Pakistan buries victims of Rawalpindi mosque attack

Pakistani soldiers carried the coffins of their comrades

The funerals of Pakistani army officers killed in a Taliban attack on a mosque have been held in Rawalpindi. Forty people died when militants began shooting, throwing grenades and detonating suicide bombs on Friday.

Nine officers, including a major general, a brigadier, two lieutenant colonels and two majors were killed.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and other top military officials attended the funerals of three victims.

Maj Gen Umer Bilal, the son of a top military commander and a third victim were buried on Saturday.

Seventeen children and 10 other civilians were also among the dead.

‘United’

Soldiers were stationed on the lawns of the venue as well as a nearby rooftop during the funeral prayers for Gen Bilal, AFP news agency reported.

Security was tight, with grieving relatives having to enter the funeral ground through metal detectors and by walking past sniffer dogs, Reuters news agency reported.

According to an army statement, Gen Kayani, who met some relatives, said:

“The nation, including the army, stands united in sharing their grief. Pakistan is our motherland. It is the bastion of Islam and we live for the glory of Islam and Pakistan. Our faith, resolve and pride in our religion and in our country is an asset, which is further reinforced after each terrorist incident.”

Other army victims were returned to their home towns to be buried.
BBC

Bring Back Jinnah’s Pakistan

A trembling of nation, Pakistan, everyone can see – while dwellers can actually feel it immensely. With the addition of two more blasts yesterday and one blast today in Pakistan, the numbers of such blasts have reached to 223 (two hundred and twenty three) today. The number of deceased have reached to 3,000 while the number of wounded have reached to nearly 8,000. The cold-blooded and hard-hearted Ghairat Brigade has really not turned out to be the Ghairat Brigade of Pakistan after facing such a vile chaos. But that’s most certainly a short-run fervency as it always happens.

Who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

Muhammad Ali Jinnah is venerated by many names: Baba-e-Qoum, Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam, Baani-e-Pakistan. But what thunderclaps me is that – from the shores of Arabian sea till the Himalayan range, while everyone knows about the founder of nation, everyone knows about the ideologies of Jinnah, even the uneducated ones learn from the word of mouth – how many practical followers of Jinnah are actually left here in Pakistan?

Who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

There’s a simplified version of Jinnah about the governance of the country, there’s a simplified version of Iqbal about implementing Islam in Pakistan, but there’s not a single staunch political party to resume the cause of Jinnah and Iqbal from where both of them left. Everywhere in Pakistan there’s brouhaha about ideologies. There’s a strong clash of ideologies. Anarchism, democratism, Islamism, Talibanism, this’ism, that’ism – but where is Jinnah’ism and where is Iqbal’ism?

Who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

If there was a man from our history who wouldn’t forsake his principles in politics then that was Jinnah. Where’s the politics of principles today? Principles are desperately seeking the ‘politics’ which is hiding behind the veil of sanctimoniousness. It’s hard to lift the veil and help principles to find the ‘politics’ because the show must go on in a view of fact that watching such matinees have become best leisure time activity of ours and the nights are for peaceful comfy sleeps, so don’t disturb please.

Who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

Jinnah wanted to give minority the status of majority. Concurrently, he sent a word to the people of Pakistan in which he urged about equality and equity, and that the rulers of nation should partake the characteristics of a real leader that Prophet Muhammad SAW taught – characteristics of simplicifty, understanding of the responsibilities entirely. Is there anyone today who resembles Jinnah?

Who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

The one whose obsession with Pakistan – to stand alongside with the Muslims – made him loose his wife and then the daughter – was Jinnah. He doggedly strived for Pakistan, for the rights of Muslims to emancipate them; the Jinnah, who fought the case of Pakistan in Emperor’s Court for years, who was completely obstinate, albeit Gandhi offered him to become the first Prime Minister of India if he stops endeavoring for Pakistan – Jinnah refused it. He had no lust of power. Howbeit, he merely wanted a Pakistan – a separate state for Muslims – free from slavery of Brits and then India. Today’s leaders are substantially afraid of raising one’s voice against the atrocities of their self-appointed superpowers. Whereas, Jinnah always stood for every ’single’ Muslim who was hit and battered by British Raj before independence.

Who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

To touch the right chord about another greatness of Jinnah, I had a look at the will of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which says:

All my residuary estate including the corpus that may fall after the lapse of life interests or otherwise to be divided into three parts – and I bequeath one part to Aligarh University – one part to Islamia College Peshawar – and one part to Sindh Madrassa of Karachi.

I ask an additional time, who talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan today in the middle of the prevailing national turmoil? Any political party here, I ask?

To bring back Jinnah’s Pakistan, we must come out of our shells of idlenes; we must come out on roads – for peaceful protests, with the purpose of exhorting government and admonishing them that Awaam isn’t kipping any longer now. At this decisive phase today, we be forbidden to wait for a wake-up call from our affiliated political parties. Jinnah’s amount of supporters were little than Congress activists but his supporters were sincere. Our amount of supporters may be little, but our supporters should be sincere likewise. We all must get united to do something to bring back Jinnah’s Pakistan while none of the political party is up for broadcasting the ideologies of Jinnah; we must rise against the pseudo democratism, taliban’ism, religion’ism, Musharraf’ism, Nawaz’ism, Altaf’ism, Bhutto’ism, Sindhi’ism, Punjab’ism, Pashtun’ism, Baloch’ism, this’ism and that’ism – and backtrack Pakistan the ideologies of Muhammad Ali Jinnah – and the ideologies of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

The desire for struggle is in our hearts
We shall now see what strength there is in the boughs of the enemy

سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے
دیکھنا ہے زور کتنا بازوئے قاتل میں ہے

The Godfather of Democracy and Justice

In any country, the lion’s share of independency is always withheld by the respective government even though the country is said to be a modern democratic country. When we witness such an unjust specially on the name of ‘greatest national interest’, it means we’re deprived of our rights. This time it’s not directly the Pakistan or Pakistanis deprived of their rights. On this opportunity related to the Justice Department of US, the de facto greatest national interest is about the detainee abuse that the photos of detainee abuse wouldn’t be released in as much as, and as said by President Barack Obama, it could whip up anti-American sentiment overseas and endanger US troops abroad, mostly in Afghanistan and Iraq. It should be noted that absolute majority of the detainees are foreigners and not the US citizens.

In a wake of organized demands by American Civil Liberties Union from the US Justice Department, the Federal Law has recently been modified in the mid of November 2009 on the name of greatest national interest. The new Federal Law, as stated by the High Court of US, says that the detainee abuse pictures would be withheld by the US Government.

The country that is said to have been a high-mettled supporter of democracy and justice and thus preaching the rest of the world to promote democracy and justice has itself been convoluted in the breaching of its own set of rules and collection of laws. This is what we call an apex hypocrisy that is blotted out on the name of de facto greatest national interest.

As the President Barack Obama said that the pictures of detainee abuse would give a rise to anti-American sentiment overseas, I ask: even withholding the pics, does the government of US could help itself subduing the voice of all those who raise their voice against the atrocities of US for a de jure reason? From another point of view, a host of Pakistanis — supporter of enlightened modernization — presume that having anti-American views makes one a Jamat-e-Islami activist, a fundamentalist or an extremist. But the Ghairat Brigade of Pakistan, sometimes or rather often snub the fact that 52% of Americans, contemporarily, want all their troops back home — the troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Ghairat Brigade of Pakistan wouldn’t call American Civil Liberties Union as extremist, fundamentalist or Jamat-e-Islami propagandist. But endorsing the cause of American Civil Liberties Union i.e. raising voice against the atrocities of American Government would make a Pakistani one of these three: Jamat-e-Islami activist, a fundamentalist or an extremist. This is how we’re — the Illah MashaAllah Ghairat Brigade of Pakistan.

So far, the American Civil Liberties Union has said that it’ll continue fighting for the photos’ release. I’m supporting the cause of ACLU and raising the voice against the heinous crimes the Government of America commits. You may call me a Jamat-e-Islami propagandist, a fundamentalist or an extremist. I really don’t care.

Source: Absar Ahmed

Only 15% Pakistanis Believe that Country is in the Right Direction

Pakistan’s youths are losing confidence in the future and a mere 15 per cent believe that the country is heading in the right direction, while 72 per cent feel economically worse off than a year ago. Only 10 per cent expect an improvement in the near future.

The political parties in the country have a lot to be ashamed about given that only one third of the youth believes that democracy is the best form of governance. Pakistan’s political class is generally viewed as ‘selfish and corrupt’. In contrast to this, 60 per cent expressed confidence in the armed forces.

This is even more disheartening when coupled with the widespread detachment from the political process: A mere two per cent are members of a political party, while only 39 per cent voted in the last election. In fact, half are not on the voters’ list. This does not bode well for the future of the political system, and hence for Pakistan itself.

These and other similarly ominous findings were established in a comprehensive and exhaustive nation-wide survey carried out recently by the British Council in Pakistan.

While only 15 per cent of the youth in Pakistan believe that the country is heading in the right direction, it also establishes that “the next generation loves Pakistan, despite the country’s failings. It is also civic minded, with nearly half believing education’s primary purpose is to learn to be a good citizen or to gain a broad understanding of the world.”

The demographic boom in Pakistan is best encapsulated by the projection that there will be a rise of 85 million people in the next 20 years, which, as the report would put it, is ‘equivalent to five cities the size of Karachi’. This increase of 44 per cent is double of the world’s average.

Great emphasis is laid on the youth of the country given that “half its citizens are under twenty; two thirds have yet to reach their thirteenth birthday”. The age group of the study population was 18-29, out of which one-forth of the respondents had “never attended an education institution”. It is of note that for girls and rural respondents, this proportion rose to over one-third, while half of Balochistan’s youth had no education at all.

The young demographic make-up of Pakistan is, on the other hand, also viewed as a potential positive for the country.

“With so many young adults, Pakistan has a window during which it can achieve a massive surge in its development, creating wealth that can be reinvested for the future.”

It is shown that 92 per cent of the respondents viewed education as the way out of Pakistan’s troubles. However, the report warns that the time to act on this is now.

“The window of opportunity will close around 2045, by which time the society will be ageing rapidly. During this period, therefore, investment in the next generation will have a huge impact on Pakistan’s long term prospects.”

 

The News

Mulla Ki Haqiqat- The Importance of “Mulla”

English Translation Below!

Deenislam

English Translation:

Regarding this (topic) Qudratullah Shahab wrote in his book “Shahab Nama” :

After the fall of Muslim governance, not only the names of towns and cities were changed but also the conditions of Muslims in Barhampur were horrific. A village surrounded by high mountains and thick forests was inhabited by about 20- 25 Muslim families. Their life style was so much ingrained by Hindu tradition that they used to keep names like Romaish Ali, Safdar Panday, Mahmoud Mahnti, Kulsum Devi and Parbhadi. In the village was a small shanty mosque and its doors were usually locked. Every Thursday evening, after taking shower, people would lit up Diya (oil lamp) and would kiss the lock of the Mosque’s door so as to pay respect which was also the fulfillment of their obligation for the entire week.

Every 2-3 months, a Maulvi Saheb would come to the village, unlock the Mosque and would bring the mosque alive for a short span of time. During this time duration, Maulvi sahib would offer prayers at the grave of deceased Muslim, he would give Adhan to the new born babies, if there were any marriages that were intended- he would perform their Nikah. Maulvi sahib would write a taweez (amulet) for a sick, and he would recite Takbeer on the knifes in advance so that those knifes could be used to slaughter animals until his next visit. This way through the blessing of this Maulvi sahib, the relationship of the Deen-e-Islam of these villagers was loosely connected.

Witnessing the state of this village of Barhampur Ganjam reverence in my heart for the “Mulla” was evoked. There was a time when words like “Mulla” and “Maulvi” were titles of knowledge and dignity. However, due to the Western system imposed by Imperialism and as our education and tradition was westernized, the dignity of “Mulla” and “Maulvi” vaporized. Slowly and gradually these words were transformed into something humiliating. Bearded men and illiterate people were called “Mulla” in jokes. Religious minded people in colleges, universities and offices, were ridiculed by being called “Maulvi.” The Imams of Masajid were labeled Jumerati, Shaberati, Eidi, Baqr Eidi, and the Reciters of Fatiha/ Durood and bread breakers.

People enjoying the comfort of cool air in the scorching summer, pay no regard to those who sacrifice their comfort and give Dhur Adhan with punctuality in that same circumstances!

In the same way, people give no regard to those who leave the warmth of their house only to give Fajr Adhan with punctuality in Winter!

Day or Night, Storm or Flood, Peace or War, near or far, regardless of time in every city, every ally, in every area- big or small, Masajid- constructed or not, have been kept alive through the dedication and hardship of a “Mulla” who survived on charity, got educated yet got humiliated by everyone. He left his family in a far area only to keep a Mosque alive, without the help of any organization, fund, or movement. Who else was and is there to take such responsibility?

Despite of the growing indifferent environment, foreigner’s enmity, and society’s ruthlessness, he did not under go transformation. Instead, he retained his external appearance. With his steadfastness he lit the candle of Deen and kept alive the spark of it.

Like the village of Barhampur Ganjam, where the spark of the Deen was extinguished, “Mulla” collected the ashes of Deen and preserved it against the blowing wind. It is the grace of “Mulla” that through out the cultural onslaught, at least Muslims by name were remained loosely connected to the Deen. South Asian Muslims, especially Muslims of Pakistan cannot deny this great Ihs’a’an of “Mulla” that he never relieved himself from this obligation. This has helped shape his identity and kept it intact to its origins and roots from time to time in one way or another.

—-

NOTE from Editor:

The English Translation is by me with the help of my fellow friends in this regard. It was an all day effort to translate this little Urdu piece. Any mistakes in English Tranlation is my short fall and mine to take. If you think I did some serious blunder any where please e-mail me <hamarapakistan1947@gmail.com> or leave a comment below.

We have tried to keep the spirit in Urdu alive rather than literal translation, which would have been hard to be understood.

Whatever is good is through Allah’s guidance an whatever is bad is because of my short falls.

~ akanajashi

 

Republished at Pakistan Desk

India is Planning to have a Limited War with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: India is planning to launch a limited war against Pakistan, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

The FO’s statement follows Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor’s address during a defence seminar, where he said the possibility of a limited nuclear war was “very much a reality in South Asia”. “India has long been working on the so-called ‘Cold Start’ strategy and preparing for a limited war against Pakistan. General Kapoor’s statement confirms the hegemonic thrust of India’s nuclear doctrine,” Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said. He said Kapoor’s remarks only reaffirmed India’s dangerous and offensive nuclear designs.

Basit said the international community should take notice of the remarks and India’s long-term intentions, adding that major powers had a particular responsibility in this regard, and should ask India to refrain from steps that could affect the strategic balance in South Asia.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan was fully capable of safeguarding its national sovereignty and defending its borders. He said:

“As a responsible country, we will continue promoting peace and stability in South Asia on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”

Daily Pakistan

Compensation for IIUI Victims finally

By Syed Muzammil Hussain

The International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) was hit by twin bomb blasts on October 20, 2009 due to which 7 students and one employee lost their lives while about forty students and employees were injured severely.

The Government of Pakistan after so many request from the university, students, teachers, employees, parents of students, media and civil society has now announced compensation of Rs.0.3/- Million each for deceased persons and Rs. 0.1/- Million each for injured persons. It is in addition to an amount of Rs. 01/- million which was announced earlier for the employee namely Parvaiz Masih who laid his life and saved hundreds of female students at the Cafeteria. This announcement by Mr. Rehman Malik, Minister of Interior has been widely welcomed although it is to late.

Now the Government should focus on erecting boundary walls around the IIUI and all other universities which lack this basic requirement of security.

 

Pakistan without Iqbal was nothing

RANA LATIF/KHALID MALIK

LAHORE – Speakers at a function held in connection with the 132nd birthday of Allama Muhammad Iqbal on Monday said Iqbal gave the message of hope and to rise from the present subservient status to become a self-reliant and self-respecting nation, which should be capable of leading the Muslims world with qualities of determination, self-accountability, reformation, knowledge and research.

They also called for following Iqbal as his thoughts were derived from the Holy Quran that was the final divine script for guidance of mankind.

Ex-Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad presided over the gathering, which was organised by Nazria Pakistan Trust (NPT) in collaboration with Tehrik-e-Pakistan Workers Trust at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan, while Chairman NPT Majid Nizami, PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal, Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik, Bushra Rehman MNA, Dr Rafique Ahmad, Prof Dr Akram Ikram Shah and Allama Ahmed Ali Kasuri.

Speaking at the function, Qazi Hussain urged the people to have faith in Allah and devote their lives to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).  He also listed study of Quran and jihad as the yardsticks with which the believers could overcome their individual and collective odds and rise as a determined strong nation.  He said the believers, however, discarded the true path and went into oblivion. “We have to break the shackles of America that has occupied us and must safeguard Pakistan like a mosque.”

Qazi said Pakistan without Iqbal was nothing. It was for that reason some hidden hands were conspiring to establish that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was secular and were quoting his 11th August 1948 speech to prove their notion in which he had assured the minorities of full protection, he added.

Referring to such elements, he went on to say that they forgot about equality and justice for every citizen was also guaranteed in the Constitution according to the vision great Quaid, adding that Quaid was being interpreted erroneously as dozens of other speeches had been forgotten in which Quaid had mentioned Islam and Quran being the guiding force of the polity. “Quaid wanted Pakistan as an Islamic, democratic and welfare state,” he remarked.

He also pointed to the conspiracies against the two-nation theory to keep people away from Iqbal’s thoughts. Accusing the country’s leadership of insincerity, he said the rulers wanted to alienate the citizens from the path prescribed by Iqbal and the Quaid.

The Nation

Pakistan Movement Worker’s Trust

Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust

Glimpses of IIUI “Save Pakistan Rally”

After the Suicide bombing at the International Islamic University Islamabad on Monday October 20, the University students held a mass rally “Save Pakistan.” Below are the glimpses of the Rally, received from the IIUI website.

First rally started from the boys hostel of the university and culminated at the Shariah Faculty-site of the bomb blast whereas second rally started from the female campus of the university and ended at the female Cafeteria which is the spot of the second blast.

Glimpses (Report by Raja Alamzeb of IIUI):

1. The Teachers, officers & employees of the university announced one day salary for the victims of the blasts.
2. Participants demanded government of Pakistan to pay for victims of the blasts.
3. Students lit candles and laid floral wreaths for their departed friends.
4. Strict security measures were taken by ICT and IIUI administrations.
5. IIUI President Dr. Siddiqui could not control his sentiments and wept.
6. Only Pakistan flags were carried by the participants.
7. Slogans of Pakistan and its Ideology were raised by the participants.
8. Rallies were widely covered by print and electronic media.

More Pictures of the Rally.

Rehman Malik announced to pay for IIUI Victim

The International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) has welcomed Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s announcement to pay an amount of Rs. One Million to Parvaiz Masih who laid his life in saving lives of hundreds of female students at the university Cafeteria on October 20, 2009.

A statement issued by Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui, President IIUI has appreciated Rehman Malik’s announcement in following words. “Newspapers have carried Rehman Malik’s laudable announcement that Pervaiz Masih, one of our Janitors, who sacrificed his life in stopping the suicidal bomber outside the Women’s Cafeteria, will be paid one million rupees and that his son will be provided a job in the Police. I am most grateful to you for this timely announcement. However, the deceased has left one young widow and an infant daughter as his progeny. We will find ways of helping the widow and the young daughter with the generous grant you have announced. The employees of the University and students are also doing their best to raise funds for supporting the families of the deceased and the injured girls as far as possible.”

Dr. Anwar Siddiqui added; “This is also to bring to your kind attention that one of our Security Guards Shaukat, who tried to intercept the suicide bomber first, was shot at by the miscreant in the abdomen and is seriously injured. We have recommended to the Government to award the deceased Pervaiz Masih as well as the Security Guard – Shaukat the Gallantry Award. I hope you will also announce suitable compensation to the injured Security Guard, Shaukat.”

Dr. Siddiqui also asked the government to compensate male & female students who martyred or injured. He said; “It is also brought to your kind attention that five of our female students died in the aftermath of the blast at the cafeteria and two of our male students died in the second blast at Shariah Deptt. About 35 girls were injured and hospitalized in the three nearby hospitals (PIMS, Atomic Energy Hospital and NESCOM Hospital). Two of the seriously injured girls are still admitted in PIMS Intensive Care Unit and two of the boys are admitted in the Burn Unit. Similarly two of our seriously injured girls have been shifted to Shifa International Hospital. It is, therefore, requested that the families of the 7 deceased female and male students as well as the families of 35 injured students may also be compensated by the Government as is done these days in all such cases of suicidal bombings and bomb blasts. Your kind attention and gesture in this regard will be highly appreciated by the students of the University as well as the people at large.”

Syed Muzammil Hussain