Pakistan Link - October 9, 2015

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Friday, October 9, 2015

VOL. 25/41 - 25 Dhul-hijjah 1436 H

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of

Pakistan on Wednesday maintained the conviction of Mumtaz Qadri — the killer of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer — by an Anti Terrorism Court.

The Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) March 9 verdict which had rejected Qadri’s application against his death sentence under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) but accepted his application to void the Anti Terrorism Act’s (ATA) Section 7, was overturned by the court.

Headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the bench had taken up two appeals; one moved by Advocate Mian Nazir Akhtar on behalf of Mumtaz Qadri, and another moved by the federal government against the IHC verdict.

A three-member bench of the apex court allowed the government’s application to re-include the terrorism charges against Qadri The appeal filed by Mumtaz Qadri for a reduction in his sentence was dismissed by the court.

Qadri still has the right to submit a mercy appeal to the president.

PENALTY, P28

Pakistan Likely to Secure Civil Nuclear Deal with US: Report Washington, DC: The United

States and Pakistan are in the process of negotiating an accord which may end up in a civil nuclear deal between the two countries, a report published in The Washington Post claimed on Tuesday.

“The White House is exploring what could be a diplomatic blockbuster: possible new limits and controls on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and delivery systems,” David Ignatius, an opinion writer for the USbased newspaper said.

If media reports are to be believed, the US may be able to secure a civil nuclear deal in the near future with Pakistan, as it did with India in 2005. “Pakistan has been asked to consider what are described as ‘brackets’,” the newspaper quoted a source familiar with the talks between the two countries as saying.

The newspaper further suggested that Pakistan would agree to restrict its nuclear program to

DEAL, P28

Send Girls Off to Learn, Not to Marry

US Supports Fight ‘from Waziristan to Karachi’

Search for Jinnah’s Vision of Pakistan Continues Supreme Court Maintains Mumtaz Qadri’s Death Penalty

PAGE 20

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US & Canada $1.00

Nawaz to Meet Obama in Washington

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the conclusion of their first meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, October 23, 2013

Washington, DC: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to visit Washington on October 22, and to meet President Obama during his stay in the capitol.

He was invited by US President

Barack Obama to visit the United States in July 2015.

This will be Mr Sharif ’s second visit to the White House during his current tenure. He last visited the US in October 2013. The visit helped re-

set ties that had been weighed down by events of the preceding years.

The invitation for the visit this year was meant to expand and deepen the relationship.

NAWAZ, P28

Pakistan to Maintain Full Spectrum Nuclear Deterrence Islamabad:

Pakistan’s nuclear policy is shaped by evolving security dynamics of South Asia, obliging it to take all necessary measures to maintain a full spectrum deterrence capability, the Foreign Office has said.

The statement was issued in response to a report published in the The Washington Post claiming that the United States and Pakistan were in the process of negotiating a civil nuclear deal.

“As a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan remains actively engaged with the international community, including the United States, on nuclear stability and security issues,” said the spokesperson.

“Pakistan seeks peace

and strategic stability in South Asia as cornerstone of its policy and considers conflict resolution as a means to achieve this end,” the statement read,

adding the policy has been reiterated by Pakistan’s highest decision-making body, the National Command Authority (NCA), chaired by the Prime Min-

ister Nawaz Sharif, in its meeting on September 9, 2105.

“Pakistan has been asked to consider what are DETERRENCE, P28

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www.PakistanLink.com Pilots Strike Comes to an Unconditional End Karachi: Pakistan Airlines Pilot

Association (Palpa) announced on Wednesday an unconditional end to their strike, Express News reported.

The decision came after a Senate Standing Committee accepted to become a guarantor in the negotiations between the pilots’ association and the management of PIA. “Palpa has decided to put an end to their strike and its leaders will make a public announcement in this regard,” Senator Talha Mehmood, who chaired the committee meeting told the media in Islamabad.

During the standing committee’s cabinet secretariat meeting with Palpa leaders and PIA’s management, both sides expressed their reservations and put forward their demands which were discussed at length.

On Monday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had decided to step in to help resolve the grueling row between the pilots and the management of PIA, which has badly affected the flight operations of the national flag carrier. Sharif ’s decision came hours after the PIA

STRIKE, P28

Justice (R) Javed Iqbal Passes away at 91 Lahore: Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, the son of philosopher-poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal, passed away in Lahore on Saturday after protracted illness.

Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, 91, was under treatment for cancer at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore.

He was an eminent scholar, former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court and a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Justice (r) Javed Iqbal was born in Sialkot on 5 October 1924 to Allama Muhammad Iqbal and his second wife, Sardar Begum. His mother died when he was 11, and his father died when he was 14.

JUSTICE, P28

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OPINION

P4 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015

Will Any Lessons Be Learned from the Tragedy at Mina?

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Arif Zaffar Mansuri

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n By Karamatullah K. Ghori

F

Toronto, Canada

or a good few hours, on the morning of September 24, the day of Eid-ul-Azha, my wife and I held our breath— hardly—in deadly suspense.

Our only daughter, our first child, was also among the pilgrims of this year’s Haj. Our agony was relieved when she called from her cell phone to assure us that she and her husband were both well and not in harm’s way.

But tens of thousands of other parents, siblings and myriad relatives of those perished in the stampede at Mina weren’t so lucky.

They didn’t hear from their lovedones and never, perhaps, will.

The toll of those mauled in the deadly stampede at Mina has, already, gone past the figure of 1100, according to figures splashed in the Pakistani media based on an official count. But official tallies are, invariably, on the conservative side. Besides, the Saudis are notoriously niggardly in telling the whole truth in the wake of such outrageous tragedies; they are naïve enough to believe—or delude themselves—that they can still get away with half-truths in this age of cyber communications.

But does it matter how many actually perished in the deadliest human calamity to befall the pilgrims at Mina in more than a quarter century--and that too on the last leg of their arduous journey of faith, called the pilgrimage of Haj? The fatalities could be 1100 or 11,000. What’s important is to ask what went into making this horrible, nightmarish, tragedy and could it have been prevented?

The Saudi officialdom was quick in holding the pilgrims’ indiscipline, indiscretion and ignorance of the rules laid down by the Haj caretakers responsible for the deadly occurrence. They said the pilgrims didn’t observe the rules and ignored their calls for disciplined behavior which, as a consequence, triggered the stampede and the resultant deaths at such a colossal cost.

The Saudis may expect to get away with their self-serving alibi and think the world must acknowledge that their government has been laboriously working, year-after-year, at expanding and enlarging the infrastructure of amenities at the Haj sites to cater to the increasing needs of a growing population of pilgrims flocking to their shores every year.

There is credit to be given to the Saudi authorities for the enormous work they have put into the Haj infrastructure over the past two decades. Regular visitors to the land, like this scribe, for instance, don’t hold back their compliments to the Saudis for all their hard work. The sites that are organic to the ritual of Haj have undergone an incredible makeover in the past two decades. My wife and I had performed Haj in 1995—a good twenty years ago— but Mina and Arafat—two of the holiest sites of the pilgrimage—are totally different places, today, than

what they looked like 20 years ago.

Amazing and incredible improvements have been effected on these sites, and all, no doubt, for the good of the pilgrims.

To be fair to the Saudis, some pilgrims, with their endemic indiscipline and indiscretion, have no appreciation for all the hard work that has been going on into the Haj infrastructure. Their ignorance of rules and willful violation of basic norms of discipline grate on many of Saudi sensitivities, and those of other visitors to the holy ritual of Haj. But that’s only one side of the story and gives only a lopsided and distorted version of the episode.

There’s also a flip side of the coin— or more than one flip side—that the Saudis simply loathe to see and prefer to dismiss with disdain.

The world knows that the Saudi input into the Haj infrastructure and the network of amenities is

First, there’s no concept of service among the Saudis. They may covet and flaunt, with all the fanfare, their self-conferred honorific title of Custodians of the Two Holy Places—Mecca and Medina—of Islam. But that’s all there’s to it: a title without any sense of responsibility or perception of service endemic to it.

The arrogance of even a lowly Saudi factotum is legendary. They are so openly disdainful of visitors to their land that there’s, shamefully, not even an effort to camouflage their uncouth and unruly behavior. The Pakistanis and Indians—miskeens (paupers) in the Saudi lexicon—are principal targets of their uncivilized handling of visitors. Our people, animated by their over-simplistic definition of the concept of one Ummah of believers-above-any-discrimination come back with a very sour taste in their mouth as to how they

The Saudis may ridicule and denounce as political propaganda the outspoken Iranian government for shouting out, in protest, that the Mina tragedy was perpetrated because road outlets and exits were closed on pilgrims to accommodate the VIP movements of Saudi royals. But there’s a lot of grain in what the Iranians are saying: the tragedy could have been prevented and avoided if those enforcing discipline in the movement of pilgrims hadn’t gone berserk under the weight of VIP demands on them not, by any stretch of imagination, an entirely altruistic thing. Haj is a source of easy and plentiful money to the government as well as the entrepreneurial and merchant classes of Saudis. Every year pilgrims pump at least 10 billion dollars—a conservative estimate, once again—into the coffers of the government and the sinews of the Saudi economy. It’s a huge industry that has mushroomed and proliferated around the core concept of Haj and given a mundane face to the business that may happen to be at cross purposes with the pristine concept of Haj. But none would grudge the windfall benefits to the host Saudis from the business of organizing and overseeing the ritual of Haj if the hosts and organizers were as efficient, disciplined and organized themselves as they expected the visiting pilgrims to be.

The truth, sadly, is anchored in just the opposite of discipline, organization or good conduct. No visitor to the land returns from there with any pleasant or happy memories of the Saudi hospitality.

Which is awful and disgusting, to say the very least.

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were mistreated and humiliated by their ‘Saudi brethren.’

It’s a simple rule of thumb that where there’s no sense of service, or obligation, there is zero input of efficiency in whatever modicum of service is dispensed by the elaborate machinery of caretakers of Haj. The poor pilgrims are hardly worthy of being taken as co-equals in faith by their Saudi hosts. Hence the insulting treatment of them is a given thing in the convoluted sense of service of the Saudis deployed for Haj service.

The police force is expected to be the pivot of the administrative super-structure that the Saudi bigwigs tout with so much pomp.

But this police force is recruited— temporarily for Haj duty—from among the mainly Bedouin tribes from the heart of the Saudi desert.

It’s a kind of bribe to the tribes to stay in tow behind the ruling Saudi elite. Efficiency or any sense of commitment to their job is the last mini-print on their roster of duties.

Add to this the scourge of a VIP culture that has been snowballing like pestilence among the Saudi royalty. The stories of Saudi

princes dazzling the world with their pomp and pelf have been making regular headlines in global news media, especially in the West for which the Saudi royals seem to have an obtrusive soft corner, if not an incurable weakness.

One reads regularly of the Saudi monarch sealing off an entire beach in France for their entourage’s royal comfort; or an entire luxury hotel booked for their pleasure in Washington; or a fleet of 400-plus limousines spawning a deluge on American motorways.

With such a hard-to-disguise weakness for VIP pomp shamelessly paraded on alien soil, who would have the gall to doubt this blight also stalking the holy ritual of Haj—on home soil— and remorselessly shredding the Qur’anic commandment of total equality of believers in the observance of Haj? The Saudis may ridicule and denounce as political propaganda the outspoken Iranian government for shouting out, in protest, that the Mina tragedy was perpetrated because road outlets and exits were closed on pilgrims to accommodate the VIP movements of Saudi royals. But there’s a lot of grain in what the Iranians are saying: the tragedy could have been prevented and avoided if those enforcing discipline in the movement of pilgrims hadn’t gone berserk under the weight of VIP demands on them.

Now that the damage has been done, many are ready to tout their prescriptions and remedies for ensuring there’s no repeat visitation of such a tragedy in the future. The suggestions range from cutting down on the number of pilgrims to deploying more hands to police various disciplines of Haj. There’s a lot of merit in the idea of deep cuts in the overall numbers of pilgrims flocking to Haj from all parts of the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. But it wouldn’t pass muster because of two reasons. One, governance in most Muslim states is autocratic and undemocratic. Religious rituals are like a dope—opiate in the famous words of Marx—regularly administered to their cowed down and muzzled citizenry in order to keep them silent and in check. So these governments, understandably, would hate any idea of reducing the quantity of this disguised dope. Moreover, feelings and sentiments of masses could be easily hurt by any move seen as outrageous to their belief of religious freedom.

For another, the Saudis TRAGEDY, P24

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OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P5

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OPINION

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015 n By Shahzeb Jillani BBC News, Karachi

M

r Jinnah’s words didn’t go down well with the powerful and ambitious religious ideologues at the time

Sixty-five years after the death of its founding father, Pakistanis are still searching for Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s vision for the country - and a missing historical speech.

During much of its existence, Pakistanis have been encouraged to believe that Mr Jinnah created Pakistan in the name of Islam as a theocratic state.

Others have disagreed, arguing the founding father wanted a Muslim-majority but secular and progressive country.

The debate over the two competing and contradictory visions has intensified in recent years as the country reels from growing Islamic extremism and Taliban militancy.

At the heart of this debate are some public addresses of Mr Jinnah given around the time of the partition of India in 1947.

Extract from 11 August 1947 speech “If you change your past and work together in a spirit that every one of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his color, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges, and obligations, there will be no end to the progress you will make.

“I cannot emphasize it too much. We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time

The Search for Jinnah’s Vision of Pakistan all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community, because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on, and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vashnavas, Khatris, also Bengalis, Madrasis and so on, will vanish.

“Indeed if you ask me, this has been the biggest hindrance in the way of India to attain the freedom and independence and but for this we would have been free people long, long ago.

“No power can hold another nation, and specially a nation of 400 million souls in subjection; nobody could have conquered you, and even if it had happened, nobody could have continued its hold on you for any length of time, but for this. Therefore, we must learn a lesson from this.

“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state…”

Transcripts of those addresses have been available in Pakistan.

Crucial speech The archives of state-owned broadcaster, Radio Pakistan, also contain cranky old audio recordings of most of those speeches, except for one: his address to the Constituent Assembly in the port city of Karachi on 11 August 1947,

three days before the creation of Pakistan.

For liberals in Pakistan, it was a crucial speech in which Mr Jinnah spoke in the clearest possible terms of his dream that the country he was creating would be tolerant, inclusive and secular.

“You are free. You are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan,” Jinnah declared. “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”

Documented evidence suggests that Mr Jinnah’s words didn’t go down well with the powerful and ambitious religious ideologues

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around him at the time, who then made sure the speech was virtually blacked out in the next day’s newspapers.

Successive military governments in Pakistan were accused of attempting to downplay, even remove, the speech from official records.

Why did that speech unsettle some Pakistani leaders so much?

Many believe it was because it was seen at odds with the kind of antiIndia, anti-Hindu, Islamic state they were trying to create and preserve their own power bases.

By the time Pakistan embarked on a process of Islamization and introduced tough new laws aimed at religious minorities in the 1970s and 1980s, the more controversial bits of that speech were largely wiped out from public discourse.

Jinnah was repackaged as an Islamic leader, rather than a westernized secular man he had been for much of his life.

‘Destroyed deliberately’ Along the way, whatever audio recording there might once have been of that crucial speech disappeared.

Mr Jinnah’s ideals for Pakistan were further muddled, as the country’s hardliners began to question whether the founding father had indeed said those words in his address, was he in the right frame of mind or what he might have meant by them.

“It’s a case of criminal, willful destruction of our history,” alleges Murtaza Solangi, the former direc-

tor general of Radio Pakistan.

He cannot say with certainty whether Pakistan ever possessed the audio recording of the 11 August speech.

But based on his persistent inquiries over the last few years, he has come to the conclusion that “if Pakistan ever had a copy of the speech on tape, it was probably destroyed deliberately”.

In his quest to trace the audio, Solangi contacted the BBC in London. He was told the BBC archive didn’t have the ‘Jinnah tapes’.

He then contacted All India Radio (AIR) in Delhi. Indian officials told him they have the speech.

But it took the Indian authorities another two years before they were forced to release the tapes in public domain - mainly in response to a request by an Indian Muslim activist under the country’s Right to Information law.

‘Missing’ tape It’s not about trying to convince the religious zealots that Jinnah wanted a different kind of Pakistan.

It’s about correcting our distorted history and letting the people decide what kind of Pakistan they want, said Murtaza Solangi.

So, when the news came last week that All India Radio had handed over original recordings of two of Mr Jinnah’s 1947 speeches to Radio Pakistan, it was seen as a breakthrough of sorts.

But Mr Solangi’s excitement was somewhat dampened when it turned out that the crucial missing speech wasn’t part of it. The recordings handed over last week are already a part of Radio Pakistan SPEECH, P28

OPINION n By Dr Mohammad Taqi

W

Florida

hatever Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani had planned for peace did not work out as Kunduz city, the capital of the eponymous northern province, fell to the Taliban on Monday. Kunduz is the first major city or garrison to fall to the jihadists in 14 years of war since the Taliban were toppled in 2001. That it came on the anniversary of the inauguration of President Ashraf Ghani and the National Unity Government (NUG) on September 29, 2014, does not augur well for him, the NUG and, more importantly, Afghanistan.

The etiology of the Kunduz debacle is complex but its immediate lesson is clear: it will serve as a major morale booster for the postMullah Omar Taliban, whether or not they can hold on to the city. The bruised and bickering Taliban have been on the ropes since the news of their leader’s 2013 death was leaked earlier this summer but they surely seem buoyed now. On the other hand, the capitulation at Kunduz is likely to demoralize the people and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) both. Hopefully, the fall of Kunduz is not the déjà vu of the fall of Khost (1991) or Kandahar (1994), which literally marked the beginning of the end of the People’s Democratic Party (PDPA) and the mujahideen dispensations, respectively.

The connotations and implications of the Taliban running over Kunduz surely cannot be lost on

OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7

The Kunduz Debacle the Afghan civil and military leadership. It is quite likely that Afghan security officials will recapture the city as swiftly as they claim but their assertion that they did not expect an assault of this magnitude is shockingly disingenuous and borders on dereliction of duty. One certainly hopes that the security officials did not expect that the Taliban would share their order of battle through a memo. Ironically, as the Taliban were taking over Kunduz airport, Dr Ghani said to reporters in Kabul, “I want to reassure all the countrymen that Kunduz is under control!”

The Kunduz setback was several months in the making and its fall looming unless something was done urgently and decisively to salvage the situation. Many observers within and outside Afghanistan could see it coming. After the Pugwash peace moot between Afghan officials and the Taliban, I had noted in this space back in May that “Taliban attacks in Kunduz, Badakhshan and Farah provinces indicate that they are clearly sticking to fighting and talking simultaneously, the possible thaw at Qatar notwithstanding.” The Taliban had made several incursions into assorted provincial districts like Imam Sahib, Qala-e-Zaal and Dasht-e-Archi, to the north, northwest and northeast of Kunduz city, respectively. It was a matter of time before they coalesced for the decisive push into the city. Forays into northern and central Afghanistan have been the hallmark of the Taliban’s spring offensive, dubbed Azm (the resolve), this year. There is little doubt that government forces had

let their guard down for months on end and the top leadership, including Dr Ghani, was in denial, as his remarks indicate, about these extremely precarious developments.

No surprise then that nothing was done to stem the Taliban tide.

Pinning all the blame on Pakistan however, without acknowledging Afghan shortcomings, generates a pathological rationalization that feeds a victimhood complex, which in turn becomes a dangerously defeatist phenomenon President Ashraf Ghani’s policy has been clearly flawed and he has simply failed to fix it. He had changed the Kunduz governor with his handpicked man, Mohammad Omar Safi, in an attempt to upend the local

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militias and warlords but Safi — an outsider to Kunduz — failed to gain traction and was pushed to pasture a few days ago. At the time of the current Taliban assault, Governor Safi was apparently in Tajikistan awaiting his dismissal orders from Kabul.

Dr Ashraf Ghani is known to have a knack for micromanagement and has been running the provinces via videoconferences, venturing out only rarely, if at all. He failed to harness the alienated militias, warlords, drug barons and disastrous governance in Kunduz, all of which paved the way for the Taliban — buttressed by elements of al Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Turkistan (IMU) - to regain hold around Kunduz city and eventually ransack it.

There is little doubt that advanced military planning and extrinsic support guided the Taliban every step of the Kunduz offensive but its success was ensured by the monumental intrinsic blunders on part of the local and central governments.

It was no mean feat that the insurgents and terrorists numbering several hundred to a couple of thousand, attacked Kunduz city from three sides and were able to trounce a 7,000-strong, better-armed and better-positioned government force and take over the governorate, military and intelligence offices, installations, vehicles and weapons, the UN’s offices, a hospital and the airport. It is a major propaganda coup for Mullah Akhtar Mansour no matter how one slices it. The new Taliban emir (head) will leverage it to the fullest not only against the government but also to tighten his

control over the internal and rival jihadist factions. Dr Ashraf Ghani should be a very worried man now, reflecting deeply to figure out what went wrong, and by the boatloads at that. His policy of talks with the Taliban and appeasement of Pakistan’s security establishment was a disaster in the making and now he has very ugly proof of it too. The Taliban used the talks as a subterfuge and the interregnum thus gained to regroup, rearm and relentlessly score their biggest victory in a decade and a half, right before the summer fighting season ends.

There is no dearth of the blame that rightfully belongs at Pakistan and its proxies’ doorsteps but what exactly was the Afghan leadership doing to counter that problem?

Pinning all the blame on Pakistan however, without acknowledging Afghan shortcomings, generates a pathological rationalization that feeds a victimhood complex, which in turn becomes a dangerously defeatist phenomenon. Mullah Omar’s death provided the Afghans a oncein-a-generation opportunity to push back the enemy but unfortunately they seem on the verge of squandering it. President Dr Ashraf Ghani has failed to capitalize politically, militarily and diplomatically on the windfall from Mullah Omar’s death.

His narrative management has been dismal and decision-making characteristic of a World Bank bean counter.

The fall of Kunduz is the culmination of Dr Ghani’s dreadful domestic political approach and failed foreign overtures. Now that the Taliban have a major victory under their belt does the current

DEBACLE, P21

OPINION

P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015 n By Dr Adil Najam

O

Boston

ne hundred and thirtyseven men have served as the justices of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Depending on whether you want to count those whose appointments have been later annulled, that number may be less.

But that is not the point. The point is that each and every one of them has been a man.

It is time to change that fact. It is time to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court. It is well past time.

With the recent retirements of chief justices Nasir-ul-Mulk and Jawwad Khawaja the Supreme Court has two vacancies. In the next some days the Judicial Commission of Pakistan will meet to nominate two names to send to the Parliamentary Committee, and from there onwards to the prime minister and president.

Word has it that names are already being discussed in the small but elevated circles of Islamabad that influence such decisions. Word also has it that at least a few of those names are deemed ‘unconventional.’

That would be fine if ‘unconventional’ means that at least one will be the name of a woman. It is time to appoint the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. It is well past time.

One should really not have to insult the intelligence of one’s reader by actually needing to make a case for why having female judges at all levels of the judiciary – especially, at

Time for a Woman on the Supreme Court the Supreme Court – is important.

It should be self-evident. Equality of opportunity should be reason enough. Unfortunately, to too many, it is not. If it were, we would not have entered the 69th year of our existence without ever having had a single female Justice at the Supreme Court.

But that is where we are. So, here goes.

Women in the judiciary matter because representation matters. If there is a logic that the v a r i o u s provinces of the country should be represented in the Supreme Court – and, even if this is not a constitutional provision, there is very clearly such a logic in the composition of the court; and very rightly so – then how illogical is it to not have even a single justice who represents the lives, the sensibilities, and the impacts of the law on more than half of our population? The half that is clearly more vulnerable, more disenfranchised, more marginalized, and all too often more unjustly penalized.

If it is wrong to not have some representation of those who can reflect the concerns of smaller provinces – and, yes, that would be wrong; very wrong – then how can it be right to have no representation whatsoever, no reflection whatsoever, no consideration whatsoever, of a group that is larger than even the largest of our provinces. A group (women) whose life struggles are often ununderstood, whose concerns are often ignored, and whose fate is often decided by laws that they had no say in and judges who are distant from their realities.

All too often and in all too many spheres, women in Pakistan have very little say in what happens to them, by whom, how, or why. But nowhere do they have less of a say than in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

All too often and in all too many spheres, women in Pakistan have very little say in what happens to them, by whom, how, or why. But nowhere do they have less of a say than in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. This, I submit to those who sit in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, is not just a sad irony. This is injustice This, I submit to those who sit in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, is not just a sad irony. This is injustice.

Indeed, by being so unrepresentative of such a large set of Pakistanis,

www.PakistanLink.com

the Supreme Court of Pakistan has made itself that much less legitimate.

No. Lest I be accused of a contempt I am not committing, let it be clear that to be ‘less legitimate’ is not to be ‘illegitimate’. It is merely to point out that the court will be so much more legitimate if, indeed, there were women on the Supreme Court. It is time to make that happen. It is well past time.

There are a host of reasons why it is time to appoint a female justice to the Supreme Court. Some are petty reasons of vanity. For example, to show that we can do what Afghanistan tried but failed to do just two months ago when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s nominee, Anila Rassouli, was denied a place on their Supreme Court by his parliament.

There are better reasons of antecedent: India appointed their first woman to their Supreme Court back in 1989 – Justice M Fatimah Beevi, a Muslim. In Egypt, Justice Tahani Al-Gebali was elevated to the Supreme Constitutional Court in 2003.

In Bangladesh, Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana has served on their Supreme Court’s Appellate bench since 2011.

More important are lessons from the US, from Europe and from Latin America of how truly transformative women on Supreme Courts can be.

However, the single most compelling reason why now is the time to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court is because we should. The second most compelling reason is because we can. Here’s how.

According to the constitution, there are two conditions to be eligible to be a justice of the Supreme Court: (a) five years of experience as a judge of a high court, or (b) 15 years experience as a high court advocate. The point to recognize is that Pakistan does have talented, qualified, and appropriately experienced women who would make good Justices. Some very prominent ones amongst practicing advocates, but also within the high courts.

Currently, all the four provincial high courts have serving women judges, although the Islamabad High Court does not. Most, however, are relatively new. For example, Justice Irshad Qaiser (2012) and Justice Musarrat Hilali (2013) of the Peshawar High Court; or Justice Ayesha Malik (2012), Justice Aalia Neelum (2013), and Justice Erum Sajjad Gull (2015) of the Punjab High Court.

A very interesting case is that of Justice Ashraf Jehan of the Sindh High Court who in 2013 became the first woman justice to be appointed to the Federal Shariat Court. She also happens to be the wife of our new Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali. Maybe she can make the COURT, P28

OPINION n By Riaz Haq

“

CA

The 21st century belongs to India’, declared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thousands of his adoring fans at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. As he spoke inside the Arena, protestors carrying anti-Modi posters condemned the presence in Silicon Valley of the person they choose to describe as the “Butcher of Gujarat”.

My Invitation and Ticket: I had received an invitation and a ticket to attend Prime Minister Modi’s reception at the SAP Center. I thought about attending it long and hard. I was really conflicted about attending and, in the end, I chose not to.

Modi’s Soaring Rhetoric: As Prime Minister Modi wowed almost exclusively Indian-American techie audience in Silicon Valley, there were many who compared his rhetoric to US President Barack Obama’s 2008 soaring speeches promising “Change” in America which, for many, have led to a huge letdown in the last 6 years. Modi led his audience with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Jai Baghat Singh” and they responded by cheering the Prime Minster on with screams of “Modi! Modi”. “[India] has moved on from scriptures to satellites,” Modi said.

“The world has started to believe that the 21st century belongs to India.”

“Unwelcome Modi” Rally: As the Indian Prime Minister spoke to thousands of his adoring supporters inside San Jose Arena, a group estimated by some at 3000 staged a rally against him.

“Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Rock

n By Zulfiqar Ashraf Chaudhry

L

Roseville, CA

ast Friday, as the Imam was talking about the resilience of Hazrat Ibraheem (AS), I was reminded of our 16th president of the same name: Abraham Lincoln (AL). They both had many similarities. For example, - Both failed again and again, before they finally succeeded. AS was disowned by his own father, put in the fire, exiled to a foreign land, saw his disciple (Hazrat Lot’s people) fail, endure separation from his wife and son (Hazrat Hajra and Ismaeel), until he became the “friend of God” (Khalilulah) and a “Nation onto himself.” As for AL, he was defeated for State legislature, failed in business, lost his sweetheart (to death), had a nervous breakdown, defeated for Speaker, then US Senate (twice), then for Vice President nomination, until he succeeded as the savior President of the USA. -Both hailed from humble beginnings: AS’s dad was an average idol maker, while AL’s dad was a poor farmer.

-Both were at odds with their dads’ professions: AS was not interested in making idols (in fact, he hated idols); also, AL was not interested in farming (in fact, he hated physical labor). Both were scolded, first by their dads, later by society, for not being interested in the “family business.”

-Both were self-taught: AS used deductive reasoning (using the articles of nature: Sun, Moon, Stars) to finally arrive at the Ultimate Reality,

OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9

“Unwelcome Modi” Campaign in Silicon Valley tiative. The US professors reminded the technology executive that Modi and his Hindu allies are using their power to censor dissident voices in India.

Hindtuva activists allied with Modi have been attacking dis-

Star’ visit to Silicon Valley can’t make up for his rock bottom performance in human and civil rights,” Virali Modi-Parekh of Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) told NBC News. “Since Modi’s been in office, violence against religious minorities has spiked. But Modi turns a blind eye while churches are burned and Muslims and Christians are being forcibly converted. There is a culture of fear and victimization, especially against minorities in India, which undermines Modi’s standing as a business partner.”

Campaign against Modi’s presence in Silicon Valley included billboards across Silicon Valley focusing attention on Modi’s human rights record; hundreds of bottles of Purell hand sanitizer sent to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, each with a name of a person killed in the Gujarat riots; challenges from South Asian LGBTQ employees of high-tech companies of India’s Penal Code 377; a “faculty statement” from 125 academics on Modi’s history; a “die-in” dramatizing con-

India’s approach to Internet speech has been a flashpoint for years, with the government saying it wants to regulate content that is offensive to religious or ethnic groups

tinuing attacks against minority groups; and social media campaigns using the hashtags #ModiFail, #ChallengeModi, #ModiLiestoUS, #ZuckWashYourHands, according to NBC News.

Academics Letter: Over 100 US academics wrote an open letter to Silicon Valley tech executives warning them against doing busi-

sidents with impunity since the Prime Minister’s elevation to power in Delhi. M.M. Kalburgi, a 78-yearold professor, was assassinated by the Sangh activists recently. Hours

ness with Prime Minister Modi who came to push his “Digital India” ini-

after Kalburgi’s murder, Bhuvith Shetty, a member of the Hindu mili-

The Secret Sauce of Greatness while, AL taught himself the knowledge of reality by voraciously reading books. Once, he had to walk 20 miles to borrow a book on Washington from a farmer, but when the book got wet in rain, he had to do hard physical labor for two days to repay the farmer.

- Both were grief stricken: AS by having to leave his wife and son (Hajra and Ismael) in the desert, while AL to lose his son, Willie (age 11), to death from typhoid.

- Both had tough wives: AS had Sarah, while AL had Mary Todd.

The latter had a mercurial temper, loved to over spend, was arrogant, and constantly nagged and scolded her husband.

-Both had soft hearts: AS kept praying for his parents (the same dad who disowned him), until Allah had to stop him, while AL could not see a turtle get hurt with hot coals by young boys.

But, you ask, what made these two Abrahams great? Were they born with greatness (i.e., was greatness in their genes)? Or was it the environment, or their circumstances, that made them great?

One answer to the above question could be: they were made great by their RESILIENCE. It was their resilience, in the face of great challenges (that their God /environment / circumstances threw at them) that enabled them to succeed so admirably.

To understand resilience, I will

rely on Diane Coutu’s influential article, “How resilience works” that was published in Harvard Business Review, May 2002.

According to Coutu, Resilience is made up of three things: 1. Facing reality 2. Having faith 3. Improvising solutions 1. Facing Reality: Both AS and AL always tried to understand Reality. AS realized that articles of nature, be it stone idols, or magnificent sun, moon, or stars, could not be taken as true protectors. As they themselves were dependent on a Higher power, he reasoned, how could they be worthy of full, undivided, allegiance, and obedience.

Thus, only the Ultimate Reality was worthy of obedience, allegiance, true protection, and guidance.

As for AL, although he hated slavery, he realized that facts on the ground (economic dependence and addiction of South on slavery) would not allow him make slavery as the rallying cry for the Civil War. Instead, he used the country’s unity as the rallying cry. It was not until he started winning battles on the ground that he made his Emancipation Proclamation. This well-timed approach, in sync with the facts on the ground, like the need for more fighting men, which could be met by freeing slaves, held by the Southern states, led to victory on both the battlefield and the slavery front.

www.PakistanLink.com

Kabhi Ae Haqiqat-e-Muntazir!

Nazar Aa Libas-e-Majaz Mein Ke Hazar Sajde Tarap Rahe Hain Meri Jabeen-e-Niaz Mein For once, O awaited Reality, reveal Yourself in a form material, For a thousand prostrations are quivering eagerly in my submissive brow 2. Having faith: AS had tremendous faith in God. It was his faith in God that enabled him to endure the wrath of his parents, society, and King; then gave him the courage to leave his country, then his second wife, Hajara and his first born, Ismaeel, in the desert, and then later put a knife to his son’s throat.

AL also had unshakeable faith.

He had faith in God and humanity. He believed in fairness. He was against injustice, whether it be against animals or blacks. He was a deeply spiritual person, without wearing religion on his sleeves. He believed that everyone should be treated fairly. It was his fairness and magnanimous attitude that endeared him to everyone. For example, he was notorious for pardoning deserting soldiers on whimsical excuses. He looked for reasons to forgive and pardon rebels. His attitude ‘charity towards all, malice towards none’, became the healing words for the wounded nation.

3.

Improvising solutions: When AS was cornered by the King of Egypt, who desired his wife, AS had to think fast on his feet to avoid

tant group Bajrang Dal, tweeted in celebration: “Mock Hinduism and die a dog’s death. And dear K.S. Bhagwan you are next.”

Two other high-profile rationalists, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, were shot point-blank 18 months apart in the western state of Maharashtra. Dabholkar, a 68-year-old activist who worked on behalf of villagers exploited by local gurus and so-called godmen, campaigned for the state government to pass an anti-superstition bill. It’s been two years since he was killed in the city of Pune, and no one has been charged, according to a report in Los Angeles Times.

Digital Censorship: Facebook has published data indicating that India leads the world in censoring Facebook posts. Indian government demanded Facebook blocks 4,765 times in a six-month period.

India’s approach to Internet speech has been a flashpoint for years, with the government saying it wants to regulate content that is offensive to religious or ethnic groups, and companies such as Facebook and Google (GOOG) bristling at the restrictions, according to Bloomberg News.

Summary: There’s no question that Mr Narendra Modi is wildly popular with Indians at home and abroad. The Prime Minister has made a lot of promises to the Indian people. And the more he speaks, the higher the expectations. Meanwhile, India’s exports have declined every month for the last 9 months and the corporate profits of Indian companies continue to be weak.

At the same time, Mr Modi’s allies in the Sangh Parivar are stepping up their activities challenging the “Secular” foundations of the Indian Constitution. So the question is: Is the Modi phenomenon beginning to unravel already? getting killed by the King. So, he improvised. He told the honorable king that the lady accompanying him was his sister, not his wife. Another example of his improvisation was when after destroying all the smaller idols at the local temple, he did the ‘tongue in cheek thing’: i.e., he left the axe in the hand of the largest idol. Too bad, his people did not buy his story.

When AL was losing battle after battle, he improvised. He used the latest technology to defeat the South. He used the telegraph to keep abreast of all the developments in the field, even issued direct orders to his Generals from the White House; he used the railroad to transfer thousands of soldiers and heavy artillery hundreds of miles into deep South; he freed the slaves just at the right time to take advantage of their numbers (and enthusiasm) to win the losing war.

In other words, resilience is the secret sauce that makes someone great. But then the question arises: if greatness is due to resilience, then what is resilience from? In other words, can resilience be acquired, or is it inborn? Allama Iqbal gives us a clue: Aaj Bhi Jo Baraheem (A.S.) Ka Imaan Paida Aag Kar Sakti Hai Andaz-eGulistan Paida But if the faith of Abraham there, once again, is born, Where leaps this flame, flowers will bloom, and laugh its blaze to scorn.

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Pakistan Accuses India of Interfering in Its Internal Matters

Sartaj regretted that instead of responding to Pakistan’s gesture of goodwill, the Indian side was interfering in Pakistan’s internal matters and supporting terrorism

New York: Pakistan has said it was regrettable that instead of responding to its goodwill gesture, India is “interfering” in its internal matters and accused it of supporting terrorism.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz said that Kashmir was among the oldest unresolved international disputes at the UN forum.

Speaking at the Annual Coordination Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers, he also accused Indian security forces of human rights violations and ceasefire violations.

He asked the OIC member states to impress upon India to end its alleged repression of Kashmiris and to come to the negotiating table for peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir, according to a press release.

He “regretted that instead of responding to Pakistan’s gesture of goodwill, the Indian side was not only interfering in Pakistan’s internal matters but was also supporting terrorism inside Pakistan,” the release said.

Aziz also said the denial of the right of self-determination to Kashmiri people continued to stain the collective conscience of the international community.

Possibility of Cricket Series with India Ruled out

“He clarified that elections held under foreign occupation could not be a substitute to the exercise of right to self-determination under a UN plebiscite,” the release said.

The meeting, convened on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, was chaired

by Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and attended by Foreign Ministers of OIC member states.

The meeting also adopted reports of the various OIC Contact Groups, including the one on Jammu & Kashmir which reaffirmed the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people in accordance with UNSC resolutions, the release added.

A diplomatic back and forth ensued between India and Pakistan at the UN following Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s address to the General Assembly in which he had proposed a new four-point peace initiative to India, including demilitarization of Kashmir and “unconditional mutual withdrawal” from Siachen Glacier.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in her address to the world body, said India does not need four points but only one that Pakistan should give up terror and come to the negotiating table for talks.

Both countries exercised the Right of Reply to respond to each other’s leaders’ statements with India saying that terrorism in Pakistan is a “home grown” problem that has “begun to bite the hand that fed it.”

Altaf ’s Bail Extended for another Four Months London: Muttahida Qaumi Movement

Islamabad: National Security Ad-

viser Sartaj Aziz on Monday ruled out a potential cricket series against India, saying he saw no chance of a revival of ties between the archrivals under “the current situation”.

Aziz’s remarks come at a time when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is awaiting a final response from their Indian counterparts about a series due to be played in December-January in United Arab Emirates.

“I see no chance of cricket between Pakistan and India under the current situation,” Aziz told the media in Islamabad.

“We need to make (the) situation favorable for cricket and other things. Our board (the PCB) is in contact with Indian officials on cricket so they are in a better position to tell the exact situation but I am not very hopeful,” he added.

India agreed to play a six-Test

series with Pakistan between 20152023 after the PCB agreed to reforms to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s governing body, last year which gave hefty powers, and revenues to cricket’s big three — India, Australia and England.

But all the series were subject to clearance from the respective governments.

India called off most sporting fixtures between the two countries after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, though they did play a limited-over series in 2012.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has said he hopes a meeting with Indian counterparts on the sidelines of an ICC meeting in Dubai this week will settle the matter.

Pakistan and India also stopped playing cricket matches against each other between 1989 and 1999.

(MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain was granted bail extension for the fifth time after he appeared at London’s Southwark police station on Monday to attend a hearing in the money laundering case.

The MQM supremo was granted bail extension for four months; he will now appear before police in February 2016, DawnNews reported.

The MQM leader earlier left his Edgeware residence accompanied by associates identified as Muhammad Anwar, Barrister Saif and Farooq Sattar, DawnNews reported.

Altaf Hussain was first given a medical checkup to confirm whether he was healthy enough to answer questions, London police later questioned him.

As money laundering is considered a serious offence in the United Kingdom, imprisonment could range from anywhere between six months to 10 years, depending on the amount of money laundered.

The MQM supremo was arrested on June 3, 2014 during the course of a money-laundering investigation initiated in July 2013 by the London Metropolitan Police, prompting thousands of people in Karachi to stage a sit-in calling for his release.

He was then shifted to Wellington Hospital owing to health concerns and underwent angiography and other tests.

On discharge from the hospital, Hussain was taken to the Southwark police station where he was questioned for nine hours.

www.PakistanLink.com

PM Hopeful India Would Consider His Peace Plan

PM Sharif said Pakistan had the evidence of involvement of Indian spy agency RAW in subversive activities and had shared it with the United Nations

London: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that sooner or later India would have to consider the four-point peace proposal he presented at the United Nations General Assembly.

Talking to journalists at the airport here before leaving for Pakistan, the prime minister said he had raised all relevant issues in his speech at the UN assembly and given concrete proposals for their resolution to reduce tensions between the two countries.

He said the proxy war against Pakistan from across the border should come to an end.

Mr Sharif said Pakistan had the evidence of involvement of Indian spy agency RAW in subversive activities and had shared

it with the United Nations. He was confident that the dossiers Pakistan handed over to the UN would have considerable impact.

In reply to a question, he said the international community was listening to Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and peace could not be achieved by hurling allegations.

He said tension in the region had affected the development process and there was no other method to resolve the outstanding issues except dialogue.

Mr Sharif said both Pakistan and India needed to adopt a balanced approach towards resolution of the issues. The sooner the dialogue process started the better it would be for the two countries.

Criticizing Blasphemy Law Does Not Amount to Blasphemy: Justice Khosa Islamabad: Justice Asif Saeed Kho-

sa of the Supreme Court of Pakistan said on Monday that criticism of the blasphemy law did not amount to blasphemy.

The judge gave the remarks while hearing the appeal by Mumtaz Qadri — the killer of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer — against his death penalty.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa adjourned the hearing for the next day when Qadri’s counsel Justice retired Nazir Akhter is expected to continue his arguments.

During the hearing the bench observed that the entire argument of Qadri’s counsel would be rendered irrelevant if it is not established that the then governor Salman Taseer had committed blasphemy.

Justice Khosa in his remarks said that criticizing a law does not amount to blasphemy and the press clippings presented in court do not provide sufficient evidence to maintain that the former governor had committed blasphemy.

Qadri, a former commando of Punjab police’s Elite Force, was sentenced to death for assassinating former Punjab governor Salman Taseer in Islamabad’s Kohsar Market. Qadri said he killed Taseer over the politician’s vocal opposition to blasphemy laws of the country. He

Qadri had confessed shooting Taseer dead outside an upmarket coffee shop close to the latter’s residence in Islamabad

had confessed to shooting Taseer dead outside an upmarket coffee shop close to the latter’s residence in Islamabad on Jan 4.

Following the sentencing, Qadri’s counsels had challenged the ATC’s decision through two applications the same month.

The first petition had demanded that Qadri’s death sentence should be quashed and the second asked for Section 7 of the ATA to be declared void from the sentencing.

In its ruling on the appeal, the IHC rejected Qadri’s application against his death sentence under the PPC but accepted his application to void ATA’s Section 7.

Qadri’s counsels challenged IHC’s decision to uphold his death penalty in the Supreme Court.

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Imran Questions Authenticity of By-Polls under ‘Tainted’ ECP Officials

“Our sources have informed us that PML-N is planning to do rigging at women’s polling stations, but let me make it clear to them that PTI’s tigresses will not let them succeed in their nefarious designs,” Imran said

Lahore: Officials of Election Com-

mission under whom the elections were rigged in 2013 have again been assigned to conduct the polls, thus putting a question mark on the authenticity of upcoming by-polls, says Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan He made this claim while addressing a rally in Lahore ahead of the by-polls in NA-122 constituency.

The PTI chief said that this time the army personnel will monitor the polling process in NA-122; not just the polling process but they will also monitor the transfer of voting bags to ECP. Imran further said that this time around Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has given training to PTI’s polling staff on how to stop PML-N people from doing pollday rigging.

“Our sources have informed us that PML-N is planning to do rigging at women’s polling station,

but let me make it clear to them that PTI’s tigresses will not let them succeed in their nefarious designs,” he said.

While taking a jibe at the PML-N, Imran said that since their leaders are all hiding behind stay orders from court, he should better call them ‘stay order league’ instead of N-League.

Our main focus is not on bringing out people on the voting day, we are more concerned about how to stop poll-rigging, said Imran.

“It all started with me demanding PML-N to open four constituencies. Was it an unjust demand?” he questioned.

Mentioning corruption as the main hindrance in the country’s development, Imran said that currently scores of cases are lying pending in Punjab’s National Accountability Bureau, but the incumbent government is not letting them prosecute those cases.

“If these 180 or so pending cases are prosecuted then it would result in bringing back billions of rupees to the national exchequer, thus benefitting the country’s economy,” he asserted.

Polling for NA-122, Lahore, is due on Oct 11 and the PTI has fielded former provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan against PMLN’s candidate Ayaz Sadiq.

The ECP is setting up 284 polling stations for by-polls in NA-122.

There will be 673 polling booths, for male and female voters, in the constituency. The Election Commission has also decided to deploy personnel of Pakistan Rangers Punjab in the upcoming bye-election in the constituency.

Punjab election commission’s tribunal on Aug 22 had ordered re-polling in NA-122, declaring the election in the constituency null and void – accepting PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition challenging the 2013 election result.

Mina Stampede: Death Toll of Pakistani Pilgrims Rises to 76

Islamabad/Islamabad: At least 76

Pakistani pilgrims are reported dead in the Mina stampede during Hajj, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

According to the list uploaded on the ministry’s website, of the 76 pilgrims, deaths of 29 were verified

by Saudi authorities, whereas the passing away of the remaining 47 was reported by relatives and eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile, seven injured Pakistani pilgrims are being treated in Saudi Arabia while 60 are still believed to be missing.

The Mina stampede is said to be one of the worst mishaps during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 25 years.

Over 769 pilgrims were killed in the stampede which left at least 934 others injured.

Tragedy struck when two large groups of pilgrims preparing for one of the last major rites of their trip met on an intersection of two roads leading to the main site, Saudi authorities said.

Nearly two million Muslims from across the globe attended this year’s Hajj – one of the largest annual gatherings in the world.

‘More than 300 missing pilgrims found’: State Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Aminul Hasnat, in his first appearance since the crisis on Monday in

Nearly two million Muslims from across the globe attended this year’s Hajj

Senate, confirmed that the death toll of Pakistani pilgrims had reached 76 while 47 were reported injured.

While presenting a report on the stampede in the 120th session of the House, he said 306 missing pilgrims were found while 60 are still reported to be missing.

Seven Pakistani pilgrims are under treatment in various hospitals while 40 had been discharged, he added.

The minister informed the House that the pilgrims were provided with wrist-bands and name tags bearing their contact details

for immediate confirmation of their identities.

Discrepancy of data: Meanwhile, talking to The Express Tribune, brother of a victim of the tragedy, Syed Shahzad Azhar said, “Four days ago, the death of my younger brother was confirmed in the incident, but the ministry has not updated its list on the website,” he said pointing to the discrepancy despite the government’s claims the list was constantly updated.

“I am still clueless about the whereabouts of my mother, Yasmeen Bibi,” he said with agony.

www.PakistanLink.com

JI to Support PTI in NA-122, PP-147 By-Polls

PTI and JI leaders address a joint press conference in Lahore

Lahore: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Monday announced that it had decided to support Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in the coming byelections for National Assembly’s NA-122 and Punjab Assembly’s PP147 seats.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, leaders of the two parties said Jamaat-i-Islami had decided to support the PTI candidate in NA122 and will also stand with its ally in the elections for PP-147 which are scheduled to be held on Oct 11.

NA-122 is one of four constituencies where PTI chairman Imran Khan had demanded voters’ thumbprint verification following his defeat to Ayaz Sadiq during the 2013 general elections.

Announcing his party’s decision, JI leader Mian Maqsood said the decision was taken on the conclusion of talks with the PTI team.

Maqsood said he hoped PTI would win the NA seat and grab Punjab’s PP-147 as well, adding that JI itself was solely focusing on the upcoming local body polls.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI central leader Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar thanked the JI leadership and said his party will easily se-

cure the critical seat as people were aware of the government’s incompetence.

“Those ruling us for the last 30 years have failed to solve the people’s problems and there isn’t a single public department that is corruption-free,” said Sarwar.

Referring to local government elections, the former governor maintained that a government could not be called democratic unless it devolves its powers to the local level.

“It is only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where we have not only devolved power but the funds as well,” said Sarwar.

Polling for NA-122 is scheduled for Oct 11 and PTI has fielded former provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan against Ayaz Sadiq.

The ECP is setting up 284 polling stations for the by-election and there will be 673 polling booths for male and female voters in the constituency. The Election Commission has also decided to deploy Pakistan Rangers Punjab for the by-poll. Meanwhile, PP-147, which also overlaps with areas represented in NA-122 on the national level, will have 111 polling stations.

‘Saudi Carelessness’ in Mina Stampede Criticized in Senate Islamabad: The ‘carelessness of Saudi authorities’ during the Mina stampede was strongly criticized by Senators in the Upper House of Parliament on Monday.

Senator Usman Kakar, strongly criticized Saudi officials over “their failure to facilitate pilgrims despite earning billions of dollars”. He also blamed Saudi officials for their ‘carelessness’.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah updated the Senate on details of the Mina stampede.

Shah said that as soon as the stampede occurred officials of Pakistan Haj commission had managed to rescue 23 people, who were shifted to the Pakistani High Commission for medical treatment. He added that Saudi security personnel later arrived at the scene and cordoned off the Pakistani High Commission, preventing its staff from carrying out further rescue efforts.

Shah expressed the hope that Saudi Government would share facts which would emerge after investigation of the incident.

The state minister claimed that

the number of Pakistani pilgrims martyred in the stampede stood at 76 while 47 are reported to have been injured.

Shah disclosed there are still sixty Pakistani pilgrims who are missing and their data is available with the ministry. He added that the data could be presented in the House if needed.

Later during the session, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani announced his ruling on the resignations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members.

“It is our responsibility to check whether the legislators and senators gave their resignations voluntarily or not, the documents can be scrutinized” The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart declared that the Constitution of Pakistan does not allow him to accept the resignations without proper verification or scrutiny.

Leader of the opposition in senate Chaudhry Aitzan Ahsan had raised the issue of MQM resignations in the house on September 16 demanding the chairman to apprise the members of the status of MQM senators following their resignations.

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OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15

US Supports Fight ‘from Waziristan to Karachi’

Washington, DC: The United States has assured Pakistan that it will continue to support the government’s efforts to defeat militancy from North Waziristan to Karachi.

In a policy statement, read out at a convention convened by the Pakistan Embassy, US Deputy Special Representative Jonathan Carpenter also reiterated Washington’s offer of “tangible material” support to democracy in the country.

Pakistan’s Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani opened the convention, informing the participants that USPakistan relations were “much stable” now and the two countries were looking for new avenues to further this relationship.

But Mr Carpenter, whose office looks after US ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan, gave a candid review of this relationship and how he saw it unfolding in the near future.

“The government of Pakistan, across all its agencies civil, military, intelligence, is engaged in a full-throttle battle against extremism within its borders,” he said, while pointing to the sacrifices that the Pakistani armed forces had made in North Waziristan.

“The continuing fight there, the efforts in Karachi and elsewhere to weed out militarism, is fundamental to Pakistan’s survival. We will continue to support that with our assistance where we can, and we will continue to encourage Pakistan to act against all militant elements within its borders,’ he said.

“It is fundamental, first and foremost, for Pakistan’s well-being, for the success of its people, its economy and its society.”

He said that after the attack on the Peshawar air base, both governments recognized that there were safe havens on either side of the border and these were a threat to their national security.

While the US would work with them to remove these safe havens,

“first of all this must be done by these two governments”, he added.

Mr Carpenter noted that over the last three years, the US had “steadily re-built the foundations of a pragmatic, productive, friendly relationship”.

The focus was on areas where there were shared interests between the two countries, he said, adding that these were areas of “incredible importance to US national interests” and cooperation with Pakistan in those areas had made the United States safer.

“It does not mean there are no areas of disagreement,” he said. “What we are trying hard to do over the last few years is to be forthright in private settings as to what those areas are, to discuss them and to be candid about why we take the positions we do.”

The United States also expects Pakistan to do the same, he added.

“We recognize that Pakistan’s success, broadly speaking, is fundamental to regional stabilities and security, and to US national security,” Mr Carpenter said.

The United States, he said, would do everything it could to promote Pakistan’s success and “the success of this democratically elected government”.

Deadlock Continues in PIA-PALPA Negotiations Islamabad: Terming demands of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA) as unjustified, a PIA spokesman said the airline management would exercise all options to meet the situation.

In a statement issued on Monday the airline explained that PALPA President Captain Amir Hashmi was called to the Aviation Division and informed by the Senior Joint Secretary Captain Ahmed Latif that demands put forth by PALPA in Sunday’s meeting tantamount to challenging the writ of PIA management and were not acceptable.

The demands were as follows: Immediate replacement of director flights operation, immediate withdrawal of all show cause notices, inquiries/ investigations and legal notices issued to pilots on disciplinary grounds and reinstatement of all grounded pilots and fixation of seniority as per the wishes of PALPA. Aviation Division senior joint secretary told Hashmi that there should be no preconditions and PALPA should immediately resume normal flight operations. However, PIA management is willing to sit with PALPA representatives and

listen to their legitimate demands.

A way forward was offered to PALPA that a team may be constituted comprising four senior pilots of PIA and four representatives of PALPA, along with two observers from PIA management, which would formulate future course of action to resolve all issues within 24-48 hours.

Unfortunately, PALPA president refused to budge and insisted that PALPA’s three demands be met forthwith. “This inflexible stance is causing inconvenience to the passengers and inflicting unnecessary financial and other losses to the national carrier,” the spokesman said. He further said that PIA management will take all necessary measures possible to facilitate the smooth operation of all flights, especially the Hajj flights.

The Aviation Division as well as PIA management appreciated the services of the vast majority of pilots who did not succumb to PALPA’s pressure and remained loyal to their organization, dutifully serving the people of Pakistan. “All available options will be exercised to cater for any possible shortage of pilots,” he remarked.

Civilian assistance, he noted, has been the “bedrock of this relationship”.

The US official acknowledged that managing relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan has never been easy.

And because of the recent events in Kunduz and the attack on the air base in Peshawar, “this has been a particularly difficult time,” with “a lot at stake here”.

Mr Carpenter dispelled the impression that the United States was leaving the region by 2016.

“We have maintained assistance levels in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is way above anything we are doing globally. These two are the largest recipients of US assistance, security, civilian, in the world,” he said.

The United States, he said, had invested “blood’ and resources in this region and there’s was a recognition in Washington that “these investments must be nurtured, supported, and sustained”.

The US commitment to the region was “absolute and sustaining” and the success of these democratically elected governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan was fundamental to regional stability and to US security, Mr Carpenter said.

Noting the successful democratic transition in Pakistan, he said this was an area where “we are very pleased to support the Pakistanis, in tangible, material ways.”

The US official noted that the Pakistani economy too had improved, and not by anything the US had done but because of the steps the Pakistani government had taken.

The US official noted that the reconciliation process that Pakistan initiated this summer was derailed because of the revelation of Mullah Omar’s death but there remains “a fundamental recognition here that these two countries must work together to solve these problems”.

Karachi University Expels Student for Inviting Ayyan Karachi:

The University of Karachi’s (KU) administration expelled on Monday a student who invited supermodel Ayyan for the inauguration of a business venture at the campus by the varsity’s students in August this year.

Admission of Araib Khan, a student in the Department of Public Administration, has been cancelled and he will not be allowed to take admission in any course of the university in future, says a notification of the registrar of the university, Dr Moazzam Ali Khan.

“You are found guilty of damaging the reputation of the Department of Public Administration as well as the prestige of the university,” reads the notification.

He has also been banned from entering the university’s premises.

The supermodel’s visit to the varsity in August created an uproar with the university administration AYYAN, P28

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US Providing Precision Strike Technology to Pakistan: Jilani

Washington, DC: The United

States is helping Pakistan fight militants in its tribal areas by providing precision strike technology to its air force, the country’s envoy in Washington said on Sunday.

He was addressing the second Convention of the Pakistani-American Community in the American capital, according to the state-run

Radio Pakistan.

Talking to participants about progress in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani said over 90 per cent of the areas in North Waziristan which were previously used by militants as safe havens have been cleared by Pakistan’s Army. He added that the military has also completely destroyed the terrorists’ command and control infrastructure.

Regarding US efforts to assist Pakistan with the situation in the tribal areas, the envoy said Washington is also helping Islamabad rehabilitate tribespeople displaced by the military operations against terrorists.

He said Pakistan’s government is taking multiple steps to improve the security situation in the country.

According to Jilani, ties between Islamabad and Washington are much stable now than before. He added that these relations will grow further after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visits the US later this month.

Sectarian Purge in Southern Punjab

Taliban Hang Military Officer

Islamabad: The federal govern-

Dera Ismail Khan: The Pakistani Taliban have hanged a military intelligence officer in retaliation for recent executions of militants by Pakistan, the militant Islamist group said in videos released on Sunday.

Reuters could not independently authenticate the two videos and a Pakistani military spokesman was not immediately able to comment on them.

Pakistan reinstated the death penalty last December after Taliban gunmen massacred 134 school children.

Since then the Taliban have staged several deadly attacks, but the videos of the hanging appear to be the first staged execution of a military officer since the restoration of the death penalty.

In the first video, a man identifies himself as Bashir Ahmad Khan, originally from the 19th army air defense unit and later recruited by Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, the InterServices Intelligence.

“We were trained to trace the Taliban’s training camps,” said the man identified as Khan. He was dressed in plain brown traditional Pakistani clothes and surrounded by armed men wearing masks and camouflage. One unmasked man in white robes kneels beside him.

Two men hold a black banner in the background that is embroidered with the kalma, a Muslim declaration of faith.

In the second video, Khan is shown wrapped in a Pakistani flag, his eyes bound with black cloth and a noose around his neck. One of the masked men says: “The hanging of Bashir Ahmad is our response to the Pakistani government who are busy hanging our group members. This is just the beginning and all those who are in our custody or those who have any links with the Pakistan government will face the same treatment.”

After the masked man finishes speaking, he pushes Khan off a rock. As Khan dangles from the rope around his neck, other militants shoot at his body and shout: “God is great.”

The videos were provided by Maqbool Dawar, a Taliban commander in the mountainous border region of North Waziristan who is known to Reuters

ment is planning a massive swoop to cleanse the impoverished southern Punjab of terrorist groups, particularly those fueling sectarianism as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.

Although intelligence-based targeted raids have been ongoing in the region for some time, the country’s civil and military authorities have given the nod for a decisive push against sectarian organizations in the area.

A senior government official familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that the decision to intensify and expand the operation in south Punjab was taken last month during a high-level meeting of the civil and military leadership. The official, who did not want to be named in the report, refused to disclose operational details of the offensive, saying it might compromise the government’s plan.

The decision to go after sectarian outfits in South Punjab was taken after intelligence reports warned that the region could become a potential breeding ground for groups such as the ultra-extremist Islamic State, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish. Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang, Chinot, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur are considered hotbed of several sectarian outfits, which are ideologically more aligned with Da’ish.

The official said the security agencies had recently picked up over a dozen suspects from south Punjab, who were exploring the possibility of recruiting for Da’ish. Pakistan has denied the organized presence of IS on its soil but acknowledged that it is not oblivious to the potential threat posed by the ultra-extremist group that has set up a self-styled Islamic caliphate on large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq.

During a recent visit to the United Kingdom, army chief General Raheel Sharif also cautioned against the emergence of new terrorist groups in a pointed reference to attempts by Da’ish to make inroads into this part of the world. The

PURGE, P28

as Revenge for Executions

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Community Link Friday, October 9, 2015

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The Biggest Welfare Empire in the World

25 Dhul-hijjah 1436 H

PAGE PAGE 23 17

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Care of the Elderly in the Muslim Community

2015 World Champion of Public Speaking

Joint Eid Al-Adha in Sacramento

Glimpses of the joint Eid celebrations, the largest in the region this year

n By Ras H. Siddiqui

J

oint Eid al-Adha or the “Feast of Sacrifice” prayers were held on Thursday, September 24th at the Jackson Sports Academy, McClellan Park where more than 4000 people gathered to mark the occasion with the largest Eid congregation in the region. This was a true community effort where three mosques namely Masjid Ibrahim, Masjid As-Sabur and SALAM plus the Tarbiya Institute decided to come together and have one Eid. And as an expression of a “division of labor” of sorts the Takbeerat were delivered by Imam Luqman of Masjid Ibrahim, the prayers were led by Imam Kashif of SALAM and the

post-prayer Khutba was delivered by Imam Azeez of the Tarbiya Institute. It was a “win win” situation for all as this turned out to be a really diverse and colorful event, the second part of which, a community celebration, was held at the nearby McClellan Conference Center.

During his pre-prayer comments, Imam Luqman reminded us that the first Eid prayers were observed by slaves in this country, an important point to ponder over whenever there is a discussion about Islam in America. And Imam Azeez during his Khutba not only asked for prayers for people suffering around the world but included words of appreciation on the blessings which we as a com-

munity continue to enjoy in this country.

The success of the day was continued at the grand celebration after prayers where hundreds of families gathered together to enjoy halal ethnic foods (PakistaniAfghan-Mexican-Middle Eastern) the outlets of which all had long

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lines of people in front of them buying their delicious cuisine. The kids also had fun consuming cotton candy and taking advantage of the jump houses. And there were some diverse products for sale including halal vitamins, ethnic fashions and jewelry, and even some small

EID, P28

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P18 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015 n By Shaila Abdullah

W

Austin, TX

The Forgotten Five: A Story of Courage

hen you are dealing with a rare genetic disorder, options and solutions are also rare and hard to find. Read the story of a father in Pakistan desperate to find a cure for his three children who suffer from a progressive neuromuscular disorder.

Despite the hand life has dealt him, Shahid Zubair, 44, of Lahore, Pakistan, has three pressing reasons to get up each day.

They are his three children— Nida, 16; Ahmed, 14; and Eman, 9— who each have a rare genetic disorder called muscular dystrophy (MD) that requires the use of a wheelchair.

“I feel like I am living a nightmare,” says the heartbroken father of three. “Hoping that I might wake up any moment and my children would be healthy and whole again, playing outside, riding their bikes, their laughter filling the air.”

As any child should.

The Stressors An added stress to the household is the grim reality that Shahid, the only earning member of the household, lost his job last year as a logistics manager at a local supply chain in Lahore.

The Zubairs are under no illusions. They are well aware that most doctors simply suggest a management plan for patients suffering from MD. “I was told that there is no known cure for what my children have,” says Zubair. “It is something no parent wants to hear.”

Shahid scoured the Web and other resources at his disposal to look for solutions. What he discovered seems hopeful but beyond his reach.

“There are clinical trials and some preliminary treatment options underway in the US and other countries that can help manage the condition better, but they seem to all be beyond my reach and means.”

Getting the Right Kind of Help The term muscular dystrophy refers to a group of 30 genetic dis-

eases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement.

“I refuse to accept that death sentence for my children,” says Shahid.

A donor helped build a website for the Zubair children at www.miracleforthree.com and started a series of Indiegogo campaigns to help the

7. By then, the Zubairs had added two more children to their family, not knowing that the disease was lurking in their genetic makeup.

Nida had experienced a healthy and uneventful childhood before that fateful day in 2005. The high fever was accompanied by chest congestion. After being admitted to a hospital and receiving antibiotics intravenously for five days, Nida’s fe-

The Zubair family continues to hope and pray for a miracle that might one day show up on their doorstep and this summer their prayers were finally answered. Shahid found out that all three of his children had been accepted for evaluation and possible inclusion for a stem cell research study at UCLA. A donor also agreed to pay for a major portion of Nida’s scoliosis surgery. The family is arriving in October and still needs funds for ongoing treatment and logistics. To find out how you can offer assistance to the Zubair family, please visit http://miracleforthree.com/ how-you-can-help/ family. But in the end, all the efforts resulted in the family raising merely $2,535, which helped fund an electric wheelchair for their youngest daughter Eman.

The Three Targets The initial encounter with muscular dystrophy for Shahid and his wife, Saher, came suddenly when their oldest daughter, Nida, turned

ver finally settled. Back at home, the usually active child began to experience difficulty in climbing stairs. A battery of tests confirmed a parent’s worst nightmare—Nida had muscular dystrophy.

She gradually lost her ability to walk due to muscular weakness and became confined to a wheelchair.

In the midst of that stress, the disease chose its next target—

Fairness Works; Force Doesn’t: Mowahid Tells American University Forum

Left: Mowahid Shah addresses the forum

Washington, DC: With rising ten-

sions in the Middle East again the center of attention, a forum was convened at American University, Washington, DC, to address this precise topic and its projected global impact. In this connection, attorney-at-law, author of “Will & Skill”, and former Punjab Cabinet Member, Mowahid Hussain Shah, was asked to give his perspective before a select audience, with Professor Akbar Ahmed moderating.

Ahmed. For an odd reason, the condition remains dormant in the Zubair children until they reach the age of 7. Ahmed, a rambunctious child, complained of abdominal pain and landed in the hospital with high fever. Within days, he started to have leg pain and received the MD diagnosis.

The frightened parents rushed to get their youngest daughter evalu-

(Right): Mowahid Shah (left) during his interaction with Professor Akbar Ahmed

Mowahid cautioned the youth to be aware of delusional policies, which led to disastrous interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He slated the tone of the 2016 Presidential contest, the dominant theme of which has been negativity about Muslims. He said the complicity of Indian Prime Minister Modi in the 2002 Gujarat massacres itself impelled the US State Department to ban him from the United States for 10 years. His acceptance now sends

an inconsistent message about statesanctioned terror.

Replying to a question, the speaker dilated that the singular focus on Iran’s nuclear program meant that Israel’s escaped scrutiny. Mowahid said that leaving the occupation situations in Palestine and Kashmir unattended was unsustainable. He emphasized that when there was a negotiated end to apartheid in South Africa, why couldn’t a

MOWAHID, P28

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ated. The test confirmed their worst fears. Eman too had muscular dystrophy. She soon joined her siblings in needing to use a wheelchair.

By then, Nida had developed scoliosis of spine and was unable to eat or drink by herself.

Everyday Struggles The Zubair household is in full swing by 8 am after a night of help-

T

ing the children change positions frequently to keep bedsores from developing. In the morning hours, Shahid assists Saher in tending to the children before dashing out to the last few days of work at his job.

“We finally invested in electric wheelchairs to allow the children more mobility,” says Shahid. “Even then, extended sitting, frequent power outages, and extreme heat makes sitting extremely difficult for the children at times.”

During the day, the children try to have some semblance of normalcy in between their daily doses of Western and holistic medications, as well as physical therapy administered by their parents. A tutor visits the children during the evenings a few times a week to teach for a modest fee.

“My children are a gift from God,” says Saher. “When I see them, I see beauty, I see hope, I feel love.

They are my life. When I break down, they give me courage.”

The Zubair family continues to hope and pray for a miracle that might one day show up on their doorstep and this summer their prayers were finally answered. Shahid found out that all three of his children had been accepted for evaluation and possible inclusion for a stem cell research study at UCLA. A donor also agreed to pay for a major portion of Nida’s scoliosis surgery.

The family is arriving in October and still needs funds for ongoing treatment and logistics. To find out how you can offer assistance to the Zubair family, please visit http:// miracleforthree.com/how-you-canhelp/ (Shaila Abdullah is an awardwinning author, writer, and designer in Austin, Texas. She has written five books: Saffron Dreams, Beyond the Cayenne Wall, A Manual for Marco, Rani in Search of a Rainbow, and My Friend Suhana. Saffron Dreams is taught in major universities such as University of California, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Indiana University, and Boston University.

An excerpt of Saffron Dreams was used as a basis for a research study on racism conducted by Washington and Less University researchers Her work primarily focuses on disadvantaged individuals and groups)

Shura Council Joins the Nation in Condemning Oregon Mass Shooting

he Islamic Shura Council joins the nation in condemning the senseless violence and mourns the loss of innocent lives in the recent mass shooting at the Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, says a SHura press release.

It adds: . “These acts of senseless violence are deeply shocking and sad. It is troubling that the shooter questioned his victims about their religion before killing them.

This kind of hate and ignorance should be of serious concern to all Americans and as a nation, we must engage in a serious and sincere conversation to end such tragedies,” said Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Shura Council.

We agree with the President who said “such shootings have become routine,” and we also concur with the President’s analysis that “we (as a nation) have become numb to this after Columbine, Blacksburg, Tucson, Newtown, Aurora and Charleston.”

The rise of violent right-wing extremism continues to terrorize the nation and experts call the law enforcement agencies to rethink their strategies including the now infamous countering violent extremism program.

Guns can now be carried concealed in 49 U.S. states and openly in 43 states. Anyone can purchase guns at gun shows where background checks are not required. In many states, guns can be carried into the everyday places where we live - in restaurants, offices, supermarkets, schools, libraries among other public places. The Shura Council encourages you to visit your congressional representative and ask them about their position on the use of guns in public places and the ever growing and never ending gun violence in our country.

The National Disaster Interfaith Network offers these tips for religious leaders and parentsto deal with the tragedy that impacts all of us across the nation.

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A

US Group Issues Warning over Planned Armed Anti-Islam Rallies

series of anti-Muslim rallies being planned for October 10 across the country at mosques and other Islamic sites is raising the alarm among Muslim advocacy groups.

The Council for Islamic-American Relations (CAIR,) the nation’s leading Muslim civil rights group, issued a warning to mosques nationwide Sunday to take additional safety measures ahead of the event.

In an interview with CBS News, CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said his organization monitors hate groups regularly, and that the talk surrounding the planned day of rallies on October 10th was unusually concerning.

“At first we didn’t want to take it public but at some level you have to warn the community about these potentially violent hate rallies,” Hooper said.

CAIR cited a Facebook page titled “Global Rally for Humanity,” as being the focal point for planning what is right now estimated to be 20 separate rallies nationwide. The group is calling on protesters to be armed where permitted.

Who are the Oath Keepers?

A group calling themselves the “Oath Keepers” has begun armed patrols around Ferguson, MO. But officials say the group is making an already tense...

The slogan for the group and their series of rallies is “”The World is Saying No To Islam,” and a flyer

D

MPAC Hosts National Call with FBI, DOJ & Muslim Leaders on Upcoming Anti-Muslim Protests

ear Community Leader,

In an interview with CBS News, CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said his organization monitors hate groups regularly, and that the talk surrounding the planned day of rallies on October 10th was unusually concerning

widely circulated by the group mentions the “3%ers and Oathkeepers.”

The Oathkeepers recently made headlines by showing up in Ferguson, Mo., during protests on the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, ostensibly to protect people working for a conspiracy theorist’s website.

Hooper said some of the 20 planned rallies may not materialize, but that Muslims should remain vigilante regardless and work with law enforcement to prevent any vio-

lence.

At least one rally is reportedly being planned in Phoenix by a former Marine named Jon Ritzheimer, who previously organized an antiIslam rally there in May of this year.

CBS affiliate KPHO reports that the protesters had originally planned to meet at a nearby Denny’s, but that the owner said he planned close the restaurant for a few hours around the rally. An area school also cancelled classes. The event went off without incident though.

Today (Oct 5), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) coordinated a nationwide conference call between the FBI, Department of Justice and American Muslim leaders to discuss the threat level of anti-Muslim protests scheduled later this week at Islamic centers across the country.

The demonstrations, referred to online as the “Global Rally for Humanity,” are organized by a loose network of anti-Muslim extremists who are calling on fellow “patriots” to “take back the Republic” from “Muslim colonization.” The protests – some of which may be armed -- will take place on Oct. 9 and 10 in front of at least 20 mosques, community centers and government offices, according to media reports.

During the conference call, officials from the FBI and Department of Justice: • Advised community members to reach out to their local law enforcement offices beforehand to keep lines of communication open and to coordinate any additional support needed with security on the days of the planned protests.

• Suggested for congregants to be “good witnesses” and document the events by putting into place proper security and

monitoring systems. community • Assured leaders that if law enforcement received any information about specific threats, that they would be informed as quickly as the information came in.

• Advised the Muslim community to use its best judgment when determining whether to engage protestors.

While we respect the right for even anti-Muslim extremists to protest, the safety and security of our nation is paramount.

Given the history of violent and extremist rhetoric from those organizing the rallies, it is critical that Muslim communities across the country connect with law enforcement officials to discuss the best way to protect themselves against possible incidents of violence.

In situations like these, information is power and we need our communities to be aware and prepared. Please take precaution and read our community safety tip sheet.

Hoda Hawa Director of Policy and Advocacy (Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council improves public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media and communities.)

Send Girls Off to Learn, Not Off to Marry, Says 13-Year-Old Pakistani Activist n By David McNair (This profile is part of TakePart’s “I Am Malala” series, telling the stories of young people around the world who are following the footsteps of Malala Yousafzai to break down cultural and political barriers to champion children’s and girls’ education. The series coincides with the October release of the documentary He Named Me Malala, produced by Participant Media, the parent company of TakePart.)

Hadiqa Bashir was just 10 years old when her grandmother pressured her into marriage—but, she says, a friend’s experience convinced her otherwise.

“One of my classmates married when we were in the sixth grade,” recalls Bashir, now 13, who spoke to TakePart from her hometown in Pakistan’s Swat Valley (the same hometown as another famous young activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai). “We were happy at first, but then I saw how she suffered. She was beaten many times by her husband’s family. I saw the scars, and it scared me.”

Bashir decided to turn to her uncle, a longtime rights activist. She didn’t want to get married, she told him—she wanted to continue her studies instead. The two confronted her grandmother, who was so angry over the decision, she refused to speak to them for months. But, Bashir says, she eventually made her understand.

The experience inspired her to become an activist against child marriage in Pakistan, a practice

which often ends young girls’ education and puts them at risk for physical and sexual abuse. Together with her uncle, Erfaan Hussein Babak— who has since become her partner in fighting for women’s rights—they co-founded the organization Girls United for Human Rights in 2014 to speak out against the practice.

“I realized that many other girls would suffer like my classmate, and that’s when I decided to start this campaign,” she says. “Educate your children, don’t make them marry early, give them freedom. That is my message.”

Indeed, the two go hand-inhand: delaying marriage is associated with greater educational achievement, and a lack of education leads to more child marriages, according to a 2014 World Bank report, Voice and Agency: Empowering Women and Girls for Shared Prosperity. In 18 of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage, girls with no education were six times more likely to marry during childhood than girls with a high school education.

Child marriages are most prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and even more so in religiously conservative communities like Swat. In these patriarchal cultures, it’s common for local religious leaders to unofficially sanction marriages between girls as young as nine years old to men in their 50s and 60s.

Seven percent of girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 15, and 40 percent are married before they are 18, according to UNICEF. Through her campaign, Hadiqa goes door-to-door in her commu-

nity, raising awareness about girls’ rights and the dangers of child marriage. She intervenes wherever possible if she hears about a young girl being forced to marry.

“We live in a constricted society,” says Hadiqa, “and I am going against the paternal system.”

To date, she says she has convinced five families in her community not to force their young daughters into early marriage. Earlier this year, she stopped one family from marrying off their 7-year-old daughter.

Others girls have not been so fortunate.

Shahida was married when she was seven years old, Hadiqa recalls.

Now 17, she has a 2-year-old son. In the early years of her marriage, Shahida was too small to take on domestic chores around the house, angering her mother-in-law so much that she accused Shahida of having

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affairs with other men. As punishment, her husband cut off her nose to disfigure her.

“My uncle is providing her legal aid and we have also referred her for medical aid and now she has been undergoing reconstructive surgery for her nose,” says Hadiqa. “She has had her second surgery and now, with our help, she is recovering.”

But their work doesn’t come without risks. Some accuse her of going against Islam.

“It’s dangerous for Hadiqa when she talks of Islam, and she must be careful at this point,” says her uncle.

“Child marriages are considered sacred things here by religious leaders.

It’s a norm of society.”

Religious hardliners have claimed that child marriage is sanctioned by the Qur’an, citing Prophet Mohammad’s marriage to Ayesha when she was nine years old. But Ayesha’s age has always been in dis-

pute, with many believing she was at least 19. Opponents also point out that the Qur’an condemns child marriage, often citing this passage: “O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! It is not lawful for you to force women into marrying or holding on to them in marriage against their will.” (Qur’an, 4:19) “Child marriage is not Islamic,” Hadiqa insists.

Often, she is misunderstood by families, who think she is trying to prevent girls from getting married at all.

“I am not against marriage,” she says. “I just want girls to get married when they are at least 18, so that they can go to school and have a childhood.”

Three years into her work, Hadiqa is now starting to gain international attention. In September, she became the youngest recipient of a Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for her activism against child marriage in Pakistan. The award has helped boost her morale, she says, and Bashir’s parents have also expressed support for her cause.

“She is not only my daughter but the daughter of the entire Pakistan,” her mother, Sajda Ifthikar, told Dawn.com. “The award will give her high courage. She will work more actively against early and forced marriages, and we will support her in her mission.”

Still, Bashir acknowledges she has no illusions about completely stopping the practice.

“This cannot be stopped in my lifetime,” she says. “But I hope more girls will have a better future.”

COMMENTARY n By Dr Asif Javed

A

Williamsport, PA

s I look back at my father’s life, a few things stand out: he worked with a clocklike precision and was organized to a fault. I suspect he had developed this trait in his student days at Aligarh. He was an early riser, would go to mosque for prayer and would then proceed to morning walk. He did office work for an hour or so before leaving for court; he was a lawyer.

In the afternoon, he took a nap and on most days, played tennis followed by office work. Evening prayer was also in the mosque. By 10 PM, he was ready to sleep.

Father could be a hard taskmaster: I recall his dictations to his clerks at breakneck speed; heavens only know how the poor guys managed to keep pace with him.

Later in life, he behaved impatiently at times; this is a trait he shared with those who value time and covet efficiency. He was a man of a few words and grew restless when forced to hear long winded stories from his legal clients. One of his junior lawyers once told me that in court, Father’s legal arguments were concise and to the point. He was an avid reader but in later years limited his reading to law journals and religious texts.

Father was a well-dressed man but not fussy about it: his court dress was white shirt and trouser, black coat and black tie. In Zia’s time, when local dress was allowed in court, he switched to white shalwar and shirt. The only constant was his Jinnah cap, although in young age he wore a Turkish fez cap that was a legacy of his Aligarh days. In social gatherings, he wore a sherwani, while at home he wore the traditional Punjabi kurta with tehmad. He had a pleasant easy going personality, was of medium height, had a fair complexion and blue eyes.

Father was old fashioned in some ways: he was punctual but did not wear a wrist watch. In his youth, he used a pocket watch but later depended on the wall clock that needed weekly tune-ups. He owned a car, but did not learn driving. Only grudgingly did he allow the telephone in the house. He valued education--I distinctly remember his desire to see at least one of his children go to the Government College. And yet, two of our sisters did not go to college and were married off after finishing high school.

Although, he never entered politics, he had strong political views. I recall a heated discussion between two groups on a train before the 1970 elections. Father was asked about his opinion of Bhutto; he offered his, in crisp English. I do not remember his arguments, except one, that ZAB, despite his talent, was hungry for power and was untrustworthy. The fact is that father liked Ayub. Once, he returned from his morning walk, visibly excited, and said, “Ayub has passed through our town this morning in Chanab Express!”

He was unhappy the way Ayub had been ousted in 1969. For a few years after Ayub’s fall, he expected his comeback. When lawyers came out on the streets in 1977 following rigged elections, he was in the lead. Father’s immense dislike for ZAB, by default, led to his good opinion of Zia. He did not live to see the later part of Zia’s era, the

OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21

My Father: The Aligarh Man lies, deceptions and all; otherwise, he might have changed his opinion about him. In 1973, when the antiAhmadya movement began, he was one of its leaders in our town.

Father was not a religious fanatic, but on that occasion, joined in a cause that he strongly believed in.

Little did he realize that the menace of sectarianism was being unleashed with that movement.

Father usually stayed away from the petty village politics, except once: a vagabond tried to rape a woman from a poor peasant family. Father took up that case and used his legal skills--and personal plea--to the presiding magistrate to get the accused behind bars.

Father was born in a rural area in a traditional Jat family and was one of the largest landowners in the village. And yet, he was loath to use the title of Chaudhry with his name; nor did he ever write his caste (Gondal) with his name; it was plain and simple, Mohammad Mirza Khan, Advocate. He had graduated from Aligarh, but did not write Alig with his name. In a society where people are desperate to publicize their qualifications and pedigrees, he was an aberration.

Father was a practicing Muslim and had great faith in Allah.

Little did he realize that his faith was to undergo a supreme test. It came in 1981. Father was then in his mid-seventies, still in full time legal practice. Our elder brother, Brig. Safdar, then posted at Peshawar, died suddenly. The news was conveyed to our elderly parents at midnight. Having heard that his favorite son, the apple of his eyes, was no more, father bore indescribable pain with a fortitude that surprised many. On that fateful day, no one saw him cry or shed a tear. While awaiting his son’s dead body, he did not forget his prayer. His unshakable faith in Allah served him well that day. A few weeks later, our bereaved mother asked him, “Why do you not show any emotion?”

“My heart bleeds for Safdar”. He replied, “But remember, Allah gave him to us and He took him away.”

In financial matters, father was upright: In 1975, I joined a medical college, having done well in FSc and having secured—at least I thought—a merit scholarship for five years. It turned out that father’s income, reported accurately, had made me ineligible.

I was aghast. Aware that many of my fellow students from wealthier families had qualified for the scholarship (having not declared the actual income), I approached a clerk in the Punjab University. That was no problem, the clerk said. All I needed was a statement from the Tehsildar that father’s income was less than stated in the original form. I was relieved. Father was the senior lawyer in town, knew everybody, could surely manage that. It was evening when I reached home from Lahore. He was working in the office with his clerk. As I broached the subject, he gave me a hard look, and asked, “How much money do you need in a month?” I was taken aback and said five hundred. “I will let you have up to one thousand but do not expect me to lie for this.” That was it. It took me a long time to overcome the frustration of having lost my scholarship.

Forty years later as I look back, I

admire his honesty.

Father was a great bedtime story teller. It had started with his first child and the tradition continued through to me. Being the youngest, I received more than my fair share of the bedtime entertainment that also included a gentle stroking of the skin that I greatly enjoyed. Alas, as Shafiq-ur-Rehman once wrote, I outgrew my childhood and it stopped.

He had many admirers and acquaintances but a limited number of close friends. His busy and disciplined lifestyle left little time for social gatherings. He travelled abroad only once – to perform Hajj. Visiting our village on the weekend was his greatest delight.

During summer vacation, he often visited his eldest son, an army officer, at Rawalpindi. In his younger days, he had been to Delhi and Agra. Father would sometime visit Lahore and stay in the Delhi Muslim Hotel in Anarkali. A few years ago, I was disappointed to see this famous Lahore hotel, once frequented by the Muslim middleclass, in a dilapidated state.

Father had the opportunity to meet Allama Iqbal once. Accompanied by his maternal uncle, he approached Iqbal to seek the great man’s help for a school that they wanted to build in our village. Iqbal did not disappoint them and wrote a letter to the Nawab of Bhopal in support of the project. The Nawab gave a donation as did many others. A beautiful multi-story high school was built, on a piece of land donated exclusively by father. The school continues to function to this day, having become a beacon of light in a backward and relatively remote area of Punjab. Father rarely spoke about his donation-and many other acts of generosity.

He was not that kind of a man; the curse of self-glorification had not touched him.

There was a portrait of Quaidi-Azam that embellished our draw-

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ing room. The Quaid was his hero.

In the 1945 elections, father supported the Muslim League candidate against a Unionist whom he had known personally. I also recall a comment that he once made about Gandhi’s “mumbled speech”.

Only rarely did he speak of his Aligarh days. Once, however, he made a comment about Sir Ross Masood, Sir Syed’s grandson, and presumably, Aligarh Muslim University’s Vice Chancellor during father’s student days. I knew nothing of Ross Masood back then, did not pay much attention, and decades later, regret having not asked him about the details.

Back in the 70’s, father wrote a letter of congratulations to Ch. Ahsan Alig, an old classmate of his from Aligarh, whose young son had been made a minister in the PPP govt. The young politician who was highly educated, eloquent, intelligent - having topped the CSS examination in Pakistan - had the making of a man whose star was on the rise and who appeared destined to do great things for Pakistan.

Now fast forward to 2015. Father and Ahsan Alig are long gone.

As far the politician, he has been part of the most corrupt regimes in the history of our country--many times over. That is how low we have fallen.

He received an unusual respect from his children. He was not loud or harsh but had somehow mastered the art of leading by example, persuasion and polite reminders.

Our eldest brother used to smoke but avoided it in his presence. We had a radio and were fond of music and occasionally, in excitement, would raise the volume, but never so in his presence. We were allowed to go to movies periodically, but needed his permission, which was mostly given. We had learnt, however, not to ask him more than once a month. Once, as I returned from a movie, he asked, “So what movie did you see?” “Jawani kee

hawa,” I said triumphantly. “So you have been exposed to Jawani kee hawa”, he said and then burst out laughing. Being too young, I completely missed his point.

He would read the Qur’an often, and sometimes aloud, with a beautiful rhythm. At Aligarh, he had been chosen to call Azan and received a scholarship for that. I remember his reverence for Ghalib, whom he once described as a poet with the ability to contain a river in a bucket. Once, as he returned from a mushaira, he described Murtaza Barlas’s recitation as dazzling. Barlas had spent some time in our town earlier as a civil servant and, like another bureaucrat Mustafa Zaidi, was a poet of considerable merit. Having read Persian, Father would sometimes quote Saadi.

Father had not detached himself from the simple pleasures of life. One day as he entered the house, he stopped, listened attentively to the song on the radio for a few seconds, and surprised me by identifying KL Saigol’s voice. There was an old gramophone in our home with flat disc records bought years earlier by him. I never saw him use it, but my older siblings did. Among female singers, Farida Khanum and Iqbal Bano were his favorites. Himself a tennis player, he would sometime watch tennis on TV. To this day, I recall his admiration for the great Bjorn Borg, the way he used to dispatch poor Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon.

Father was rarely sick. Aside from a minor cold once in a while, he remained in excellent health most of his life. He was hospitalized only once; it turned out to be his first and last one.

Father’s generation had lived through historic times. They had seen the struggle for independence, the creation of Pakistan, its early struggles, followed by the era of rapid progress in the sixties; they had also witnessed the break-up of Jinnah’s Pakistan. They had witnessed the glory and heartbreak, both.

Thomas Jefferson once said that the art of life is the art of living with pain. Like the great American statesman, father too carried on in life despite many personal tragedies. He personified a life of discipline, hard work, and dedication to his family, community, profession, and country. He played his part on the world stage, as the wise man from Stratford once wrote, and when the time for exit came, he gently slipped into the night without much fuss. That was my father.

(The writer is a physician in Williamsport, PA and may be reached at asifjaved@comcast.net) DEBACLE FROM P7

Afghan dispensation have a plan B up its sleeve? The failure of intelligence and security apparatus and leadership, relying on and then shunning militias, not sending enough and timely reinforcements to Kunduz cannot be blamed on Pakistan. Unless the Afghans take ownership of their victories as well as routs, debacles like the one at Kunduz can happen and indeed have a deadly domino effect.

The buck ultimately stops with Dr Ghani; the sooner he pulls his socks up the better.

(The writer can be reached at mazdaki@me.com and he tweets @ mazdaki)

COMMENTARY

P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015

The Little Shoulders on Which Rests the Biggest Welfare Empire in the World n By Rabia Ali/Photo Aysha Saleem

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Karachi, Pakistan

ne evening, around five months ago, a frail Edhi Sahib, the country’s most loved social worker, called out to his son who was leaving the center to go home to his wife and four children. “Faisal tum meray pass yaheen rahna. Kaheen mat jana [Faisal, you stay here with me, don’t go anywhere],” were the unexpected words uttered by a man who has never been fond of emotions or embraces.

The son had been waiting for these words his entire life. They were enough to make him stay. Faisal decided to settle down, then and there, in his father’s modest room at their Mithadar head office.

“It upsets me to see him this way. He has always been so active,” says Faisal, glancing at his father sitting next to him, during an interview with The Express Tribune. An almost bald head over a round face that extends into a prominent nose, Faisal looks a lot like his father.

Edhi’s health is deteriorating fast and, as the elderly man swings between his house and the SIUT, Faisal does not dare leave him or the foundation.

Health woes brought on by old age and renal failure have made Edhi, now 87 years old, almost retire from work and his beloved Edhi Foundation. The latter, with an annual expenditure of over Rs1 billion, is now being looked after by Faisal.

It is the philanthropist’s wish that Faisal run the foundation after him. “My will is that Faisal runs the Edhi Foundation,” says Edhi.

When asked if the son would be able to run it the way his father did, he runs a hand through his white beard, stares straight ahead and replies firmly, “He is capable of running it. InshaAllah [God-willing] he will.”

Time spent with Edhi at this stage of his life is making up for Faisal’s childhood, which he lost to mentally challenged children or victims of killings. Edhi was always too busy with his work. These days, however, in their room where the beds lie next to one another, the father and son duo enjoy Noor Jehan’s ‘Dukae dil jo kisi ka, woh admi kia hai,’ well past midnight. In the daytime, they have brief conversations on life hereafter. When Faisal goes to his office to work, Edhi calls him after every 15 minutes to see if he is still there. He always is.

An unusual childhood: One of Edhi’s four children, Faisal was born in 1976. “I was born in my own house,” he says pointing towards the ceiling, the labor room situated just above his office.

Edhi and Bilquis were not typical parents, always caught up in their charity work.

The children seldom saw their parents and

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o hold the guardianship of Islam’s most holy site in Mecca has always been an honor, even in pre-Islamic Arabia.

It was, and is, seen as a privilege and a great responsibility to care and provide for pilgrims who come from all parts of the world to fulfill their religious rites.

Kudos should be given to Saudi Arabia where due. Year after year, it accommodates millions of people who flock to its land, and it is constantly updating technology, infrastructure, and procedures in order to allow people to perform Hajj.

However, after the recent stampede that killed over 700 and injured over 900 pilgrims, it is clear that a radical change is needed. Unfortunately, these deaths happen far too often, and Saudi Arabia’s renovations are not effective in preventing these occurrences from happening again.

MPAC calls for an independent investigation into the recent tragedy. An international team made up of the world’s best experts on di-

Faisal Edhi (left) sitting with his philanthropic parents Bilquis Edhi and Abdul Sattar Edhi, founder of the Edhi Foundation. The deteriorating health of his father has led Faisal to take charge of the biggest humanitarian organization in Pakistan

were raised in their grandmother’s two-room house. They would meet once a week on Friday afternoon for lunch.

Other days, Faisal would run through the narrow lanes for 10 minutes from his grandmother’s house to get to the center to spend the night there. Studying in the locality’s Kutiyana Memon School for primary studies and Madrassa Islamiat School for secondary, he was less interested in studying and more in cycling and driving.

“When Pappa would go abroad, I would beg him to bring back a battery-operated car.

But I never got it. He said it was a waste of money.” To quench his love for cycling, Faisal would drive the orphan’s bicycles in Sohrab Goth or rent them in the neighborhood for Rs1 per 15 minutes.

His other wish was to see his father dressed in a suit instead of his signature grey shalwar kameez. “But he never wore it. I wish I had seen him in a suit once.”

Faisal’s childhood also carried lifelong lessons. Men in the neighborhood would criticize Edhi for his liberal and unorthodox views.

“Your father is an unbeliever,” they would say.

While the child would respond angrily, Edhi would tell him to remain claim and not to dignify them with a response. “Leave them.

Our work is not fighting,” he would say.

Faisal and his siblings were also trained not to think of the ambulances and centers as their own property. “Everything belongs to the people. Nothing is ours,” Edhi would say to them. They were regularly reminded of the charity worker’s principles of truth, honesty, simplicity, hard work and punctuality. From a young age, Edhi involved Faisal in his work.

The young man would stand beside his father when he would bathe the deceased or offer funeral prayers. There is one particular incident that he remembers to this day.

When Faisal was nine, he and his father went to recover a four-day-old body in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. “The body was in a suitcase and it was open. I was terrified as there were insects and worms. I ran away and sat in the car alone but I felt someone was with me.” For the next seven days, Faisal suffered high fever and sleepless nights.

“That was the first and last time I was afraid. Like Pappa, I have never been afraid again.”

To the US and back: In the late 80s, when Faisal was 13, he was sent to America by the family. “Mummy was scared that I would be killed as people were rallying against Edhi. Violence was also breaking out in the city,” said Faisal.

He first went to stay with a surgeon in Florida, later moving to his elder brother Kutab’s place in the US. Faisal remembers selling newspapers in New York to support himself.

However, he came back after three years and joined college to complete his studies. As Faisal grew up, like Edhi, he started reading and studying about communism. Edhi read Karl Marx in Gujrati while Faisal read it in Urdu.

At 19 years, Faisal was married to Saba, a relative’s daughter, in an arranged marriage.

Always careful about spending money, Edhi made sure his son’s wedding was a low- key affair. There was no valima. “Pappa was adamant on not spending money on wedding cards. But

mummy fought and had 200 cards printed.”

Faisal kept working for the organization, and later joined the University of Karachi for a Master’s degree in general history. Not many people would know that the slain reporter, Wali Khan Babar, was a close friend of Faisal in the university.

“In the university, the APMSO and Jamiat approached me but I was a socialist kind, a revolutionary. Wali Babar was in the IR department. We were both broad-minded and would often have discussion where we would talk about the distribution of resources and money.” Faisal pauses. “I was shocked when he was killed. I don’t understand why it happened”.

Life today: Where Faisal sits today, inside the headquarters of the Edhi Foundation, has been the office of Abdul Sattar Edhi for more than 30 years.

Edhi’s name plaque still hangs outside the room from where the finances of the Edhi empire: the 300 centers, 1,500 ambulances and 4,000 staff are controlled. “The finances had been handed over to me 25 years ago when Edhi Sahib said I would be handling the checks,” he explains.

The senior Edhi never liked computers.

Faisal has a black laptop perched on top of his table. Edhi never cared about documentation.

The son stresses on documenting everything; the room now has a cupboard with record files and boxes filled with receipts.

But there are more similarities than differences. Like Edhi, Faisal doesn’t care about clothes, housing or food. His motorcycle, he claims, is his only property.

As Faisal spends most of his time at the headquarters, he claims that while his wife is supportive, she does get upset with him for not coming home.

“Mummy is not feeling well too. She has a heart problem. While Pappa is getting weaker day by day, he gets angry at doctors and sometimes doesn’t take medicines.”

As he speaks, Faisal stops to receive a call from the Governor House, wanting to talk about an event. A young man comes in to offer himself as a volunteer. There is a third interruption and three excited men walk in, saying they want to run a campaign for Edhi to get a Nobel Prize.

All this makes Faisal happy and he talks about how he wants to form a control monitoring room for the ambulances and make it more tech-savvy.

He doesn’t like to think about the time when Edhi will no longer be there. But he realizes that there will be a gap and donations will dwindle. He feels that this is a huge responsibility on his shoulders. “I have plans. But without Edhi Sahib, I can’t do anything.” - The Express Tribune

Saving Hajj saster management must look into what happened and make concrete recommendations for future plans to ensure the safety of pilgrims. To leave the investigation to the very party responsible for the tragedy is akin to doing the same thing but expecting a different result.

Furthermore, religious scholars must emphasize the flexibility Islam has when it comes to fulfilling the rites of Hajj. Because pilgrims are told that their Hajj is not complete if they do not do certain rituals by certain times, they rush to the same place at the same time, causing dangerous situations. Also, it is clear that Mecca is unable to safely handle the number of people it gets each year, and thus visas for Hajj should be reduced in number if it creates hazards.

Hajj is known to be a time when both the rich and the poor, Muslims of all colors, privileged and unprivileged, walk side by side with no dis-

tinction- all equal before God. However, comments by Prince Khaled al-Faisal, who is in charge of Hajj,

ans for the stampede, have no place in Islamic discourse. Race-baiting is not only unbecoming of a state, but

Saudi Arabia must demonstrate transparency and accountability in this latest Hajj tragedy. Since 1990, 3500 pilgrims have died in the same circumstances in the same general vicinity blaming those of “African nationalities,” and another comment by a royal family member blaming Irani-

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goes against the principles of Hajj.

Moreover, the Saudi government is the responsible authority. If it can-

not handle the logistical challenges of millions of visitors from differing nations and of differing languages, then it should consider handing it over to an international Islamic authority.

Iranian pilgrims made up the largest number of victims, with over 400 people dead. A harsh war of words is now taking place between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with Iran questioning Saudi Arabia’s role as custodian of the Hajj and lambasting it for not returning its victims expediently. Moving forward, the focus should instead be on what steps the Saudis must take to create safer conditions for pilgrims during Hajj.

Saudi Arabia must demonstrate transparency and accountability in this latest Hajj tragedy. Since 1990, 3500 pilgrims have died in the same circumstances in the same general vicinity. If Saudi Arabia cannot handle the scrutiny and answer the challenging questions, it is time to re-evaluate its roles and responsibilities for the Hajj. - MPAC

COMMENTARY

OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23

Concern for the Care of the Elderly in the Muslim Community n By Shahid Athar, MD

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Indianapolis

he care of the elderly and of the infant are no different, as helplessness and dependency is seen at both ends of life. “He brings you forth as children then (He ordains) that you reach maturity, and that you grow old. Though some of you (He causes to die) earlier, and so you might reach a term set and you might use your reasons (Qur’an: 40:67).

“Thy Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and (you show) kindness to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age (while with you), say not fie (a word of contempt), nor repulse them, but speak a gracious word, and lower your wings of submission through mercy, and pray “My Lord! have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little”. (17:23) My concerns in the care for the Muslim elderly are: Need for a care giver: Just as infants helplessly need parents, older people need their children to give care constantly and with love. Just as an infant cannot explain their needs in words, the dignified elders also don’t say themselves but it is up to the caregiver to find out. They must deliver with love and compassion. Thus I propose that the community adopt older citizens who do not have willing adult children.

Nutrition: Just as an infant needs a balanced diet, the elderly also need a diet catered to their needs. In old age appetite is poor, and constipation is a common problem. There is a lack of vitamins and calcium. The diet should be balanced, nutritious and have high fiber.

Medical care: A sick infant cannot walk to the doctor’s office, nor can a sick elderly person drive to the doctor’s office or the hospital. Someone needs to take him for tests, procedures and treatment.

Again, in the absence of willing family members, this becomes the responsibility of the community.

Home: Nothing can replace the warmth of a home. Many homeless elderly live on the streets, while many elder Americans live in nursing homes in

of “The reward for goodness is nothing but goodness”. (55:60) Religious needs: Just as infants need their father to give Adhan in their ears, and both parents give religious education as they grow, the elders also need help in practicing Islam in their later life. An old

Elders in the community should live with their children, but if that is not possible, the goal of the Muslim community should be to build retirement homes for Muslim elders near a mosque. A Muslim cemetery with lots purchased for Muslims should also be a priority. The message of Islam is “mercy to mankind” – from cradle to grave deplorable conditions. In most nursing homes, not only is medical care poor (and dangerous), but even basic needs are not attended to. Some nursing home residents die of malnutrition and complications of falls. Muslim adults and young people should understand leaving their elders in such a home is not the Qur’anic concept

Muslim had many children scattered all over the USA and they all loved him and wanted him to stay with them. However, he decided to live with the one who was able to take him to the mosque for Friday prayers every week.

Financial concerns: Infants don’t have financial worries as their parents take care

of them and pay for all their needs but, do children take care of needs of old folks who are on social security? The cost of medical care is rising and most of it is during the last year of life. Will Medicare cover for all medical expenses? How do they find out?

Where do they need to apply for Social Security Benefits? Our elders can benefit some help from counselors.

Social needs: Just as youth and children like to be with each other, the elders too enjoy the company of their age group.

It is up to the community to form a Muslim senior citizen club, and arrange for a weekly meeting at the mosque or at home.

Just like youth, they should be given free access on the phone to talk to each other.

Those who are widowed should be encouraged to marry.

Loneliness: Two letters to Rev. Billy Graham published recently in a local newspaper caught my eye. One wrote, “I am an old man now and the worst part of being old has been loneliness. My wife passed away and none of my children live nearby; when I go to church, almost nobody talks to me”. Another letter reads, “I work in a nursing home and it really saddens me to see the way some of our patients never hear from their families or have anyone visit them. Why are some people so thoughtless?”

Conclusion: Muslim elders have many needs and it is the responsibility of the community to identify them and offer help. This can start with a simple survey of their names, addresses, phone numbers and needs. Elders in the community should live with their children, but if that is not possible, the goal of the Muslim community should be to build retirement homes for Muslim elders near a mosque.

A Muslim cemetery with lots purchased for Muslims should also be a priority. The message of Islam is “mercy to mankind” – from cradle to grave.

Mohammad Qahtani: 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking n By Bilquis Ahmed Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

T

he first Muslim. The first Arab. The first Saudi. Mohammad Qahtani accomplished all these firsts when he was crowned the Toastmasters 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking at its international annual convention. He was the first Muslim, the first Arab and the first Saudi to win this coveted prize. Ten finalists vied for the championship and had advanced from a world-wide field of over 30,000 participants. During the six-month long elimination process, they competed at the club, area, district and semifinal levels.

In August 2015 at the Toastmasters International Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Mohammad Qahtani, representing District 79 of Saudi Arabia, won the prestigious award with his poignant speech entitled, “The Power of Words.”

His inspirational speech, a personal narrative about the way words can crush or heal, never hinted at the struggles he faced in childhood. He uttered his first words at the age of 6 and was often taunted for his stuttering. By showing that he can rise above his challenges, he inspires others to do the same.

Earlier this year, he proved his speaking prowess by emerging victorious in the Humorous Speech Contest for District 79. He

was placed as second runner up for the International Contest at the district level. However, serendipitously the first place contestant could not compete and Qahtani qualified to advance to the semifinals.

I moved to Saudi Arabia last year and recently joined a Toastmasters Club, a club which is in the same district as Mohammad Qahtani’s. I missed the opportunity to witness Mr Qahtani’s victory in person. I visited Los Angeles, California in July 2015 and returned to Saudi Arabia on September 1. My family had contemplated attending the conference; however personal commitments prevented us from going to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend the International Toastmasters 2015 World Championship event.

Here in Saudi Arabia we are immensely proud of Mohammad Qatani’s success. Returning to Saudi Arabia in the first week of September gave me an opportunity to meet Mohammad Qahtani at a celebration held on September 12, 2015 at Ad-Diwan in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in his honor and to congratulate him on his achievement. After a broadcast of his winning speech, Qahtani addressed the audience.

With humility and profound gratitude, he thanked all those who supported him and provided feedback to help him polish and refine his speech. He then proceeded to offer advice on becoming a champion.

1. Remove the word “impossible” from your dictionary. If a man who stuttered till he was 6 years old

can become the world champion of public speaking, then you can do anything. Believe in yourself, he urged the audience.

2. Seek help from everyone and anyone. He never considered asking for help, but many people stepped up and offered their assistance. You don’t have to do it alone.

3. Surround yourself with positive people, those who will encourage your dreams, not the naysayers.

4. Get rid of negative thoughts.

These words of encourage-

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ment echoed another champion’s words of exhortation. Years earlier I had studied under a Toastmasters Champion. I took a public speaking course at South Bay Adult School in Redondo Beach, California offered by Don Johnson, a longtime Toastmaster. In fact, he had won the coveted title of Toastmasters World Champion in 1989. During the course of the class, Johnson generously shared his expertise with his students. He taught us that powerful speeches convey their message

through well-told stories. The best way to craft a story was to “show not tell.” Don’t just tell the audience that someone feels anger. Paint a picture with your words so that the audience can visualize the emotion.

“Her face reddened, the veins on her forehead bulged; her eyes narrowed into tight slits; her lips quivered in snarls as she formed her words.”

Just like Qahtani, Johnson urged us to seek advice and feedback from other Toastmasters.

Evaluations and suggestions from other Toastmasters improved and strengthened the speech that won him the World Championship.

Toastmasters International has over 332,000 members (in 135 countries) who seek to improve their communication and leadership skills. Through a positive and supportive environment, with mentors such as Don Johnson, members hone these skills and develop selfconfidence. It is a confidence that instills the belief that you too can become a champion in whatever you pursue.

2015 World Champion of Public Speaking - Mohammed ... - YouTube http : / / w w w. youtub e. c om / watch%3Fv%3DqasE4ecA57YAug 16, 2015 ... Highlights of Mohammed Qahtani’s winning speech, titled “The Power of Words.” To view the entire World Championship of Public Speaking ... https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xksgPjp1lRo

COMMENTARY

P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015

Concentrate Your Picks to Reap Big Gains 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) “Diversify.” It’s the financial industry’s mantra for lowering your investment risk. In reality, it puts your portfolio at risk of mediocre results.

Sure, investing in a dozen stocks can ease the overall damage should one of them tumble and catch you off guard. But the same strategy also greatly lowers the chance of cashing in on a winning stock. In the end, you boost the risk of loosing out on a huge gain even if you do pick a great stock.

Suppose you had $5,000 to invest and you split that evenly among five stocks. All your picks turn out to be winners and rise 5%, 10%, 20%, 50% and 100%. They’d give you a 37% overall return, impressive by most standards. But what if you had chosen just the best two of those stocks? Your narrow portfolio would have jumped 75%. Casting even a slightly wider net can drastically reduce your results.

There’s a better way to manage downside risk than by indiscriminately buying a large basket of stocks. Start with the best stocks in the market.

Then put in place an iron-clad rule of limiting you initial losses to 7% or 8% on a single investment. The approach keeps you out of trouble even if only one out of four purchases generates modest gains of 25% or 30%.

Focus your time, energy and money on the best-quality goods on the market. During a bull market, only a fraction of the thousands of stocks out there will double or triple in TRAGEDY FROM P4

themselves may not like the idea of cutting down on their income from Haj business, especially with the oil prices plummeting to uncomfortable levels for oil producers. The Saudis are already drawing down on their savings to make up for budgetary short-falls. Add to this the obvious discomfort of a Saudi merchant class which is also the most loyal to the rulers among their subjects; why should they be provoked into taking up cudgels with the rulers on what’s to them a bread-and-butter issue.

Ideally, the whole paraphernalia of Haj should be overseen and supervised by a pan-Islamic body representing the Ummah. After all, Haj belongs to all Muslims. Why should it be a monopoly of the Saudis, just because the holy sites are located on a soil controlled by them?

It may be recalled that the Late Muammar Qaddafi, at the peak of his power and popularity, had floated the idea that the Holy sites in Saudi Arabia be administered, collectively, by all the Islamic countries.

However, he was quickly denounced and castigated for his maverick idea

by Saudi Arabia and its conservative friends.

Factoring in the existing ground realities, one may have no choice but concede the fact that nothing would change unless a sense of service and

price. This year is no exception. Only 124 stocks that started the year above $12 a share have at least doubled.

These outperformers represent just 1.4% of the more than 8,000 issues.

The first step is to confirm that we’re in a bull market. Then look for the best stock in a leading group.

Check its fundamentals: Does it have a product or service that surpasses its rivals? Is the management solid? Is profit growth strong and even accelerating? Are sales growth, after-tax profit margins and return on equity also high? Usually, only one or two companies in a group can meet all of these requirements.

Check a stocks’ technicals. Is it carving out a bullish chart pattern?

What do institutional investors-the main movers of the market-thinks about the stock?

Finally, there’s the task of timing your buy. As outlined in recent columns, you want to buy at the moment a stock breaks out of a base.

It’s a lot of work to find and buy a leading stock. Can you really put in all the effort necessary to assemble a portfolio of 25 or 30 stocks?

As a rule of thumb, own no more than two stocks if you want to invest $5,000 in the market. With $10,000, two or three stocks is appropriate, and with $25,000, three or four.

Review your stocks at least once a quarter. For best results, you should review it monthly even weekly depending on the amount of investment you have and the time you want to invest to manage your money and hopefully have it grow. Check and see commitment seeps into the work ethics of the legions of Saudis deployed on Haj service. Their mindset is archaic and doesn’t match the call of the modern times.

A skewed and convoluted mindset isn’t solely a preserve of the minions working for the monarchy and its regal appendages. It’s fundamentally a royal handicap whose baneful ripple effects travel down to the lowliest cadres of minions working at the grassroots level.

There’s no trace of service in this skewed mindset but, instead, an over-arching sense of ownership.

They are lords of the land—as far as they can see—and have the Godgiven right to take everything from it. Visitors to their land are seen as unwelcome intruders who deserved to be shoved around, abused and illtreated as a matter of right.

This overblown sense of overlordship has lately been asserting itself in lands beyond the kingdom.

The adventure in Syria, bankrolled by the Saudis to get rid of the annoying Assad regime, may have gone haywire and spawned just the opposite of what was sought from it.

But no lessons have been learned from the Syrian imbroglio, nor refuge given to any Syrian fleeing the terror in his land. On the contrary, another—and bloodier—theatre of war and unprovoked aggres-

if it is performing up to your expectations. Are all of your fundaments still in tact? Once again, set up your plans. Follow your plans. Stick with it and you will find that with the proper discipline you will InshAllah reach great rewards. Which performed the best? Are the earnings still looking good? What’s happening in the various industry groups? Prune the laggards from your portfolio and shift the money into emerging leaders.

If you’ve got a stock that’s turning into a big winner, you might try to buy more shares at appropriate times.

Add to your position after the stock corrects and breaks out of a new, wellformed base. Or you might pick up a few shares when the stock pulls back and finds support at a long-term trend line or moving average.

The goal is to concentrate, not diversify. It’s better to master a few, wellchosen stocks than be at the mercy of a crowd of average investments.

You must decide if you want to go with this strategy or go with the advice of earlier articles to diversify, diversify, and diversify. You must decide what you plan is. It is either that you concentrate on a few stocks or diversify.

But you still must follow your stocks closely. Get out of the losers early.

Stick with you winners. But most importantly you must not deviate from your plan and InshAllah you will reap great rewards.

(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.) sion has been opened in next door Yemen, where the poor Houthis and their partisans on the run are being butchered without remorse or regret.

The royal arrogance and unbridled hubris of power seems riveted on rearranging the geography in Saudi Arabia’s neighborhood to suit its untenable regional and sectarian designs.

So what it boils down is that you may have the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art infrastructure on the ground for Haj services but it will not prevent recurrence of this year’s tragedy at Mina unless there was a matching mindset animating the thought process of those whose hands moved the wheels.

As of now, the Saudi ruling elite gives no indication that it is prepared to shed its outrageous and anachronistic sense of their own importance in the grand scheme of things. As long as these pompous VIPs are ruling the roost, caged in a reprehensible sense of their indispensability in the world order, Haj would anytime be a risky and hazardous undertaking for ordinary and every-day Muslims from around the world. Don’t be surprised if you come across, sooner than later, a new life insurance policy bandied around for wannabe pilgrims to Haj. (The author is a former ambassador and career diplomat) - K_K_ghori@hotmail.com

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Medical Assistance for the Poor & Neglected

Hidaya Foundation supports patients suffering from contagious diseases as well as various other ailments and provides them access to doctors, lab tests, medicines and follow-up visits. Also, assistance is given to patients who need surgeries in the localities where Hidaya operates. In addition, Hidaya provides medical equipment and supplies, as well as cash to charitable hospitals for patient treatment and medicines.

Donate, and may Allah (SWT) give you good health.

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

Exchange Rates for Currency Notes* Countries

Buying Rs.

USA

UK S.Arabia Japan Euro UAE

Selling Rs.

104.25 158.00 27.30 0.85 116.50 28.30

104.50 158.70 27.45 0.88 117.00 28.45

(*7 October, 2015) U.S. VISA AVAILABILITY IN OCTOBER, 2015 For Pakistan, Bangladesh & India Compiled by Hasan Chishti FAMILY SPONSORED PREFERENCES

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

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Married sons & daughters of US Citizens May 22, 2004

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3rd

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EMPLOYMENT BASED CATEGORY 1st Priority workers

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

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3rd Skilled workers Other workers

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RELIGION

OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25

Being a Muslim: What Does It Mean?

Gems from the Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

O

ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy. (Al-Baqarah 2:208)

A Muslim is a person who is all the time submitting and surrendering to Allah. A Muslim enters into Islam, walks on the straight path, step by step moves ahead, goes higher and higher and never stops this movement until the end of his/her life. Being a Muslim is a process. It is a continuous struggle within oneself and with the outside world to transform and to make everything better.

Ibn Kathir, the famous commentator of the Qur’an explains the above ayah with these words: Allah commands His servants who believe in Him and who have accepted His Messenger to hold fast to all the principles and laws of Islam, to do all His commands and to avoid all His prohibitions as much as they can.

Being a Muslim is not just a label or an ethnic or family identity.

To be a Muslim is to belong to Allah, to accept Islam as a way of life and to mold one’s behavior on the pattern of Prophet’s Muhammad’s Sunnah. It means to be a Muslim in one’s beliefs, worship, morals, manners, family relations, social relations, business pursuits, private and public, every aspect of life.

Being a Muslim is to know that Allah is One, to have deep and strong faith and trust in Allah, and to love Allah more than anything and everything. Allah is the Creator, Owner, Master and Lord of this whole universe, but a Muslims says further that Allah is my Lord, my Master, my Creator and my Owner.

Allah is Loving, Kind, Compassionate and Merciful. He is also Powerful, Just and He knows everything.

All the Good Names belong to Him. It is to know that Allah created and creates everything for a purpose.

He created us, human beings, for a purpose.

Being a Muslim is to know that Allah chose from amongst the human beings some individuals. He gave them His message and made them guides of humanity. There

From the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss)

were many Prophets and Messengers and Prophet Muhammad was the Last and Final among them. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and upon all His prophets and messengers. Messengers came to guide human beings and to tell them the purpose of their existence.

Messengers must be followed and their teachings and examples must be taken seriously.

Being a Muslim is to know that this life is not the only life. There will be life after death and all human beings will stand before Allah to give the account of their lives.

The righteous will be rewarded with eternal bliss in Jannah. Those who rejected Allah and His Messengers will be punished in Jahannam. It is our choice to choose whatever path we want. If we choose the right path, Allah helps us to move in that direction. However, if we choose the wrong path, it is our choice and consequences will be terrible.

Being a Muslim is to worship Allah and to make Allah, His Messenger and His Deen the priority of

life.

Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline; or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you than Allah, Or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause - then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious. (AlTawbah 9:24) Being a Muslim is to have good character, good morals and manners. It is to be truthful, honest, patient, humble, kind, courteous, generous, and hospitable. It is to live pure and clean life with no alcohol, drugs, fornication, adultery, homosexuality or any evil.

Being a Muslim is to love and care for one’s family. It is to be a good spouse, loving, kind and caring to children, obedient and respectful to parents, kind and loving to brothers and sisters and to all relatives - members of our extended family.

Being a Muslim is to love other Muslims. It is to consider every Muslim a brother or sister.

It is to have no racial, ethnic, color, or language prejudice.

It is to love to be with Muslims as much as possible, live with them, deal with them, interact with them, feeling happy when they are happy and feeling sad when they are sad. It is to care for them, struggle for their rights and protect them wherever they are.

Being a

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Muslim is to be good to all human beings and to all the creation of Allah. It is to deal with every person, friend or foe with fairness and justice. It is to be tolerant and peaceful, kind and courteous to neighbors, to coworkers, to associates and to strangers. It is to be involved in humanitarian work, building relations with all people. It is also to covey Allah’s message to all people, with wisdom and without any coercion and compulsion. It is to invite them to join the brotherhood of Islam, become the people of Allah, but it is also to respect them and deal with them with justice even if they do not accept Islam.

Being a Muslim is to care for all creatures and for the environment, without wasting the resources and without hurting or harming anyone.

Being a Muslim is to be optimistic, never lose hope and never give up. It is to be sure that in the end the truth will prevail and the falsehood will vanish. It is to remain steadfast and work hard with wisdom and patience.

A Muslim scholar gave ten qualities of a Muslim: 1. Salim al-‘Aqidah: A person of sound faith, 2. Sahih al-‘Ibadah: Worshiper in a correct way 3. Qawiyy al-jism: Strong physically 4. Matin al-khuluq: A person of solid character 5. Muthaqqaf al-fikr: A person of refined mind 6. Qadir ‘ala al-kasb: Able to earn 7. Mujahid linafsihi: Self disciplined 8. Haris ‘ala waqtihi : Conscientious about his time 9. Munazzam fi shu’unih: Organized in his affairs 10.Nafi’ lighairihi : Beneficial to others (Khutbah at Islamic Center of Hawthorne, CA – Jumadal Ula 17, 1434/ March 29, 2013)

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

Chapter 80, ‘Abasa, Verses 17 -23 [ But only too often ] man destroys himself: how stubbornly does he deny the truth!

[Does man ever consider] out of what substance [God] creates him?

Out of a drop of sperm He creates him, and thereupon determines his nature, and then makes it easy for him to go through life; and in the end He causes him to die and brings him to the grave; and then, if it be His will, He shall raise him again to life.

Nay, but [man] has never yet fulfilled what He has enjoined upon him! [ 1 ] Chapter 81, Al-Takwiir, Verses 15-21 But nay! I call to witness the revolving stars, the planets that run their daily course and set, and the night as it darkly falls, and the morn as it softly breathes: behold, this [divine writ] is indeed the [inspired] word of a noble apostle [ 2], with strength endowed, secure with Him who in almightiness is enthroned, [the word] of one to be heeded, and worthy of trust!

Chapter 81, Al-Takwiir, Verses 27-29 This [message] is no less than a reminder to all mankind – to every one of you who wills to walk a straight way.

But you cannot will it unless God, the Sustainer of all the worlds, wills [to show you the way]. [ 3 ] Chapter 82, Al-Infitaar, Verses 6-9 O man! What is it that lures thee away from thy bountiful Sustainer, who has created thee in accordance with what thou art meant to be, and shaped thy nature in just proportions, having put thee together in whatever form He willed [thee to have]?

Nay, [ O men, ] but you [are lured away from God whenever you are tempted to] give the lie to[God’s] Judgement! _______________ Translator’s Notes [ 1 ] In other words, man has failed to to make use of the intellectual and spiritual endowment GEMS, P28

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Bilal Asif Five-for Gives Pakistan Series

Malik Finds Place in Test Squad After Five Years KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has been recalled to face England in the upcoming Test series in the United Arab Emirates, officials said recently, five years after his last match in the longest format.

The 33-year-old middle order batsman's excellent limited-overs form saw him added as the 16th member of Pakistan's Test squad for the threematch series against England starting on October 13. Chief selector Haroon Rasheed said that the team management had requested that Malik, who also bowls off-spin, be included.

"Pakistan team manager Intikhab

Alam had made the request, saying that he and head coach Waqar Younis were of the same view over retaining Malik given his present form in T20s and the one-day matches," said Rasheed.

"We decided to retain Malik keeping in mind his current batting form and the off-spin bowling option that could be handy in the all-important Test series against England," said Rasheed. Since his recall to limitedovers cricket in May this year, Malik has scored 500 runs at an average of 100.00 per innings in 11 one-day matches.J

Completing the Whitewash

Women's Side Claim Series 2-0 With 6-Wicket Win Over Bangladesh The Pakistan players with the trophy, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, 3rd ODI, Harare.

HARARE: Pakistan cruised to a 2-1 series victory over Zimbabwe with a seven-wicket win in the third ODI at Harare Sports Club. Offspinning allrounder Bilal Asif was the chief architect in the demolition of Zimbabwe's batting line-up by Pakistan's spinners, taking 5 for 25 as the hosts were bowled out for just 161. Bilal's wickets prompted an extraordinary collapse with Zimbabwe losing 10 for 72 to ruin what had been a solid start from their openers. The only down-

side for Pakistan is that they remain in ninth place in the ICC ODI rankings as a result of the loss on Saturday.

Operating from the City End of the ground, Bilal bowled his ten overs on the trot after being brought on in the 13th over by stand-in captain Sarfraz Ahmed - regular leader Azhar Ali sitting this match out with an infected foot. Openers Chamu Chibhabha and Richmond Mutumbami initially seemed to play the offspinner without much alarm,

Bilal Asif Reported for Suspect Action Pakistan offspinner Bilal Asif has been reported for a suspect action following the third ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare. Asif, 30, had made his international debut in the second game of the series, and took figures of 5 for 25 in the third ODI to help Pakistan win the series 2-1.

"Bilal's action has been reported after the third ODI and we are following the procedure with the ICC," Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's team manager, told ESPNcricinfo. A total of eight deliveries from Asif during third ODI were reported by the match officials.

Asif will have to get his action tested at an ICC-accredited facility within two weeks of the PCB receiving the report from the ICC, but he is eligible

to bowl in international cricket until the result of the test is out.

The development is a setback for Pakistan because Asif had been retained in the ODI squad in Zimbabwe - after not playing the preceding T20Is - because they wanted to assess him ahead of the series against England in the UAE. Asif, who also bats in the top order, could have provided cover for Pakistan's depleted spin stocks: allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has beenbanned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months because of an illegal action, and offspinner Saeed Ajmal has not been selected because he has proved ineffective after remedying his illegal action.

but when Chibhabha popped a simple return catch to the bowler, Zimbabwe's spectacular implosion was set in motion.

Sean Williams shuffled down the track to loft Bilal to wide long-on, but then seemed in two minds as he lunged forward at a flighted delivery and ended up chipping another tame catch to the bowler. Bilal took his second in the over by bowling a noncommittal Elton Chigumbura via the inside edge, and from then on Zimbabwe offered virtually nothing in the way of resistance.

Sikandar Raza shuffled right across to the off side as he set himself to sweep, but exposed his stumps in the process and was bowled. When Tino Mutombodzi backed away and missed a cut off when the ball kept a touch low, Bilal had his fifth and Zimbabwe were 127 for 6 in the 31st over.

There had been a completely different complexion to their innings in the midst of Chibhabha and Mutumbami's opening stand.

Chibhabha played with characteristic conviction off the front foot and took much of the early strike. He was into the 20s before Mutumbami had even faced his third delivery, and looked set for a 15th ODI fifty before falling to Bilal. J

KARACHI: Twenty-three-year-old Anum Amin took four wickets to guide Pakistan Women to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh Women at the Southend Club Cricket Stadium in Karachi as the hosts completed a 2-0 whitewash recently.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh were restricted to just 123-9 in their allotted 50 overs as player-of-thematch Anum took four wickets, giving away only seven runs, in her 10 overs with five maidens. Meanwhile, Asmavia Iqbal also impressed with figures of 3-28. Bangladesh opener Ayasha Rahman was the top scorer for

her side with 39, while Nigar Sultana (30) and Ritu Moni (28) were the other two batsmen to reach double figures.

Chasing 124, Pakistan lost Javeria Khan early on for seven but managed to reach the target in just 38.3 overs with the loss of four wickets.

Player of the series Bismah Maroof scored 41 off 66 balls, building up a 43-run partnership with Marina Iqbal, who scored 37 off 67 balls. Bangladesh's Nahida Akter claimed 2-22 but found precious little support save for Rumana Ahmed, the only other bowler to take a wicket with figures of 1-13. J

KARACHI: Pakistan outclassed Bangladesh in all aspects of the game in both the T20Is and the ODIs.

All-Round SA Seal Series After Crowd Interruption Anger Indians thrown bottles in the ground for stop the match, in 2nd T-20 CUTTACK: Albie Morkel celebrated a return to the South African side in his 50th T20I, after an absence of 18 months with a career-best haul of 3 for 12 and a starring role in a series win. South Africa sealed the series with a game to spare with one of their most commanding performances in this format. They dismissed India for their second-lowest T20 total, much to the chagrin of the Cuttack crowd, who interrupted play twice during South Africa's chase by throwing bottles onto the outfield, and they did it on a surface snaked with cracks.

The Cuttack pitch was not what would be a considered a South African seamer's playground. It had the appearance of a frozen-over surface struck by something sharp, causing rivers of fissures, and Faf du Plessis chose to make first use of it because of high humidity which he thought would bring dew later on. The expected dampness did not arrive and neither did India's batsmen. They succumbed to several soft dismissals and showed none of the temperament required to score runs on the surface and South Africa took full

advantage. That India's top-scorers managed just 22 each and the rest of the line-up could only collectively muster 37 speaks about the lack of application by the Indian batsmen.

Unsure of conditions, South Africa tried something different when Imran Tahir opened the bowling with Kyle Abbott but it was only when Kagiso Rabada took over that South Africa

Albie Morkel took 3 for 12 on international return, India v South Africa, 2nd T20I, Cuttack.

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announced themselves. Rabada banged the ball in hard, but not short, to see if he could extract any bounce and cause the batsmen any discomfort.

He managed both and showed the rest of the pack attack what length to employ. South Africa had to shift out of their comfort zone, forget the short ball and pitch it up and they did.

Dhawan's early departure would not have been a cause for too much concern but Virat Kohli's run-out two balls later would have. Morris was involved again, as he collected the ball at deep midwicket, and sent it in before Kohli was able to complete the second run, which Rohit Sharma seemed to want. Rohit was made to realise early that this innings would demand more of him than the one he played on Friday in Dharamsala. He was tested by bounce from Rabada, and pace from Morris and with only 13 runs coming from the 20 balls after Kohli's dismissal, his patience ran out.

Ambati Rayudu swung and missed at a full toss from Rabada but India still had a senior partnership in Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni. Raina showed

the temperament to take advantage of South Africa's few lapses - both Abbott and Tahir's consistency abandoned them momentarily - but the experience of Morkel ensured any youthful, or in the case of Tahir, evergreen, exuberance did not erase South Africa's effort.

India were bowled out with 16 balls left in their innings and lost their last eight wickets for 49 runs to leave South Africa with a clear passage for a series win.

South Africa needed 29 runs off 54 balls when the crowd interrupted. They began to throw bottles onto the outfield, causing a 27-minute break in play. After the authorities had policed the situation, play resumed for two overs before more bottles were thrown and play was stopped for a second time and the players went off the field this time. The break lasted 24 minutes while the upper-level stands were cleared and the match could resume again.

India managed one more wicket but could not prevent the inevitable and South Africa sauntered away with a series win. J

PAKISTAN

P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015 SPEECH FROM P6

archives,” he points out.

“The only difference is we now have them in much better, original quality.”

The first of the two speeches handed over is believed to be Mr Jinnah’s last address on radio within the borders of present day India. It was recorded on 3 June 1947, in Delhi.

The second tape consists of Mr Jinnah’s well-known address to the Constituent Assembly in Karachi on the day the country came into existence: 14 August 1947.

It was recorded by sound engineers from All India Radio. They were invited to come to Karachi from Delhi because the country about to be born did not have radio stations equipped for such recordings.

AIR engineers are believed to have recorded both of Jinnah’s speeches in Karachi: August 11th and 14th.

“They [AIR officials] initially told me they have the missing August 11th tape, but of late have become evasive about it,” says Solangi.

“They have told others they don’t have it. At the moment, we just don’t know whether they have it or not.”

Historic importance The recording of Jinnah’s 11 August speech may be of great importance to students of history Some in Pakistan suspect it may have to do with the dominant Indian narrative which paints Jinnah as the man responsible for large-scale Hindu-Muslim violence in the run up to the partition and the man who divided India.

But it’s not entirely clear why, if the speech indeed exists, the authorities in India would hand over two of the Jinnah tapes, but not the 11 August speech.

“I doubt it’s deliberate,” says Raza Rumi, director of Jinnah Institute, an Islamabad-based think tank.

“Given the red-tape in the Indian bureaucracy, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pakistan’s request for Jinnah tapes is simply stuck or lost in the system.”

The recording of Jinnah’s 11 August speech may be of great importance to students of history on both sides of the border.

But if ever found, could it really help Pakistan’s seemingly marginalized liberals to win an argument with the hardliners and the religious right in reshaping the country’s now deeply entrenched Islamic identity?

“It’s not about trying to convince the religious zealots that Jinnah wanted a different kind of Pakistan,” says Solangi.

“It’s about correcting our distorted history and letting the people decide what kind of Pakistan they want.”

COURT FROM P8

case to him of why we need a woman on the Supreme Court!

Another interesting non-candidate might have been Justice Khalida Rashid. For many years, a judge of the Peshawar High Court and since 2011 the president of the International Tribunal for Rawanda. However, she recently turned 66 and no longer meets the age criteria.

At least one strong candidate is apparent: Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court. Appointed in 2009 and now the Senior Pusine Judge of the court she has more than the requisite experience.

But, first, someone has to start looking. And seriously. That someone has to be the Judicial Commission of

Pakistan which has the primary responsibility to identify qualified appointees.

The commission’s recommendation is sent to a parliamentary committee and from there goes to the prime minister and then to the president for approval. The process is clearly and heavily in the hands of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, and is clearly meant to minimize political interference. However, there are three layers of political voice involved. It would be entirely fair and very appropriate for these political actors to express a policy preference on the basis of gender equality and opportunity.

Indeed, here would be a rare opportunity to show non-partisan support for a clearly good cause.

They must do so before the Judicial Commission makes its choice. Even if they don’t, the rest of us should.

(The writer is the inaugural dean of the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University and former vice chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Twitter: @adilnajam GEMS FROM P25

Jhangvi, in a police encounter in July was believed to be part of the government’s changed strategy towards sectarian outfits.

The military courts have also for the first time convicted terrorists who were involved in targeted killings of Shia community members.

“You will see more such actions in coming weeks,” the official said.

AYYAN FROM P15

being heavily criticized for inviting an under-trial accused.

Her visit to the university came weeks after she was released from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. The supermodel was arrested on charges of money laundering by customs’ officials from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on March 14 after $506,800 were recovered from her baggage. She spent four months behind bars before securing bail.

Another student Abdullah Rizwan, who is also believed to be involved in organizing the event, has also been barred from entering the varsity’s premises, as well as from taking admission in any program at the Karachi University.

referred to in Verse 20. [ 2 ] By “calling to witness” certain natural phenomena which are familiar to man because of their permanent recurrence, attention is drawn to the fact that what we call “laws of nature” are but the observable elements of God’s plan of creation – a plan in which His revelations (referred to in this and the subsequent verses) play a decisive role: and so, by implication, the divine writ granted to the Prophet is as intrinsically “natural” as any other phenomenon, concrete or abstract, in the realm of God’s creation. [ 3 ] I.e., “you can will it only because God has willed to show you the right way by means of the positive instincts which He has implanted in you, as well as through the revelations which He has bestowed on His prophets”: implying that the choice of the right way is open to everyone who is willing to avail himself of God’s universal guidance.

MOWAHID FROM P18

PURGE FROM P15

EID FROM P17

army chief, however, said Pakistan was well aware of the threat and would never allow even a shadow of Da’ish to fall on its soil.

The official said the security agencies have identified south Punjab as a potential region where Da’ish could find some support in Pakistan.

“That is why the government has decided to go all-out against sectarian outfits in the area,” the official added.

He informed The Express Tribune that thousands of Islamic seminaries (madrassas) have been closely monitored for the past few months as part of the operation against sectarian outfits. It is believed that out of the total 20,000 madrassas, around 7,000 are located in South Punjab.

And most of them are believed to be receiving funds from the Arab countries.

The government has already outlined a new policy for seminaries in an attempt to ensure these religious schools do not get involved in any subversive activities. Some madrassas have been shut down in recent months in the region over allegations of involvement in promoting sectarian and hate ideology.

The move to go after sectarian groups is seen as a major shift in Pakistan’s policy as in the past Islamabad used to avoid taking such outfits head on. The killing of Malik Ishaq, the co-founder of the banned sectarian extremist group Lashkar-e-

similar sagacity be shown to tackle these flashpoints.

Mowahid, while praising the humility and piety of Pope Francis, said that the Pope, by not mentioning Palestine during his American visit, may have missed a historic peace-making opportunity.

During a lively question and answer discussion, Mowahid asserted that the Muslim world is not seeking favors but its legitimate aspirations for an equitable place in the world order cannot be subdued by force.

After seeing the unworkable results of double standards, the international community shall be wiser to meet yearnings for fairness, which ultimately is a common struggle, Mowahid concluded.

He also exhorted Western Muslims to raise their level by striving for excellence. items that the SALAM Weekend School was selling to support a fundraiser.

One way to overcome community differences is to celebrate them together. One hopes that such events will continue to unify Muslims from diverse ethnic backgrounds, races and sectarian divides, as we all collectively pray for peace in our world.

A late “Eid Mubarak” from Sacramento, California!

NAWAZ FROM P1

According to a July 23rd report in Dawn, a leading Pakistani newspaper, “the other purpose of the White House invitation was to boost Mr Sharif ’s government which is seemingly under growing pressure from the military, particularly with respect to its India policy.

Others say developments in the region were also behind the invitation.

Mr Sharif ’s foreign policy aides have been particularly upbeat about the invitation and one of them said that it would take the strategic partnership to the next level.

The US government has expressed support for the Sharif government’s policy on reaching out to India. The on-going operations against terrorists and Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace dialogue have also been appreciated.

Before Eid, Mr Sharif had dis-

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patched his Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi to the US to prepare for his upcoming visit.

During his stay in Washington, Mr Fatemi met senior officials of the Obama administration and Congress leaders. He also spoke to think-tanks.

DETERRENCE FROM P1

described as ‘brackets’,” the newspaper had quoted a source familiar with the talks between the two countries as saying.

The article also said that the negotiations between the US and Pakistan on the agreement would be slow and difficult due to the fact that Pakistan honors its nuclear program and it is not yet clear if the country would eventually be willing to accept the limitations that would be required.

DEAL FROM P1

weapons and delivery systems that are appropriate to its actual defense needs against India’s nuclear threat.

“Pakistan might agree not to deploy missiles capable of reaching beyond a certain range,” it quoted as an example of the accord between the two countries.

Pakistan, in return, can get the US’ support for an eventual waiver by the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, of which the US is a member, claimed the newspaper’s source.

At US’ urging, the same group had agreed to exempt India from rules that banned nuclear trade with countries that evaded the Non-Proliferation Treaty, allowing the Pakistani arch rival a partial entry into the club of nuclear powers in exchange for its willingness to apply International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards to its civilian program.

The sources, however, said the negotiations between the US and Pakistan on the agreement would be slow and difficult due to the fact that Pakistan honors its nuclear program and it is not yet clear if the country would eventually be willing to accept the limitations that would be required.

It revealed that the issue is being discussed quietly in advance to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s upcoming visit to Washington on October 22, 2015.

The US considers this nuclear dialogue especially important because it would begin to address what US officials for two decades have viewed as one of the world’s most dangerous security problems.

The dialogue comes in the wake of a recent surge of Taliban violence in Afghanistan, building pressure on the US to address the issues of the nation it evaded a decade ago. “The US is quietly exploring some diplomatic options that could reduce the violence in Afghanistan,” the report said.

JUSTICE ROM P1

Javid Iqbal received the following educational degrees and distinctions: BA (Hon.) degree in 1944 from the Government College, Lahore; MA degree in English, and MA degree in Philosophy (Gold Medallist) in 1948, Punjab; PhD degree in Philosophy in 1954 from the University of Cambridge, UK; Barrister-at-Law, Lincoln’s Inn, London, in 1956. He received honorary doctorates from Villanova University, USA, and Selcuk University.

He published papers on Islamic political thought, political ideology in Pakistan and the philosophy of Iqbal in national and international journals. He wa also a scholar on the thoughts and works of his father.

During 1960-62 and in 1977, he was the delegate of Pakistan to the United

Nations General Assembly.

He had argued in favor of reforms in the Hudud laws of Pakistan.

Iqbal named one of his books, Javid Nama, after his son. Iqbal also wrote many poems on Javed Iqbal, indirectly addressing the Muslim youth.

PENALTY FROM P1

During the course of court proceedings, Qadri’s counsel argued that the accused was a straightforward man who had a justification for killing the former governor, admitting that whatever he did was in accordance with the dictates of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), because he was convinced that the victim had committed blasphemy by calling the blasphemy law “a black law”.

“We have to look into whether the deceased (Salmaan Taseer) indeed committed the act of blasphemy or he commented adversely on the effects of the blasphemy law,” Justice Dost Mohammad Khan had observed.

Given the prevailing constitutional and legal setup, Justice Dost Mohammad observed, can the accused be given the right to judge on his own cause and commit murder in uniform of a person who was under his protection, especially when there is no evidence of him having committed blasphemy, save a few press clippings.

These questions need to be focused upon, Justice Dost Mohammad emphasized adding that the impression he had gathered from reading the facts of the case was that the deceased governor was talking about the defects in the blasphemy law, which were sometimes misused for personal benefit.

“Will it not instill fear in the society if everybody starts taking the law in their own hands and dealing with sensitive matters such as blasphemy on their own rather than going to the courts,” Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had later asked.

Justice Dost Mohammad Khan also stressed the need of exercising restraint because blasphemy accusations were serious and prone to misuse. Allowing individuals to deal with such matters on their own is fraught with danger, especially in divided societies like ours, where even ulema are reluctant to offer prayers with members of other schools of thought, he observed.

Sunni Tehreek to file review petition: In a statement released today, Sunni Tehreek (ST) has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) in regards to the apex court’s decision to uphold the death penalty for Mumtaz Qadri under ATA laws.

Mr Taseer’s son, Shehryar Taseer, said that at the time of his father’s death, it was difficult to find a cleric willing to lead his funeral prayers. In the years since, the family has faced constant threats and intimidation, he said.

“This is a great day for the family but an even greater day for Pakistan,” he said. “For the first time, someone has had the guts to say something without fearing for their lives.”

STRIKE FROM P1

management said that it would not accept any ‘illegitimate’ demands of the Palpa and asking the pilots to pursue negotiations without any preconditions.

Palpa pilots had been on a goslow policy during the last week which resulted in cancellation of at least 88 flights and re-routing of dozens of other flights, affecting thousands of passengers of the national flag carrier.

Some pilots reported sickness at the eleventh hour and claimed they were unfit to fly an aircraft.

CLASSIFIED & MATRIMONIAL

OCTOBER 9, 2015 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

WOMENS WORLD

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P30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OCTOBER 9, 2015

By M. Shirazi hafaq Habib is a name synonymous with fine jewellery. She has been designing elegant pieces of jewellery since the '80s. Known for her unique fusion of pearls and coloured gemstones, the designer has a penchant for crafting beautiful jewellery and runs her flagship store and studio in Lahore.

Besides the beautiful Polki sets, Shafaq crafts the most exquisite diamonds, pearls, turquoise, peridots, amethysts, jade and numerous other gems. This week You! talks exclusively to Shafaq Habib about her passion for jewellery designing...

S

want to look different and exceptional. The inspiration came from my visit to Turkey and Europe.

The new bridal sets are appropriate for brides living in Pakistan as well as US and other parts of the world. These sets are made in 22 karat gold and Polki diamonds.

Besides these bridal sets, we have designed statement pieces, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings for women with style. These pieces will give them exclusive and glamorous look.

You! Why do you think women should wear designer jewellery?

well travelled people they want pieces that are trendy. I enjoy designing for people who have good taste and knowledge about jewellery.

You! Do you design every piece yourself?

S.H: I design all the pieces myself as it is my passion.

You! What qualities do you think a jewellery designer should posses?

S.H: A jewellery designer should have aesthetic sense, knowledge of jewellery making and designing.

You! What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

Shafaq Habib: I was always very fond of jewellery but didn't like the jewellery that was available in the market. I was living in New York in 1981 and didn't find the American jewellery very appealing and thought it was very plain and simple.

I wanted unique and stylish pieces with less metal and more stones. So I thought of blending the simplicity of the west with the intricacy of the east. That was the beginning of my career as a jewellery designer.

You! When did you exactly launch your label?

S.H: In 1982 I had my first exhibition in Washington DC under the name of 'Pearls Galore'.

Later I switched the brand name to Shafaq Habib.

You! What is your design philosophy?

S.H: My design philosophy is simple - jewellery should enhance the beauty of the wearer. It should be wearable and should make a woman feel more confident.

You! How many exhibitions have you done so far - nationally and internationally?

S.H: I have been doing exhibitions all over the world since 1981. While I was living in the US I used to have 4 exhibitions a year.

And when I moved to Pakistan initially I had 6 to 8 exhibitions a year in different cities. Up till now I have had more than 200 exhibitions.

S.H: In Pakistan people misunderstand the term 'designer jewellery'. They think it is artificial.

In fact designer jewellery is specially designed for a particular person and is unique.

That is why it is supposed to be more expensive than jewellery made in bulk for masses. I think if any woman wants to stand out then she should opt for designer jewellery.

You! When and where is your exhibition?

S.H: My upcoming exhibition is on the 20th and 21st of September in PC, Karachi from 12 noon to 10 pm.

You! Do you make exclusive pieces or do you repeat your designs?

S.H: Every piece is exclusive and made with special attention.

Some designs are repeated but in limited quantity.

You! What is your latest collection about? Is there a new trend that you have kept in mind while designing this collection?

S.H: Our new collection is bridal jewellery for brides who

You! Do you design jewellery pieces keeping the latest trends in mind?

S.H: I think current trends are very important. And because our clients are very enlightened and

You! What distinguishes your jewellery from others?

S.H: The jewellery I design is unique because I am a creative person and I like being different and unique.

You! Which jewellery designers have influenced you?

S.H: I have always admired Coco Channel and Bvlgari.

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You! What type of jewellery do you design for women and what makes your line so special?

S.H: I design jewellery which is wearable and doesn't stay in lockers.

My customers have repeatedly told me that most of their jewellery stays in lockers except the ones I design.

And I think that is what makes

my jewellery special.

You! How would you describe your personal style?

S.H: My style is chic and glamorous.

You! Any plans of expanding your brand?

S.H: I want to concentrate more on quality rather than quantity. So, no plans as yet.

OCTOBER 9, 2015 - PAKISTAN LINK

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER 9, 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P31

screenplay had been penned by Sooraj Baba and the notorious Pappu Samrat was in charge of choreography.

That's not all: a little birdie told us that Mathira will also be appearing in the movie.

The director has earlier unveiled that there will be an item number in the movie.

Coincidence?

Not quite. "I'm not doing an item number, although there will

fter Wrong Number, everyone's beloved boy next door, Danish Taimoor will be returning to the big screen with his next project, titled Tum Hi To Ho. Speaking to Dawn.com, Taimoor shares, "This is going to

A

be my third movie.

I feel like I have done action, I have done comedy so now, it's time to give the romance genre a go. I also strongly feel that our cinema needs this type of a movie."

Directed by industry veteran,

Sangeeta, the movie is dubbed a romantic "love story revolving around college-going boys and girls" and stars debutante, Qurutulain as the female lead.

At a press conference, Sangeeta, who will also be producing the movie revealed that the

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be one in the film. I am doing a song opposite Danish Taimoor, though."

Mathira will be seen in a "psycho, villianous" role in the film (her words, not ours), starring as the other woman in the love triangle that forms the crux of the plot.

The filming for the movie has started and it will be shot in Karachi, Lahore and Murree. Tum Hi To Ho is slated for release next Eid-ul-Azha.

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P32 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 9, 2015

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