[muslim-journalist] Musharraf Ready to Jump into the Political Arena
Upright Opinion Musharraf Ready to Jump into the Political Arena By Saeed Qureshi August 11, 2010 There is a new political party ready to jump into the tumultuous political arena of Pakistan. It is nomenclatured “All Pakistan Muslim League” and is to be led by Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf, now residing in London for a break. Dubai is the venue where off and on, he meets his supporters and fans who believe sincerely or wistfully that he is the one in the prevailing chaotic circumstances to act as a redeemer and a kind of reborn Messiah for the distressed people of Pakistan. Aside, his heftily paid lectures that he delivers in various cities of the United States, and elsewhere, he is vigorously busy in finalizing the manifesto of his upcoming party that he intends to launch in the near future. In Dallas city of United States, he will launch his party’s chapter on October 15. The members from Quaid-e- Azam Muslim League party that he headed while he was the president, meet him in Dubai and in London for consultations and to show solidarity with him. In Dallas, a group named “Friends of Pakistan-First” is frantically busy in finalizing arrangements in anticipation of Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Dallas. Already there is some kind of hectic canvassing going in the leading cities of America for raising membership and building sizeable support for former president’s party. Recently his close, diehard companion and confidant Dr. Nasim Ashraf chaired a meeting in Dallas to formally kick off the anticipatory interaction with Musharraf’s supporters and sympathizers. He seemed to be quite jubilant with his deliberations in this one of the leading metropolises of the United States. A close source of the erstwhile president of Pakistan revealed that the party would be launched after the month of Ramadan perhaps with headquarters in London. He would be yet another Pakistani political leader besides MQM’s Altaf Hussain to steer his party from London. However, the difference between Altaf Hussain and Musharraf is that while the former has no plans to return to Pakistan so soon, the latter is throwing hints to be in Pakistan sometime next year. According to reliable sources although Pervez Musharraf was eager to shuttle between London and Pakistan, yet he cannot venture going right now because of the formidable challenges and grave risks exposed to him. There is a lurking danger to his life from religious radical militants and from the Baluch avengers of Akbar Bugti’s assassination ascribed to Pervez Musharraf. Additionally he might be trapped into a maze of legal proceedings on issues such as storming of the Islamabad’s so-called Red Mosque in which scores of the resident female students were killed in the army action. He might be tried for suspending constitution and imposing emergency in November 2007. As such, he has a plethora of threats to his life during his stay in Pakistan. Nevertheless, Dr Nasim Ashraf told Musharraf’s adherents in Dallas that his boss was firmly resolved to stage a comeback in Pakistan notwithstanding the impending pitfalls in his way and the possible dangers to his life and political career. He is determined to fight out the cases against him on moral and legal turfs and establish that whatever decisions he took as head of the state were in right earnest and in the best interests of Pakistan. One such decision of far reaching import was to align Pakistan with America to wage war on the religious fanatics and the anti-American insurgents. In addition, he will have to justify for handing over high value suspects both Pakistanis and non -Pakistanis belonging to Al-Qaida to the United States for bounty money. In case he lands in Pakistan the ruling PPP may still have some soft corner for him. However, Musharraf’s arch antagonist Nawaz Sharif and his party may not allow him having a smooth sailing in the turbulent waters of Pakistan. While there is a possibility that PPP may finally desire a coalition with APML (Musharraf) the Nawaz group may institute and pursue legal battle with him. As such, the advent of Musharraf into Pakistani politics may not be as smooth as he and his party cadres might be expecting. Even Pervez Musharraf may himself be direly aware of the foreseen and unforeseen obstacles he may be facing, because politics is always unpredictable and a thorny course to embark upon. Had Musharraf been exiled or ousted because of a revolutionary movement, a la Imam Khomeini, he would have simply come and ridden over the crest of a popular wave. But he faces an entirely reverse situation and it might take him quite some time before he can feel secure to pursue his political ambitions. No doubt in comparison a segment of population prefers Musharraf era over the ongoing democratic set up, as in the present times, the problems of people have not only compounded but the government has proven itself
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion:India and Pakistan can never be Good Friends
July 27, 2010 India and Pakistan can never be Good Friends By Saeed Qureshi Mark my words Pakistan and India can never be good friends. Their coexistence as peaceful neighbours will remain doomed as long as either Pakistan is further dismembered or India is fragmented into many states like the Soviet Union way back in 1989. India and Pakistan will never be able to sort out their mutual disputes and hammer out their amicable resolution. There is no precedent in the past that they finally found a mutually acceptable solution or agreement: be it the demarcation of borders, the apportionment of water from rivers flowing down into Pakistan or the paramount Kashmir issue. There is no record of accomplishments for the two neighbours liberated from the British colonial yoke in 1947 of sitting down and coming up with a recipe of veritable peace and friendship. India will not give up her hold on Kashmir, nor will Pakistan or Kashmiri nation relinquish or forego their claim about holding a pledged plebiscite to elicit the local population’s opinion as to which country they would prefer to join. Indian deems Kashmir as an integral part of Indian federation while Pakistan’s standpoint is that Kashmir is a disputed territory whose final status has yet to be determined by the people of Kashmir though a referendum. The three wars, in 1948, 1965, and 1971 followed by brief skirmishes in Kargil in July 1999 have failed to bring about change of hearts on both the sides. The fact is that primarily it is Pakistan that would be the major beneficiary of the illusive settlement of the outstanding issues between India and Pakistan. For that matter, India would not let Pakistan off the hook lest it can move forward on a course of stability, progress, and prosperity. India’s military intervention in Bangladesh in 1971 led to the dismemberment of Pakistan and a humiliating defeat for the Pakistan’s armed forces. The Simla Agreement signed in 1972 between India and Pakistan, binds both the countries to settle all contentious issues via parleys to be conducted in the framework of the UN Charter. Now building of 22 barrages by India on rivers emanating from Kashmir apart from being a violation of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, would give a complete control to India to stop or release water to Pakistan, which is a lower riparian. India agreed to sign Indus Basin Treaty because it deprived Pakistan of three rivers. Otherwise, she would have never agreed if such a treaty had impinged upon her interests. There can never be a consensus agreement on water distribution and a workable arrangement for water share to Pakistan because India would never do anything that would even marginally benefit Pakistan. Indus Basin Treaty or no treaty, Pakistan agricultural sector would always remain at the mercy of India for release of water as and when she would want it to do preferring first her own priorities and needs. Besides, Pakistan has remained under an unrelenting diplomatic, military, economic, and psychological pressure from India since the inception of both the states in 1947. India would come to terms on such issues that benefit India economically and turn Pakistan into a market for disposal of her products both industrial and agricultural. Both the countries have not been able to smoothen and ease flow of cross border travel because of stringent visa rules that bar the travelers from either country to go beyond the cities specified in the passport. The intelligence operatives chase and keep a strict watch on the visitors until they depart. There have been instances when a visitor was apprehended on mere suspicion and was kept in India jails to languish for years. So the talk of CBMS is mere ploy to obfuscate the real issues. Both countries have varying and different interpretation for CMBS. For Pakistan, primarily it is the easy movement of citizens of both the states without much of harassment and strict conditions. For India, it is to allow India to export her goods to Pakistani without any let or hindrance. While Pakistan has ever remained ready to talk on substantive issues India’s priorities and prerogatives have been focused on pushing them to back burners or keeping in a state of limbo. Pakistan and India can never be good friends and neighbors because there is no good will or an earnest desire that comes from heart to resolve the contentious issues bedeviling their relationship for over six decades. At people’s level, the deep-seated animus can be witnessed when a match is being played or a situation of tension like the attack on a Bombay hotel arises between the two countries. The Hindu extremists have been demonstrating the anti-muslim vendetta by lynching and burning the Muslims and their houses in ethnic and communal clashes. The hate and the animosity have a history of a thousand years between the Muslims and Hindus. Hindus think that Muslims were primarily aliens
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Towards Peace in Afghanistan
June 29, 2010 Towards Peace in Afghanistan By Saeed Qureshi The kind of skepticism expressed by both president Obama and CIA director Leon E. Panetta about the prospects for an Afghanistan peace deal pushed by Pakistan between the Afghan government and some Taliban militants is a natural outcome towards an unpredictable situation that remains fluid and subject to unforeseen changes. President Obama expressed his views after the Group of 20 meeting in Toronto while Mr. Panetta articulated his point of view on ABC’s “This Week.” Show. The skepticism of both the president of United States and CIA director stems from their main concern that the “The fundamental purpose, of disrupting and dismantling Al Qaeda and their militant allies may not be hampered by inclusion of Taliban into a power sharing arrangement with the government in Afghanistan.” If viewed and analyzed logically, the mission launched by Pakistan government is well- intentioned and can be carried out in three phases. The first phase is to make the Taliban agree on joining the government in Kabul. This step should not be difficult to achieve, because even the Taliban should be wanting to end the deadly war raging in Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan’s territory for a decade now. Pakistan with the support of friendly Taliban can even prevail upon Sirajuddin Haqqani faction, the so known supporters of Al-Qaida, to agree to join the peace efforts and to become part of the power sharing in Kabul. This phase might be more bumpy but with the will and consent of Karzai government and with the support and backing of Pakistan, the desired pacification can be brought about. If these stages are achieved, this should be construed as a stupendous victory for America, because as a result of that rapprochement, the fighting can recede and one can look forward to the next step, which is to hunt down the Al-Qaida militants so that Afghanistan and Pakistan is cleared of their existence and calamitous operations. It would be naive to pre-suppose that Sirjuddin Haqqani group would not agree to the complete annihilation of the terrorist band that was primarily responsible for the deadly attacks within America and prompting the NATO and US troops to come all the way to Afghanistan in their pursuit. If Taliban, ten years ago, had handed over the Al-Qaida leaders to the United States, the horrendous decade long war could have been avoided. I find it extremely difficult to agree with some Islamic revolutionary ideologues that al-Qaida was fighting for Islam. They could have fought for Islam through media, preaching, peaceful and non-violent means. With their stubborn insurgency Afghanistan and the whole region has bathed in blood and horrifying devastation. America under no circumstances would budge from its mission of disbanding the Al-Qaida network and break their militancy for all time to come. After all al-Qaida does not represent the Islamic world in matters of Islamic ideology or the faith. There are countless diverse schools of faith in Islam and most of these may not look eye to eye with Al-Qaida’s perception or philosophy of Islam. If al-Qaida was so much in defense of Islam then why it fought in support of the Christian armies against the Soviets who were as heathen and anti Islam as the Christian world is. It means that their love, outlook, or perspective of Islam is not in harmony or in conformity with the other shades and genres of Islam. If Sirajuddin Haqqani outfit lifts its hands off al-Qaida, then it should not be difficult for the United States to approve the formation of such a coalition administration in Afghanistan in which not only the warring factions including Haqqani faction could join, but which the Pakistan and Afghanistan governments would also safeguard and promote. If this arrangement fructifies then the United States would be able to achieve peace at its bidding, which it had not been able to obtain through a decade long war at huge monetary and human cost. This set up would definitively isolate al-Qaida, which would not be able to maintain its physical presence in Afghanistan and continue its heinous activities all by itself. Therefore, the central idea is to snatch the sanctuaries that are now available to al-Qaida in the form of Sirajuddin Haqqani and some Taliban factions. As such, the efforts being mounted by Pakistan should be appreciated and encouraged. The indications are that Karzai and Pakistan governments are nearing a tacit understanding on this crucial way-out which essentially serves America better than the NATO coalition partner do. For the United States, this would spell a diplomatic triumph, which would be more durable, and far reaching than the elusive military victory. Once an American friendly government with the participation of Taliban of various brands, both from Pakistan and Afghansintan come into being, the task of the United States
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Gen. Stanley McChrystal Episode
June 24, 2010 Gen. Stanley McChrystal Episode By Saeed Qureshi It is perhaps the second army general in the United States army after Douglas MacArthur that has been forced out of command for a conduct that is considered inconsistent with the laid down mandate of an army general fighting in the battlefield. The comment made by Gen McChrystal and his staff in an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine’s free lance journalist Michael Hastings, howsoever inflammatory could have been condoned, if these were or not directed at certain powerful decision makers in the administration. But perhaps still these could be swallowed if these did not carry the sting of ridicule and derision for the president, Vice President Joe Biden, National Security Advisor James L. Jones, US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry, and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke. Military Generals and senior officers usually tend to be carefree in social environment but are tough when in combat positions. Perhaps Gen McChrystal did not realize that his so called off the hook unguarded remarks would spell disaster for him unceremoniously bringing an end to a meritorious career with 7 years of fighting in Iraq and Afghan wars. One has to pay for the lashing of tongue when you do not have to do it. But it reinforces the point that no matter how aggressive or chauvinistic or unbridled a general is he is till subservient to the orders from the civilian government as enshrined in the American constitution that army was under the civilian government and could not step out of the orbit it has been assigned to operate within. General McChrystal was perhaps under the impression that in matters relating to the field command he could accuse the high ups in the government for not listening to his calls or suggestions that he has been making to change the paradigm of fighting in Afghanistan. So when he found a chance to vent his pent up rage he came out straight without sensing that even if he has been ignored in regards his proposals and requests still he was not supposed to cross the lines set for him. Gen. McChrystal has been replaced by Gen. David Petraeus, a sober and enlightened army commander who has done some marvelous job in Iraq by bringing peace and stabilizing the democratic set up that was so essential for the withdrawal of the American forces. Hopefully, Gen. Petraeus would be able to repeat his performance in Afghanistan also. His performance would be contingent upon the paucity of time because the drawdown of American and NATO troops would begin by July 2011. So he has a time frame of exactly a year to broker peace and begin process of reconciliation in addition to scoring some kind of military face saving victory over the militants in Afghanistan. But if the war intensifies in Afghanistan and NATO and American troops are poised for longer stay then Gen Petraeus job would be tedious and elongated. But with the extension of fighting indefinitely, Gen might get some more time to attend to the much-needed reconstruction of Afghanistan, an option that could pacify the people of Afghanistan as it did the people of Iraq whose majority want the America forces to remain in Iraq. American troops have been successful in maintaining peace between the rival ethnic and religious factions. Indeed, a commendable achievement has given some modicum of credence and credibility and a semblance of justification for almost a decade long stay of American troops in Iraq. For comments or to unsubscribe write us at qureshisa2...@yahoo.com Saeed Qureshi Website:: http://www.uprightopinion.com
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Look at Israel!
May 30, 2010 Look at Israel! By Saeed Qureshi Egypt an Islamic country is one with Israel in coercing the segment of palsetinians living in miserable conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas. In three years of the blockade( since June 2007) that bars such essential commodities as cement and even medicines, the resident living in the besieged Palestinian territory are cut off from the rest of the world and are forced to be confined to the harrowing life of a concentration camp. Israel allows only limited humanitarian supplies from aid organizations into the Gaza Strip that is equal to one quarter of the pre-blockade volume. The blockade has been decried by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations Human Rights Council and many human rights organizations Now moved by the pathetic and most pitiable conditions of the Gaza residents, some organizations from Europe and Turkey, out of sheer humanitarian spirit, wanted to deliver the much-needed necessities of life to the besieged inhabitants on six ships that carried no weapons as before their departure these were thoroughly examined by the Turkish authorities. If the Flotilla had reached the port, it would have given a saving grace to Israel by allowing the vital humanitarian aid to the worst afflicted people of Gaza. It could have given Israel a humanitarian and benign image and might have led to further easing of the tight and suffocating restrictions imposed by mighty Israel on Gaza residents. It could as well have diluted the bitterness now existing between Israel and Hamas. However, even these modest and harmless relief efforts were stubbornly resisted by Israel and a military action was ordered to capture the flotilla by swooping down on them by airstrikes. The Israeli navy also took part in this excessive use of force. Israel is in the habit of taking every move aimed at making peace in the volatile region or easing the life of the helpless Palestinians as a challenge to its sovereignty or territorial integrity. It is an over-reaction and a paranoid propensity to use force even on occasions where mere negotiations would be enough. The attack on peaceful flotilla has further tarnished the already besmirched image of a brutal and bully Israel that talks of holocaust but has created and imposed another holocaust on the helpless and economically crippled people of Palestine who have enormously suffered in all manners ever since the creation of Israeli state. They have been forced all these years to live like animals and survive at the misery of a power-drunk Israel aide, abetted by a super power: the United States of America. In the frenzied hate for the Muslims which is not rational nor prudent, most of the Christian world blindly supports Israel that has acted and operated more like untamed bandit and uncontrollable rogue in that sensitive region of the world. The Christian world takes leave of it sense of justice and fair play and humanitarian zeal when the Muslims are bludgeoned by a reckless and unbridled Israel. The Palestinian state has been promised by the United Nations side by side with a Jewish state. Then why one state exists, while the rightful claimants of other are being subjected to barbarities that continue unabated. Why doesn’t, the Western civilized world and particularly United States and United Kingdom honor the United Nations resolution number 181 of November 1947 recommending partition of the territory into two states, one Jewish and one Arab? Why have they equipped Israel to the teeth with lethal and atomic weapons while the civilian Palestinians population is made to suffer for over six decades now for no fault? The legitimate demand and right of an independent state by Palestinian nation has invariably been met with brutal massacres as was done by both Israeli army and the Christian Lebanese Forces militia group in Sabira and Shatilla refugee camps in September 1982. Thereafter, Israel with impunity and on her bidding, has been killing Palestinians, raiding their areas with more massacres, and inflicting more miseries on the Palestinian nation. One shudders to see that several millions Palestinians, a part of human race, is languishing in concentration camps and denied even barest necessities of life and given rationed food. They are forced to live within a bounded territory with no chance of rebuilding their shanty houses destroyed frequently by Israeli bombing. The flotilla’s horrendous episode must awaken the slumbering conscious of the world at large and give rude jolt to those nations that have been unconditionally and unjustifiably supporting Israel’s barbaric and savage treatment of the Palestinian nation that has a moral and legal right to an independent piece of land. The world community must act fast to bridle and restrain a merciless Israel that knows no bounds when it comes to butchering and brutalizing innocent Palestinians
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Why to Blame Pakistan?
May 10, 2010 Why to blame Pakistan? By Saeed Qureshi In the wake of failed terrorism attempt by a naturalized American citizen with Pakistani origin, the entire American electronic and print media is up in arms against Pakistan. A case is seemingly being made against Pakistan as if it was the nation or state of Pakistan that was behind this most condemnable attack. In the heat of their pent up partisan discussions and slanted debates and misleading talk shows, effort is being made to tarnish and target Pakistan forgetting that the young man who committed this vicious crime was legally an American citizen. It is also being conveniently ignored that the person who saved the havoc that may have been wrought was a Muslim from Senegal who tipped the authorities about the parking of an abandoned car. In the wake of the free for all and bereft of a rational approach and mature view of this diabolic act of terrorism, the American media along with the anti Muslim elements overlooked the yawning and incontrovertible fact that Pakistan is also under attack from Taliban who should not be categorized as Pakistani or Afghan Taliban. Taliban on both sides of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan have their own identity and way of life. Even if there is Punjabi Taliban they are outlaws and fighting against Pakistan also. The world at large and particularly the well-informed American and Western media must be knowing that Pakistan’s armed forces, after heavy fighting and countless casualties of its soldiers drove the tenacious Taliban militants out of Swat and South Waziristan. It is still fighting against the Taliban and Al-Qaida and other brands of militants in the tribal areas and gradually weakening their power and flushing them out of the remaining areas. It is such an epic struggle and brilliant performance with sterling achievements that should be thumping and generously applauded by the Western press. Regrettably, it is not being explained that Pakistan and United States were both waging an historic fight against these fanatical militants who are enemies of both Pakistan and America. The imperative of honesty should also impel the myopic critics to not mention Pakistan with a disdain or malicious undertones as if the whole Pakistani nation was conspiring and training these barbarian enemies of civilization. The Taliban’s version of Islam out-rightly militates against the faith of the 99 percent people of other Muslim faithful who are peaceful and who abhor terrorism as much as the Americans do. It is stunning that why Pakistan’s glowing sacrifices and phenomenal military onslaught against a common enemy Talban do not find any mention in the Western media discussions, opinion columns and editorials. A lone, stupid, insane individual’s sabotage attempt is being labeled and attributed to Pakistan with complete yet vicarious disregard to Pakistan’s monumental role in curbing and quashing the terrorism. The rationality and objectivity has taken leave of the best of media brains and the so known and recognized free press of the United States. How can one accept the partisan roll coaster propaganda against a country and nullify the meritorious accomplishments of an ally becuase one single man from the blue has acted in an inimical way. The American press in a fair and honest manner should have isolated the sinister attempt of Faisal from Pakistan and given credit to Pakistan for rendering supreme sacrifices in fighting against the Taliban and the people of the Ilk of Faisal. In this regard the warning issued by New York Mayor Bloomberg that ethnic back-lash against Pakistani living in new York would not be allowed is so timely and welcome. In his May 4 press statement he cautioned, “I want to make clear that we will not tolerate any bias or backlash against Pakistani or Muslim New Yorkers. All of us live in this City and among any group there are always a few bad apples…” The American media should take a cue from Mayor Bloomberg and exercise caution and restraint instead of blowing up a blame game that is patently wrong morally and can trigger serious trouble for the American citizens or residents with a Pakistani background. The result is that the community that hails from Pakistan has come under an enormous strain and burgeoning pressure and suffers from a paranoid of retaliation against them by individuals or groups who may jump to a vendetta. This is an overwhelmingly alarming situation that has to be preempted by sober pronouncements and stern assurances by the federal and state administration against the hate or reprisal attempts by unscrupulous elements after listening to the anti Pakistan venomous and slanderous propaganda or unguarded media zeal. The Us administration should not waste time in exonerating Pakistan from the sole action of a US citizen instead of identifiying and labeling him as a Pakistan Taliban that gives mistaken
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Where is the Leader?
May 7, 2010 Where is the Leader? By Saeed Qureshi I am not a prophet of doom but I deserve a right to be despondent about the murky situation in Pakistan. Honestly, I don’t visualize a plausible picture of Pakistan. With a rogue law minister, would any one entertain the slightest perception that law would be allowed to take its course? The verdicts of the apex courts have been wantonly and obdurately thrown into lurch by the incumbent government with the law minister in the lead for such an abominable mission. “Upon my dead body” is his battle cry to the demand for producing the records pertaining to the Swiss courts. Is he trying to shield the president, the principle actor in the entire episode? Should it be construed as a service or a slap on the former’s face? Doesn’t it provide an implicit proof of the gubernatorial crimes now being swept under the rug? With a corrupt and morally bankrupt coterie at the helm, the country has diminishing chances to come out of the dark woods it is groping in. The state’s Attorney General resigns followed by the law Secretary. Something terribly stinks in the ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs. The president gives immunity to both the Interior minister Rehman Malik and the Law minister Babar Awan not to be interrogated about Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. The probe committee is lameduck and cannot mow a blade of grass and is said to be covertly in league with the law Minister who is assuming the stature of a monster not to be trifled with. He asserts that the Swiss cases are closed and not to be reopened. That assertion flies in the face of even a modicum of moral decency, besides contravention of the constitutionally binding orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. So here is a sordid stalemate that would erode whatever legal or judicial decorum is left. The monsters of corruption mostly the people in power and specifically the legion of ministers are devouring money and shooting left and right under the sun and in full view of the harried and powerless people of Pakistan to amass as much as wealth by robbing the state funds, misappropriating the discretionary monetary allocations, throwing fabulous contracts to the friends or the highest bidders without blinking their greed filled eyes. At the end of this never ending sleazy game they still remain as holy cows. No one can check their unbridled lust and misuse of powers for making a mockery of the law and infringing the basic norm of modesty which to say the least is bizarre and abominable. There is an opposition, having some kind of tacit or covert understanding with the cutthroat cabal in power. There is a civil society crying in the wilderness for blatant violations of such sublime norms and values as the fundamental rights, kidnapping of the citizens by the secret agents under the fake suspicions of being saboteursSome have disappeared for years: no clue, no rescue and no explanation where they are. The target killings sprees between the rival groups or for personal vendettas or by the state intelligence agencies is taking place with immunity and with no chance of being checked or restrained. There is an insurgency fast picking up in Baluchistan for an independent greater Balochistan. There is a war going on in the tribal belt of Pakistan entailing countess casualties of the armed forces. Whose war is this by the way? The watershed 7th NFC (National Finance Commission) award and the landmark 18th amendment have been rendered ineffectual and meaningless in face of the Baluchistan separation movement. There might be external forces stoking this fire and there might be an indigenous movement and volatile sentiment for separation. But why is there no breakthrough and some respite in the ferment of the parochial sentiment, getting out of control by the day? Lately, it has assumed frightening dimensions by way of target killings of non- Balochis. Does this appalling scenario is a replay, though of lesser intensity, of what happened in the erstwhile East Pakistan some four decades ago? The contracts for import or export and for domestic or foreign sale or procurement for sugar, flour, cotton, fertilizers, steel, rice, gas, petroleum and all such essential products that are vial for the country and the industry carry a commission tag or kickbacks. This time it is not confined to paltry 10 per cent. For those in power to issue permits in complicity with the hoarders, the black-marketers, and the smugglers, have no bar on how much they are capable of making from the underhand deals. There is no fear of chastisement for treasonous violations or disdainful disregard for the courts’ orders or the farcical accountability. Double speak is the order of the day and the ministers seem to have excelled in that ignoble skill. The predominant lot of Pakistani leaders both in power and out of power is adept in self preservation, aggrandisement
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Attack on Iran
April 29, 2010 Attack on Iran By Saeed Qureshi I would venture a bet that American attack on Iran is entirely improbable. The United States would not take this extremely risky undertaking, fraught with horrendous ramifications. The cardinal question is what for? Is it to keep her Middle East ally in good humor or to teach Iran a dire lesson for not winding up her nuclear program? Israel destroyed Iraq nuclear reactor at Osirak way back in 1981 by massive air strikes. Later Israel did the same thing by razing a budding Syrian nuclear project in late 2007. There was no retaliation from these two Arab countries. Ever since Ahmadinejad has been the president of Iran, there are unremitting rumor mongering that, a la Iraq and Syria, Israel would launch punitive air attack on Iran to destroy her nuclear sites. But somehow, thus far, it has desisted from this stipulated insane adventure. Now if America wants to embark upon this highly perilous path, in tandem or on behalf of Israel then it should ponder a thousand times before it leaps into that mindless assault or in plain words an audacious aggression against a sovereign country. While doing so United States must be supported and blessed both by Israel and Arab nations hostile to Iran. But it is not difficult to deduce that such a moronic and totally un- called use of power will have a disastrous spillover and lengthening shadows on the region because of the simple fact that the horrifying ramifications of such a massive air strike cannot remain strictly confined to the geographical boundaries of Iran. It should also be kept in mind that Iran is not another Iraq that was under the impulsive throbbing of a dictator who neither had his roots in the people nor did he enjoy any mentionable trust or goodwill among his Arab counterparts. Saddam had isolated Iraq by his expansionist designs as borne out by his invasion of Iraq and a decade long war with Iran. Iran, on the contrary, doesn’t suffer from such setbacks or blemishes. Iran is both ideologically and politically a united country. It’s a vast geographical contiguity. It’s rich by virtue of having large reserves of oil and gas. It has overcome its economic disabilities in three decades of clerical leadership firmly holding the reins of the country. It is a democracy although not in the stricter sense of American or Westminster formats of democracies. It holds elections and the elections by and large are fair and free, within the ideological framework provided by the constitution and religion. United States has not been categorical in outright condemning Iran and closing the options and venue for interaction and dialogue. At present when U.S. is faced with a colossal economic crunch, it would be an utterly absurd and an extremely costly affair for her to repeat the same blunder that it committed by invading Iraq. Iraq’s invasion cost America a heavy toll of precious lives of soldiers, the infamy and economic bludgeoning of nearly 2 to 3 trillion dollars. If Obama administration’s plank and philosophy is to repair America’s image as an aggressor country by overarching to the hostile nations with peaceful mindset and mitigating the conflicts with the Muslim world, such an attack would rob the incumbent American administration of its stated good will that it has earned in the meantime. The global economy would tailspin and dash to the ground because it would not be a brief attack that would end once the job of destroying nuclear installations is accomplished. Even if the nuclear reactors or sites are destroyed, the Iranian nation would still survive and fight back as the Afghanis or Iraqis have been doing. But there is a difference between the anti American insurgency in Afghanistan and Iraq and the one that would sprout out of Iran. Iran has a proper strong standing army and it has stockpiles of convential weapons. And above all it has a nation that has an indomitable will to fight because it is the only country that proclaims Shia faith and therefore it would assume a religious war: a war that would neither be contained nor finished by declaring, “The mission accomplished”. It can be surmised that once Iran comes under attacks and suffers losses, it would be free to launch counter attacks against Israel which is not far away and for Iran to overrun it would not be a tall order. As we know about a million Iranians perished in their war with Iraq. They would die in millions more but would strike back with full force and fury. That situation might push the region and the world into the lap of a third world war: a conflagration that might terminate on the extinction of the human race. Would such a dreadful outcome suite any civilized country, not to speak of the United States. If the fundamental objective of such a mission impossible would be to debilitate Iran’s nuclear capabilities then the same yardstick should also be applied to North Korea which
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Electricity Nightmare and the Laughing Minister of Power
April 25, 2010 Electricity Nightmare and the Laughing Minister of Power By Saeed Qureshi Have you seen Pakistan’s minister of water and power in a jolly, upbeat mood during the Energy Conference? In his once in a century sermon, while absolving the government of overcoming the acute energy shortage, he instead has exhorted the hard pressed Pakistani to use electricity for fewer hours. Already the people can barely get electricity for 6 hours. The chaos resulting from power shortage is unrelenting and assuming horrendous proportions. The kind of measures announced by the freakish Minister of Water and Power are childish and ruinous for the society especially for the business and industry that are already in deep trouble. It is like putting the cart before the horse. The government’s approach towards resolving this vital problem is cosmetic and would aggravate the chaos and turmoil that is driving the people to the level of insanity. Electricity is an indispensible necessity for human beings. From cooking to running a huge mill it is the electricity that is needed. If the government asks people to close their businesses by the sunset and go home which are also dark due to incessant power outrages and shaky voltage, the mayhem is bound to take place. The minister of power should stop combing his creamy, shampooed black colored hair, discard wearing custom tailored suites and abandon putting up a smile on his face as if all was well with the state of Pakistan. Instead he should dress himself in rags as a token of lamentation for the woes of the dispossessed people. Is he unmindful that the citizens of Pakistan are in a state of complete paralysis and undergoing unspeakable suffering due to the short supply of electricity? Instead that the government should tackle this challenge on war footing, it is demanding of the people to bear with the devastating, debilitating and crippling load shedding that has taken away their peace of mind. The whole Pakistan is in a state of protest and crowds of bedevelled citizens are expressing their anger and frustration by denouncing the government. It is a calamity that was never seen in Pakistan before. Even a conjurer or a moron knows that the real panacea of this festering problem is not to force less use of electricity upon people but to increase its output in the shortest possible time. The problem is that the ruling junta views all nations building project from the angle of self profiteering out of the deals that they would enter into with power producers. The pressure or the urgency that is evident from the woeful plight of the Pakistanis necessitates the generation of power within weeks if not days. The situation is being allowed to slip from bad to worse so that the rental power houses are accepted by the people without any uproar. Like rubbing salt to injury, the government stalwarts make contrdictaory, confusing and false claims to rid country of load shedding in a specified period of time which never happens. They tag more power in grid stations with the flow of water into dams. Now this is an argument and a hope that is outright sham and nonsensical. By the time the dams are filled up to the required level of water, the harried people should keep suffering, the industrial units should work by intervals and the commercial activities should be curtailed. To survive without electricity for 18-20 hours in this sizzling season is nothing short of a rigorous punishment for the people for no crime. Can one think of living even one minute without electricity in these times when several countries are surplus in electric power production? Now the argument is valid that those who opposed Kalabagh Dam did it with mala fide intentions knowing well in advance that the country was going to suffer from power shortage in the future. These are the same people who got their piece of humble pie via 18th amendment. They are gloating over their triumph for getting an ethnic name of the province but would sleep over the anguish of the people without electricity for better part of the day. Had they been favorably disposed towards larger interest of the country, they should not have opposed the Kalabagh Dam in the first instance. Secondly if the government in power wanted to meet their long standing demand by renaming the NWFP province, these guys in return should have been asked to agree to the construction of Kalabagh Dam. The provincial grudge and the hidden rancor against Pakistan came in the way of completing this vital dam that would have saved the people from this ongoing malady and affliction of colossal order. I have been personally concerned with the appalling civic situation in Pakistan. I have voluminously written to various successive governments in Pakistan to devise a compressive and long term plan for modernizing the deteriorating and antiquated civic system in Pakistan. There has been no marked
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Kiamat (Doomsday) in Pakistan
April 11, 2010 Kiamat (Doomsday) in Pakistan By Saeed Qureshi In 21st century, a country called Pakistan is slipping back to dark ages. In Pakistan, the electricity that runs every household, every industrial unit, moves agricultural implements; is a dire need for schools, hospitals, street lights, commercial enterprises, offices, bazaars, railways and which is an indispensible lifeline for a society goes off for as long as 20 hours a day. Is it possible to calculate the depth and level of harmful impact on the lives of the people of Pakistan? Disastrous is too slim an adjective to describe the horrendous spectacle with which the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is awash. Let us content ourselves by paralleling it with the euphemism of the scriptural “Doomsday” when the whole humanity would be running helter and skelter in a complete state of frenzy and in a climate that would be unbearably hot because the Sun, according to dogma, “would be as close to the earth as the length of a lance.” So the panicked, frantic, devil stricken people of Pakistan are raking, agitating, rallying, clamoring, blockading, protesting and finally finding nowhere to go. These crazy segments of humanity are outraged against damning spells of power shut downs, technically termed as load shedding, as if the electric power is in excess and its overload is being off-loaded. The callous indifference shown by the hypocritical, liars, thieves, inside traders, money grabbers, sitting in high offices at public expense, of the miseries of the grief stricken Pakistanis caused, is devastating and mind boggling. The People are turning mentally infirm because of the darkness, because their children are unable to prepare for examination, because of the silent fans in sizzling summer, because their patients cannot be operated upon and because their water pumps do not function. One is reminded of the storming of the Bastille prison a symbol of royal tyranny, on 14th July 1789. This momentous event turned out to be the flashpoint for the French Revolution, and it subsequently became an icon of the French Republic. Thereafter, fired with the spirit of liberty and change the ordinary citizens of Paris attacked the elitist classes, the wealthy landlords and members of aristocracy paving way for the blissful French Revolution. Those who pioneered this historic change were ordinary, impoverished, dispossessed people, driven to rebellion by the ruthless and unbearable exploitation of the royalty, the feudal and aristocratic classes. The 18th amendment is passed. The question is relevant and pertinent: what about the people’s problems that are devouring their lives and pushing them back to dark ages? I don’t pretend to be a messenger of doom and willfully paint a bleak picture of my country of origin. But no one even an imbecile or cynic can overlook the frightening state of affairs fast deteriorating in Pakistan. The Law is infringed with immunity, the courts are ridiculed, monstrous lies and fabrications are splashed by the leaders to bamboozle the citizens already innervated by the appalling civic utilities and poor social amenities. All the state run enterprises are ramshackle, primitive and in huge losses. During the past several years and even now national assets are being sold like peanuts. The magnificent word good governance is heard in Pakistan but practiced overseas in heathen and unislamic polities. The Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs aggressively saber rattles against all those who talk of respect for law and propriety and decency. He is positioning himself like Genghis Khan, ambushing all those who dare come in front of his bullish head-on forays. He is aggressive, violent, and vituperative and a slur for the sublime virtue of law of which he is a minister. His freakish and bellicose behavior has forced quite a few senior bureaucrats including the auditor general and his secretary to resign. And still the president showers accolades on him for facilitating the 18th amendment. Should someone have the courage including the prime minister and the president, to look into the accusations against him for taking hefty bribe from felonious businessmen? The Supreme Court orders are being flagrantly flouted by the government and particularly by the law minister. He is reported to be turning hostile and vindictive against all those who refuse to become party with him in his delaying and dodging, machinations in regard to complying with the apex courts’ directives. Instead of bucking up the real architect of the 18 amendment, Mian Raza Rabbani, who burnt the midnight oil, the flamboyant president throws the credit for this magnificent feat in the lap of the law minister, who has been rather posed as an irritant during the formative stage of the 18th amendment draft. We can see the mockingbird Minister of Water and Power sitting close to the prime minister in the National
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Passage of 18th Amendment
April 8, 2010 Dallas, Texas Passage of 18th Amendment By Saeed Qureshi With the passage of the 18th amendment in the National Assembly of Pakistan, the country changes tracks from the presidential to the parliamentary form of government as was originally enshrined in the 1973 constitution. Understandably, the Senate would also pass it and it would become a part of Pakistan’s constitution. Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N) and other political parties ought to be complimented for this historic development. Belatedly though, yet it did come finally and perhaps this is the first giant step that has been taken after a long period of poltical uncertainty and dictatorship. Hopefully, the 18th amendment would prove to be a stepping stone for building afresh a new democratic edifice that would endure and will be safeguarded by the coming governments and dispensations. The most glittering and redeeming feature of the passage of 18th amendment is that barring certain dissenting notes, it has been passed unanimously which is the second such healthy tradition set up by the political leadership almost 37 years after the adoption of the 1973 constitution by consensus. The annulment of 17th amendment - with some acceptable exceptions, and its replacement with the 18the amendment abolishes the orders and ordinances that were enacted by the former president Musharraf to make the president’s office invincible and his semi-dictatorial regime fortified. Although the 1973 constitutional had incorporated guarantees against the military takeover, yet in contraventions of those safeguards, two martial were imposed in the country thereafter. However, from now onwards, it is hoped that if the political forces keep behaving and do not join the military heads to destabilize the political systems as was done against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and later Mian Nawaz Sharif, no military chief would dare stage another military coup. The abiding lesson is that the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship. Now when the parties with regional stamp such as MQM, ANP have been duly compensated and have willingly participated in the smooth and unanimous passage of the landmark 18th amendment, it can be visualized that no parochial frenzy would be stirred against the center and other provinces. The 18thy amendment is akin to Magna Carta as far decentralization and devolution of powers to the provinces is concerned. The 18th amendment contains such far reaching stipulations as abolition of a concurrent list of subjects to give more autonomy to the provinces. It also lifts bar on more than two terms of a prime minister or chief minister. It ordains the constitution of Judicial Commission for appointment of judges with chief justice as the chairman. There are still fringe parties and factions that would not be happy because they would not be able now to press for their narrow agendas and parochial designs to get out of the federation of Pakistan. Such splinter factions stand defeated and further marginalized and their foreign abetters must be squarely disappointed. The right of the provinces over their natural resources has been accepted in the 18th amendment. The provinces would be able to run and administer their own local government systems and also enter into direct financial loans and credit arrangements with external parties without involvement of the center. There are host of other rights that really make the constituent units independent and having self rule which in turn would consolidate the federation of Pakistan. The change of the NWFP name to Khyber Pakhtunkhawa meets a long standing demand of the Awami National Party that commands support in the Pashto speaking areas of that volatile region. Still it would be desirable if the demand and the reaction from residents of the Hazara region, who want a separate province other than the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, can be given a serious consideration. The discontent among Hazara inhabitants is growing and if their demands are not seriously looked into, this trend and movement might escalate to other regions with similar demands and sentiments. While a very formidable constitutional hurdle has been overcome and relatively there are soothing signs as expressed by ordinary citizens and the political and social circles, the bull of grassroots problems has yet to be caught by horns and tamed. Pakistan is in the throes of massive and unprecedented socio-civic morass, in that the power outrages continue for as long as 18-20 hours a day. The life is in a mess. The commercial and the industrial sectors are mostly dysfunctional due to power blackouts, short supply of water and lack or absence of civic facilities. The common man is faced with a cataclysm of horrendous day to day problems that has made his life nightmarish. The hospitals, the educational sector, the roads and traffic, fragile law and order, unemployment
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Who is Responsible for Zulfi kar Ali Bhutto’s Death?
April 5, 2010 Who is Responsible for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Death? By Saeed Qureshi Evidently, there were four accomplices in the judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first ever legendary prime minister and a charismatic political leader who phenomenally transformed the socio-economic and political landscape of Pakistan. One can see a clear demarcation between the previous dispensations both autocratic and democratic from that of Mr. Bhutto who pioneered and spearheaded a new era of liberalization and social emancipation in Pakistan. Mr. Bhutto, a true visionary as he was, utilized his God given genius to unite the Islamic fraternity on one platform. He is the architect of the nuclear program that virtually has saved Pakistan from a military imbalance with India. He fortified armed forces and build heavy ordnance and military hardware industries to make Pakistan a veritably strong bulwark for territorial defense of Pakistan. He introduced a constitution in 1973 that was essentially democratic, and a mix of secularism and Islam. Back to the question who was responsible for the judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.? These were four accomplices: the Pakistan army under the command of General Ziaul Haq, the United States of America, the biased judiciary and the rancorous politicians of Pakistan. In my assessment more than other three parties, I hold the political forces opposed to Mr. Bhutto as the main culprit and catalyst for eventual physical elimination of an icon via a decidedly devious, sham, fraudulent and farcical judicial process. In order to substantiate this claim with evidence let us go back to the calamitous situation created by the rival political parties in Pakistan following the March 1977 elections. But more than the elections which the parties claimed were rigged or manipulated, the level of anti Bhutto agitation was raised by such catchy yet fictitious slogans as establishing Nizam-e- Mustafa. It is an historical fact that more than any ultra right theocrat or religious bigot in power, it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who took momentous decisions to Islamize Pakistan. The constitution was amended to accommodate the Islamic injunctions. Never before and after any ruler, even Ziaul Haq, who arrogated to himself the role of a caliph and kind a religious fanatic like Mughal emperor Aurgnzeb, could take giant steps in favor of an Islamic order as a patently secular Bhutto did. Still, though he did so to appease the hostile and apprehensive ideological schools in the country for which the Islamic zealots should have been beholden to him. But when their demands were met, they opened another front against him at the behest of certain foreign powers and in collusion with the army. The COAS Gen Zia was waiting in wings with deceptive demeanor to stage a coup and seize power as the upheaval whipped up by rowdy politicians rapidly aggravated. There is an enormous amount of bias on the part of several anti-Bhutto writers and historians while analyzing his personality, policies and tenure of government. These critics would dwell more pointedly on his imposition of martial law in response to the PNA’s sponsored countrywide civil disobedience movement after the March 1977 elections. With an unrest fueled and led by the hate-filled ultra right opposition parties as Jamat-I Islami in tandem with others, what was the way-out to restore law and order in the country? But despite a breakdown of law and order in Pakistan, Bhutto should have desisted from imposing martial law. By doing so he accepted the martial law as the viable option for maintenance of peace or curbing the burgeoning and proliferating lawlessness and anarchy in the country. Although finally he succumbed to the call of the PNA to hold fresh elections and almost settled terms and ironed out contentious issues with the opposition, but it too late and the martial law was clamped over Pakistan on July 5, 1977, by Gen Ziaul Haq who was handpicked by Bhutto by superceding other senior generals. General Zia was covertly aligned more intimately with Jamat-i-Islami and implicitly with other religious and political parties, having common malice against Bhutto. Still Bhutto could have escaped death but the unrelenting campaigning by Jamat Islami joined by NAP, JUP and JUI and Tehrik-i-e-Istiqlal chief Air marshal Asghar Khan, an inveterate adversary of Bhutto, gave enough confidence to military regime to hang Mr. Bhutto. But despite his extraordinary genius, immense sharpness of vision and exceptional political acumen, Mr. Bhutto couldn’t perceive the direction of the political wind blowing against him. He remained under the illusion that he could turn the tables against the army and revive his waned popularity. From the time of his release after Zia’s martial law on July 29, to the first arrest on September 3, bail on September13, to the final arrest on September17, 1977 against
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Lean Facets of American Justice System
March 12, 2010 Lean Facets of American Justice System By Saeed Qureshi The constitution of the United States of America deserves the highest tribute as a beacon of light for all the democracies in the world. It would continue to serve as an invaluable embodiment of all such hallmarks that constitute civil societies. However, the American justice system is yet to reach a stage of being immaculate. An observation that I read in the New York Times so succinctly illustrates the way the American Justice is aborted. It says, “The judge’s whim is all that mattered in that courtroom. The law was basically irrelevant. (MARSHA LEVICK, the legal director of the Juvenile Law Center, on two Pennsylvania judges who sent thousands of juveniles to detention centers for $2.6 million in kickbacks). If any branch of the civil society is enormously independent and truly powerful, it is the judiciary in America. Now I would not endorse the kickbacks blemish but certainly there are dark shades here and there that come in the way of the dispensation of an absolutely unalloyed and sparkling justice. There is a laudable culture and tradition of strict accountability running into the body politic of the United States. But it is seldom and once in a blue moon that a member of judiciary is held accountable. Judges in the courts are like sovereigns whose every movement of hands and eyebrows, wrinkle of the face and every word uttered and rebukes have to be swallowed by those attending the courts. Up to this threshold, all the judges and dispensers of justice enjoy massive and rather arbitrary powers all over the world. But in the American courts, it is a different story. If judges’ powers are inhibited by someone it is the jury that has to come up with a unanimous YES or NO verdict. Based upon jury’s yes or no consensus vote, the judge awards the sentence. But if it is exclusively up to the judge to give a verdict, he is prone to be swayed by many considerations. Now the DNA, a unique and amazing invention of the modern age has proven that many convicts of heinous crime such as rape and murder, who were put to death, were actually innocents. Some were acquitted due to the timely results of the DNA that showed no link of the convicts with the victims. It unambiguously, goes to establish that there have been some very serious flaws in the U. S. justice system. The fact is that the prosecution is always overbearing and maintains an upper edge over the defense. Those who were electrocuted or given lethal injection got their sentence because the prosecution was dominant in the court as ever. In courts, what matters is how the lawyers can manipulate the case. As a casual visitor to the courts for interpretation on behalf of the prosecution or the defense, I have seen kind of bitter verbal fights between the prosecuting and defending lawyers. In one of the cases at the end of the day a verdict came out that stunned the dumbfounded seekers of justice. The judge swept aside the tons of evidence produced by the defense and issued an order that defied all the logic and rationale of the discussion. No questions asked. Now there are many considerations that weigh heavily in certain cases irrespective of the merits of the cases or the guts of the defense to browbeat the argument of the prosecution. As I have observed, invariably, it is the prosecution that triumphs. In predominant number of cases a plea bargain is the ultimate outcome. It means, “don’t care or press for the merit of the case, get rid of the agony and accept less punishment, in order to avoid more excruciating hassle and waste of time and money”. There is an element of fear lurking behind the verdicts that may not be in complete fulfillment of the due norms of justice. Now race or ethnic background might be a very potent factor influencing the verdict of a case. The minority alien communities that are usually involved in violation of immigration rules, overstaying, small felonies as a brawl between the wife and husband or a theft that can be summarily disposed off, are trapped in an adjudication system between a prosecution and the defense attorneys for years together which culminates in a plea bargain or a conviction for the accused. In case of choosing the option of fine to avoid the sentence, another torturous process of rehabilitation starts, leaving a person in a mentally or physically mauled state. In a case that was being adjudicated between a white drunken driver and a turbaned Sikh from India offers a classic example of how the judge cam impose his fiat ultimately. The defense attorney took the whole day to produce eye witnesses to prove that the Indian family was beaten by the white drunken driver. But in the evening the verdict, to the utter bewilderment, was given in favor of the driver who simply walked out of the court. The judge in one single utterance said that he did not believe the evidence
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Is 9/11 Incident a Big Lie ”?
March 8, 2010 Is 9/11 Incident a “Big Lie”? By Saeed Qureshi In a statement during an address to the Intelligence Ministry staff in Tehran, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dubbed the U. S. official version of the Sept. 11 attacks a big lie. He charged that the incident was used by the U.S. as an excuse for the war on terror. The Iranian president’s insinuation apart, it is necessary and morally incumbent upon the U.S. administration to probe and find out the truth. It is not only the Iranian prime minister who says so but even there are Americans who have been expressing the doubts and apprehensions that no outsiders alone could have accomplished this very tricky and highly technical job; all the more the Saudis who are far from attaining the sophisticated aviation technology and who would not defy Americans in any way. For Al-Qaida to penetrate American aviation system, acquire all the minute details and information about the flying schedules and to bang the civilian aircrafts one after another with precision into the lofty Twin Towers, seems improbable. The names and identities of the passengers on board these aircrafts have not been fully made public. But per se, if all these odds were overcome by trainee terrorists, still this dirty job could not have been possible without aid and abetment from well informed internal sources. But on the whole the tragedy looks fishy as for as the perpetrators are concerned. The hijackers’ identities have never been explicitly disclosed. It is all a hush hush affair. Muslims including Saudis fought along America against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Muslims did a remarkable job for America in Afghanistan because this is how United States defeated that hostile authoritarian state, buried Communism forever and emerged as the singular super power. The Taliban at the outset were not against America and were ready to hand over Osama and his band to America if they were convinced that Al-Qaida blew the Twin Towers. But President Bush refused to pursue the offer of negotiations from Taliban. Despite all the hostility, The Afghans and al-Qaida still would not afford to antagonize America for having a common cause against the Soviet Union. Taliban had triumphed against the local war lords and not America. The altercation over Osama embittered the relations between America and Taliban, a horrendous development that could have been avoided. It is surmised in the hindsight that Taliban could have been prevailed upon through talks by America and Saudi Arabi to hand over Osama and his other cohorts to the United States. President Bush instead chose to use military option to destroy both Taliban and Al-Qaida that led to a deadly war not yet finished. The biggest question that is being posed is why there were no Jews inside the huge building on that fateful day of September 11, 2001? Can we point out fingers at Jewish masterminds who might have hatched this conspiracy to pit America against the Muslims? In the past ten years countless Muslims have been killed, American soldiers have died in considerable numbers; American economy has landed in dire straits with 12 trillion dollars debt. Finally two friends of yester years turned each other’s implacable enemies. American social life has come under a specter of fear. Look at the airports with scanning machines and humiliating body searches for all including the Americans themselves. Who could benefit from these debilitating developments”? It’s an 11 million dollar question. The answer is: not Americans, not Muslims: maybe someone sitting on the sidelines and pulling the strings clandestinely. In the time to come or even in distant future the truth or confirmation about the tragedy as it happened would come to light. Although several cases such as the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy are still shrouded in mystery, but as the time advances and the information and investigation technology gets more credible and genuine, these mysterious and unresolved happenings stand a bright chance to be resolved. Undoubtedly, the 9/11 tragedy is one of the stunning incidents of the 21st century that has changed the course and complexion of the interstate relations particularly the US-Muslim world relationship. It was precisely to punish the perpetrators of this heinous act, ascribed to the despicable Al-Qaida outfit that United States has been engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the war in Afghanistan makes sense and carries justrification, the Iraq’s invasion was entirely uncalled for and is devoid of any moral locus standii. The only outcome of Iraq war that cost America a trillion dollar hefty bill is the capture and hanging of ousted Saddam Hussein and the massacre of innumerable Iraqis besides a few thousand American soldiers. If Iraq embarks upon a democratic course, despite its deep ethnic and ideological divisions, the monetary and human
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: America should stop Patronizing President Zardari
March 7, 2010 America should stop Patronizing President Zardari By Saeed Qureshi If United States is for democracy then let her understand that there is a democratic set up in Pakistan which is patently farcical and a hoax. After two years of the incumbent government of PPP in power, president Zardari has failed to transfer powers to the prime minister of Pakistan that he had promised and which was part of the PPP’s elections manifesto. The governance has remained in a state of paralysis and there does not seem to be any chance for good and clean governance to come by. If someone is under the illusion that the worst democracy is better than the best dictatorship then let him correct his political perceptions. In Pakistan it is neither worst democracy nor the best dictatorship. It’s a government that is being run by “Ali Baba Aur Chalees Chores). Massive civil unrest is boiling all over Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are in a state of utter tension and trauma due to lawlessness, unemployment, poverty, breakdown of the public and national institutions, shortage of power, water and basic civic services and needs. The ministers under the patronage of the arch looter are making money every moment. The independent power producing companies are being ushered in Pakistan that is simply a makeshift arrangement. Instead of devising far reaching and permanent strategies for power sufficiency, the private parties are imposed on Pakistan as an evil necessity by creating power shortage in the country. Huge kickbacks have been reported in these deals. Can one read the mockery on the face of the minister for power and water and the countless lies that he has been churning out for two years now. In various parts of the country the jobless are agitating with sit in protests. No one in the government bothers about the misery and distress of the majority in Pakistan. Look at the civic infrastructure. The heaps of garbage and filth dot the entire length and breadth of Pakistan. Dead animals are being fed to the people making them sick. The hospitals are being run by incompetent crooks and blood sucking medicos. The prices of already scarce commodities are soaring: the latest being sudden and sharp increase in the power rate. No shame no pangs of conscience from the rulers. If army does not step in to stem this rot and check blatant rape and loot of Pakistan then let someone lead the harried people to a revolution, a kind of street revolution that makes the things upside down: a kind of Bolshevik revolution. The judiciary alone cannot turn the tide against the bloodsucking ruling junta, because it is devoid of the administrative apparatus to enforce its decisions. Let someone from among the masses come forward and give a clarion call to the people to rally against a highly corrupt and debased system made sleazier by a lot that is yet to answer for their past countless wrong doings. Otherwise, it is would be a civil anarchy. Let the people choose whether they want or abhor a democracy that is another fake name and cover in Pakistan to fleece plunder and suck Pakistan as much as these hardened thugs can afford to do. The paradox with Pakistan’s politics is that it is run on personal loyalties. It is based on such parochial and narrow considerations as race, region ethnicity and party interests. Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) cadres are imbued with a romantic vision of the founder of this party. They also see in Zardari a revolutionary leader which he is not. These misguided, mesmerized and duped workers would shed their blood for the sake of an individual but not for the country. If country is fragmented where would the party stay and function? There must be a rebellion within the party by those who want to restore the revolutionary élan and ethos of this party that made it the darling of the masses to the extent that it rose to the dazzling heights of fame within a short time under the charismatic, fabulous and matchless leadership of Zulfikar ali Bhutto. Is the opposition waiting in wings to see the government go and then come out of their hideouts? Both the opposition in Pakistan and the United States must press for the midterm elections because almost all the high profile members of the PPP both in power and out have forfeited their credibility under the burden of their horrendous malpractices. That is the democratic way to change the loathsome status quo. Saeed Qureshi Website: http://www.uprightopinion.com
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: The Power of Stigma
March 1, 2010 Dallas, Texas The Power of Stigma By Saeed Qureshi A stigmatized life is the most traumatized life. A stigmatized person carries with him shame, calumny, slur, disrespect, aversion and hatred from others. Such a person is treated by the community to be a social pariah while in return he or she turns mostly apologetic or aggressive. It depends upon the level of the sensibilities of a person, how much miserable or wretched he or she feels or how they take the stigma attached to them. But not all stigmas are factual. Some are fabricated for maligning others or for vendetta. Some are genuine and some germinate from misunderstanding. These misunderstandings are caused by a word, phrase, joke or a comment that can be interpreted both negatively and positively leading to the appreciation or aspersion on one’s character. The stigma right or wrong can seldom be erased and becomes permanent part of the name and image of the target. It follows him throughout his life like a shadow. A maliciously or wrongly stigmatized person cannot go to everyone to explain the truth and therefore, remains a victim despite being guiltless. Once born, the bad name or stigma gets wings and reaches maximum numbers that continue rising. The humans have a propensity to exaggerate the spicy information particularly digging at some one’s character and personality. It is utterly impossible to clarify the misunderstanding to everyone. Invariably, politicians, bureaucrats, VIPs, big business tycoons, army generals, aristocrats, clerics, poets, philosophers, journalists, writers, actors, artists and members of other groups carry some kind of stigma or infamy tagged with their names. On the lower levels in schools, colleges, hospitals, public and private institutions and working places, there are individuals who are marked or known by some error, some habit, some felony, some mistake, some flaw or wrong doing or a statement or utterance that earned them the lifelong millstone of stigma. The kings, queens, rulers and famous personages in the past carry stigmas with their names. The higher one is in status, the more he is talked about his questionable actions or for the particular flaws in his character. People have a propensity to talk of shortcomings more than mentioning someone by good traits. Tony Blair, the former Tory prime minister got the nickname of a poodle of former American president G.W. Bush which he cannot never get rid of in his lifetime and even afterwards. Social stigma is also related to the sacrosanct social taboos and customs whose violation can bring someone a bad name that keep him in lurid colors for all times. Social stigmas come to the lot of those people who defy or break the traditional norms of morality and day to day ethics. While the religious beliefs may be condoned or occasionally overlooked, the social stigma based on misconduct or immodesty cannot be taken lightly and remain indelible blot on the character or image of the concerned individuals. A physically deformed person such as a leper may draw more sympathy than a stigma, while a rapist, a homosexual, a thief, a liar, a bad tempered or a grumpy person, a miser, a man with a incest backlog, a murderer, and individual with similar human failings and negative leanings, carry forever the disgrace of a social stigma either in their locality or on a broader spectrum depending upon their social leverage. In human set up such remarks and strictures as “he is a serpent, don’t trust him” or “he is a shylock” or a “backbiter” or a “heathen”, “hypocrite”, “bootlegger”, “homosexual”, “pimp”, a “womanizer”, a “gay”, a “drug addict”, a “cattle lifter” , a “fake saint”, and a “swindler” are common to portray the shady, irksome or repulsive character of a person. These are the abominable social stigmas. A sensitive person labeled with an untrue stigma based on hearsay or purposely framed for defamation suffers from a nagging guilty conscience and self condemnation. A highly placed person under the gnawing pinch of a stigma either turns socially hostile, recluse or overly obliging and forthcoming. He tries to please the people in doling out favors by using his authority. He believes under the erroneous belief, that by placating others, the common impression about him would thus be nullified or diluted. But it seldom happens. The recipients of his favors tend to exploit him or her more and in their private conversations they ridicule and castigate him or her more. The others stigma targets turn thick-skinned and obdurate. Stigma can be broadly divided into three categories: the personal, the local, and the historical or universal. The kind of stigma that falls under the personal category carries such insinuations as gluttony, jealousy, drunkenness, bad temper, miserliness, loose talking, cynicism, superstition, backbiting, emotional flare-up, foul mouthing. But more serious stigmas
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: The Anti-Islam Mentality
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[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: The Anti-Islam Mentality
February 27, 2010 The Anti-Islam Mentality By Saeed Qureshi I had posted an article on my blog and also circulated it through emails that I do on weekly basis. Usually the response to such articles is mild and sober even if someone disagrees with the entire or partial assertion and contents. But of late, in response to my article, “My Perception of Islam” a Hindu believer G. Vishvas wrote the following note and I quote, “Such statements show the inability of Muslims to be honest. Indirectly he is admitting that the Sharia is a gone-case. But he dares not say so explicitly. This is how obscurantist Islamic fascism-totalitarianism has all Muslims (even the so-called liberal Muslims) in grip. The words suitably modified and phenomenally different world of today reveals that the Shariah is actually passé. But like about the emperor's finest clothes (from Hans Anderson's tales), no one (out of fear) dared say the emperor is naked. Islam compels Muslims into an endless bout of hypocrisy and cowardice and arrogance.” My Response, “I would not go to the extent of reviling a religion, how unacceptable it should be to me, as I can figure out from Vishvas’ above statement that he is trying to malign a religion by using strongest invectives instead of using a modest, analytical and logical language that is called for from intellectuals like him.“I suspect Mr. Vishvas hardly has any basic understanding of religion Islam otherwise he would have desisted from using slanderous hyperbole just to denigrate a religion that he hardly understands. One can blame the Muslims but not the creed, howsoever, it may be unfulfilling.With one black brush he has painted all the Muslims with the above innuendos. I am sure he got a rare opportunity to pour out venom against the Muslims for no cogent reason although all the Muslims (even the liberals) may not be having such disqualifications that he has chosen to attribute to them in one pent up breath. Let us be rationale and sober while leading a case, no matter how repugnant it might be to you because you simply belong to another religion. Let us have the stomach and magnanimity to see other religion existing and accord respect to them. Let us be decent at least as humans”. Usually, I try to skip over even the most scathing comments that pour in from time to time but this comment is as insidious and malicious as it is the product of complete ignorance and uncanny bias against a religion that is observed by over a billion people around the world. An individual no matter how biased and antagonistic he tends to be, has no right to ruthlessly decry another religion. After all it is a matter of faith and faith is so precious to every faithful, no matter what religion he belongs. Now to decree imperiously, insolently and rather arbitrarily that “Islam compels Muslims into an endless bout of hypocrisy and cowardice and arrogance” speaks for the perverted mentality of a person whose own religion does not tutor him to be respectful in a sensitive matter of faith and embolden him to unleash slur on Islam. Let me at the outset make a disclosure that from religious point of view I tend to be a non conformist which means that all religions are divine and therefore, should be allowed to be observed by their adherents. Moreover, religious bias leads one to a lower level of human being the opposite of which every religion teaches. It is in that vein that despite being an extreme liberal, I would not watch any one deriding other religions simply because he is motivated to do so. It in this spirit of religious freedom that I feel like explaining it more than what I have already done. If it is a question of finding faults with the religions and abusing them then let it be so. Islam has enough defense against the vitriol that it has been subjected to since its inception. Islam tells of one supreme God. The prophet of Islam by his own conduct and sublime message established a pious relationship between God and the human beings. This should be appreciated rather than castigated. If Islam presents a graphic, detailed map and comprehensive charter for the human beings to live in a society as good, virtuous and peaceful individuals what is the harm in it? If Islam ordains and emphasizes a host of values and virtues that govern the lives and societies for peace and coexistence then how could one have the audacity to decree that “Islam compels Muslims into an endless bout of hypocrisy and cowardice and arrogance”? Let me stress that Islam’s first principle is,” there is no compulsion in Islam” Now If Islam goes in the wrong hands, it is not the creed that is to blame but those did not heed it the way they should have. But even the totalitarian dispensations in the Islamic countries, did not go as far as annihilating or tormenting the population that professed a different faith. The example is in Spain where Jews and Christian lived for 700
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: The Real Issue in Pakistan
February 16, 2010 The Real Issue in Pakistan By Saeed Qureshi The real issue in Pakistan is whether this country should have a presidential or parliamentary form of government. Veritably, at present, it is a presidential form because the prime minister by all indications is rubber stamp and dependent upon the strings pulled from the presidency. With the president having absolute powers, the existing government is patently an extension of the system of government that was in vogue under General Pervez Musharraf. The so called draconian caveat called 58/2-B injected in the constitution of Pakistan by Pervez Musharraf as part of the 17th Amendment in 2004, with the help of certain poltical parties, empowered the president to dissolve the National Assembly. The Seventeenth Amendment also validated all actions and proclamations of former president Musharraf from date of his assuming the office until the passing of the amendment. That made the head of state a virtual autocrat with sweeping powers over the prime minister and the national assembly. The countrywide movement by the civil society in Pakistan spearheaded by the legal community and the impeachment move by the coalition government of PPP and PMNL resulted in the exit of Pervez Musharraf from the power citadel on August 18, 2008. The political forces that joined the lawyers’ movement aimed primarily at restoration of chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, and other deposed senior judges publically vowed to dismantle the 58-2(B) and revise the 17th amendment so as to bring the constitution to its original form. It was agreed between the two stalwart parties namely PPP and PMNL via accords known as the Charter of democracy and Murree declaration to revive parliamentary democracy in Pakistan. President Zardari before taking over the presidency of Pakistan also in a televised categorical statement vowed to surrender powers invested in him through the 17th amendment and hand over these to the prime minister for the sake of parliamentary democracy. But, thereafter, till now he or the PPP government has not taken any practical steps to fulfill their pledge of returning Pakistan to a parliamentary form of government. Neither the 17th amendment has been rescinded or amended nor the controversial 58-2(b) expunged from the constitution of Pakistan. Even the main demand of PMNL to reinstate the sacked judges, was ignored by the PPP government. The two main poltical parties that earnestly joined hands to usher Pakistan into an era of unalloyed democracy parted their ways. The PMNL left the government barely after 40 days blaming PPP for not honoring its promise enshrined in the accords reached between them. The PPP forged coalition with MQM and ANP at the center and three provinces, thus turning its back on the former coalition partner. After watching two years of PPP at the helm and president Zardari as a powerful president like his predecessor, it is pretty difficult for an impartial or discerning observer to draw a line between the system of government run previously and now. Media was modestly free and independent even during the Musharraf era. It is still free but the government is not treating all the media at par. There are sycophants and cronies of the government who are showered with favors of foreign junkets and government advertisements. The incumbent government of PPP has bent over backward to divide the media as well as the judiciary and the civil society by intrigues and questionable tactics. The restoration of the constitution to its original form of 1973 remains an elusive goal although umpteen promises have been hurled by the leadership now ruling the roost. The perfunctory way the government is being run without any tangible results on the ground, it might be difficult for it to last long. A government whose ethos is to side with the downtrodden classes, stand by the free media and the independent judiciary and the flowering of a civil society is proving itself worse than the former dispensation in suppressing all these symbols of a civil and civilized society. The poltical jugglery and petty controversies in which the whole country has been thrown in by the government and its blatant digression from its promised goals and manifesto is deplorable and was least expected of it. Now for a commoner and an ordinary citizen, the most pressing issues for a government saddled in power after a decade of authoritarianism, should be to provide good governance that takes care of the miserable plight of the people, the worsening economy, the breakdown of law and order, the soaring cost of living, the scarce jobs, the poor civic faculties and need for a genuine parliamentary form of government. Instead, the government is busy in browbeating, and trouncing the opposition and creating fissures along provincial, ethnic and party lines. The ministers are up to the neck in involvement of kickbacks
[muslim-journalist] Upright Opinion: Who is Running Pakistan?
February 10, 2010 Who is Running Pakistan? By Saeed Qureshi The joke is that the angels were submitting their daily reports to God if all was well with humans on earth. God kept quiet while listening about the gravest crisis in several countries. When an angel responsible for Pakistan mentioned Pakistan’s alarming situation, God in a state of urgency asked for the fastest ride. Puzzled, the angels asked God with utmost respect, “O sustainer of the Universe, you were not upset in case of other countries; what is so special with Pakistan?” God answered, “Don’t you know I am running Pakistan.” Apart from its being a joke, it is true that God almighty, the omnipotent is running Pakistan. Otherwise how could it survive all these years of incessant turmoil brought about by its self seeking leaders? Pakistan is a unique country with a legion of the most pathetic and abject leaders. This country has been treated as a green pasture for two legged poltical animals to graze to their hearts’ fill. Their lust for money is interminably insatiable. The civil society that is like a precious hallmark and an ornament for the civilized societies has been kept at bay by the respective governments in Pakistan. Since August 14, 1947 to this day someone should point out a day when Pakistan was deemed to be a viable state with internal cohesion and peace. The poltical anarchy and mayhem has remained an enduring curse and damnation bedeviling Pakistan from start to this day. One wonders what was wrong, that Pakistan could not shape up as a democratic, stable and prosperous state. The people of this country are incredibly resilient, so patient so poverty stricken, so mauled by the loathsome combine of fleecing traders, the power hungry army generals, the poltical knights and lancers, the feudalistic masters, the low and high landlords, the poltical parties with anti Pakistan agendas, the religious coercers and agents of tyranny. In this wonderful country we have been having foreign agents, the fifth columnists, the spiritual manipulators, the hoarders, the black- marketers, the jurists and judges for sale and pawn, the media midgets and the elements with parochial, regional and narrow mentalities and agendas. The bloodhounds of bureaucracy, the ruthless mafias of land grabbers, touts, and muggers, abductors for ransom, the bounty killers and thieves of national exchequer stalk this land of pure with impunity. We still euphemistically call it the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In this Islamic Republic, the sectarianism swallows countless innocent lives. The genocidal vendettas take place in the name of race, religion, region, clan and poltical leanings. The rape, kidnappings and land feuds happen as an article of faith and with rare abandon. It is a country where a beast in the form of a human kills a hundred young boys with mask of poisonous gas and celebrates the 100th murder. It’s a country which looks askance when its eastern wing disengages itself from the west. It’s an unfortunate country where the judges kill a prime minister with their pens knowing well, it is a blatant murder. Here the judiciary validates the rule of usurpers under the law of necessity. It’s a country where the leaders roam about like princes in bullet proof SUVs with a retina of armed guards while the masses remain at the mercy of trigger happy killers. These leaders ensure that no law is passed that benefits the common man. They have large orchards, numerous cattle, and bustling mills. They draw fabulous salaries, beside the mouth watering perks and privileges. Their corruption, loot and plunder and blatant misuse of power is unchecked and unbounded. There is a section of society that imports, exports, take permits and licenses, runs super duper money making shady schemes and takes kickbacks and gets scot free at the end of the day. They use their political leverages to grab power and then indulge in an unabashed spree of nepotism, bribery, horse trading, and never tire of issuing meaningless, phoney statements and making vague promises. The constitution has been tampered with and its sanctity denigrated by every government amending it to ensure their perpetuation in power. The constitution still lies battered by a dictator and his legacy and illegal interpolations are being grudgingly guarded by a civilian head of state whose moral stature is as tiny as an ant. The ministers publically accused of taking bribes from hardened criminals and bank looters refuse to resign and obstruct a genuine accountability process from moving forward. Pakistani leaders have all along been having a passion to cast themselves in the role of loyal mercenaries of foreign inimical forces, thus turning the whole country into a war zone during the past two decades. The holy crusades against the godless soviets now have their blowback against the people of Pakistan. The religious warriors have turned
Re: [muslim-journalist] Muslim Journalists?
I had been out of touch with the debate or the intellectual interaction that has been mentioned in passing in your email note.Patently some one from among the Muslim journalists did not come forward to take up the cudgel of this visibly monumental challenge for reasons that relate to their survival, bread, butter and and due to the phobia for being caught for right or wrong reasons. And it is understandable. There exists a colossal deficit of trust among human beings and for that reason even the most intrepid journalists may shirk from treading with steadfastness on the course of independent and principled journalism. Yet I wonder if the background and the story of this discussion, can be passed on to me, to enable me to figure out how it can dealt with, although I am not a Muslim with a conservative or fundamental rustic mindset. Best regards, Saeed Qureshi Editor Diplomatic times Saeed Qureshi Website: http://www.uprightopinion.com --- On Fri, 7/31/09, alberthfish alberthf...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: From: alberthfish alberthf...@yahoo.co.uk Subject: [muslim-journalist] Muslim Journalists? To: muslim-journalist@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 9:05 PM Muslim journalists? None of you qualify as journalists! I have given you all information about the biggest story in the world. I've only had one bite and that was to cast doubt on my initial post. It wasn't to ask for further information or more details! No! To make out from a vantage point of supreme ignorance, that I am lying or deluded. I have received one inquiry from a journalist in the UK (not a member of this web group). Unfortunately he won't be able to publish anything in the UK (or any other English speaking country) owing to the Defence Notices in place. Being journalists you should know what a D-Notice is, but I'm not surprised that none of you do. If any of you did, you should have contacted me ASAP because D-Notices are not widely know about outside of journalism and are only issued by governments for very important matters – usually 'national security'. The first journalist to pick up the story I am offering will be recognised for it long after their death. It is international in scope and could destroy the British government – indeed the entire British government system. It will have huge effects on the international economy and could drastically change the way governments are structured and function. That would benefit just about everybody. Yeah, this story is a little dull to begin with. The journalist who can grit their teeth and get an understanding of the foundational law and history will then experience a flash of illumination as the consequences and possibilities begin unfolding themselves. But I don't think it'll be any 'journalist' from this web-group. Just remember that some mad guy who styled himself 'Albert Fish' offered you the story and the details so that after the story breaks you can contemplate what you missed out on in the full understanding that stuff like this happens less than once in a lifetime. Albert alberthfish@ yahoo.co. uk
Re: [muslim-journalist] THE NATIONS RISE FALL WHY?
Dear Sir, I would like to dilate upon the word righteous. I think that it is a term that in essence is relative and can be interpreted variously. What is good for instance for a Sunni faithful may not be righteous for a shia faithful.What is the right interpretation of Hadith for believers of Wahhabi sect may not be acceptable to an adherent for instance of Chishtia, Qadria or Naqshbandia faith. The perception of Taliban about Islam is a distortion of the universal teachings of Islam.For an educated and enlightened Muslim and scholar the torching of pictures and destroying of modern gadgets such as TV and radios and cassettes may be a act of vandalism but for Taliban and some other orthodox and conservative branches of Islamic faith, it is just in conformity with the spirit of pristine Islam. When stark economic hard realities stare in the face of an individual the sense of righteousness gets blurred.Example is the standing of veil observing women in the lines for hours in the harsh weather conditions for a sack of Atta.The human society is imperfect and therefore the perception of virtue too is imperfect. Because virtue alone doesn't exist and virtue alone doesn't ensure the survival of a human being: Muslim or non Muslim, male or a female. So it is incumbent upon the society to create conditions one of which is the economic and social stability for every one to eat and clothe and have shelter.Thereafter you can ask for and expect righteousness( social not relgious because relgious would be dvisive) to prevail individually or collectively.It is alone God who can plant the seed of righteousness in the hearts of the humans and alone he what in essence is the righteousness. Short of that as long as human suffer from disease,hunger and other similar hardships and irritants, to talk of enforcing piety would be hard to realize. Let us understand piety is always social and commensurate with the spirit of a particular time or age. Is this enforcement of piety is to be done collectively or on individual level? Piety also needs elaboration? Western societies are pious because they keep their citizens happy and content by way of easy and affordable access to food,clothing and other necessities of life.I think it is piety if the power never goes out or the water keeps running in the tap. One can have access to medical care. Children are not molested and rather given protection as best as possible.There is equality in the society overseen and enforced by law.The western heathen socities give us rights to stay and become citiznes.What about the pious socities of islam including Saudi Arabia and MuslimSheikhdoms. As for rise and fall of nations, this has been happening when religions had not appeared.Example is Pharaohs and other ancient dynasties that existed before Abraham and Noah and Adam.The total age of religions is 6-7000 years and human civilizations or societies started much before that.So religious piety came much after.These civilizations were not religiously impious.Then what were the reasons for downfall of those civilizations. They fell because rise and fall is in the very nature of scheme of things propelled by Almighty God at the time of creation.But creation is an evolutionary process. It is still unfolding itself . The nature has a predetermined course that includes evolution also. Stars appear,shine for billions of years and then fade away. So do everything in the universe. They don't do so because of non-piety. Man too is bound by the nature's divine law of creation. rise, decline and then become extinct. Romans and Greek and Persian empires were on the scene for millenniums. The stronger nations prevailed in wars and the weaker vanished or took a subservient status.That had nothing to do with piety because those that superseded were also pagans or savages,or at least not pious. With regards, Saeed Qureshi --- On Wed, 10/15/08, jameel rator [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: jameel rator [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [muslim-journalist] THE NATIONS RISE FALL WHY? To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 12:38 PM THE NATIONS RISE FALL WHY? In the present world scenario it is necessary to understand the Divine Law of The Rise and Fall of Nations. In this book the Author discusses in details with a high level of logical approach, the causes consequences of Moral Decay, the Evidence of History, and our moral conditions, elements of reforms and thinking of reforming yourself what are the Righteous Actions? Below are some excerpts from the book to provide a brief insight into the benefits and reminders contained in this treatise: We should have a clear conception of what is evil and what is good, so that we may endeavor to eliminate evil and enforce piety with all the power at our command. God keeps a constant watch over what constructive and reformative measures they take
[muslim-journalist] Artcile
Doing PhD on Zardaris Politics By Saeed Qureshi Javed Hashmi the stalwart of Nawaz Muslim League made a very interesting remark on Asif Zardaris style of politicking. He said that one needs to do a PhD for understanding Asif Zardaris brand of politics. A cynic added that even after that the complete comprehension of Zardaris political behavior would remain a far cry and elusive. Asif Zardari who donned the mantle of chieftaincy of PPP is adept in blowing hot and cold at the same time. He keeps the people on tenter hooks and leaves the political pundits guessing about his next move. With mixed signals, he tries to keep all involved parties in good humor. Giving him the benefit of doubt due to the overburdened mind resulting from the assassination of his spouse Benazir Bhutto as well as the family affairs, the fact has to be perceived that he vacillates, more often than not, between two contradictory or irreconcilable stances. He is for instance simultaneously sailing in two boats: one belonging to president Musharraf and the other to his inveterate opponents, one of whom is Nawaz Sharif. Now it needs quite a strong muscle to commit in writing in Murree to reinstate the judges and then reneges on that pledge by saying that he didnt utter a Hadis (unchangeable saying of Prophet Muhammad). Immediately after the PPP sailed into power, he publicly nominated Amin Fahim the Senior Vice Chairman of the party as the candidate for the post of the prime minister. Later he changed his mind and following a period of eerie lull he announced the name of Yusuf Raza Gilani for the prime ministerial slot. These days, it seems, Amin Fahim and Zardari are not even on talking terms with each other. Amin Fahim is nowhere seen in the party meetings. He did not do anything practically to restore the sacked judges but pays their salaries. He intends to reinstate them and also impeach president Musharraf by a lengthy procedure and after incorporating a plethora of constitutional amendments. One would doubt if the stipulated constitutional package also seeking the impeachment of the incumbent president would finally come through in the parliament. On the Judges protest day in Islamabad, he issued a statement from Saudi Arabia calling on his party workers to prepare for Musharrafs impeachment but forgot about that when he returned to Pakistan. He showed his solidarity with the Judges but assigned the task of thwarting and hijacking their rally to the Interior Advisor Rehman Malik who did this job with consummate excellence. To allay the oft repeated loud gossiping that he was covertly in league with Pervez Musharraf, he makes a fiery speech to announce that very soon the corridors of presidency would echo and reverberate with Jeya( long live) Bhutto slogans. It means that he was for the ouster of the president but would not spell out a definite or speedy way of doing it. He doesnt harbor any qualms or compunctions to meet the strongest anti Musharraf political leader Nawaz Sharif but wouldnt offer any specific road map to move against a highly unpopular president and pick up the thorny question of restoring the deposed judges. On one statement he gets approbation from people and rebuke from the president while in another he disgruntles the public and displeases the president. He has variously expressed his abiding commitment to the freedom of media but on the closure of certain programs of Geo TV channel, the PPP governments as well as the party leaders including Mr. Zardari have been reticent and rather non committal. He is not inconsistent but perhaps he has the knack of reacting and responding to the direction of the popular or political wave to diffuse a situation that could mount a challenge, become intractable or get out of hands. He, as the proverb goes, hunts with the hound and runs with the hare. He is in a position, neither to annoy Pervez Musharraf nor his distant and domestic mentors nor the people of Pakistan that voted his party in power. The self eviction of PML (N), the PPPs coalition partner, from power sharing at the center was one crucial blow that should have impelled Zardari to side with and support the political forces instead of hob-nobbing with a collapsing head of state who should be more of a liability than an asset to a popular party like PPP. But in his heart of heart, Zardari knows that the prime motive of Muslim League (N) was to get their arch foe Pervez Musharraf thrown out of power with the help of PPP. In principle Zardaris stance is right because the restoration of sacked judges on the strength of a simple executive order is not going to stem the rot that has plagued the judiciary in Pakistan right from the beginning. He would make the judiciary independent but not as much independent as to work at the behest of the power hungry rulers, side with dictators and fix the political
Re: [muslim-journalist] Election and Madness
Musharraf is a chosen apostle of god and guiltless. He is a Jesus reincarnate. You know why? Because he is not a Punjabi. Otherwise he should be considered as a prophet of doom for Pakistan. Abi [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: PUNJABI CRITICIZING GOVERNMENT FUNNILY a mad man sparking against Musharraf regime and his other alies - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
Re: [muslim-journalist] EVER WONDER WHY?
Very well brought out.Thank you. Saeed Qureshi Abi [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: EVER WONDER WHY? Why a Jew can grow his beard in order to practice his faith But when Muslim does the same, he is an extremist and terrorist! Why a nun can be covered from head to toe in order to devote herself to God But when Muslimah does the same she oppressed When a western women stays at home to look after her house and kids she is respected because of sacrificing herself and doing good for the household? But when a Muslim woman does so by her will, they say, she needs to be liberated! Any girl can go to university wearing what she wills and have her rights and freedom? But when Muslimah wears a Hijab they prevent her from entering her university! When a child dedicates himself to a subject he has potential. But when he dedicates himself to Islam he is hopeless! When a Christian or a Jew kills someone religion is not mentioned, but when Muslim is charged with a crime, it is Islam that goes to trial! When someone sacrfices himself to keep others alive, he is noble and all respect him. But when a Palestinian does that to save his son from being killed, his brother's arm being broken, his mother being raped, his home being destroyed, and his mosque being violated -- He gets the title of a terrorist! Why? Because he is a Muslim! When there is a trouble we accept any solution? If the solution lies in Islam, we refuse to take a look at it. When someone drives a perfect car in a bad way no one blames the car. But when any Muslim makes a mistake or treats people in a bad manner - people say Islam is the reason! Without looking to the tradition of Islam, people believe what the newspapers say. But question what the Quran says! - - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
Re: [muslim-journalist] Fwd: [mading-masjid] Usul pelatihan menulis 19-20 Jan 2008 Re: Rp 4 juta
which language is this? Saeed Eko Budhi Suprasetiawan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Assalamu'alaikum ... Di milis mading masjid, kami sedang membahas ttg sebuah rencana untuk melaksanakan pelatihan menulis bagi remaja masjid. Mohon bantuan miliser dari milis-milis Islam buat membantu agar impian ini bisa terlaksana ... bisa berupa dana, pemikiran, kesediaan menjadi pemateri/pembicara, sumbangan buku, bantuan teknis dll ... Saya juga post ttg ini di blog : http://ekobs.multiply.com/journal/item/36/Draft_Pelatihan_menulis_GRATIS_untuk_remaja_masjid_19-20_Jan_2008 Bantuan semua temen-temen moga bisa meningkatkan peluang sukses agenda ini. Untuk memudahkan saya mengkoleksi masukan temen-temen silahkan bergabung dgn milis tsb, boleh juga japri, atau melalui blog. (Mohon maaf kalau reply temen-temen ada yg gak kebaca) Semoga menjadi kesempatan menjadi Tangan Di Atas :) buat remaja-remaja masjid kita ... Mohon maaf jika tidak berkenan. Wassalamu'alaikum ... Eko Budhi S --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] ... wrote: Assalamu'alaikum ... melanjutkan upaya BRAIN STORMING, ttg pengembangan jaringan mading masjid, saya mengusulkan penggunaan dana Rp 4 juta tsb untuk kegiatan pelatihan remaja masjid. Ide saat ini sbb ... MOHON MASUKAN DAN SARAN dari semua temen-temen. Objective : Mengenalkan keberadaan komunitas milis Mading Masjid ke remaja masjid, Melatih mereka dgn motivasi dan how-to, serta menyusun jaringan darat mading masjid Peserta : Remaja masjid di wilayah koridor Pondok Gedhe-Pekayon, Bekasi. Min 10 masjid/mushola. Max 20 masjid/mushola. Jadwal dan tempat : Sebuah masjid atau sekolah di wilayah koridor Pondok Gedhe-Pekayon mulai Sabtu pagi pk 09.00 - Minggu pagi pk 12.00 Materi : 1. Motivasi ttg keadaan sosial masyarakat, terkait kebutuhan masjid agar lebih berperan dalam berbagai masalah sosial (kemiskinan, narkoba, free sex dll) 2. Peluang yang bisa dikembangkan dari mading masjid (yg sudah ada di banyak tempat, tapi belum terkelola) 3. Teknologi Internet --- blog, milis, yg bisa digunakan untuk kolaborasi/kerjasama content Mading masjid 4. Pelatihan teknik menulis, artikel 5. Pelatihan teknik menulis berita dan mengirimkan ke media 6. Pelatihan teknik menulis buku :) 7. Disain layout mading 8. Organisasi mading masjid 9. Proses penulisan dan peluncuran/release mading masjid Biaya 1. Peserta dipungut biaya konsumsi Rp 50.000,00 2. Biaya bisa dibebaskan jika mendapat approval dari Ketua DKM, dan pernyataan kesediaan membangun jaringan maading masjid bersama 3. Untuk 5 pendaftar pertama (yg bayar), mendapatkan hadiah buku (ada usulan judul ?) * jika memenuhi semua jadwal kehadiran 4. Untuk 5 peserta terbaik (dari artikel yg ditulis) mendapatkan 5 hadiah buku juga Follow up 1. Lomba mengelola mading dan keberlanjutannya 2. Pertemuan bulanan komunitas mading masjid (dgn fokus Koridor Pondok Gedhe Pekayon) 3. Hadiah Rp 250.000.00 untuk Mading Masjid Of The Month selama 3 bulan (Februari, Maret, April) 4. Pelatihan IT untuk remaja masjid (dalam pertemuan bulanan) 5. Diskusi buku (dalam pertemuan bulanan) Pembicara yg sudah dihubungi : Bang Jonru (estimated 3 jam) Mbak Najma (estimaned 3 jam) Estimasi biaya : Konsumsi 3x makan (Sabtu siang, Sabtu sore, Minggu pagi) x 30 orang x Rp 10.000 = Rp 900 ribu Hadiah buku : Rp 50.000 x 10 buku = Rp 500.000 Pembicara : Rp 1.000.000 Follow up (hadiah 3 bulan ke depan) : Rp 250.000 x 3 = 750.000,00 Fotokopi materi pelatihan = 30 copy x 100 lb x Rp 100 = 300.000,00 Sewa tempat = Rp 500.000,00 TOTAL : Rp 3.950.000 CMIIW :) Ada yg bersedia menjadi pembicara ? Atau ada usulan lain ? Infaq dll juga boleh :D Ada yg bisa bantu jadi bendahara ? Tim teknis lapangan ? Atau bantuan lain dipersilahkan ... Ada yg bisa kasih ide gimana biar organisasi lain BISA terlibat (dan berguna bagi mereka, gak malahan menyibukkan mereka yg udah sibuk) : JPRMI ? FLP ? dll ... Mohon masukan BANGET. Urgent. Wassalamu'alaikum Eko Budhi Suprasetiawan --- End forwarded message ---
Re: [muslim-journalist] PROTECT MARRIAGE JOIN US OCT 21ST 3 - 5 PM IN TRENTON (SUNDAY)
I am impressed by your themes.But I would like to know more about you,let us say from Pakistan or India.I am a bit confused by the name but since you speak on behalf of Muslim journalists, you are a Muslim.Mike Ghouse too is a Muslim although one part of his name looks like Christian and the other is Islamic. With best wishes, Saeed Qureshi DEVENDRA MAKKAR [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Please Join US to Protect Marriage 1 MAN + 1 WOMAN IS THE PROOF OF MARRIAGE WORTH OCTOBER 21ST 3-5 P.M. STATEWIDE CITIZENS RALLY STATEHOUSE STEPS 121 WEST STATE STREET TRENTON, NJ (PARKING IN REAR OF CAPITAL COMPLEX) Like every flower has its own name; why a Gay or Lesbian Union be called as Marriage Especially when these Unions are immoral unethical. We don't want to stop individuals from having such Union, but let them find some other name for their unholy alliances. HUMAN DIGNITY CAN NOT BE TRAMPLED UPON THIS WAY. GOD WILL CALL YOU TO ACCOUNT FOR YOUR DEEDS. POPULAR CULTURE PROMOTED SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND DESTROYED THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE. GAYS LESBIANS ARE PLAGUE OF EXTRAMARITAL UNIONS. MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN 1 MAN 1 WOMAN AS BLESSED BY GOD AS WELL AS BY MOTHER NATURE, EVERY SANE PERSON MUST HONOR PRESERVE IT. Sincerely, Dave Makkar 973 760 6006C 973 921 1040E WEDDING RING FINGER: Some of you may have heard this one before, but this is a first for me, and I find it very interesting! Try it! Why should the WEDDING RING be worn on the fourth finger? There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese... Thumb represents your Parents Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings Middle finger represents your-Self Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner Last (Little) finger represents your children First, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back..Second, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to tip Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later. Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings), they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives. Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children), they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day. Finally, join your Little fingers,and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT., because Husband Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!! ISN'T THIS A GREAT THEORY? The world's tiniest baby - meet the 10oz bundle of defiance Last updated at 23:35pm on 27th September 2007 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=484264in_page_id=1811 Sent by: Larry Cirignano 202-306-6863 The world is a dangerous place to live--not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. --Albert Einstein __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
