Pakistan Link - November 27, 2015

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Friday, November 27, 2015

VOL. 25/48 - 14 Safar 1437 H PAGE 11

NAB to Seek Custody of Dr Asim Hussain Raheel First Asian to Receive Brazil’s Coveted ‘Order of Merit’

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Imran Sees His Vindication in a Calmer Pakistan

Denial of Asylum to Refugees Is Unjustified

Afghan President Invites Pakhtun Leaders

Brasilia: Army chief General Ra-

heel Sharif was honored on Wednesday with Brazil’s coveted “Order of Merit” award.

“COAS was awarded Brazil’s coveted Award “Order of Merit” in a special ceremony in recognition of his leadership for successful fight against multiple threats,” DG ISPR Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa said on Twitter.

“Gen Raheel is the first Asian to have been honored with this coveted award,” Bajwa added.

“Order of merit has been given to General Raheel Sharif for displaying remarkable courage to deal with the menace of terrorism, successfully leading the army in the face of multiple threats, giving hope to his nation against dismay and despondency and above all for his great efforts to promote peace and stability in the region,” a statement from the Brazilian government read.

“General Raheel Sharif through his undaunting resolve, unflinching sincerity and impeccable professional commitment has become a leading figure in the world. His contribution to promote exemplary

RAHEEL, P28

Sharjeel Memon, Dr Asim Placed on ECL Karachi: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Dr Asim Hussain and Sharjeel Memon have been put on the Exit Control List (ECL), Express News reported.

According to sources, the decision was taken at the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

When contacted, the interior ministry spokesperson did not comment on the issue.

Responding to the development, PPP leaders termed the decision “hasty and without any proof.”

“Not a single case has been proved against both the leaders,” said Sindh Information Minister Nisar Khuhro. “I wonder how this decision was taken. This is an act of political victimization.”

Meanwhile, Memon, while speaking to media over phone from Dubai, said there was no case against him and he would return to Pakistan soon.

ECL, P28

For news, updated round the clock, visit

www.PakistanLink.com Dr Asim Hussain Booked under Terror Charges Karachi/Islamabad: Karachi po-

ANP’s Asfandyar Wali, QWP’s Aftab Sherpao and PkMAP’s Mehmood Achakzai will lead the delegation

Islamabad: Senior Pashtun politi-

cal and tribal leaders will travel to Afghanistan on Thursday on the invitation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to “get their opinion for improvement in bilateral relations and regional peace,” Afrasiab Khattak

said on Wednesday.

Khattak, a senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP), who is part of the delegation, told The Express Tribune that discussions in Kabul would be part of the interaction between Afghan leaders and the

Pakhtun leaders of Pakistan.

Other members of the delegation include Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Sherpao and ANP chief

PAKHTUN, P28

Team Pakistan Bags Gold at Regional Tech Awards

lice on Wednesday registered a case against former petroleum minister and PPP leader Dr. Asim Hussain under terror charges.

The development comes a day before the end of a 90-day physical remand of Dr. Asim in Rangers custody on charges of terror financing.

A senior police officer who wished not to be named told Dawn. com that North Nazimabad police have registered the case against Dr. Asim, a close aide of former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, under Anti-Terrorism Act of 1999.

However, the officer appeared reluctant to share more information about the nature of charges or if there were other co-accused in the case.

Dr Asim name put on ECL: The interior ministry has put Dr Asim Hussain’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL), sources said.

According to details, the decision was taken following the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

ASIM, P28

Amazon, eBay, PayPal Likely to Start Operations in Pakistan Islamabad: Pakistan is going to in-

This year’s P@SHA delegation comprising 50 members with 22 technology products competed for the prestigious APICTA Awards, facing off against 184 products from 17 economies in the region

Colombo: A team representing Pakistan at the Asia Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA) 2015 won three gold awards and one silver award at the ceremony held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@ SHA) announced on Saturday.

Leading the way with the gold were the teams from Eyedeus Labs for their new product “Ingrain”, Evamp & Sanga for their ‘Mobile Audio Streaming Service’ and students from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) College of Electrical and Mechanical

Engineering for their research project “Active and Intelligent Powered Ankle Foot Prosthesis for Transtibial Amputees”.

Silver was awarded to a very young team from The Nest i/o – P@ SHA’s technology incubator in

GOLD, P28

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vite global tech companies including Amazon, eBay and PayPal to start their operations in the country, Minister of IT and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman said at a conference on Tuesday.

The minister said that Pakistan is now listed in anti-money laundering body Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) white-list. This means that Pakistan has agreed to FATF’s anti-money laundering and counterterror financial standards. Pakistan was previously listed in the FATF’s grey-list, which discouraged technology companies from coming to Pakistan.

Rehman also informed that State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was working with partners to open up an e-payment gateway in Pakistan.

“The IT ministry will continue supporting and facilitating e-commerce and e-payment gateway in Pakistan,” Rahman said on EBAY, P28

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OPINION

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Muslim Father; Two Americans

Pakistan Link n By Mowahid Hussain Shah

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T

wo personalities have defined the millennial generation and the shape of 21st century US state and society.

Both – President Obama and Apple founder Steve Jobs – are American men with Muslim fathers. Their mothers wed when interactions with Muslims were rare.

Obama’s father was rooted in Kenya carrying the name Barack Hussein Obama. He was an African foreign student who married a Caucasian American. He effectively abandoned the family when Obama was a toddler, and Obama saw him only once more when he was 10, in December 1971, when his father visited Hawaii.

The second marriage of Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was to Indonesian Muslim, Lolo Soetoro. Obama spent a formative phase of his school-going years in Jakarta. But Obama’s Muslim connection didn’t end here. His mother also lived in Lahore, ensuring an early Pakistani exposure.

While Obama changed the direction of American polity, Steve Jobs changed the way Americans live. He made complex technology seem simple yet elegant. He imagined, visualized, and anticipated what people wanted well before people knew what they wanted.

Steve Jobs’ mother, Joanne, fell in love with Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian Muslim studying in Wisconsin. In 1954, she accompanied Abdulfattah to his hometown in now strife-torn Homs. Shortly after his US birth in 1955, Jobs’ parents gave him up for adoption, leaving thereby an abiding legacy of hurt and abandonment.

Years later, Abdulfattah recounted casually that successful

When Steve Jobs died of cancer on October 5, 2011, Obama – with whom he had shared some commonality of background and Muslim parentage – marked Jobs’ death with this tribute: “Brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.” technology people, including by then the famous Steve Jobs, would visit a California restaurant he

A Message for Jews and Christians

Professor Emeritus College of William & Mary at Williamsburg Virginia

Is the Facebook French Flag Trend Unwittingly Supporting the ISIL Agenda?

F

I

Christians and Jews need to recognize that Islam and Muslims are not their enemy. Muslims worship the God of Abraham, see Moses as one of the great teachers of humankind mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an, and follow a law very similar

than 1 million songs. In January 2007, he introduced the iPhone, a smart touchscreen phone with email, basic camera, browser, and mini-programs called apps. Email and Internet became accessible 24 hours a day, and camera phones eventually replaced snapshot cameras. In 2010, Jobs unveiled the iPad, a tablet running apps with which iPhone users were already familiar, but which was much larger, making viewing of videos, Internet, and movies more practical to view. All of this now dominates the routine of living.

When Steve Jobs died of cancer on October 5, 2011, Obama – with whom he had shared some commonality of background and Muslim parentage – marked Jobs’ death with this tribute: “Brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.”

n By Shoshana Fine and Zahra Jilani

n By John Alden Williams

SIS/Daesh with its spurious claim to be the Caliphate, the successor to the Prophet of Islam, threatens Muslims first of all.

It also seeks to sow hatred between them and Christians, believing that an American or European incursion in the Middle East will solidify Muslim warfare against a new Crusade. It also seeks to carry its terrorist activities to other countries, e.g. Russia and France. It does not represent Islam: Muslims have been the first victims of its cruelty and violence. Muslim nations, Europeans and Americans need to stop their incessant jockeying for advantages in the Middle East, and link hands to eradicate this common threat, immediate as rabid dogs. Francois Hollande is exactly right: it must be destroyed without mercy.

managed, unaware that Steve Jobs was the son he abandoned at birth.

Astonished at this news, Jobs, having not forgiven, had no desire to see him.

A new movie, “Steve Jobs”, deals with the enduring legacy of his revolutionary product launches.

Its precursor was his authorized biography by Walter Isaacson.

Although not a technical person, Jobs was a big picture visionary who had the astute judgment to place people and the persuasive skills to drive them to actualize his central vision. It led to Apple, Macintosh, and iMac computers.

Co-founding Apple Computers in 1976, he envisioned a world where every person would own a computer. In 2001, he revolutionized the digital music market with the iPod, a pocket-sized music player that could store 1,000 songs.

In 2003, he connected it with iTunes, an online store of more

to that of halakha; certainly influenced by it.

Muslims refer to Jesus as “the Messiah,” and venerate his virgin mother as “purified above all women” (sic in Qur’an). Women in particular pray to her as the great model and intercessor (some whom I have met do that every day).

It is cruel to suspect all Muslims as being terrorists, and tragic that some countries want to exclude the Syrian victims of ISIS on the justifiable suspicion that terrorists may have slipped among them. Even in the US, which has taken in only a few more than 2000 of the Syrian and Iraqi refugees, mostly from camps in Jordan and Lebanon, some people would like to exclude all Muslim immigrants from the Middle East. This would be quite simply immoral, wrong and contrary to American values.

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Columbia University New York

ollowing the tragic terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on November 13, Facebook users are showing their ‘support’ by superimposing the image of the French flag over their profile picture.

Facebook is asking its users to “change your profile picture to support France and the people of Paris.”

In a meme-like response in France and beyond, many have transformed their on-line persona to embrace the patriotic tricolored symbol without reflecting upon what this image signifies and its possible repercussions.

Flags are quintessential markers of national identity; they reinforce a sense of national consciousness and create an imagined political community that defines its own identity in relationship to the Other. In using nationalistic symbols as a commonsense response to terrorism, is Facebook inadvertently supporting the ‘us’ versus ‘them’ binary thinking that is at the core of the ISIS agenda?

Why are people finding solace in nationalism? This response is not unique to Friday’s tragic events, similar shows of instinctive flag-

wielding solidarity followed the 9/11 attacks. These ubiquitous displays of nationalism feed into the policies that in the name of security and freedom further polarize humanity into Huntingdon’s civilized and FLAG, P8

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NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P5

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OPINION

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Islamophobia Plumbing Greater Depths in the Wake of Paris Tragedy n By Karamatullah K. Ghori

A

Toronto, Canada

ny tragedy, man-made or natural, tests a person’s or nation’s—whichever it may be—resilience and exposes strengths and weaknesses of its character.

By any known measure of civilization, the mayhem of November 13 in Paris was a heinous crime against innocent humanity. It was a traumatic experience for those unwittingly exposed to its barbarity.

The loss of innocent lives anywhere on this planet is reprehensible and ought to be condemned in the extreme.

However, what transpired in Paris on that gory Friday evening wasn’t a Holocaust by any stretch of fertile French imagination, or that of legions of Francophones in the Western world, and quite a few ‘liberals’ in the East. It wasn’t an “act of war” as articulated by President Hollande to shore up his erstwhile dwindling political fortunes and sinking popularity.

Since it’s only one human race on this planet therefore the color of its people’s blood is only one, much as the racists in the West may wish it had as many colors as there are of skin. Innocent blood spilled anywhere, by anyone, on any excuse, is to be condemned with the outrage and angst following the Paris mas-

sacre.

However, there wasn’t so much as even a whimper of regret, much less protest or remonstration, anywhere, from any quarters, in the West on the twin bomb blasts in Beirut, the night before the Paris blasts, that exacted an unacceptable toll of victims. Why didn’t the mealy-mouthed ‘humanists’ and ‘liberals’ feel a sense of outrage on the Beirut massacre? Is the Lebanese blood any thinner or less sacrosanct than French blood?

Within our living memory— or, forget about living memory just during this calendar year, there was this wanton terrorist attack by the Somalian Taliban, Al-Shabab, against students of a Kenyan university campus in which nearly 170 young people, both men and women, were mowed down by the terrorists. Why was there no alarm raised, no outrage manifested anywhere in the West over that ‘Holocaust’?

So what this lop-sided and partisan ‘humanism’ unmistakably points to is a yawning, and appalling, double-standards unabashedly practiced in the West when it comes to the value of human life between Western and Eastern lives. It doesn’t take a genius to decipher the code of bigotry and hypocrisy ruling the roost in the West, where the sense obviously is that Western lives are far more valuable and precious than Eastern lives.

A heat wave of Islamophobia and incontinent paranoia against Muslims, world-wide, has taken no

time in raising its ugly head in the wake of the Paris deluge. Islamophobes on both sides of the Atlantic have sprung to their feet to denounce Muslims for their terrorist

Blinded by their hatred, little do the myopic individuals realize that by shutting the doors on Syrian and other Muslim refugees they would become unwitting recruiting agent of ISIL strain; the demand, as usual, is for a collective apology from 1.6 billion Muslims of the world for the crimes of a few radicals and murderers who, in their pagan vandalism have been

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committing more crimes against Muslims than anybody else. But the Islamophobes, in their blind rage, wouldn’t countenance anything less than every Muslim presenting himself in the dock to plead guilty.

The narrative of Muslim-baiting, collectively, has a familiar pattern and a script that looks comical, if not patently absurd, because it has been stuck in a groove like a broken record.

It’s risible for the Islamophobes to expect everyone to swallow what is dished out as the maw of their inane and miscued intelligence.

As usual on occasions like this, the intelligence sleuths have found a passport at the scene of the crime.

No damage done to it; the alleged passport is found intact and undamaged despite so much rubble around. And, unsurprisingly, it’s a Syrian passport. It had to be Syrian

because the Syrian refugee influx into Europe was becoming an uncontrollable deluge and demanded something—something radical, something out-of-the-ordinary—to stem the tide. You bet, it would have been an Iraqi passport, or a Libyan passport, if those haggard and beaten hulks of humanity streaming into Europe were fleeing anarchy in those countries. For the moment, however, a Syrian passport was deemed more valuable than any other.

Even a child will find it hard to stomach that terrorists, otherwise so organized and smart as to pull off a meticulously planned and executed crime with such deadly precision, were still so dumb as to leave their passports behind to make it easy on their ‘enemies’ to track them down.

Come on, fellows, there should be a limit to taking the ‘other’ people’s IQ for granted. They aren’t so naïve to swallow your narrative hook, line and sinker.

Those expecting the world Muslims to abide by the Western narrative conveniently overlook the fact that the Muslim world has paid—and continues to pay—a deadlier and stiffer price, in terms of innocent lives lost in the bloody struggle to combat the menace of ISIL or the Islamic State. A country like Iraq—or Pakistan, for that matter—has lost tens of thousands of innocent lives in the bloody confrontation with the merchants of doom, personified by ISIL, who TRAGEDY, P24

OPINION

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7

n By Dr Mohammad Taqi

T

Florida

he Paris massacre perpetrated by a jihadist band has the whole world grieving alongside the French. In tandem with the condemnations of the jihadist terror have been voices calling for a rethink of European and North American policies dealing with the refugees leaving Syria.

While a Syrian passport found near the Stade de France attack site has not been conclusively linked to the attackers, it already fed the frenzy over tightening screws on the refugee influx into Europe. The knee-jerk response impugning the bona fides of over a million refugees making their way to Europe is reminiscent of the crackdown against Afghan refugees in Pakistan after the December 16, 2014 attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar. The Pakistani authorities have not put forth to date any evidence whatsoever tying any Afghan refugee to that heinous attack but the clampdown against the registered and unregistered Afghans in Pakistan has been relentless. In fact, no Afghan refugee — documented or undocumented — has ever been linked to any major terrorist attack in Pakistan.

As the West ponders how to handle the refugee crisis amidst a rising chorus for harsh measures in Europe, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on November 18, 2015 a comprehensive report on the plight of Afghan refugees, titled ‘What are you doing here? Police abuses against Afghans in Pakistan’.

The HRW report, written by Patricia Gossman and the lawyer-writer Saroop Ijaz, is an exhaustive but grim document that deals with the excesses and abuses against Afghans in Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of the APS attack. The HRW research was conducted from April to October 2015 and is based on interviews with the Afghan refugees living in and around Peshawar, and also the ones who had returned to Afghanistan. The latter group was interviewed in Kabul. The interviewees were randomly selected and were given no compensation of any kind. The Pakistani, Afghan and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officials were also interviewed. The HRW report’s sample size might be small but the realities it highlights are stark and have consequences for yet another generation of Afghans living in camps and cities in Pakistan.

According to UNHCR, Afghans remained the world’s largest refugee and displaced population group for 32 consecutive years until 2014, when the Syria and Iraq crises displaced a

Afghan Refugees: The Humiliated and Insulted

larger number of people. Over five million Afghans have returned home from around the world since the Taliban government was toppled in 2001-2002 but an estimated 3.7 million still remain displaced, of which 1.5 million documented and a million undocumented remain in Pakistan. The HRW report tells the story of these 2.5 million, many of whom have been humiliated and insulted, deprived of shelter, livelihood and, at times, forced to return to a perilous future in their war-ravaged homeland.

As the West ponders how to handle the refugee crisis amidst a rising chorus for harsh measures in Europe, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on November 18, 2015 a comprehensive report on the plight of Afghan refugees The Afghan refugees arrived in Pakistan in four waves: after the 1979 Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, after the toppling of Dr Mohammad Najibullah’s government in 1992, after the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 1996 and, finally, after the Taliban ouster in 2001-2002. From being the darlings of the West –whose dignitaries used to visit them in tent villages — and Pakistan’s military regime under General Ziaul Haq, to getting marginalized and ignored in subsequent years, to being actively

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maligned and harassed for nearly a year now, politics around the Afghan refugees have mirrored where the Pakistani state’s priorities vis-à-vis the Kabul government of the time lie. A senior Afghan official expressed concern that (in the wake of the APS attack) “Pakistan would use the refugee card as a political stick with us whenever there is a downturn in the relationship.”

The concern is legitimate as, despite being rather gracious in hosting the Afghan refugees for over three decades, Pakistan has not been shy of using them as a trope in the anti-Soviet narrative and a convenient piñata that is blamed — without any proof whatsoever — for terror.

HRW draws attention to how increasing hostility towards the Afghans after the APS attack has translated into an extremely callous attitude by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and downright brutality by its police department. The report notes that so heartless was the provincial government’s attitude that the federal authorities had to intercede with it to scale back. The report cites a refugee on how “The police did not use to beat us much before December 16, 2014. Now they beat us for no reason. I am afraid that one day when I have no bribe money, they will kill me.” Testimony after testimony from Afghan street vendors, students and common folk speaks of police highhandedness, extortion and blatant cruelty against a people who have little or no legal recourse. According to HRW, even Afghan refugee women are being subjected to scrutiny and the children face difficulty in going to schools. Apparently, access to healthcare has become an ordeal for Afghan families.

The torment has been so persistent that many Afghans opted to go back to their native land despite imminent danger to life.

HRW details the systematic intimidation and abuse of both the Afghans living in deep fear in Pakistan and those who found it unbearable enough to take their chances in their volatile country.

The HRW report includes a practical and comprehensive set of recommendations for the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the UNHCR and their international partners.

Citing the relevant international humanitarian law, HRW has urged Pakistan to ratify the Refugee Convention, adopt a national refugee law and fulfil its international humanitarian obligations. The single most important and time sensitive HRW recommendation is for Pakistan to renew, through December 2017, the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan refugees, which are set to lapse next month. It has also asked for a written government directive to “cease unlawful surveillance, harassment, intimidation and violence against Afghans living in Pakistan”. HRW has urged the Afghan government to

AFGHANS, P28

OPINION

P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Paris, Brussels, and 21st Century Europe n By Dr Paul Kengor

S

Grove City, PA

ome time ago a former student emailed me a video clip that I now show my Major European Governments course.

It’s a five-minute news piece by Dale Hurd of CBN News, a conservative Christian outlet—the rare kind of place where you see reports like this. The piece was on radical Islam in Europe, specifically in Belgium, and it was based on Hurd’s interview with a Muslim leader in Brussels, the very heart of modern Europe, of secular Europe, of the European Union, and of everything Islamic fundamentalists despise about Europe.

“Allah makes the laws and tells us what is allowed and what is forbidden,” Abu Imran told Hurd.

Imran is leader of Shariah for Belgium, and insists there’s no such thing as a “democratic Muslim.”

Such a notion, he maintains, is as absurd as a “Christian Jew” or “Jewish Muslim.” “It’s impossible.”

Imran says that real Islam and Shariah law are “inseparable.”

Imran’s group wants what it calls “Belgistan,” and foresees Brussels as an “Islamic capital” within mere decades. He cites numbers to back his optimism. Imran says that in some cities in Belgium, such as Antwerp, 40 percent of the children in schools are Muslim. And though Muslims comprise only 25 percent of religious believers in the country, that is enough to make them the

largest religious group, given that Belgium, like most of Europe, has rapidly de-Christianized. Imran’s group expects Muslims to be the majority in Belgium within 20 years.

Notably, that rise is coming from nothing unusual among Muslims. They are simply reproducing, whereas natives of Belgium, like natives of Europe, are not. For many modern Europeans, sex is about recreation, about fully separating intercourse from reproduction, about having as much sex as possible without the undesired outcome of a child. For faithful Muslims, sex is still about babies.

Like many major European cities, from London to Oslo, the most popular baby name in Brussels last year was “Mohammed.” In fact, re-

ported Dale Hurd, “Mohammed” was the most common baby name in Brussels each of the last four years. I do not see that trend changing anytime soon.

Dale Hurd noted in his report that Shariah for Belgium is a “small group that a lot of people do not take seriously.” I bet they are now.

Obviously, I’m sharing this with readers now because the ringleaders of the terrorist assaults in France last week—the worst attacks inside France since World War II—were reportedly based precisely in Brussels.

Unlike Mr Imran and his group, the ISIS-affiliated Muslims who attacked are blatant jihadists. They aren’t patient enough to wait for their babies to grow to adulthood.

FLAG FROM P4

They’re not awaiting a demographic time-bomb to bring Islam to Europe. They want “victory” now. They are happily (yes, happily) willing to detonate themselves at this very moment. Their method is bombs rather than babies. They don’t want victory via life by outgrowing native Europeans. They want victory via death by killing native Europeans.

Regardless of those violent methods, Islam is poised to triumph in Europe in the long-run. Over time, a native population that fails to do the most rudimentary thing of any native population—that is, give birth to the next generation—will by sheer sex and math give way to the outsiders who have entered the country and are giving birth to the next generation. Muslims in Europe can make love, not war—love that brings babies rather than blocks babies.

The clashes we are witnessing between ex-Christian Europeans and current Muslim Europeans is just the start. The Europe of the 21st century is going to be extremely chaotic.

(Dr Paul Kengor is professor of political science and executive director of The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. His latest book is Takedown. His other books include 11 Principles of a Reagan Conservative, The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor and Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century)

uncivilized worlds. Like the French flags that have swamped our Facebook profiles, President Obama has adopted his own hierarchical rhetoric at the G20 summit in Ankara when he said: “The killing of innocent people based on a twisted ideology is an attack not just on France, not just on Turkey, but it’s an attack on the civilized world”.

Mr Obama, where are the borders of this civilized and uncivilized world? It would seem somewhere between France and Lebanon considering the disparities in media response to the consecutive Beirut and Paris terrorist attacks.

Instead of pursuing justice for the victims of the Paris attacks, this flag-touting civilizational discourse is fueling a security culture that legitimizes violence and vengeance against the enemy. In the context of the so-called war on terror this enemy is often amalgamated with ‘the Muslim world’, whereby terrorism is read as a quality of Islam alone and all Muslims have become potential terrorists. This plays straight into the hands of ISIL, which thrives on tension between the ‘Muslim’ and ‘Western’ worlds.

Far from being an inclusive symbol, the Facebook French flag’s nationalistic message exacerbates the East-West dichotomy so dear to both the ‘war on terror’ and the ISIS ideology.

(Shoshana Fine is a Phd Candidate in political science at Sciences Po Paris and a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University. Zahra Jilani is a co-founder of the Swat Relief Initiative, an NGO fighting terrorism through education in rural Pakistan)

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OPINION

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9

We Can Avoid another Paris and Defeat ISIS if We Remember This History n By Dr Akbar Ahmed Chair of Islamic Studies at American University Washington, DC

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he terrible and tragic violence in Paris is France’s 9/11, commentators are saying. The reaction must ensure that the many precious lives lost and the suffering of the injured are not in vain.

The scale of the tragedy should concentrate the mind to find a strategy to check and defeat the Islamic State. The first step is to understand the roots of the crisis, which lie both in the soil of France and far from it in the deserts and mountains of the Middle East and North Africa.

Behind the current uneasy relationship between Muslim immigrants in Europe and the host countries looms the history of European imperialism -- a fact that is often overlooked in the analysis. Imperial Britain and imperial France between them ruled much of Africa and Asia and thus dominated three great civilizations: Indian, Chinese and the predominantly Muslim.

Imperial attitudes reflected the racism of the era and the belief in Western superiority. Take the example of Winston Churchill, the “grand old man” of British imperialism in its most unrepentant form. Churchill made no secret of his racial opinions -- the Hindus were a “foul race” for him -- especially those who would challenge the world order. He reserved his choicest phrases for none other than the great Mahatma Gandhi himself. He called Gandhi the “half naked fakir,” and once said notoriously that Gandhi “ought to be lain bound hand and foot at the gates of Delhi, and then trampled on by an enormous elephant.”

Churchill, a European of the late 19th and early half of the 20th century, was echoing the supreme arrogance of his time, which saw Europe as the mother continent of civilization itself. Yet a mere half-century after his passing another British prime minister, also of Churchill’s Conservative Party, expressed a dramatic reversal in the relationship between Britain and India. Prime Minister David Cameron hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on his first official visit to Britain on Nov. 12. The two made a trip to a new statue of Gandhi in London. Cameron followed Modi exactly in paying homage to Gandhi by walking up to the statue with his hands joined in the Hindu sign of supplication and bowed his head deeply, almost touching Gandhi’s feet, while he scattered flowers in tribute. Churchill would have been turning in his grave.

Just a few weeks earlier, Cameron had to perform similar fawning exercises to welcome President Xi Jinping of China on his first official visit to Britain. Cameron was desperately seeking to strengthen trade and commercial relationships with these two emerging Asian giants. His attitude would have confirmed what Napoleon had said all along -- the British were merely “a nation of shopkeepers.”

While Cameron was still with Modi, this time introducing him to an audience of 60,000 delirious fans at Wembley Stadium, terrorists struck in Paris. Some 129 people were killed and around 400 injured. President Hollande called this an “act of war,” and “barbarity” and promised he would show “no pity” to ISIS or Daesh, which he accused of carrying out the attacks.

Hollande called out the army, declared a state of emergency and closed the borders of France. The year had begun with the bloodshed of Charlie Hebdo and was now ending even more bloodily.

The events in Britain and France reflect the changing fortunes of Europe and its relationship to its former colonies. In an important sense, history is being reversed -- the vast populations and rapidly growing economies of China and India are now dwarfing those of European nations like the UK and France.

Of the three great civilizations that Europe dominated, the Chinese and the Indians are viewed in Europe as powerful economic players and wooed. The Muslims have been left behind.

In the public perception, the Muslims coming to Europe are seen as impoverished refugees who could be harboring terrorists. They are not wel-

come.

As if the loss of economic and political power, coupled with the violence inflicted upon it, is not enough to create insecurity in European minds, hundreds of thousands of refugees, mainly from the Middle East, are desperately pushing to enter Europe. The economic uncertainty, the violence associated with Muslims and the unwelcome arrival of the refugees is like manna from heaven for the right-wing parties as they sound the alarm. They have struck a nerve, and for the first time since the Second World War, right-wing parties are finding themselves gaining popular support as their sentiments are increasingly shared.

The argument of the right-wing parties is simplistic, but there is no denying its strength in the context of European today. The violence in Paris is being widely interpreted as an attack on Western civilization itself: it took place on Friday night as Parisians relaxed in bars, attended a rock concert and watched a football match in a stadium. None of these had strategic or military value. As such, there was a chilling subtext: These were targeted killings aimed at a way of life. The concept of modernity was left rocking on its heels.

When Max Weber, the great German sociologist, wrote of modernity and bureaucracy as the best expression of modern European civilization in the early part of the 20th century, the world was a very different place. Europe dominated the planet. Its standard of living, education, industry, armies and social services were the best in the world. But Europe was soon to plunge the planet into two world wars that would cost some hundred million lives. Implicit in the worldview of modernity was its association with white Europeans -- and their kin living in North America and Australia -- who were influenced culturally if not religiously by Christianity. Modernity meant the creation of a society based in democracy, literacy and one with high standards of living and respect for human rights. It was assumed that Western societies were on a trajectory that moved onward and upward to better and better standards of living.

In contrast, non-European societies, such as those in China and India, were seen as backward and stagnant. Weber’s contemporaries were not shy about expressing their contempt for such “Oriental” societies doomed forever because of their inherent vices like laziness and moral turpitude.

After two centuries, the stanchions of Western modernity are shaking and modernity itself is under question. Weber’s definition of modernity has no answers to the violence seen in Paris and the question of what to do with the flood of refugees coming into the continent.

Neither did Weber make anything of perhaps the answer to Europe’s problems of violence, religious and ethnic conflict and how to live together with the other: the European example of La Convivencia, or Coexistence. There was a time in Andalusia, Spain, when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together in peace, harmony and prosperity. They also created impressive works of art, philosophy and science.

The reason Weber had a blind spot for La Convivencia in Andalusia was that the concept had been written out of history and was

not taught in Western educational institutions.

When Muslims and Jews were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492, all books and literature associated with the Muslim period were systematically burnt. The Muslim period of European history was literally eliminated from history.

If we cannot analyze Europe through a Weberian frame, where can we look in the social sciences for the answers? I believe Ibn Khaldun, the great medieval Arab sociologist of Muslim tribal societies, allows us to see what is happening in Europe today and make sense of it. Khaldun’s notion of asabiyyah, meaning the mechanism a community employs to maintain social or group cohesion, explains both the violence in Paris and the response to the refugees.

In both cases, Europeans have responded by a reinforcement of asabiyyah in the face of a “foreign” threat by drawing tribal boundaries and emphasizing local identity. For example, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has rejected the mostly Syrian refugees because he

President Hollande must also engage with his alienated Muslim community with the same determination he has shown in attacking ISIS and win them over. It will require a long-term political and cultural strategy before the minority Muslim community is woven into French society so that they become the first line of defense equates them with the Ottoman Turks who once ruled Hungary. This is ironic because the Syrians were also ruled by the Ottoman Turks and now are being rejected by Turks. For Orban, all Muslims are antithetical to Hungarian and European identity and must be prohibited from entering.

As such, Orban rejected coexistence and pluralism outright, saying there was no way anyone could “force us to create ways of living together in Hungary that we do not want to see.” Other European heads of state such as Milos Zeman, the president of the Czech Republic, who addressed an anti-Islam rally Tuesday in Prague, express the same position. This is classic group cohesion.

Khaldun had always emphasized the importance of studying history when examining societies. It is easily forgotten in the Western commentary on the violence and refugees that it was European powers in the last century that created the artificial states of Syria and Iraq, slicing tribes and clans into different nations and lumping together different groups which laid the

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grounds for the emergence of the brutal dictators who would rely on their own clans and wreak havoc on the rest of their people. These shakily constructed nations are now literally exploding as, once again, European forces and their allies bomb and attack the same region. The disastrous and brutal tribal policies of their own leaders -like Assad of Syria -- ensured that hundreds of thousands have been killed or maimed and millions have been displaced as refugees.

It is this explosion in the former colonies that is now acting as a catalyst to the violence and flood of refugees in Europe. There they have met with the growing distrust and hatred led by the right-wing parties freely using fascistic rhetoric against the marginalized, largely unemployed and impoverished local Muslim communities.

The suspected Paris killers were petty criminals and lived hopeless lives on the margins of society. France had failed them, and they were rejecting France. Samia Hathroubi, the French social activist of North African descent, has expressed the predicament of France and its Muslim minorities in my new documentary film Journey into Europe with a powerful metaphor.

She said that if you look at the lives of people who have committed terrorist attacks in France, they are similar in many ways: Dislocated family, being in the very beginning drug dealers, going to jails and being radicalized in jails. France failed, we failed to integrate and to make those people feel happy in their own country. When I think about those guys and about all of those people, I really think it’s like young kids being abandoned by their mother, which is France, and getting very frustrated and finding this ideology that can give them a reason to go to Daesh or to destroy the mother that didn’t fully love them.

The leaders of Europe have little understanding of this side of the community and therefore no idea of a long-term successful strategy to defeat the scourge of groups like ISIS who would take advantage of it. The tragic explosion in Paris was almost inevitable. History has come full circle.

Today, unfortunately, there is little doubt that more such tragic violence is likely to occur.

There needs to be, therefore, a permanent and effective solution to end such violence. Time is running out, and the matter is of the utmost urgency. Ironically, Europe is missing a possible answer to the present violence -- the promotion of La Convivencia. It is a European answer to large-scale conflict. This is something that Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, fully recognized when he spoke to me recently: When you talk about good relations between faiths at moments of high intensity conflict, people think you’re being utopian, people just aren’t that good. So what brings these aspirations from utopia to reality is the knowledge that we have been there before. Andalusia showed how it could be done and showed that it could be done. And because of that, for me, Andalusia is the single most important feature of our current situation.

So while bombers and aircraft carriers need to do their stuff, the problem of terrorist-related violence will not be solved by force alone. President Hollande must also engage with his alienated Muslim community with the same determination he has shown in attacking ISIS and win them over. It will require a long-term political and cultural strategy before the minority Muslim community is woven into French society so that they become the first line of defense. Muslim citizens must be made to feel they have a place and a stake in society. They must be given a sense of respect and honor. Mother France must take her children to her bosom.

Andalusia wasn’t a perfect paradise, but it had its moments and still has something to teach us about the ability of people of different backgrounds to live together. We cannot -- and do not want -- to resuscitate history, but we can learn from the positive parts of our history in order to avoid repeating the horrid and tragic. Given Europe’s recent past, promoting coexistence and equality for all citizens is an imperative we cannot afford to ignore.

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Troops Won’t Be Deployed outside Region: ISPR n By Anwar Iqbal Washington: Pakistan will not send its troops for any mission outside the region, says Director General of Inter Services Public Relations Lt Gen Asim Bajwa.

“We already have about 182,000 troops deployed along the Afghan border. We are not looking for any involvement outside our region,” Mr Bajwa told a news briefing at the end of the army chief ’s visit to Washington last week.

During the UN General Assembly session earlier this year, the United States arranged an international summit on combating the threat of terrorism, particularly that of the militant Islamic State group, also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh.

One of the proposals discussed at the summit was to raise a multinational force to fight this threat.

“Daesh is a global threat, with its centre in the Middle East. There is need for a global response to it,” Mr Bajwa said. “Luckily, Daesh sympathizers came to Pakistan when people were fed up with extremists.

So this phenomenon was totally rejected in Pakistan.”

Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif left for Brazil on Saturday evening after a five-day visit to Washington during which he met US Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and other senior officials.

Asked at the briefing if the Americans also raised the nuclear issue at these meetings, Lt Gen Bajwa said: “Pakistan’s stance on the nuclear issue is very clear. It is focused on meeting a certain threat perception.”

He said the Pakistani delegation did not talk about the dossiers on India’s involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs, submitted during the prime minister’s visit last month.

“It is an issue that is tackled by the embassy at appropriate levels and was not raised in these meet-

Gen Raheel Sharif with members of the US Senate Armed Services Committee

ings.”

The army chief ’s meetings focused on Pak-US relations, militaryto-military ties, regional security and the situation in Afghanistan, he said.

Mr Bajwa said that the Kashmir issue was also discussed as a dispute that needed to be resolved for bringing peace and stability to the region.

“The meetings provided us with an opportunity to present Pakistan’s perspective clearly and forcefully and we did that. And we felt that it was appreciated,” he said.

Mr Bajwa said that the US and Pakistan both believed that the Afghan reconciliation process could not be delayed any further. “We will have to carry it forward with consistency,” he said.

Mr Bajwa pointed out that reconciliation talks had already started but Kabul’s decision to leak certain information derailed the process.

“There is a realization in Washington that had this process not been delayed, we would have made a lot of progress by now,” he said.

“Now we want to work together to remove the obstacles that are delaying the progress.”

Asked why had the army chief held his first meeting with the CIA

chief, Mr Bajwa said that was of no particular significance but this meeting was important because Pakistani and the US agencies regularly exchanged intelligence data.

Talks with the CIA chief focused on counter-terrorism measures and there was convergence of views on how to deal with the terrorists, he said.

Responding to another question, Mr Bajwa said Vice President Biden acknowledged that Operation Zarb-i-Azb had “turned the tide against terrorism”.

The operation had achieved most of its targets in North Waziristan and the armed forces were now focusing on the Khyber agency, he said.

“I do not like giving a timeframe but I believe that we will soon achieve our goals. We are not stopping midway.”

Mr Bajwa said that some terrorists had fled to Afghanistan and the government was now trying to improve its coordination with Kabul to flush them out.

Asked what concrete decisions were taken in the army chief ’s meetings, he said: “If your perspective is received well, you do move ahead.”

- Dawn

Interior Ministry Unhappy at Poor Performance of Pakistani Foreign Missions Islamabad: The interior ministry has prepared a report on the poor performance of Pakistan’s foreign missions in protecting the dignity and rights’ of Pakistani citizens abroad. The report will soon be sent to the prime minister.

This was announced on Saturday by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, without naming any specific mission abroad. An official, however, told The Express Tribune that most of these Pakistani missions were based in the European Union.

The development follows the recent suspension of deportation agreements with all European countries, except Britain, over accusations of mistreatment of Pakistani migrants. Nisar alleged the readmission agreement for deportees was apparently tilted against Pakistan.

In a news conference on Friday and subsequently in a statement issued on Saturday, the security czar said he would take up all these concerns during an upcoming meeting with a visiting EU delegation headed

by EU immigration commissioner.

A new standard operating procedure is being developed for the acceptance of deportees from European countries. The interior minister stated he would raise his voice and take all possible steps whenever fundamental rights of Pakistanis were violated.

Regretting the arrival of another batch of deportees from Greece through a normal flight, he said a reference would be sent to penalize the Middle Eastern airline, which brought the migrants back.

Nisar said all airlines flying back deportees without the interior ministry’s approval would be fined in the future. He also directed the Federal Investigation Agency to strictly monitor airports across the country and keep an eye on passengers coming from Greece.

Of the 19 ‘politically appointed’ ambassadors of Pakistan in different countries, more than half (10) are former military officers, official records reveal.

In a reply submitted in the National Assembly, the Foreign Office

has disclosed that the government has appointed three retired foreign services officers as envoys and six party supporters or bureaucrats as ambassadors to the countries of their choice. All these appointments are contract-based.

The answer was submitted in response to a question raised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ’s Shireen Mazari. She had asked the Foreign Office about the total number of non-foreign service personnel serving as Pakistani envoys and the total number of ‘political appointees’, and retired civil and military bureaucrats.

An FO official, however, defended the government’s move. “Although political appointments on ambassadorial positions are common in many countries, they [envoys] are usually big donors or supporters of the ruling parties,” he claimed. “In the US, financiers of presidential campaigns often get appointments to less important but scenic countries.”

In Pakistan, however, political appointees are usually ex-military officers, he admitted.

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Vice President Biden Meets with General Raheel Sharif Washington, DC: Vice President Joe Biden met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif at the White House last week.

The meeting, which followed the Vice President’s October 22 breakfast in Washington with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, addressed ongoing efforts to strengthen US-Pakistan relations. The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ interest in building a strong partnership with Pakistan that addresses our shared counterterrorism, economic, and regional security concerns.

The Vice President thanked General Sharif for his steadfast support to counterterrorism cooperation with the United States and underscored the importance of expanding efforts to help further strengthen regional security.

Both leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to peace in Af-

ghanistan and the important role that the United States and Pakistan can play to support a reinvigorated reconciliation process in coordination with Afghanistan.

Senator McCain Recognizes Pakistan Army’s Sacrifices Washington, DC: Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain has said that under the leadership of General Raheel Sharif, the Pakistan Army had “inflicted losses to the enemy at great sacrifice”.

In a statement issued by his office, Senator McCain said that Gen Sharif also visited the Senate panel and explained how the Pakistani forces were combating terrorists.

“The meeting was productive and informative to all members of the committee. We value our relationship with Pakistan during these very challenging times,” he said.

“Members believe that the fight against the Taliban is far from over and the Taliban continue to

play a key role in the region.”

Senator McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate, said: “I thanked Gen Sharif for his leadership and expressed my appreciation for the sacrifice of so many brave Pakistani soldiers in the fight against terrorism.”

Gen Sharif ’s meeting with the committee members focused on the situation in Afghanistan, the fight against the IS, and ways to improve coordination and cooperation between the two countries against terrorists, the senator said.

“Going forward, I hope we will continue working closely together in the interest of both our countries,” he said.

NAB to Seek Custody of Dr Asim Hussain

Islamabad: It seems there are more tough times ahead for PPP leader Dr Asim Hussain. After completing 90 days in the custody of Sindh Rangers, the former petroleum minister will be handed over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for investigation of three fresh corruption cases, sources in the Bureau told Dawn on Sunday.

Dr Hussain’s 90 day-detention will end on Nov 26 and he will be produced in court on that day for a hearing. There, a NAB representative is expected to seek Dr Asim’s custody in connection with the new cases.

“NAB is a part of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to investigate Dr Hussain’s alleged corruption and his role in terror financing. At the end of the current detention, NAB representatives in the JIT will ask the relevant court to hand him over to

NAB,” a senior NAB official said.

The Bureau is currently investigating three new corruption cases against Dr Hussain. These include: illegal affiliation of medical colleges with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), issuance of licenses for dozens of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and other corrupt practices.

When asked how long NAB would keep Dr Hussain in its custody, the official said that would depend on the court, adding that the Bureau would seek a physical remand of at least 14 days. A NAB spokesperson refused to comment on the matter since it is subjudice.

According to the NAB charge sheet, Dr Hussain is being investigated for allegedly approving the illegal affiliation of over 20 private medical colleges with the PMDC, and receiving undue benefits from the council for his own medical colleges and hospitals in Karachi.

He was also accused of having issued degrees to doctors after they had failed to pass the compulsory National Examination Board (NEB) test.

NAB was informed that some illegal degree holders had not even appeared in the NEB test and managed to obtain registration with PMDC.

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Imran Khan Sees His Vindication in a Calmer Pakistan

Pakistan Asks Bangladesh to End Revenge against ‘Pakistanism’

n By Rod Nordland

Islamabad: Imran Khan, the former cricket star turned politician and would-be leader of Pakistan, would like to say, “I told you so.”

He told the Americans not to invade Iraq — “Now look at it,” he said. He campaigned against their invasion of Afghanistan — “All that trillion dollars down the drain and what has it achieved?” He was so ardent in his opposition to Pakistan’s former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, for supporting the Americanled war against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, that General Musharraf derided him as “a terrorist without a beard.”

“They even called me Taliban Khan,” he said, chuckling, during an interview in his home atop a hill overlooking the capital.

Now that Pakistan’s internal insurgencies have gone unusually quiet over the past year, Mr Khan insists it is yet more proof that the last laugh is his.

“When the Americans were pushing Pakistan to do more,” he said, “the country was heading toward a frenzy of fanaticism. But now the fanaticism has gone out of it, because the Americans have left Afghanistan mostly, and it’s no longer seen as Pakistan fighting the American war.”

A lot of that has to do with the Pakistan Army’s determined crackdown on militants in the wake of last December’s massacre of 145 students and teachers at an army school in Peshawar, he conceded.

But still, without the Americans to blame, “it’s no longer jihad, it’s seen as killing your own people.”

Imran Khan’s populist style has played well in a country where antiAmericanism has always been a big vote-getter. He rode that sentiment, as well as his fame as a cricket hall of famer, into politics, but his party — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, known as PTIs — languished for years as a relatively minor force.

Then, in the 2013 elections, his party for the first time won control of a provincial government, taking over in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. As the country’s main two parties settled into what amounted to a comfortable alliance, Mr Khan found his party viewed as the leading opposition force in Pakistan.

Mr Khan’s party, built on a platform of fighting corruption, promised unprecedented change in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: devolving power to villages and communities through local elections, depoliticizing the police — “one of our own ministers was handcuffed by police, this never happened before,” Mr Khan said — and even announcing a reforestation program he called “the billion-tree tsunami.”

The goodwill his party gained was helped in no small measure by his own celebrity and his rugged good looks, still appearing much younger than his 63 years. But he also had intellectual credibility as an Oxford graduate and the former chancellor of a British university, and was admired as a philanthropist at home.

Although Mr Khan had earlier accepted the results of the 2013 national elections, he insisted that the party had been cheated out of even

bigger gains. Last year, he decided to aggressively dispute the vote, and when the courts did not agree, he took to staging sit-ins and marches that blocked Parliament for months, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s government.

Mr Khan’s critics saw his street protests as a bid for power, hoping to get Pakistan’s powerful military to step in as it had done many times before and oust Mr Sharif, paving the way for Mr Khan to take over.

He denied that, but when he invoked a cricketing term that a “third umpire” would resolve the dispute, many saw that as a call for military intervention. (He later explained that he was referring to God.) In the end, the military stayed out of it, and Mr Khan’s street movement fizzled.

“Last year, he did appear to be the main opposition and a credible one,” said Najam Aziz Sethi, a prominent journalist who once led the Pakistan cricket association.

“But in the past year, he has lost a lot of ground politically.”

Even some of his critics have been concerned about his failing political fortunes.

“We should all pray for Imran Khan’s speedy political recovery,” said Syed Talat Hussain, a former editor of The News. “The man is still central to the future of his party, which in turn is key to keeping Pakistan’s fledgling democracy on track.”

The tabloid-friendly side of his life was also acting up, to his detriment at times.

During the street protests, the Pakistani and British tabloids ran wild with rumors of his romantic involvement with a Pakistani television personality, Reham Nayyar, 42.

At the time, he denied the rumors.

But in January, Mr Khan announced that he had married Ms Nayyar, the second marriage for each.

While the wedding enthused many of his supporters — romantic liaisons outside marriage do not sit well in religiously conservative Pakistan — the timing of the announcement caused some concern. It came weeks after the Peshawar army school massacre, when the country was still in mourning and shock, and many criticized Mr Khan’s poor judgment.

Just 10 months later, in late October, the couple announced their intention to divorce. The Daily Mail weighed in immediately, saying Mr Khan had invoked the Islamic style of divorce by texting to his wife the Arabic word talaq — meaning “I divorce you” — three times, which

she saw as she disembarked from a flight to London.

Mr Khan has refused to discuss his divorce, but his aides said that the tabloid account was untrue, and that the parting was amicable.

Politically it did him little good, however, giving fuel to critics who had already begun calling him UTurn Khan instead of Taliban Khan.

“Now the divorce, 10 months down the line, just shows immaturity, impulsiveness, lack of judgment,” Mr Sethi said. “It undermines his argument that he’s the most popular man in the country.”

Despite some setbacks, however, Mr Khan has a basis for his claim. He boasted during the interview about a recent poll by a think tank, SDPI, showing his PTI party leading the country with 32 percent popularity, ahead of the prime minister’s Muslim League party with 27 percent. The old Pakistan People’s Party of the Bhutto dynasty and former President Asif Ali Zardari had sunk to third with only 14 percent.

(The same poll found that Pakistanis view the United States as one of the country’s least reliable allies, despite more than a billion dollars in annual civilian and military aid.)

“We are poised,” Mr Khan said. “When you have a two-party system like we had, it is rare to break in and become the second-biggest party, and then to bring in all these new people.”

Still, he admits the parliamentary protests sapped a lot of his party’s energy. And others say it also drained its financial resources, as the party had to feed and care for the thousands of round-the-clock protesters.

“It meant we couldn’t concentrate on governing Khyber-Pakhtunkwah, and on organizing ourselves. Now we need to become so organized that we can take on the established party,” Mr Khan said, adding that with two years until the next national elections, there was still plenty of time.

In the meantime, Mr Khan objects to the view that he stokes antiAmerican feelings merely for political gain. He insists that the United States has been its own worst enemy in Pakistan.

“I always said that the moment the American footprint in Afghanistan came down, so would the antiAmericanism,” he said. “It was all the killing of civilians — the drones and killing — that made anti-Americanism go up. Especially drones. I can’t understand what human IMRAN, P24

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Islamabad:

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday said that people of Pakistan and Bangladesh wanted to promote brotherly relations and move forward by forgetting bitterness of the past.

But a group in Bangladesh could not see the restoration of cordial relations between people of the two countries, he said in a statement issued here. “We have the idea that who is behind that group, and what role it played in the incidents of 1970-71,” he added.

He said that Pakistan was very much in the know of which forces were stopping people of the two countries from getting closer to each other, and the conspirator elements behind the move. Being a Pakistani, he said he had the feelings that whatever was happening in Bangladesh was in violation of international laws and human rights.

He expressed astonishment that the world, especially international human rights organizations, were silent over the ‘murder of justice.’ “I am upset that we could not do anything for those who just had the fault of being loyal to their motherland and supported the constitution at that time – 45 years back,” he added.

The minister said that murder of humanity and revenge of ‘Pakistanism’ should come to an end now. In the next meeting of the cab-

inet, he would take up the issue so that Bangladesh’s revengeful policies could be contained. “Hearts of people of Pakistan and Bangladesh beat together and they want to see the two countries closer, no matter what jealous elements say,” he added.

In Bangladesh, two opposition leaders Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were hanged in the central jail in Dhaka for ‘war crimes’ committed during the 1971 ‘independence’ struggle. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that they were hanged after President Abdul Hamid rejected appeals for clemency by the two men.

More than 15 people have been convicted of ‘war crimes’ in a series of rulings handed down by two separate tribunals set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in 2010.

US lawmakers – overseeing foreign policy – described the war crimes tribunal as very flawed and a means of political retribution. The State Department said that the executions should not take place until it’s clear the trial process meets international standards.

Stephen Rapp, who until August served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador for the war crimes, said it was disturbing that Salahuddin was denied the right to call alibi witnesses, including a former US ambassador, to provide testimony that he was not present in Bangladesh at the time the alleged crimes were committed.

Human Rights Watch said the tribunal allowed the prosecution to call 41 witnesses, while Salahuddin’s defense was limited to four witnesses. The New York-based group said that Mujahid was sentenced to death for instigating his subordinates to commit abuses, although no subordinates testified or were identified.

In a letter sent to the top US diplomat for South Asia, leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee voiced concern that democratic space was shrinking amid a growing climate of violence, fear and selfcensorship in Bangladesh, which is mostly Muslim but has a strong secular tradition.

Dhaka Lodges Protest over Foreign Office Statement

Islamabad: Bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh received a blow when the Bangladeshi government summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner Shuja Alam and lodged a strong protest over a statement made by Foreign Office, terming it an interference into internal matters of Bangladesh.

Alam was summoned at the Bangladeshi foreign ministry in Dhaka on Monday to register protest against the statement issued by Islamabad over the executions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general — who were both charged with 1971 war crimes.

“Yes, High Commissioner Shuja Alam was called at the foreign ministry,” an official at Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka told Dawn.com via phone.

The official further said that Alam was conveyed the displeasure of the Bangladeshi government by

acting foreign secretary Meezanur-Rehman who said the execution in connection with the 1971 events was an internal matter of Bangladesh.

The protest note handed over to Pakistani envoy stated that by openly taking the side of those convicted, Pakistan had once again acknowledged its direct involvement and complicity in the mass crimes committed during the 1971 separation. It said the comments were a brazen interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which was unacceptable.

“Pakistan should no way make biased, borrowed and unfounded comments about the independent judiciary of a sovereign country,” the note stated.

Bangladesh Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Shahriar Alam said a “strongly worded protest note” was handed to Pakistan’s envoy saying the criticism was unacceptable.

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PAKISTAN

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15

Judiciary Not Ignoring ‘Missing Persons’ Issue, Affirms Chief Justice

Quetta: Chief Justice of Pakistan

Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Monday said the apex court is not ignorant about the all-important issue of missing persons of Balochistan.

Speaking at a reception hosted by members of Balochistan High Court Bar Association, the chief justice said that “the judiciary must not forget its duties while campaigning for rights”.

Zaheer Jamali was of the view that courts and judges are doing their bid to uphold the rule of law in the country but to further the process “we have to follow the rule of self-accountability”, he said.

The chief justice claimed that lawyers’ movement played an important role in the restoration of independent judiciary which ultimately led to liberating the judiciary from the clutches of dictatorship.

He, however, added that some controversial judgments in the aftermath of November 3, 2007

emergency damaged the standing and freedom of judiciary.

“But today judiciary is independent and strong,” said Jamali.

Earlier, lawyers’ leader Baz Muhammad Kakar said the judiciary was the third pillar of the State. Addressing the lawyers, he pointed out that the issue of missing persons was important in Balochistan and its solution too was important.

Chief Justice Balochistan High Court (BHC) Justice Muhammad Noor Muskanzai said that since 2007, a total of 190 petitions regarding the missing persons were filed in BHC. “177 petitions were disposed of, whereas, 110 missing persons were recovered”, said Muskanzai.

Back in April, Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, a columnist and Baloch rights activist, during a seminar at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) said that people such as Mama Qadeer claim that over 23,000 people are missing in

Denial of Asylum to Muslim Refugees Unjustified: Maleeha Lodhi Islamabad: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi warned the international community at the UN that denial of asylum to Muslim refugees by some countries was legally, politically and morally unjustified.

“The moral compass of those who refuse refugees of any faith must be questioned,” she said according to an official statement released by Pakistan Mission to the UN in New York City.

Speaking in a debate at the UN General Assembly on the global refugee crises, the envoy said that fear was being fanned by some to accentuate discrimination, blunt humanitarianism, and spread hate and Islamophobia.

She described the refugee crisis “as one of the defining humanitarian and political issues of our times”, adding that how the issue is addressed will influence political and social trends for decades to come – either bridging or dividing cultures and civilizations.

The ambassador said it was time to acknowledge that the interlocking crises and conflicts raging across the Middle East and Africa have been precipitated by “misguided military interventions in the internal affairs of several regional states”.

Lodhi stressed that “history

and current events attest that foreign intervention begets more chaos and violence, breaking down established structures of stability, destroying states and displacing people”.

Pakistan’s envoy urged addressing the root causes of the flow of refugees today to Europe. Conditions, she said, will have to be created to enable the refugees to return to their homes in dignity and peace.

She also called for political solutions to be promoted to halt the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Compromises, she added, may be difficult but are essential.

Ambassador Lodhi said that “fixed preconditions for peace and negotiations are a recipe for continuing conflict and chaos. The rights of majorities and minorities will have to be respected. Nor

REFUGEES, P28

Imran Requested Bangladesh PM to Stay Hangings

Balochistan while Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, the interior minister in 2005, admitted that close to 4,000 Baloch were in custody.

Earlier this year the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) had stated that during the last four years 982 missing persons had been found while the cases of 1273 were still pending.

In its report submitted to the Supreme Court, the commission had stated that out of the pending cases, 632 belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 198 to Punjab, 186 to Sindh, 122 to Balochistan, 43 to Fata, 11 to Azad Jammu Kashmir and 30 to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Similarly, 409 of the traced persons belonged to KP, 254 to Punjab, 199 to Sindh and 50 to Balochistan.

Islamabad: While Pakistan has now voiced its concern over the execution of Bangladeshi opposition leaders, Imran Khan had already written a letter to the Bangladeshi premier, requesting her to stay the hangings.

Salauddin Quadir Chowdhury, leader of the Bangladesh National Party, and Ali Ahsan Mojaheed of the Jamaat-e-Islami were hanged in Dhaka on Sunday after being convicted of war crimes committed during the 1971 conflict with Pakistan.

The executions drew a sharp response, especially from Islamabad, with the Foreign Office and Interior Minister both expressing serious concern over the ‘flawed trial’ of the convicts. But before that on November 21, PTI chairman Imran Khan had sent a letter to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina asking her to forgive Salauddin.

“If his execution is stopped, it will be in the larger interest not only of our region, but for the establishment of world peace and justice,” the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman wrote.

He claimed there was “overwhelming” evidence that the convicted leader was studying in Punjab University at that time. “As such there is no possibility for him to commit the crime in question,” he stated.

Parliamentary resolution: Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has submitted a resolution in the National Assembly secretariat against the hanging of the two Bangladeshi leaders.

Man Jailed for 13 Years for Facebook ‘Hate Speech’

Ahmadi Mosque Attacked in Jehlum

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court has jailed a person for 13 years after he posted what it deemed sectarian hate speech on Facebook, officials said Monday, with rights activists condemning the ruling as “extremely concerning”.

Saqlain Haidar, 32, who ran a small hotel in Chiniot was also fined Rs250,000 for “posting hateful material against companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)”, an official of the Counter Terrorism Department told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Abdul Majeed, a senior local counter-terrorism official, confirmed the incident. “The convict was arrested on October 27 after locals complained about him and he was charged for spreading sectarian hatred under various clauses of the anti-terrorism act,” he told AFP. Majeed said the accused was released on bail a day later, then arrested and imprisoned on November 21 after the court convicted him.

In May an imam in the Kasur district of Punjab was jailed for five years for inciting hate against a rival minority Shia sect. In October a former leader of a banned sectarian party was imprisoned for six months for hate speech.

Bytes for All, a human rights group, said it had not been able to verify the details of Haidar’s case, but added, “We are extremely concerned that an anti-terrorism court has been used to hear a case apparently related to online speech rather than to any violent activities.”

Lahore/ Karachi: Angry protest-

HATE, P28

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HANGINGS, P28

ers attacked and occupied a mosque belonging to the minority Ahmadi sect in northeastern Pakistan on Saturday, a day after they torched a factory in response to rumors an Ahmadi employee had committed blasphemy.

The Interior Ministry said police and army had been deployed to the Jehlum district, 164 km (100 miles) north of the city of Lahore and that there were no casualties.

Punjab provincial police said the situation in Jehlum was under control, but police said it was still negotiating with local religious leaders and demonstrators to bring the standoff at the mosque to an end.

Amir Mehmood, a member of the Ahmadi community, said hundreds of people had surrounded and torched chipboard factory in Jehlum on Friday evening after Sunni Muslim mosques announced reports that someone at the factory had allegedly desecrated the Qur’an.

“A mob attacked our mosque in Kala Gujran, an area in Jehlum, took out its furniture set on fire.

Then, they washed the mosque and later offered evening prayers in the mosque,” Mehmood said.

Mujahid Akbar, a police officer in Jehlum, confirmed the attacks appeared to have been sparked by a blasphemy accusation but said the facts were not yet clear.

“It might be a blasphemy case, but all that was done may also be because of a misunderstanding,” he said.

Jamiluddin Aali Passes away

Karachi: Renowned Urdu poet, educationist and literary luminary Jamiluddin Aali passed away in Karachi on Monday. He was 90.

Aali died of heart failure at a hospital in Karachi where he was under treatment for some time for diabetes and respiratory illness.

The prominent poet, critic and retired banker was known for his immortal patriotic songs as ‘jeevay jeevay Pakistan’, ‘aye watan kay sajeelay jawano’, ‘mera pegham Pakistan’, ‘hum ta ba abad saee-otaghayyur kay wali hein’ and ‘itnay baray jeevan sagar main’.

Born on January 20, 1925, to Nawab Sir Amiruddin Ahmed Khan of Loharu, Jamiluddin Aali migrated to Pakistan on August 13, 1947, with his wife Tayyaba and six-month-old daughter Humaira, through the last train from Delhi.

He was an assistant at the ministry of commerce at Delhi in British India. He later passed the CSS exam and got posted as an income tax officer in Karachi in 1952.

In poetry, he had revived the classical form of doha and adapted it to Urdu, imparting a distinct South Asian Muslim cultural flavor to it while retaining its beauty. He has also written ghazals, poems, lyrical ballads or geets. His long poems reflect a unique discourse on great scientific and philosophical themes, blended with aesthetics.

In prose, Aali is known for his incisive and picturesque travelogues.

His newspaper columns, which he had been writing for a record 50 years, played a significant role in awakening the people to the need for intellectual pursuits and mature thoughts on contemporary national and international issues.

He remained the chairman of the Urdu Dictionary Board for three years.

Early last year, he handed over charge of honorary secretary of Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Urdu to Dr Fatema Hasan after serving it for 62 years. He remained executive honorary lifetime adviser to the Anjuman.

Jamiluddin Aali was the recipient of three awards from the government of Pakistan: President’s Pride of Performance Gold Medal in 1992; Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Urdu Literature) in 2003, and Kamal-i-Funn Award. He was awarded a DLitt by the University of Karachi in 2004.

Condolences pour in: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the demise of Jamiluddin Aali. The premier prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and lauded the literary services of Aali for the country. The prime minister said that Aali’s death will leave a big vacuum in the literary circles of the country that would be difficult to fill in the times ahead.

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NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P17

Community Link Friday, November 27, 2015

VOL. 25/48 PAGE 18

PAGE PAGE20 17

PAGE 19 egum PAGE

Nazm Is Gaining Ground in Mushairas

14 Safar 1437 H

Dr Ahmad Sakr’s Death Widely Mourned

Clinton Blasts Trump’s Remarks about Registration

For news, updated round the clock, visit

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Nearly 1,800 Attendees at CAIR-LA’s 19th Annual Banquet

In light of the recent tragic events in Paris, Beirut, Ankara, Syria and Iraq, CAIR-LA began the program with an interfaith prayer vigil to mourn the loss of the victims and their loved ones affected by the recent ISIS terror attacks

N

early 1,800 people turned out on Saturday at the Anaheim Hilton to attend the 19th annual banquet of the Greater Los Angeles office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA). During the event, supporters donated some $460,000 in support of CAIR-LA’s civil rights and advocacy work.

In light of the recent tragic events in Paris, Beirut, Ankara, Syria and Iraq, CAIR-LA began the program with an interfaith prayer vigil to mourn the loss of the victims and their loved ones affected by the recent ISIS terror attacks. Interfaith leaders from across Southern California joined in solidarity to pray for humanity. The prayer was led by Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, the Religious Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County.

With the theme, “Strengthening Our Voices, Advancing Together,” this year’s banquet featured cou-

rageous voices whose involvement with the Muslim and broader communities reflect their commitment to their faith’s values of unity, peace and equality for all.

One of the most influential American Muslim scholars in the nation, Dr Sherman Jackson was the keynote speaker of the night.

Dr Jackson delivered an earnest keynote address in which he underscored the value of CAIR’s work in empowering the American Muslim community to actively contribute to positive social change for America and for all people.

CAIR-LA awarded Dr Suzanne Barakat the “CAIR-LA Resilience Award.”

Dr Barakat is the sister of Deah Barakat who was tragically murdered in February 2015 with his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and her younger sister Razan Abu-Salha.

Amid the tragic killings, Dr Barakat emerged as one of the prominent

American Muslim figures, acting as the lead voice for her family and American Muslims at-large, challenging the ignorant hate and fear of Islam and Muslims.

Barakat’s on-stage presence and award acceptance was received with a standing ovation.

Dr Barakat gave a brief message to the attendees about the value of American Muslims being involved and engaged with the broader American community as an antidote to the widespread Islamophobia in America. She offered that more personable and human interactions between Muslims and others will help to defuse the ignorance and biases people may have against Islam and Muslims and help enhance their understanding of the faith of Islam.

CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush expounded on the importance of CAIR’s work in protecting civil liberties, challenging

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bigotry, and upholding equality for all communities.

Banquet attendees watched a short video summarizing CAIR’s work locally and nationally. The film highlighted this year’s greatest challenges the American Muslim community faced including the Ahmed Mohamed case, anti-Islam rallies in Arizona and CAIR’s unprecedented wins like Samantha Elauf ’s Hijab case that were able to come to fruition due to the unwavering support of the community.

Followed by the short video, Dr Altaf Hussain, Vice-President of ISNA, spiritually inspired the attendees to recognize their important role in supporting CAIR’s civil rights advocacy work.

A number of city and state officials were present including US Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, US Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, and Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen, who

spoke about the significant contributions of American Muslims and CAIR’s role in being a leading advocate for advancing justice and mutual understanding. Interfaith leaders, imams and representatives from various Southern California Islamic Centers and mosques were in attendance as well.

In accordance with the banquet theme, a number of spoken word artists performed profound pieces throughout the evening about the struggles and challenges of being American Muslim, Islamophobia and the search for peace and equality for all lives.

Stand-up comedian ‘Preacher Moss’ ended the night on a light note with comedy and entertainment.

Participants left the venue leaving uplifted with a renewed commitment to social justice in support of CAIR-LA’s civil rights and advocacy work.

COMMUNITY

P18 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Nazm Is Gaining Ground in Mushaira: Javed Akhtar

Glimpses of the mushaira

n By Dr Zafar Iqbal Washington, DC: “Nazm is gaining ground in mushaira,” said Javed Akhtar—the famous poet, film lyricist, and screenplay writer— while presiding over the 41st Annual International Mushaira organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association in Washington on November 7, 2015.

Nazm, which is a major part of the Urdu poetry normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems, is a significant genre of Urdu poetry. “I was very pleased to see that a number poets have recited magnificent nazms in addition to ghazals and the number of female poets also presented excellent poetry at this mushaira,” he added.

Javed Akhtar has recently released a five-volume collection of poetry written by Akhtar’s grandfather Muztar Khairabadi. At the request of the audience he described the 10-year journey that culminated in the publication of the Khirman. He mentioned how the oft-repeated ghazal Na kisi kii ankh ka noor hoon, na kissi ke dil ka qarar hoon/Jo kisi ke kaam na aa sake main woh ek musht-e-ghubar hoon, ascribed to Bahadur Shah Zafar was actually written by Muztar. He elaborated that eminent literary critics such as Niyaz Fatehpuri, Ale Ahmad Suroor and Gopichand Narang had long argued that this verse was not found in Zafar’s complete works published in 1887 by the Nawal Kishore Press, and was definitely Muztar’s.

The discovery of this ghazal, written in Muztar’s own handwriting and carrying his takhallus (pen name) Muztar, finally puts to rest any doubt about these much-quoted and oftensung verses, wrongly said to portray Zafar’s anguish when he was exiled from Hindustan to Rangoon. Another testimony, more by way of criticism of the ghazal’s weakness but nevertheless an acknowledgement of its authorship

by Muztar, comes from a contemporary, Shah Muhammad Mumtaz Ali

‘Aah’ in 1928—barely a year after Muztar’s death.

Akhtar received thunderous applause when he recited his nazm, Yeh khail kiya hai. At the request of the audience he also recited Woh Kamra and Waqt.

Welcoming the audience Association’s President Farzana Farooqi briefly apprised the gathering about the activities of the Association. She informed that the Association had been in the forefront of organizing high-quality literary and cultural activities for the last 40+ years. It was this Association, which started the tradition of international mushaira in North America. Her speech was followed by rendition of Aligarh University Tarana, Yeh Mera Chaman Hai, which was written by Akhtar’s maternal uncle Majaz Lakhnawi. More than 600 Urdu lovers that included diverse sections of the Indo-Pak community came to this event that was held at a newly-constructed spacious Gaithersburg High School, Gaithersburg, Maryland, a venue well suited to a grand literary environment.

The mushaira was skillfully moderated by Dr A. Abdullah, whose golden touch has been a key factor in making the ambience and effect of these mushairas memorable. Dr Abdullah said that with a modest beginning of poetry recitation by a few Urdu lovers in 1975, the Mushaira has now entered the 5th decade. “Forty years of untiring efforts by the Washington Aligarh Alumni Association and support of the community, this Mushaira is now the expression of common heritage of all Urdu lovers in this area. It has become a reference for the introduction of Washington in the Urdu world. To preserve this history and the prestige of this Mushaira is the responsibility of every one,” he added.

Dr Mohammad Akbar thanked all the poets, guests, and audience for their continued support. He also acknowledged the hard work of the volunteers.

Besides Javed Akhtar, twelve poets recited their kalam in their own unique style. Other well-recognized poets included Lata Haya and A. M. Turaz (India), and Seema Ghazal and Sarwat Zehra (Pakistan). The local poets from USA, who also recited their kalam (poetry) were Abdullah, Akram Mahmood, Hana Khan, Khalid Irfan, Razi Raziuddin, and Sabiha Saba.

Samples of poetry of some poets are as follows: Lata Haya— Hindi ki beti jise Urdu ne paala hai—a popular poet from Rajhasthan said: Main ke aurat hoon, meri sharm hai mera zevar; bas Takkhallus isi bais to “Haya” Rakha hai She was applauded for her poem about Urdu. She also brought the emotions of the audience to a high pitch with her soulful recitation of a poem she had written five days after her mother’s death.

Who zid, who shararat aur akaRpan chala gaya; MaaN jab chali gaee, mera bachpan chala gaya Incidentally, Dr Abdullah’s mother had also passed away five days before the mushaira and this poem brought tears in his eyes and many in the audience were also affected.

Dr Abdullah, who was moderating the mushaira, brought the humorous poet Khalid Irfan of New York to the podium to change the somber mood. Khalid charmed the audience with his sophisticated jibes on the religious and political leaders and ongoing skirmishes between the neighboring countries—India and Pakistan.

PaijamoN ka design ko badal daala to kiya gham hai; Hamari beewioN ke gharare to eik jaise haiN Pareshan haal hai public magar donoN muulkoN ke; Meerasi, cricketer aur filmi sitare to eik jaise haiN Expressing his appreciation for Aligarh Alumni Association’s dedication of more than four decades to promote Urdu in North America, Khalid said that Association’s contribution

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will be written in golden words in history.

Dr Sabiha Saba, a neurobiologist by profession, congratulated the Association for organizing a top-class mushaira every year. She also expressed her gratitude by acknowledging the Association for establishing her in poetry and literature. She recited a few poems. A sample is given below.

Awwal-e-ishq ki who beytabi Kaisi manzil se hum guzar aaye Aap aaeN to phi Saba mahke Mahfil-e-bey baar meiN samara aye Turaz—a young Bollywood poet - delighted the audience with dramatized presentation of his poetry. His rendering reminded the audiences that poetry reading was once a performing art as well. He was very impressed with the standard of the mushaira and audience.

Tumhare wastey yeh ghum uThane wala hooN Ruko ae aaNsuo meiN muskurane wala hooN Akram Mahmood’s poetry expresses concerns of present-day trials and tribulations, especially those encountered by immigrants.

Yeh hijr-e-musalsal ka wazeefa hai meri jaaN Ek tark-e-sukoonat hi to hijrat nahiN hoti.

Sarwat Zehra is a medical doctor by profession and has been writing ghazal, geet, and nazm. She is a rising female poet belonging to Fahmida Riaz’s school of thought of expressing concerns of women.

Bint-e-Hawwua hooN main, yeh mera jurm hai Aur phir shaiyri to kaRa jurm hai.

MaiN tamasha nahiN apna izhaar hooN Jaanti hooN mera bolna jurm hai A number of people from the audience expressed their thanks to the Association for organizing this excellent mushaira. Mr Kaleem Kawaja—a senior community leader—expressed his views in the following words, “In the last about ten years some other Urdu wala groups have held mushairas in Washington and elsewhere in

the United States and Canada, but almost none of them have been able to develop the aura, flavor and reputation of Asli Aligarh Mushaira. Go to any other mushaira in Washington or other cities in the US and you will hear people comparing them to the Washington Aligarh Mushaira.” Youn to hotey hain mushaerey aksar; laikin Aligarh Association key mushairey kaa haiy andaaz kutch aur, he added.

Dr Moazzam Siddiqi—a prominent literary person and former Chief of Near-Eastern Languages at Voice of America - said that the Mushaira organizers deserve credit for inviting more female poets. Most of them are very enthusiastic and presented quality poetry. Historically, poetry recitation used to be more of a performing art and Lata Haya and Turaz enthralled the audience by presenting their poetry in that old style.

Dr Renuka Misra—International Coordinator of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) - said that she had been associated with the Aligarh mushaira religiously since she arrived in Washington more than two decades ago. It is a real pleasure to see that the standard of the mushaira has been progressively rising. It was a real treat to see more female poets’ participation in this year’s mushaira. I feel that that more time should have been provided to Lata Haya and Turaz.

Mr Bharat Bhargava—a retired Senior Executive of the World Bank - said that it was one of the most successful mushairas ever. Every poet participated with vigor and kept the audience engaged. The organizers did an incredible job and Dr Abdullah was amazing, as usual.

Mr Naimullah Qazi—a senior community member - wrote: This year’s mushaira was very good. Audience enjoyed it fully. Everyone appreciated the way it was conducted. Poets were also very comfortable with the Washington audience.

MUSHAIRA, P28

COMMUNITY

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P19

Dr Ahmad Sakr Passes away, Death Widely Mourned

The Islamic Shura Council joins Muslims all over the world in mourning the loss of Dr Ahmad Sakr, who returned to his Lord earlier this evening (November 23), says a Shura message. Paying tributes to the late Dr Sakr the message adds: “He gave his whole life to the community, may Allah shower him with His mercy and give sabr jameel, the best of patience, to his grieving family. We ask that you remember him and his family in your prayers.”

CAIR: The board and staff of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have offered sincere condolences on the passing of Dr Ahmad Sakr. In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said: “To God we belong and to Him is our return. Very few people in our community have left a legacy comparable to that of Dr Sakr. His

R

Texas Town Rallies behind Muslims after Mosque Vandalism

esidents of a suburb in Austin, Texas have come together to show support to Muslims after a mosque was vandalized in the area.

intellectual legacy will last for generations to come. We offer sincere and heartfelt condolence to his family and loved ones.

“Through his dedicated friendly, humble and practical efforts, he helped support the establishment of hundreds of mosques, schools and organizations that continue to serve millions of American Muslims.

DR SAKR, P28

Torn pages of the Holy Qur’an were thrown at the door of a mosque in an Austin suburb last week. The incident which came in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Paris, sparked concern about a backlash against Muslims.

Residents of the town came together and took to the streets with placards, condemning the vandalism. “Stop hating”, said one of the placards, while another said, “Keep your hate to yourself.”

Speaking out against the vandals, one woman said, “It is beholden to me, to stand together with my Muslim brothers and sisters, so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen anymore.”

Although there was no physical damage to the mosque, the vandalism came as a shock to residents. “I felt sad when I first found out about it because this didn’t happen after 9/11,” a resident of the area said.

Meanwhile, leaders of the mosque said that vandalism and threats against Muslims are on the rise and are becoming more common.

The mosque condemned the violence but said it has

A Memorable Odyssey

already forgiven the vandals. Although efforts have been ongoing, the vandals have not yet been caught.

Earlier, a seven-year-old boy donated all his savings, about $20, to the mosque. Jack Swanson, the young donor, went to the mosque on the afternoon the incident happened and handed over his savings.

Through the “Iraqi Odyssey” Samir the award-winning filmmaker presents the saga of a family that is spread over the globe

“

n By C. Naseer Ahmad

Memories light the corners of my mind

Misty water-colored memories of the way we were.”

Almost half a century ago, these lyrics were on the lips of millions and the award-winning movie containing the popular song achieved much success at the box office. According to CNN, the National Endowment for the Arts ranked it among the top 300 songs of the last century.

Despite the movie’s popularity, one remembers that it was a fictionalized story about the screen writer’s college days and the experience with the House Un-American Activities Committee during the unpleasant McCarthy era in America.

Memories, the collective set of our joys, our sorrows and everything in between, make us what we are and what we like to be. So it will be remembered that this year, the “Iraqi Odyssey” is Switzerland’s Official Entry for the 88th Academy Awards and Oscar nominee in the 2016 Best Foreign Language Film Category.

The screening of this beautiful documentary film in Washington, DC was itself memorable. The Swiss Embassy hosted this event which

brought together many families of the Iraqi Diaspora. Included in this gathering was a scholar who grew up in Manchester with an Iraqi as well as Pakistani heritage.

The movie director Samir discussed his interesting project with the engaged audience with some thought-provoking questions like: “How did it come to this, that all our dreams of a renaissance in the Arab world and the wish for a transformation into a modern, just society were so abruptly and brutally destroyed? Is there a possibility to reconstruct this dream by building on our experiences of migration?”

Through the “Iraqi Odyssey” Samir the award-winning filmmaker presents the saga of a family that is spread over the globe.

Samir Jamal Al Din was born in Baghdad. Since his early age, he has lived in Switzerland. While only a handful members of his extended family still remain in Iraq, a great number of his extended family members are scattered all over the world— Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Sydney, Los Angeles, Buffalo, London, Paris, Zurich, and Moscow.

Through memories – sweet and otherwise like departures and displacements – of his relatives, Samir shines in his gift of storytelling. The

movie “also chronicles how Iraqis’ dreams of building a modern and just society after their nation achieved independence in the 1950s were brutally dashed over the course of half a century.”

In person, Samir is relaxed, smiling and jovial. He did not appear to bring a magic carpet from Baghdad or Zurich but there was definitely some wizardry involved when Samir spoke. In an instant, the audience in their comfortable seats in this beautiful diplomatic abode on Cathedral Avenue was transported across the oceans to the alleys of the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf and then into the libraries learning about the treasure troves.

Moments later, the audience was in the boat crossing the Euphrates and maybe even Tigress. There they saw Samir’s grandfather tossing his black turban into the river so as to facilitate paying his fair share of the ride instead of getting a free ride. Was the grandfather a “mubellegh al risala” or the carrier of the message? Knowing the religious rank of the grandfather did not matter because the “Iraqi Odyssey” is not a film about religion.

As the film and its discussion moved along, it was clear that nostalgia about the liberal Iraq is still alive.

The refreshing thing however is to

www.PakistanLink.com

learn that Samir is neither pessimistic nor a wide eyed wishful thinker. He seems to be in touch with reality and with a lot of people in Iraq. Based on his communications with the Iraqis of today – leaving aside the ISIS types whom he considers idiots – Samir is hopeful about the future. He sees changes occurring that could lead to improvements in the society.

When reminiscing about the better days gone by, it is natural to wish for their return. Samir is however realistic and thinks the liberal societies in Iraq or other parts of the Middle East may not come back just like the glory days of the Abbasids.

But as technology is ubiquitous it allows instant communication thereby making it difficult for tyranny and rigid structure to last long.

In its review, the Hollywood Reporter noted that through the Iraqi Odyssey “Samir turns his insight on the personal story of his own family of middle-class professionals, the descendants of his patriarchal grandfather whose liberal attitude towards women, religion, the arts, Communism, the army and life in general is reflected in the next two generations of independent thinkers.”

Is this a story that audience can relate to? Nowadays, considering the migration around the world over the

last few decades, it is not so unusual to have an extended family spread in different parts of the world. But it is not often to have an aunt, uncle or cousin in Moscow, Paris, New York and New Zealand – some of whom might have been activists in Iraq’s Communist Party that was dismantled under Saddam Hussein, as in the case of Samir’s extended family.

It requires a gifted storyteller like Samir to weave the mosaic as he did during his presentation at the residence of Ambassador Martin Dahinden – who incidentally has been in Swat, the Switzerland of Pakistan during the relief effort in the aftermath of the massive floods- whom Samir knew during student days. So through his aunts, uncles and cousins, the viewers will get to know Iraq which is not fixated on ISIS. And, when they do return briefly to Iraq, they find the country unrecognizable.

With 3D (three dimensional) technology, the movie applies modern technology and contains memories of an unforgettable odyssey. But, it is not the advanced technology that makes the movie and the director stand out. Rather, the real and outstanding third dimension is the human dimension. So when Samir talks, whether through his camera or vocally, it is an absolute joy to listen.

COMMUNITY

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Clinton Blasts Trump’s Remarks Washington:

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton on Friday condemned Donald Trump’s comments that Muslims in America should be registered in a database.

Trump, leading the polls for the Republican nomination, has issued several controversial remarks about Muslims and Syrian refugees in the wake of last week’s attacks in Paris claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.

Clinton took issue with his Thursday night remarks, which appeared to draw comparisons with Nazi Germany.

“This is shocking rhetoric. It should be denounced by all seeking to lead this country,” Clinton wrote on Twitter.

Trump was asked by NBC News on Thursday whether he would support creating a database system to track Muslims.

“I would certainly implement that. Absolutely,” Trump told the network at a campaign stop in Newton, Iowa.

Fellow Republican candidate Jeb Bush, who has been denounced for suggesting Christian refugees should be prioritized over Muslims, joined Clinton in criticizing Trump for his remarks, saying Americans do not have to abandon their values to be resolute in fighting extremism.

“You talk about internment, you talk about closing mosques, you talk about registering people, and that’s just wrong,” Bush told CNBC on Friday.

“That’s not strength, that’s weakness.”

Teen Accused of Clock Bomb Seeks $15 Million

Chicago: The

Muslim teenager arrested when a teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb threatened to sue his school and the town of Irving, Texas for $15 million, his lawyer said Monday.

Ahmed Mohamed, 14, became an overnight sensation in September after his sister tweeted a photo of the aspiring inventor standing in handcuffs while wearing a t-shirt with the US space agency NASA’s logo.

President Barack Obama joined a surge of public support by congratulating the teen on his skills and inviting him to bring the clock to the White House in what was seen as a pointed rebuke to school and police officials amid accusations of Islamophobia.

Invitations poured in from Facebook, Google, the United Nations and Mohamed later tweeted photos of visits to Mecca, New York, Sudan and Qatar.

But his lawyer insists there was a dark side to his fame, which caused “severe psychological trauma,”

TEEN, P28

Trump Supports Database to Track Muslims

The Race to 2016: Be a Part of the Change

Newton:

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has voiced support for creating a mandatory database to track Muslims in the United States — the latest in an escalating series of responses following the deadly attacks in Paris.

“I would certainly implement that. Absolutely,” Trump told an NBC News reporter between campaign events Thursday in Newton, Iowa, according to video posted on MSNBC. com.

He said Muslims would be signed up at “different places,” adding, “It’s all about management.”

Asked whether registering would be mandatory, Trump responded, “They have to be.”

The latest comments come less than a week after the deadly attacks on a concert hall, sports stadium and restaurants in Paris that have elevated fears of attacks in the US and prompted calls for new restrictions on Syrian refugees fleeing their war-torn country.

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton on Friday condemned Donald Trump’s comments that Muslims in America should be registered in a data base. Clinton took issue with his Thursday night remarks, which appeared to draw comparisons with Nazi Germany. “This is shocking rhetoric. It should be denounced by all seeking to lead this country,” Clinton wrote on Twitter.

Fellow Republican and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush called Trump’s proposal “abhorrent.” Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Trump was trying to “divide people.” And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has largely avoided criticizing Trump throughout the 2016 campaign, said that while he was a fan of the billionaire businessman, “I’m not a fan of government registries of American citizens.”

The unified pushback against Trump was rare.

Republicans have vacillated in their handling of other inflammatory comments from the bellicose real estate mogul, wary of alienating the front-runner’s supporters but also increasingly concerned that he’s managed to maintain his grip on the Republican race deep with the first primary votes less than three months away.

While some of his rivals have been chastised by President Barack Obama for suggesting that Christian Syrian refugees be given preference over Muslims, Trump has gone further in his rhetoric, advocating new restrictions on civil liberties and enhanced surveillance activities, including inside mosques.

Trump said earlier this week that the country was “going to have no choice” but to close certain mosques because “really bad things are happening, and they’re happening fast.”

The first reference to the database idea came in an interview with Yahoo News published earlier Thursday in which the billionaire real estate mogul did not reject the idea of requiring Muslims to register in a database or giving them special identification cards noting their religion.

“We’re going to have to look at a lot of things very closely,” Trump told Yahoo News.

n By Hoda Hawa Director of Policy & Advocacy MPAC

W

ith less than 12 months before the 2016 elections, we are preparing the groundwork for advocacy on our platform issues with the next administration, members of Congress, and the larger policymaking community.

In partnership with New America, we hosted our second annual DC Policy Forum this week -- “The Race to 2016: American Muslims, the Elections and Beyond.” C-SPAN

broadcasted the last session on effective American Muslim advocacy models. See photos from the event here.

The Policy Forum served as a platform to engage policy and media experts with national American Muslim leaders to advance a dialogue on our domestic and foreign policy priorities ahead of the 2016 elections. Our next steps include setting up working groups and coalitions to create action plans on issues like countering rising Islamophobia in politics, making mosques relevant to our youth, and engaging our leaders.

American Muslims enrich U.S. policymaking every day, so after the forum we hosted a reception on Capitol Hill recognizing American Muslims serving in government.

Officials from Congress, the White House, and Departments of State, Defense, and Education attended.

There is a lot of work left to be done and it must be done together.

Mobilizing around our shared values and principles is the most effective way to create change in the current political landscape. Schedule a civic engagement workshop in your community and be a part of the change.

Attacks on American Muslims Are Growing Uglier by the Day

n By Petula Dvorak

L

week.

ooks like fear — not turkey — is the main course being served in our country this

Political opportunists running for president have been cooking up a heaping platter of anti-Muslim sentiment since the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. They’ve geared us up for an epic Hategiving with their ugly proposals to shut down mosques, register American Muslims and reject Syrian refugees who aren’t Christians.

If you don’t think Muslims are under attack, take a look at what went down in the town of Fredericksburg last week.

The Islamic Center of Fredericksburg — a little brick building that looks like a bank branch office and has been around for 27 years — was skewered at a community meeting by a handful of seething people who see the center’s expansion plans as a threat to the very fabric of America.

“Nobody, nobody, nobody wants your evil cult in this county,” a man said in a video of the Tuesday meeting posted online by the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. “I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen, because you are terrorists.”

He wasn’t the only one spewing hatred.

A man wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with a flying eagle with American flag wings and the words “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave” kept getting up and shouting down the engineers and their blueprints.

“We all saying it: Muslim is evil,” he boomed, as murmurs and some low cheers fluttered around him.

This was said in a public meeting.

In front of a large group of Muslims who have lived, worked and worshiped in this community for years. About a

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A community meeting about the Islamic Center of Fredericksburg’s plans to build a bigger mosque was interrupted by over half a dozen angry protesters calling their Muslim neighbors terrorists

center that has been sponsoring a food pantry, prayers and subversive events such as “Farm Fun Day” for nearly three decades.

The Islamic Center’s grand expansion plan? It wants to grow to 8,000 square feet — basically, the size of a Denny’s.

Okay, brave eagle man. How about you listen to this guy: “America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country,” he said.

“Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect.”

Who said that?

President George W. Bush, when he visited the Islamic Center of Washington six days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam,” Bush said as anti-Muslim sentiment began to percolate in a country devastated by the deaths of

about 3,000 people. “That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don’t represent peace. They represent evil and war.”

Yet in the week since the Paris attacks, the American conversation has escalated with frightening and jawdropping speed to include registration of US Muslims, internment camps, closed borders.

The tone is actually worse than it was after the Sept. 11 attacks on our own soil. Registration by religion?

Sounds like Nazi Germany, not a country with a First Amendment that enshrines freedom of religion.

Why are we degenerating so quickly and so far from our country’s founding values? Because it’s an election year. And political leaders — egged on by the grandstanding and lies of Donald Trump — are peddling fear like it’s a miracle drug.

In communities across America, we are turning on each other, on the very neighbors who have been part of the fabric of our country for decades.

Fredericksburg was plastered with fliers that warned residents ATTACKS, P28

COMMUNITY

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21

n By Patrick Burnett

T

American University Washington, DC

his past week, Paris, one of the great Western capitals, was rocked by a terrible tragedy. On a Friday night, 129 innocent people simply enjoying an evening out died at the hands of extremists who believed they were killing in the fight to avenge their people and “their” God. It was the worst attack in France since World War II, and it has left Europe feeling under siege.

As we across the pond stand in solidarity with Paris and mourn the innocent victims of such hatred, how can such ruthless violence even begin to be checked? Thanks to a recent high-profile Jewish-Muslim dialogue though, a top Jewish scholar and a top Muslim scholar may have given us just the lesson or two needed to help humanity move forward.

On November 12, American University (AU) had the honor of welcoming Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of the UK, for a dialogue with Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at AU and the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, for a dialogue on countering religious violence. Named “two of the leading scholars of religions, two of the most exciting thinkers of our days and also two amazing spiritual leaders,” by moderator Professor Michael Brenner, the Seymour and Lillian Abensohn Chair in Israel Studies at AU, this dialogue not only talked the talk of Jewish-Muslim relations, but walked the walk.

Andalusia and Abrahamic coexistence in European history Many in the West today perceive we are experiencing an impenetrable clash of civilizations with the Muslim world. And as Paris sadly demonstrated, Europe in fact faces a major crisis rooted in fractured interfaith relations. However, just because interfaith tensions provoke atrocities today, does not mean the Abrahamic faiths have always been or must keep fighting one another. A model for coexistence even comes straight from the annals of European history.

Between the tenth and twelfth centuries, Andalusia thrived under “benign Islamic rule,” as Sacks describes the era of La Convivencia, when Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived side-by-side in creative harmony. This era of history, directly out of present-day southern Spain, is a Western legacy of interfaith harmony that all of us can learn from and apply today. And as Sacks so eloquently stated, “The idea that Jews, Christians and Muslims should live together in mutual respect is not utopia.

We have been there before.” And we can do it again.

Among the most prescient stories of La Convivencia is that of the famous Rabbi Moses Maimonides, among the greatest Jewish philosophers of history. Maimonides thrived in Andalusia under Muslim rule, spending

Jewish-Muslim Relations: For European Peace, the Siblings Can & Must Make Amends

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, left, and Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, right, join hands in a moment of true admiration during their November 12 dialogue at American University on countering religious violence.

Photo by Joseph Marcus, American University School of International Service

his career in constant contact with the great Muslim philosophers of the time. In fact, as Sacks illustrates, the codes of Sharia law were the primary inspiration for Maimonides’ writing of the Mishneh Torah, or comprehensive code of Jewish law. Sharia, the oft-maligned and misinterpreted code of Islamic law, actually inspired the core of modern Jewish law.

This Islamic codification of its own faith also inspired Maimonides to write out the Thirteen Principles of Jewish Law. Thanks to La

tion and friendship between leaders of these supposedly antithetical faith groups became readily apparent and showed that La Convivencia can be the 21st-century reality.

Cross-faith friendship and solidarity Rabbi Sacks and Ambassador Ahmed first came together through another moment of interfaith bridge building in the mid-2000s.

Inspired by a series of award-winning interfaith dialogues between Ahmed and Judea

Author Patrick Burnett, middle back row, joins Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, center right, Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, center left, and Ambassador Ahmed’s team of students and researchers following the dialogue. Photo by Joseph Marcus, American University School of International Service

Convivencia, Muslim inspiration established a core foundation of contemporary Judaism-a connection that cannot be brushed aside.

Some may perceive the stories of La Convivencia as mere historic relics. It was, after all, a millennium ago when the era of La Convivencia reached its pinnacle. Yet, during this remarkable AU dialogue between a Muslim and a Jewish scholar, a deep mutual admira-

Pearl, the Jewish father of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, killed as a hostage while reporting in Pakistan in 2002, Sacks invited the two together for an interview on his annual BBC program as then-Chief Rabbi. And from this great encounter, another presentday friendship between a Jewish scholar and a Muslim scholar emerged and flourished.

The friendship between Sacks and

Ahmed has only strengthened through years of narratives trumping up Jewish-Muslim antagonism. Before even answering moderator Brenner’s first question, Sacks professed his delight for being with his “beloved friend now of many years, Professor Ahmed,” even going on to call Ahmed a “great, great, great man.” Sacks also went on to celebrate Ahmed’s distinguished career in building faith bridges by stating, “Professor Ahmed has what we so need now, somebody who has enough religion to make us love one another, not just hate one another.” Such genuine comments like these, from a Jewish faith leader and scholar to a Muslim scholar no less, cannot be staged. And if Jews and Muslims who intimately know their faith traditions can build a strong friendship, so too can millions of Jews and Muslims around the world.

This co-admiration between Sacks and Ahmed was not the only interfaith friendship visible on stage either. Rabbi Bruce Lustig, the senior rabbi of the Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC, also professed his deep admiration for Ahmed’s interfaith work. Lustig, in his note of thanks for the evening, not only called Ahmed his friend and teacher, but even stated, “[Ahmed] actually lives the best of the Abrahamic faiths.”

For two senior rabbis to hold a devout Muslim scholar in such high regard indicates true fraternity among these broader faith traditions can and does exist. Sadly, such cordiality between Jews and Muslims has become something unusual and noteworthy. In a somber world where Jews and Muslims are killing each other daily in the Middle East, and terrorist groups attack their brothers and sisters in Abraham globally, such rich interfaith friendships must deepen, proliferate, and be shared with the world if Abrahamic peace is to once again prevail. Jewish-Muslim friendships can become the norm, rather than the exception.

The necessity of interfaith bridges The Abrahamic faiths can come together.

It has happened in history--Andalusia was, on balance, a time of true interfaith harmony.

It happens today in friendships between top scholars and leaders of Judaism and Islam.

And it can happen on a global scale.

Bridges will not be built overnight. Jewish and Muslim communities must overcome generations of animosity to build a broader peace. But if this dialogue between Rabbi Sacks and Ambassador Ahmed is indicative of anything, it is that such bridges can be built, and the framework stands. It is a matter of laying the pavement now, and this pavement must be set.

We cannot let the attacks in Paris stop us in our efforts to bring our Abrahamic faith traditions together. It is the fate of France, Europe, and the whole of the West that lays endangered if peace cannot be fostered between such fraternal faith traditions that stand in such tragic antagonism today.

Sling International Sponsors Inaugural ‘Cricket All-Stars’ Series, Helps Bring Live Cricket to the US Englewood, Colo.: Cricket icons from around the world faced off on US soil as part of the inaugural “Cricket All-Stars,” a three-game series sponsored in part by Sling International.

The first match took place November 7 at Citi Field in New York, and was followed by matches on November 11 at Minute Maid Park in Houston and November 14 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Legendary cricket players Sachin Tendulkar of India and Shane Warne of Australia were seen headlining their respective teams, “Sachin’s Blasters” and “Warne’s Warriors.” The two teams featured former all-star players from eight different countries.

Fans attending the Cricket All-Stars matches were able to visit the Sling International booth to learn more about the product and snap a pic-

ture in the photo booth.

“Our goal is to bring the excitement of cricket to fans living in the US, and we wanted to show our support for this rare opportunity to see some of the game’s greatest players live and in-person,” said Chris Kuelling, senior vice president of International Programming for Sling TV. “Not only is the Cricket All-Stars series a must-see event for lifelong cricket fans, it’s an opportunity to engage a whole new audience who may never before have experienced the game.”

Sling International’s sponsorship of the Cricket All-Stars stems from the brand’s support of the game and commitment to entertainment that connects viewers with their culture. A leading provider of global content to viewers in the US, Sling International delivers over 200

international channels including many top rated South Asian channels such as Willow Cricket, Sony, Aapka Colors, ZeeTV, Star Plus, Aaj Tak, TV Asia, ARY Digital, Geo TV, Maa TV, Sun TV and ETV. Customers of Sling TV who have the “Best of Live TV” pack-

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age can watch the Cricket All-Stars matches on ESPN3 for no extra cost by entering their Sling TV username and password on WatchESPN.com or within the Watch ESPN app. Sling customers who wish to subscribe to “Best of Live TV” and receive access to ESPN3 can do so by logging into their account at www.sling.com and adding the “Best of Live TV” package. For more information regarding the Cricket All-Stars series please visit www.cricketallstars2015. com.

About Sling TV: Sling TV L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), provides over-the-top television services including domestic and international live and VideoOn-Demand programming. It is available on televisions, tablets, computers and smartphones. The

Sling TV programming portfolio includes content from Disney/ESPN, HBO, AMC, A&E, Turner, Scripps, EPIX, Univision and Maker Studios.

Sling Latino offers a suite of standalone and add-on Spanish-language programming packages tailored to English-dominant, bilingual and Spanish-dominant US Hispanics.

Sling International currently provides more than 200 channels in 18 languages across multiple devices to US households. Sling TV is a nextgeneration service that meets the entertainment needs of today’s contemporary viewers. Visit www.Sling. com.

Follow @Sling on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Sling #TakeBackTV Contact Neeta Bhasin at media@asbcommunications.com for any queries.

COMMENTARY

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Muslim World Taskforce Wants to Save Science Universities n By Pakinam Amer

T

he University of Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco, is the world’s oldest continually operational university and a relic of an Islamic Golden Age. Yet, despite its glorious history in pedagogy, the Muslim world these days contributes sparingly to the growing body of knowledge.

The Muslim world, with its 57 countries, roughly 25% of the world’s population, has contributed only 1.6% of the world’s patents, 6% of academic publications, and 2.4% of the global research expenditure to date, according to a report by a non-governmental taskforce of scientists, experts and educators, including Athar Osama, founder of the Muslim World Science initiative.

This taskforce is straddling a line between reform and revolution; creating an initiative that aims to turn science education in Muslim universities on its head, but in stages.

From investigating university programs and revamping them, to encouraging institutions to shift to meritocracy, offering training in the best science practices while establishing models of excellence, the taskforce may be accused of chasing an unattainable goal — considering the complexity and magnitude of the problems facing the Muslim world’s educational systems.

But the taskforce members, including experts like Osama, are hopeful that their efforts will pay off.

Nature Middle East speaks to Osama about the problem of science in the Muslim world, his taskforce’s first report and what the experts hope to achieve.

How is this initiative unique?

The purpose of the taskforce is to create a conversation about issues of science and society in the Muslim world. We want to enhance and amplify the voice of individuals; we want to involve a much wider crosssection, not just governments.

Isn’t the involvement of Muslim world government’s essential for real change?

The governments respond to initiatives through their own plans and activities. Governments don’t feel much pressure right now. They do not feel obliged. That’s why we want to create a bottom-up conversation. It’s a society-based approach; where societies would encourage governments to act.

We do believe that a small group of people who are motivated and enlightened, who come together to create a debate about issues that affect societies can go a long way in terms of convincing governments to cooperate.

A lot of times the problems can be solved but we’re not being vocal about it.

The report recommends, among other things, giving universities more autonomy, an overhaul of science curricula in addition to promoting the right metrics.

What should take priority? Where should the Muslim world start?

The approach we’re taking, is saying, ‘listen, let’s not try to solve all of these problems for the entire Muslim world, let’s not try to fix all Muslim universities at once. Let’s just create a few models of excel-

lence to inspire.’ This is what we’re doing. We’ll let the [Muslim] society judge for itself and see what excellence looks like. And as a result of that inspire others to achieve excellence. We’re calling for a network of excellence where each individual would work with eight to ten universities in the Muslim world and try to help them understand what a scientific approach is, what kind of actions and recommendations to implement, and how they can implement them. [Teaching them about] different practices, setting up summer schools for university leaders; we want to get everyone’s hand dirty regarding how to do this right. As time progresses, we will also monitor progress of universities who join this implementation network, and issue report cards to celebrate progress when that happens.

So if you are a university that wants to do this right, if you’re a vice-chancellor or a provost and you’re interested in understanding how to do this correctly, you become part of a network and this taskforce can help you do that. If you’re a dean, and your professors need training, you want to organize summer schools for university leaders … if you want to understand how to integrate social sciences with hard sciences, or philosophy or history to the teaching of science, we can give you the tools and approaches on how to do it correctly.

So this is dependent on the will and initiative of these universities? Or are you targeting specific institutions to jumpstart your work?

Ideally, we would like the universities to approach the taskforce, and we can help them build capacity for undertaking science education reforms. This way, our focus is to start small with a handful of institutions that have the desire to change and do things right — rather than try to convince those who are skeptical of these reforms. Hopefully, if some institutions show market progress, others will automatically follow their example.

You don’t offer funds and will work with the university’s resources?

Yes, exactly.

Do you believe that universities can achieve excellence without aggressive funding? Because science can be demanding on resources, for example good labs, state of the art technology, etc.

I think that could happen … if universities begin to show progress, money could automatically come.

But most of the reforms we’re talking about do not cost a lot of money. For example, teaching science in a manner that is inquiry-based doesn’t cost much, so universities should be able to do it. Similarly, we’re saying that science students should also be taught philosophy and history of science as well as languages and social sciences to create more holistic individuals. Those are not very costly actions...they’re just signs and signals that the university is seeking to do the right things. Of course, money becomes a bottleneck at some stage but I think there are low-hanging fruits that we must pick first before getting to the tougher ones.

So the lack of money won’t hinder your efforts?

It’s a step-by-step process.

Once we create this desire for excellence, [the resources will come.]

Most of the time, the problem with science in the Muslim world is that we’re not demanding enough of our governments. A lot of times the problems can be solved but we’re not being vocal about it. We all understand the science problem but we’re not willing to put a lot of pressure on our governments to fund science.

In your recommendations for progress, you speak of giving universities more autonomy. What are you asking governments to do?

A lot of university appointments are made by ministries or higher education regulators. These regulators decide what is taught in the universities. A student in the biology department cannot take part in the physics department because the regulator doesn’t allow this to happen. You cannot create your own major, but these days all scientists are very multidisciplinary. We have mathematicians who are working in biology and physicists who are working in chemistry. If our regulators are so stringent that they don’t allow this cross-pollination of ideas to happen, we have a problem.

We want universities to have freedom to innovate, and to debate, discuss and critique all kinds of ideas. We want innovation in curriculum and in pedagogy.

But, of course, there are cases where universities when given autonomy have chosen to engage in a race to the bottom. That is, instead of improving quality and hiring better faculty, quality declines and they hire worse faculty.

It’s a perceived conflict between science and Islam, especially in areas like cosmology and evolution.

So while autonomy is an aspiration, universities must also become meritocracies to justify that autonomy. We want universities to hire based on merit.

If you’re not going to hire the best possible faculty, and give them freedom to do what they do best, how will you ever be able to do excellent science?

Why do some universities fail or falter when given autonomy?

Most of the ‘old’ and large universities have faculty that hasn’t engaged in competitive research of any kind. Not long ago, most such universities were merely teaching shops and not required to do research.

Now, you suddenly ask them to do quality research and [in the absence of regulators] they find themselves

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struggling because they have never done it before; it’s not their fault, they were never asked to do it. So, these people sometimes feel threatened and they discourage younger faculty from doing research. So autonomy can be a double-edged sword.

In a Nature commentary this month, scientist Nidhal Guessoum and yourself argue that using textbooks that assume a Western experience and teaching in English or French can create a disconnect between education and culture. All prestigious highquality science publications are in English, so won’t studying in the local language — like Arabic, Farsi or Urdu — create a disconnect between the students’ education and their careers later as scientists?

We actually need to encourage bilingual education. We do understand that most of the high-caliber publications are done in English.

We also do understand that the local vs. English debate is a ‘chicken and egg problem’; most students do not do well in universities or don’t end up in science universities because they don’t understand science that’s taught in English. They come from a school system where everything is taught in the local language.

Science is one degree of complexity and English on top of it creates another degree of complexity.

Wouldn’t it be better to give students preparatory language training, instead of switching the entire system?

There’s no consensus on which road to take when it comes to languages. Governments and institutions should perhaps investigate the best approach. We also think that by the time students come to universities, they should be exposed to English as a second-language, but while they’re at the university, they should be trained to be multilingual so that they can operate in a versatile manner. What we say in the report is that maybe we need to mix the language, during science instruction.

So you can, for instance, offer the class lecturing in English but tutorials in the local language. The whole idea is for students to really get the concepts [being studied].

Why not use the Western/ European experience as a model instead of re-thinking everything from scratch?

We don’t have anything against the European experiences. There’s no harm in learning from them.

In Europe, and in most other intellectually ‘living’ nations, there

are strong translation movements where everything gets translated instantly into their local language.

Try going to a bookshop in France, Germany, or even Turkey, and you’ll find [a translation of] every single book on earth but not a single book in English. So we must be ready to create robust translation movements. If we can credibly do that, we probably don’t need as much English. But until we do that, and also to interact with global scientific literature, which is predominantly in English, we must help create bilingual learners.

You mention that there are science universities here that refuse evolution altogether for religious regions. How do you plan on resolving this conflict in a predominantly religious region?

In some cases, I think, it’s a perceived conflict between science and Islam, especially in areas like cosmology and evolution. The taskforce takes the position that science should be kept out of religion, and religion out of science. In the science classroom, the students are often thinking about the religious interpretations, like ‘I read this in the Qur’an, and you’re teaching me that.’ [There’s a dichotomy].

Should universities accommodate this thought process? Is it their job to reconcile students’ faith and their science education?

In his essay [on teaching evolution], Michael Reiss argues that the purpose of teaching evolution in the classroom should not necessarily be to convince the student of the truth of this theory but to teach the theory as a scientific fact. But we do understand that the reality of the classroom is different. As Mustafa El-Tayeb points out, you’ve got a 45-minute lecture on evolution and cosmology and then in the end, you say, ‘by the way, this is just a theory and the Qur’an says this.’ So essentially you’ve wasted 45 minutes of your time … you negate yourself automatically.

I think one of the ways to address this, and the taskforce is quite clear on that, is that you can’t study science in the absence of the history of science or the philosophy of science. So if you know these subjects, you can understand how the knowledge that you’re gaining can be placed in the overall view of things. You get to understand how [Muslim] scientists of earlier years have thoughts about these issues, in the same manner, and have reached similar or different conclusions.

One of the things we’re very strongly against is this narrow strait of science that many universities embark upon in the Muslim world and developing countries. That’s why we want to train people to understand these tricky and sensitive issues in the intersection of science and religion.

So can the interlacing of religion, culture and science here enrich the thought process instead of restricting it?

Yes, sometimes it can. I believe it’s the way you approach an issue.

I strongly believe that somehow we need to create a balance between our faith and what science tells us.

I do believe God invokes Muslims in the Qur’an to study science and observe his creation. I don’t believe the former can ever give us a wrong answer.

COMMENTARY

A

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23

Duped – A Book That Shocks As Well As Makes You Think

nyone expecting the recently released book DUPED by Saadia Navin Bilgrami as a conventional chronicle or an autobiography or memoirs will be disappointed.

Instead of a linear account of her life as a fourth child of an immigrant Pakistani family from Northern India, she offers a disjointed series of chapters that focus less on herself than on the predicament of her grandmother who left an affluent life behind to flee for life but losing half her family on her way to the ‘promised land’.

She, the matriarch, suffered more in her adopted land than had she stayed in the land of her ancestors and faced the consequences of her “quixotic activities”. She accuses the founder for everything that ails Pakistan including a degenerate society, depraved morals of its elite and lack of a democratic culture. “That who’s born crooked remains crooked the entire life” she claims. Lack of political savvy, arrogance, blind faith on the British and indifference to the advice of associates, caused an irreparable damage to the Muslims of the subcontinent on both sides of the divide. Had there been a process in the Party, people would have chosen their leaders wisely, she writes.

“The whole thing is ironic,” she continues firing from the mouth of her grandmother. “After living in harmony (not of course absolute as wishing it would be Utopian) for almost half a millennium in a united state of India, a bunch of anglophile ‘bourgeois’ declared that Muslims were a different species and therefore needed a separate

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fter the deadly attacks in Paris on November 13, the spotlight is once again on Muslim communities in western nations. A wave of Islamophobic reactions are being reported from countries where Muslim communities are a minority and already worried for their safety.

The situation has been exacerbated by the migrant crisis, as hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees cross into Europe. Muslim communities are responding to this attention by denouncing violence worldwide, standing up in solidarity with those affected and grieving with their communities.

‘Go back to where you came from’ Social media has been rampant with instances of hate speech against Muslims, from hateful encounters with anti-Muslim individuals to repeated bomb threats at Muslim community centes and mosques.

A Pakistani journalist in Dubai was commuting to work – an unassuming brown girl in a sweatshirt and jeans – when an old lady muttered that “people like her” should “go back to where they came from”.

– From the Facebook feed of Co-Editor [Ajam Media Collective][1] and former editor at [Maan News Agency][2], Alex Shams.

Thousands of miles away near Toronto a mosque was set on fire.

This happened only a day after the Paris attacks. Community members

in the minds of serious thinkers.

Citing example of the MasonDixon line to resolve a border dispute between a couple of Colonial American States that took five years to be drawn and which didn’t involve population or asset trans-

It’s always good to heed arguments opposite to one’s own. It widens one’s understanding of problems presently faced. The older generation having too fixed an idea would be, in their hubris, unwilling to accept anything contrary to their beliefs

homeland.”

In Pakistan, first her grandmother was declared persona non grata; then circumstances found her thirteen years old sister as a domestic in the house of a feudal lord whose scion had crippled her father for life and where the mysterious disappearance of her predecessor kept her on her toes; and lastly, bringing her family saga at par with a Greek tragedy, she describes the gripping tales of her

two brothers who perished one after the other within a short span of time. And as the funeral of her brother was being taken out for burial, she, as a toddler, asks the older sister: “Can I use Bhayya’s slippers now?”

Saadia Bilgrami is a novice to the world of letters and, therefore, has not been able to advance her case in a scholarly manner. The whole book seems a catharsis of a wrung out heart. But she raises questions that resonate fleetingly

fer, she writes; “… the partition of a country with a population of four hundred million, with more than one thousand cultures and tongues and a land area of some one and a half million square miles was allowed to be wrapped up in less than two months. Why?” Circumstances leading to accepting Radcliff, with no background as a demographer, a cartographer, a social scientist or even an industrialist, as the arbiter of the fate of the Indian sub-continent aren’t very clear!

Why UN or some neutral country wasn’t considered for the job? She queries. Why the fate of Kashmir, Hyderabad and other princely states was left to be decided by India’s fire power? Allowing ‘partition

After Paris, Fear and Love for Muslims

denounced the act as a hate crime, and the city’s mayor condemned the incident, calling it a “despicable act”.

In Florida, a Muslim family had just come home from a charity event, and they were distastefully welcomed by a bullet hole in their garage door.

The backlash doesn’t come as a surprise and the instances are likely to increase. According to a survey conducted in Western nations by Pew Research Center, concern relating to Islamic extremism has doubled in these countries in the last five years.

Not in our name The majority of Muslims do not support the self-styled Islamic State, and are visibly fighting back in their own communities. Students are circulating peaceful passages from the Holy Qur’an at their universities; the social media generation has taken to creating hashtags to prove that Muslims stand with the rest of the world. #MuslimsAreNotTerrorists, #TerrorismHasNoReligion and #NotInMyName started trending on Twitter the day after the Paris attacks. #MuslimsAreNotTerrorists has over 267,000 mentions on Twitter and counting.

Making a statement One Muslim woman, Sabah Ahmed, showed up on Fox News wearing an American flag as her hijab. Ahmed, the President and Founder of the Republican Muslim

papers’ to be destroyed was coupe de grace reminding that Muslim League leaders were cooling their heels while the thwarting minds were at work.

Her grandmother’s outbursts against organized religions, particularly monotheism, however, are difficult to fathom. Writing after a wide interval of years, the obscure author disgorging fire and smoke right down to the bone quotes the old woman saying that these have made both living and dying difficult. She has quoted copiously from philosophers, Nobel laureates, poets and classicists to bring “weight and wisdom” to the arguments defining ‘subjective’ and ‘objective’ truths and shortness of life. Why God spoke in parables to the prophets and plainly and with clarity to those who fostered an enlightened society free of prejudices, petty rivalries, conflicts and misinterpretations? Why faith in God divides? What’s the difference between Divine punishment and Divine test? Is it a fact that Fate rules the destiny of man and even gods can’t escape its writ?

So this is a book that could be called a potpourri of reminisces, politics, philosophy and metaphysics and a highly wrought account of the travails of a family. Nonetheless, it is a must read book by the millennial generation. It’s always good to heed arguments opposite to one’s own.

It widens one’s understanding of problems presently faced. The older generation having too fixed an idea would be, in their hubris, unwilling to accept anything contrary to their beliefs. - SSH The book of nearly 500 pages, priced at $23 originally, is now available in cheaper editions at Amazon and Barnes & Nobel.

ent, the very thing Jack had been saving up for.

United Condemnation Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain (MBC) took out an ad in local newspapers strongly condemning the attacks. The advert was endorsed by over 300 people, and featured an image of the Eiffel Tower with the words: “With one voice, British Muslims condemn the Paris attacks unreservedly.”

MCB’s Secretary General Dr Shuja Shafi said he hoped fellow Britons heard their message “loudly and clearly”.

Coalition, calmly and assertively challenged the anchor’s allegation that mosques are hotbeds for political rather than religious activity.

“Would you shut down churches if a few Christians were acting badly?” she asked. Ahmad then spoke at length about Muslims’ contribution to American society as doctors, lawyers, community members and everyday citizens. The red and white stripes wrapped around her seemed to stand in glaring support of her word; they were statement enough.

That seems to be the underlying message: we are with you, not against you. A woman present during the Paris attacks observed: “They [the terrorists] are victims of a system that excluded them from society, that’s why they felt this doesn’t

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belong to them and they could attack. There are those who live here in alienation, and we are all to blame for this alienation.”

A 7-year-old reaches out Seven-year-old Jack Swanson showed that he understood this better than the rest of the world. A local mosque in Jack’s Texan neighborhood had been splattered with feces and desecrated with torn pages of the Holy Qu’ran. Jack figured that the mosque would require funds for renovations, and in an incredible act of generosity, decided to donate all the money collected in his piggy bank: $20.

Mosque members were moved by the gesture. They thanked Jack for his $20 donation and gifted him an iPad as an early Christmas pres-

Standing strong against the backlash Attacks like the ones in Paris and Beirut are committed in hopes of triggering an Islamophobic backlash. This backlash, which can escalate a war between the West and Islam, can be assuaged if the world sees Muslim communities standing up in support and compassion.

Religious leaders are stepping up to this task by taking ownership of their communities, and grieving with their people. The Imam of the Grand Mosque in Paris condemned the tragedy and called for all French imams and mosques to offer a collective prayer for the victims on Friday. He said: “They are trying to make divisions in society. They want to turn us against society, and society against us. But we won’t let them win.” – Dawn.Com

COMMENTARY

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

High Yield Junk Bonds May Be the Sector to Consider Investing 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) Investors are racing into higher – yielding junk bond funds at the fastest pace in 4 years, following a broad rally in equity and fixed income markets as concern that the US Federal Reserve will tighten policy this year is fading.

US mutual and exchange traded funds that are invested in speculative bonds – those rated double B plus or lower by Standard and poor’s or Fitch – counted $3.3bn of inflows in the weekly take since October 2011 and the largest on record since 1992.

The new money, buoyed by ETF buying, lifted year to date flows into positive territory after months in the red. Fixed income and equity markets have bounced since a summer sell-off pushed global benchmark stock indices into correction.

Junk bond funds are poised this October to record their best single month since the start of 2012 after three consecutive weeks of inflows, gaining 2.64percent so far. The recent climb has partially reversed a sharp summer fall, exacerbated by a jump in new junk bond issuance at the start of the year and weakening economic activity in China, which nearly shut the primary high – yield market.

Expectations that the US central bank will this year lift interest rates for the first time since the financial crisis have receded since late September with the market pricing in a first move in 2016. However, investors remain skittish since the summer sell-off, with many pointTRAGEDY FROM P6

have done more harm to the prestige of pristine Islam than any non-Muslim force.

Franco-American camaraderie goes back to the American independence movement. Both had a common enemy in the British colonizers. Nothing proclaimed this friendship of shared values than the Statue of Liberty gifted to the US by France in the 19th century. However, since the end of French and British colonies in the East, the common denominator binding the Franco-American alliance has taken on a new enemy: the French felt proud to proclaim, Nous Sommes Tous Les Americans, in the wake of the cataclysm of 9/11; the Americans have returned the compliment by dressing up the new Tower One and the Empire State Building in Manhattan in French tricolors on the heels of the Paris tragedy.

But the deeper fraternity of the Americans and the French is now being fed by a perverse new wave of Muslimphobia in the US,

ing to steadily rising debt burdens, slowing revenue growth and a jump in deals as a sign that the current credit cycle is drawing to a close.

“As we look at the fundamentals of the market, high yield remains crystal clear: the market is in its seventh or eight inning and still needs to cheapen substantially before valuations become attractive.”

Mutual funds and ETFs have become an increasingly important buyer of corporate debt since the financial crisis as companies have relevered. The two buyers of company paper have increased their holdings more than doubling the funds’ share of the market.

Also look into China Bond sales Anyone hoping to divine the future contours of global financial markets might be wise to keep an eye on Chinese banks.

Against the backdrop of President Xi Jinping’s and a sale of sovereign debt frm the People’s Bank of China, several Chinese the banks have issued bonds in London over recent weeks.

The bonds _ which all had listing ceremonies this week – might seem like a small, unassuming stall at an enormous Anglo – Chinese fairground. But the sales provide an insight into how China might carve out a greater role in International capital markets over coming years.

“When the government is pushing in one direction, they use the banks.” “They (Chinese banks) are learning – they are learning about foreign banks.”

The bonds included a Rmb1bn led by none other than elected Governors of at least 22 States; they have proclaimed their antiMuslim bias by telling the Federal administration in Washington that no Syrian refugee would be welcomed in their jurisdiction.

President Obama has, rightly, condemned this paranoia in bold and categorical terms as shameful and un-American.

Blinded by their hatred of Muslims, little do the myopic Governors and others—including a Republican presidential hopeful who has been quite unabashed in suggesting that maybe Syrian Christians, but certainly not Muslims, allowed into US as refugees—realize that by shutting the doors on Syrian and other Muslim refugees they would become unwitting recruiting agent of ISIL. The blood-thirsty vandals have been pursuing precisely this strategy to remind their Muslim ‘brothers’ that the West, as a whole, is against them and wants to keep them, sequestered, behind walls and barriers. The ISIL propagan-

bond due in 2017 from China Construction Bank, while Agricultural Bank of China sold $900m of US dollar bonds alongside Rmb600m of notes. China Development Bank also recently sold bonds to the tune of $1bn and 500m euro.

Bank bonds play a key role in the development of capital markets, which comprise sovereign, bank and corporate issuers. Frequent issuance from Chinese financial institutions can provide a platform for more widespread issuance and activity from non – financial companies.

The way to open up the market is for the Chinese banks to fund internationally – it’s important for them to have depth.

As though to highlight the close relationship between the two, Dongfeng, China’s second – largest carmaker by number of cars, launched a bond of its own. The company sold Eurobonds totaling 500m euro maturing in 2018, with proceeds used to repay a loan from China’s export – import bank.

Total Chinese overseas bond issuance had been $90bn this year, up from just $10bn five years ago.

In September, China announced new measures designed to further stimulate overseas bond issuance by Chinese companies. The National Development and Reform Commission has eased the process of issuing overseas renminbi bonds with a maturity of more than one year.

(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.) da machine has been inexorably churning out this slogan that the Christian West is exclusionist and not inclusive, hates Muslims and doesn’t want them in their midst.

The likes of paranoid American politicians who can’t look beyond their noses have been straining to become purveyors of ISIL propaganda and present it to unsuspecting Muslims as the gospel truth.

The ISIL murderers must smirk in delight at the cupidity and alarming gullibility of such politicians.

(The writer is a former ambassador and career diplomat) - K_K_ghori@hotmail.com IMRAN FROM P13

being can sit thousands of miles away and kill people, women and children, here.

“I used to interact with the Americans, and they said, ‘Anyone who is not going along with you is anti-American.’ That’s wrong, I said — anyone who is going along with you is anti-American, because what you’re doing is fanning hatred against the Americans.” - The New York Times

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RELIGION

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25

Worship: The Life of the Faithful People n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Gems from the Holy Qur’an

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nd remind [people], it is good for those who believe to be reminded. I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me: I want no provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me. Allah is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty. (AlDhariyat 51:55-58)

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” Worship is the purpose of our creation and we are to worship Allah only. Tawhid is one of the most important principles of our faith, Islam. It is to believe that there is only One God, the Creator, the Master and the Lord of the worlds. It also means to worship Allah only without associating any person or thing with Allah.

The Qur’anic term for worship is ‘Ibadah. It is a very important term of the Qur’an. ‘Ibadah has two aspects: one is obedience and the other is love. Obedience without love is not worship; and love without obedience is not worship.

The ‘Ibadah of Allah requires both the ultimate obedience of Allah and the ultimate love of Allah. Our relationship with Allah is that He is our Lord and He is our Beloved.

We cannot truly worship Him without loving Him and we cannot truly love him without worshiping Him. Some people worship as if they are doing a labor; they feel that prayer is a burden. The true believers are those who worship because they love it.

There are two aspects of worships: rituals and rules and the feelings and emotions. We have to follow the rituals and rules, but beside rituals and rules we must have the feelings of devotion and love for Allah. It is the prayer of love or what Iqbal calls, ‘namaz-e-‘ishq’ that counts. It is not only prayer of love that is required but also fasts with love, Zakat with love, Hajj with love and other acts of worship all should be with love and devotion.

It is also important to understand that worship in Islam is not limited to prayers only. Worship according to Islam is the whole life. A great scholar Ibn Taymiyah

From the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss) About the translator:

(d. 1328) in his famous book Al‘Ubudiyah says, “Ibadah is a comprehensive term for all words and deeds, manifest or hidden that Allah loves and are pleasing to Allah. Prayers, zakat, fasting, Hajj, truthfulness in speech, fulfilling the trust, good relationship with the parents and other relatives, fulfilling the promises, commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil, struggling against the disbelievers and hypocrites, kindness to the neighbors, orphans, poor people, humans and animals, as well as remembrance of Allah and reading the Qur’an are all different ways of ‘ibadah. Also love of Allah and His Messenger, fear of Allah and devotion of Him, sincerity towards His religion, patience on His decisions, gratitude on His blessings, acceptance of His decrees, placing trust in Him, hoping for His mercy, fearing His punishment and similar things are all included among the acts ‘ibadah.

(Al-‘Ubudiyah, al-Maktb alIslamic, 2005, p. 1) Every ‘Ibadah brings goodness to the individuals who perform it and to their society. Some acts of worship are, however, more personal and individual, while some other acts of worship are more social and communal. Our Salat, Siyam and Hajj are primarily personal and individual acts of worship, but Zakat, Sadaqat, helping the poor and needy, good family relations and neighborly relations, good work and business ethics are the communal and social acts of worship. Both are good and necessary and both should be done always and with sincerity. The Prophet – peace be upon him - used to emphasize that social work and taking care of the needy is as important as prayer and fasting and they bring equal reward.

He said: The one who takes care of a widow and the poor person is like a Mujahid in the path of Allah or like a person who fasts every day and prays the whole night.

(Al-Bukhari 5660) In another Hadith, he – peace be upon him - reported to have said, I and the one who takes care of an orphan will be in Paradise like this. He put his index and middle fingers together with a little gap between them.

(Al-Bukhari

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4920) We Muslims are the people of ‘Ibadah but we should be careful of two things. Our worship should not be just rituals without the feeling of love and devotion to Allah.

We should be careful about the form of the prayer. We should pray according to the Sunnah. However, it is equally important that we pay attention to the spirit of prayer. The prayer without spirit is a burden, but prayer with love is a joy and happiness.

We should also remind ourselves always that worship is not only daily prayers. Worship is the whole life. We are the ‘Ibad of Allah all the time and we have to live every moment of life in the service of Allah. The acts of worship that we do should change and transform our lives. Those who pray should be examples and role models in their societies. We should live our whole life, every aspect of life in the worship of Allah. Remember, whatever work you do and whatever job you have, if it is Halal and is done with honesty and sincerity, it is an act of worship and it is pleasing to Allah. The Qur’an says, Say, ‘My Lord has guided me to a straight path, an upright religion, the faith of Ibrahim, a man of pure faith. He was not a polytheist.’ Say, ‘My prayers and sacrifice, my life and death, are all for Allah, Lord of all the Worlds; He has no partner. This is what I am commanded, and I am the first to devote myself to Him.’ (Al-An’am 6:161-163) Let us keep in mind: Worship is obedience of Allah with love and worship is the whole life lived in the obedience of Allah.

O Allah, Help us to remember You, Thank You and Worship in the Best Way. (Khutbah at ISOC – Rajab 28, 1434/ June 7, 2013)

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

Chapter 94, Ash-Sharh (The Opening-up of the Heart), Verses 1-8 (Complete Surah) Have we not opened up thy heart, and lifted from thee the burden that had weighed heavily on thy back?

And [have We not] raised thee high in dignity?

And, behold, with every hardship comes ease: verily, with every hardship comes ease!

Hence, when thou art freed [from distress], remain steadfast, and unto thy Sustainer turn with love.

Chapter 95, At-tiin (The Fig), Verses 1-6 (Complete Surah) Consider the fig and the olive, and Mount Sinai, and this land secure!

Verily, we create man in the best conformation, [ 1 ] and thereafter we reduce him to the lowest of the low [ 2 ] – excepting only such as attain to faith and do good works: and theirs shall be a reward unending! ______________________ Translator’s Notes [ 1 ] I.e., endowed with all the positive qualities, physical as well as mental, corresponding to the functions which this particular creature is meant to perform. [ 2 ] This “reduction to the lowest of the low” is a consequence of man’s betrayal – in another word, corruption – of his original, positive disposition: that is to say, a consequence of man’s own misdeeds and omissions. ___________________

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P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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Pakistan, India May Head to Sri Lanka for Bilateral Games

KARACHI: After months of uncertainty things seem to be finally falling into place as far as the fate of Pakistan's home series against India is concerned.

Though Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, remained tightlipped on the details of when and where the series will take place it is expected that PCB will host India in two phases.

Well-placed sources told 'The News' on Monday that subject to approval from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan will host India for three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games in Colombo and Kandy in Sri Lanka. Once the nittygritty of the bilateral series if finalised, the two teams will arrive in Sri Lanka

by Mid-December to play the limitedovers series between December 20 to January 3.

There is also likelihood that Pakistan will host India in two Tests in England next summer. Pakistan have a full tour of England in 2016 and according to sources there are chances

that PCB and Indian cricket board (BCCI) will line up the two Tests at venues like Lord's in London and Old Trafford in Manchester.

"The two Tests could take place in England before our series against the hosts begin there. A few years back Pakistan hosted Australia in England before playing their series against England," a source said, who conceded that India will need to tweak its own tour programme to make space for the two Tests.

These are highly positive developments considering that till just a few weeks back it seemed that the series will not take place at all. The Indians were adamant that they can only play against Pakistan once the Indian government gives its permission. And later, they said that Pakistan will have to play the series in India, something that was unacceptable to the PCB right from the very start.

Shaharyar - the man at the helm of Pakistan's mission to save the series was a very busy man on Monday after

Djokovic Hails 'Best Ever Season' After Record Triumph LONDON: Novak Djokovic hailed his historic fourth successive ATP Tour Finals title as a dream come true after the world number one finished his astonishing campaign by routing Roger Federer in Sunday's final.

Djokovic is the first player to win the season-ending event four years in a row and his 6-3, 6-4 win over Federer was the perfect way to cap a year in which he won three Grand Slam crowns and eight other titles.

After hoisting the trophy, the 28year-old Serb admitted he sometimes has to pinch himself to realise he is actually winning the tournaments he dreamed of playing in as a child.

"I am enjoying every moment on the court. I cherish every moment after dreaming of it as a kid," said Djokovic.

"Obviously I'm very proud, together with my team, for the achievements of the season.

"It could not have been a better finish. It's been a long season, but the best of my life."

Djokovic's imperious display was inspired by his loss against Federer in the group stages of this year's event.

That straight sets defeat ended Djokovic's 23-match winning run and he revealed he decided to change his game-plan against the Swiss great to avoid a repeat in the final. J

returning from Dubai where he met with top BCCI officials as well as ECB chief Giles Clarke.

Sources said that he sought a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif but after failing to do that he dispatched a detailed letter to the PM House on Monday evening.

His urgency in seeking the premier's go-ahead, something PCB has been told that it needs before finalising the series, is understandable.

The clock is ticking as there is a very small window available to line up the matches even though the series will be divided into two phases.

"The Board is hoping to receive directions from the prime minister within the next two days and it expected that if the series gets a go-ahead then the various details will be announced by the end of this week," a source said.

Agencies add: Sri Lanka is fast emerging as the likeliest venue to host a shortened bilateral series between Pakistan and India. Sri Lanka Cricket has been sounded out by PCB and appear very keen to host the series.

Things have moved fast since BCCI president Shashank Manohar and Shaharyar met at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on Sunday afternoon to break the deadlock over where the series should be held.

Shaharyar said that he would not be travelling back to Dubai on November 25, as originally planned, to meet ECB president Giles Clarke, who is acting as a mediator between PCB and BCCI. Shaharyar and Najam Sethi, PCB's head of executive committee, had come out of the Dubai meeting sounding optimistic, but they did not divulge any details. Those were supposed to be provided by Clarke at a media briefing today in Dubai but it is understood that will not happen. J

T20 Series: Pakistan To Defend Second Position in Rankings Against England DUBAI: The Shahid Afridi-led Pakistan side will be defending its second position in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Twenty20 rankings when they take on England in a three-match series starting from Thursday in the UAE. Pakistan bagged the Test series 2-0 under Misbahul Haq's captaincy, while England beat Azhar Ali and co 3-1 in the ODIs. The T20 series will announce the ultimate winner in the tour.

Pakistan are 14 points ahead of the eighth-placed England which means Afridi must lead the team to victory to ensure that they stay put on the second position. Sri Lanka is on top of the table right now as the reigning world champions.

If Pakistan beat England 2-1, then both sides will remain as they are on the rankings table. However, if England beat Pakistan 2-1 then Eoin Morgan-led T20 side will jump up to the sixth position and Afridi and his men will drop down to fourth.

In another case, if Pakistan win 3-0 they will join Sri Lanka on top of the points table with 125 points but will still remain on the second position by a fraction of a point.

Meanwhile, if England beat Pakistan 3-0 then the men in green will drop down to the sixth position and England will jump up to the fourth position. J

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Pakistan Withdraws From 2015 SAFF Championships KARACHI: Pakistan will be withdrawing from the South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Championships 2015 that will begin in Kerala on December 23, while the registration for the event will close recently.

A Pakistan Football Federation official confirmed that the country cannot register for the event in time and the federation does not have the funds to hold a camp to prepare the team.

Meanwhile, All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das also confirmed that Pakistan has withdrawn from the Championships without giving any reason.

"We have been informed that Pakistan has pulled out of the SAFF Championships. They did not give any reason for the withdrawal," Das told Press Trust of India on Tuesday.

Das further said that teams will be given walkover who were sched-

uled to play against Pakistan in the Championships.

"There will be no change in the schedule of the tournament and it will begin from December 23. India will get a walkover against Pakistan," said Das. Earlier, National striker Saadullah said that Pakistan would need to field a full-strength squad including players who are part of foreign leagues - if they are to win the SAFF Championships.

Also, former national team captain Muhammad Essa Khan criticised the government for creating the mess that he thought could lead to Pakistan's failure to participate in the event.

Pakistan have never won the SAFF Championships. Out of the total 10 events, India has been victorious six times while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Afghanistan have won it once each. J

Amir in BD on Redemption Road DHAKA: Mohammad Amir's last appearance on a cricket pitch outside his native Pakistan led to a sixmonth sentence in a British prison for corruption.

Five years on, the paceman was the headline act in the opening match as Bangladesh's Twenty20 league staged its own comeback after a fixing scandal.

But as Amir and the Bangladesh Premier League look to turn over a new leaf, one of cricket's most respected figures, Kumar Sangakkara, says the game could "die" if spectators are not convinced matches are clean.

Amir, playing for the Chittagong Vikings against the Rangpur Riders, took four for 30 on Sunday, delighted to be competing once more against stars such as Pakistan's Test skipper Misbah ul-Haq whom he bowled with a perfect yorker at Dhaka's national stadium.

Amir, now 23, was jailed in 2011 after admitting bowling no balls the previous summer against England at Lord's in exchange for cash.

His captain Salman Butt and fellow bowler Mohammad Asif were jailed for similar offences.

Their hopes of returning for Pakistan look bleak, given they are in the autumn of their careers.

But Amir, who has been playing Pakistan domestic cricket since earlier this year, said recently he saw the BPL as "the first step towards reviving my international career" as he eyes next year's World T20 in India.

Although Amir has refused to talk to the media in Bangladesh, he said before his departure from Pakistan

that he was "really thankful to the team for choosing me and I will try my best to give them my 100 percent."

His comeback remains controversial, with Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez refusing to sign for the Vikings with Amir in its ranks.

As Amir struggles to rebuild trust, the BPL faces a similar challenge after its 2013 edition was blighted by a scandal involving players and a team owner.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, New Zealander Lou Vincent and Sri Lankan Kaushal Lokuarachchi were handed lengthy bans.

And Shihab Jishan Chowdhury was also convicted of trying to fix the outcome of a match involving his Dhaka Gladiators team.

An embarrassed Bangladesh Cricket Board cancelled last year's edition but now believes its house is in order.

Chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said the BCB always had "zero tolerance" of corruption but felt compelled to do more after 2013.

It now has its own anti-corruption unit and runs an extensive education programme for players which includes addresses by police.

"A lot of things happened because of a lack of education, players not being aware of the consequences, not only for themselves but for the nation as a whole," Chowdury said.

Sayeed Uzzaman, the journalist who broke the scandal, said the BCB deserved praise for bringing crooks to justice but feared the game remained vulnerable. J

PAKISTAN

P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015 REFUGEES FROM P15

can the political hegemony of any power or combination of powers form the basis for durable peace in the region.”

Highlighting the need to urgently resolve the refugee crises, the envoy expressed hope that the UN debate would yield recommendations for a clear, resolute and unified response to this crisis -”a response that is timely, coherent and comprehensive, and, above all, based on the principles of humanitarianism, human rights and national and global responsibility.”

Calling for refugees to be treated with compassion, Ambassador Lodhi said that it was essential that the flow of humanity to European shores must be met with humanity and, she added, that compassion has no religion.

Ambassador Lodhi criticised those countries, which were fixing ceilings on accepting people who were in need of urgent protection, calling this “unacceptable - legally and morally”.

Every refugee and asylum seeker, she said, was entitled to protection and humane treatment. “There is no room for discrimination on the basis of caste, color or creed, or any other consideration in international law,” she added.

She underscored the need for massive and urgent assistance to care for the millions of refugees who were crowded in neighboring countries – in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere to stem the tide of the refugees to Europe.

Referring to the 3 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees who still live in Pakistan, she said that unfortunately, international assistance to these refugees and the response to UN appeals for resources to sustain them has been partial and ungenerous.

She concluded by appealing to the world community to “join our strengths and combine our energies” to overcome this humanitarian catastrophe. She said, “When history judges us collectively, let us make sure that we do not fail for lack of humanity.”

HANGINGS FROM P15

PPP lawmakers Shazia Mari, Nafeesa Shah, Azra Fazal and Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah submitted the petition on Monday, urging the parliament to pass a resolution to condemn the executions.

The proposed resolution states: “This house vociferously condemns the recent judicial murder of two veteran leaders in Bangladesh. Such revengeful and unlawful actions against those who supported [a] united Pakistan back in 1971 shows complete disrespect to basic human rights and international laws.

We demand from this platform that government should formally register its protest at the international level and global efforts should be made to avoid such illegitimate actions in the future.”

HATE FROM P15

A spokesperson pointed out that banned militant groups including the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have a significant social media presence in Pakistan and “appear to be operating freely under the eyes of authorities”.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has blocked hundreds of extremist and sectarian websites and social media accounts in the past but they often pop up anew under different names.

Professor Dr Maina Singh, wife of India’s Ambassador in Washington and a literary personality, was accompanied by Mr Shiv Rattan, Counsellor Community Affairs. Embassy of Pakistan was represented by Mr Nadeem Hotiana, Minister for Press. Notable personalities included presidents and office bearers of community organizations such as the Association of Indian Muslims (AIMS), the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Washington Hyderabad Association (HAWAMA), Hindi Association, India Cultural Coordination Committee (ICCC), and the University of Karachi Alumni Association (UKAA).

stranded on the side of the road. She had an infant and a toddler with her.

He stopped to help her and told her his name was Ali. She asked whether he was Muslim. When he said yes, according to his widely circulated post on Facebook, the woman told him that she didn’t need help “from you people.”

This happened in Howard County — one of the most diverse, proudly inclusive places in the state, a county with the motto: “Choose Civility.”

The rhetoric dominating our nation right now is anything but civil. It’s time for all of us to put a stop to it. – Washington Post (Petula Dvorak is a columnist for The Washington Post’s local team who writes about homeless shelters, gun control, high heels, high school choirs, the politics of parenting, jails, abortion clinics, mayors, modern families, strip clubs and gas prices, among other things)

TEEN FROM P20

DR SAKR FROM P19

Bytes for All said Haidar’s case was the first it knew of in which someone was convicted for posting sectarian material on Facebook, but that blasphemy charges were often brought against social media users.

MUSHAIRA FROM P18

according to a letter notifying the city and school district of his demands.

His lawyers insist that the school, police force and city officials violated Mohamed’s rights by wrongfully accusing and detaining him and then decided to “trash” him when the media got wind of the story.

“Ahmed clearly was singled out because of his race, national origin and religion,” attorney Kelly Hollingsworth wrote.

The letter noted that Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne called the clock a “hoax bomb” during an appearance on the Glenn Beck television show and nodded as Beck and his other guest called the story “an influence operation” in furtherance of a coming “civilization jihad.”

“Not only was this dangerous ‘baiting’ that destroyed any chance the Mohamed family ever had of being truly safe and secure in the United States, but it was also defamatory,” his lawyers wrote.

The family received threatening emails and left their home after their address was publicized.

They eventually moved to Qatar after Mohamed was offered a generous scholarship.

His attorneys are seeking $5 million in damages from the school district and $10 million from the city of Irving and said they will file a civil suit if they do not receive a reply within 60 days.

ATTACKS FROM P20

that they are about to be inundated with Syrian refugees.

“This means that hundreds of UNVERIFIED and UN-SECURED Muslim MEN will be wandering your streets . . . ,” read the flier, which was reported in the Free Lance-Star.

Baloney. Not only are there no plans for any resettlement in Fredericksburg, the screening process for refugees to get into the United States takes 18 to 24 months. And the plan by the Obama administration to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into our vast country translates to about 200 per state. I somehow doubt all of them will take to the quaint streets of Fredericksburg.

To be fair, it’s not just Virginia that is wallowing in this kind of intolerance.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) recently joined the herd of governors declaring that they will close their states’ borders to refugees. (It’s not something he or any other governor actually has the power to do, but, whatever, knock yourself out, Larry.)

In the midst of all this, a young Maryland man driving home from work spotted a woman with a flat tire

“Dr Sakr served the American Muslim community since his days as a founding member of the Muslim Student Association. His 40 years of service is a testament to his sacrifice and dedication to the betterment of our community. We ask Allah to bless Dr Sakr with the highest levels of paradise and grant his family and his loved ones patience.”

“My very first few English sermons in 1989 as a student in Austin were read from his books,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. “At our very first CAIR-LA banquet in 1996, Dr Sakr volunteered and stood to encourage the attendees to support CAIR-LA’s new office in Southern California. No words can describe how much we owe him. We can only pray that Allah accept from him all his good deeds.”

The funeral prayer for Dr Sakr was held on November 24 at the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley and he was buried in the La Verne Cemetery. May his soul rest in peace.

(Ameen) RAHEEL FROM P1

ties between Pakistan and Brazil in general and the two armies in particular are enormous and unprecedented,” the statement added.

ECL FROM P1

“I was not feeling well after undergoing surgery. Doctors have advised me against travelling,” Memon said. “I am currently recovering and will travel to Pakistan within the next ten days.”

On the other hand, senior PPP leader Khursheed Shah while talking to Express News said Memon had refused to come back to Pakistan.

“Sharjeel will not return, and he may resign from the ministry,” the opposition leader said.

Case registered: The Karachi police on Wednesday registered a case against Dr Asim Hussain. He is accused of facilitating terrorism and extending medical treatment to terrorists.

GOLD FROM P1

Karachi for their project “Teddict”.

The Sri Lankan Minister for Telecom and Digital Infrastructure was present at the ceremony and the Pakistan High Commissioner Major General (retd) Syed Shakeel Hussain in Sri Lanka was present alongside Team Pakistan.

This year’s P@SHA delegation comprising 50 members with 22 technology products competed for the prestigious APICTA Awards, fac-

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ing off against 184 products from 17 economies in the region.

APICTA, the Asia Pacific ICT Award was founded in 2001 by three initiators - APICTA Australia, Malaysia Super Corridor Initiative, and ASPILUKI (The Indonesia Telematics Software Association) of Indonesia.

Participants of the awards program comprise members of the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance APICTA, the award’s website says.

They are guided by a Framework of Cooperation governing how member-economies work together in support of the awards program as well as other initiatives fostering development and growth of the ICT industry in the region.

APICTA’s 17-member economies include Australia, Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

EBAY FROM P1

Monday while chairing a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for establishing the e-payment gateway in Pakistan. “For successful establishment of an e-commerce gateway, a comprehensive e-commerce policy, comprising guidelines, rules and regulations along with dispute resolution and remedial mechanism for consumers, is a must.”

PayPal Sees ‘Great Opportunity’ In Pakistan: PayPal has responded to reports that it might launch services in Pakistan. A PayPal spokesperson told ValueWalk in an email: “As a global payments company, PayPal is constantly innovating and looking for new ways to meet the needs of our customers around the world.

As we look at expanding our global footprint, we see Pakistan as a market with great opportunity, but we are not able to comment on future plans.”

Amazon, eBay may also enter Pakistan: Former PayPal parent company eBay, US-based online retailer Amazon, and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba are said to be on the target list for firms the Pakistanis want to bring to the country. Alibaba also operates its own digital payments arm, AliPay, which competes with PayPal. Pakistan is more and more becoming a prime target for international companies. Uber revealed last month that it plans to set up operations in Pakistan as well.

ASIM FROM P1

NAB is a part of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to investigate Dr Asim’s alleged corruption and his role in terror financing.

On the other hand, NAB is currently investigating three new corruption cases against Dr Asim, sources added.

These include illegal affiliation of medical colleges with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), issuance of licenSes for dozens of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and other corrupt practices.

PAKHTUN FROM P1

Asfandyar Wali, among others.

The Afghan president had invited party leaders to Kabul during his visit to Pakistan last November.

Senior Pakistani leaders had first visited Kabul in January, and Thursday’s visit would be the second trip as part of the consultation process.

“Afghan leaders believe feedback of the Pakistani Pakhtun leaders and tribal elders would help in maintaining peace,” Khattak said.

The Afghan government has also invited Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj ul Haq, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and Jamiat Ulemae-Islam-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

AFGHANS FROM P7

“ensure that the returnees have access to government health, education and land allocation regardless of their status in Pakistan”. Equally important is HRW’s call to the UNHCR to work with Pakistan to “ensure that undocumented Afghans seeking protection in Pakistan are referred to the UNHCR”.

In a recent address the ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr Janan Mosazai noted: “The presence of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is a humanitarian issue and we are thankful to the government of Pakistan, especially Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his government, particularly leaders such as General Qadir Baloch, for their kind and generous attention to Afghan refugees in Pakistan and making sure their presence continues to be treated in a purely humanitarian context.” It is a heartening sign as Pakistani officials are expected to meet soon to adjudicate the extension of the Afghan refugee registration. The HRW report goes a long way to highlight the infinite human cost of the protracted conflict in Afghanistan. HRW’s thoughtful and thorough effort should be a reminder to the Afghan and Pakistani governments and the UNHCR that those humiliated and insulted daily are humans, not mere numbers.

Sources further said NAB is likely to seek custody of Dr Asim to investigate three separate cases against him related to alleged corruption and his role in terror financing.

The former petroleum minister (The writer can be reached at was arrested by Sindh Rangers from the office of Higher Education Com- mazdaki@me.com and he tweets @ mission in Clifton on August 26, 2015. mazdaki)

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NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29

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NOVEMBER 27, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

P30 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

ariety is the spice of life. While our entertainment industry boasts of a long list of young and promising actors and actresses, it seems our drama producers tend to

V

Sanam Jung can play the sweet, innocent damsel to a T (or a D in this instance). I was particularly impressed by her acting in Mere Humdum Mere Dost, a vast improve-

stick to 'safe' pairings, rather than try some new or 'hatkay' (the Bollywood term for different) couples.

I decided to use my pen like a magic wand and create some interesting images in your minds by proposing some interesting cast options.

I sincerely hope our producers realise that some of these couples would really look great together and quite possibly, create unforgettable TV! So here's a list of pairings I'm looking forward to, accompanied by the Bollywood movie that might suit them best. After reading this, if you're at all excited by the prospect of any (or all) of these couples together, then my work here is done!

Sanam Jung and Ali Rehman Khan

ment from her performance in Mohobbat Subh Ka Sitara.

Ali Rehman Khan as Suhaib in Diyar e Dil has proved that winning hearts comes easily to him when he gets the right character. Together, they would make a great on-screen couple.

Ayeza Khan and Mikaal Zulfiqar I don't know what Ayeza Khan's long-term plans are, but here's hoping that a beautiful and talented actress like her doesn't stay away from our TV screens for too long.

She radiates beauty and grace in all her performances. InPyare Afzal, she made us dislike her by mistreating of Afzal, and yet we were strangely rooting for them to be together at the same time!

After Shehrezaat, Mikaal Zulfiqar gave another impressive performance as Behroze in Diyaredil. In this role, he was able to demonstrate so many aspects to one character - a stubborn son, a doting husband and father, as well as a loving brother.

I can visualize these two playing the roles of Aishwariya and Hrithik in Jodha Akbar - two regal and beautiful people in a timeless love story.

Sajal Ali and Imran Abbas Naqvi Sajal Ali is a solid actress. I was impressed by her effortless performance in Behadd - a role that was difficult to portray convincingly. She held her own with the likes of Fawad Khan and Nadia Jamil - a definite accomplishment for the young actress.

Sanam Saeed and Adnan Malik Sanam Saeed has proved herself to be one of the finest actresses in this generation. Her performance as Kashaf inZindagi Gulzar Hai and Ruhina in Diyar e dil show that she can play a variety of roles with great ease.

Adnan Malik, the angry young man in Sadqay Tumhare,proved that while he could do with more experience as an actor, he is certainly headed in the right direction.

Mansha Pasha and Osman Khalid Butt Mansha Pasha has been on a steady journey of demonstrating her acting prowess. From catching our attention as Sidra in Zindagi Gulzar Hai to acting as the manipulative Aliya in Mohobbat Subh Ka Sitara or the sincere Madeeha in Mere Naam Yusuf Hai, she has demonstrated that she is up for any acting challenge.

After Aunn Zara and Diyar e dil, Osman Khalid Butt might just be headed to becoming the next Fawad Khan of Pakistani television.

Maya Ali and Danish Taimoor I liked Maya Ali's look and overall acting in Ek Naye Cinderella and Aunn Zara best. I feel that traditional

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clothes and roles really suit her.

Despite her successful partnership with OKB, she has been given a lot of roles with different actors and accordingly, has had many opportunities to experiment in that respect.

Good for her!

Danish Taimoor has made a successful transition from the small to the big screen with movies like Wrong Number andJalaibee.

However, I sincerely hope that he continues his longstanding relationship with television, as we would like to keep seeing more of him!

Hareem Farooq and Faizan

was particularly convincing as the romantic lead. He had the looks and acting potential of an old style Bollywood hero, but unfortunately we don't seem to have seen a lot of him in recent times.

Think of Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and picture Faizan Khawaja as the journalist with an epic story and Hareem Farooq as the spoilt rich dame running away from home.

Picture Perfect!

Sohai Ali Abro and Junaid Khan Sohai Ali Abro played the role of Yasmeen in Pyare Afzal so well, that

Khawaja werful performances; examples include her role as Sajeela in Mere Humdum Mere Dost or more recently as Arjumand in Diyar e dil. In such performances, she comes across as a force to be reckoned with.

The chocolate-faced hero in Aik Naye Cinderella, Faizan Khawaja

it was hard not to be moved by her performance. In her recent hit Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, she convincingly played the role of the rich spoilt OTT selfie addict Zoya -- Sohai appears to be on a roll!

Junaid Khan still needs a role that actually plays to his strengths, which are plenty in my opinion.

WOMENS WORLD

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

WOMEN

By M. Shirazi

B

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P31

styles and shapes. The trick is to wear a tunic in a way that is most flattering for

your body.

Keep in mind that the fit is meant to be loose, not snug, and the fabric should not be too heavy. A tunic top should billow and flow, not cling to the body. It should also be fitted somewhat in the neck and chest area so that you don't look shapeless. If you want a tunic shirt that will flatter your shape, try a V-neck tunic; it draws attention up to your face and neck.

Make sure that you wear the right kind of pants with your tunic. Wide-leg or baggy pants and jeans aren't flattering to wear under a tunic shirt. Instead, wear leggings or fitted pants with a tunic.

Ball skirts If you're looking to pump up your closet with princess-worthy fantasy then ball skirts is the way to go. It's fun, it's ensemble-elevating, and it makes you feel like royalty. Ball skirts are massive this season. These skirts that look like beautiful explosions resting on our lower body scream exaggerated beauty.

Whether in toned down hues or bold neon shades, prints or patterns these full shapes make us all look like retro dolls in a very modern sophisticated way.

Pleated skirts are also very in these days. There is something about that longer hem, flowy fabric just brushing off your calves as you make your way through the crowd of the town, on your way to some posh new place to meet with your girls, that looks just fab.

New in town: Wondering where to find such trendy outfits? Well, you are in luck as ICON is one such clothing brand that offers it all. The brand, founded by

eauty conscious women are always on a look out for unique yet elegant outfits. Some like heavily embroidered clothes, while others opt for plain yet trendy cuts and patterns. The fact is that women and fashion go hand in hand. Yes, we all want to look gorgeous and our outfits surely play an important part. The right kind of clothes with matching accessories will make you look and feel confident about yourself. Want to update your wardrobes? Well, fret not as this week You! takes a look at some of the latest wardrobe trends that you can flaunt.

Read on to find out more what is hot this season...

Crop tops: Crop tops exemplify fashion resilience. Crop tops have been back in style for a few years now and for the time being, they're here to stay. Itty bitty versions of normal tops might seem difficult to pull off, but they're surprisingly versatile and can look good on anyone.

Keep in mind that there are all sorts of different kinds of crop tops to wear and all sorts of different ways to wear them.

No matter who you are or what your personal aesthetic is, there's a way for you to feel good in a crop top.

Shirt dresses: Fashion's current penchant for shirting brings the classic shirt dress back to the forefront. A shirt dress in a neutral tone is your essential for sleek, minimal chic look; whilst its clean lines provide an ideal canvas for this season's bold botanicals and vibrant colour palette.

However, make sure that if you are short heighted then a full length shirt dress will not look flattering on you. So, opt for a knee length shirt dress and pair it with cigarette pants.

Stylish tunics: This season tunics have become a comfortable addition to many women's wardrobes. Longer than many women's shirts, but shorter than dresses, tunics can dress up jeans and give you a fun, modern look. There are many kinds of women's tunics of different lengths,

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model, actor and DJ Hira Tareen in 2014, caters to a care-free, practical and modern aesthetic. The brand combines global trends and cuts with fabrics that are more suited to the local climate.

ICON is the casual, ready-to-wear line which offers cotton and linen tunics, shirts, blouses, trousers, jumpsuits and dresses. ICON Luxe is the upscale, bespoke line, featuring raw silk skirts, silk shirt dresses, sheer lace and tulle crop tops, and embellished statement

About the latest collection, Hira says, "The capsule collection is designed in effortless and chic silhouettes featuring minimalist, versatile and trendy outfits. The brand features clothes which are trending globally yet made with pure and breezy cool fabrics that are suitable for the local climate."

The entire new collection features pastel striped button down tunics in cotton, chikan embroidered and printed cotton shirt-dresses. Textured linen

pieces. It gives more of a customized approach in terms of design. With the attention to detail, and precise tailoring, the outfits make an effortless statement.

According to Hira Tareen, "The outfits are for women who are practical, educated, strong and sophisticated. A woman defines her own style; she doesn't need to break her bank to feel fabulous."

pants will be seen along with cigarette pants that will match perfectly with the wide range of tunics and shirts. Pleated chambray tunics, removable strap chambray suspender culottes, double layered bell sleeve crop tops, floral off shoulder blouses are some of the innovations that the brand offers.

So, rush to the outlet now and grab your favourite piece before it is too late!

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P32 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 27, 2015

www.PakistanLink.com