Pakistan News and Discussion-8

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Nuggets from the Urdu press </b>
Witches attack farmer
Daily Jang reported that in Chak 28 Jagiani, Bahawalnagar, one farmer, Ameer Masood Ali, was facing continuous losses in his business. The local maulvi Jamil told him that his house was haunted by Jinns and he could make them run away with amliat (sacred chants). Next day he brought two kids who performed strange sacred chants. They took money from Ameer Ali and told him that now his house was clear of Jinns. After a few days, bricks starting falling from the sky in Ameer Ali’s house at night and then screaming and wailing chorails (witches) entered his house. The whole family got scared but Ameer Ali managed to capture one chorail, who admitted she was sent by Jamil to extract more money from him.

<b>MacCauleyism vs Sir Syedism</b>
As reported in Daily Pakistan, the president of Idara Qaumi Tashakhus said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the greatest personality of the twentieth century. He said that English medium schools are destroying the new generation of Pakistan. The boys and girls of English medium school know English idioms and traditions but don’t know about the heroes of Pakistan and Islam. He said that the government should free our children from the noose of the necktie and introduce one uniform and one syllabus for the entire nation. The school of MacCauleyism should be discarded in favor of Sir Syedism.

<b>General on the run</b>
Accoriding to Daily Pakistan, ex-Wapda Chairman and ex-PCB chairman Gen (Retd) Zahid Ali Akbar was announced an offender by an accountability court. He allegedly stole Rs 187 million in assets from 1987 to 1992 when he served as Wapda Chairman.  <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

<b>Honour on Wagah border</b>
Writing in daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Sarerahe said a 1965 war monument is being removed to broaden the GT road near the Wagah border. The local population has vowed to die rather than bear the removal of the monument of Shuhada (martyrs). The government wants to remove this monument so that its friends (mitr) from India couldn’t see the symbol of their enemies. But the local population’s honour and India-specific hatred has become a hurdle in removing this monument.

<b>Maulvis dispute 9/11</b>
According to daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Norwegian Minister Bjarne Kaakon Hanssen condemned the statements of Pakistani ulema (religious scholars) covering 9/11. The Pakistani scholars rejected the involvement of Muslims in the 9/11 attacks in America. Maulana Zulqarnain Madni first made these statements and later other scholars also endorsed his views. He accused the Bush administration of conspiring to blow up The World Trade Centre. The Norwegian Minster said such statements could widen the gap between Norway’s locals and its Muslim immigrants.

<b>Beards ruining our cricketers</b>
As reported in daily Khabrain, Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said that Pakistan cricket players are just concentrating on their beards instead of improving their game by hard work and discipline. The non-Muslim teams are winning against the Pakistan cricket team. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->  MMA member, Mohammad Usman said Imran Khan is wrong and his sarcasm is misplaced. Another scholar said religious behavior and a beard helps in character building. He said a beard makes us more determined, and all the great Muslim heros who excelled in different fields had beards.  <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

<b>Christians accept Islam in protest</b>
According to daily Jang, a Christian family of eight people accepted Islam when Pope Benedict didn’t accept the challenge of mobahila (arguing until one of the discussants dies) by maulana Ameer Hamza. After the Pope’s remarks the family started reading about Islam and the reality of the truth, and of Islam, dawned on them. They accepted Islam at the hands of internationally renowned Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali.

<b>Osama planning a new attack in Ramadan</b>
According to daily Jang, the only Pakistani journalist who met Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, Hamid Mir, has disclosed that one man is planning a surprise strike on America; his name is Adnan Shukri Juma. He has entered America through Mexico and has accumulated explosives and nuclear material. Hamid Mir said Mullah Umar and Osama bin Laden have met and sent two hundred suicide bombers to Kabul and Jallalabad.

<b>Sectarian literature banned again</b>
According to daily Nawa-i-Waqt, the Punjab government has banned 265 books, magazines and handbills and has registered cases against publishers and printers. The report said cases are being registered against the illegal construction of mosques and madrassahs.

<b>Fatwa for sale in India</b>
Daily Jang reported that a documentary film by a local TV network in Uttar Pradesh showed ulema (Muslim scholars) taking money to issue fatwas (judgment by religious scholars). One religious scholar demanded Rs 50,000 for a fatwa against girls wearing skin-tight jeans and against English instruction at dini madrassas (religious schools). The Fiqa Islami Uttar Pradesh general secretary demanded an enquiry and said very few ulema sell their fatwa for money.

<b>Sacrifice to rejuvenate Islam</b>
As reported in daily Khabrain, a drug addict, Mansha, killed his son Sheraz after he quarreled with his wife and she went to complain to his brother. He told the police that he sacrificed his son to rejuvenate Islam. He told his son that he wanted to sacrifice him, and his son readily agreed. When his son’s wife came back he tried to kill his granddaughter and set the house on fire. The local people wanted Mansha to be killed in custody by a constable, as this constable had killed the murderer of his daughter in police custody.

Nuggets from the Urdu press

Witches attack farmer

Daily Jang reported that in Chak 28 Jagiani, Bahawalnagar, one farmer, Ameer Masood Ali, was facing continuous losses in his business. The local maulvi Jamil told him that his house was haunted by Jinns and he could make them run away with amliat (sacred chants). Next day he brought two kids who performed strange sacred chants. They took money from Ameer Ali and told him that now his house was clear of Jinns. After a few days, bricks starting falling from the sky in Ameer Ali’s house at night and then screaming and wailing chorails (witches) entered his house. The whole family got scared but Ameer Ali managed to capture one chorail, who admitted she was sent by Jamil to extract more money from him.

MacCauleyism vs Sir Syedism

As reported in Daily Pakistan, the president of Idara Qaumi Tashakhus said that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the greatest personality of the twentieth century. He said that English medium schools are destroying the new generation of Pakistan. The boys and girls of English medium school know English idioms and traditions but don’t know about the heroes of Pakistan and Islam. He said that the government should free our children from the noose of the necktie and introduce one uniform and one syllabus for the entire nation. The school of MacCauleyism should be discarded in favor of Sir Syedism.

General on the run

Accoriding to Daily Pakistan, ex-Wapda Chairman and ex-PCB chairman Gen (Retd) Zahid Ali Akbar was announced an offender by an accountability court. He allegedly stole Rs 187 million in assets from 1987 to 1992 when he served as Wapda Chairman.

Honour on Wagah border

Writing in daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Sarerahe said a 1965 war monument is being removed to broaden the GT road near the Wagah border. The local population has vowed to die rather than bear the removal of the monument of Shuhada (martyrs). The government wants to remove this monument so that its friends (mitr) from India couldn’t see the symbol of their enemies. But the local population’s honour and India-specific hatred has become a hurdle in removing this monument.

Maulvis dispute 9/11

According to daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Norwegian Minister Bjarne Kaakon Hanssen condemned the statements of Pakistani ulema (religious scholars) covering 9/11. The Pakistani scholars rejected the involvement of Muslims in the 9/11 attacks in America. Maulana Zulqarnain Madni first made these statements and later other scholars also endorsed his views. He accused the Bush administration of conspiring to blow up The World Trade Centre. The Norwegian Minster said such statements could widen the gap between Norway’s locals and its Muslim immigrants.

Beards ruining our cricketers

As reported in daily Khabrain, Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said that Pakistan cricket players are just concentrating on their beards instead of improving their game by hard work and discipline. The non-Muslim teams are winning against the Pakistan cricket team. MMA member, Mohammad Usman said Imran Khan is wrong and his sarcasm is misplaced. Another scholar said religious behavior and a beard helps in character building. He said a beard makes us more determined, and all the great Muslim heros who excelled in different fields had beards.

No rift between Liaqat Ali Khan and Quaid-i-Azam

Historian Safdar Mahmood wrote in daily Jang that the dislike between Fatima Jinnah and Rana Liaqat Ali Khan was well known but there was no rift between Quaid-i-Azam and Liaqat Ali Khan. Fatima Jinnah wrote that Quaid-i-Azam told her that Liaqat Ali Khan came to Quetta to see how long he would live. Safdar Mahmood wrote that the ADC of Quaid-i-Azam, Captain Nur Hussain, said he never heard such remarks, but was rather impressed with Liaqat Ali Khan’s concern for Quaid’s health. When Liaqat Ali Khan came out of Quaid-i-Azam’s room he asked Chaudhry Mohammad Ali to ask Maulana Shabbir Usmani and Khawaja Nazimuddin to stay at their place. ADC Nur Hussain said Liaqat Ali Khan gave these orders on the instructions of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Maulana Shabbir Usmani later offered the namaz-e-janaza of Jinnah.

School principal beat up

According to Daily Pakistan, the Joint Action Committee of teachers condemned the beating of school principal Anwar Ali Mujahid by Muslim leaque leader Ikhlaq Guddoo and his bodyguards. They demanded that schools be controlled by the Punjab government instead of the district government.

Umrah by comedians

As reported in daily Jang, a group of stage comedians including Iftikhar Thakur, Tariq Teddi, Nasim Vicki, Amanat Chan and others is going to perform umrah during Ramazan. The experts of comedy theatre would spend 15 days in Saudi Arabia.

No trust in Islamic bank

According to Daily Pakistan, bank depositors demonstrated in front of Parliament house and demanded that their money be recovered from an Islamic investment bank in NWFP. People demanded that the State Bank should recover their money with profits. The majority of bank depositors were from Hangu, Mangora and Mardan.

Christians accept Islam in protest

According to daily Jang, a Christian family of eight people accepted Islam when Pope Benedict didn’t accept the challenge of mobahila (arguing until one of the discussants dies) by maulana Ameer Hamza. After the Pope’s remarks the family started reading about Islam and the reality of the truth, and of Islam, dawned on them. They accepted Islam at the hands of internationally renowned Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali.

Ghamidi rejects Ulema committee

According to daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Islamic Ideological Council (IIC) member Javed Ahmad Ghamidi resigned. He said that to determine whether the Women’s Protection Bill is consistent with the Quran and sunna, the government made a paralled committee of ulema, when they should have referred it to IIC which is a constitutional body.

Osama planning a new attack in Ramadan

According to daily Jang, the only Pakistani journalist who met Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, Hamid Mir, has disclosed that one man is planning a surprise strike on America; his name is Adnan Shukri Juma. He has entered America through Mexico and has accumulated explosives and nuclear material. Hamid Mir said Mullah Umar and Osama bin Laden have met and sent two hundred suicide bombers to Kabul and Jallalabad.

Sectarian literature banned again

According to daily Nawa-i-Waqt, the Punjab government has banned 265 books, magazines and handbills and has registered cases against publishers and printers. The report said cases are being registered against the illegal construction of mosques and madrassahs.

No grand alliance with MMA

As reported in daily Khabrain, chairperson of PPP Benazir Bhutto sent a letter to PML (N) leader Mian Nawaz Sharrif, arguing against any blackmail by the MMA, and that MMA politics are against the interest of Pakistan. The letter has stopped the emergence of a grand alliance of ARD, MMA and other opposition parties.

Fatwa for sale in India

Daily Jang reported that a documentary film by a local TV network in Uttar Pradesh showed ulema (Muslim scholars) taking money to issue fatwas (judgment by religious scholars). One religious scholar demanded Rs 50,000 for a fatwa against girls wearing skin-tight jeans and against English instruction at dini madrassas (religious schools). The Fiqa Islami Uttar Pradesh general secretary demanded an enquiry and said very few ulema sell their fatwa for money.

Jewish lobby against Ahmadinejad

According to daily Jang, during Iranian president Ahmadinejad’s address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, thousands of exiled Iranians protested in front of the UN in New York. All of Iranian opposition parties including Maryam Razawi protested against Ahmadinejad. This protest was supported by the Jewish lobby in America.

Sacrifice to rejuvenate Islam

As reported in daily Khabrain, a drug addict, Mansha, killed his son Sheraz after he quarreled with his wife and she went to complain to his brother. He told the police that he sacrificed his son to rejuvenate Islam. He told his son that he wanted to sacrifice him, and his son readily agreed. When his son’s wife came back he tried to kill his granddaughter and set the house on fire. The local people wanted Mansha to be killed in custody by a constable, as this constable had killed the murderer of his daughter in police custody.

<b>Minnoo Bheel forgot his own daughter</b>
Supreme Court has ordered the DNA tests of two daughters of the bonded labour victim Minnoo Bheel. The Mirpurkhas police recovered his two daughters from remote areas of Sindh. Minnoo Bheel identified one of his daughters but could not recognize the other daughter. His daughters were sold for Rs 60,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively for marriage to different people. The DIG of Mirpurkhas police told the court that Minnoo Bheel could not recognize his daughters because he had not seen his family for the last ten years
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