British called for a radically new interpretation of Islam. As a religious scholar and hafiz, he considered himself well-equipped for the task. Backwardness, said Sir Syed, resulted from superstitious beliefs and rejection of maaqulat (reason) in favor of blind obedience to manqulat (tradition). Desperate remedies were needed if the Muslims of India were ever to become anything other than “stableboys, cooks, servants, hewers of wood, and drawers of water”. His goal was to make Islam compatible with post-Renaissance Western humanistic and scientific ideas, and to extract the ‘pure’ belief from fossilized dogma. It was a difficult enterprise to take on. The period after the end of Emperor Akbar’s reign had been one of unbroken anti-science and anti-rationalist conservatism. Some 200 years before Sir Syed, Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi and other influential religious figures had issued fatwas against mathematics and the secular sciences, and demanded that the education of Muslims be limited to religious books.

ing ourselves will not do.” (“Apnay moon mian mithoo kahney say koee faida nahin”) In his mind, the way forward was clear: Indian Muslims must learn the English language, practice the scientific method, accept that physical phenomena are explain-

Initially Sir Syed was also inclined to this point of view but, following his gradual transformation during the 1850s, he rejected this view and challenged his contemporaries. In Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq, he writes: “Yes, if the Mussulman be a true warrior and thinks his religion cor-

Sir Syed and Iqbal courageously chose to confront this galling truth, but they arrived at dramatically different prescriptions for the rescue and reconstruction of Indian Muslims. A century later, these two national icons distinguish liberal Pakistanis from conservative ones rect, then let him come fearlessly to the battleground and do unto Western knowledge and modern research what his forefathers did to Greek philosophy. Only then shall our religious books be of any real use. Mere parroting and prais-

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able by physics only, and support British imperial rule against the rule of Mughals (who had by then sunk into decadence and depravity). This last piece of advice made him a target of bitter ridicule by secular nationalists such as Jamalu-

ddin Afghani. Sir Syed accepted the Holy Qur’an as divinely revealed but he frequently reminded his readers of Islam’s forgotten rationalist (Mutazilite) tradition, as in the works of Averroes. He proposed a radical reinterpretation of the Holy Qur’an to make it compatible with science and modernity. Among other matters this involved understanding miracles, which science cannot accept as factual. Sir Syed therefore explained the Great Flood, as well as various miracles of Jesus, to be purely allegorical and symbolic. He also interpreted Islamic laws as actually forbidding polygamy and amputation of limbs. Quite expectedly, his claims provoked a furious reaction from the ulema of the time and he was decried as a heretic. Sir Syed’s writings are all in Urdu and, whether or not one agrees with him, his clarity in supporting modernity and science is manifest. Equally, his remedies for social reform are clear and unambiguous. On the other hand the Allama’s only serious prose is to be found in English, and he leaves key questions unanswered or ambiguous. At times, to revive Islamic civilization, Iqbal appears to call for a return to the sword. But at other times he stresses the enhancement of khudi — a sophisticated philosophical construct roughly describable as self-esteem. This construct, however, has a plethora of interpretations. Does it belong to the physical world? Will more khudi bring more order or more anarchy? IQBAL, P28

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A Dance Workshop with The Legend of Bollywood

SAROJ KHAN IN LOS ANGELES

The Best of Bollywood coming to the Heart of Hollywood !

The iconic superstar of film choreography Saroj Khan is coming to Los Angeles and Orange County, hosted by Shivani Thakkar and MKM Bollystars Dance Company (Saroj khan has choreographed more than 2000 films. Winner of national and international awards Saroj Khan is the creative genius behind numerous dances including the ever-famous Dola Re Dola.) Workshop Dates April

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UNITY

OPPORT

OPINION

MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9

Bonding with America ...

Akhlaq e Amrikiye: A Manual for the Survival of Muslims in America (Part 4 of 7) n By Professor Nazeer Ahmed

Concord, CA

n the last installment, we explored the meaning of citizenship in a modern state as a covenant between an individual and a state, entered into freely and willingly. The commandment of the Qur’an is to honor our covenants and contracts. This definition is important in the modern world where people move from one country to another and often change their citizenship.

An individual must honor the pledge of allegiance he enters into with the country whose citizenship he accepts and must abide by its constitution, its laws, rules and regulations. This is validated by the Seerah (the path, methodology) of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) when he sent a group of Muslims from Mecca to Abyssinia (613 CE) to live under the protection of the Christian king, Negus. In this installment, we will briefly explore the meaning of liberty, democracy, representation and choice in the context of a just and free society. Our objective is to capture the correspondence between American ethics and Islamic ethics. The scope of the discussion is directed and limited, namely, to enunciate the principles of Akhalaq e Amrikeye in the context of the broader American ethic as conceived by the founders of the American Republic. The Declaration of Independence of the United States (1776) asserts: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…….”. The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States declares: “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”. The American pledge of allegiance, which was composed in 1887 and has gone through several revisions the last of which was in the Eisenhower era, states in part: “… One Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All”. There has been a lively debate among constitutional scholars as to the religious affiliation and the religious disposition of the Founders. Some have claimed that the American ethic has its basis in Christianity. Others have held the opinion that they were deist (believing in God) and Unitarian, nominally Christian, but subscribing to universal ethics that transcend Christianity and are upheld by all higher cultures. I share the latter view. I base my position on the fact that three of the principal figures who drafted the constitution, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were all declared Unitarians. Thomas Jefferson kept a Bible wherein he had removed all passages related to Christian dogma while keeping the passages about universal ethics. He also kept a copy of an early translation of the Qur’an. Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, and had spent two years in France as a diplomat. He had been influenced by the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment (17001800). (Our readers may recall that Tippu Sultan (d 1799) of Mysore was a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and had been similarly influenced by the ideals of the French Revolution; he had declared himself “citizen Tippu”, a remarkable declaration from a Muslim monarch at the time. It is an irony of history that India was enslaved at the same time that America achieved its independence). The Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution and the Pledge of Allegiance enunciate certain self-evident

truths. Summarily, these self-evident truths are consistent with and reflect the injunctions of the Qur’an and the Seerah of the Prophet. I am deeply aware that the implementation of these ideals in American history was flawed, especially, as it applied to African Americans and Native Americans. However, I will focus and limit the scope of my discussion to the Muslim presence in America. Trusteeship and Sovereignty The Qur’an teaches us: “I offered the Trust to the heavens, mountains and the earth, but they declined, being afraid thereof. Humankind accepted it. It was indeed unjust and ignorant”. (Qur’an:33:72) What was this Trust? Why did humankind accept it? Philosophers, scholars and sages alike have pondered over this question and have offered different explanations from their own perspectives. In essence, the question can be restated as follows: What makes us human? What distinguishes us humans from the heavens, the mountains and the earth? What makes us different from the angels, or for that matter, the devil and the beast? We will succinctly state some well-known philosophical positions and our own explanation that the Trust is the Spirit that is infused into us by Divine command. No other explanation is both satisfactory and complete. The Materialist View According to the materialist theory man has been molded and created by material nature just as have been the animals, plants and living organisms. The theory originated with the Greeks. Democratus (460 - 362 BC) was the foremost exponent of this theory. It received a great deal of attention by European thinkers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Hobbes (1588 - 1679 CE), for instance, formulated a mechanistic theory of psychology. According to him, all that the mind knows can be explained in terms of material motion. In the nineteenth century, Karl Marx advanced the theory of dialectic materialism in which the social and political condition of man is determined by material conditions. Does it make sense to say that man is only his material self? The human body is composed of 80 percent water plus traces of minerals like phosphorus, iron, etc. If all of these minerals were dried out and sold in the open market they would be worth less than five dollars. Indeed, a dead body is economically worthless and is dependent on the goodwill of those who are alive to dispose of it. But a man who is alive is priceless because of his attributes. He acts and leaves his trail through history on the sands of time. His indomitable will conquers, shapes, molds and fashions matter. His creativity imparts beauty to inanimate materials. He processes

sand and makes a transistor out of it. He excavates the earth, extracts metals, and uses them to construct rockets for interplanetary space travel. Man is not part of matter; he rules matter. To equate man with matter is to deny him his creativity and his freedom to choose. Matter cannot create. It cannot and does not choose. Certainly, matter has no will. Certainly, dead matter was no the Trust that was offered to the heavens, the mountains and the earth. The Heady Horizons of Reason “I think, therefore I am” is the succinct way this view can be summarized. It implies that man is what he is because of his rational facul-

The American pledge of allegiance states: “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. A Muslim believes in God as did the framers of the American constitution. He honors his covenant with the Constitution of the United States. He is enjoined to defend his homeland, namely, the United States of America. He considers liberty and freedom of choice to be gifts that are bestowed by the Creator and he is directed by Divine command to stand up for justice for all. So, where is the “schizophrenia” that Ben Carson is talking about? ties.

This view dates back to the classical period of the Greeks of which Aristotle was one of the great masters. It was refined and developed by Muslim scholars in the classical period of Islamic civilization. Ibn Rushd (1126 - 1198 CE), “The Commentator” as he is referred to by Western writers, is considered the greatest disciple of Aristotle. The West came into contact with rational thought through a translation of Arabic works into Latin in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The response of the Medieval Latin West to rational inquiry was of profound significance to the development of Western thought. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: “Some truths can be known only from revelation and belong to theology - for example, the mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation. Some truths are proper to philosophy - for example, the physical constituents of bodies.” (Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 2, p. 141, 1987, Philosophy and Theology of St. Thomas Aquinas.) Thus the separation of what was religious

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from what was considered profane received a philosophical foundation. The Church was to be sacred; science and sociology were to be secular. This bifurcated outlook has pervaded the development of Western thought since the twelfth century. In the last two hundred years, as European hegemony over the globe took hold, Western thought was transmitted to the far corners of the world. In recent decades, with the diffusion of technology, this trend has accelerated so that what was once considered “Western thought” is now global secular thought. Secular thinkers, whether they are from the East or the West, now accept a definition of man in terms of his rational faculties. Certainly, reason is a noble faculty. It is the basis of logic, mathematics and the natural sciences. But it has its limits. What is the reason to love? Does reason explain the mysteries of life and death? Does Truth transcend space-time? The knowledge acquired by reason pales when confronted with the knowledge possessed by the heart. Shaitan (Satan) and the jinns also have reasoning powers. It is not a uniquely human attribute. Free Will and Free Fall Man is endowed with a free will and has the ability to choose. The idea of free will found a resonance in secular Europe. The Germany philosopher Nietzsche postulated the idea of “superman” with a boundless, unfettered will in whom reason and passion were fused. The ego of this “superman” was autonomous and had no need for God. This idea, modified in the framework of the Hegelian dialectic, was adopted by the Nazis and the disaster that Nazism brought to the world is obvious. In our own culture, Allama Iqbal (18771938) struggled with the concept of free will. His earlier writings show the influence of Nietzsche and a certain fuzziness (Khudi Ko Kar Baland Itna Ke Har Taqdeer Se Pahle, Khuda Bande Se Khud Pooche Bata Teri Raza Kya Hai). In his later writings, he transcended the constraints of his German training and enunciated the concept of khudi from a secure Islamic perspective (Khudi Ka Sirre e NihaN La Illaha Il Allah). The Algerian-born French philosopher Camus (1913 - 1960) went one step further and defined man as a rebel. “I rebel, therefore I am”, was his thesis. This concept focuses only on the negative attributes of man. It is true that man rebels against the ordinance of God but this is not his a-priori condition. Man chooses, and he can choose to obey his Creator in spite of the pull from his rebellious self. It is this innate freedom that is the attribute of man, not just his rebellious self. Moreover, free will is not a uniquely human attribute. Shaitan also has the freedom to choose. He chose to disobey God’s command and was condemned for it. His free will led him into a free fall. The Jinns (beings of energy) have the freedom to choose and are rewarded and punished for their deeds. The Trust that was accepted by humankind was not free will. It is a precious human attribute but is not uniquely human. The Trust was the Divine Spirit “When I have shaped in due proportion, And breathed into him of My Spirit” (The Qur’an, 15:29) In all of God’s creation, humankind is unique in that it carries the Spirit (the Ruh) breathed into him by Divine command. Not the heavens, not the mountains, not any other creation has this honor (Laqad Karramna Bani Adam - Behold, We have honored the children of Adam, Qur’an 17:70). This was the Trust that was offered to the heavens, the mountains and the earth and they refused, being afraid thereof. To quote Mevlana Rumi, humankind accepted it “because it was drunk by the love of God”. This was indeed a mighty undertaking, a trial (bala’ in Qur’anic language). Man was exceeding his bounds (dhulm) but accept MUSLIMS, P24

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Help Build the Future of

Orphan Girls in Pakistan!

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MARACH 18, 2016 - PAKISTAN LINK - P11

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SC Allows Musharraf to Go Abroad for Treatment

ISLAMABAD: Upholding a previous decision of Sindh High Court, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday allowed former president Pervez Musharraf to go abroad for treatment. As per details, the federal gov-

Call for More Interaction Between People of India, Pakistan

KARACHI: An Indian delegation comprising members of the ruling party and business community and a senior journalist recently called for more interaction between the people of the two neighbouring countries which they believed could bridge the gap between them and bring them closer to each other. The three-member delegation, which was led by Vijay Jolly, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national executive committee and ex-convener of the party's foreign cell, expressed these views during a visit to the Karachi Press Club. Other members of the group were Vijay Mehta, who is vice president of Delhi Study Group and chairman of the Tourism Committee PDH Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and senior journalist Lubna Asif, who is joint secretary of the Delhi Study Group and accredited member of India's Press Information Bureau. "We need to look and move forward," said the BJP national executive committee member. "There is always a need to improve ties and that target can only be achieved when the people of the two sides come into each other's contact on a regular basis. For this, we should keep visiting each other and hold healthy discussion for that particular objective," added Mr Jolly. Mr Mehta said there was a positive change in public opinion on both sides of the borders towards each other that helped understanding each other's point of view. "You can't eliminate borders but there must be sanity that should prevail and I feel that it has grown over the past few years. This should continue and for that we have to pick positive sides from each country instead of remembering the negative past," he said. Ms Asif said the people of both countries had been victim of terrorism. She said they had suffered a lot due to the actions of a certain segment of society. She said Pakistani artists were welcomed in India and similarly Indian artists were widely admired by Pakistanis. "It reflects that the people of two sides love each other and their art.

ernment filed a petition in the apex court challenging SHC verdict in Musharraf ECL case. The larger bench of the apex court delivered its brief verdict on Musharraf's petition regarding removal of his name from exit control list (ECL).

During the hearing of the case, Musharraf's lawyers informed the court that doctors has suggested his fusion surgery from abroad. In the ruling, the court upheld 2014 decision of a two-judge bench of SHC through which it had directed the

federal government to remove Musharraf's name from ECL. The bench also rejected federal government's plea seeking ban on travel of the former military ruler who is facing charges of high treason in Pakistan. The report was also submitted before the apex that was hearing. Text of medical report presented in the court: In the report, "General (r) Pervez Musharraf was admitted today in (Dr. Ziauddin) hospital. He was complaining of severe back pain and left leg radiculopathy and numbness. He has these episodes frequently for the last one month and was admitted twice in another hospital in Karachi…. On examination, his straight leg raise and tension sign was positive on the left side. There was weakness on the left dorsiflexion of the foot and he has altered sensation on the left foot as compared to the right…" "Considering his severe pain in the lower back and left leg radiculopathy, we gave him an epidural injection single shot… His pain responded to some extent… This is a temperature management for his pain and in my opinion he needs fusion surgery…"

Sindh to Speed NAP Enforcement

KARACHI: The Karachi corps commander met the Sindh chief minister on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing operation in Karachi and implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism. Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and Qaim Ali Shah discussed the overall law and order situation in the province and the targeted operations against criminals among other issues during the one-on-one meeting. The CM House spokesperson said the implementation of apex committee's decisions like the establishment of more anti-terrorism courts, strengthening of investigation process and proper follow-up of high-profile cases were also discussed. According to the spokesperson, CM Shah directed newly appointed Sindh police chief AD Khawaja to strengthen the investigation system in support of strong prosecution. "The government is committed to implementing the NAP in true letter and spirit, and the police are also being strengthened by procuring necessary equipment," the spokesperson added.

Uzbekistan, Pakistan Would Enhance Bilateral Trade SIALKOT: Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Mr Furqat Sidiqov said his country is keen to enhance the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and both sides should work to avail the advantage of geographic proximity to boost cooperation in various sector. He said Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the two Islamic countries, were enjoying cordial and friendly relations. Speaking to the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday he said the governments of both the countries agreed to enhance bilateral trade volume to US 300 million dollars during next five years. He informed the gathering that Uzbekistan Airways will soon start its service from Pakistan which will be helpful in bringing businessmen and people closer. "Uzbekistan government was working on five point agenda for further improving its economy and to bring radical changes in every sphere of life". He said special economic zones have been established for accommodating foreign investors and at present a large number of foreign companies were successfully functioning in these Special Economic Zones. The Ambassador highlighted the achievements and prospects of economic development of his country. The gross domestic products of Uzbekistan in 2015 grew by 8 percent, production of industrial goods increased by 8 percent while agriculture products swelled by 7 percent and construction and assembling works by 18 percent, he said. In his address of welcome acting President SCCI Muhammad Sarfraz Butt said that there is huge scope for export of quality products of Sialkot to Uzbekistan, adding, "We need to exploit (the scope) to the maximum through mutual cooperation". Sarfraz said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan have been enjoying cordial bilateral relations since the independence of Uzbekistan in 1991. Over the years, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have been working for realizing the goal of establishing functional transport corridors and institutionalising business linkages, he said. He said, "bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan is relatively low and volume of trade between the two countries is over US $ 24 (M).

PHC Orders Govt to Submit APS Attack Report

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) recently issued notices to federal and provincial government to submit reply and record about the investigation of attack on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar within 20-day. On behalf of the parents of the APS victims', a lawyer Ajun Khan, father of a martyred student Asfand Khan has filed a writ petition seeking court orders for making all the information on the school carnage public. In this regard, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Muhammad Younas Thaheem issued notices to both provincial and federal governments to submit reply in the petition. A group of militants had attacked APS, Peshawar on December 16, 2014 killing around

144 people including 132 students. Dozens of lawyers during the hearing appeared along with the petitioner in the case and senior lawyer Naveed Akhtar argued for the petitioner lawyer. Mothers of APS victims and civil society network members also attended the court proceedings in the case. He told the court that on August 28, 2014, the National Counter Terrorism Authority through a letter had informed the provincial government and additional chief secretary FATA that TTP had made a plan to carry out terrorist activities against APS and other educational institutions run by the Pakistan Army to avenge the killing of their accomplices. He said necessary action to counter the threat was not taken by the administration. He said whether

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that was an act of criminal negligence or a conspiracy that such sensitive information or intelligence report was ignored which had resulted in the unforgettable incident of terrorist attack on APS. The respondents in the petition are the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government through chief secretary, provincial home secretary, additional chief secretary of FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IGP, Nacta, and the Federation of Pakistan through interior secretary. The lawyer said petitioner and his wife had lost their sleep and peace of mind since that incident and such happening kept them pushing to look into the facts as to why their institutions failed to perform their duties to protect the life of its citizens. The petitioner stated in the petition that since the terrorist attack on

APS, he and families of other attack victims had been asking the respondents to inform them why the information of the attack was not communicated to them and what action after the attack had been taken by them to determine and fix the responsibility on the concerned officials which had caused so much damage and harm to the soul of the entire nation. He claimed he himself raised those questions before the President of Pakistan, Chairman of the Senate Defence Committee Mushahid Hussain Syed and the KP Chief Minister besides others, but got no answer showing as if everybody wanted these questions to go away. The petitioner prayed the court to accept his petition and direct the respondents to answer questions raised by him and release all information and actions on APS attack till date.

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NA Adopts Resolution to Strengthen Dar for Ensuring Continued Financial Support to PIA Pak-Afghan Border Security

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly recently adopted a resolution vowing to take effective steps to strengthen the PakistanAfghan border security. Murad Saeed of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had tabled the resolution in the House on private members day. The resolution was opposed by Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Marriyam Aurangzeb taking the plea that border security management was an integrated subject as many ministries and departments, including defence, commerce, interior, Federal Board of Revenue and Customs were involved in the exercise. She said various steps were taken to regulate cross-broader movement. The process was being automated by merging data of the National Alien Registration Authority with National Database Registration Authority (NADRA). The process for transit passes was also being automated with the assistance of NADRA, she said and added that a summary had also been sent to the President for imposing rules and regulations of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Pakistan-Afghan border. Moving the resolution, Murad Saeed said despite formulating the national internal security policy some three years ago, tragic incidents of Army Public School and

Bacha Khan University occurred. The terrorists stationed in Afghanistan, he said, were carrying out terror acts in Pakistan. Thousands of people illegally crossed Pak-Afghan border daily and that should be stopped as terrorists could also enter in guise of ordinary people, he added. An effective mechanism should be in place to check illegal crossborder infiltration, he said. Murad Saeed claimed that trade worth $ 8 billion was done through illegal means with Afghanistan. Ayisha Syed demanded that immediate steps should be taken to stop trade of illegal weapons, drugs and smuggled vehicles. Abdul Sattar Bachani endorsed the resolution saying it was need of the hour to stop infiltration of terrorists from Afghanistan. He alleged that many Afghan refugees had managed to get Pakistani Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). Shireen Mazari said the government should not oppose the resolution as strengthening border security was a national policy. Maulana Gohar Shah said they strongly condemned incidents of terrorism and demanded strengthening security of Pak-Afghan border. Abdul Qahar Wadan said security of the border should be enhanced and strengthened but all

Afghan Pakhtuns should not be blamed. Ayesha Gulalai said border management was need of the hour as 50,000 people daily crossed the Pak-Afghan border. Many innocent people, she added, were killed in attacks carried out by terrorists hiding in Afghanistan. She opined that Pakistan should seal its border with Afghanistan. Engineer Usman Khan Taraki said the resolution should not be opposed. Afghan nationals, who managed to get Pakistani CNICs and passports were earning bad name to the country, he added. Sher Akbar said it would be injustice to oppose the resolution. The government was bound to protect life and property of all the people as per the Constitution, he added. Murad Saeed said India had opened four consulates in Afghanistan where training was being imparted to the terrorists to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan. Indian agency RAW (Research Analysis Wing) was using Afghan soil against Pakistan. Concluding the debate, Marriyam Aurangzeb said the government was taking steps to strengthen the border management. She said a software was developed to monitor cross-border movement of people. She said the NARA (National Aliens Registration Authority) was linked with NADRA to make it vibrant. On the directives of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan all dual passports were cancelled, besides blocking thousands of CNICs issued to Afghan nationals in the past. She said the NADRA employees were facing action for issuing such CNICs. Later, she withdrew her decision to oppose the resolution. Meanwhile, the House adopted the resolution moved by Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi that the government should take steps to formulate an Umrah Policy to facilitate people, especially in Ramazan.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar recently directed the Ministry of Finance to work together with Aviation Division and PIA with a view to provide the resources necessary to ensure continued operations of the airline. Finance minister made these remarks during a meeting here to review the financial status of PIA. Secretary Aviation gave a detailed briefing on the financial situation of the airline. He explained that various steps had been taken in the recent past to improve the performance of the national flag carrier, which had yielded positive results. The airline however, needed continued financial support of the government to continue its operations. He presented the financial requirements of PIA during the next quarter ending in June 2016. The meeting noted that the recent strike by PIA employees had resulted in a loss of Rs.4.3 billion to the airline,

and had accentuated its financial problems. The finance minister stated that the government was implementing strict financial discipline and it was important that the available resources are utilized in the most economical and prudent manner. He added that PIA being the national airline will be provided all possible support and resources. PIA to uplift standards of cleanliness of cabins Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would take urgent steps to uplift the standards of cleanliness of cabins in the aircraft. PIA spokesman, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said that the process will be initiated immediately under the direct supervision of Chief Operating Officer Bernd Hilderbrand. In the beginning, cabins of 777s and A310s would be brought to international standards, to be followed by A320s and ATRs.

Religious Parties Warn of 1977-Like Agitation LAHORE: Religious parties warned the government on Tuesday of a nationwide protest movement if the controversial women's protection act of Punjab was not withdrawn by March 27. Describing the Protection of Women Against Violence Act as 'unIslamic', the religious groups convened another meeting on April 2 in Islamabad to decide their future course of action. Representatives of more than 35 religious parties huddled in Mansoora, Lahore, for an All-Pakistan Ulema Conference organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami and unanimously condemned the women's protection law. They called upon the government to re-introduce the law, accommodating the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology, which advises parliament on the compatibility of laws with Islam. It has already declared the act unIslamic. The government has formed a consultation committee to mull over possible amendments. The Protection of Women against Violence Act passed last month gives legal protection to women from domestic, psychological and sexual violence. It recommends creating a toll-free abuse

reporting hotline, shelters for women and district-level panels to investigate reports of abuse. It also allows using GPS bracelets to keep track of offenders. A joint declaration after

Tuesday's conference said statements given by government officials on the women's protection law and Mumtaz Qadri's hanging were against the Sharia, the ideology of Pakistan and its Constitution.

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Pakistan was founded on the principles of Islam and the Objectives Resolution, it said, adding that all religious parties would thwart all efforts to make Pakistan a liberal or secular state.

The resolution claimed the law would increase the divorce rate in society and result in damaging the traditional family structure. It also said that the law was introduced in an effort to Westernise the country. The leaders called for the proper implementation of the existing laws on violence against women instead of introducing un-Islamic laws. Condemning the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, the declaration said all cases registered under blasphemy laws should be expedited and the convicts punished accordingly. The government was also warned against linking terrorism with Islamic seminaries and asked to remove all restrictions against mosques and religious schools under the National Action Plan. JI chief Sirajul Haq had earlier said the religious parties were against violence targeting women, but the law would destroy the family system of Pakistan. Fazlur Rehman claimed Premier Nawaz Sharif was himself upset with the passage of the bill as it was done without his prior approval. "I was surprised the premier did not know about it, but I am happy that he wants to resolve the issue now," he said.

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Army Chief Signs Execution Orders of 13 Terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Raheel Sharif signed on Tuesday death warrants of 13 militants convicted of terrorism-related offences, including the 2013 massacre of 10 foreign mountaineers at a base camp of Pakistan's second highest mountain. Irfan Ullah, son of Khudayar was condemned to death by a military court for the attack on foreign climbers at the Nanga Parbat base camp. A faction of the outlawed Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed credit for the attack, which shocked the world and scarred the country's climbing tourism industry. Gunmen dressed in Gilgit Scouts uniforms stormed the camp and shot dead 10 foreign hikers - including one American with dual Chinese citizenship, two other Chinese, three Ukrainians, two Slovakians, one Lithuanian, one Nepalese and a Pakistani guide. "Today the chief of army staff confirmed death sentences awarded to another 13 hardcore terrorists, who were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of foreign tourists at Nanga Parbat," the military's media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement. The other 12 had been charged with various heinous crimes from attacking schools and Saidu Sharif airport, to killing security officials, civilians and damaging helicopters. They all were tried in military courts which had been set up under the National Action Plan against terrorism. The convicts - almost all of them belonging to the TTP - confessed to their offenses during their trails, according to the ISPR. With the latest convictions, the number of hardcore terrorists condemned to death by the military courts has reached 52. Overall, more than 300 people have been hanged since lifting of a moratorium on the death penalty in December 2014.

The ISPR identified other condemned terrorists as Haider, Ikram Ullah, Asghar Khan, Fazal-e-Ghaffar, Aziz Khan, Bakht-e-Ameer, Asghar Khan, Ahmed Ali, Haroon ur Rasheed, Taj Gul, Muhammad Nawaz and Mushtaq Ahmed. According to the ISPR, Irfan Ullah was involved in killing of tourists at the Nanga Parbat base camp. He was also in possession of firearms. He was tried on three charges. Mushtaq Ahmed, s/o Muhammad Miraj, was involved in an attack on the Saidu Sharif

airport, killing of employees of the Meteorological Department and destruction of an educational institution "which resulted in the death of civilians and injuries to soldiers". Muhammad Nawaz, s/o Gul Muhammad, was convicted of attacks on the armed forces which "resulted in the death of soldiers". He was also in possession of firearms and explosives. He was tried on three charges. Taj Gul, s/o Sultan Zareen, was involved in attacking and killing officials of law enforcement agencies, police constables and levies per-

sonnel. He was also in possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives. He was tried on four charges. Asghar Khan, s/o Aziz Ur Rehman; Ahmed Ali, s/o Bakhat Karam; and Haroon ur Rasheed, s/o Mian Said Usman, were sentenced to death for attacking the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and destruction of an educational institution, "which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers and civilians." They were also in possession of firearms and explosives. Asghar was tried on six charges whereas Aziz and Haroon were tried on seven charges. Bakht-e-Ameer, s/o Ameer Zareen, was convicted of killing and injuring officers and soldiers of the armed forces. He was also in possession of explosives and was tried on three charges. Aziz Khan, s/o Ashber, was involved in attacking the armed forces and destruction of communication system in Gulibagh, Swat, "which caused death and injuries to soldiers". He was also in possession of a suicide jacket and was tried on three charges. Fazal-e-Ghaffar, s/o Shehzada, was sentenced to death for carrying out terrorist attacks which resulted in death and injuries to soldiers. He was also in possession of a suicide jacket. He was tried on four charges. Asghar Khan, s/o Ahmad Jan, was involved in attacks on the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and educational institutions which caused death and injuries to soldiers and civilians. He was tried on four charges. Similarly, Ikram Ullah, s/o Habib Ullah, was sentenced to death for terrorist attacks which caused death and injuries to officers, soldiers and civilians as well as damage to helicopters. He was tried on four charges. Haider, s/o Daim Khan, was involved in killing civilians in Quetta. He was also in possession of firearms and explosives. He was tried on five charges.

Turkmenistan President Arrives India Kills 3 Terrorists on Pak Information in Pakistan on Two-Day Visit NEW DELHI: Three of 10 alleged Pakistani terrorists, who entered India earlier this month reportedly via Gujarat, have been killed, the Indian media reported quoting government sources. The location of the others is known, said the sources, stressing that no other information can be revealed because it could jeopardise security plans.The information about the terrorists journeying to India was shared with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval by his Pakistani counterpart Nasser Khan Janjua. Gujarat was put on high alert after the warning, with increased security at the Somnath Temple on the occasion of Mahshivratri, one of the most important dates of the Hindu calendar. Intel agencies then

ISLAMABAD: Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received a warm welcome on Wednesday as he arrived here on a two-day official visit. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif warmly received him at the Nur Khan Air Base. Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi were also present. A red carpet was rolled out and two children presented him bouquets as he alighted from his special aircraft. A twenty-one gun salute was given as the visiting President alighted from his plane. A formal welcome ceremony would later be held at the Prime Minister's House, to be followed by delegation level talks. During the visit, he will hold talks with Prime Minister Nawaz and President Mamnoon Hussain on issues pertaining to bilateral rela-

tions and cooperation in diverse fields. The Turkmenistan president was accompanied by the ministers, senior officials and a high-level business delegation. President Berdimuhamedov earlier visited Pakistan in November 2011. The visit is part of the regular high-level exchanges between the two brotherly countries. During the visit, the President of Turkmenistan will meet the President of Pakistan, Mr. Mamnoon Hussain and will hold official talks with the Prime Minister. A business forum comprising Turkmen and Pakistani businessmen will also be organized on the sidelines of the visit. The relations between Pakistan and Turkmenistan are warm and cordial from historical, cultural, religious, political and economic perspective. The visit of Turkmen President will provide a good opportunity to review the decisions taken during last

two visits of the Prime Minister to Turkmenistan in 2015 as well as exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. A Joint Communique and several MoUs will be signed during the visit. The visit provides an opportunity to highlight the importance Pakistan attaches to the TAPI Gas Pipeline Project and our commitment to its early completion. The leadership will also exchange views on the measures for early implementation of the MoU signed in December 2015 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Turkmenistan for import of electricity from Turkmenistan. These mega energy projects will facilitate endeavours by the government to reduce energy deficit in Pakistan and also contribute to regional integration for socio-economic development, peace and stability.

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said the terrorists may have travelled to Delhi, where malls and public places were asked to be especially vigilant. The terrorists are reportedly members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed or JeM, NDTV reported. Pakistan's disclosure about the men is seen as an attempt to prove it is genuine in its offer to prevent India from attacks planned across the border. In January, seven military personnel were killed in a deadly assault by terrorists at the air force base in Pathankot in Indian Punjab, where military high-value assets including fighter jets are stationed. India has agreed to a visit by Pakistani investigators assigned to examine the evidence at the air force base by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

P16 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

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COMMUNITY

MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P17

Community Link Friday, March 18, 2016

VOL. 26/12 PAGE 20

PAGE PAGE 27 17

PAGE 19 egum PAGE

One of the Top 10 Muslim Women of 2015

9 Jumadal-ukhra 1437 For news, updated round the clock, visit

Afridi’s Statement Will Reduce Hostility

Colour Me Winter: Fashion Trends

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Fifth Joint Masjid Table Tennis Tournament 2016

n By Dawar Naqvi

n March 5th & March 6th over 120 players from 30 mosques and institutions from all over SouthernCalifornia participated in the “Fifth Joint Masjid Table Tennis Tournament 2016” held at the at Joseph Bae Table Tennis Club in Santa Ana. The tournament was another mega event organized by SCMCO to bring the Muslim community together through social activities. On March 5th all Women events, Youth under 14 & 21, Over 60 & Imam’s events were held. The tournament started at 9:30 am and

the ping pong balls continued flying back and forth between players. On March 6th Brother’s event was held. Tournament started at 8:30 am. Player’s enrollment was conducted by Sister Emaan Amjad, Sister Asmaa Aly and Sister Najma Hyder. Rules and Regulation Committee lead Amjad Naqvi explained the rules of engagement. SCMCO Senior executive member Br. Arif Hyder from the Chino Valley Islamic Center opened the proceedings with a warm welcome to the players and audience. He thanked all volunteers and his organizational team who worked diligently to bring the community together.

Lunch was served to all volunteers and players. Salat was performed on regular basis. Sheikh Yasir Qasim & Hafiz Abdurrahman led the prayers. Br. Abdul Hafeez organized the congregational salat timings. In his speech Sheikh Yasir Qasim said it was gratifying to see all masajid together. He praised the organizers for organizing such a unifying event. He also made Duaa Magfarat for the SCMCO table tennis player Amin Farouqi who passed away last year. The event concluded with SCMCO Chairperson Dawar Naqvi thanking everyone for their contribution and support. He expressed gratitude to Allah SWT for the success of the

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event. He also expressed his thanks to several individuals for their wholehearted support, including youth Emaan Amjad, Basim Awan, Sister Asmaa Ally, Sister Najma Hyder, Br. Amjad Naqvi, Br. Arif Hyder, Br. Abdul Aziz Hafiz, Br. Mansoor Awan, Br. Javed Rahmatullah and Br. Shahid Rahmatullah. He congratulated all the table tennis winners on behalf of SMCO. Hotel Accommodation was provided for the players. It was sponsored by Syed Mohtesham Shah. The results of the tournament are as follows:

SMCO, P18

COMMUNITY

P18 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

SCMCO, JOINT MASJID TABLE TENNIS 2016 RESULTS DIVISION CHAMPIONS DIVISION MEN’S SINGLES A MEN’S SINGLES B MEN’S SINGLES C MEN’S DOUBLES A MEN’S DOUBLES B MEN’S DOUBLES C

IMAM’S SINGKLE IMAMS DOUBLES MEN’S OVER 60 MEN’S OVER 60 DOUBLES WOMEN SINGLES BOYS U14 SINGLES BOYS U14 DOUBLES GIRLS UNDER 14 GIRLS U 21 BOYS U21 SINGLES BOYS U21 DOUBLES

FIRST PLACE AMJAD NAQVI (OCIF) NABEEL ABU HIJILEH (OCIF) REJO YASTROEJA (IMF) MOHAMMAD MASUD HAQUE (LA MIRADA) JAVED RAHMATULLAH/SALMAN NASIR (CVIC) SYED SHAFAT/ ABDUL HAFIZ (ICIE) SYED ASHFAQUL HAQ/MOHAMMAD MASUD HAQUE (LA MIRADA) SHEKH YASIR QASIM (ITTEHAD, SAN DEIGO) BASIN AWAN/ABDURRAMAN (ICSGV) AZAM KHAN (ICYL) SYED SHAH/AZAM KHAN (ICYL)

RUNNER UP NABEEL ABU HIJILEH (OCIF) SALMAN NASIR (CVIC) MOHAMMAD KHAWAJA ABDUL AZIZ HAFIZ (ICIE)

THIRD PLACE SLAMAN NASIR (CVIC) MOTHSHAM SHAH (ICYL) SYED SHAFAT ALI (ICIE) SYED ASHFAQUL HAQ (LA MIRADA)

AMJAD NAQVI/SAMER SUKHON (OCIF)

NANEEL ABU HIJILEH/HANY ELHANBALY (OCIF) ARIF HYDER/AQEEL UDDIN (CVIC/ICIE)

MANSOOR AWAN/MOHAMMAD KHAWAJA (ICSGV) ABDUL REHMAN RAFI /MOHAMMAD NAEEM (ISOC)

SALMAN/SUHAIM BAVANI (ICOI/CVIC)

ABDURRAHMAN (ICSGV)

DR. AHMED SOBOH (CVIV)

SHEIKH YASIR QASIM/TAUFEEQ KHAN (ITTEHAD, SAN DEIGO) ARIF HYDER (CVIC) SRIF HYDER /SALIM BAIG (CVIC)

TAUFEQ KHAN (SAN DEIGO , IHHEAD) HAJI MANSOOR/IMTIAZ (OCIF/CVIC)

LEA ABOURICHE (OCIF)

TALAT MIRZA (EPH)

DEASY SAGITARINA (IMF)

SALAM ABOUL HOSN (OCIF) SALAM ABOUL HOSN /MUSTAFA HASAN (OCIF) SARA MAJEED (ICSGV) LEA ABOURICHE (OCIF)

ZAIN (ICSGV) ZAIN/SAUD (ICSGV)

MUSTAFA HASAN (OCIF) NOAH NAQVI/IBRAHIM NAQVI (ICYL)

AISHA NAQVI (ICYL) SARA MAJEED (ICSGV)

ZAHARA SIDDIQUI (ICOI)

RAEED AHMED SULAIMAN AWAN/BASIM AWAN (ICSGV)

ZAIN AWAN (ICSGV) ZAIN AWAN/ABDURRAHMAN (ICSGV) www.PakistanLink.com

ABDURRAHMAN (ICSGV)

WOMENS WORLD WOMEN

DECEMBER 4, 2016 2015â&#x20AC;&#x201C; -PAKISTAN PAKISTAN MARCH 18, LINKLINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P19

change you can bring to your wardrobe is to choose colours that you have never worked with before. For instance if wearing soft tones is your signature style, experiment with an outfit of neutral shades to make an impact. Make sure to select a hue that reflects your personality and voila you are all set to flaunt your style this winter.

Prints and patterns:

BOTANICAL PRINTS: This year is all about incorporating botanical prints in your wardrobe. Floral prints and patterns are pretty much a permanent fixture on the fashion scene, but lately we are seeing a trend away from ditsy prints and towards big, botanical prints. So, this winter stand out by flaunting pretty botanical patterns. But make sure you don't overdo yourself as you might end up looking like a garden.

Checks and plaids:

Plaids are a favourite amongst women. This is one pattern that never goes out of style and looks evergreen. And the good news is that the international designers have all recently featured updated versions of checks and plaids in their collections and it's perfect for this winter.

Fabric factor:

very season has its own trends and winter has its own charm. It is that time of the year again when we stack all our lawn outfits away. Yes, with the chilly season setting in, it is time to play with colours. Luckily, this season's trends will keep you looking chic and glamorous, all the while keeping you warm and cosy. Cooler temperatures mean the opportunity to play with darker and brighter colours.

The colour palette:

Choosing appropriate colours according to the season is the most important rule that everyone must follow. The colours that appear appealing in summer do not have the same effect on winters and can at times be displeasing to the eye.

What's in?

The reigning colours of the season

are cranberry, hot pink, deep emerald, teal, grey, purple, honey mustard, maroon and crimson. For those who are addicted to bright hues, the following colours are 'in' this season: blood orange, cherry, tangerine, cobalt blue, lime, bright yellow and fuchsia. However, don't forget that black and white are hues that never go out of fashion.

Softer tones:

Lovers of soft tones on the other hand can opt for shades like lavender, orchid, peach and dusty rose. These shades are light enough to not give anyone an eye sore and make one look pretty at the same time. Like other seasons, winter also has its favourites in neutral shades that can be worn during the day or the night. These include colours like ivory, pea green, ink blue, grey, cocoa and beige. The best

BOLD BROCADE: Brocades are big this winter. Brocades look classy and elegant and will keep you warm, too! They can be worn for a formal night out if embellished well. But a little advice would be not to go overboard with the embroidery and let the material shine on its own.

Soft linen:

Come winter and all women want to get their hands on linen as this is the ideal fabric for the chilly season. So make sure that you get some pretty linens this winter.

Velvety accents:

Another trend that is ruling this season is velvet. However, incorporating this trend can be a little tricky. Velvet accents are what we are talking about. Many women tend to make a velvet shirt which doesn't look appealing at all. So, just embellish your linen shirt with velvet laces that are readily available in the markets. And voila you are all set to flaunt in style.

Go the designer way:

We all know that as soon as the season changes many brands launch their collections. And the good news is that textile group LALA introduces its latest winter collection Lala Brocade Winter Collection 2015. Inspired by traditional designs and colours of the sub-continent that includes botanical and Persian patterns accompanied by with Kashmiri motifs, the winter collection features 20 designs thus putting forward a contemporary take on classic floral tapestry and colours. The collection is available in hues of blacks, shades of blues, greys and oranges, with addons that include digitally printed woollen shawls as well. Founded in 1947, the textile brand is best known for its seasoned experience in manufacturing, producing and retailing quality textile with a com-

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mitment to principled trade. The brand regularly participates at prestigious fashion and retail platforms across the world such as PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week [PSFW] and Fashion Pakistan Week [FPW] in Pakistan as well as at exhibitions and

shows across Europe, India and the Middle East. Also, the brand is a patron and co-sponsor of Pakistan Fashion Week Dubai. So, go ahead and get your favourite outfit now and enjoy your winters!

COMMUNITY

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

Dalia Mogahed: One of the Top 10 Muslim Women of 2015 n By Mohammad Yacoob

Los Angeles, CA

aariyah Shaheen chose 10 Muslim women and wrote: “It has certainly been one of the most difficult decisions to elect the top 10 Muslim Women of 2015: with success not far from revolutionary, Muslim women have not failed to prove themselves successful. But I guess 2015 has been the biggest run around for Muslim women. From the depths of the West across the deserts of the Middle East, Muslim women have begun to express what it means to be a real Muslim woman, standing up for what they believe in and being the first for many to follow. It’s these women who’ve set 2016 up for us to take the lead and make a change. Let’s take a look at our top 10 Muslim women: Dalia Mogahed, Nadiya Hussain, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Tawakkul Karman, Malala Yousafzai, Carolyn Walker, Imaan Aldebe, Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi, Aseel Shaheen, and Noor Tagouri” (http://mvslim.com/10muslim-women-that-ruled-2015/) Maariyah Shaheen’s first choice was Dalia Mogahed. Maariyah wrote, “The US’ first Muslim woman in the White House back in 2009, Dalia Mogahed is one of Barack Obama’s ‘closest advisors’ advocating the views and opinions of Muslims across the US in the most simplistic, recognizable and agreeable way. The Egyptian born advisor holds her title as a renowned speaker and writer, objective and credible in her speech and actions. What puts her in the top 10 of 2015 is her competitive passion even until this day. With the current events regarding Western involvement in the Middle Eastern conflicts, governmental influence on our lives is now bigger than it has ever been and to have a Muslim woman influence a part of this is an achievement.” Currently, Dalia Mogahed, the Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, appeared on the ‘The Daily Show’ on January 8, 2016. Trevor Noah, host the Daily Show posed a question and said, “People shout out. ‘I’m not saying all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.” Dalia Mogahed responded, “My response is, ‘All of them except the vast majority who are not’.” Please watch the extended interview at: http://on.cc. com/1n8tkEh Dalia Mogahed was the keynote speaker at the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California Conference, held to celebrate the 20 Year Anniversary of the Shura Council, in the city of Anaheim, California, on Saturday March 21, 2015. This writer attended this one-day conference and was impressed and inspired by her insight. Her keynote address was a microscopic look into the future and she felt impelled to declare that it was time to save America. I scribbled the following points at the conference. She discussed “Demographics and Dynamics: Islam 2035”. She said, “I represent the family of one person who presents radical gentleness. At the present time, we are experiencing tragedy in our own way; our community is being bombarded by tragedy after tragedy; attack after attack. I would like to find social bunker and hide. I have a different message because we want America to respond in a different way; we need to save America from itself. We will show with research as to how to save American in the next 20 years. America is under attack by the enemy, the enemy is fear; fear that erodes democracy. By holding the government accountable for the erosion of democracy, Muslims need to help it conquer the enemy and save democracy. In the last 16 years the Muslims have been asked to prove

the absence of terrorism among Muslims, and we cannot prove it. They kept on telling us that you don’t condemn terrorism. I am done with condemning terrorism as I should not have to; it is a wrong question. Concerning terrorism, they ask, is Muslim a benign or malignant tumor; stale or dangerous. If it is benign, leave it alone, keep it in surveillance. We, the Muslims say, ‘We are not a benign tumor; we are not a benign organ; we are a vital organ of America.’ ” “We say, Muslims are small business owner and entrepreneurs, brains trust, highly educated people, innovators; making contributions in labor force and other disciplines; contributing in ways that are keeping America safe. This is not the conception of America about Muslims. We must help America to see the reality. Suspicion is rampant; bigotry a threat to America; different States engaged in passing anti-Shariah law. Muslims have become a canary for testing the dirty air. A canary passes out in a coal mine because of the presence of toxic air. We are the canary in the hearts and minds of America. We must play a vital role for challenges facing to clear the toxic political climate. America must be made to recognize that the problem of Muslim discrimination is higher than any other groups, then only America would work to eliminate it. The level of prejudice people holding against Muslims is very prevalent because of the media. A media content research which predicts perceptions, conducted in Germany, revealed that news about the Muslim countries reported are 80% negative; for the North Korea it is 71%. The prediction exposed bias of mass media and showed that it engages in disinformation campaign; focuses too much on dispensing disinformation, saying militants represent Islam. American public is not prejudiced, they are victim of disinformation. That’s why media disinformation and misinformation are threats to American Democracy. Fear hurts America; fear threats America. Anti-Muslim bigotry has been manufactured. Public opinion on the time line shows that there is no correlation between acts of Muslims, militants and Islam. The manufactured bigotry is done for two reasons – war and election. Accept war; instill fear, drum up fear to get votes. Engaging in war mongering attitudes and instilling fear to get votes is impacting policy that ends up adopting anti-Shariah policy or proposed laws. Why should American people be afraid of the anti-shriah law; this fear erodes our values; shows clear violation of Islam; hurts religious liberty; and curtail rights of Muslims. There is an organized effort to want Muslims to feel weak and isolated. “It is up to us, the Muslims, to save America from this evil. The number one predictor of anti-Muslim is anti-Jewish. It is up to us alone to fight it. The anti-Muslim prejudice is being advanced to stop the American people from knowing the truth about Islam. We must help in removing ob-

stacles in the path to better understanding. If people know who we are, the attitudes and perception will change. The call to action is simple; organize, work together and become aware of the fact that the community has a duty to help protect America from the great threat – the fear.” It was a great soul searching keynote address. In her book, “Who Speaks for Islam?”, Dalia Mogahed educated American public about the often-silenced voice of Muslims, talked about what a billion Muslims really think, showed meticulously that the vast majority of civilians both Muslims and nonMuslims are victims of global terrorism. The rhetoric of hate and growing violence apparent in Islamophobia has massively increased making many Americans to question the loyalty of Muslims to the United States. On the strength of the collected data, she wrote that the statistical evidence representing the voices of a billion Muslims do not represent what the hate-mongering the West indict them of engaging in. The data proves beyond any shadow of doubt that the voices of Muslims do not approve activities of the extremists carried out in the name of Islam. She concluded that the powerful evidence bears out Muslims to be a silenced majority; their voices continue to get drowned when they speak, from the noises and sounds originating from the dark alleys of disinformation and misinformation. She warned both Muslims and non-Muslims about extremists on all sides gaining ground because the thinking of a billion Muslims is not part of the equation. The West must make a decision to listen directly to the Muslim people to gain accurate understanding of the needs and the aspirations of Muslims. The Muslim world is faith in one God and many Prophets as their beliefs and practices show. Muslim world is not a single unit, yet the West uses it to malign the entire Muslim population of the world for the acts of the extremists. It displays vast knowledge of pure ignorance by assuming one size fits all. Americans know nothing about the views and beliefs of people living in Muslim countries. The dependency on sensational headlines and violent images throw Americans into deep ditches of ignorance. This one-size-fits-all mentality is put to work when conducting a debate about Democracy or Theocracy. In the realm of foreign affairs, emphasis is placed on showing Islam being incompatible with democracy by quoting the presence of or absence of democracies in the Middle East. The truth of the matter is that the silenced majority admires the West and desires greater self-determination and political freedom. Dali Mogahed discusses factors that are in the path towards more freedom needed smoother and faster. She says that based on the statistics, the global terrorism and strategies to combat it are filled with potholes. The strategies do not consider facts that no public support for

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terrorism exists; do not address the issue of terrorist sympathizers, whether they really hate the West and its way of life. The strategists must clearly understand the vast differences between terrorism, suicide bombing and Jihad. Dalia Mogahed addressed the wants of the Muslim women, a subject full of intrigue and pity. She claimed that Muslim Women seldom had opportunity to speak for themselves and provided in detail the effective ways to advocate for Muslim Women’s empowerment. She wrote about the clash or coexistence between the Muslim world and the West and said that coexistence could happen when both sides, who believe being under siege because of fanaticism and terrorism, develop the ability to move beyond presupposition and stereotype; establish partnership that transcend an “us” and “them” view of the world; stop thinking in terms of clash of cultures; end using religious or political issues to disturb peace and understanding; struggle against extremism and terrorism together by realizing that the military action is not the answer; and pursue a policy to win minds and hearts. (Mohammad Yacoob is a retired Industrial Engineer and Engineering Proposals Analyst and lives in Los Angeles, California)

Google Maps introduce voice navigation in Pakistan Karachi: After enabling live traffic updates last year, Google has introduced voice-guided navigation for major cities of Pakistan, reported ProPakistani.pk. The service is currently still in its beta stage, and is available using the latest version of Google Maps on Android operating system with no additional download required. The initial screen is similar to the route preview feature already available in Pakistan. Users can set a route by turning on their current location and selecting a destination, pressing the big arrow on the right initiates the voice-guided turn-byturn navigation. The feature is similar to standalone GPS navigation apps that have been available on the market for years, complete with a female voice warning you about roundabouts up ahead and when to turn. When using the feature the screen will be lit throughout. Similar to standalone navigation systems, you can choose if you want to receive only important voice alerts or to turn them off completely. Finding exact locations in the city can still be difficult and imprecise; you just have to find a nearby location or street to make do. It doesn’t show you where to park or parking spots nearby, just the front door of your destination. Google Navigation takes into account traffic along the route (from live traffic updates feature released earlier) and adjusts the ETA and best route to take accordingly. Users can also navigate through the route in advance before the drive to get a better idea of where you’re heading; however this is not voice-guided. The feature is helpful for solo drives and those who don’t know their destination area very well. Users have an option

to search for restaurants, fuel stations, grocery stores, coffee shops and more places along your chosen route, but locations are searched for in Urdu, which is jarring considering everything else in the app is in English.

COMMENTARY

MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21

A Muslim Woman’s Guide to Empowerment n By Nausheen Pasha-Zaidi

of our neighbor’s torrid lives! It is an addiction which we have all reveled in at some time or another, and this may be the hardest thing to give up. But personal and social empowerment requires that women find a way to lift each other up spiritually and emotionally, not peck away at each other like rabid vultures. When you catch yourself going down that road, veer to another topic.

Chandler, Arizona

ften times when you read an article that espouses a certain formula for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, the writer seems to be coming from a perspective that clearly indicates that he or she is an expert in the field.

When I was expecting my first child, for instance, my home was filled with parenting magazines that told me what I should and should not be doing to raise the perfect baby. Every developmental stage was addressed and checked off. I was certain that I had all the answers because I had dutifully studied the advice of all the experts. In fact, it wasn’t until I had brought my sweet bundle home and he proceeded to water the lawn on our new couch in the middle of his first real diaper change that I realized that “experts” can sometimes be full of crock. Did that revelation somehow lessen what I had learned? Absolutely not! On the contrary, it taught me a greater lesson about life than all the experts put together. Don’t just read — think critically. I say this to preface my true intent because the word “empowerment” is laden with multiple connotations. To some, it is equivalent to the “evil wrath of feminism”. To others, it is the ability to control some aspects of your destiny, to have a voice, to make a difference. For me, empowerment is balance, creating and sustaining harmony in all aspects of your life. It is with this definition in mind that I’m presenting some guidelines to help us all attain some form of empowerment. Open a personal checking account

It is absolutely imperative for every woman to have a personal bank account. Many women leave finances to their husbands, fathers, brothers. Regardless of who pays the bills in your house or who brings in the money, every woman needs to have an account that is hers alone. Even more important than that, every woman needs to sustain that account by adding money to it each month. If you work, take some of your income and put it away. If you don’t work outside the home, take some of the household money you are given and put that in your account. Any monetary funds you receive as gifts should be put into that account as well. Financial freedom needs to be one of our goals. Tear up the litmus test Most Muslim women know about the litmus test, whether we use that term or not. It is the test of faith that is represented through the use or non-use of hijab. Wouldn’t it be lovely to blame this test on the patriarchal society at large? Unfortunately, women are often the ones that are propagating this silent civil war. As a result, within the social context, there is an instant division of forces between those who wear hijab and

Welcome your new hyphenated identity

those who do not. I will not address the validity of either side here. I prefer to leave judgment in the hands of the Almighty. It is the test itself that must be thrown out. “United we stand. Divided we fall.” Anything that does not unite us will tear us apart, and there is no empowerment in disarray. Get out of the house Women need to move out of their realm of comfort. It’s a scary world out there if you’ve never left the confines of your family, home, or community. The longer you wait to explore the larger social and cultural environment, the more difficult it becomes. You are the one to set your boundaries. You can make them small, welldefined rock walls, or you can create a flexible, breathable mesh layer that allows you to experience the different colors of the world while maintaining your own sense of security. Join a gym or a playgroup. Attend your children’s PTA meetings. Get a job. Volunteer. There are so many ways to build a more diverse set of relationships. Look around you and be creative. Be a front-seat driver Unless you live in a city where public transportation is readily available or you have the monetary funds to hire a chauffeur, be prepared to get a driver’s license. It is an absolute necessity in most parts of the United States. When a woman cannot drive, she is utterly dependent on drivers around her for transportation. This is a psychological trap which can proliferate a sense of isolation, powerlessness, and dependency. Don’t go there. Learn the dominant language of the land There is nothing more frustrating than being unable to communicate your own thoughts to those around you. When you don’t know the language, you feel lost and alone, caught in the confines of an invisible prison. Language help is usually available at community centers, local schools, libraries. An interpreter is a good way to transition, but it should not

be seen as a long-term solution. Take responsibility for yourself. Listen to your children As I progress into my thirties, I can see the differences between my experiences growing up and those of my children. Having been raised in the States, I feel more comfortable with the lingo of the younger generation than those who may be newer immigrants. This does not, however, preclude me from falling into the generation gap. The world is constantly changing and the issues our children face will always be slightly different than ours. So how do we raise a new generation of American Muslims when all we have is our own somewhat-outdated viewpoint? I think most people understand that we have to talk to our children. But talking can be overrated — especially if it’s in the form of a one-way lecture. The only way we will know what our children need is by listening to them. Life is hectic and we spend so much time giving directions (pick up your toys; brush your teeth; turn off the TV; eat your dinner) that we often don’t leave enough room for real communication. I usually listen to my children in the car. That’s the only time I have them in one place where they can’t run away or find more interesting things to occupy them. Bedtime, dinner time, story time — find what works for you and let your children have the stage. It’s amazing what you can learn. Embrace lifelong learning Learning occurs when we are able to attach new knowledge to the existing database in our brain. Brain cells or neurons are connected to other brain cells through synapses. There are billions of neurons in the human brain and research indicates that those individuals with higher levels of education have more synaptic connections in the area of the brain that is used in higher thinking and reasoning. In other words, lifelong learning keeps the brain fit much like aerobics keeps the body fit. That perfect shade of lipstick may fade by the end of the evening, but a beautiful mind is always in style.

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Beware of group mentality The psychology of a group is very different from the psychology of an individual. Social groups can be exhilarating and protective as well as judgmental and dangerous. Groups tend to emerge from similarities in philosophy, backgrounds, education, faith — any descriptor that bonds people together while distinguishing them from others. A group can get much more accomplished than an individual alone, but it can also stifle critical thought. Keeping in mind that people often don’t behave the same in large social settings as they would within an interpersonal realm, it is important for women in social groups to encourage diverse perspectives and embrace viewpoints that may be different from the majority. Allow yourself the luxury of your mistakes Experience is the greatest teacher. When we think about the important moments in our lives, we like to remember festive occasions. Major milestones like graduations, weddings, births change the course of our lives, but it is through our mistakes, the analysis of our errors, that we often learn the greatest lessons. “To err is human.” And yet most of us may still cringe when we recall those errors because we don’t want to focus on past regrets. Let go. Allow yourself to be human. When a past error haunts you in the middle of a sleepless night, be thankful for it and forgive yourself. In the same vein, if we find it hard to forgive ourselves, we often find it harder to forgive others. I don’t believe in the saying, “forgive and forget” because it denies us the power that comes with experience. So instead, I value another ideal. Forgive, learn, and move on. Remember that the flesh of a human being is haram As Muslims, we like to focus on halal and haram. We will drive five miles out of our way to buy halal meat, but we find great pleasure in eating each other alive. I’m talking about gossip of course. What an emotional rush we get when we pass along juicy tidbits

While working on my neardefunct PhD, I visited a university in Oklahoma where I met a very nice woman in the admissions office. It must have been a pleasant conversation for the most part because I have no recollection of it. It was only towards the end that she made a remark that has stayed with me to this day. Let me just say that after living in the United States for over twenty-five years, I’m pretty confident in the duality of my ethnic identity. So, when the nice lady said, “I’m so glad you’re here”, I thought she was welcoming me to the university. However, upon further investigation, I realized that she was not welcoming me to the university, but welcoming me to the United States, because “you know what they do to women in Pakistan”. Considering that my personal experiences of my homeland were filled with some wonderful memories of cousins and grandparents (as well as some not-so-wonderful memories of dysentery), I wasn’t sure that I wanted to pursue that line of thinking. Some years later, another very enlightened fellow indicated that he really disliked those “other American people” who did not welcome immigrants to his country. When he met immigrant families, he always went out of his way to make them feel at home. On the surface, this sounded lovely, but being a first generation immigrant, this “welcome mat” philosophy always seemed to reinforce the idea of being an outsider in American culture, even if we had grown up on US soil. How many generations must pass in the United States before we become American enough to welcome others? Then, the answer came to me. First, we have to welcome ourselves. This means that we have to acknowledge that we are no longer a single ethnicity within a homogeneous population. We are all hyphenated Americans. We need to build upon our heritage, not deplete it. That requires, again, critical thinking. What traditions do we want to keep and which ones are we willing to accommodate? How do we raise our children to value both ethnicities without sacrificing either? These are not questions that can be answered by “experts” because they involve personal reflection and family values. However, as hyphenated Americans, we need to respect the commonality in both cultures. This is the home you have chosen. When you focus on common values, not cultural backgrounds, you lay out your own welcome mat to diversity, tolerance, and friendship.

COMMENTARY

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

A Voice That Lives on

n By Siraj Khan

Boston, MA

he year 1980 swept into the Indian film industry a Pakistani girl. She came to India via England to rock the world of music with her own trail-blazing style of get-up-and-dance flavour. Then, it would have been difficult to conceive that a young girl, barely in her mid-teens, would perhaps unknowingly set an example of aman ki asha on a scale that even established politicians and diplomats would not be able to achieve.

Feroz Khan’s Qurbani would have still been a success at the boxoffice even without Baat Ban Jaye, but just this song sung by Nazia Hassan and picturized on vivacious Zeenat Aman had something in it, the magic which nobody had visualised in their wildest imagination. Biddu, a UK-based Indian music producer, who already had several hits under his belt producing hit songs for Tina Charles, Carl Douglas and others, composed Nazia’s first mega hit. Biddu is known for danceable faves like “Ring My Bell” and “Kung Fu Fighting.” Both the song and singer became overnight sensations. Nazia won a Filmfare Award in 1981 for the Best Female Singer -the first Pakistani artiste to achieve this honour. She remains the youngest recipient ever to win this award -- an added distinction unlikely to be surpassed for a long time to come. Nazia Hassan had set the music scene alight in India with her joyous, hyper-desi disco trend. The effect of her popularity across the length and breadth of the subcontinent was nothing short of magical. Political boundaries seemed to disappear. Seamless movement of people started across the borders. Even cricket between the countries started to resurface. The youth on both sides of the border looked up to Nazia as the subcontinent’s first true pop diva, with stunning looks to go with the voice. India Today magazine voted Nazia Hassan -- a Pakistani -- as one of the 50 people who helped change

the face of India. The most visible and tangible change in India’s music space was the personal album trend

Some of us discovered this rather late in our lives. Nazia Hassan was a great believer in the power of music,

Nazia Hassan’s phenomenal success was no flash in the pan. She teamed up with her brother Zoheb and produced hit after hit. Coming at the heels of Baat Bun Jaye in 1981, was Disco Deewane which broke all sales records not only in India and Pakistan but also topped the charts in Brazil, the West Indies and Europe which began taking off with Lucky Ali, Alisha Chinoy, Shewata Shetty and many others. Nazia Hassan’s phenomenal success was no flash in the pan. She teamed up with her brother Zoheb and produced hit after hit. Coming at the heels of Baat Bun Jaye in 1981, was Disco Deewane which broke all sales records not only in India and Pakistan but also topped the charts in Brazil, the West Indies and Europe. Successful albums like Star/

n By the Citizen Bureau

Boom Boom (1982), Young Tarang (1984), Hotline (1987) followed and later Camera Camera (1982) rolled

New Delhi

n the West, India is synonymous with the IT industry, and deservedly so given its $100 billion worth of software exports per year. In comparison, neighbor Pakistan is virtually a non-entity, with its share of global IT sales only $2.8 billion, of which $1.6 billion represents tech and IT services and software exported abroad.

That’s barely a drop in an IT ocean estimated at $3.2 trillion globally in 2015. Yet, Pakistan’s tiny IT sector is carving out a niche for itself -- so much so that it has been the subject of several stories in international publications such as the New York Times, the Global Post, Al Jazeera, to name a few. Perhaps the interest is because of the obvious potential of the industry: There are now 1,500 registered IT companies in Pakistan while 10,000 IT grads enter the market every year. Perhaps even more significantly, the democratization of demand as facilitated by the internet-era, has enabled Pakistan to climb up market ranks to become the No 3 country for supplying freelance programmers, behind only the United States and India, and up from No 5 just two years ago. This is because programmers in Pakistan can easily sign up to platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr, where the person hiring them is less interested in their location and more concerned with their skill. Because the programmer in Pakistan is using a third party platform, logistical, bureaucratic and other constraints that are typically associated with Pakistan, including corruption, do not apply. As reported by The New York Times, Pakistan ranks in the upper 10 to 25 percent on Upwork’s listing of growth rates for top-earning countries,

out, along with TV shows with BBC, ITV, Channel 4. In 1989, Nazia and Zoheb hosted the groundbreaking all-Pakistan television pop show called Music’89, produced by Shoaib Mansoor. Culture and art play a key role in building bridges between boundaries. In fact, culture and art belong to the whole world. Before them vanish the barriers of religions and nationalities. Those who believe in this have seen it for themselves.

something that she identified very early in her life. Perhaps the seeds for such a thinking and conviction were sown very early in her tender years. Nazia was a child participant / student of Music Maestro Sohail Rana in the PTV program Kaliyon ki Maala . I recall Dosti Aisa Naata Jo Sonay Sey Bhi Mehanga. Kaliyon Ki Mala took the shape of Sung Sung Chalte Rehna, Saat Suroon Ki Duniya and Hum Hi Hum, which were also directed

Pakistan Climbs up IT Ladder, Catches Global Attention

alongside India, Canada and Ukraine. Pakistan’s freelance programmers already account for $850 million of the country’s software exports; that number could go up to $1 billion in the next several months, says Umar Saif, who heads the Punjab IT Board and previously taught and did research work at MIT. As reported by the Global Post, Pakistan’s software export industry employs some 24,000 people, according to government figures. Most companies in Pakistan’s IT sector — including mobile game studios — are growing at more than 30 percent a year, says Pakistan’s software industry trade body,

P@SHA. With success come challenges, and Pakistan’s nascent IT industry faced its first such challenge last May, when news broke that Axact, one of Pakistan’s largest IT companies, was operating as a fake degree mill. Authorities acted fast, arrested Axact’s chief within days, though the controversy did lead many to comment on whether the country’s IT industry stood a chance in the long-term. That question was answered almost immediately, when just three days after the Axact controversy, Naseeb Networks International, a Lahorebased company that runs the online job marketplace

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by Sohail Rana in his inimitable style and methodology. Nazia started to bloom and really began singing not only in her voice, but also from the heart. She has on many occasions acknowledged the contribution of her mentor Sohail Rana in polishing her hidden talent and also building her confidence and self-discipline. Yet another student of Sohail Rana, Adnan Sami during his recent interview with ARY the Pakistani TV channel, acknowledged his tutelage by Sohail Rana in 1979/80 in the TV program Rung barangi duniya from PTV Islamabad Center. Nazia’s passion for building bridges was not confined to music. Armed with a law degree, she ended up working for the UN from 199294, when she got married and moved to Dubai in 1995. Alas, history is full of great people who achieved in a few years, what others do in a lifetime. Like so many wonderful artistes of the subcontinent before her -- Geeta Dutt, Geeta Bali, Madhubala, Meena Kumari and others -- Nazia Hassan succumbed prematurely to disease and illness. It was on August 13, 2000, when she left for the heavenly abode, just in her mid-thirties. Yes, it’s been almost fourteen years. Nazia, you will be remembered not only for the musical treasures of joy and peace that you have left for us, but also because you showed us that what is played is the music, not the instrument. More importantly, we admire you for taking music beyond borders. Shayed baat bun hee jaye! A few gems from Nazia Hassan’s treasure box, which she has left for us. Dum dum dee dee http : / / w w w. youtu b e. c om / watch?v=xssv5Je-6xk Boom Boom http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=1sHTPrlQPBA&feature=relat ed Ye DIl Tere liye http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=iYXn38P8qdM&feature=relat ed

Rozee.pk, announced that it had won a third round of investments worth $6.5 million, from the European investment firms Vostok Nafta and Piton Capital. The latest round of funding brought the company’s total venture capital funding to $8.5 million. Or take the example of Caramel Tech Studios, a Pakistan-based mobile game startup that created the sensation “Fruit Ninja” for an Australian developer. Another such startup in Pakistan is Mindstorm Studios, maker of “Whacksy Taxi,” a racing game that topped Apple’s App Store in more than 25 countries. And while constraints such as bureaucracy, shortage of land/space for offices, power shortages, et cetera remain a challenge, they are offset by positives, most importantly cost. “If we have a million dollars in the bank ... in the US we might only be able to make one and a half games, whereas here we might be able to make 10 games,” Saad Zaeem of Caramel Tech Studios told The Global Post, adding that graduates here are as qualified as Western ones and cost a lot less to employ, giving software startups a competitive advantage over high-wage Western countries. Further, the rise of the mobile software market has been a huge gamechanger. “Prior to the iPhone … it was a very closed-door system,” said Babar Ahmed, Mindstorm’s co-founder and CEO. “So you had to apply for a developer’s license to Nintendo or Microsoft or Sony. And they’d vet your studio out, they’d look at your resumes. They’d only give their [software development kit] to, like, very select studios. That’s not the case anymore” (as quoted in The Global Post). Overall, entrepreneurs in Pakistan as well as the world watching them are optimistic, and rightfully so.

COMMENTARY

n By Tariq Mahmud

t was a laidback April morning with a distinct eeriness pervading the air. Huddled with a few colleagues, I was sitting in a compound close to the civil courts at Chunian in the district of Kasur. Someone, completely befuddled barged in, looked around breathlessly, and broke the shocking news, “Bhutto sahab ko phansi hogayee.” The news chilled us to our spines and we were rendered speechless, staring at one another with stony eyes. This had been expected and yet, there was a sense of disbelief.

The murder trial of Muhammad Ahmed Khan had come to an end. The case was exceptional in many ways: it was not tried at the court of original jurisdiction, with the appellate forum, the Lahore High Court, arrogating this jurisdiction. The bench trying the case was headed by the chief justice, who was accused by the defense of having possessed malice against the person standing trial, but he disregarded the objection. The split verdict drew a wedge between the judges belonging to Punjab and the rest of the country. As we heard the sad news, we got hold of a transistor. There was a brief and terse account of Bhutto’s execution and his burial at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh. Begum Nusrat Bhutto and her children were denied their right to be present at the funeral. An eventful era of Pakistan’s history had reached its finale. A trail of events started eddying in my mind — ZAB’s meteoric rise, his controversial role in the East Pakistan debacle and assumption of power after the

n By Emily Main

Rodale News

ou don’t smoke. You live a generally healthy life, so you’re in the clear as far as unhealthy habits are concerned, right?

Not so fast! It seems like every day, a new study comes out finding that habit X is “as bad for you as smoking,” whether it’s sitting all day or eating too much fat. So is there any legitimacy to those claims? We checked out a bunch of those studies to find out what the researchers mean when they claim that those things are as bad for you as cigarettes, and in most cases, they’re not lying. The following six unhealthy habits either expose you to the same contaminants in cigarette smoke or lead to cancer rates equivalent to those caused by smoking. Fortunately, these are easy to fix with a few modifications to your daily routine so you (and your heart and your lungs) can be glad you don’t in fact smoke. PLUS: A recent report projected that cancer will be the leading cause of death in the US by 2030. Take control of your life and learn how to cancer-proof your environment. #1: Sitting all day. Even if you exercise regularly, habitually sitting for prolonged periods, whether at a desk or in a car, is being increasingly linked to a variety of health problems. According to Alberta Health Services-Cancer Care in Canada, inactivity is linked to nearly 160,000 cases of breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancer every year, about two-thirds as many cancer cases caused by smoking. Make it right: Make it a habit to take breaks on-the-move at work, and even make (or buy) a standing workstation so you’re less apt to sit all day. At

MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23

Remembering ZAB

Left: Bhutto addresses a public rally. Right: His dead body is brought home for butrial

country’s break-up, all fell in place to complete the picture. From here onwards, he picked up the pieces, made strenuous efforts to retrieve the areas occupied by India during the 1971 war as well as

giving the country a document, which is still the rallying point for this highly-polarized nation. ZAB was a people’s man and thrived amongst the milling crowds. He was everywhere when

He possessed an empathetic chord and a hands-on approach to problems. As an under-training officer, I recall a petition of an old man that was marked for the deputy commissioner with a hand-

ZAB was a people’s man and thrived amongst the milling crowds. He was everywhere when the chips were down: in the earthquake-hit areas of Bisham in the Northern Areas to the collapse of a high-rise building in Karachi, from the flood-ravaged areas of Shujabad to the famine-stricken expanses of Thar brought back prisoners of war, rallied the Muslim world around and set a domestic agenda of reforms, which though, highly controversial, could not be ignored. While framing the 1973 Constitution, he emerged as a man of consensus,

the chips were down: in the earthquake-hit areas of Bisham in the Northern Areas to the collapse of a high-rise building in Karachi, from the flood-ravaged areas of Shujabad to the famine-stricken expanses of Thar.

written note in the margin by the prime minister: “Relieve his agony, he is running around from pillar to post.” The old man did get what he wanted, while many of us in our early years of service enjoyed the idiomatic directives

Six Unhealthy Habits that Are as Bad as Smoking

home, resist the temptation to veg out in front of the TV. Go for a short walk around the block to relax, spend a few minutes cleaning, or schedule a gym date with your significant other. PLUS: 9 Health Problems You Can Cure With Exercise #2: Eating too much meat and cheese. Animal proteins are rich in IGF-1, a growth hormone that can promote the growth of cancer cells. And a study from the University of Southern California published in the journal Cell Metabolism recently found that people on highanimal-protein diets during middle age were four times more likely to die of cancer than people on low-protein diets--a mortality risk factor comparable to smoking. Make it right: Replace some of your animal proteins with these yummy vegetarian protein sources. The same study found that diets high in plantbased proteins like beans, which have protein levels equivalent to some meats, didn’t trigger the same increase in cancer rates. In general, middle-aged adults should be eating 0.8 grams of protein for every 2 pounds of body weight daily. Interestingly, the study found that once you pass the age of 65, eating lots of animal protein isn’t as harmful because your body’s production of IGF-1 begins to slow down. RELATED: 15 Grossest Things You’re Eating #3: Cooking with natural gas. If you’re one of the 34 percent of Americans whose home is equipped with a gas stove, you’re getting an added dose of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde every time

you cook a meal. Those same three contaminants are common in secondhand cigarette smoke, and a December 2013 study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that all three contaminants in homes with gas stoves regularly exceeded public health guidelines. Make it right: Use your vent hood when you use your gas oven or cooktop. Ventilating a gas range can reduce pollutant levels by 60 to 90 percent, even if the fan seems wimpy. Also, cook on your back burners: Most vent hoods aren’t properly centered over a cooktop; using the back burners will help your vent hood capture the most pollution. #4: Cooking with the wrong oil. Even if you rely on an electric

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stove at your house, you aren’t immune to cooking’s polluting effects. Studies on restaurant and residential kitchens have shown that high-heat cooking with shortening and soybean oil (usually just called “vegetable oil” in the US) releases particulate matter, aldehydes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all compounds found in cigarette smoke and linked to airway inflammation. Make it right: Pick the type of cooking oil best suited for your use. For instance, olive oil isn’t good for frying or high-heat cooking but is fine for cooking at low temperatures or in salad dressings. Avocado oil, on the other hand, is great for high-heat cooking. Look for the “smoke point” on oils that

of ZAB. Ziaul Haq’s government wanted to get as much evidence as possible to indict ZAB. A white paper was brought out to catalogue malpractices of his rule. When it came to his financial probity, there was mention of an installation of an air conditioning plant at state expense at 70 Clifton, Karachi. The residence had been declared the prime minister’s camp office. The same document, however, added that at a subsequent stage, ZAB paid for the amount at depreciated cost as worked out by the cabinet division. Compare this act with the brazen conduct of many of his successors. It seemed that there was no other plausible case to tighten the noose around him than to try him in the murder case. There was a downside to ZAB’s eventful era. Dissension and differences were an anathema to his working style. The treatment meted out to nationalists in erstwhile NWFP and in Balochistan left deep scars. His governance smacked of authoritarian rule. The Defense of Pakistan Rule (DPR) was often invoked on flimsy pretexts. The shoddy manner in which senior leaders like JA Rahim, Meraj Muhammad Khan, Mir Rasul Bakhsh Talpur, Mukhtar Rana and Malik Suleman were treated is the sad story of our politics. Despite these grey areas, ZAB was indeed a larger than life figure: a towering personality, but like a hero from a Greek tragedy, one who possessed fatal flaws. (The writer is a public policy analyst and a former interior secretary. Courtesy The Express Tribune) you buy to make sure the oil matches your needs. And don’t forget to run the ventilation hood! PLUS: 4 Cooking Oils That Belong in Every Kitchen #5: Tanning indoors. A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that indoor tanning causes roughly 420,000 cases of skin cancer in the US every year. Smoking, by comparison, causes 226,000 cases of lung cancer. Make it right: Learning to love pale skin is step number one. But if you really want a natural glow, eat more carrots and tomatoes, suggests a study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. Both foods are rich in carotenoids, which will boost your skin tone, and you won’t have to worry about exposure to sketchy ingredients in sunless tanning sprays and lotions. #6: Not getting enough sleep. This will make you really cranky: Chronic sleep deprivation triggers high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, obesity, and a host of other health problems. One study even found that not getting at least six or seven hours of sleep led to mortality rates on par with those seen in cigarette smokers. Even getting poor-quality or fragmented sleep--when you don’t necessarily fully wake up, but the cycle from light to deep sleep gets interrupted--can speed the growth of tumors. PLUS: 10 Sleep Habits That Make You Gain Weight Make it right: Don’t assume that being tired is normal. If you feel like you aren’t getting enough sleep regularly, talk to a health professional to see if you might be suffering from a condition such as sleep apnea that is interfering with your sleep. Rodale News

COMMENTARY

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

Hitch a Ride with Institutional Investors 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) At a monster truck rally, there are the monster trucks and the little cars they crush. It’s better to ride in the truck. In much the same way, big institutions dominate the stock market. When mutual funds, banks, insurers and pensions pile into a stock, they drive it higher. They have power. Follow their lead and you’re likely to prosper. Get in their way and you’ll be totaled. Time it properly and Insha Allah, you will win. You need these heavy hitters’ buying power. That’s why it’s crucial to know if they’re building positions in a stock you won or are thinking about buying. Find out where they are putting their money. A rating of A or B indicates net buying by institutions. Check investors and business daily. Institutions have brains as well as brawn. They have teams of researchers to uncover the best stocks. If mutual funds – especially the best ones – are buying a stock, it’ll likely do well. It will appreciate because of their buying power. Almost all great stocks have at least one mutual fund rated A - or better just before they break out. That’s why investors business daily ( IBD) also gauges the quality of sponsorship. The Institutional Sponsorship Rating is in the stock tables every Tuesday and in the weekly charts of “NYSE Stocks In The News” and “Nasdaq Stocks IN The News.” Read IBD. Institutional backing props up great stocks when they’re correcting and then propels them to new height. When a stock breaks out, volume should be at least 40% to 50% above its 50-day average. That indicates big institutions are driving up the price. Mutual funds will continue buying up shares throughout a stock’s advance. But when the heavy hitters bow out, so should you. Individual investors don’t stand a chance when mutual funds start dumping huge blocks of stock. MUSLIMS FROM P9

ed it nonetheless out of his ignorance (jahiliya). When Shaitan was commanded to bow before Adam, he refused because he saw only a being of clay. The Spirit that animated Adam was beyond his vision. (He was blind to the Light that emanated from the forehead of Adam. The Sufis call this Light, Al Noor e Muhammadi - the Light of Muhammad. But this discussion is only for spiritual circles and I will shy away from it in this article). He was haughty and he saw himself as made of energy, superior to a being of clay. He disobeyed God and was thrown out of the Garden. What is the Spirit? The Qur’an answers the question: And you ask about the Spirit. Say: “The Spirit is from the command of Allah, And the knowledge thereof has not been given to you Except a little.” (Qur’an, 17:85) The Spirit is from God and it transcends human comprehension. What we do know about the Spirit is that is that it imparts life, knowledge and power to humankind. It also bestows upon the human his inalienable rights. The breath of life is a gift from God. This is a self-evident truth. A man who is alive is priceless. A dead body is worthless and must be disposed of “dust unto dust”. Knowledge is a gift from God. It is light. He gives it to whom He pleases. It cannot be inherited like a piece of property. It cannot be destroyed

Support Hidaya Schools Due to corruption, mismanagement and poverty, the state of schools in economically depressed areas of under-developed countries are in a deplorable state. Hidaya opens schools in rural areas which have none to begin with, as well as adopts and operates “ghost schools” which have been shut down.

Keep in mind that analysts’ recommendations are not the same as institutional buying. You want deeds, not words. And most analysts’ reports aren’t geared toward big, professional investors. Analysts’ are simply predicting from their research what the stocks will do. On the other hand, institutional involvement buying is practical. To put it in simpler words – analysts’ theory and institutional are practical. Who would you follow? Follow institutional, Insha Allah you will be rewarded. Once you follow closely diligently and wisely, the big boys and the major mutual funds you will get an idea yourself what is the fast moving recently. You want to watch and monitor closely. Compare your plans of investing what are your ultimate goals. What am trying to share with you is do not follow the leaders blindly, you need to follow? Yes but according to your needs, according to your plans. Once you do all of this Insha Allah you will succeed and be among the winners. But the homework you must do. (Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given. Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, nor does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)

like a structure that is destroyed in an earthquake. It has a function and that function is to know the Names of God. A hadith e qudsi states: “I was an unknown treasure. I willed that I be known. Therefore, I created”. The acquisition of knowledge requires freedom to choose in spacetime. The angels do not have this freedom; they only carry out God’s commands. Their knowledge is limited. When God created Adam, He asked the angels to name the Names. They responded: “Glorified are You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us”. Then God asked Adam to recite the Names and Adam told them the Names, illustrating that humankind has the inherent capacity to learn as it is animated by the Spirit. The power that comes with the Spirit gives humankind to penetrate the secrets of the heavens and the earth and to this knowledge with wisdom in accordance with God’s commands. “Have you not seen how Allah has made subject to you what is on earth?” (Qur’an, 22:65). Humankind, as the Trustee of the Spirit, has the ethical mandate to create divine in space-time. For the discharge of this Trusteeship he is gifted with the senses to witness the created world, reason to reflect on the Signs in creation and intellect to comprehend them. Liberty and Freedom of Choice Freedom of choice is an essential pre-requisite to the discharge of Trusteeship. God’s will is expressed

by necessity in nature; it is expressed through choice in human affairs. There is a difference between sovereignty and freedom. Sovereignty is non-contingent; it is absolute. It belongs to God, and to God alone. By contrast, freedom of choice is contingent; it belongs to the human and it has constraints and limits. The framers of the American Constitution envisaged liberty and the pursuit of happiness primarily as liberty to acquire and enjoy the benefits of property. Islam defines liberty in a broader sense as the freedom to choose in the moral as well as in the material domains. Liberty is an inalienable human right that is gifted with the Spirit. As the Trustee of the Spirit, humankind is at liberty to choose and act in consonance with his ethical mandate to create divine patterns on earth or rebel and ruin himself. “Lo! We created humankind in the best of molds. Then do We abase him to be the lowest of the low”. When we accept liberty as a God-given gift that every human, as a Trustee of the Spirit is blessed with, the natural position of religion as a free choice, not as a coercive diktat of rituals, becomes clear. As the Qur’an asserts: “There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands clear from error.” When religion is so viewed, the endless discussions among Muslims about minutia disappear, and humankind stands before the Creator in his pristine self as a Trustee, responsible for the choices he has made. In a democracy, the God-given MUSLIMS, P28

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Hidaya is currently operating 81 schools with over 10,0 00 students from 1st to 8 th grade in poverty stricken areas of Pakista n. It co st to ru s about $160 appr n a cla oxim ssro om ate eac ly 40 st of hm ont udents h.

Donate Zakat & Sadaqah to Support Hidaya Schools

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

Exchange Rates for Currency Notes* Countries USA UK S.Arabia Japan Euro UAE

Buying Rs. 105.85 152.00 28.00 0.89 118.00 28.85

(*18 February, 2016)

Selling Rs. 106.10 152.70 28.15 0.92 118.50 29.00

RELIGION

MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25

Muraqabat Allah – Observing Allah

Gems from the Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

n whatever situation you may be and whatever part of the Qur’an you are reciting, whatever work you are doing, We witness you when you are engaged in it. Not even the weight of a speck of dust in the earth or sky escapes your Lord, nor anything lesser or greater: it is all written in a clear record. (Yunus 10:61)

Luqman said, “My son, if even something of the weight of a mustard seed were hidden in a rock or anywhere in the heavens or earth, Allah will bring it (to light), for He is all subtle and all aware. (Luqman 31:16) Abdullah ibn Dinar said that he went for a journey to Makkah with ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with both of them. They stopped at some place. They saw a young shepherd with a flock of sheep. He came down from a hill. ‘Umar wanted to test the honesty of this shepherd. He said to him, “Sell me one of your sheep.” The shepherd said, “I am a slave working for someone. These sheep are not mine they belong to my master.” ‘Umar said, “Tell your master that a wolf attacked and ate one of the sheep.” The shepherd replied, “Fa’ayn Allah? So where is Allah or what about Allah?” ‘Umar could not hold his tears when he heard this answer from the shepherd. He kept repeating “Fa’ayn Allah?” When he came back to Madinah, he sent someone to find out who was the master of this shepherd. He purchased the shepherd and freed him. He said to him, “This word freed you in this life and I hope it will free you in the Hereafter.” (Al-Ghazali, Ihya’ vol. 4, p. 396) A believer must always keep in mind this question, “Where is Allah?” Allah is not far away; Allah is not at a distance. Allah is not unaware of what we do. Allah knows everything and He sees everything. The more we have this faith in our hearts and minds, the more we shall do the right things and the more we shall be at peace with us and with others. The ‘Ulama’ call this “mu-

From the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss) About the translator: Muhammad Asad, Leopold Weiss, was born of Jewish parents in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in 1900, and at the age of 22 made his first visit to the Middle East. He later became an outstanding foreign correspondent for the Franfurter Zeitung, and after years of devoted study 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, dedicated to “li-qawmin yatafakkaroon” (people who think). Chapter 4,Verse 48 Verily, God does not forgive the ascribing of divinity to aught beside Him, although he forgives any lesser sin unto whomever He wills: for he who ascribes divinity to aught beside God has indeed contrived an awesome sin.

raqabatullah.” This means keeping Allah always in mind, actually it means ‘observing Allah.’ To observe Allah does not mean that you see Him physically or Allah appears to you in person. Our be-

is basically the same as ‘Ihsan.’ It is the excellence of faith. In a long Hadith known as Hadith Jibril, the Prophet explained about Ihsan: He was asked “What is Ihsan? He said, ‘That you worship Allah as

Allah did not know about much of what you were doing, so it was your thought that you held about your Lord that led to your ruin and you became the losers. (Fussilat 41:22-23)

A believer must always keep in mind this question, “Where is Allah?” Allah is not far away; Allah is not at a distance. Allah is not unaware of what we do. Allah knows everything and He sees everything. The more we have this faith in our hearts and minds, the more we shall do the right things and the more we shall be at peace with us and with others lief is that Allah is Infinite, Transcendent. Our eyes cannot catch Him, but He catches the eyes. (Al-An’am 6:103). Muraqabtullah

though you are seeing Him, though you see Him not yet He sees you.” (al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 48) Muraqabatullah or keeping Allah always in mind saves us from lies, hypocrisy and sins. It keeps us aware that whatever we do, whether in public or private, is known to Allah and Allah sees it. When people lose this consciousness then they do not care about what they say and what they do and this leads them to corruption. On the Day of Judgment Allah will say, … . Yo u thought that

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Muraqabatullah is a beautiful experience. It fills a person with peace and tranquility; it gives comfort at the time of pain and difficulties. It gives strength and assurance and it makes life beautiful. It keeps on the right path and saves from a lot of troubles. Ibn ‘Abbas – may Allah be pleased with him- said that I was riding behind the Prophet –peace be upon him- one day. He said to me, “Young man, I am teaching you some important words, ‘Keep Allah in your mind, He shall protect you. Keep Allah in your mind, you will find Him in front of you. When you need something, ask Allah. When you need help, seek help from Allah. Know this that if all the people gather together to benefit you with anything they cannot do that except with what Allah has written for you; and if they gather together to harm you they cannot do that except with what Allah has written for you. The pens are lifted and books are dried. (Al-Tirmidhi)

Chapter 4,Verse 75 And how could you refuse to fight in the cause of God and of the utterly helpless men and women and children who are crying, “O our Sustainer! Lead us forth [to freedom] out of this land whose people are oppressors, and raise for us, out of Thy grace, one who will bring us succour.” Chapter 4,Verse 83 Will they not, then try to understand this Qur’an? Had it been issued from any but God, they would surely have found in it many an inner contradiction! Chapter 4,Verse 125 And who could be of better faith than he who surrenders his whole being unto God and is a doer of good withal, and follows the creed of Abraham, who turned away from all that is false – seeing that God exalted Abraham with His love? Chapter 4,Verse 152 But as for those who believe in God and His apostles by endeavoring to make a distinction between [belief in] God and [belief in] His apostles and make no distinction between any of them – unto them, in time, will He grant their rewards [in full]. And God is indeed muchforgiving, a dispenser of grace. Chapter 4,Verse 155-158 And so, [We punished them] for the breaking of their pledge, and their refusal to acknowledge God’s messages, and their slaying of prophets against all right, and their boast, “ Our hearts are already full of knowledge”- nay, but God has sealed their hearts in result of their denial of the truth, and [now] they believe in but few things -; and for their refusal to acknowledge the truth, and GEMS, P28

P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

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SPORTS SPORTS

MARCH PAKISTAN LINK MARCH18, 18, 2016 2016 –- PAKISTAN LINK – P27

Hafeez Guides Pakistan to Warm-Up Win

KOLKATA: Mohammad Hafeez was the star of the show in Pakistan's warm-up match as his unbeaten 70 off 49 balls helped his side claim a 15-run win over defending champions Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi won the toss and opted to bat first on a batting friendly strip. Openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmad Shahzad got off to a solid start, scoring 39 before Sharjeel was castled by Sachithra Senanayake. Hafeez then paired with Sarfraz Ahmed and Umar Akmal to power Pakistan to 157-5. In reply, Sri Lanka lost Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over and barring a brief period in the middle, never looked like they could chase down the total. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim was the chief destroyer as he claimed 4-25 to take Sri Lanka from 76-2 to 101-5. New-ball pair Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Irfan also impressed as they gave away 0-20 and 2-18 in their four overs. J

Pakistan Will Win World T20: Indian Astrologer

LAHORE: Pakistan could emerge as the winners of the World T20 if they reach to the final; an Indian astrologer has predicted that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team would not be the winners of this year's World T20. Greenstone Lobo, who says his analysis is based on research and is scientific, however, added that Pakistan could emerge as the winners of the T20 pinnacle event if they managed to reach the final. He categorically said that Shahid Afridi's side might just go against Dhoni's team if the two sides come to a final showdown, the local channel reported. Lobo predicted that Dhoni

had a chance of bringing trophies in few smaller events, but added that the skipper's stars were not in favour of big wins. The astrologer - who is also an author of a book on astrology "What Is Your True Zodiac Sign?", also expressed his views on the much-awaited clash between India and Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 19. Lobo insisted that the clash seemed to be in favour of India, adding that Dhoni's side would overcome Pakistan in the league stage. India will start their ICC World T20 tour against New Zealand at Vidarbha Cricket Stadium in Nagpur. J

Nothing Controversial in Afridi's Remark: Waqar Younis

Afridi's Statement Will Ensure Less Hostility Towards Pakistan: Gavaskar

KOLKATA: Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Shahid Afridi's recent statement may turn out to be a stroke of genius that will ensure less hostility towards the Pakistan team when they play at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. "Emotions always run high when there is a question of Pakistan and India," Gavaskar told NDTV. "What Shahid Afridi said, he has obviously got reactions in Pakistan, but I look at it as a good way to ensure less hostility towards the Pakistan team." Pakistan's Twenty20 skipper came under fire for his comments at a press conference in Kolkata in which he said, "we are more loved in India than in Pakistan". The comments drew sharp criticism in Pakistan, with some former players condemning the skipper for "degrading his countrymen". But for Gavaskar, this may have been strategic move by the Pakistan captain to win over the Eden Gardens crowd. "You say nice things about Indian public; maybe you mean it, maybe you don't mean it. But what it will do, it will certainly help as far as

the crowd is concerned. "The crowd will not be overly

hostile to Afridi and the Pakistani team. That can actually work well for Pakistan," said the 66-year-old Indian batting legend. Gavaskar, who averaged a prolific 51.12 in 125 Tests for India, said sometimes playing in a hostile environment could do wonders for a team. "It can work sometimes and you can actually lift your game to such an extent that you want to silence the hostile crowd," he said. "Or sometimes it can have the opposite effect where you just get so overwhelmed by the hostility that you don't play your natural game and end up playing into the crowd's hand." The former Indian captain termed Afridi's statement as "a very fine way to win the Eden crowd on their side". But he added that Afridi's statement might be sincere and reflected his experience of playing in the first edition of the Indian Premier League. "Afridi is somebody who speaks his heart, he doesn't mince his words and he probably was speaking from his experience of playing in India," said Gavaskar. J

KOLKATA: Captain Shahid Afridi who has been slammed at home for his "more loved in India than in Pakistan"comment has won support from team head coach and former bowling legend Waqar Younis. "I did not find anything controversial in Afridi's remark," Waqar told reporters in Kolkata while Sunil Gavaskar had said that Afridi's statement "will win the heart of the Eden crowd." Talking about Afridi's health, Waqar said that he will be okay and will play against Bangladesh tomorrow. Afridi did not participate in training session at Eden Gardens in Kolkate due to fever.

Earlier, Shahid Afridi was strongly bashed by the Pakistanis on social media after his recent press conference in Kolkata in which he stated that "we are more loved here than in Pakistan." Holding press conference in Kolkata on Sunday, Afridi brushed off concerns over security for his team at the World T20, saying he was looking forward to playing in front of India's raucous crowds. Afridi and senior player Shoaib Malik had praised India after landing for the World T20, insisting that they never felt threatened in the country even though their departure was delayed due to security concerns. J

‘Champions Trophy Would've Given Players Much-Needed Exposure’ LAHORE: Terming Pakistan Hockey Federation's decision to skip this year's Champions Trophy as utterly negative, retired Col Mudassar Asghar insists no country looking to raise a strong team can afford to miss such a high-profile international contest. London is scheduled to host the 2016 Champions Trophy, featuring six nations, from June 10 to 17. "It is very unfortunate that the PHF [by deciding to skip the Champions Trophy] has deprived our players of one of the toughest events, which could help them gain useful experience of top-level hockey. The decision has been taken out of fear of defeat, and this is very surprising," Mudassar said. In an amazing move recently, the PHF decided not to participate in the Champions Trophy, arguing it wants to focus on qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Mudassar however did not agree to the logic behind the PHF move. "Look, you can hone your skills

only by featuring in high-profile international contests such as the Champions Trophy, Olympics and World Cup. Whereas the PHF has opted for a relatively lower-level event like the Azlan Shah Cup [to be staged in Ipoh in April], while skipping a topclass competition like the Champions Trophy," Mudassar regretted. "No hockey fan in Pakistan can feel satisfied by this negative decision, which has been taken at a stage when our national team needs to participate in more such events to shape up for the on-field challenges ahead," he insisted. "One can't understand why the present PHF regime, which will have completed approximately one year when the Champions Trophy is held in June, has not been able to prepare a strong squad for such a major tournament," Mudassar emphasised. "Furthermore, the PHF should also clarify whether the decision [to avoid the Champions Trophy] was made individually by secretary

Shahbaz Senior or president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar." After having failed to qualify for mega contests like the

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2014 World Cup and Rio Olympics, Mudassar underlined, participation in the 2016 Champions Trophy would

have been a good chance to provide the players with much needed exposure but was wasted by the PHF. J

PAKISTAN

P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016 other as we are today, maybe we MUSLIMS FROM P24 should be thinking of the very same freedom of choice of an individual is voluntarily delegated to a representathe awesome calumny which they things again. tive. The residual powers, the powers utter against Mary, and their boast, to worship the Creator, to serve Him, “Behold we have slain the Christ Je- IQBAL FROM P8 sus, son of Mary, [who claimed to be] Iqbal’s politics, routed through and observe His ethical commands an apostle of God!” However, they his soul-stirring poetry, is the real in the personal domain and create did not slay him, and neither did reason why he is Pakistan’s supreme a society “enjoining what is good, they crucify him, but it only seemed icon today. In his epic poem Shi- avoiding what is forbidden”, stay with to them [as if it had been so]; and, kwa, like Samuel Huntington, he the individual. The elected represenverily, those who hold conflicting frames the world exclusively in tatives are delegated the authority to views thereon are indeed confused, terms of us-versus-them and the implement the ethical mandate in having no [real] knowledge thereof, superiority of one civilization over public space that is shared across and following mere conjecture. For, all others. His pan-Islamic mard- multiple faiths, or no faith, in an inof a certainty, they did not slay him: e-momin belongs to the ummah clusive community of communities nay, God exalted him unto Himself – and this perfect human aspires to which constitutes a modern nation. martyrdom: shahadat hai matloob The American pledge of alo maqsood-e-momin. Like a falcon, legiance states: “One nation under THINKING FROM P7 were only two ‘basic principles’ in the mard-e-momin is a fighter and God, indivisible, with liberty and this founding document (as con- above worldly desire: tu shaheen hai justice for all”. A Muslim believes tained in the third and fourth para- basera kar paharon kee chatanon in God as did the framers of the main. These verses can be found in American constitution. He honors graphs). First, independence – whether Pakistan Army magazines, on its his covenant with the Constitution of a single or multiple states; wheth- recruiting banners, and are sung of the United States. He is enjoined to defend his homeland, namely, the er within or outside of a federation with great fervor. Iqbal, unlike Sir Syed, leaves United States of America. He con– of the Muslim nation. Indeed, this principle of ‘nationhood’ – and a to- the gap between science and reli- siders liberty and freedom of choice tal rejection of wanting to be seen as gion unbridged. He takes no ex- to be gifts that are bestowed by the a religious or communal minority – plicit position on miracles. On the Creator and he is directed by Divine was the centerpiece of Jinnah’s long contrary, he asserts that “Classical command to stand up for justice for and powerful presidential address Physics has learned to criticize its all. So, where is the “schizophrenia” on March 22, 1940; exactly 74 years own foundations. As a result of this ago, today. criticism the kind of materialism, that Ben Carson is talking about? To Stanley Wolpert has described which it originally necessitated, is the contrary, there is complete and the speech as “truly a stellar per- rapidly disappearing.” But no real total consonance between the ethformance, worthy of the lead role physicist can take this statement ics of the Founders of the Republic he alone could command” and the seriously. Even with the discov- and the ethics of American Muslims. Times of India reported that “such ery of quantum physics — which These ethics include belief in God, was the dominance of his personal- superseded and improved upon the equality of all humans, liberty, ity that, despite the improbability of classical physics — the description freedom of choice, universal justice more than a fraction of his audience of observed physical phenomena and defense of the homeland. (Conunderstanding English, he held his requires nothing beyond material tinued next week) hearers and played with palpable ef- causes. In the battle for Pakistan’s soul, Sir Syed’s rational approach LESSONS FROM P6 fects on their emotions.” However, it is not his style but ultimately lost out and the Allama’s the books written by these sincere the substance of what he said that call on emotive reasoning won. Muslims and their biographies, the is of import today: the rejection of Iqbal said what people wanted to Islam practiced by the rulers defies a communal minority status and hear — and his genius lay in craft- this image because of the distorted the demand for nationhood: “The ing it with beautifully chosen words. practices in its name. InshaAllah I Musalmans are not a minority. The Unfortunately, his prescriptions for will write an article about what were Musalmans are a nation by any defi- reconstructing society cannot help the problems which Muslims faced as nition. The problem in India is not us in digging ourselves out of a hole a minority ruling over big areas with (The writer retired as professor huge populations with diverse faiths of an inter-communal but manifestly international character, and it of physics from Quaid-i-Azam and cultures, and how and where they failed or succeeded in various areas in must be treated as such… the only University, Islamabad) responding to them. course open to us all is to allow the major nations separate homelands.” LANGUAGE FROM P4 The problems faced by early Jews The second principle – an em- iably consider themselves as the rul- and Christians are well described by Sir phasis on minority rights – may sur- ers over the uneducated and illiterate Bertrand Russel in his book, “History of Western Philosophy”. Muslims under the prise the modern Pakistani reader masses. of the resolution but flowed directly That is why from the bureaucra- Umayyad rule and thereafter were facing from the first even though it was cy to the military to the judiciary, ev- the same precarious situation which the more difficult to reconcile. Historian ery individual realizes its importance. early Jews and Christians faced and they Ayesha Jalal explains these “contra- They consider it as a tool to excel pro- responded in the same way. Muslims did dictions between Muslim interests fessionally and be recognized socially. not get just monotheism from the Jewin majority and minority provinces” Although, as a side note, I do not con- ish tradition as is reported by Sir Russell; at length in her very elegant analy- sider the language of the officers in Muslims also got a lot of their political sis (The Sole Spokesman, 1985). the armed forces as English, however, philosophy, semantics and logic from the Indeed, the resolution did not fully it is obvious that they are not only Judeo-Christian tradition which they had reconcile this contradiction and his- proud of their linguistic skills; they acquired during their interaction with the tory went on to play its hand as it also think it is grammatically perfect Roman Civilization. It is unfortunate that the comparaand syntactically ideal. But that is did. But let us return now to 2014. not the point; my first point is to ac- tive studies of the religions of Abrahamic Reading the text today, one finds an knowledge their ‘bloody’ hard work faiths are not made with a view to underimplied promise our founding fa- in trying their ‘very best’. And second, standing the truth of how and where we thers had made on our behalf: that everyone in government institutions, all committed the mistakes to become the rights of minorities would be particularly in the military, from the three religions despite their source being safeguarded. They were concerned, beginning knows that the ladder to one. On the contrary this study is most ofquite clearly, about the rights of success can only be climbed up to the ten made to find weaknesess in each other Muslims in what would eventually top in English. and malign each other and to establish Finally, when it comes to God, the superiority of one over the other. It is become India, but in reaction to that concern they had explicitly made a we dialogue with Him in Arabic at also a pity that while mankind is spending promise in this founding document least five times a day, not knowing the all its resources to understand the reality about the rights of non-Muslims in meaning of a single word, read the of everything, it is paying no attention what is now Pakistan. It is a promise Qur’an in Arabic and turn pages after to understand the reality of religion. The pages without understanding a single result is that we are practicing bigotry in that remains unfulfilled. So, what was it that our found- verse and without comprehending the name of religion or we have discarded ing fathers were thinking of as they our own supplications. We pray to religion altogether and are trying to live a met in Lahore 74 years ago? A desire Him like a parrot who utters few syl- life of our desires, deceit, diseases, drugs for independence so that our sense lables every few minutes. Looking at and destruction. We are oblivious to the of nationhood could flourish. And our hypocrisy, it seems like He, The dangers which this negligence is causing an attention of the rights of minori- Almighty, has refused to listen as well! to us and to our world. This is because (The writer is a freelance colum- we are deceived by the delay in seeing the ties as only those who have been minist. He tweets at @KaamranHashmi consequences of our wrong actions immenorities themselves can appreciate. Divided, torn, scarred, untrust- and can be reached at skamranhash- diately due to the mercy of Merciful God who is giving us respite (Ch3 V178) to ing, angered and gnawing at each mi@gmail.com) GEMS FROM P25

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understand the reality and to rectify and reform. We are deceived by Satan to believe that we are pursuing correct course (Ch43 V36-38). TURKMENISTAN FROM P1

Mr Berdimuhammadov said both the countries were facing common challenges and `combating common threats is our goal`. The prime minister said both Pakistan and Turkmenistan had good coordination at international forums and would continue to work together for regional and international peace and security. He said the (Pakistani) deep seaports provided shortest route to the Arabian Sea for Turkmenistan and other Central Asian states. `We will be happy to see our brothers in Central Asia use these facilities,` he said. The prime minister said that regional connectivity was an important pillar of Pakistan`s Vision-2025. `We are closely working with Turkmenistan for improving infrastructure devel-opment for better regional connectivity. The prime minister mentioned the signing of the joint communiqué and agreements and expressed the hope these would strengthen their friendly ties. Tapi gas project Mr Sharif said that Pakistan was committed to the early completion of TurkmenistanAfghanistan-Pakistan-India (Tapi) gas pipeline project because it considered it a new chapter in economic collaboration and greater regional integration with Central Asia. During a one-to-one meeting with Mr Berdimuhammadov, Mr Sharif said Pakistan was ready to provide any assistance to expedite the implementation of Tapi project and help minimise its cost. He said Pakistan viewed the Tapi project not only as a gas pipeline, but also as a precursor to making it a trade and transit corridor. Such a corridor could comprise gas pipelines, roads, electricity transmission and fibre optic lines besides economic zones connecting Pakistan with Turlcmenistan. Mr Sharif said it was essential for the Tapi members to work strenuously for the project implementation at the earliest as it would help integrate the four member states by linking the energy-rich Turkmenistan with the energy-starved South Asia. He suggested that Pakistan and Turkmenistan could be connected with each other through a railway corridor linking Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. He welcomed Turkmenistan`s offer for export of 1,000MW of electricity to Pakistan and signing of a tripartite MoU during his visit to Turkmenistan in December. The prime minister said that bilateral trade needed to be increased and stressed the needfor facilitating business visas to achieve that objective. Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif and President Berdimuhammadov led delegation-level talks during which the two sides discussed prospects of cooperation in defence and security, counter-terrorism, education, science and technology and other fields. ELECTION FROM P1

eimmediately announced he was suspending his presidential campaign. “This was an amazing evening,” a buoyant Trump told supporters. “We’re going to win, win, win and we’re not stopping.” Rubio’s loss was a major setback

for Republicans trying to stop the businessman, whose populist antiimmigrant, anti-Muslim stance they fear will split the party. The 69-year-old Trump was clinging to a narrow lead in Missouri with nearly all of the votes counted, but was denied a clean sweep by Ohio Governor John Kasich, who carried his home state, a key general election battleground. Trump may now struggle to reach the 1,237 delegates necessary to avoid a challenge at the party’s nominating convention in July in Cleveland. “The bottom line after tonight: it looks like Trump will not have a majority of delegates in July,” said Paul Beck, a professor of political science at Ohio State University. There were fewer problems for Clinton, who defeated her rival Bernie Sanders in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois. She also had a slight edge in Missouri, according to vote tallies. Sanders now faces an almost impossible task to catch up with Clinton’s formidable delegate advantage. “We are moving closer to securing the Democratic party nomination and winning this election in November,” said Clinton, casting one eye on the general election - and at Trump. “When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States (US) - when he embraces torture, that doesn’t make him strong. It makes him wrong.” Republicans will now have to decide whether to rally behind one candidate or siphon votes away from Trump as a team. The scope of Trump’s victory against Rubio in Florida will shock the Republican establishment as much as it will raise hopes the party can challenge in the one-time swing state come November 8. President Barack Obama carried the state in both the 2008 and 2012 elections. Rubio bowed out, saying: “While it is not God’s plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I’ve even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is.” Kasich meanwhile openly called for a contested convention and vowed to campaign on. “I want to remind you, again tonight, that I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land,” he said. Ted Cruz, an ultra-conservative senator from Texas, also remains in the Republican race. Projections by US media showed him just behind Trump in Missouri. Cruz made a call for Republicans to unity against Trump behind him. “Donald may be the one person on the face of the earth that Hillary Clinton can beat in the general election,” he said, telling Republicans they now face “a clear choice”. HAROON FROM P1

Following earlier MQM accusations that their workers’ loyalties are being ‘forcibly changed’, the former IT minister slammed Altaf Hussain, saying the MQM chief was reason enough for party members to jump ship. SING-OFF FROM P1

Amanat Ali seems like an obvious choice to sing Pakistan’s national anthem, some may be surprised that Amitabh Bachchan will lend his vocals to India’s. Bachchan even confirmed the news by retweeting a post in his official Twitter handle.

CLASSIFIED & MATRIMONIAL

MARCH 18, 2016 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29

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Matrimonial Link 50 year old divorced project manager in US seeking a bride. MS Electrical Engineering and MBA. I look much younger than US Citizen, Pakistani, my age. A simple Urdu-Sunni, Business, Financially and down to earth person Professional Settled, looking for someone Age 40, divorced, similar from a 5-8 height, good looking, decent background, seeking a suitable US Citizen preferably 40 or below. professional partner. A moderate and open Contact minded Shia. Caste 951-805-2474 or no bar. For further td@esecurityauditors.com information, please Place Your Matrimonial Ad Today email: pflandc@ Buy 3 Get 1 FREE! gmail.com call: 714-400-3400 or Email: Sales@pakistanlink.com

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P30 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

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ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MARCH 18, 2016 - PAKISTAN LINK

ENTERTAINMENT

ctor Fawad Khan says that he had no choice but to refuse Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster "PK" since he had already given his commitment to his upcoming film "Kapoor &

MARCH 18, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P31

Sons". "When I was approached by the filmmaker, I completely lost my mind because I got such a good opportunity. But unfortunately I could not commit as I had

already given my commitment to 'Kapoor & Sons'. I only let any opportunities go when I am aware of all the aspects, but I regret it when I have to leave an opportunity due to commitment issues,

www.Pakistanlink.com www.PakistanLink.com

which is in the case of 'PK'," said Fawad in an interview for "Kapoor & Sons". The Pakistani actor was offered the role of the Pakistani character in the film, who falls in love with Anushka Sharma's character. The role then landed into Sushant Singh Rajput's lap. The film, starring superstar Aamir Khan, went on to become the highest-grossing film in the history of Hindi cinema, collecting more than Rs.300 crore at the box office. Fawad's debut film "Khoobsurat" had released just three months before "PK" and he could have two releases in 2014 if he had done "PK". The gap between "Khoobsurat" and "Kapoor & Sons" wouldn't have seemed so big, considering he didn't have any release in 2015. "Kapoor & Sons", directed by Shakun Batra and also starring Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra, is releasing on March 18.

P32 – PAKISTAN LINK – MARCH 18, 2016

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