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Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on February 6th, 2014
The apartment buildings and the Aga Khan Park, just a few metres away from the Jamaat Khana in Garden East, are covered with wall-chalking, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Zindabad (above). PHOTO: ZEENIA SHAUKAT
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on February 6th, 2014
Although Kashmir issue has been internationalized, yet state terrorism by the Indian forces continue unabated on the innocent Kashmiris.
That is why, since 1990, the 5th of February is being celebrated by Pakistanis and Kashmiris as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ to pay homage to Kahsmiri martyrs and to show shared aims with the freedom fighters who are struggling against the Indian subjugation, demanding their legitimate right of self-determination as recognized by the UN resolutions. This special day also reminds the endless sacrifices of Kashmiri people against Indian state terrorism.
On partition of India in 1947, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, in connivance with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor-General Lord Mountbatten, had decided to join India, quite contrary to the wishes of the majority of Kashmiris.
When a contention arose between India and Pakistan on the dispute of Kashmir in1948, India took the issue to the United Nations Security Council and offered to hold a plebiscite in the held Kashmir under UN supervision. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India.
While, passing through various phases, during and after the partition, the struggle of Kashmiris which has become an interaction between the Indian state terrorism led by the Indian security forces and war of liberation by the freedom fighters, keeps on going unabated.
Despite the employment of various forms of state terrorism by the Indian security forces like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter, war of liberation which intensified since 1989 continues by the Kashmiri freedom fighters.
A recent report on human rights violations by Indian Army and its paramilitary forces in Indian Occupied Kashmir disclosed that since 1989, there have been deaths of 93,274 innocent Kashmiris, 6,969 custodial killings, 117,345 arrests and 105,861 destructions of houses. Indian brutal security forces have orphaned over 107, 351 children, widowed 22,728 women and gang raped 9,920 women.
Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act, security forces personnel have extraordinary powers to shoot suspected persons.”
In this respect, European Union passed a resolution on May 11, 2011 about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.
It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of Baramulla, Bandipore and Handwara. Then researchers and other groups reported about thousands of mass graves without markers. In this regard, in the last few years, rights groups discovered more than 3,000 unnamed graves in the various districts of Kashmir.
In this context, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves. The report indicated 2,156 unidentified bodies which were found in mass graves in various regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Notably, foreign sources and human rights organizations have pointed out that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.
In a report, China’s leading News Agency Xinhua has unearthed more gruesome details on world-stunning unmarked graves in Poonch of the Indian held Kashmir. The report revealed the statement of Sofi Aziz Joo, caretaker of a graveyard as saying, “Police and Army used to bring those bodies and direct me to bury them. The bodies were usually bullet-ridden, mutilated, faces disfigured and sometimes without limbs and heads.”
While, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and rights groups have pointed out that more than 10,000 people have disappeared, accusing government forces of staging fake gun battles to cover up killings. They also disclosed that suspected persons had been arrested and were murdered through arbitrary executions, and then buried in unmarked graves.
On the other side, by showing a sense of great optimism for peace of the region, Pakistan agreed with Indian old demand to strengthen the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in order to resolve the outstanding issues, especially main dispute of Kashmir.
During the visit of India’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to Pakistan on September 9, 2012, Islamabad and New Delhi also signed agreements of liberalised visa regime and a memorandum of understanding on cultural exchanges in addition to agreeing on new cross-Line of Control (LoC) Confidence Building Measures related to trade and travel. Although Pakistan was already importing vegetables from India through Wagah border, yet implementation of these new agreements has started. Besides, Islamabad also signed a number of trade agreements with New Delhi, which allowed India exports of mutltiple items across the Wagah border. It is also likely to grant India Most Favoured Nation status, which permits trade in almost everything.
But, as part of delaying tactics for the settlement of the Kashmir dispute, Indian rulers availed various crises so as to suspend the process of Pak-India talks. For example, in 2002, under the pretension of terrorist attack on the Indian parliament, New Delhi postponed the process of dialogue. Again, in 2008, India suspended the ‘composite dialogue’ under the pretext of Mumbai terror attacks which were in fact, arranged by its secret agency RAW in connivance with Indian home-grown terrorists.
India and Pakistan had resumed the new phase of talks in March, 2009 which were the first structured bilateral talks. But every time, prime ministers and foreign ministers of Pakistan and India have ended their meetings with issuance of positive notes, vowing for the solution of real issues, particularly the core dispute of Kashmir, but the same failed without producing tangible results due to Indian shrewd diplomacy.
Recently, Indian forces have repeatedly violated the LoC ceasefire agreement, and killed some soldiers of Pak Army. The purpose behind Indian double game is to give a blow even to the CBMs in order to avoid any settlement of Kashmir issue.
In fact, India is determined to keep its hold on Kashmir. It also wants to blackmail Pakistan by stopping the flow of rivers’ water towards Pakistan as major rivers of our country take origin from the occupied Kashmir. India is only fulfilling the formality through the new phase of talks as Indian rulers also want to show to the US-led western countries that they are willing to settle Kashmir dispute.
Notably, inactive approach of the so-called US-led civilized international community to this dispute has further encouraged New Delhi to continue its brutalities on the Kashmiri masses. Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds as they have decided that only bullet is the right way of dealing with them.
However, despite the employment of various patterns of military terrorism in the Indian occupied Kashmir, the war of liberation by the Kashmiri people will continue untill they get their legitimate right of self-determination. If New Delhi could not suppress the movement in the past, it could also not do so in present and future.
Nonetheless, Pakistan will continue moral, diplomatic and political support of Kashmiri brethren. Hence, 5th of February is being celebrated as the ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ by Kashmiris, living both sides of the Line of Control. Besides, Pakistanis and Kashmiris across the world express solidarity with the freedom fighters of Kashmiris as a protest against Indian illegal occupation of Kashmir. It is due to the joint efforts of Kashmiri leaders and the Pakistan’s subsequent regimes that the Kashmir issue remains alive in wake of Indian delaying tactics.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power
Email: [email protected]
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on February 6th, 2014
The key Islamic heritage site, including Prophet Mohammed’s shrine, is to
be bulldozed, as Saudi Arabia plans a $ 6 billion expansion of Medina’s
holy Masjid an-Nabawi Mosque. However, Muslims remain silent on the
possible destruction.
Work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, is planned to start as soon as the
annual Hajj pilgrimage comes to a close at the end of November.
*After the Hajj this year, in one month’s time, the bulldozers will move in
and will start to demolish the last part of Mecca, the grand mosque which
is at least 1,000 years old, Dr. Irfan Alawi of the Islamic Heritage
Research Foundation, told RT. *
After the reconstruction, the mosque is expected to become the world’s
largest building, with a capacity for 1.6 million people.
And while the need to expand does exist as more pilgrims are flocking to
holy sites every year, nothing has been said on how the project will affect
the surroundings of the mosque, also historic sites.
Concerns are growing that the expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi will come at
the price of three of the world’s oldest mosques nearby, which hold the
tombs of Prophet Mohammed and two of his closest companions, Abu Bakr and
Umar. The expansion project which will cost 25 billion SAR (more than US $6
billion) reportedly requires razing holy sites, as old as the seventh
century.
The Saudis insist that colossal expansion of both Mecca and Medina is
essential to make a way for the growing numbers of pilgrims. Both Mecca and
Medina host 12 million visiting pilgrims each year and this number is
expected to increase to 17 million by 2025.
Authorities and hotel developers are working hard to keep pace, however,
the expansions have cost the oldest cities their historical surroundings as
sky scrapers, luxury hotels and shopping malls are being erected amongst
Islamic heritage.
A room in a hotel or apartment in a historic area may cost up to $ 500 per
night. And that is all in or near Mecca, a place where the Prophet Mohammed
insisted all Muslims would be equal.
*They just want to make a lot of money from the super-rich elite pilgrims,
but for the poor pilgrims it is getting very expensive and they cannot
afford it, Dr. Irfan Al Alawi said. *
Jabal Omar complex a 40 tower ensemble is being depicted as a new pearl
of Mecca. When complete, it will consist of six five star hotels, seven 39
storey residential towers offering 520 restaurants, 4, 360 commercial and
retail shops.
But to build this tourist attraction the Saudi authorities destroyed the
Ottoman era Ajyad Fortress and the hill it stood on.
The Washington-based Gulf Institute estimated that 95 percent of sacred
sites and shrines in the two cities have been destroyed in the past twenty
years.
The Prophet’s birthplace was turned into a library and the house of his
first wife, Khadijah, was replaced with a public toilet block.
Also the expansion and development might threaten many locals homes, but so
far most Muslims have remained silent on the issue.
*Mecca is a holy sanctuary as stated in the Quran it is no ordinary city.
The Muslims remain silent against the Saudi Wahhabi destruction because
they fear they will not be allowed to visit the Kindom again, said Dr. Al
Alawi. *
The fact that there is no reaction on possible destruction has raised talks
about hypocrisy because Muslims are turning a blind eye to that their faith
people are going to ruin sacred sites.
*Some of the Sunni channels based in the United Kingdom are influenced by
Saudi petro dollars and dare not to speak against the destruction, but yet
are one of the first to condemn the movie made by non Muslims, Dr. Al Alawi
said. *
abdg
http://worldobserveronline.
*“Some of the Sunni channels based in the United Kingdom are *
*influenced by Saudi petro dollars and *
*dare not to speak against the destruction, *
*but yet are one of the first to condemn the movie *
*made by non Muslims,”* Dr. Al Alawi said.
Saudi Arabia to raze Prophet
Mohammed’s(SAWW)<http://
tomb to build larger
mosque<http://worldobserveronl
JANUARY 13, 2014
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on February 6th, 2014
War with the Ruthless Enemy
By Sajjad Shaukat
While describing war between two sovereign states, Clausewitz concedes that commerce and diplomacy are much like war. According to him, “War is a clash between major interests which are resolved by bloodshed—that is the only way in which it differs from other conflicts.” Despite it, the two warring parties follow the rules of the game and Geneva Conventions, and observe ceasefire, ultimately settle their dispute through agreement.
Although war against terrorism is quite different, as it is against an invisible and the ruthless enemy which does not respect any rule, yet we can remember Shakespeare’s poetic expression which described war as ‘sons of hell’ is even applicable today, as violent acts of destruction, fire and obliterating devastation engulf the entire span of living and social order, especially regions falling under world conflict zones including Pakistan.
It will not be incorrect to assert that the menace of terrorism in Pakistan has spread like a civic morbidity analogous to contagious disease such as Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) which is extremely feeble and elusively fragile to withstand environmental exposures. HCV moves through concealed routes of blood and secreted material to reach the sensitive organs like liver and brain with a view to ensuring its survival, and consolidate its position to destroy the entire building blocks of human body.
Since terrorism is illegal and unconstitutional, therefore, it tends to enlarge its size through illegitimate means, using covert tactics and clandestine undercurrents. In this regard, during the last ten years, Pakistan which has become special arena of this new style war has been facing terror-activities such as suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings, ruthless beheadings of the innocent people, assaults on security personnel and prominent religious figures. Besides blowing children schools and attacking the female teachers in order to deny education to girls, the militants also targeted mosques, Imambargahs, mausoleums, and disgraced dead bodies. Their pitiless acts resulted into killings of several persons in Pakistan.
Besides other cities of Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi, these terrorists have accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices where their merciless activities continue unabated.
However, their coldblooded actions could be judged from a recent video which was uploaded by Rasool Jan who had joined the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2008, and left the TTP after having seen the acts of barbarism by the thugs. They had decapitated their victims and played soccer with the heads chopped by the TTP Commander of Matini named Jangraiz Khan. This shows insurgents’ disrespect of human life and their lack of knowledge about Islam.
Undoubtedly, in our country, the victims of terror attacks and suicide bombings have been innocent men, women and children. Their families mourn and raise a question asking for what crime their loved ones were punished in a way—that the scattered pieces of their dead bodies were assimilated to bury. Regrettably, those entities which try to justify terrorism and suicide bombings in the name of Islam are misguiding the people, while these brutal acts are clearly against the teachings of Islam.
In this context, during a lecture in Riyadh in December 2013, Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh branded suicide bombers as “criminals” who would go to “hell.” He described suicide bombers as “robbed of their minds…who have been used (as tools) to destroy themselves and societies.” In February 2010, Sheikh denounced terrorism as un-Islamic and condemned the killing of civilians, saying such attacks have nothing to do with the Muslim religion.
It is notable that anti-Pakistan foreign powers support these terrorists through ideological direction, lethal weapons, sophisticated equipments, training in militancy and financial sustenance including availability and management of space within local population—making the insurgents to sell their fractured philosophy and criminal designs. In fact, it would not be out of place to argue that the terrorists without the assistance of local sympathisers become “fish out of water” and their misguided thoughts, leading to heinous acts of violence also die a natural death.
It is mentionable that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his sermon at Hajjatul Wida issued directions for protection of life, property and dignity of the whole mankind. Quite contrarily, these miscreants who have been carrying out ferocious attacks on innocent persons, civil and military installations including personnel of the security forces and law-enforcing agencies, also take pride in claiming the responsibility for the same.
Nevertheless, Islam considers killing one innocent person equal to murdering the entire humanity, while Jihad is a sacred obligation, but its real spirit needs to be understood clearly, as murdering innocent women and children is not Jihad. These Taliban and their banned affiliated groups are defaming Islam and are weakening Pakistan.
Recent upsurge in terrorist activities in different parts of the country have brought a sad sense of remorse, psychological pain and deep feelings of distress for the entire Pakistani nation. No doubt, the terrorists have proved themselves as the ‘real sons of hell’ having no sympathy for old or young, men or women, adults or children and guilty or innocent. They simply sell the flames of hell and earn nothing, but curses of society. They are actually filthy eggs and spoiled people, suffering from juvenile delinquency, psychological disorder of dispossession and confused identity problems.
In order to resolve the menace of terrorism, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on January 29, this year announced the constitution of 4-member committee comprising impartial personalities to open negotiations with the warring Taliban. The committee has started contacts with all the militant groups, particularly TTP which has also welcomed government’s offer of peace dialogue. But at the same time, while referring to the recent terrorist attacks in Bannu, Peshawar, Hangu, assaults on anti-polio workers, media, minorities and religious scholars, prime minister also stated, “All state institutions will stand behind the government, if it decides to use force against terrorists.” He also clarified that talks and terrorism cannot go together, and asked the militants to observe a ceasefire.
Quite contrarily, TTP-led militants continued their subversive activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Karachi, while in Balochistan, the Taliban have connections with other insurgents’ outfits like Balachistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Jundollah (God’s soldiers), which are also involved in similar activities of terrorism.
In fact, since the present government came into power, it has been wavering between fact and scepticism by following the policy of appeasement towards all the militant groups, especially TTP which has not ended its terror-activities.
Since the terrorists reject valid logic to respect the constitution and remain loyal to their own state within the state and want to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis, therefore, they should be dealt with an iron hand. Instead of appeasing these militants, the government must employ a comprehensive and an all-encompassing strategy to eliminate the threat posed by terrorism. In this respect, counter-terrorism strategy must be enacted and implemented without losing more time. And the entire society must support the rulers in their efforts to fight the menace of terrorism, while the Judiciary must punish these criminals, and the government must ensure quick execution of death penalties awarded by the courts.
Especially, our media must not provide any space to the terrorists, as some media channels are proactively making pleas that terrorists have already started targeting media for not projecting their stance. Such pleas are unjust, as media is part of the Pakistani state where terrorism is to be countered. For the purpose, our media anchors must run an anti-terrorism campaign by condemning all acts of terrorism, and show realistic approach by pointing out that it is collective war of everyone.
And Pakistan’s religious clerics and scholars must come forward to denounce subversive acts, and participate actively in countering the menace of terrorism. Different factions must hold collective conferences on faith related issues and society be organized to fight these criminal elements.
Hence, instead of pursuing contradictory policy of dialogue and military action, the government needs to act upon a timely action against these insurgents, as any delay in this context will further embolden these merciless terrorists who continue their terror-attacks.
Nonetheless, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s media, politicians and leaders of religious parties including security forces must show practical unity against these zealots who seek to create anarchy in the country to accomplish their self-motivated agenda. So, this war needs a concrete unified front of all the segments of society, which is essential to defeat the ruthless enemy of Pakistan.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Email: [email protected]
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on February 5th, 2014
By Iram Salim
Islamabad, Feb 3 (Pak Destiny) Hamza Shahbaz Sharf is using the plane of property tycoon Malik Riaz these days.
Using Riaz’s plane shows that Hamza and company had no issue with the property giant as reported in the media.
The Sharif family that gave impression that it had severed relations with Malik Riaz was an ‘eye-wash’.
Sources told Pak Destiny that Riaz offered his aircraft to Hamza after his father, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, stopped him from using his plane after Sheikhupura episode.
Hamza had used the chief minister’s plane for his Sasta bazaar visit to Sheikhupura that earned him a lot of criticism.
Maliik Riaz had earlier given Rs500 million to Hamza for his poultry business. “Riaz has again showed that money has great power and everybody here has a price.” — Pak Destiny
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