tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50583870713705261972024-02-20T14:00:02.156-06:00Upright OpinionThe blog will offer purely objective and candid analyses for a better understanding of the events that keep happening and that provide dynamism and direction to the flow of the history and development of the human societies. Being a forum, the comments and opinions from readers whether for or against the views expressed in it, are gratefully welcome. Suggestions for improving the blog are welcome.Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.comBlogger649125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-26867000513720461992020-02-17T20:40:00.002-06:002020-02-17T20:55:24.479-06:00Interesting Dimensions of The American Political Culture!<br />
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<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; padding: 0in;">February 16, 2020</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Interesting Dimensions of The American Political Culture!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">There is a great deal of similarity between A1
Gore (Democratic Party) and President Trump with regards to the fluctuating
political fortunes. Al Gore was the Vice President of President Bill Clinton.
Clinton served as the 42nd </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">president of the
United States</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> from
1993 to 2001. Al Gore became the Democratic nominee of the 2000 elections. His
opponent, the then</span><span style="color: black;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">-</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Texas" title="Governor of Texas"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Governor of Texa</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">s</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">George W</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Bush</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">, and
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Republican</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> candidate, narrowly won the elections. Gore
won the national </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_election" title="Direct election"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">popular vote</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> but lost the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_college" title="Electoral college"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">electoral college</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> vote
after a bitter legal battle over</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_v._Gore" title="Bush v. Gore"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">disputed vote counts</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> in the
state of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Florida</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">. The
election was one of the most controversial in the American history</span></span></u></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">.</span><br />
<br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The upcoming 2020 presidential elections</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">are being
contested by 8 candidates from various political outfits. However, the main
contest would be between Donlad Trump as Republican party candidate and Joe
Bidon as the Democratic nominee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">A </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_inquiry_against_Donald_Trump" title="Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">2019 House
impeachment inquiry</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> found
that Trump solicited support of the Ukrainian government in order</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_interference_in_the_2020_United_States_elections" title="Foreign interference in the 2020 United States elections"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">to win<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the 2020
U.S. presidential election</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">s</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">
against his Democratic rival Joe Biden. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">President Trump held back the
financial support to the Ukraine till his condition of throwing mud on Joe
Biden and his son was fulfilled.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President Trump was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Donald_Trump" title="Impeachment of Donald Trump"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">impeached</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> by the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">House</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> on December 18, 2019, for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuse_of_power" title="Abuse of power"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">abuse of power</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruction_of_Congress" title="Obstruction of Congress"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">obstruction of
Congress</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">. He was </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_trial_of_Donald_Trump" title="Impeachment trial of Donald Trump"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">acquitted</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> on both charges by the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Senate</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> on February 5, 2020. We have yet to watch
if there is a possibility of the case going to the apex court for verdict to
decide if President Trump was guilty or not and whether he could continue his
political role. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Politics in America is the exclusive preserve
of the elite with unlimited sources and influence. The battles in politics
whether for presidency, Senate, Congress or for prestigious and authoritative jobs
are fought on the strength of money. One has to be rich to enter and survive in
political arena. The masses influence the elections through the ballot and
there ends their role. They however, are the recipients of the enormous rights
and privileges guaranteed to them in the American constitution and by the
social welfare set up of the society. They may take the help of law, which is
the absolute and most powerful helper of the common citizens. All are equal
before law and have equal rights of liberty and dignity. But politics becomes a
forbidden land for ordinary people, even if they want to participate, as it
demands vast wealth, huge funds and intensive lobbying. The politics by virtue
of its being limited in a few affluent individuals can be defined as oligarchic
or elitist in nature. It can also be defined as plutocratic democracy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The,
president, vice president and all elected members of Congress are supposed to
be mostly big business magnates or landlords. Although the concept of a
landlord is not used or understood in America in its classic sense, yet it
connotes an individual much prosperous and prominently placed in society. The
landlords possess ranches spread over hundreds and thousands of acres and live
an exceptionally luxurious life. While they are equal with an ordinary citizen
of meager means, their life style is markedly on a very high pedestal. These
two major divisions in social and economic status are glaring in US society.
Neither care for each other. There are equal opportunities for every person to
earn as much as one wants to reach the stage of an elite or a wealthy baron.
However, it seldom happens. The wealth of rich grows astronomically while of
those with limited or modest income either remains static or declines.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The fund-raising is common for contesting for
the highest status in politics or administration. It is permissible by law but
it has got to be transparent. The politicians practically and indispensably
remain in league with the business tycoons and executives of big businesses,
gubernatorial corporations and banks for funds and donations which they need
for the party and electioneering. On the either hand, the big bosses of
multi-billion corporations keep the political leaders in good humor by
generously contributing towards their fund-raising appeals. Thus, the interests
of the business classes and politicians are complementary. It could therefore,
be said that the corporate sector indirectly rules America without giving any
inkling to the common man as they also take decisions along with their chosen
representatives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The big companies and corporations influence
national issues and decisions from behind the curtains. It is also evident that
the politicians who are elected, also themselves own big businesses and thus
both economic and political powers converge in the same hands. The members of
bureaucracy also own huge businesses. As such they have a personal stake and
interests to look after their business when they come into power.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The common American won’t bother who rules,
even if they know the link between the politicians and the business giants. All
that they are bothered about is the rule of law and comfortable living. They
know that by resenting and agitating they cannot knock down the system nor
would they like to do so even if they can. Americans are liberal cosmopolitans,
which means that they like progress, individual rights yet they would not
disturb the power wielders. This is so as the overall objective of the
political elite, their conjunction and alliance with the business classes and
special interest groups is for the national good and welfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it comes to facing law, all are equal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People
are not averse to the rule of the majority as long as they are socially
satisfied. If the tax increases beyond acceptable or tolerable limits or if
there are more curbs on their pursuits of happiness, they may agitate and
react. But the mutual co-existence of the ruling elite and the masses is
accepted and respected by both the sides. The elite try to keep the public happy
and satisfied. The people restrained by lack of resources to delve in politics
seldom question the rule by a few. As stated earlier, the electoral system is
expensive and beyond the reach of common man. It inherently speaks for lacunae
in the democratic system. The membership of the political parties is open to everyone.
While the elite and the wealthy, with limited representation can assume power
every one cannot contest elections due to paucity of resources. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The influence and dominance of corporate and
industrial sectors in policy and decision making is pervasive domestically but
it too affects the externally policies of United States. This is borne out by
one example that after the disclosure that China was supplying M-11 missiles to
certain countries, the US wanted to do away with the special trade relationship
with China. It could not do so under pressure from the entrepreneurs, the
investors and all those big business magnates who had made very heavy
investments in China. The essence of all recent wars in which US was involved,
were basically of economic import. Despite the claims of fighting terrorism
that fact remains that the brief war in Afghanistan against Taliban was meant
to pave way for the US and the west to exploit the oil and other abundant
natural resources of the Central Asian States. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">From their birth, the Americans remain
classified into Republicans and Democrats. The fringe or peripheral political
parties hardly matter as their vote bank is always limited. Depending upon the
administration run by a party, all important posts are mostly filled from the
members of the ruling party. So, a kind of political bias constantly runs in
the body politic of the society. It should be extremely rare that the members
of one party switch over to the other party. The tradition continues with the
succeeding generations. Such is the nature of party affiliation and loyalty in
the political system of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Party standing in the elections is affected by the votes of the minority
or ethnic groups. It is, therefore, up to a party how best and how successfully
it can woo the minorities. For instance, president G.W. Bush was over- whelming
supported by the Muslim voters particularly, who thought his immigration
policies would be beneficial to them. The. church, the family, the civil rights
for blacks and other ethnic entities, religious freedom, the abortion, the
child care, the old age benefits, and similar other issues dominate the
elections. It means that the American public opinion can be swayed with the
promises that address the public hopes and aspirations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Externally however, unless US is not involved
in a war or a massive event of high intensity takes place, the Americans would
remain passive. That is why initially, action against Saddam Hussain and in
Afghanistan brought a surge in the public support for the government in power. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Interestingly, the Americans are both
well-informed and ill-informed about the world affairs. During the pre-election
media encounters, G.W. Bush in 2000 did not have much information about the
then military ruler General Pervez Musharraf the 10th president of Pakistan (20
June 2001 to 18 August 2008).Answering a question on the television, he merely
said that he did not know his name but all that he knew was that an army
general was at the helm in Pakistan. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">About the internal situation, the people
habitually get their information mostly from TV and the newspapers. The
ordinary workers and laborers express their ignorance about the political
matters. It is the white-collar population, which remains aware of the daily
happenings political and otherwise. The role of myriad special interest groups
is highly important in a pluralistic society like America. Those citizens who,
by any reason, cannot take part in elections may influence the decision making
by joining such organized groups as National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, America Legion for Veterans and so of. There are countless such
groups which weigh very heavily with the political leaders. Their opinion and
sentiments about national issues are well taken.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">As such it is all elitism which remains on the
surface in politics whether through big interest groups or traditional wealthy
political families. It is paradoxical that while politics and economy offer
equality of opportunities to all for participation, both remain exclusively
open and accessible to the members of the privileged classes. Even in economy
there is an equality of opportunity for all. Yet these are only over 100 big
business organizations and a limited number of banks that govern the economic
realm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The electioneering is subjected to a set of
rules which include the clearly laid down methods by which the funds are raised
by the political parties. But like all such countries where there is a limit on
election spending and where transparency in collection of funds is a
pre-requisite by law, in USA these benchmarks are strictly observed. The
government sets aside a specific amount for the final contestants whose
spending is closely watched and scrutinized. But funds are also raised through
private donations. It is forbidden for the candidates to accept donations from
the business classes and entrepreneurs and private contributions Yet on
personal and private levels the contributions are given to the candidates of
choice. The private wealth of the contestants is in addition to that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">But when it comes to vilifying or smearing the
opponents, a no holds barred situation exists. One may go to any limit in
heaping all kinds of vicious and vile degradations upon the rivals,
particularly the allegation relating to moral turpitude. The definition of
moral turpitude is not fixed but primarily it means sexual and fiscal
misconduct. The political bout for the seat of Texas governor between Rick
Perry and Tony Sanches assumed deplorable proportions. Each one of them tried
to paint other as a devil incarnate and in this exercise of insinuation, the
facts or truth is seldom cared for .For instance Perry had leveled a very
serious charge on Sanchez for pocketing $ 25 million in league with the drug
traffickers and then he asked the Texan voters if they could trust such a
dishonest person. In return Sanchez dubbed Perry as a rank liar and a species
of debased leadership who has disappointed Texans with his poor performance and
questionable behavior.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In a way that is a productive exercise as the
hidden aspects of a leader’s life come to the public view and thus the voters
can form their opinion in an objective manner. It is the local leader which is
better judged by the people than that of the national stature, because the
electorate of a particular state know them so closely. It so happens that even
before the day of casting their votes, the citizens of a particular state,
already form their opinion and arrive at a common decision as to whom to vote
for. If a voter is asked about the credentials of a candidate, he or she would
candidly express his or her opinion and that for whom he or she would cast the
vote. That is why the Gallup Polls are invariably correct barring some slight
variations. The candidates, who were already in power are judged by their past
performance, while the fresh competitors are prejudged for their promises. The
people are more appreciative of a person’s personal conduct, which means that if
he has not been very successful in his official capacity or on the official
assignment, he has been at least upright in his conduct and human relationship.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">President Richard Nixon can be considered as
the architect of Sino -American contact, which was a milestone in the Americans
foreign policy domain. That helped ease tension between the Chinese Communist
State and the United States and ultimately helped US to ease out of the
whirlpool of Viet Nam war. Yet ironically, he became the most condemned president
due to the Watergate affair. Although Watergate will remain a controversial
issue, the stigma and charge that he was heading a government, which came to
power through fraud, and cheating became the reason for him to step down
ignominiously. This allegation completely over-shadowed his sterling
achievements for the people of America and for the world peace. He had to leave
the presidency in disgrace, although the role of pro-democratic lobbyists was
central to the whole scandal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The pressure groups in America are always on
the lookout of undermining the dignity of such a leader whose policies or
political behavior goes against their interests. If these policies conform to
their wishes, he is spared despite wrong doings. But if he shows defiance and
persists in his policies, which go against the powerful special interest
lobbies and groups, he at an opportune moment is subjected to a tirade of
character assassination and unusual odium. Invariably there are backdoor
maneuverings that some time stem a tide against a candidate for an office. But
once the accusations come in the public limelight, there is no escape for the
accused. The courts too are absolutely strict in deciding matters purely on the
merit and fair-play.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Basically, it is the corporate interests which
endear or demonize a leader. As such he or she is exposed to some wrong doings
and thus remains vulnerable to making compromises. Retracting from such issues
as opposition to communism and supporting democracy is tantamount to violating
the spirit of the American liberal conversates and to certain extent from the
constitution of the United States. Every candidate exhibits the image of a
person who respects and practices moral values, who loves families, is compassionate
for elderly and children and less privileged sections of the society. The
elections in America have remained as a tough contest between
self-glorification and condemnation or censure of the opponents. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reagan
got elected twice due to his strong and beneficial economic policies. Partially
one can give him the credit for the downfall of communism and defeat of Soviet
Union in Afghanistan, although the process started during the Presidency of
Jimmy Carter. His economic policies suited the big business interests
particularly the weapon producers and dealers. Despite his remarkable
achievement, attempt was made on his life. George Bush was not only a favorite
candidate for the presidency as he not only destroyed the military might of
Iraq (built by America during Iraq Iran war) in 1991, but was able to attain
the much-coveted goal of maintaining American military presence in the Middle
East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Such a presence was unthinkable due to the
Muslim sentiment against the United States.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The role of press both print and electronic in molding
or at least influencing the American public opinion is formidable Although the
press can be adjudged as completely free it does convey and represent the
interests of various lobbies that are very strong in the USA. Such groups can
be ethnic, corporate, religious or patriotic. It is up to the press to treat an
ordinary affair or happening in a big way or a big event in an ordinary manner.
The element of sensationalizing crime, sex and the competition of the
celebrities, most notably the politicians is the favorite pastime of a
particular brand of press in United States. It is extremely difficult to tame,
bridle or appease this brand of media because the more one may rebuke them the
more, they turn hostile. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The press is independent and ruthless, both
partial and impartial and reigning supreme. Ironically the huge press
organizations, the powerful elite and rich members of strong ethnic groups own
business empires. But they cannot force and persuade the working journalists at
the lower level to go by their wishes and preferences. As a matter of fact,
politicians, by and large, and even on the whole remains hostage to the
press.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since dissent cannot be
suppressed, politicians can expect any kind of treatment from the press. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">What demolished President Richard Nixon were
the media and the press. It was again the press which kept Clinton constantly
on fire. The sexual misconduct of church has invariably come under the close
scrutiny and unsparing critique of the press. As a result; one can witness the
miserable plight of the church and the reformatory measures that have been set
into motion. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The judiciary can come into picture when there
is a dispute or an interpretation is needed about a certain caveat, interpretation
of laws, action or decisions of the governments and the departments and the
bills passed in Senate or the House. As stated above the decision of the
Supreme Court about the 2000 election in favor of G.W. Bush was a landmark
decision. It indeed helped averting a serious crisis which could have rocked
the entire American political system. That decision is still being viewed at
the public level as not being in consonance with the ground realities. But Al
Gore the rival candidate from the Democratic Party, accepted it in good faith.
Thus, a big controversy was averted in the national interest. Such is the
spirit and candor of the American political system which solicits
accommodation, sacrifice and tolerance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Primarily it is the Congress, which disposes
off the business concerning the elected representatives and Senators with
regard to any dispute about their credentials. But finally, it is the judiciary
which disqualifies the corrupt members of the Senate or house. For example, in
July 2015 a federal judge sentenced Malcolm Smith to seven years in prison, by
decreeing “that the former state Senate majority leader corrupted the
political process by trying to buy his way onto the ballot in a crooked bid to
become mayor of New York City.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The white population (of British origin) or the
descendants of the first discoverers or conquerors constitute 72 % of the total
population of about 3oo million Americans. The black population is 12 per cent
while the Hispanics are 11 %, at present. Keeping in view, the strong
heterogeneous trends, it is inconceivable that black or Hispanic can assume the
presidency of the United States in the foreseeable future. Although the
Hispanic population is growing fast, yet even by the year 2050, their number is
projected to be 30 % and black Africans trailing behind with 15 % of the whole
population. The other ethnic groups would be in the vicinity of 5%. It means
that although while the white population would come down to 50% from the
present level, they would still be numerically in a position to hold on to
power if the majority of the whites vote for the white candidate. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In another 50 years the integration of
Hispanics, the white migrants from East and West Europe would be so merged and
integrated that it would be utterly difficult to distinguish the white
non-Hispanics and the Hispanics. The demographic complexion having undergone a
big change, the Hispanics stand a bright chance to get into power as equal
partners or at least capture the Presidency by that time There could be as well
a possibility that the racial divide and bias might vanish and white Hispanics
may find themselves in majority to pursue the political ends one of which would
be to capture the presidency through electoral process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The black and Asian population would,
however, still remain marginalized for pretty longer period of time. They could
change their culture but not the pigments.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="color: #005500;"></span></i><br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-18452235505509482712019-10-19T14:13:00.000-05:002019-10-19T14:13:41.453-05:00<br />
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">June 27, 2019 </span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Imran Khan Should Focus on Rebuilding
Pakistan Than Targeting Political Rivals </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By
Saeed Qureshi </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The
PTI (Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaf) party is sitting in the saddle of power since 18
August 2018. It is the day when Imran Khan, the PTI Chairman took oath of the
office as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan. Out of that Five years tenure,
PTI has already exhausted ten months. The PTI and for that matter its Chairman
Imran Khan’s slogans, roadmap and pledges announced before and after elections
for bringing a remarkable revolution for the uplift of Pakistan were extremely
plausible and enticing. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">It
was an historic victory for PTI, a back bencher political party to defeat the
traditional political parties as well as the veteran politicians, and take over
power to rule Pakistan for five years. The young generation was in the lead
allover Pakistan in bringing the PTI and Imran Khan in power. There were quite
a few prolonged sit-in demonstrations in big cities of Pakistan and
specifically in Islamabad; the Capital city of Pakistan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">During
his victory speech, Imran Khan as prime minister laid-out the policy planks and
outlines of his future government. Khan therein said that his inspiration to
build Pakistan as a humanitarian state was based upon the foundations and
principles of the first Islamic State of Medina established by prophet Muhammad
himself. He announced that his future government will put poor and commoners of
the country at first and all policies will be geared towards elevating the
living standards of the lesser fortunate. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">He
promised an investigation into the allegations of election rigging. He said
that he wanted a united Pakistan and would refrain from victimizing his
political opponents. He pledged that everyone will be equal under the law. He
promised a simple and less costly government devoid of pomp and artificial
luster. He pointed out that the spacious Prime Minister house will be converted
into an educational institute and that the governor houses will be used for
public benefit. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">On
foreign policy, he declared to learn from China and hoped to have better
relations with Afghanistan, United States, India and the Middle East. He said
his government will strive to have a balanced relationship with Saudi Arabia
and Iran. The people of Pakistan were exuberant and excited for an historic
revolution and believed Pakistan to be emerging as a country advancing on the
path to the progress and prosperity and as a modern state in making. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Now
when we look around in Pakistan, we find just the opposing scenario unfolding
of what was promised by prime minister Imran Khan. The economy is in bad shape.
Pakistan seems to be worse than what it used to be during the previous
dispensation of PPPP and the PMLN. We find an overall and expanding
deterioration and pervasive decline in all spheres of national development as
well as the nation-building institutions. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">We
shudder to watch the television and the anchors announcing the rapid decline of
the Pakistan rupee and fattening of Dollar. There seems to be no stoppage in
this trend of Pakistan rupee getting weaker day by day and moment by moment.
Currently one U.S. dollar is equal to Rs. 164.00 which is an all-time high in
Pakistan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The
PTI failed to achieve Rs. 4435 billion taxes target. Fiscal deficit is Rs.3.6
trillion. So far it overspent 2000 billion dollars. Inflation has gone by 13%
and interest 15 %. Abolishing zero regime for exporters has caused low exports.
Imposing 27% custom duty on 2400 TAMFF lines is another blow to the export and
import business activity. At the same time PTI has procured 5 trillion rupees
from IMF and other international financial sources. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">What
has proven to be the bane of the PTI government is that it has engaged itself
in a useless wild goose chasing kind of pursuit against the political opponents
as its top priority. That priority or undertaking should have been left to the
concerned law and order agencies and related departments. The involvement of
the prime minister and his ministers with venomous declarations, vendetta
oaths, frightening challenges and dire threats hurled at the political
opponents have been a consistent pastime with the stalwarts of the incumbent
PTI government including the prime minister and his ministers. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Granted
that the politicians in the past, have been corrupt and grabbed money. Yet this
should be carried along with other urgent and indispensable reforms such as
bridling the worsening law and order situation including the daily murders,
thefts, highway robberies and break-ins and similar heinous crimes. Runaway
economy has to be bridled. Rupee has to be stabilized and exports to be
encouraged with more incentives and easy loans. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Thus
far, what the people come across is a kind of bitter blame game, rhetorical
rebuttals and vicious condemnation against the political rivals and party
leaders, launched by the foot soldiers and spokespersons such as Chaudhry Fawad
Hussain, (the former </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">information
minister and presently Federal Minister for Science and Technology), Madam
Firdaus Ashiq Awan, the fire- spitting advisor to the prime minister and other
stalwarts in power. This rancor and vendetta are so intense and unstinting that
the leaders of the opposition parties notably the PPPP and PMNL have been
implicated in corruption cases for which they had to remain in jail for a
prolonged period of time and are still being prosecuted. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Even
otherwise the culture of corruption and lawlessness is still in place. The PTI
government has not been able to carry out other measures and reforms that could
stop the pervasive culture of corruption all over Pakistan. It demonstrates
that the aim was not to root out corruption and lawlessness but to use that
ploy for fixing, harassing and sidelining the political opponents or political
contenders. That attitude and outlook is a barrier for democratic culture and
political freedom to the opposition leaders. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">There
should be an end to this kind of rancorous blame game and political
witch-hunting by the PTI government that is aimed at keeping the political
rivals out of politics and domain of democratic culture. The PTI government
should focus on launching such schemes, projects, programs and reforms that can
eliminate the overall poverty of the masses. It should enact laws and efforts
to root-out lawlessness, culture of crime and thuggery, moral and financial
malpractices in Pakistan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Along
with initiating financial and fiscal corruption cases against the politicians,
it should have initiated and launched programs, projects and reforms geared
towards nation building. It should aim at bringing relief to the people and
making their lives easy and comfortable as we can see in many countries elsewhere
in the world. A gigantic campaign of restructuring all public serving
departments and institutions such as education, agriculture judiciary,
infrastructure, road buildings, provision of water and electricity in every
house and business location. Besides Pakistan needs to create a civil society
by applying the local government systems and models of the countries such as
USA, Canada, Great Britain West Germany and Scandinavian States. That would
bring Pakistan in the comity of the fast developing and even developed nations
in due course of time. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">PTI
Government seems to be focused on wrong priorities. Primarily it is not a
question of fixing the politicians but improving and modernizing the state and
society of Pakistan, Pakistan needs modern models of education, health, jobs,
courts, infrastructure, roads, highways, modern sewerage and water supply
systems that we find in advanced countries. The dirt, the filth both physical,
moral and </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">similar
wicked pursuits should be rooted out by copying the systems enforced and in
place in developed countries. Turning Pakistan into a later day State of Medina
is all alright from moral and religious angles. However, the people need the
modern socio-civic living comforts such as electricity, water, roads, hospitals
hygiene peace and institutional efficiency. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Imran
Khan who lived in western countries and must be having awareness as to how
those countries are serving their people with galore of socio-civic facilities,
peace, law, order and harmony. Imran Khan can become the architect of a new,
modern, prosperous, civically advanced and a modern state of Pakistan.
Thereafter the people won’t flee and sneak legally or illegally to foreign
countries for better and peaceful living, jobs, security and galore of
socio-economic and civic facilities, true justice, accountability and safety. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Let
us not forget that Pakistan came into being after great efforts and colossal
sacrifices by the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent under the inimitable
leadership of Quaid-e- Azam-Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his illustrious companions
and cohorts. It looks Pakistan would be going through another phase of chaos
and turmoil caused by the meaningless tussle between the PTI government and the
opposition parties. If this bizarre situation prolongs or worsens, the army may
step in and impose martial law as we have witnessed in the past. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">In
the aftermath of the All Parties Conference, JUI Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman
announced in a press conference to observe July 25, 2019 as a Black Day against
what he accused of rigging in general elections. This might spur another crisis
that would entail oppressive retaliation by the PTI government embittering the
political climate further. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The
Writer is a Former Diplomat, Senior Journalist and Former Editor of Diplomatic
Times Published in Pakistan</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-23594288539819505462019-10-01T15:56:00.003-05:002019-10-01T16:02:51.331-05:00Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly Forum was Patriotic and Historic<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">September28, 2019</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">During his seven days visit to
the United States, Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the 74th session of the
United Nations General Assembly on September 27. He spoke for 52 minutes over
almost 40 issues. Yet the issues that he emphasized and that were most
important were Kashmir, Islamophobia, the bilateral relations between Pakistan
and India, the climate change, the rampant corruption and money laundering from
poor countries to the rich countries by wealthy and the rich robber barons
including the politicians and business tycoons.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">One is reminded that in a
similar situation in 1971, the then Pakistan’s prime minister Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto tore his speech and walked out of the session of the Security Council.
The Security Council members stalled the debate over Bangladesh separation
movement aided militarily by India and then Russia. Mr. Bhutto tore the papers
in his hand and walked out by saying that he “would not like to sit in a
council which was biased against Pakistan”.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Prime Minister Imran Khan
emphatically lamented that the United Nations lacks will to force Modi
government to lift a barbaric and prolonged Martial law to keep the nine
million Kashmiris confined to their houses now for 54 days by 9000 Indian armed
soldiers spread all over. Prime Minister called Modi a murderer of the
Muslims, a Hindu racist and a fanatic. The business centers and educational
institutions have been closed ever since the imposition of the inhuman martial
law. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Imran Khan compared Modi with
Hitler and Italian Prime minster Mussolini who were the upholder of racial
supremacy over other European races. Although ultimately, they had a miserable
end with Germany defeated on all fronts including the Russians resistance. But
those devastating wars were the outcome of the racist mindset of diabolic
persons in which millions of people in Europe and Russia perished. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Altogether he had some 50
meetings during his visit to the United States. In his meeting with Antonio
Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations he underscored the
responsibility of the world body to take urgent steps to save lives in
Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir dispute.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">In his meeting with president
Trump and the secretary of State </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pompeo" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Mike Pompeo</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">, the prime minister
discussed and raised emergent issues that concern the stability of Pakistan,
peace in the region including Iran versus Saudi Arabia, peace in Afghanistan,
and in the Indian subcontinent. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Imran Khan’s visit has revived
a genre of thoughtful diplomacy that adequately serves the interests of
Pakistan, peace with the neighbors and beyond of the Islamic world. He offered
even to solicit between Iran and the United States for peace in the region.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">In his press conference Imran
Khan explained how the term Islamophobia was being misused and exploited by the
enemies of Islam. He conveyed to the American leadership that while Pakistan
eliminated the terrorists in Pakistan and helped United States in Afghnistan in
her war against the terrorists and even Taliban, in return after 9/11 the
Islamic world was held responsible for the 9/11 attack. He lamented that even
the suicidal attacks by religious militants were related to Pakistan. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The prime minister argued that
Pakistan had been helping United States in her prolonged war in Afghanistan. He
said that 70000 Pakistanis lost their lives in the aftermath of the 9/11
happening at the hands of indigenous terrorist organizations one of which was
Taliban. Pakistan had to suffer for her support to the United States in
Afghanistan and that infuriated the Taliban and indigenous religious outfits
who turned on Pakistan with a vengeance and killed the people of Pakistan over
a prolonged period of time.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">In his press conference he
categorically announced that Modi was a small person, a habitual liar and enemy
of the Muslims living in India and elsewhere. Imran said that Modi was the
murderer of the minority sects in Gujrat. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">He questioned that when the
90000 Kashmiris will come out what would be situation? He expressed his deep
concern that there would be a mayhem and massacre of the Kashmiri Muslims. He
declared that if there was a war between India and Pakistan on Kashmir </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Pakistan would not remain aloof
and fight back on all fronts. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">He said that as the holocaust
pains both Jews and Christians, similarly the Muslims are tormented when Islam’s
prophet Muhammad were degraded by the opponents of Islam</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-7382486880613380372019-09-19T08:49:00.001-05:002019-09-19T08:55:35.678-05:0072 Years of Pakistan Gone Wasted!<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">September
17, 2019</span></span></b></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">
</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">72 Years of Pakistan
Gone Wasted!</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">By
Saeed Qureshi</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
religious zealots contend that Pakistan is a citadel of Islam, although most of
the religious parties opposed the creation of Pakistan. Pseudo nationalists
gloat that it is a nuclear power. I say Pakistan cannot be the second country
after the United States to use the atomic bomb under any circumstances as it
would receive the same in return.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Which
Pakistan are we talking about and proud of? The one with barricades and
barriers all over the land as if the whole country is a jail or a concentration
camp! Religious denominations and cults take pride and self-entertaining divine
blessing for massacring each other. The more this nation is getting into the
religious mindset the more barbaric, backward looking and intellectually
marooned it is becoming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">In
every locality or street, there are loudspeakers blurring sermons and Azan
(summoning for prayer) five times a day causing a lethal sound pollution. The people
defecate in the open or in manual home latrines, all the members taking turns.
The meagerly paid sweepers from scheduled castes carry away the heaps of human
excretion on a weekly basis and dump it in an open filth depot or dumpster (I
am not talking of Islamabad) where it rots for days till the rain washes it
away. The municipality trucks come once in a blue moon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">In
a sanitation and sewerage deficient country, if you find human refuse running
into open drains outside the houses, don’t take it seriously. If swarms of
mosquitoes and flees surround you all the way to your destination: be it
market, mosque and work place, take it as indifferently as part of a decadent
civic order. If the worms and bacteria cause deadly epidemics, don’t panic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Don’t
mind the mind-boggling traffic jams on the narrow roads as we are destined to
endure those and that by our faith, we are goaded to thank God in every
affliction. The puzzling and ear-splitting sound of smoke emitting rickshaws
and run-down buses are not eye sores because that is how Pakistan is supposed
to be. If the whole landscape, roads, footpaths, market places, grounds are
littered with garbage; such gory spectacles should not incense you as we have
been living under these abominable conditions since the inception of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1947. And Islam ordains cleanliness is half
faith (Iman).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">A
culture of dishonesty and deliberate delinquency pervades and sprouts in every
office: from presidency to make shift kiosks (khokhas). In offices burdened
with red tape and inefficiency and nepotism, the five times praying Muslims
prey upon the visitors and customers with full vengeance to pay for what they
were doing for them as public servants. It is called bribe or graft is simple
terminology.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
permits and licenses are for sale. If you need a connection for electricity or
water or gas or phone, don’t go straight to the concerned department with only
an application. Along the official fee take a service fee exclusively for the
official doing the needful. But still your name will be placed in the waiting
list. A letter from a political heavyweight or powerful bureaucrat would also
be helpful. Be aware nothing is done on merit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">After
72 years of Pakistan’s creation, it takes 90 minutes to cover a distance of 10
miles to and from Islamabad and Rawalpindi: the so-called sister cities in the
Potohar plateau. The police pickets, the road barriers, the para-military
contingents stop you to find if you are a suicide bomber. The social life in
the most protected cities has come to such a dreadful pass. I remember, as a
student, it would take maximum 45 minutes to reach Rawalpindi from Wah
cantonment by bus. Now this time is no less than three hours and one has to pay
toll tax at many places.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Go
to the Bara or Landi Kotal (tribal Business enclaves) to buy a 12-bore pistol
for a pittance. Come back to your city, get into a house for robbing or
forcible sex with a teenage girl or boy. One may also use it to kill his enemy
or opponents at will. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The police would
not know and would not like to probe who committed such a heinous crime because
these have become commonplace daring daily occurrence. But if you want to
indulge or watch a combined spree of robbing, killing, raping and extortion, go
to Karachi. And take care that you could also be targeted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Pakistan
is the most ideal place to witness murders and massacres for reasons ranging
from ethnic, sectarian, tribal, clannish, honor to land grabbing or just for
show off in streets. The poor raped young girls have to produce four
eyewitnesses to prove that they were raped. Is it possible? Law and order have
become razor-thin and no one cares who is killing and who is being killed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It is a tall order to explore who is raping whom, who is kidnapped
and who kidnaps. These are signs of doomsday but the prophesied doomsday has
already descended on the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Ironically Islam is a
religion of tolerance and peace as it commands that killing one person is
killing the whole humanity. Just imagine how many humanities have been killed
and are being killed in Pakistan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The new
generations of Pakistan boys, girls, toddlers, adolescents, are living in an
atmosphere of persistent fear, insecurity, bomb blasts, rape, arson, loot and
plunder, in filth, in dark and dingy streets, in a nauseating environment of
sound and filth pollution. They come out of the homes with a lurking fear of
being blasted or kidnapped and targeted for unspeakable heinous crimes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The food is
costly and adulterated, the drugs and medicines are spurious, and the water is
contaminated. The meat could be of a dog, a pig or mad cow. Who cares and
scrutinizes for such infringements! We never ponder how many young children are
forced to work with sex maniacs at auto workshops, restaurants or hotels or in
private homes as servants? How alarming the level of molestation of the
underage males and females is: no one bothers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The country
is in the grip of Thana and Patwari culture: the symbols of corruption and
vehicles of obsolete, moribund institutions started by Mughal emperor Akbar the
great, or the British colonialist. Caring a fig of what the law or the religion
obligates, invariably everyone from the president to a police constable seems
to be obsessed with making money through fair and fouls means alike. The whole
nation seems to have fallen into a morass of moral sleaze.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The contracts
are given in wrong and delinquents hands. The newly laid-out roads are washed off
in one shower of rain, the bridges dash to the ground not long after being
commissioned. If rental power generation units are purchased from foreign
sellers, it brings hefty commissions to buyers (Raja rental scandal) and crooks
are elevated to the higher positions. Pitiably such leased power units do not
produce a watt and are paid in advance to the tune of billions of rupees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">When poverty
grinds and inflation ruins the household, the crimes and prostitution sprout
and rob the people of modesty, honor and religious penchant. That is what is
happening in Pakistan and that country created in the name of Islam may turn
into another Thailand in due course.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The army was
there at the helm for half of Pakistan’s existence, a drunkard and lewd
military president held the first free elections and then equaled this good
deed by truncating Pakistan. Cessation of East Pakistan and surrender of a
Muslim army are those calumnies that cannot be washed off ever unless the river
Ganges starts flowing in the opposite direction and the sun starts rising from
the west. And during those crippling moments (surrender) several generals,
politicians and bureaucrats were reported drinking in five-star hotels with
their concubines. This is the story of a nation that claims that it ruled the sub-continent
of India for a thousand years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">If there was
no obscurantism until 1980 notwithstanding Bhutto turning Pakistan into another
Saudi Arabia. So, Pakistan an economically feeble and socially torn apart
country has to put-up two-pronged war: one with the enemy across the eastern
border, the other against Islamic militants rampaging the length and breadth of
Pakistan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Why in 65
years, the sermons and preaching of Muslim pontiffs failed to turn Pakistanis
into good citizens not to speak of good Muslims? Yet the dreary and ineffectual
sermons continue to foster sectarian hatred, reinforcing warnings of hellfire.
Alongside, the construction of new mosques remains apace uninhibited. If there
could not be one single model Islamic state in 1400 years, how one would hope
for that in the present times when old taboos and gospels are losing their
relevance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Which war is
for Islam and which one to safeguard the territorial integrity of Pakistan?
Pakistan is doomed as the menace of Taliban abetted and supported by external
abettors would not die nor surrender so soon. There is a noose of Islamic
militancy around the neck of Pakistan that is tightening by way of
proliferation of bomb blasts and violence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Can one dream
for the day when a true and patriotic leadership would take the reins of
Pakistan? Will that day dawn when the citizens would travel with a relief that
their lives would be safe and they won’t be molested, kidnapped or killed on
the way? Can we visualize a society when law and order would prevail and
dispensation of unhampered justice would be possible by nabbing the highest
culprits in government, aristocracy and from the elite classes? Would our
judges be upright and strong to uphold the law and not selling the justice? Can
our institutions, government departments and bureaucracy function even by a
fraction of other civil societies?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Can Pakistan
generate enough electricity that the word “load shedding” becomes obsolete? Can
everyone have access to schooling, medical facilities, drinking water and job?
Can we integrate the Islamic teachings into the established curricula and
syllabi and close the ghost schools imparting hatred and spurious Islam to the
students who come to Islamic nurseries due to poverty or ignorance? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Can we limit
the number of religious institutions and affiliate them with the national
educational system from the primary to the university level? Can we bring about
a national reconciliation? Can we eliminate the thugs, the crooks, the public
enemies, briber takers, the goons, and all those who have turned Pakistan into
one of the most dangerous and debased places to live? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Can
our roads be widened, railways modernized, bridges built, hidden natural
resources tapped and stalled projects such Kalabagh be undertaken? Can the
whole country be washed off the glut of dirt and mounting debris and trash? Can
the cities be embraced with centralized sewerage system? Can we check the
burgeoning population so that the resources can be better utilized?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Can
we elect a leadership that is visionary, selfless, imbued with nationalistic
spirit, progressive and dedicated to promote a democratic culture and
liberalizing the society? Can a stable, democratic, economically prosperous and
socially liberal, and civically a modern Pakistan be rebuilt? The list of
challenges is endless.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It primarily
depends upon the quality of the leadership that we choose.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-89410441943259771062019-07-26T19:55:00.002-05:002019-07-26T19:57:29.562-05:00A Magnificent Mushaira Hosted by Al-Noor International<b><u><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">July 26, 2019</span></u></b><br />
<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">On July 19
instant a remarkable International Mushaira was hosted by “AL-Noor
International” whose president as well as founder is the famous poet and social
figure Dr. Noor Amrohavi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Noor Amrohavi has been hosting such literary
functions including the poetry sessions for almost 16 years. This Mushaira was
unique and excellent because not only that the local poets participated but
also the famous poets from India as well took part.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The guest poets
were</span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
Abbas Tabish, Shakeel jazib, Rehman Faris, Lata Haya, Khalid Irfan, Hammad Khan
and Aqeel Ashraf. All the guest poets were highly appreciated. However, Lata
Haya was tremendously applauded for her unique and enticing poetry as well the
style of presentation. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The local poets who presented
their poetry were:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Saeed Qureshi, Yunus
Ijaz, Masood Quazi, Nahid Shaad, Zohra Chishti, Shaikh Ijaz, Pramod Rajput, Dr
Amer Suleman, Asif Nathani, Farhan Syed, Shazia Khan and Noor Amrohavi (the
host) </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">This unique poetry congregation was held in a spacious hall of Funasia.
Funasia is the most sought-after place for holding meetings, social and
cultural functions for over a decade now. The Mushaira was conducted by the
host: Noor Amrohavi himself. It was presided by a senior poet Iqbal Hyder. The chief
guest on the stage was Dr. Shamsa Qureshi. Dr. Shamsa is not only an excellent
poetess but has a reputation of being a patron, philanthropist and a generous
donor for social and poetry functions. </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Azhar Aziz was t</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">he </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Guest of honor.</span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The
roles and contribution of other persons towards making this Mushaira a great
success is as under:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">It was one of the most laudable and successful Mushairas held in
DFW in recent years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">This Mushaira last for over four hours with tremendous response and
approbation from the audience. The specious hall was filled to its capacity and
additional seating arrangements were made for the overflowing audience. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Every poet was
dully and enormously applauded by the audience. The audience remained glued to
their seats until midnight. At the end of the Mushaira, the host Noor Amrohavi thanked
the poets as well as the audience for participation and gracing that rare and
most successful and glamorous poetic session. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">This report would be incomplete
if the names of the organizing Committee are not mentioned. As a matter of
fact, most of the credit goes to the committee that organized this memorable
mushaira and ensured its success. The name of the committee are as follows: </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
Shawkat Mohammad, Shazia Khan, Mohammad Shah, Irfan Ali, Saleha Hyder, Zehra
Khan, Pramod Rajput, Arshad Chishti, Mohammad Ali Siddiqui and Shabnam Yusuf.</span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #201f1e; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">There was quite a novel and
interesting way of welcoming the poets to the stage. As soon as a poet would
step on the dice, a shower of flowers would be released from a device placed on
the entry part of the stage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The flowers
would partially fall on the poet and partially over the stage. At the same time,
there would be a sound heralding the arrival of the poet on the stage. As a
poet myself, I have seen for the first time, this entertaining and interesting
mode of welcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">At the end of
the Mushaira a sumptuous dinner was served to the poets both local and the
guests.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-56495390229409418112019-07-11T15:14:00.000-05:002019-07-11T15:18:29.196-05:00Hopefully There Won’t Be A Fourth Martial Law in Pakistan <b><u><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">July 9, 2019</span></u></b><br />
<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">By
Saeed Qureshi</span></b><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">There have been three
successful military coups in Pakistan replacing the elected civilian
governments with the army rule. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The first such coup took place
in 1958 when the first </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_President" target="_blank" title="Pakistani President"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Pakistani President</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> Major General </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iskander_Mirza" target="_blank" title="Iskander Mirza"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Iskandar Mirza</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> dismissed the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constituent_Assembly_of_Pakistan" target="_blank" title="Constituent Assembly of Pakistan"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Constituent Assembly of
Pakistan</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> and the government of Prime Minister </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feroz_Khan_Noon" target="_blank" title="Feroz Khan Noon"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Firoz Khan Noon</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">. President General Mirza
appointed the then army commander-in-chief Gen. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayub_Khan_(Field_Marshal)" target="_blank" title="Ayub Khan (Field Marshal)"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Ayub Khan</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> as the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_martial_law_administrator" target="_blank" title="Chief martial law administrator"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Chief Martial Law Administrator</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">. Thirteen days later, general Ayub Khan exiled Mirza and
appointed himself as the President of Pakistan. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The second military </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27etat" target="_blank" title="Coup d'etat"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">coup d’état</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> codenamed as “Operation Fair Play” was led at midnight on July 4,
1977 by the then Chief of Army Staff General </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Zia-ul-Haq" target="_blank" title="Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Zia-Ul Haq</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">, against the government of
-Prime Minister </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulfikar_Ali_Bhutto" target="_blank" title="Zulfikar Ali Bhutto"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Zulfikar Ali Bhutto</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">. Bhutto was arrested and
lodged in Rawalpindi Jail where he remained until his death by hanging on April
4, 1987( at the age of 51 years) .General Zia dissolved the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_of_Pakistan" target="_blank" title="National Assembly of Pakistan"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">National Assembly </span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">and all the provincial assemblies. He also suspended the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Pakistan" target="_blank" title="Constitution of Pakistan"><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Constitution of Pakistan</span></a><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The third military coup
happened in October 1999 by the then army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf along
with his loyal senior officers against the PML government headed by prime
minister Nawaz Sharif. That military coup was conducted in retaliation to Nawaz
Sharif’s attempt to dismiss Musharraf and prevent his plane from landing in
Pakistan after his visit to Sri Lanka.</span><b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">In Pakistan,
besides these three successful military coups, there have also been
unsuccessful military coup attempts carried out in 1951, 1980 and 1995.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">All the
above-mentioned military take-overs were the result of the political chaos and
failure of the respective elected governments in promoting and establishing the
veritable democratic political culture. The ousted leaders and the governments,
failed wholly or partially, in serving the people as well as the country with
dedication, indulgence and sincerity. They were hard and oppressive with their rival
political parties and failed to deliver for betterment of the country and the
people of Pakistan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The democracy
fructifies not by the people in power alone but also by the opposition parties
as well. The role of the opposition is to keep a watch over the incumbent
governments and to point out where these fail or falter in serving the people, the
democracy and the country as mandated by the constitution and in accordance
with their manifestos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">If the
incumbent PTI government’s agenda is only to come with a heavy hand on the
opposition leaders and parties and represses their leaders with vindictive
decisions and policies, then neither would the country move forward, nor the
democratic culture and freedom of expression can prosper. An elected government
by the popular mandate should not turn into a kind of a civilian dictatorship.
It should rather give priority to alleviating the peoples’ sufferings and resolving
their day to day problems for a better living. The accountability of the
corrupt leaders and politicians should be left to the relevant departments,
courts and institutions to deal. To these departments, the PTI regime can
provide all facilities and support to carry out their job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">What a common
man generally feels is that the PTI government has not shown any meaningful
progress in industrial, economic, social and other nation building sectors such
as education, health, agriculture, industry, cost of living, prices, law and order
and so on. On the contrary, during almost a year in power, while sidetracking uplift
of the Pakistan, it has been engaged in harassing, suppressing, condemning, jailing
and curbing the opposition parties, most notably the PMNL, PPPP, JUI and JI. The
PTI government would complete its full one year in power on August 18, 2019.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The unfulfilled
pledges for prevalence and promotion of parliamentary democracy, the arrests
and jailing of the opposition parties leaders, <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>the wanton statements issued by the prime minister
cutting across the national interests, the squander of public funds, and a
casual and regal way of governing the country might create a justification for
the army to re-enter the power corridors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">It would be a
benighted day if fifth Martial Law is imposed on Pakistan. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If it happens then it would be solely due to the
uncalled and unnecessary mutual rivalry between the party in power and those of
opposition, their aversion for each other, mutual political battling and
undemocratic and intolerant behavior. But who can stop the inevitable? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Presently the
onus falls on PTI and prime minister Imran Khan who are busy in fulfilling personal
vendettas and fixing only the rival politicians while the mammoth issues for
reconstruction of Pakistan and the nation building are pushed aside. The prime
minister whom I voted for has arrogated to himself the exclusive distinction of
being a past master in issuing meaningless threats to the opposition leaders of
dire consequences, in double speak and back-tracking from his solemn electoral commitments
to put Pakistan on the road to progress and prosperity and fashion it as a
developed state. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The PTI
government has put its pledges and mandate announced during the election
campaign for the uplift of Pakistan and the nation on the back burner. Prime
Minister Imran Khan seems to be personally involved in condemning and catching
the opposition leaders by repeating the threat such as “I shall not leave you
and would punish you”. Granted that he wants to eliminate corruption in
Pakistan but this task should be left to the judiciary and relevant institutions
to accomplish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">It seems as if
he is entirely riveted on eliminating and fixing the corruption and its
perpetrators. It is a goal that might not be achieved alone by the PTI
government in five years’ tenure and can be carried out along other
indispensable reforms. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He should take
the opposition along in achieving this gigantic goals of rebuilding Pakistan. Besides
the pledges to curb the corruption (which is not confined to only to the political
leaders) he should not ignore or sidetrack the fundamental task of uplifting
Pakistan as a viable state in all respects. He should focus on alleviating the countless
sufferings of the people by way of quick and inexpensive social and legal justice,
low and affordable prices of commodities and food items, good roads,
cleanliness, safety, law and order and free or affordable education for all and
so on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The industrial
and agricultural sectors need utmost and urgent attention and a rapid road map
for uplift. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Safety from the persistent
and prevailing menace of lawlessness and mushrooming crimes, institutional
breakdown such as transportation and railways, paucity of water, shortage and
unremitting outrages of electric power, filth and dirt in every city and town
and village of Pakistan. All these goals and reforms have been promised by PTI and
personally Imran Khan in his speeches and interviews prior to the latest
general elections held on July 25, 2018. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The Pakistan army
that had surged in Pakistan as a savior in the turbulent times, may not ignore
the widespread public unrest and their woes due to appalling civic and social
problems, sky rocketing cost of living, poor governance,<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>poor economy, fragile law and order situation
and the tussle between the government and the opposition parties <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The top
brass of the Pakistan army might also be getting apprehensive of the policies
of the ongoing PTI government.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">If army rule is imposed on
Pakistan then this time the martial law won’t be as a benign as it was that of Field
Marshal Ayub Khan or even Musharraf. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
would spell doom for the politicians as well as sleazy rulers in shape of the
nemesis that any army is perfectly capable of delivering. There could be a
mayhem, arrests and martial law courts’ proceedings. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">My humble
suggestion to the honorable prime minister of Pakistan is to minimize his
personal onslaught against the rival politicians. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They should be judged and punished by the police,
the judiciary and the relevant accountability institutions. He should hold a
national conference and exhort his political opponents and contenders to join
hands in the most urgent task of nation building, alleviation of the countless
sufferings of the people and laying down the foundations of Pakistan in order to
shape up as a developed nation and<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>a modern
state which we <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>witness in Europe and even
in Islamic states such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey. If he embarks
on this path he would be remembered as the architect of a democratic, advanced,
rich and modern Pakistan.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-24881438860920774192019-07-11T14:38:00.000-05:002019-07-11T15:23:27.632-05:00Idealism and Ambiguities in Religions<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: transparent; color: #999999; font-family: "trebuchet ms","trebuchet","arial","verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10.4px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2.08px; line-height: 14.56px; margin: 15.6px 0px 5.2px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</b></h2>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font: 700 14.66px / 24px "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">June 24, 2019</span><b></b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><u></u></div>
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Undoubtedly the teachings and principles of all religions are good. But despite this essential goodness the religions remain as one of the leading vehicles for divisions and feuds entailing massacres, killings and genocides among the human race. Perhaps it would
be pertinent to say that more humans have been killed because of religions than any other cause. The clash and conflict are not only between the adherents of different or rival religions but also between the faithful and sects within one religion such as Shias
and Sunnis in Islam and Catholics and Protestants in the Christianity. The religions, instead of promoting harmony and peace among the human race, are engaged in eliminating and vanquishing each other.
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To the extent of believing in God and moral and ethical precepts, religions are all right but to impose them on those who differ is not acceptable or desirable. But when it comes to the dispensation of mundane, secular, social, economic and political matters,
only such religious injunctions should be allowed that are commensurate with the imperative and parameters of the modern societies. Besides the typical cultures of various religious societies, another kind of culture is emerging which can be rightly called
universal culture.</div>
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The universal culture is based upon the revolutionary advancement in the information and communication domains. Now whatever happens in one part of the world is known immediately in the rest of the world. The exchange of information is now being commonly shared
by all religious and secular societies. The best way out to check the bloodshed by the religious fanatics is to contain religions from having least say in the affairs of the state.</div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>All the religions and denominations should be allowed to function in a state and society. But it should not be binding for everyone to follow it for the sake of politics and other perks that are doled out to the followers of the religions
professed by the state. The Scriptures profess and predict a great and final clash between the rival religions. Now who is faithful and who is not is yet another controversy that remains unsettled. It means religions inherently approve and augur a great and
decisive clash between religions. As such the universal harmony and peace seems to be elusive and far-fetched and unattainable.
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<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As explained earlier, the religious teachings are in their very essence absolute and ideal. According to the religious dogma, by following the beliefs and observing the religious assignments one can win the blessings of almighty
God in this world and paradise that offers ideal pleasure in the hereafter. This is primarily about the Abrahamic religions. For other religions such as Hinduism, the soul survives after death and becomes part of the eternal power after it is purified of all
the sins by going through various reincarnations. </span></h1>
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<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The concept of punishment and reward for good and bad deeds is also ideal as can be seen in the teachings of various religions. It is the underlying idealism that at once fascinates a person who can go to any length according
to his faculties, stamina and powers to follow these teachings and induce and preach others to follow them as well.
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thus, religion assumes the form of an institution or cult, which becomes rigid in its pursuits and constitution. Those among the followers can do anything in the name of religion and their beliefs, provided the interpretations
by the demagogues and clerics so demand. The resistance and defiance to the extent of enmity in safeguarding one’s beliefs assume such stubborn proportions that one would be prepared to lay down one’s life or kill others if need arises.
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The apostasy of the followers of other religions in contrast and comparison to the sanctity or inviolability of one’s own religion is rigidly stamped or embedded in the minds of religious believers. The religious extremism is
the natural offshoot of one’s rigid belief. It further leads to bias, prejudices and bigotry. The hatred between cults and denominations within a religion and between the religions at large turn into hatred that gives them license and sanction to kill the
non believers of their religion.</span></h1>
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Irrespective of the exhortations of the founders of religions to live in peace with all and retaliate only when attacked, the religious bodies, individuals and nations engage in religious wars to stamp out the religious opponents and establish their religious
fiats. In the name of religions, dreadful and genocidal wars between countries and nations have taken place which for the victorious led to the ethnic cleansing of the vanquished contenders. The humanity has seen so much bloodshed and destruction in the name
of religions than for other reasons.</div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>The Jews versus Christians and Islam versus Christianity entails countless battles and confrontations in which horrendous crimes and massacres were committed by one segment of humanity against the other. If these wars were for territory,
loot and plunder by the strong against the weak, these could be justified because that is how the human nature is all about. But many of these wars were fought in the name of God and faith. Although the religions would never condone or teach mutual destruction
by the human beings. <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>According to the faith in all major and religions God loves all human beings and religious teachings essentially goad and exhort peace on earth.</div>
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Then what went wrong? Either religions are not from God or God himself doesn’t want to meddle in human affairs. Or else even if the religions were revealed on prophets, the succeeding religious
preachers, clerics and the theologians wrongly, diversely and multifariously interpreted the religious codes and precepts. We have countless sub beliefs in all the major religions that are decidedly due to the difference of opinions or because of diverse or
multiple explanations of religious injunctions. </div>
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If in the jungle of various and colliding elucidations, a common man is perplexed and gets entangled into a particular sectarian belief then he or she should not be blamed for this. One mostly follows the family religion or the parents’ religion that remains
embedded in his mind. By believing that the others were profaning their God and faith, the followers of the opposing sects or religions would not only vigorously dispute and resist such efforts but use force, coercion and terror against their religious rivals.</div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>If God’s universe is perfect and flawless and is based on absolute scientific principles, then the religions that govern the human societies and lives of the human being must also be perfect and beyond confusion and controversy. Instead
that a religion should be internally divided and fragmented into divergent beliefs, there should be rather one religion with immutable guidelines for humanity. The reason for fragmentation and factionalism between religions and within religions is that these
were mostly creation of human mind, unwritten, not meticulously documented or carefully preserved in original forms. If one would cram a certain saying it could carry different meanings and connotations when reaching others in subsequent times.</div>
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The religious teachings cannot cover all facets and aspects of human life or society. Primarily otherwise religions basically are confined to the belief in God and the rituals of prayers. The worldly matters such as economy, scientific discoveries, social,
medical and countless other aspects of human knowledge and dimensions that are progressively expanding have been, scantily or perfunctory mentioned in the holy books of all religions.
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The remedies of most of the individual or social ills are suggested in shape of prayers or at best herbal recipes. Moreover, they don’t cover all the coming times and ages, as the founders of the religions would have no idea what would be the shape of the human
societies in the future. They would predict things about the future in a roundabout manner that looks foggy and far fetched and far from conditions than what we see today.</div>
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Religions are the product of the primitive ages when human societies in different parts of the world had not been so enlightened and knowledgeable as we can see in the modern times. Primarily all prophets were reformers. Their focus was on removing the immoral
practices and social evils in the society of their own times. But since they did not have armies or military power at the start, they would claim to be representing God as a power that was more powerful than any earthly power or individual or a nation. With
a mixture of fear and allurement of earning the pleasure of such a power they would succeed in their endeavors of reforming the society. The simple recipe was: either you accept the pleasure or wrath of God. They took God for granted and on their side because
they earnestly believed that they were on the right path and were pursuing the right cause.</div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Once their message was set in motion and they gained recognition, the movement or the religion would not stop but move forward. The devotees and the followers would keep the new movement alive and vibrant with the spirit of sacrifice
and complete dedication. These reformers and prophets were not cheating, imposters or hypocrites. They would honestly and sincerely believe that since they wanted good of the people, they were doing the right thing with the blessings and patronage of God.</div>
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There should be only one religions that must be a scientifically and rationally irrefutable, truthful and readily acceptable for the people of all times if it was sent by God. Unless God himself wished to create this confusion and division of beliefs in the religions,
the whole motif and plethora of religions, seems to be ridden with guess work and mere speculation. From the creation of God to the universe and the mankind and whatever we feel or see around in shape of matter or electromagnetic radiation and gravity etc
theology has a speculative approach. </div>
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Now unless there was undeniable proof that God created the universe and all the existence in six days which only God himself can proffer, we can simply remain befuddled (if we question such a natural phenomenon) that how come this would happen in a matter of
six days when before any creation there was no time or space not to speak of days. If one believes that the days were created before the matter, then it is not born out by the scriptures.</div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>The concept of days is relevant on earth. Therefore, should be also expect of God to do his creation according to the earthly parameters and natural phenomenon such as days and nights which are mere result from the rising and setting
of the sun. The six days’ dogma of creation is written in the Bible that is believed by the Jews, the Christians and Muslims. But the Muslims also believe that God created the universe by merely uttering the word “BE” and the universe came into being at once.</div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>This Islamic dogma comes closer to the theory of big bang. Both these theories militate against the contention that universe and God are eternal and therefore there was no beginning and no end. Then the controversy and the divergence
whether God was a spirit as believed in some oriental religions or he is a being as believed in three main Abrahamic religions or else that God didn’t exist as believed by atheists or agnostics. If God had created religions or sponsored religions to manifest
him in existence, then all these religions must have known the exact nature of God and the way the universe was created. So, either all the religions are merely resorting to kite flying or one of them is right. But how far right no one can say with certainly
as there is no evidence whether their interpretation of God’s nature and the creation of the universe were right or wrong.</div>
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May be God likes diversity instead of uniformity, as manifested in case of a galore of religions and cults that abound in the human society. But then it puts into doubt and shatters the belief that God created the universe in a particular way but did not spell
out or disclose to his chosen apostles the way he did it. At least on the question of creation of the universe there should be no differing opinions as God created the universe only in one way. But if the creation of the universe was a recurring and continuing
phenomenon then it should have also been known to the prophets who claim to know the secrets of the universe and the nature of the genesis.</div>
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The more the number of religions and cults, the more the number of vested interests, such as clergy, papal authorities, the theologians, the clerics and the bigots and the ascetics thriving on them with a crowd of dedicated followers. They enjoy privileged
positions and reverence that an ordinary person or even a ruler cannot command. But since conflict and divergence is in the very nature of all existence God cannot meddle into ironing out the differences and discords in religious as all these religious doctrines
are purely human. God would not interfere in human affairs because if he does, he should eliminate all bad spots and make the world a heaven that should be free from all ideological conflicts. But at least the divine authority must spell out some how that
the diversity of beliefs carried his approval or at least he does not view the divisions of religions with disapproval.
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In that situation then all the religions must be right as God allows them to exist side by side, each one offering speculations about the start of the universe and our own existence. But if God approves one or more than one religion, then there must be some
divine intervention or way-out to know which was right and which was not or how far one was right and in what proportions was it wrong. In the conflicting or confusing situation religions vie with each other and in a bid to outsmart each other they would go
to any extent for establishing their bona-fide and prove others as fake and phony. Hence all this bloodshed and continuing militancy between the religions</div>
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Religions get rid of the extremely thorny and tedious questions such as the creation of the universe by saying that God made it at such and such time. For instance, Islam says that it was created in a moment when God said let it be and it came into existence
although it is also written in the Quran that it was created in six days’ period which corresponds to the dogma held by both Christianity and the Judaism about the creation of the universe. But beyond that the religions have no explanation about the intricacies
of existence and the absolute scientific principles involved in it. </div>
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Of course, the creation of all life, matter and space is the work of God but what scientific formulae were involved any religion has no answer. It is the science itself that has unraveled (not entirely) the amazing information, intelligence and the interplay
of countless forces, time period and rigid principles that were applied and that form the basis of the creation or whatever we see or can perceive. The science as compared to the religious dogmas, has much better understood the intelligent design and the creation
by giving the modus-operandi and the conditions under which all creation came into being. So, we can say that science, instead of religion was more of divine nature as the latter compels one to blindly believe instead of questioning. While the religions are
subjective, the science is thoroughly and essentially based on query, investigation and objective analysis of the phenomena. Religions tend to be perfunctory and superficial, and speculative about the mysteries behind the creation while science gives us calculations,
rationale, concrete information and data to prove as to how the universe came into being and how it progressed and when the life started.
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the religions merely explain this world of ours in terms of days and nights, weathers and seasons, sky, stars, oceans and water, trees flowers, birds, animals etc. What makes most of the religious dogmas debatable and shorn of actuality is that all these have
been explained or mentioned by the humans themselves. Whether the dogma is about the creation of God, universe, human beings and the phenomenon of birth and death and the life thereafter, every aspect of belief and reasoning is shrouded in mystery and tantamount
to mere bland statements. The religious conception that before existence there was darkness is a subject of contradiction because the existence of darkness itself is a proof of something that was already in existence. The darkness must have existed within
a space, which means that space was also there. As such to believe that there was nothing before the creation of the world is certainly not true.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-80529428988114037782019-06-19T21:07:00.003-05:002019-06-19T21:20:44.329-05:00IMRAN KHAN AND THE STATE OF MEDINA<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="background: white; border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">June 14, 2019</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">By
Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"></span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Imran
Khan’s aim and manifesto to turn Pakistan into a later day state of Medina
ignores the huge cultural, educational, social, economic technological,
scientific and political differences and size populations between a modern
state and a primitive state notwithstanding the aspect of faith or religion. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">First
of all, the Medina State was established and guided by the Prophet Muhammad
blessed with divine guidance fashioned the first Islamic State in Medina. The
holy Prophet was law unto himself. Yet the establishment and running of the new
state was not an easy task even for the Prophet. In the city of Mecca, he had
to face persistent opposition from the people who worshiped idols. </span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The
declaration of Prophet Muhammad to be a Prophet appointed by God almighty was
intensely and venomously resisted by the Meccans that there was a threat to his
life as well. Despite earlier success and a sizable number of citizens
turning Muslims, he had to secretly migrate to city of Medina (200 miles from
Mecca) along with his close associate Abu Bakr, his father in law and later the
first caliph of the Islamic caliphate. </span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">That
journey was perilous and hazardous. There was persistent fear of the infidels
chasing them. On the way they hid in a cave named “Saur” near Mecca city for
three days. They started their journey on September 12, 623 AD and reached
Medina after 12 days. The people in Medina received the Prophet with great
affection and respect.</span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The
main outcome of migration to Medina was the attainment of safe haven where the
Prophet could continue his divine message of calling the non-Muslims to Islam
and having belief in one God. With his stay in Medina quite safe and
comfortable, the Prophet was keen to spread his divine message far and wide and
particularly in Mecca where he was born and received divine blessing of being
the Prophet. There were four battles fought between the infidels of Mecca
and the Muslims of Medina. These were Battle of Badar, Uhad, the Khandaq
(Trenches) and finally the conquest of Mecca by the Islamic army under the
command of the prophet. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The
contours of Islamic governance and state were established and continued during
the stay of the Prophet in Medina until his demise in June 632 AD. As stated,
earlier Medina was a safe city for the Prophet and his Muslim believers to pray
and preach Islam. However, their entry into the city of Mecca. Mecca was
the holiest city for being the abode of House of God (Khana Kaaba) and the city
of pilgrimage. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">After
the demise of the holy Prophet three of his pious companions succeeded him as
the caliph. However, after the assassination of Hazrat Usman the third caliph,
the cousin brother of Prophet Muhammad as well as his son in Law Hazrat Ali was
proclaimed as the fourth caliph. His appointment was contested by the governor
of Kufa, Amir Muawiyya, a prominent leader of the Ummayad tribe. From there
onward that tussle for power continued between the Ummayad clan and the Banu
Hashim tribe. That ideological tussle continues to this day between Sunnis and
Shias. The Shias believe that the right of caliphate for the family of Prophet
was usurped by the Umayyad leaders. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">It
should also be seen that the Islamic caliphate or state had two governments or
regimes at the same time. This situation nullified not only the unity and
peace within Islamic nation but turned into bloody conflicts entailing
countless Muslims dying on both the sides. This bizarre situation not only
manifested the division of the Islamic caliphate politically but in the
believers as well. </span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">This gory situation is manifested from the fighting between
the Banu Umayyad tribe and Banu Hashim including the fourth caliph Hazrat Ali
and his two sons Hasan and Hussain against Amir Muawiyya and his son Yazid and
their progeny. As a result, Banu Omayyad established their rule and caliphate
in Iraq Iran and most of the Middle East. </span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Later
the Banu Abbas revolted against the Omayyad and killed their top brass family
members. Omayyad last ruler Abdur Rehman fled to Spain where he established an
Omayyad Islamic dynasty (lasted 600 years). Thus, the Islamic state was divided
into hostile caliphates killing and attacking each other. As such which Islamic
unity are, we talking in history. As such the state of Medina was only for such
time as the Prophet was alive. Thereafter, it led to power grabbing and
fighting between the tribes and sects particularly Sunnis and Shias. It is a
perennial religious animosity that continues to this day. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The
expansion of Islam and the Islamic state by preaching and in overcoming the
opponents was still continued and remained in vogues during the successive
followers or caliphs after the demise of the Prophet During the lifetime of the
prophet, Medina city was attacked by the Meccan army led by <span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Abu Sufyan</span> with an army of 10,000 fighters. It
is called the “Battle of Trenches” (February 627). </span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">If Muslims had lost this
wart and infidels won, it would have led to colossal disaster and annihilation
of the new Muslims both migrants and local inhabitants. It would have even
resulted in halting or end of the preaching of Islam. Also, if the local
hostile tribes in Medina would have succeeded, preaching of Islam could have
been adversely affected and might have come to an end. </span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">However,
the State of Medina was not an abode of peace and cohesion. The simmering
animosity between the non-Muslims and the Muslims as well as permanent
residents and the immigrants remained alive. The lands of the non/Muslim
residents of Madina were taken over by the Muslims. It should also be
noted that out of four succeeding caliphs of Prophet Muhammad, three were
killed by the hostile assassins. It shows that the State of Medina was exposed
to many serious dangers to the survival of both the new religion and its later
day adherents and even caliphs. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Prophet
Muhammad and later the caliphs had not only to wage crusades against their
adversaries in Mecca but also subdued the local dissidents, mostly the desert
tribes and the Jewish tribes particularly settled in the city of Khyber. After
the demise of the Prophet, the caliphate of four caliphs remained engaged
conquering the territories beyond Medina including the most famous place Khyber
fort and city belonging to the Jews.</span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">This
conquest for territories and Islamization continued during the three pious
caliphs. These were followed by Umayyad and Abbasid family dynasties which were
established in the entire Middle East including Iraq, Syria, Palestine. However
later the Abbasid and Omayyad snatched the caliphate from the Banu Hashim as
evidenced by the fighting between caliph Hazrat Ali and Amir Muawiyya the
Omayyad governor of Kufa. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">As
such the pristine state of Medina lost its cohesion and luster and it fell prey
to power grabbing between the rival tribes. Hazrat Ali belonged to Banu
Hashim clan or Prophet’s tribe while the three caliphs were from other tribes
or clans. It led to the beginning of the tussle for the attainment of power
between the tribes of Hashemite and Omayyad tribes. </span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">After the martyrdom
of Ali, his two sons Hasan and Hussain carried on the fighting against Muawiyya
and his successor son Yazid. In a battle Hasan withdrew from fighting and
returned to Madina at the behest of Muawiyya with promise of a handsome regular
remuneration which he was receiving until his death. The cause of his
death at a young age is said to be poison given to him by one of his wives at
the behest of Muawiyya. </span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">After
Hasan, his younger brother Hussain resumed crusade against Muawiya’s son Yazid.
In that conflict he lost his life along with his scant number of fighters in
the field of Kerbala. Kerbala, is a city in central <span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Iraq</span>, located about 100 km southwest of <span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Baghdad</span>. </span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The female family members were
disgraced and returned to Madina. Each year the Shias observe the martyrdom of
Imam Hussain during the Islamic month of Muharram for ten days. During that
period, they display grief and condemn and debase Muawiya and his son Yazid
and other Ummayad stalwarts. </span></div>
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">This
part of Islamic history raises a question as to why the Muslim Umma( nation) was
disunited and preaching and practice of one code of Islam remained unfulfilled.</span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-4882238036145757752019-06-19T20:43:00.000-05:002019-06-19T21:15:58.382-05:00 BILWAL BHUTTO HAS COME OF AGE POLITICALLY <b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">April 1, 2019</span></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Bilawal Zardari Bhutto assumed the office of the Chairman of the
Pakistan People’s Party on December 30, 2007. Then he was barely 19 years old.
Now he is 30 years. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">His mother and the chairperson of PPP Benazir Bhutto was killed in
Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007 while going out of the pavilion after
addressing a huge public meeting. In a span of 12 years, Bilawal Bhutto has
been transformed into an enlightened and a mature politician. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">His father Asif Ali Zardari took a momentous decision to appoint
him as the head of PPP which is a leading political Party of Pakistan. Asif Ali
Zardari himself remained as the president of Pakistan for five year from
September 2008 to Sept 2013. Bilawal Bhutto had attained his education in
England at Christ Church Oxford. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">When he took over the reins of the PPP in 2007, yet at that time,
he was indeed a novice both in terms of expression in Urdu language and
understanding of the political landscape and culture of Pakistan. His speech
was tainted with English accent and his approach to the political issues was
still unripe.</span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> His public utterances had been
incoherent and interspersed with odd and occasional uncalled for outbursts.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Yet presently if you watch him answering questions or his tone and
tenor with journalists, it is a different Bilawal Bhutto than what was used to
be at the initially stage of his leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party. Now
in casual encounters with the journalists, he speaks a much-refined Urdu
dialect than what it used to be earlier. His demeanor seems to be packed with
confidence, awareness and even tinge of humor about the variety of issues that
the people of Pakistan and country are faced with.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Although one may point out that if the PPP wins the next
general elections, he would look too young at the age of 30 to become the Prime
Minister of Pakistan. Yet such a precedent can be seen in his mother Benazir
Bhutto who became the chairperson of PPP Pakistan when she was 29 years of age.
(born on June 21, 1953)</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Lately, Bilawal’s outbursts, his roaring in public speaking as
well as high-pitched statements and speeches in the National Assembly have been
toned down with a vivid tinge of sobriety, confidence and perseverance. Of
late, he demonstrates that he has learned a lot over a period of 12 years by
way of his expression as well as enhancement of the knowledge about the issues
that Pakistan and its people are faced with and need to be resolved. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">However, If the Pakistan People’s Party is the party of masses
then it should discard the tradition of having dynastic chairman or head of the
party from the Bhutto family. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as the founder of the party
could remain the boss of the PPP as long as he wanted to be. His succession by
his wife and later by his daughter Benazir Bhutto was done in affection and as
a token of alliance with the Bhutto family. But to keep the presidency of the
party within Bhutto clan is outright negation of the manifesto and ideology for
which this party was founded.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Still, if the party echelons want Bilawal to lead the party, he
may do so because it is basically the approval of the party members and cadres
who decide about the head or chairman of the party. Same is true about the
other political outfits such as PMLN, KPKH, JUI, ANP and TLP. Even PTI cannot
think of anyone else becoming the head of the party as long as Imran Khan is
there. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">In his latest statement Bilawal decried the
contrast between the punishment given to his mother and his father formerly
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari. He also pointed the lack of action
against groups that killed children in Pakistan and carried out attacks on
foreign soil.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The PPP may come into power through next </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">national elections and </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">form the government at the
center. In that scenario we shall have to watch how a young scion of Bhutto
family serves the nations and implements a reform agenda that could be
revolutionary and a game changer for the betterment of Pakistan and its people.
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">If Bilawal assumes the premiership he would still need the
guidance and solicitation from the senior members of PPP and more specifically
from his father Asif Ali Zardari. </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">It might be a spectacular situation if Mr. Zardari takes over as
the president of Pakistan while Bilawal might remain the prime minister. I am
not aware if it is constitutionally viable or permissible.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Let me finally quote the comment by a well-known journalist </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #404040; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">M Ilyas Khan </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">about Bilawal and the probable
situation that could emerge in the time to come. </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #404040; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> He says, “But in 2018 he
has emerged as a charismatic campaigner in a political atmosphere of acrimony,
name-calling and abuse. He has </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">used clean language, focused on
issues and connected well with his audiences.”</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Lately Bilawal Bhutto reacted to the decision of changing the name
of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), calling it a conspiracy aimed at
shutting the program down entirely. Talking to the media, after a plantation
drive in Shikarpur, Bilawal revealed that “those looking to change the name of
BISP are conspiring to completely end it”.</span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">These are stunning statements
which might turn fiercer as the time passes. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><span style="color: red;"></span></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-23931954695301469922019-06-19T20:25:00.001-05:002019-06-19T21:24:23.880-05:00IMRAN KHAN IS GIFTED WITH ENORMOUS DYNAMISM<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">March 28, 2019</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></span></b></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The incumbent prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is demonstrating to be much better and more efficient and honest leader than a whole flock of politicians. One
can conceive that such a head of the federal government and administration was direly needed. The coming time would unfold how substantially he has contributed towards a better, enlightened, corruption and crime-free Pakistan with institutional and departmental
efficiency and role for turning Pakistan into a modern state of 19<sup>th</sup> century.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It would be certainly naive to expect of him to turn into an angel and to be immune and free of mistakes and pitfalls.
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Yet, thus far, despite being a non-traditional and relatively new comer into the thorny arena of politics, he has excelled by taking remarkable and ground-breaking decisions and reforms that make Pakistan a better state with hallmarks
of service to the people and streamlining the nation-building institutions, bureaucracy and the administrative network. Personally, he is undaunted and riveted on his charter of reformation in Pakistan and upgrading the lives of the masses and rooting out
or diminishing the miseries and poverty of the people of Pakistan. <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The incumbent government of Pakistan Tehrik-Insaf (PTI) has taken three marvelous decisions that can be rated as commendable and far reaching. These three reforms
or initiatives if you may call these are, elimination of the illegal, clumsy, unwanted and rather unlawful encroachments on the busy bazaars, lanes and footpaths in Pakistan. These encroachments in the form of houses, kiosks or makeshift shops are spread all
over in Karachi, Lahore and every big city in Pakistan. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">These makeshift selling cabins have been turned into permanent selling places for ages without any initiative by the local municipal authorities. In this illegal
and unwanted occupation of the public places there has been tacit understanding and cooperation between the local bodies and municipalities, the main shoppers and the middlemen who act as go in between all these parties.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While patently these business cabins make the environment ugly, these are an irritant and crude hurdle in the way of smooth movements and flow of the pedestrians,
shoppers and the vehicles. <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>These ugly and makeshift shops have been there since the creation of Pakistan and behind these are also the local political figures who not only seek cooperation and votes from these violators of the public
places but share the booty that is given by the occupants as rent or bribe. </span></span>
</div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One would expect that the incumbent dispensation would enlarge and spread this commendable initiative and drive the rest of Pakistan with specific focus on large
and crowded cities where the pedestrians are exposed to the risk of being hit by rickshaw, vehicle or even a motor cycle.
</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">However, correspond the people and the parties from whom these public thoroughfares, streets and footpaths would be released should be provided an alternate place
for which they should have the option to buy it or rent it. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have seen in many cities in foreign countries that there are allocated and specified places for the kiosk sellers and servicemen that are cordoned by walls and
properly arranged and provided all the basic facilities such as water, power and access roads and security. The sweeping and maintenance of cleanliness is strictly maintained in such locations. The buyers and visitors’ throng to such locations and mini shopping
centers in droves because the prices at these business locations is relatively much lower than a full-fledged shop in a busy and well-maintained business enclosures.
</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The second commendable action and mission that has been launched by the incumbent PTI dispensation is to curb the robberies, looting of the citizens, snatching the
money, the ornaments and even cars by callous thugs and organized gangs headed and protected by powerful groups and individuals. In case of resistance from the targets, these offenders brook no mercy or reluctance in using force, arms and injury and even killing
their targets. We have seen such gory images on the television screen of these criminals manhandling, beating and even shooting at their targets. We have also seen the glimpses of cars being taken over and running away these daredevil individuals equipped
with arms and lethal weapons. </span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Besides, the despicable crime of kidnapping is rampant all over Pakistan. The targets are young children, women folks and students. Even the new born babies are
snatched and stolen from the hospitals in collusion with a nurse or woman who help and serve in hospital wards of deliveries of the new born babies. The PTI government has mobilized the concerned agencies to catch the criminals involved in carjacking, robbing
and snatching motorcycles and decamping with pouches and purses. </span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The PTI government seems to be coming with a heavy hand on these heavily armed groups and individual lawbreakers, criminals and many groups and individuals have
been nabbed. It would be in order if fast system of justice is put in place on permanent foundations so that the enemies of public and heartless thugs are awarded condign and quick sentences by the courts without any support from their political supports and
the powerful parties and groups. Thus, the people of Pakistan would be able to travel and move around freely and without any fear of waylaying and looting by the rogues and rascals of the society.
</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The third mega action by the incumbent PTI government is to expose and punish the perpetrators of illicit money laundering by an unspecified number of politicians,
business tycoons and public figures. Several cases have been initiated and are in the courts and relevant accountability institutions such as JIT.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The reports and statistics are harrowing as to how the money was earned through fair or foul means and was later sent abroad to escape the net of wealth tax and
the duties imposed on such dealings. A large number of clandestine transactions and sending of huge chunks of money by the politicians, men in power and robber baron business individuals, importers and exporters have been unearthed.
</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">One can imagine the interest of prime minister Imran Khan in promoting and firming up relations with foreign countries to the extent that thus far, he made nine
foreign visits to Saudi Arabia (2), UAE (3), China one, Malaysia one, Turkey one and Qatar one. Likewise, quite a few foreign leaders came to Pakistan to meet prime minister Imran Khan and offer cooperation in diverse ways.
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>These high-profile visits include Saudi Crown prince Muhammad Bin Suleman (Feb 16-17) during which Eight MOUs were signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The second-high profile visit was that of Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad three-day official visit to Pakistan from March 21 to 24 to be the chief
guest at Pakistan Day celebration function. During prime minister Mahathir’s visit, Memorandum of Understanding worth $800 to $900 million of investment would be signed with the Malaysian investors on Friday.</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-1552876254369218542019-06-19T20:14:00.001-05:002019-06-19T21:31:37.011-05:00President Trump Expresses Trust in Pakistan<br />
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<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">February 24, 2019</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">On February 22 instant while speaking at a White House event on
trade negotiations with China, president Trump said that US has developed
a "much better relationship recently with Pakistan and added that
Washington may set up some meetings with Islamabad”. President Trump noted
that relations have improved over the "last short period of time".
The US envoys believe that Pakistan has an important role to play in Afghan
peace talks. Taliban representatives are due to meet US special peace envoy
Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar on Feb 25.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">At the same time, president Trump expressed his deep concern over
the escalating tension between India and Pakistan: the two nuclear-armed
neighbors. He apprehends that the Pulwama (a city in Indian held part of
Kashmir valley) attack on an Indian convoy of the Indian soldiers could spark
military confrontation between the two countries. He pointed out that “It's
very dangerous situation between India and Pakistan," adding that “US
wants both the countries to defuse the tensions”. </span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">President Trump’s latest
pro-Pakistan statement looks like a kind of welcome metamorphosis and indeed a
watershed positive transformation in the thus far negative outlook of the
American president towards Pakistan. Ever-since taking over the
presidency of the United States on January 20, 2017, Trump has demonstrated,
all along, an anti-Pakistan attitude and demeanor.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The United States today engages in extensive economic, social, and scientific assistance as well as vital <span style="color: black;">military relations</span></span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
with Pakistan. Pakistan continues to occupy a strategic position for promotion
of the United States' interests in Central and South Asia. The United States is
the second-largest supplier o<u>f </u></span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">military equipment</span></span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> to Pakistan after China. It is one of Pakistan's largest donors
of foreign assistance.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">On January 28, 2019, the U.S. government announced that
negotiators from the US and Taliban have agreed in principle on key issues. The
U.S. troops would leave Afghanistan in return to Taliban’s’ promise that Afghan
territory will not be used by terrorists.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The Afghan war started on 7 October 2001 and continued for 17
years, four months and three days plunging that beautiful and historical land
in unremitting disorder and fighting for almost two decades</span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in that war. Millions uprooted
Afghanis moved to neighboring Pakistan, Iran and to other countries as
refugees. In that one of the longest wars in recent history, </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">4,000 ISAF soldiers and
civilian contractors</span></span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">, over </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">62,000 Afghan national security
forces</span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
and over </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">31,000 civilians</span></span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>and an unknown number of
Taliban were killed. </span><br />
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The United States and her allies </span><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">should
ponder as to why, despite 140000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops &
reportedly $1 trillion spent on war in Afghanistan, the Taliban today are
stronger than before.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">After his taking over the presidency of the United States two
years ago, this is the first statement pro-Pakistan statement of President
Trump. Prior to this, he has been blaming Pakistan for doing nothing with
regard to the capturing of Osama Bin laden or supporting in the Afghan war
despite being the recipient of the American financial aid. His views have been
very venomous again Pakistan thus far.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> <span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; margin: 0px;">Trump's most recent anti
Pakistan tweet came on November 19, last year, when he alleged that Pakistan
"would take our money and do nothing for us.<i> “We no longer pay Pakistan
the $billions because they would take our money and do nothing for us, Bin
Laden being a prime example, Afghanistan being another. They were just one of
many countries that take from the United States without giving anything in
return. That’s ENDING!", the US president tweeted.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">In another anti Pakistan outpouring he tweeted that “</span></i><i><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Of course
we should have captured Osama Bin Laden long before we did. I pointed him out
in my book just BEFORE the attack on the World Trade Center. President Clinton
famously missed his shot. We paid Pakistan Billions of Dollars & they never
told us he was living there. Fools!”</span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">But better sense has started prevailing upon the American
leadership and it is now being realized and accepted that Pakistan has been a
trusted ally of USA as long as America was involved in Afghnistan war.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">In the hindsight, it should be noted that the United States
initiated the Afghan war following the</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">September 11</span></span><span style="border: 1pt; color: #0066cc; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> 2001 attacks in U.S. President</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">George
W. Bush</span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">
blamed </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Osama bin Laden</span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> who was living or hiding in Afghanistan. The aims were
destruction of </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">al-Qaeda</span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> and Taliban militant’ </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">training camps</span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> in Afghanistan. President Bush demanded that the Taliban hand
over bin Laden and expel </span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">al-Qaeda</span><span style="border: 1pt; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">. Osama Bin </span></span><span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Laden had already been wanted by the U.S. since 1998.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Pakistan has remained a close and most dependable ally as long the
American and ISAF forces were fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The
Afghan war started on 7 October 2001 and continued for 17 years, four months
and three days.</span><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">140000 NATO troops plus 250,000 Afghan troops
fought against Taliban led by Osama bin Laden and other religious leaders. A
hefty amount of $1 trillion were spent on war in Afghanistan.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The latest awareness of president Trump
particularly and other political stalwarts has come about for two reasons. One
is the realization of Pakistan’s importance for having a clout and goodwill and
enormous influence among the Islamic countries particularly the Middle Eastern
states with Saudi Arabia in the lead. </span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The recent visit of crown prince of Saudi
Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz-Al-Saud</span><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: red; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">to
Pakistan evolved a complete understating and affinity between Saudi Arabia and
Pakistan on the world issues. It served as a milestone and a testimony to the
good will that Pakistan enjoys with that leading Arabian state. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">The second factor that reinforces and revives
Pakistan’s importance in United States specifically and the rest of the world
generally, is the glaring fact that Pakistan provides both logistic and
political routes to enter Afghnistan that USA and the allies might be needing
to reinforce goodwill and bilateral relationship with the leadership in
Afghnistan. The restoration of peace in Afghnistan and fraternity
generated from that would enable the former western hostile powers to rebuild
Afghnistan and restore a modicum of good governance, peace and development.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">It’s time for United States and other western
countries to plan rebuilding the war-torn Afghnistan and pave way for the
Afghan refugees to return to their motherland after almost 18 years. The peace
in Afghnistan might help America to proceed farther in the Central Asian states
for promotion of social, trade and commercial links. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt; color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">Hopefully the Afghan terrain would not be
used for isolating Iran or removing her religious leadership. Iran is a close
door neighbor country of both Pakistan and Afghanistan and as such she needs
peace, advancement and openness like other states in the region. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #005500; font-family: "&quot" , serif;"></span></i></b><br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-66107209074380503502018-12-07T15:05:00.001-06:002018-12-07T15:05:19.660-06:00The State of Pakistan and Religious Fanaticism
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">December 6, 2018</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">
Islam is the state religion in Pakistan but of which sect? If the answer is
pure Islam then what could be the interpretation of this pure Islam keeping in
view the various sects and religious denominations that dot Islam. The Sunnis
and Shia interpretation of Islamic Shariah is divergently different from each
other. <br />
During the last fourteen centuries, there has never been any convergence or
consensus on an agreed, unanimous or unified code of Islam that should be
acceptable to both the mainstream Islamic sects as well as the fringe
denominations. Instead, these sects have been exterminating each other in
horrendous massacres and bloody bids for conquering each other’s lands. <br />
This cleavage is glaringly manifest even in the present ages when Islamic
fraternity is distinctly divided into two blocs: one headed by the radical
Sunni Saudi Arabia and the other by Iran as the main citadel for the Shia
branch of Islam. There is no way these two blocs can hammer out a format of
faith that can eliminate their ideological rivalry and bring them on one common
agreed platform of Islamic Shariah. The division of the Islam into two
contrasting and confronting ideological blocs, has given birth to the regional
conflicts and a frantic race for political or leadership ascendency in Middle
East and elsewhere in the world. <br />
In the ongoing upheavals in the Middle East, in states like Bahrain and Syria,
the popular uprising is being interpreted in terms of Shia and Sunni majority
areas and demographic proportions. Alongside with the popular wish for
liberalization of these societies with civil rights and democratic forms of
governments, the underlying tussle boils down to the question as to the which
sect is going to wield political power within the respective countries now
steaming with the urge for a change.<br />
The same ideological conflict is rampant in Pakistan that is attributed to be
an Islamic state. The animosity and hatred between divergent sects are manifest
in the unremitting terrorist attacks and bombing of each other’s’ holy places
and during religious festivals.<br />
The Muslim societies where the religion is the driving force behind their
nationalism or is the raison d’être of their existence such as Pakistan, have
remained vulnerable to the sectarian bad blood and ideological pulls and
pressures. It would be an ideal situation if Pakistan turns a liberal state
where all shades of religious faith are free to practice and worship in
accordance with their religious traditions and teachings. <br />
In Pakistan with an Islamic nomenclature, while the majority sect is free to
prevail the minority sects and denominations feel themselves fettered and under
pressure in regard to the unhindered performance of their religious customs and
traditions.<br />
The cardinal cause of the religious discord in Pakistan is the lack of
tolerance between sects and because of treating each other as infidels, heretic
and out of the pale of Islam. The sects such as Deobandi, Wahabi, Ahle-Hadith,
Qadria, Chishtia Naqshbandi and a whole lot of mystical bands, in fact, blur
the fair and original face of Islam that was in vogue during the period of
first four heads of Islamic states; called caliphs. <br />
The conflict and tussle for power that started between the governor of Syria
Amir Muawiyaha and the fourth Caliph Hazrat Ali (656-661 A. D.) laid down the
foundations of fissures in Islam that has never been bridged nor can it be
removed ever in the future. The accession to power after the demise of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) divided the Muslims into Shias and Sunnis.<br />
This ideological division is so hard and trenchant that both these sects do not
pray in one mosque, say the same Azan (call for prayer). They observe different
timings for payers, fasting and use different words in prayers. The Shias do
not pay the Islamic tax (Zakat). Above all they consider that the first three
caliphs usurped the rights of blood relations of the Prophet to succeed him in
caliphate or Imamate.<br />
As such both these sects are poles part and can never agree on one Islamic
code. They kill each other and deem it as a religious obligation to be
sacrificing their lives for the sake of upholding their religious ascendency.<br />
The other myriad sects that abound in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan simply
help in shredding the monolithic ideological fabric of Islam with their diverse
concepts and explanations of Islamic Sharia and by their violent feuding. <br />
For instance, three conservative sects Qadria, Chishtia and Naqshbandi believe
and promote the culture of shrines, the worshipping of tombs and graves. They
sing hymns for eulogizing the saints and holy figures for their supernatural
powers to heal and remove problems. Their opponents, the Wahabi discard all
these practices as un-Islamic and sacrilegious.<br />
The Christians, the Hindus, the Ahmadis and other similar non-Muslim sects
cannot feel themselves at par or equal citizens of Pakistan because the
majority sects would not treat them as such. The orthodox and radicals from the
Sunni faith attack and harass and kill, at will, the faithful of other sects
within Islam and the non-Muslims alike as a sacred duty. The rival sects when
get chance pay back in the same coin. <br />
Therefore, to declare Pakistan as an Islamic state with so much sectarian
animosity looks like a mockery because the tolerance and justice, the two pain
pillars of Islam, are seldom practiced in any Islamic State all the more in
Pakistan. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is now clandestinely ruled and
governed by the Islamic militants who brook no mercy nor tolerance for the
dissenters or followers of diverse and divergent faiths.<br />
Wherever, the state and religions have mingled or blended by the writ of the
state or under the force of the mighty and dominant religious sects, the state
affairs and the good and peaceful governance have remained in a limbo. <br />
First of all, in the absence of a unanimous or agreed format of Islam, the faith-based
dissention or strife would always remain a lurking hindrance for the unity and
peace of a society. The attacks on shrines in Pakistan have gained momentum.
The destruction of Sunni and Shia places of worships are testament to the gory
fact that it was impossible to eradicate the discords of creed between these
colliding sects.<br />
It is, therefore, necessary that state affairs should be detached and made free
from the religious domain as far as possible. The interference of religions in
state affairs is detrimental to the overall advancement of a society and for
the unhindered socioeconomic progress, political stability and democratic
culture to flower. <br />
There should be freedom of religion for all sects within the confines of the
law and the constitution. Europe went through the turmoil between Catholicism
and Protestantism and finally confined religions to the individuals to follow.
The European societies have ever since been in peace. <br />
Pakistan is a geographical entity. Islam was here in these lands when Pakistan
has not been carved out. Pakistan as a country is meant to serve and cater its
citizens irrespective of their cast, color, creed, gender, religious
inclinations, or being low or high, rich or poor. <br />
A country cannot be called an egalitarian state or a free society, if it
remains hostage to the overbearing dictates of particular cults or sects. It
would be a theocracy as Pakistan is. Absolute theocracies have never prospered
as evidenced by history. <br />
For a theocracy, the citizens of a country have to be in vast majority with the
same faith in order to maintain their hold on power as we can see in Iran and
Saudi Arabia. Otherwise only brute power can keep the opposing sects or ethnic
segments together as seen in Iraq during Saddam Hussain or presently in
Bahrain.<br />
In the modern times when the nation states have emerged, the theocracy is
unthinkable and to impose it would be sure recipe for sectarian war and social
disharmony and dysfunctional political governments. <br />
During the British colonial occupation of 200 years and even during the 1000
years of Muslim rule in the united India, the society, by and large, presented
a harmonious blend of religious pursuits for all sects and their peaceful
cohabitation. The Shia-Sunni and Wahabi-Naqshbandi discord that in Pakistan has
reached frightening dimensions was seldom on display during the British rule in
India. The mushrooming of sectarian civil war began after the creation of Pakistan
which is getting more violent and deadly with the time passage.<br />
It is indispensable to curb and rein in the religious extremism that may now be
called religious militancy as it is becoming a constant threat to the writ of
state and does not allow the society to be transformed into a civil pattern.
The strident religious extremism hinders judiciary, press, executive and
legislature to be free and independently play their respective roles for the
benefit of the people.<br />
The religious extremism poses a constant challenge to the people and state so
much so that the false cases of blasphemy cannot be adjudicated that merit
release of the accused person. If someone is released by the court he or she is
later killed.<br />
Moreover, these violent, hate-filled, rancorous and bigoted religious entities
are exploited by the political forces and special interest groups to promote
their respective agendas. The religiously motivated individuals are always
ready to kill and create panic. General Ziaul-Haq cleverly and adequately
manipulated the religious right in Pakistan to douse the spirit of social
freedom and keep his opponents under control. <br />
His lurid legacy remains vibrant with every successive regime following the
same tactic that is creating perpetual disorder and turmoil in Pakistan. The
creation of Taliban for occupation of Afghanistan is now back lashing as this
Frankenstein is now swallowing Pakistan with atrocious and disastrous
ramifications happening every day by suicide bombing and sectarian clashes. <br />
The Islamabad religious seminary’s deadly episode with state troops demolishing
that place with brutal force is a testimony as to how strong and defiant the
religious outfits have become to create a state within a state.<br />
If some can come up with a practicable model of an Islamic state in clear
terms, which can fulfill the demands of the modern civil society, a nation
state and with complete sectarian ethnic and communal peace in Pakistan, then
he should hasten to unfurl it so that Pakistan can move forward as a stable and
strong nation. The models of Saudi Arabia or Iran will not work in Pakistan as
they have complete majority of their respective branches of Islam in their
lands. Otherwise let Pakistan be a secular Islamic state. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">This
religious and sectarian frenzy poses a great challenge to the incumbent PTI
government.<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> The latest demonstration of that distasteful
bigotry has been witnessed in case of a Christian girl Asia Bibi who </span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">was convicted of </span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_blasphemy" target="_blank" title="Islam and blasphemy"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">blasphemy</span></a></span></span></span><span> by a Pakistani court and was sentenced to death by hanging in
2010. She was acquitted In October 2018 by the</span> <span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Pakistan" target="_blank" title="Supreme Court of Pakistan"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Supreme Court of Pakistan</span></a></span> on the basis of insufficient evidence.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">That
verdict was rejected by the fanatic religious leaders led by Khadim Hussain
Rizvi a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barelvi" title="Barelvi"><span style="margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">Barelvi</span></span></a>
preacher and the founding chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehreek-e-Labbaik_Pakistan" title="Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan</span></span></a>,
a fast-growing religious political party.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; margin: 0px;">On their
command the whole country was paralyzed under the pretext of blasphemy
committed by that young Christian girl who had already been punished for a sin
which she has denied of committing and had even asked for forgiveness. The main
cities including Karachi and Lahore were gridlocked by the fanatic religious
crowds. That show off of bigotry caused enormous financial loss as well as
termination of mobility of the people and the transportation. Threats were
hurled by Rizvi and other demagogues at the government, law enforcement
agencies and the judiciary. That was a kind of a kind of religious coup against
the state of Pakistan. Now such gory incidents can also happen in the future
which need to be forestalled. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #005500; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br /></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-3413467284395987572018-11-26T10:51:00.000-06:002018-11-26T10:51:41.120-06:00LONG LIVE CHIEF JUSTICE MIAN SAQIB NISAR
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">November 25, 2018</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">The people of Pakistan ought to be
grateful to the incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan, Honorable Mian Saqib Nisar
on his historic mission of raising funds in UK and USA for building dams that
are indispensable for both the people and crops.<b> </b>He has proven to be a
true and patriotic<b> </b>son of the soil and a thoroughly honest dispenser of
justice. In Manchester’s (UK) gathering the honorable chief justice expressed
his views on the rapid and huge collection of the funds for the much needed
Bhasha and Diamir dams in these words, <i>“all Pakistanis were taking the lead
in contributing funds for construction of dams and he only witnessed this
passion during the 1965 War.”</i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">We are aware that the primary responsibility
and mandate of the incumbent Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is to dispense legal
justice to the aggrieved. However, his latest undertaking and mission focused
on raising funds for building the stalled “Dam Diamir Bhasha and Mohmand Dam” is
sublime. He announced that several dams would-be built-in Pakistan to overcome
the scarcity of water for both drinking and agricultural purposes.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He
emphatically pledged that no one can stop the national objective of attaining
prosperity and overcoming the water scarcity all over Pakistan. Is pledge would
go down in the history of Pakistan as momentous in nation building. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Diamir Bhasha and Mohmand Dam is essential
for agricultural output, household use and drinking for the people of Pakistan.
This project has been stalled and remained on the tenterhooks for a variety of
reasons one of which is the lack and non-availability of huge funds.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">The countrywide contribution to the fund
stood at Rs 7.09 billion while the remaining Rs 880.23 million were contributed
by the expatriate Pakistanis, according to an update issued by the State Bank
of Pakistan (SBP). In due course more, funds and donations would be coming in.
This money has been transferred to the Dam’s fund. The pouring of donations indeed
is a show of trust in the person of the chief justice and his absolute honesty and
personal integrity. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">It surmises that any other person of
significance both morally and financially uprightness would not have achieved
such a brilliant milestone as the chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar has done. This
hallmark is also blissful and a feather in the cap of the PTI government more
so for the prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Imran Khans’ deadline of hundred days for
unfurling an agenda of reconstructing Pakistan is about to expire. One can feel
that the gigantic undertaking of Imran Khan could have been looked upon as an
unachievable goal if the illustrious chief justice would not have jumped into
fray with a mission of the same nature. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">The redeeming feature of the ongoing sublime
mission is that the funds collected by the incumbent government through Chief
Justice honorable <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk530940632">Mian Saqib Nisar </a>would be sufficient
to convince the international donors and loan giving agencies such as IMF to
open their coffers as well to Pakistan and dole out credits on agreeable terms
and interest for Pakistan. Per say if that doesn’t happen the chief justice and
other patriotic stalwarts may again jump into the fray and fulfil the
monumental cost through loans from the friendly countries as well as from the contributions
of the people of Pakistan living both within Pakistan and in foreign countries.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">One can admire the bubbling spirit of
patriotism and enormous national aspiration and sacrifice of the Pakistanis
domestically and living abroad. The only thing that is needed is for them to be
convinced that the cause for such donation of money was nation-building,
prosperity and progress of the people and advancement of the country. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">In the past such fund raising and
collection of funds for various causes were mounted but ultimately those were
left halfway or entirely abandoned as the money was gobbled or miscarried to
the other projects or simply pocked by the collectors. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">The water level for both agricultural and human
consumption is dwindling and receding to the level 400 ft to 1500 in various
lands mostly prominently in Quetta the capital of Balochistan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It has reached the lowest level causing draught
for the crops as well as scarcity for the human consumption.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">After Quaid e Azam, here is another leader
though non-political who has undertaken with courage, dedication and
conviction, a national cause so essential and indispensable for the prosperity and
economic viability of the country. Hopefully after his retirement Chief Justice
Honorable Mian Saqib Nisar would keep serving as the head of a new political
party to be in power and thus to bring Pakistan in the comity of advanced and
developed nations. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">What is Diamer-Bhasha Dam</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a concrete-filled <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_dam" title="Gravity dam"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">gravity dam</span></a>,
in the preliminary stages of <u>c</u>onstruction, on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Indus" title="River Indus"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">River Indus</span></a>
in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit-Baltistan" title="Gilgit-Baltistan"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Gilgit-Baltistan</span></a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Pakistan</span></a>.
Its foundation stone was laid by the then Prime Minister <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yousaf_Raza_Gillani" title="Yousaf Raza Gillani"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Yousaf Raza Gillani</span></a> of Pakistan on 18 October
2011. <u>Upon completion, Diamer-Bhasha Dam would be the highest <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller-compacted_concrete" title="Roller-compacted concrete"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">roller-compacted concrete</span></a> (RCC) dam in the
world.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer-Bhasha_Dam#cite_note-foundation-3"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">[3]</span></a> The
dam site is situated near a place called "Bhasha" in
Gilgit-Baltistan's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer_District" title="Diamer District"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Diamer District</span></a>, hence the name. </u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 6.93px 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Upon
completion, Diamer-Bhasha Dam would (i) produce 4,500 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megawatts" title="Megawatts"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">megawatts</span></a>
of electricity through environmentally clean hydropower generation; (ii) store
an extra 8,500,000 acre feet (10.5 km3) of water for Pakistan that would
be used for irrigation and drinking; (iii) extend the life of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarbela_Dam" title="Tarbela Dam"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Tarbela Dam</span></a>
located downstream by 35 years; and (iv) control flood damage by the River
Indus downstream during high floods. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">However, in response to using Basha Dam to sideline the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalabagh_Dam" title="Kalabagh Dam"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kalabagh Dam</span></a>,
Engineer Anwar Khurshid has stated that "Bhasha dam is no substitute for
Kalabagh dam not because of its altitude which is high enough, but because no
irrigation canals can be taken out from it because of the hilly terrain. No
canals can be taken out from any dam on the Indus except from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalabagh_Dam" title="Kalabagh Dam"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kalabagh Dam</span></a>.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 6.93px 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">It
will have a height of 272 meters spillway with fourteen gates each
11.5 m x 16.24 m. The gross capacity of the reservoir will be 8,100,000-acre
feet (10.0 km3), with a live storage of 6,400,000-acre feet
(7.9 km3). Two underground powerhouses are being proposed, one on each
side of the main dam having six turbines on each side with a total installed
capacity of 4500 MW. (Wikipedia)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.7pt; margin: 6.93px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-73729705711252168322018-11-22T17:03:00.000-06:002018-11-22T17:03:08.756-06:00Asia Bibi Case and Backlash from Islamic Parties
<br />
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: red; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><div style="line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 13.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">November 14, 2018</span></span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
</span><div style="line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">By Saeed
Qureshi</span></span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">After the creation
of Pakistan in 1947 there have been countless protests and strikes by the
Religious parties and denominations to Islamize Pakistan with their line of
faith. The majority religious groups under the fold of Sunnism have not only
been fighting against the other denominations such as Shias but also blocking
the right of religious freedom to the minorities within Islam and out of it. </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It should be noted
that the creation of Pakistan was opposed tooth and nail by the religious
groups. The founder of Pakistan Quaid-e- Azam was dubbed as infidel by the
religious right. But after the creation of Pakistan the major religious Sunni
outfits have been endeavoring to hijack the state and change it into an
orthodox Sunni State. <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The latest
demonstration of that distasteful bigotry has been witnessed in case of a
Christian girl Asia Bibi who <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">was convicted of </span><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_blasphemy" target="_blank" title="Islam and blasphemy"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;">blasphem</span><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;">y</span></span></a></span></span></span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> by a
Pakistani court and was sentenced to death by hanging in 2010. In October 2018,
the </span></span><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Pakistan" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Supreme Court of Pakistan"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Supreme Court of Pakistan</span></a></span></span>
<span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquittal" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Acquittal"><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">acquitted</span></span></a></span></span>
her on the basis of insufficient evidence. However, she was not allowed to
leave Pakistan until the verdict has been reviewed.</span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Supreme Court’s decision sparked <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;">prolonged and mammoth protests staged in big cities
including</span> Lahore, <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Islamabad"><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Islamabad</span></span></a></span></span>,
<span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshawar" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Peshawar"><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Peshawar</span></span></a></span></span>
<span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;">Multan and Karachi for three
days by the so called religious outfit <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehreek-i-Labbaik_Pakistan" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;">Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan</span></span></a></span><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"> (TLP) </span>headed by <span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadim_Hussain_Rizvi" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Khadim Hussain Rizvi"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Khadim Hussain Rizvi</span></span></a></span><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span>a fanatic and firs spitting religious rabble
rouser. It was also joined by <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jamaat-i-Ahle_Hadees&action=edit&redlink=1" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Jamaat-i-Ahle Hadees (page does not exist)"><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jamaat-e-Ahle-Hadees</span></span></a></span>,
another religious extremist party. <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span>Many cities in Pakistan
remained in standstill causing untold sufferings to the people including the
movements, traveling and buying foodstuff and other dailies necessities. The
PTI government had to broker a compromise by conceding to almost all the conditions
and demands of Tehrik-i-Labbaik Pakistan. While calling for<span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"> </span>"peaceful"
protests, the <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamiat_Ulema-e-Islam_(F)" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">JUI-F</span></span></a></span> chief <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazal-ur-Rehman_(politician)" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Fazal-ur-Rehman (politician)"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fazalur Rehman</span></span></a></span> <span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">said that<span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span>Asia
Bibi's release was "not acceptable at any cost".</span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">One is reminded of
the victory of the city of Mecca by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) on 11 December 629
AD. Those people who tormented him, plotted to kill him and forced his sudden
and clandestine departure to Median lined up before him. He asked them, </span><i><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">"O Quraysh, what do you
think of </span></span></i><i><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">the treatment that I should
accord you?" They said, "Mercy, O Prophet of Allah. We expect nothing
but good from you." Thereupon Hazrat Muhammad declared: "I speak to
you in the same words as <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_in_Islam" style="border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%;" target="_blank" title="Joseph in Islam"><span style="color: #0066cc; margin: 0px;"><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;">Yusuf</span></span></a> spoke
to his brothers. This day there is no reproof against you; Go your way, for you
are free</span><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"></span></i><i><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">.” Why Asia Bibi is not forgiven for his utterance that he has
apologized and eve negated of uttering it. </span></i></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In his latest
address to the nation, Pakistan’s incumbent prime minister Imran Khan Niazi has
vowed to run Pakistan in accordance with the Quran (holy book of Muslims) and
Sunna (Islamic jurisprudence). He has been making this commitment even on
earlier occasions. At the same time, he has been pledging to put Pakistan on
the road to an advanced and modern country. He has vehemently expressed his
resolve to bestow religious and civic liberties as well as social order that
one can witness in the advanced and developed countries around the world. When
the legal, political and social system would be the replica of the Islamic
state of Medina, the pristine purpose and goal of a modern Islamic state would
be achieved.</span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">First of all, it
would be utterly difficult that such a milestone can be achieved in five years
that the PTI government would remain in place. It might be a challenging task
to absolutely recast the state of Medina in the modern times. There is a time
gap of 1500 years between now and the pristine state of Medina. The early rule
and laws that served the society and the people fifteen centuries ago may not
work properly except the elements of faith and certain religious obligations
that are five in number. These are faith in God, angels, prophets, the difference
between the principles of good and evil and the belief in the life after death.
We are aware that the devout Muslims have unshakeable belief in these
injunctions. </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In Saudi Arabi
particularly and other Islamic countries including Malaysia and Indonesia
generally, a model of the pristine Islam state of Medina can be witnessed. But
beyond that these are far behind and primitive in various domains of modern
state such as respect for law, prosperity, scientific advancement, material
progress, societal peace, equality, impregnable justice system, a
well-entrenched democratic culture and so on that these states are blessed
with. Pakistan and many third world religious states are far behind the United
States and the European states in good governance, a truly democratic order,
societal peace and rule of law. The fusion of the socio- cultural freedom and
galore of human rights and democratic political culture are not seen anywhere
in the present Islamic states. </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">One would certainly
be doubtful if the existing Islamic countries are the replica of the State of
Medina and being run on true pattern of an Islamic polity. Islamic system of
government is basically based upon choice of head of state due to his piety and
Islamic fervor. <span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span>But
in the modern state the vote and opinion of the people are basic yardsticks for
choosing a head of state. Islam allows Ijtihad which means modifications
according to the needs and imperative of times. As such the State of Medina and
the rule of Quran and Sunna will have to be modified to conform to the needs
and contours of a modern Islamic state. So, let us see and watch as to how
these huge millstones could be achieved. The ultraright and fanatic Muslim
believers would not allow a secular person or someone from the minority parties
and denominations to be the head of state although administratively he or she
might be the best.<span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="border-image: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 19.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I feel that
orthodox Muslims in Pakistan can shake up the entire Pakistan with
demonstrations and sits-in even after the release of Christian female Asia Bibi
for blasphemy. Although she served years in prison which was harsh and longish,
yet fanatic Muslims want her to be hanged and at the same time not to be sent
abroad. Then how come that the un-islamic minorities and dissident religious
sects would be tolerated and live peacefully with equal rights in the state of
Medina s envisioned by Imran Khan and orthodox Muslims. The division between
the sects within Islam and also between the Muslims and non-Muslims, would keep
Pakistan on the tenterhooks of such hooliganism, lawlessness, processions and
boycotts by the diehard believers of respective sects within the fold of Islam.</span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-24619798748978712462018-11-22T16:46:00.000-06:002018-11-22T16:46:36.760-06:00Create Ten Lakes on Indus River <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">August 30, 2018</span></b></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 26.13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4.66px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></b></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pakistan has three large dams and 85 small dams. Besides there are 20 barrages that control the water of the rivers and flooding. The water to the agricultural lands is carried through 57
canals. The biggest barrages Guddu, Kotri and Sukkar are in Sindh. Among the dams Mangla and Tarbela are the largest dams in Pakistan that also produce hydroelectric power. There are 42 natural and 9 artificial lakes in Pakistan.</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 1850 the British East India Company created a modern irrigation system by building several barrages and canals mostly in Punjab and Sindh provinces. the famous Barrage Sukkar was built
in Sindh in 1932.According to the 1960 Water Control Treaty between India and Pakistan, three rivers namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were exclusively allocated to Pakistan. India got Sutlej, Bias and Ravi.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite having one of the best irrigations and water control systems a huge portion of water flows down in the ocean. Moreover, during the rainy or monsoon season the crops are destroyed
and the villages are inundated. The cattle and livestock perish. </span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The overflowing water causes death toll of a large number of inhabitants living in rural areas. In 2010 floods 1.4 million acres of crops were destroyed. In 2011 this loss was 1.7 million
acres of agricultural land and crops. </span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Besides, every year during the rainy and monsoon seasons there happens a colossal displacement of the people, loss of cattle, houses and human beings. Pakistan’s major crops are sugarcane,
wheat and cotton. The loss of these crops because of flooding and inundation is inestimable.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Punjab and Sindh are the food baskets of Pakistan. These food baskets are sustained and watered by the mighty Indus river that starts from the Tibet Plateau and after traveling a distance
of 3180 kilometers (1980 miles) falls at two places: one in the Arabian Sea and the other at the Ran of Kutch. In plains its tributaries are rivers Chenab, Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, Kabul, Kurram, and Gomel. The rain water also flows into this world’s 21<sup style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11.06px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;">st</sup>
largest river. It is a key water resource and backbone of the agriculture in Pakistan.</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, despite well-managed and vast system of barrages and dams, the bulk of water during the rainy periods flows in the ocean mainly through the Indus river as the barrages and dams
have to be opened due to flooding and overflowing of rivers. Thus, this precious additional water that accumulates because of the monsoon or heavy rains is wasted away besides causing damage to the crops, fatalities of the people and loss of agricultural output.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
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<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The interlinked canals too get choked and cannot carry surplus water to the agricultural lands. The water spreads all over the land and finally joins the flooded Indus or other rivers. The
flooded tributaries carry their water into Indus river that swells beyond its banks.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The best solution of such natural recurring natural disaster and wastage of precious water is if several lakes are created over the mighty Indus between
</span><span lang="EN" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Naushehra<b style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b>city
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and the Persian Gulf. Since the distance of Indus from Naushehra to Karachi is around 1000 miles, at least ten vast lakes can be built after every 100 miles’ distance. The size of
the lakes can be determined by the experts. </span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We have such a large lake in Sindh province. It is called Manchar Lake.
</span><span lang="EN" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lake Manchar is the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan and one of the largest in Asia. Since 1930 when this lake was created by the British government, it has remained
the source of income and living for thousands of families </span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mostly engaged in fishing. Currently it is faced with environmental degradation problem.</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The high and low season of rains is a double- edged sword. When the rains are plentiful the flooding and overflowing is caused that disrupts life, causes displacement of the population and
destruction of the crops. But on the contrary when there is a drought, the flow of the water in Indus and other tributary rivers diminishes as to not be adequately available for agriculture.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As such the creation of lakes like the Manchar lake can be useful in both ways. When the rivers are flooded in monsoon season these lakes can become reservoir for the excess water that can
be stored for the subsequent use. When in rivers the water level comes down in drought conditions, these lakes can continue supplying water to the seasonal crops. Thus, the level of agricultural output can remain stable throughout the year.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lakes thus created can also be a source of living for the local population by way of fishing and rowing for the tourists. These can also facilitate the movement of the local residents
and merchandise between the banks. These lakes can be another form of the barrages for accumulation of water although these would only store water but would not have the gates to be shut or closed depending upon the quantity of water. </span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These lakes would be instrumental in enhancing and stabilizing the principle crops for domestic use and for exports. One can imagine the prosperity and enhancement of foreign exchange for
Pakistan. The poverty in our rural areas can be rooted out or at least minimized by creating these lakes.</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is up to the experts and engineers of WAPDA as well as the government to chart out a plan of action and envisage the number of lakes to be created and their locations. Digging of lakes
would not be a big problem as the local population can be engaged to work on these projects.
</span><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif,serif,EmojiFont; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thus, they would benefit financially. In our villages and countryside there are countless landless and jobless tillers and peasants who can run their households by working on the creation
of these lakes which might take a few years.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-81088472079658667042018-10-28T20:09:00.003-05:002018-10-28T20:09:57.062-05:00Creation of More Provinces in Pakistan
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">October 28, 2018</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Pakistan must have more provinces.
The existing four provinces are like four states within a state. These four big
administrative units create regional and provincial friction bordering on
hatred. Ever since the creation of Pakistan, one of the overriding hurdles in
the way of coveted national cohesion and unity are these administrative
elephantine units that vie and remain at loggerheads with each other. With a
separate language of each province, the four separate nationalities look
conspicuously distinct. Besides it creates communication barriers between the
people with less or no knowledge of the national language Urdu. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The fruits of devolution of powers
are universally known for balanced and effective development of both rural and
urban areas of a country on one side and the backward and advanced areas on the
other. In big units as we have in Pakistan, the major chunks of allocation of
funds go to those cities or towns from which the politicians or the members of
the parliament come. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Even otherwise, in Pakistan, the
rural development has mostly remained neglected as most of the development
funds are spent in the urban settlements. More provinces should be created for
better utilization of resources and quick development. The long-standing
demands for decentralization of power should be actually fulfilled by
transferring more powers to the provinces and from provinces to the local
bodies. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Unfortunately, due to rampant
corruption and lack of effective accountability, the funds are misused and
misappropriated. The development projects, sometimes, exist on the paper only.
The quality of work on building roads and other projects in Pakistan, is
woefully inferior. The oversight and strict compliance of codes and regulations
are, more often than not, violated and breached with connivance of the
bureaucracy and government officials. The scams and scandals, the nepotism and
favoritism in doling out contracts, permits and lucrative licenses are given
mostly to the party members, friends and kith. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Those individuals and the groups who
grease the palms of the members of the officialdom, bureaucracy and the
parliament members also share the booty. The social and civic development
remains largely confined to the big cities. The people have to travel all the
way to the provincial capitals to meet the provincial assembly members at a big
financial cost and time. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Pakistan, even after 60 years of its
existence, is devoid of highways between major cities and an efficient railway
system. The people suffer from poor, inadequate or deficient civic utilities.
The political chaos takes it spillover toll on the quality of life. The
availability of sustained water and power, solid waste disposal, health,
education, orderly traffic and good transportation that are components of good
city management and a smooth civic life, have remained woefully unrealized. The
quality of life in Pakistan is abysmally low. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Bangladesh that separated from the
West Pakistan in 1971, despite being much smaller in area (56000 sq miles to
340000 sq miles of Pakistan) has 6 provinces and 64 districts. Bangladesh has a
system of distribution of resources and funds for development which is much
transparent, grass-root and effective than Pakistan. In Bangladesh, money is
spread over more administrative units and therefore is spent on a vast area.
India has 28 provinces and 610 districts. Pakistan has four big federating
units and only 127 districts. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It would be a breakthrough and a
milestone step forward if the present four provinces are partitioned into
smaller provinces. The inhabitants of the new provinces would benefits in the
following manner: </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">They won’t look up to the provincial capitals and the
politicians sitting there to send them the funds.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">With the decentralization and devolution of powers, the
people of smaller units can make their own decisions locally and undertake
the development and progress that they deem suitable.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It would create more sense of participation,
nationalism and togetherness by the people because of more provincial
governments, decentralization and political freedom to make their
decisions. </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">More provinces will lessen the
prevailing acrimony, mutual apprehensions and tension among the four provinces.
It would readily assuage the sense of deprivation and discrimination nursed by
the smaller provinces against the big province which in this case is Punjab. Presently,
Punjab is the target of complaints and grudge of other provinces for being a
privileged province as was West Pakistan compared to the former East Pakistan. The
provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, NWFP, harbor a host of grievances against
Punjab which range from taking more share of funds to the undue use of water. The
larger portion of armed forces from Punjab is yet another cause for the smaller
provinces to be in a state of over-lordship from Punjab.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">East Pakistan’s cessation on March
26, 1971 (for Bengalis independence) could have been averted, had the Eastern
wing of Pakistan been fairly and equitably treated. Similar kind of threat and
danger of disintegration looms over Pakistan now which can be averted or
removed if more provinces are carved out of the existing ones. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The creation of more provinces would
meet demands of many regions with common language and ethnic bonds. For instance,
the Saraiki and Hazara provinces are long standing demands of the people of
that areas. The population of Hazara region wants to separate from the Pushto
speaking parts of NWFP because their language is Pahari, a dialect mix of
Pushto and Punjabi. The Saraiki speaking people want to have a separate
province because they look different from both Sindh and Punjab as for their
language and culture are concerned. The FATA (the Federally Administered Tribal
Areas) can be converted into a separate province. The scenic and hilly valleys
of Chitral, Swat, Hunza, and Dir each can also be given separate status of
provinces. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Such considerations as common
folklore, common language or dialect, common ethnic and cultural milieu and
administrative efficiency should be kept in view in creating more provinces.
The increase in the number of provinces would help alleviate the inter-provincial
friction that so apparently exists now between the four provinces. As enshrined
in the constitution of Pakistan, it is time to give the promised autonomy to
the provinces. While the provincial autonomy is a long-standing demand the
constitutional rights of the provinces and the powers in the concurrent list
should be transferred to them. Already MQM that holds sway in Karachi and other
urban areas of Sindh has categorically called for provincial autonomy, which in
their view means only the portfolios of foreign relation, currency and defense
should be left with the center. Such a demand should also be a priority issue
with other provinces and the sooner it is accepted the better it would be for
the harmonious relationship between provinces and federation on one hand and
between the federating units on the other. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Once the question of creation of
more provinces and transfer of the promised powers to the provinces is
addressed, the stability of Pakistan can be guaranteed. Otherwise the clash of
interests would keep the center and provinces in mutual bickering and feuding. If
the constitutional obligation of devolution of powers to provinces is fulfilled,
the break-away feelings and insurgency that is going on in Balochistan, can be
nailed and quelled, once and for all. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The government of PPP and PMNL
failed to address this highly important issue although they had promised such a
provision in their parties ‘manifestoes. That pledge which stands valid can now
be translated into reality by the PTI government with Imran Khan as the prime
minister and a revolutionary in his own right. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It would be a feather in the cap of the
sitting government if it takes this revolutionary and momentous measure that
would irrefutably ensure the viability of the state of Pakistan. Let the PTI
government prove that it was capable of taking far-reaching decisions in the
best interest of the people of Pakistan. Let it prove that Pakistan is bound to
stay and prosper and that is not a failed state. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">There can be a quid-pro-quo in
sharing powers with the provinces. But essentially as is the practice in other
federations around the world, most of the powers must reside with the
constituent geographical units. The United States of America is one country
where such a remarkable model for division of powers is in vogue. The states
(provinces) are almost independent in running their local governments. This
model can be followed in Pakistan as far as possible. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It is also in the interest of the government
at the center to go ahead with the settlement of the lingering question of
provincial autonomy which together with the creation of more provinces would
catapult the much-coveted paradigm of good governance in Pakistan. Such a landmark
decision would undoubtedly put Pakistan on the road to economic prosperity and
social and political stability. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The provincial autonomy, once given,
would relieve the center of the bureaucratic over-lordship. The function of the
center would be to make policy decisions and implement those with the
coordination of the provinces. Additionally, the shifting of most of the
ministries to the provinces would alleviate enormous administrative and
financial load on the Center. </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #005500; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br /></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-89524941870692976372018-10-24T22:01:00.000-05:002018-10-24T22:01:00.631-05:00In Praise of Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar
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<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">October 22, 2018</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Mian Saqib Nisar the 25<sup>th</sup>
Chief Justice of Pakistan, delivered a soul stirring speech in Islamabad on
October 22, before a symposium of legal community both domestic and foreign. In
his emotionally delivered address he laid down, the parameters for an unalloyed
system of dispensation of justice. He was quite emotional while emphasizing the
dire need of fulfilling the fundamental parameters in handing out the verdicts.
He emphasized the court decisions to be fair and justified for both the
aggrieved and the violators of law. During the delivery of his historic address,
he sounded emotional and thoroughly sincere. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">In his latest address in Islamabad,
on October 22, he spoke in national language of Pakistan after uttering a few
words in English for the foreign delegates and the participants. It’s a
praiseworthy display of true patriotism and manifestation of the spirit of
nationalism. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the swindlers and
law breakers of all sorts, whom he called as the crocodiles are scared of him.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">He has quoted examples of the
esteemed caliphs Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali and resolved to follow in their
footprints for shaping up a neat, clean and truly Islamic society in Pakistan.
He resolved to safeguard the democratic culture and not allow anyone to derail
democracy from now onwards. He discarded the concept of “Nazria Zaroorat” that
would even justify even the imposing of martial law in Pakistan. He emphasized
the inevitability of addressing the water sacristy challenges and to ensure the
water conservation, reinforcing WAPDA and creation of lakes </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">I won’t be exaggerating if I state
that after Quaid-e -Azam, if Pakistan is blessed with an absolutely honest man
of authority it is the incumbent chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar. I
am proud of him and so should be the people of Pakistan. He has been
uncompromising on matters relating to Pakistan, He exhorted to be merciless to
the criminals of all sorts, inter-alia, the looters and thugs who have been indulging
in nepotism, massing wealth through questionable means and stashing in the
foreign banks.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">One can see in the person of Mian Saqib Nisar a kind of prototypes of the Muslim caliphs visiting public places,
dispensing justice on the spots and sentencing those found guilty of any crime.
Of late the honorable Chief Justice is seen at the public places, bazaars and
in the government, offices. issuing orders for wrong doings or improvement of
the system. He has launched a crusade for abundant and clean water, production of
electricity, building of dames. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">He has been seen in the public
places as well as the government offices, checking the wrong doing and arresting
the culprits on the spot.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Equipped with
constitutional powers and authority of law, he can sentence the violators on
the spot and thus create a scare among the law breakers miscreants including the
corrupt bureaucrats, members of the assemblies and heads of such powerful
ministries and offices as WAPDA, courts, schools, hospitals and the local
government.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">He is daring, thoroughly honest and
totally committed to wipe off corruption and criminal activities from the land
of Pakistan. Understandably he may not be able to cleanse the cobweb of
corruption in the government offices and institutions entirely. Yet the
initiative and the course that he is embarking upon would serve as a beacon and
guideline for others to follow suite. He would set and leave noble examples of
dispensing justice and fair-play to the criminals and law of al hues and
shades.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Chief justice Nisar is a strong proponent
of building dams, providing basic civic facilities and social inputs to the
people of Pakistan. He wants dams and water reservoirs to be built for
overcoming the dire scarcity of water for the people’s use, crops and
agriculture. He emphasized that the conservation of water in dams was
indispensable for producing electricity for industries, educational
institutions and population. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">He has waged a determined crusade
against the corrupt yet powerful mafias and people and groups who usurped the
national wealth through the foul and unfair means and stashed in foreign banks.
He is one chief justice who doesn’t only talk but has put his heart and soul in
catching the thugs, hoarders, and usurpers of the national wealth through bribery
and manipulations and stashing the stolen money in dubious accounts abroad. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">In his invaluable, vital and ground-breaking
address, he has emphasized on the legal community to deliver justice with a
clean conscience and in the fairest manner to the victims and their
perpetrators within the parameters of the law. The incumbent Chief Justice of
Pakistan is thoroughly, honest, daring and committed to the nation building institutions.
As an honest and a true patriot, he has challenged the status quo with a
mission to shape up Pakistan as a developed modern country.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">It is my firm belief that under
chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar, a new great state of Pakistan is destined to
emerge. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The culture of corruption and
malfunctioning of state institutions, is going to be bridled sooner than alter.
The flight of the stolen wealth through foul means would be halted. A political
culture based upon honesty and fair play and distribution and protection of national
wealth be premised on accountable and honest foundations. The water would be sufficiently
conserved through new dams and lakes both for agricultural utilization and
human consumption.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">The fundamental rights would be
given to the people, the courts would dispense justice on the basis of facts
and merits and so on. Pakistan thus can get respect and dignity in the comity
of nations. Well that would be the beginning of a corruption- free Pakistan,
proper functioning of the democratic and the state building institutions to be
run on sound and honest foundations. The Chief Justice Mian Squib Nisar took
the oath of the prestigious office of on December 31st 2016. He would retire on
January 17, 2019. He was nominated by prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Hopefully,
he might get an extension and allowed to continue for another term. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0px;">Hopefully in another year that he
would be the chief justice, Pakistan must have been rectified to a great extent
and malfunctioning of the nation building institutions could be bridled. It is my
wish hope that when retired Main Saqib can be elected as the president of Pakistan.
Thus, he would still keep serving Pakistan and its people with absolute honesty,
spirit of dedication and unflinching integrity and honesty.</span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-48788636732683223682018-10-24T21:45:00.000-05:002018-10-24T21:45:20.021-05:00Religion Islam as I Understand it
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">October 14, 2018</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Let us first of all admit that Islam is a religion just like
Christianity and Judaism; that it is a monotheistic religion like Judaism. That
it shares its divine ancestry with Judaism and Christianity, even if the latter
two religions don’t accept it, because they claim to be the forerunners of
Islam. It is in the same way that Judaism doesn’t accept Christianity which
came much after Judaism.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Let us also acknowledge that Islam has a rich heritage and culture
like other faiths. The Islamic religio-social traditions and customs teach how
to dress up especially for the women, what to eat (meals from legitimate income
and in case of meat the animals to be slaughtered in a religiously defined
way). The Islamic ethos also spells out the ways to celebrate the religious
days and how to host feasts. It also includes the circumcision and the marriage
ceremonies. Islam does not encourage the kind of music and modes of entertainment
that arouse sexual, carnal and lecherous sentiments. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Islam like other religions has symbols also. These are, the
mosque, rosary, holy water (Zam Zam), beard, moon, black stone placed in one of
the walls of the House of the Lord (Khana Ka'ba), the green color, the curved
sword, minarets and turban. Like many other religions, the Muslims too have a
holy book Qur’an. It is our common knowledge that this religion sprouted in the
Arab land whereas the Christianity and the Jewish were born in the North of the
Arab peninsula.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Islam has a package of five basic beliefs. These are: belief in
one God or Allah, belief in Angels, belief in Holy Scriptures (Torah, and
Bible), belief in the apostles or messengers of God, belief in the Judgment
Day, belief in God’s omniscience, prior knowledge and determination of all
things.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Islam has also five pillars of Observance or obligations. These
are Shahada (declaration of faith) that “there is no God but Allah and that
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”. The second is Salat or prayer with face
towards Haram Sharif or Khana Ka'ba five times a day. The third is the Zakat or
alms which ordains giving a percentage of one’s income to the poor and
underprivileged. The fourth is Fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The
fifth is Hajj or pilgrimage once in life time if possible financially or
health-wise. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">There are two sources of Islamic Sharia or law in Islam. While the
Quran is the primary basis for the Sharia, it is in the second source the Sunna
or the life of the prophet as recorded in the Hadith that has been a major
source of information for the details of the law only hinted or omitted in
Koran. The Sunnah or Hadith of Prophet Muhammad comprises his actions, silent
approvals, decisions, utterances, sayings and edicts. The decisions and sayings
of the four successors of the prophet called caliphs are also used as
precedents for making decisions on matters concerning Muslims or non- Muslims. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Sharia covers the entire body of Islamic law as it developed since
the time of the prophet (six hundred legal references in Koran and Prophet
Muhammad’s statements contained in the Hadith). Sharia clarifies if there is a
confusion on a certain matter. It interprets rules and regulations, decisions
and edicts of the prophet and Quran. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The constituents of Islamic Sharia are not confined to Quran and
Hadith alone. The other sources are some of the Pagan customs from the Bedouins
like Muta and dowry and also the traditional commercial and agrarian practices.
A select number of Roman and Byzantine laws have also been incorporated in the
Islamic Sharia. For instance, the plaintiff must produce evidence and witnesses
otherwise defendant can swear and clear himself. Jewish, Persian and Greek
traditions and laws also form part of Islamic Sharia.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The Quran narrates parables and stories of the ancient prophets,
nations, societies and civilizations and warns as to why they prospered and why
some of them received divine wrath and vanished. It gives vivid and detailed
information about the life after death, the Day of Judgment and the final
destinations of the Heaven and the Hell.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Islam judges or evaluates the temporal and the ecclesiastical
matters and the deeds of a Muslim faithful through five parameters or commands.
These are: absolute duty, (Fard), commendable (Mustanjab), permissible (Mubah)
reprehensible but without punishment (Makruh) and forbidden (Haram). These five
criteria also fall under Sharia. As already explained, the Sharia that governs
the conduct of a person or group is derived from the text of Qur’an and also
from the practical life of the prophet.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The Islamic state was headed by Prophet Muhammad in the city of
Medina in 622 - 632 A D. This was the actual period when the fundamental
contours of a Muslim state were laid down. Since prophet (SAW) himself was the
ultimate authority on all temporal and divine affairs, his words, decisions and
verdicts were unquestionably accepted as the commandments of God conveyed to
him through divine revelation (Wahi).</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">But when the Muslims in subsequent times, through their conquests
and preaching missions came into contacts with other civilizations and
religions, they faced enormous doctrinal and administrative challenges that had
to be resolved rationally if these did not have the precedents within the Quran
or the life of the founder of Islam. It is in the wake of such intellectual and
doctrinal dilemmas that several schools of jurisprudence for elucidation of
Sharia to the outside world and even to the inquisitive Muslim came into being.
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The four such orthodox schools of Islamic law that dealt with the
application and expansion of Sharia in the subsequent times are: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Abu Hanifa: </span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">analogies, parallels or Qiyas
gleaned from Quran if there is no order or injunctions in Quran or Sunna.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Imam Malik: </span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">His collections of laws relied on<b>
local</b> traditions of Prophet Muhammad and his companions in order to fit
into the customary law.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Al Shafi:</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> Stipulates compromise between
tradition and independent thought, restricts use of common sense as done in
Imam Abu Hanifa’s <i>Qiyas</i> practice. He founded the science of Muslim
jurisprudence</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Ibn Hanbal:</span></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> He was ultra conservative. His
legal philosophy is called ‘<b><i>Nass’</i></b>. Nass is the binding ordinance
explicit in the Quran and Hadith. It means<b><i> </i></b>sanctified opinion
derived from only Quran and Hadith and no other source. While he rejected human
reasoning adopted by other three Islamic scholars, he preferred even Shaky
Hadith to determine a law or decision.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">These schools operate within the framework of Ijtihad that means
reinterpretation of Sharia or Islamic laws. The decisions arrived at are
ordained to be with <b><i>Ijma</i></b> or consensus and not to be a single
opinion (<b><i>Raye)</i></b> of an individual.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Besides these schools, the Muslim thinkers also tried to answer
many philosophical contradictions through intellectual scrutiny and rational
explanations. Such questions were about the predestination, the free will,
mysticism, religious truths and intellectual truths, role of reason in relation
to the theological truths and so on.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Apart from these intellectual and religious debates ranging since
the passing away of the prophet till now, the simple principle on which the
entire Islamic religious philosophy and precepts boil down is that man should
live like a servant of God and accept him as the only creator who not only
governs the universe and all the existence but also watches the Muslims in the
light of their good and bad deeds or intentions. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Based upon the nature of a deed in this world, God, on the
judgment day, will give reward and punishment accordingly. The obedience to God
has not only to be professed verbally but practically demonstrated through five
times daily and one-time weekly prayers. A faithful’s virtuous life and
personal good conduct is also a testimony to his submission to God as his subject.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Thus, Islam wants man to be an embodiment of all positive and good
virtues such as humility, charity, peace, chastity, kindness, tolerance, love
for fellow believers, respect for elders, and women and so on. The crux of all
these noble traits is defined in one phrase that, <i>“a good Muslim is that
whose tongue and actions are not harmful to others”.</i> Islam means submission
and Muslim means who practices Islam and is unconditionally obedient to God.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Prophet’s Muhammad’s period of leadership is deemed by the Muslims
as the ideal model both from mundane and spiritual standpoints. To a lesser
degree, the caliphs’ life of piety, self-denial and untainted dispensation of
justice is also taken and followed as beacons for Muslims. The Shia sect in
Islam believes only in the spiritual leadership of the fourth caliph Hazrat
Ali, who was the cousin brother and son in law of the prophet also.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The ideological cleavage between the Shias and the Sunnis is the
incurable wound inflicted on the body of Islam. Although, they share major
common elements of faith, yet the Muslim nation is irredeemably and rather
irreconcilably divided into two distinct factions forever. Their mutual
antagonism is as deep-rooted and chronically as bitter as the religious
animosity between the Muslims and the non-Muslims. This festering fissure
resulted from the claim of the fourth caliph Hazrat Ali as the rightful
successor of the prophet for the caliphate.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">As for fundamental beliefs, Islam brooks no compromise, nor
tolerance nor any deviation. As for the rituals, these are subject to certain
conditions that apply keeping in view the physical, social and financial status
of a faithful. For instance, pilgrimage is essential for those who can afford
it monetarily and physically. The religious tax (Zakat) is also contingent upon
the economic position of a member of Islamic fraternity. The fasting is also
not strictly applicable to those with infirm health, pregnant women or during
traveling or for similar reasons.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Islamic culture goads moderation, sanctity, piety and sobriety. It
shuns or discourages the indecent extravaganza, the morbid exhibitionism, or
lewd show off. For instance, Islam allows feasts on weddings and merry making
on joyful occasions but exhorts serenity and no lavish spending. In matter of
dresses or costumes, it is not necessary to dress up like Arabs by wearing a
big long rob. Yet one is ordained to cover the nakedness of certain parts of
the body. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The purpose is to maintain sanctity of one’s body which is more
rigid in case of women for being an object of amorous eyes from the impious or
sexually pervert people. Understandably, such conditions can be met by wearing
even western, Chinese or African dresses if these fulfill the basic criterion
of covering the body and maintaining modesty.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Mindful that the religious teachings and dogmas would not remain
rigid for all times and in different societies, the prophet kept the door for
amendments and changes open in Sharia but without deviation from the main
corpus of Islamic teachings. This is called Ijtihad (literally means exertion).
As such, all the interpretations or alterations in the Sharia worked out by the
succeeding Muslim philosophers and religious scholars were done in the light of
that provision.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">When we compare the western democracy with the Islamic political
system and the choosing of the leaders in the primitive Islamic societies with
that of the modern times, we tend to forget that it was only after the
Renaissance and Reformation that the Europe started embarking upon the democratic
path. Otherwise, the Christendom was afflicted with bloodletting conflicts
between old Roman Church and the proponents of reforms throughout the Middle
Ages. So, to paint only Islam as undemocratic is not a pragmatic or truthful
approach to the Islamic system of government.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Democratic system functions in a closely-knit world with fast
communications as we have in the modern times. Otherwise the Greek democracy
that was prevalent even before Christ was confined to the cities. Beyond the
city states, it could not be expanded because an integrated system of voting or
conducting elections in the length and breadth of the vast empire was not
possible. Moreover, those were not the ages of enlightenment and therefore the
true democratic culture even if conceived could not be practically followed
during the present times.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The Sharia that was prevalent during the time of Prophet Muhammad
and four caliphs (632-661) can still be applicable if it is suitably modified
to bring it in conformity with the phenomenally different world of today. The
consensus can be brought about, if the narrow concepts and beliefs affected by
sects and denominations, contrary to the age of prophet, are set aside. Or at
best these sects can still function but the main consensus code should remain
supreme.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Which means that the symbols are just a window dressing and have
no pronounced bearing on the life of a Muslim faithful? The rituals are
relative and are strictly obligatory for those who have the capacity to observe
them. The beliefs are confined to the individual and are personal. What matters
most is the resolution or dealing with the crimes, anti-social practices and
destructive actions of the citizens. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Islam presents a general framework for dispensation of justice.
The cardinal principle that Islam lays down is the strict fair play,
administering absolute justice in complete disregard of someone being poor or
rich, influential or obscure, a common man or a man of authority. It should be
acknowledged that the modern judicial system fulfills all these conditions if
applied by such a government that would respect and sincerely promote law and
justice. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">It means that the punishment to the convict is imperative but the
choice of the punishment and the mode of dispensation can be improved or
reformed for such punishments as beheading with a sword. For instance, the
theologians and Islamic jurists must acknowledge and therefore incorporate it
in a new Islamic code that covering of veil was not possible for women now as
was done in tribal or feudal societies in the past and even now. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">It is also essential to change through an agreed Ijtihad process.
For instance, a rape female victim instead of being further victimized and
brutalized by the religious laws must be helped against the male rapists. As
such, unattainable or impracticable conditions as to the production of four
witnesses must be discarded because in the present times, the occurrence of
rape and the identity of the rapist can be verified by scientific means such as
testing of DNA. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The Islamic caveat concerning the interest or mark-up has to be
modified because the complexion of the societies and the nature of interest
have undergone a radical change. The Arabian society in the 6</span><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">th</span></sup><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> or 7</span><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">th</span></sup><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> centuries was primarily agrarian.
The usury or the interest was charged in advance on cash given to a needful.
Now the concept of interest is not like those primitive societies. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The interest-bearing economy is now profit-making economy because
the money remains in circulation. That is how the wealth increases and the
economy grow. The old interest concept which now is rather reinvestment for
profit has to be modified. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Similarly, another issue relating to patrimony or inheritance and
alimony (allowance paid by the husband to divorced wife) has to be redefined in
the modern societies when the civil laws enshrined in the modern jurisprudence,
treat these issues better than the antiquated customs that were derived from
the tribal system. If a reinterpretation is not thought about, still the
parallel legal or economic system cannot be ignored or ruled out. The world
today is interdependent. The Muslims cannot live in isolation.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">So, it depends upon the governments to apply and enforce laws,
otherwise even the best of rules and caveats fail and remain ineffective. The
example is the multitudinous Islamic caliphates that used Islam to justify
their illegitimate hold on power. They fought each other for power and
decimated their rivals to the last man as exemplified by the power struggle
between Umayyad and Abbasid and later between other Islamic dynasties. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The religion of Islam is patently secular in nature, not in the
religious sense but in terms of its openness, liberalism and accommodation for
all opposing creeds and cultures. The incontrovertible shining example of that
is the Muslim rule in Spain (756-1492), when the Christians and the Jews lived
with the ruling Muslims, enjoying equal rights and in peace and dignity. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">In the contemporary times, Malaysia, Indonesia, Tunis, Morocco,
Jordan, Egypt and certain Central Asian states offer examples of enlightened,
accommodating, progressive Islamic polities where minorities live in peace,
harmony and equality along with the Muslim majority. In these countries, the
Islamic laws have been enforced in such a way that these not only fulfill the
pristine spirit of Islamic Sharia, but also meet the requirements of a modern
state.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Although polygamy is practically nonexistent for the majority of
the Muslims, yet it is one of the stigmas that Islam suffers from. The polygamy
is prevalent mostly in the Arab lands. In other countries, it is sparingly
practiced in the tribal, feudal and religious classes. But for outsiders this
has invariably, been used as a slanderous tool against the Muslims to prove
that the women folks were sex chattels, were lesser equal and inferior to the
males. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">That is true to a degree. In order to deal with this contentious
issue, it is necessary that the Muslim jurists and theologians should sit
together and hammer out a formula that should aim at discouraging the
polygamous tendencies and practices in the Muslim societies. Or it can be
declared forbidden through Ijtihad.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">But I strongly reckon that as the societies tend to be more
progressive, the Muslims would themselves abandon the polygamy. As a result,
though, the divorce rate would soar among the Muslims as we can see in the
western societies where polygamy is lawfully banned. Even now the educated and
independent women do not like to marry a person who would be already married.
So, the modernization of the Islamic conservative societies would neutralize
this social slur associated with Islam. The domestic violence should be sternly
dealt by the Islamic governments but it would also be hopefully outstripped and
fade away with the passage of time.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Modernism, liberalism and secularism is the answer to the
backwardness, indolence, underdevelopment and intellectual, economic and social
decadence of the Islamic world. The Jews hammered out a historic compromise in
18</span><sup><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">th</span></sup><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> century when they imbibed and adopted the western ways of life at
the behest of the Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Professor Moses
exhorted the Jews to abandon their rigid fanaticism and Talmud and conform to
western culture. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Through a political movement aided by the capitalist Europe and
America the establishment of the state of Israel was made possible in 1948. In
the same way, the Islamic religious fervor has got to be rational and aided by
the political and reformative spirit if the Islamic countries want to be
counted as modern nations in contemporary world.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The first constitution is always vulnerable to further alterations
and amendments. Likewise, the original Islamic ideologies and dogmas that
became controversial, counterproductive and rather unworkable, should be
overhauled while keeping intact their spirit and core philosophy and teachings
of Islam. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">If Ijtihad started barely 80 years after the demise of the prophet
of Islam by the Muslim reformers, theologians, philosophers and scholars, then
such an endeavor is indispensable in the modern times when the Islamic teachings
are targeted for their irrationality, obscurantism, subjectivity,
inconsistencies and for being out of sync with the rapidly advancing
imperatives of a highly competitive modern world.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">In Christendom, after prolonged controversies, debates and
bloodshed, the state finally managed to relieve itself from the influence of
papal supremacy or the domination of the church. Every country established its
own church or denomination in Europe, elsewhere in the world, and of late in
the United States. The Church and state were separated for their respective
roles. That proved to be a blessing in disguise both for the church and the
state. Similarly, in Muslim societies a gigantic effort is needed to
harmoniously blend the Islamic beliefs and religious creed with the dynamics
and progressive spirit of the modern societies without compromising the
essential teachings. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">In Islamic states, the state and religion have to function without
mutual conflict and contradiction. There should be no place, for
fundamentalism, sectarianism, fanaticism, or rigid adherence to a creed, that
is outdated and ruinous to the cosmopolitan nature of Islam. An enlightened and
updated fundamentalism (the age of prophet) is the need of the hour for Islamic
societies to move forward and join the comity of modern states in
technological, scientific and in other domains of human and material
advancements. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-14749920542954048622018-10-14T07:33:00.001-05:002018-10-14T07:33:54.137-05:005 Million Jobs is a Better Option than 5 Million Houses
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b>October
12,2018</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>By Saeed Qureshi</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced construction of 5
million houses or dwellings in Pakistan over a period of five years.
Truthfully, such huge number of houses cannot be built even in fifty years. It
is not an easy task as these gigantic projects might need at least ten years
for planning, arrangement of funds, selection of the locations, preparing of
the designs, selection of the contractors and so on. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
One may also imagine that it might take quite a long time to
determine who would the needy and deserving. It may happen that merely brokers
and middle men who might simply take possession of the houses through poor
people and then sell those at higher prices. It is yet to be determined and
found out whether this colossal number of dwellings would be needed or not.it
would be difficult to ascertain that those people who are identified as
homeless and living in rundown places would be deserving these houses. But how
they would be able to pay the cost or the prices of the house as most of these
people are perceived to be resourceless and poverty stricken. It is another
matter than the government allots these houses free of cost to the penniless,
poor and the mendicants. Yet one can imagine thefinancial burden on the national exchequer. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
It might be preferable if the government allots plots and
lands to the homeless freely and they can later build the houses on their own
either by spending their savings or taking loans from the banks and the loaning
agencies. But procurement of loans for the houses would be a tall order as the
loaning agencies and banks would not dole out loans without safe guarantees and
after undertaking due procedures that the allotters would be able to pay back
the loaned money over a period of time. As such the government should also look
into providing jobs to the homeless in order to enable them to pay for the cost
of the houses that would certainly put a heavy burden on the national
exchequer.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
To build 5 million houses in five years is certainly an
impossible and unattainable goal. It would be rather better if the government
provides jobs and legitimate sources of income like small businesses and
vocations that can bring money to pay the loans. But first providing jobs and
then building the house would be a double jeopardy on the national economy as
even the most economically advanced countries would not be able to attain and accomplish
such a gubernatorial task and undertaking.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Per say, if the government loses the majority in the
parliament or is faced with demonstrations and huge rallies for mishaps and
misdeeds that the opposition parties would be planning, then the mega and super-duper
housing project would have to be abandoned half way. That possibility is very
bright and the time might prove that as well.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
If the PTI government is exploiting the attraction and urge
of the homeless for owning house to win in the next term, then this gamble might
not fructify. The PTI government is not going to have a smooth sailing and
peaceful governance for a variety of reasons, one of which is that what goes
around comes around.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In the backdrop of these serious challenges and pitfalls
outlined above, the best recourse and way-out for PTI government is to build
community homes and multi housing blocs and big buildings for the homeless. They
should be given a job or provide reasonable source of earing either to be able
to build their own house or be able to pay for the rent of the apartment in a
multi-storey complex or building. Providing residences in government managed
complexes and multi-story- buildings would be a better choice than
building<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>individual full-fledged houses.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
There would be crooks and phony people who would take the
house by posing as a homeless or someone living in the open places as homeless.
Such deceptive demands and the fake people have to be checked but apparently it
might be difficult for this exercise to be totally flawless and foolproof.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Instead of building and providing five million houses, the
PTI government can create jobs for five million poor people. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It would lessen the poverty as well as the sense
of humiliation and deprivation of being homeless. It would be safer, better and
objective strategy If after getting a job a person may like to buy a house or vacant
piece of land to build a house. It should be ensured that a person provided
with the job doesn’t claim to be homeless. However, those who cannot do a job
because of old age or disability, he or she may be provided a modest. House. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The government may detect fraudulent practices on the part
of the phony buyers then it would have to initiate inquiries and punitive and
judicial remedies that might put additional burden on the national exchequer
and might be prolonged for an indefinite period. It would boil down to wild
goose chase as all the cheating and fraudulent practices may not be proven to
award punishment or award of penalties. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The intention of the PTI government is good to eliminate the
homelessness but there can be better ways, one of which is to give way loans
for the people to buy land and go on their own to build the house. Or else it
should be left to the leading construction companies, builders and contractors
to create colonies in various parts of Pakistan to build the houses for the
needy people. The government can pay the cost of land and construction to the contractors
which can be recovered from those who are provided the jobs or who can
physically work. The only check that the government will have to make is that
the houses were actually built and given to the really needy and genuinely homeless
people.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The failure of building 5 million houses in Pakistan would
negatively imping upon the PTI for winning next elections in Pakistan. As such
the government should simply oversee how the construction firms built the houses
and allot those to the real and deserving citizens. The PTI government should
not move in a hurry as building of countless houses is not catching a hen or
arranging a garden party. It would be a kind of project that nowhere else in
the world has happened. Safeguards and necessaries fulfillment of a whole lot
of conditions are essential for the allotment to the deserving homeless people
and then ensure how they would pay back the cost. If these would be providing
free then it is another matter but look at the financial burden under which the
national exchequer and economy would come under. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Finally, building of housing colonies is not the biggest
issue but the removal of poverty is one of the real challenges in Pakistan.
Then comes the elimination of bribery and financial corruption. Making Pakistan
economically robust is another challenge that might not happen in five years
period. The PTI government has to address the health, education, civic mess, mismanagement,
building and renovating roads and highway, weeding out corruption and
malfunctioning from the government departments. It has to curb the religious
and sectarian feuds and animosities. It means creation of a modern state and
the society that one can see in Turkey, South Korea Indonesia, Malaysia,
Sweden, Holland, Austria and so on. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just
follow and take queue from their systems.</div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #005500; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-36749292870962366492018-10-09T20:03:00.001-05:002018-10-09T20:03:14.746-05:00SOME PROPOSALS FOR PRIME MINISTER IMRAN KHAN
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 13.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">October 9, 2018</span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">As the scenario both political and administrative in
Pakistan is unfolding, it is becoming evident that the PTI dispensation is getting
paralyzed and directionless. There seems to be a mayhem of diverse challenges
and intricate and cumbersome issues that are staring right in the face of the
new establishment under the inimitable yet rabble-rouser; Imran Khan as the
Prime Minister. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The people of Pakistan, on the whole, had pinned enormous
hopes and expectations in PTI’s election victory for a gubernatorial revolution
to make Pakistan a politically and economically robust country. <span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span></span>Besides,
it was believed that Pakistan would earn a renewed dignified status and image
in the comity of nations and the world around. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">These hopes and aspirations have yet to see the light of
the day. The fiscal and economic mayhem persists with cost of living and
commodities skyrocketing by the day. The loans that the incumbent government
aimed at procuring from the foreign lenders have fallen flat because of the
harsh and unacceptable conditions attached. The IMF that the PTI leadership
detested is now being approached to lend money for buoying up the sinking
economy of a politically fractured Pakistan.</span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">With inane slogan of harnessing the runaway economy of
Pakistan and exhibiting the urge of beefing up the shortfall of revenue by
selling a few buffaloes, a fleet of luxury cars and telling the people to be patient
with the heightening cost of living is simply agonizing and speaks for the
failure of the recently installed revolutionary government of PTI. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The PTI has been treating the other political outfits with
disdain and contempt as evidenced during the campaigning and sloganeering of
the 2018 General Elections and even thereafter. Imran Khan and PTI were looked
upon by the expectant people to be Messiah endowed with magic and miracles to
turn Pakistan into a politically and institutionally vibrant state with
hallmarks of honesty and rule of law and Economic uplift. Well the intention to
straighten the bureaucracy was sincere and much welcomed. But to replace most
of the bureaucratic order replete with thieves and dacoits with angels and
morally upright individuals is still to happen. In my reckoning the replacement
of corrupt and discredited bureaucracy and officialdom with legions of
absolutely honest righteous individuals is asking for the moon. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The latest spree of dismissal and sacking of a horde of the
high and low bureaucrats is causing more dents in the smooth working of the
ministries and departments and to implement PTI’s far reaching and
revolutionary agenda. The pick and choose dismissals as well hiring of the
bureaucrats and senior government officials is based upon the criteria as to
who was loyal to the PMNL or PTI. Several high-ranking officials and senior
bureaucrats have been sent home not because they were dishonest or incompetent
but they were perceived to be loyal to the former political set up. The
Election Commission of Pakistan has reversed the decision of sacking of at one
senior bureaucrat.</span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The promise of breaking the begging bowl has been set aside
by the PTI. <span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span></span>The
freshly incumbent government has decided, </span><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">after much dithering, to approach
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $8 to 10 billion loan to overcome the
acute financial deficits and improve Pakistan’s fiscal credibility at the
international level.</span></span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">On the domestic front, I feel that the propensity of
antagonizing and degrading the rival parties and the politicians especially the
Sharif family, should be called off. <span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span></span>Instead Prime Minister Imran Khan
should unfurl a revolutionary yet workable agenda for rebuilding a great
Pakistan. This agenda should aim at eliminating poverty degradations, bribery
and mal-functioning of the institutions and uplifting the administrative
network. The consent and cooperation of the opposition parties should be sought
before launching it in order to avoid political tussle and brinkmanship.</span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">With a meagre coterie of the honest and efficient workers,
with lofty slogans of creating a corruption-free Pakistan and streamlining the
governance, seem to be nullified by the way the situation is emerging. The PTI
had claimed that Pakistan would be turned into a debt free country and that no
loans would be taken from the IMF. That claim has been now thrown to the winds
although it is the only yet temporary way to buoy up Pakistan’s fragile
economy. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">My hunch is that by prosecuting and imprisoning the rival
politicians and humiliating them wouldn’t be fruitful for the incumbent
government. Such an exercise and policy are counterproductive and wastage of
time on a non-issue. The real issue is to refurbish the institutional framework
and embark upon streamlining the judicial, governmental and institutional
network, promotion of democratic culture and taking along the opposition
parties to achieve these far-reaching goals. By calling Zardari, Nawaz Sharif
and other political stalwarts as scoundrels and forcing them to gorge out the
money sent abroad might take years and by that time the PTI tenure in
government would be over. While these efforts and mission can continue, the PTI
government should generate income by increasing the domestic production,
enhancing the agricultural sectors’ output and setting up more industries. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Prime Minister Imran Khan and his garrulous and warrior
Information minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry should learn to keep their tempers
down and shake hands and consult with their political contenders. They should
stop referring their cases to the courts and transferring or removing the
non-compliant or rival government officials and appoint their cohorts and supporters
in their posts. Such pursuits finally prove to be counterproductive as well. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">With a positive and reconciliatory approach and outlook
towards all the political parties and politicians, the country can be served
positively and in a much better manner. Otherwise, when the PTI government is
out after the end of its tenure, its leaders would be exposed to the same
rancorous treatment with their cases referred to the NAB and Accountability
courts and arrested as happening currently. It would be the same vicious policy
of giving hard time to the political adversaries. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Let PTI buoy up the economy by increasing exports, easing
and streamlining the imports and exports procedures, building educational
institutions, making the justice system honest and economically less burdensome
for the common people. The government should create jobs, build more hospitals.
Its leaders should focus on enhancing the industrial and agricultural output
building more roads, highways and refining and modernizing the civic system.
These tasks ought to be the priorities of the PTI government and Prime Minister
Imran Khan. The PTI should shun the underhand tactics to browbeat the political
opponents. On the contrary, it should prove its worth by results and reforming
Pakistan and bringing it at par or near to the developed countries. This ought
to be the priorities with it. </span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">If Pakistan becomes economically strong and its civic,
judicial, courts and educational systems at par or near, per say, to the
Scandinavian countries, the people would be enormously relieved and delighted.
Thus, the country would be refined and political system well stabilized. Just
by way of suggestion, if the cities, counties and the local government systems
as being run in the United States, are even marginally established in Pakistan,
our people and country would enter into a new era of a welfare, civically
modern state and clean society.</span><u1:p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></u1:p></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-89781139803624255702018-10-08T14:42:00.000-05:002018-10-08T14:42:45.780-05:00Shahbaz Sharif’s Arrest is Politically Motivated Witch-Hunting<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<b>October 8, 2018</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: 21.33px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></b><b>By Saeed Qureshi</b></div>
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<span style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Accountability Court (AC) on the
request of NAB (National Accountability Bureau) sent Shahbaz Sharif, the </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">former
Punjab Chief Minister, the current president of PMLN (Pakistan Muslim League
Nawaz) and the opposition leader in the National Assembly<span style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> on a 10-day physical remand for misuse of power,
corruption and nepotism displayed in the award of construction contracts to his
favorite parties. It seemed to be a sudden hoax by NAB against Shahbaz Sharif.
There seems to be more characters behind than what meets the eye for such an
action.<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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It might turn out to be a tall order for the sitting PTI’s
federal government as well as the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) to
justify the untimely, unbelievably imprudent and hasty arrest of Mian Shahbaz Sharif
who as stated above is the president of the PMLN, the former Chief Minister of
Punjab: the largest province of Pakistan and the opposition leader in the National
Assembly. </div>
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If PPPP and PMNL join hands in the National Assembly, the PTI
may turn as the minority party. </div>
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<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>Also, one may Imagine
as to what would happen if the two parties return the same treatment to the PTI
by initiating corruption and similar baneful allegations against Imran Khan and
other PTI stalwarts. It would therefore, be advisable and prudent if the unproven
corruption cases against the well-established rival politicians such as Shahbaz
Sharif are withdrawn in a spirit of accommodation and reconciliation for
serving the nation and the country.</div>
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It may happen as well that the PPPP and the PMLN jointly
launch a no-cooperation countrywide movement, take out processions and hold
dharnas like the PTI and Imran Khan has been doing. That mayhem and fiasco
might impel the army to step in and take up the reins of power which means imposing
the martial law. The country would drift back to square one for a few years and
as along the military rule can remain in place.</div>
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It would have been much better if the PTI government had
done its homework by preparing the solid evidence and incontrovertible proof of
the arrest of the top leader of the PMLN. That would have helped the Accountability
Court and the NAB (the National Accountability Bureau) to explore, investigate
and compile solid evidence and the reasons for Shahbaz’s sudden arrest. </div>
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The evidence that has been cited for the arrest of top PMLN
leader is flimsy and far from being convincing. Apparently behind Shahbaz’s
arrest there seems to be the political vendetta and urge to remove a powerful rival
politician and Chief Minister of the largest province of Pakistan. In better
times an investigation should be mounted as to why AC and NAB chose a stalwart
of PMNL and no one other at this juncture. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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The arrest of Shahbaz Sharif by NAB comes as a follow-up of
the grueling treatment meted out to his elder brother Mian Nawaz Sharif now incarcerated
along with his daughter in jail for alleged financial malpractices one of which
is the hoarding of wealth in the foreign banks. </div>
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The elder brother lost his premiership of the country while
the younger was deprived of his chief ministerial status of the biggest
province of Pakistan. With Shahbaz the accusations and allegations inter-alia are
about awarding contracts to his favorite builders and close friends. He was
summoned to the court for other reasons but was sent to NAB for indulgence in corruption
and nepotism causing huge financial loss to the national exchequer. This looks
fishy and preplanned. </div>
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While corruption is a huge issue in Pakistan, it is not only
the Sharif family to be accused of this crime but hundreds if not thousands are
milking and fleecing the national wealth by devious and uncalled means. The
case of Shahbaz Sharif seems to be a political ploy to remove him from a
powerful position and to deprive the PMNL from ruling a most prosperous
province. This was the second lethal blow to PMLN after the incarceration of Nawaz
Sharif and initiating several cases of corruption and money laundering against
the entire family including the two sons of Nawaz Sharif now living in London. </div>
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Had the drive against the corruption was initiated without discrimination
and not in pick and choose style, it would have been welcomed by the people of
Pakistan. Evidently it emits an impression that these moves are aimed at demolishing
the Sharif family leadership besides crippling the PMNL as a strong political combatant
and rival of the PTI. </div>
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The PTI leadership and the government wants to remain at the
helm for the stipulated period of five years with Imran Khan as the prime
minister. The main hurdle in this goal is the PMNL government which though has
been thoroughly debilitated politically and operationally thus far by the
government agencies like NAB and Accountability Courts </div>
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The main and most compelling factor behind the disqualification
of Sharif family is to deprive them of their political clout. The other most strident
factor is to punish the culprits of the Model Town carnage with several deaths.
But that carnage and killing, somehow, can be attributed to Allama Tahirul
Qadri who came all the way to Pakistan despite being the Canadian citizen and start
campaigning for Islamic rule and removal of the Punjab government under Sharif
family. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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For that grave incident, it should have been Allama Qadri
who should be held responsible. He wanted to create a law and order situation by
launching an Islamic movement which had insidious motives to subvert the provincial
government in Punjab and pave way for Imran Khan to step in and be accepted by
the people. The Dharnas (sit in) jointly sponsored and held by Imran Khan and Tahirul
Qadri were aimed at paralyzing the political system and remove the sitting PMNL
governments both in Punjab and at the center. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>That ploy didn’t work at that time but
ultimately that proved to be fruitful and thus transferring of power from PMNL
to PTI at the federal level via 2018 general elections. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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Yet the motivation of removing the Sharif family’s
leadership in Punjab province remained unattained. That goal has been attained
with the arrest of Shahbaz Sharif by NAB against the charges of favoritism,
corruption and misuse of power. The PPPP senior leader Khursheed Shah on Friday
termed the arrest of Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz
Sharif as the contempt of parliament.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-18795829843168419782018-09-30T23:23:00.000-05:002018-09-30T23:23:21.249-05:00PTI Government May Not Survive for Five Years
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<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">September 28, 2018</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By Saeed Qureshi</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If Pakistan Tehrik
Insaf (PTI) does not fulfil it pledges and agenda of reforms, it may have to
leave the power for three reasons. First, the opposition parties might launch a
nationwide agitation for the ouster of the PTI from power echelons. Secondly, there
could be turning of tables within the National Assembly if the majority of PTI
is overtaken by the other political parties. Such a possibility exists by
viewing the latest overtures of the two main political parties PPP and PMNL to
come together. It could as well be joined by Maulana Fazalur-Rehman, the
President of the Religious party, “Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam”. The third possibility
is the masses’ agitation if PTI doesn’t stand by its commitments of changing
Pakistan into a modern welfare state, with hallmarks of honesty and fair
play.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Imran Khan the
22nd elected Prime Minister of Pakistan with an overwhelming mandate offers a
great hope for a prosperous and modern Pakistan. He wants to erect and build a
new Pakistan on the pattern of the State of Medina that the Prophet of Islam,
Hazrat Muhammad founded after migrating from Mecca to Madina in 622 A.D., along
with his closest companion and the first Caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr, who later also
had the honor of being his father-in-law. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On August 19, in
his inaugural victory speech, he spelled out his vision and heavily promising mandate
to restructure Pakistan and bring it in the comity of developed nations and
earn international support, respect and dignity for Pakistan. It would be
fruitful for the people of Pakistan to go through his charter of reforms and
ponder how groundbreaking and revolutionary these are. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">His agenda for a
new Pakistan consists mainly 27 programs or reforms that are essentially
far-reaching and innovative. Even if a part of this agenda is
implemented, a new economically prosperous, truly democratic and stable
Pakistan is believed to emerge that may earn respect in the comity of nations
and have peaceful and friendly relations with neighbors mainly India, Iran and
Afghanistan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">While Prime
Minister Imran’s mission and mandate are noble and essential for the uplift of
Pakistan, one may wonder as to how, in a short span of five years, he would be
able to fashion Pakistan on the pattern of the Islamic State of Medina or
Khilafat-e-Rashida. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The example of Saudi Arabia is not relevant as it is a
monarchy while Pakistan is a democratic country where unlike Saudi tribal establishment,
the will and mandate of the people decide about the leadership. Here in
Pakistan, the government like Saudi Arabia cannot hang any one upside down till
the usurpers cough out the stolen money. In Pakistan, the decision making is carried
out with the will and support of the elected representatives, judiciary and the
people of Pakistan. As such, hanging upside down of countless people is simply impossible
and rather a barbaric tribal custom.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As such Information Minister, Fawad Hussain is living with a
mindset which doesn’t go along with the political and social culture of
Pakistan and its society and for that matter any civilized society. While
speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Fawad Hussain, the robust,
emotional, youthful, and hawkish Information Minister of the PTI government lashed
out at the opposition members and blatantly castigated some of the opposition members
as the dacoits. Loudly, and an in degrading tone, he accused the opposition leaders
most notably Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif for looting the national wealth
and depositing that money in the foreign banks. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">By calling them swindlers, he suggested the most condign
punishment of public hangings to these people who are charged with decamping
with the national wealth of Pakistan and put that money in foreign banks. He informed
the august house that he would recommend to the prime minister Imran Khan to
follow the Saudi example by nabbing these corrupt looters and thugs to be
hanged upside down until they promise to bring back the stolen national wealth.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The overall reaction to Information Minister’s speech from
the prominent leaders of the main political parties namely PPP and PMNL was
stunning, Khurshid Shah, the National Assembly member from the PPP, rebutted
the charges of the Fawad Chaudhry in the strongest possible words. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He called upon Fawad Chaudhry to apologize and
take back his sleazy words and shady allegations uttered on the floor of the
National Assembly against fellow politicians.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At the same time, the
house members from PPP and PMNL staged a walkout in protest against the sleazy
language and pile of allegations hulred by Fawad Chaudhry who has emerged a
diehard hawk on behalf of PTI. He is known for excelling in the distasteful art
of bitter and hard-hitting tongue lashing against the opponents of PTI and
Imran Khan. Apart from Fawad Chaudhry, the PTI chairman and newly elected prime
minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan too has a propensity and attitude of being
hawkish and for degrading and demeaning utterances against the political
opponents. His poignant opposition and rivalry are aimed at PMLN president Mian
Nawaz Sharif, followed by the stalwarts of the PPP including Asif Ali Zardari and
Maulana Fazlur Rehman: a noted religious yet political leader of Pakistan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">If that questionable and irrational statement has been given
for the peoples’ consumption then it is tantamount to outright hoodwinking,
chicanery and dishonesty. If not then it ought to be withdrawn and a public
apology should be tendered by the youthful yet goofy Information Minister. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a matter of fact, the PTI won the 2018 general elections
on the basis of a full-blown campaigning of castigation and drumming up the colossal
corruption of his predecessors with PMNL and his family in the lead. This blame
game should have discontinued after the elections. Instead the PTI, its prime minister
and other leaders should have unfurled their construction agenda and launching
of the pile of the reforms to build a new Pakistan which they have been pledging
since the formation of PTI. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now when they have the political power and clout, they
should focus on launching their grandiose program of rebuilding a new
developed, progressive economically strong Pakistan, besides, rebuilding
national institutions, creating an enlightened and prosperous society. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After attaining power and forming the
government, the time for hurling accusations on the political opponents and
continuation of blame game is over. On the contrary they should invite other politicians
to join the PTI in the monumental task of building a new prosperous Pakistan
and creating an enlightened society, culture and traditions. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yet as a matter of fact, the grandiose agenda that PTI professed
during the elections would take a long time in turning Pakistan from a poor,
backward and mismanaged country to a developed nation. Imran Khan is not a juggler
nor a magician to bring about radical changes and transformation in a short tenure
of five years. Pakistan is plagued with a plethora of grave diversity of problems
most notably poverty, degradation of life sectarianism, religious bigotry,
mismanagement of institutions, financial corruption and so on. It cannot be
brought in the fold of the developed nations merely by slogans and continuation
of blaming the predecessors. Now is the time to move ahead and produce results
by implementing the agenda that PTI has been dishing out all these years as the
political contender. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">By selling scores of the vehicles and buffaloes being used in
the prime minister’s house by his predecessor Nawaz Sharif is a flimsy and funny
gesture. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is patently ridiculous and shouldn’t
be drummed up as a monumental breakthrough that would move Pakistan towards a moral
and fiscal zenith. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As earlier stated, Pakistan is beset with a host of most fundamental
and serious problems. As such, the superficial and flimsy announcements and
measures can be laughed at but cannot be taken as milestones for putting
Pakistan on the road to progress, prosperity, economic uplift, cultural
openness, religious freedom and renovating nation building institutions.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Also, every homeless Pakistani citizen cannot be provided a
house and clean water for every household. Absolute elimination of corruption
and moral crimes such as kidnappings, illicit sex, degrading of womenfolk and
children and building health institutes and schools and educational
institutions allover Pakistan and cleaning of the government departments of
corruption and the mismanagement in five years is simply a dream that might not
come true. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even if these commendable tasks and laudable goals are to be
initiated, the support and cooperation of other political parties and national
institutions would be indispensable. The impression that Imran Kahn is dynamic
and an honest person is not helpful nor enough for the nation building and
putting bedeviled Pakistan onto a truly democratic course, militarily
robustness, economic prosperity and so one.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a matter of fact, there is such a huge agenda and
countless pledges and commitment by the newly installed government of PTI with
Imran Khan as the prime minister, that it looks improbable that in a short
period of five years Pakistan would join the fold of developed and advanced
nations. It is an unrealistic notion that it would turn into a garden of bliss
and happiness. It is indeed, a long-drawn process and if PTI doesn’t return to
the power, their achievements and initiatives might be nullified by the new
government. It might not be possible, for instance to resolve all the
contentious issues with India and other countries during the tenure of PTI. Who
knows if PTI would stay in the saddle of power for five years or leave the throne
for other political party.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The PTI and
its leaders may receive the same venomous propaganda blitz that it heaped on the
other political opponents all this time. However, a beginning can be made and a
course can be set out towards a better future for Pakistan as well as its
citizens. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The taste of the pudding is in its eating. If PTI fails in
realizing its dream, plans and pledges of rebuilding a prosperous, stable and
ecumenically viable and strong Pakistan, there is going to be a mayhem in
Pakistan. If PTI somehow fails to deliver on its pledges, then the opposition political
parties might bring the people in the streets and whip up agitational protest against
the incompetence of the PTI. It would a sort of return compliment of what PTI
has been doing against the PMNS establishment for a long period of time. That bizarre
situation might tempt or force the army to step in and there could be another
spell of military rule imposed on Pakistan. Thus, Pakistan would be back to
square one. </span></div>
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<div style="background: white; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #005500; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-52756423825081789042018-09-25T13:30:00.001-05:002018-09-25T13:30:50.796-05:00Dallas Fort Worth Roads Need Quality Repair and Regular Maintenance
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<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">September
24, 2018</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By Saeed
Qureshi</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">There is a vast
network of the highways and smaller roads in DFW for traveling. One can see the
Texas State Highway 121 and George Bush Turnpike built in the near past keeping
inter cities traveling fast, easy and convenient. These additional facilities
are great boon to streamline and ensure the easy flow of the commuters. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">However, the
standard of repairs of the roads in the DFW Metropolis is patently quite rough
and risky. We have experienced that occasionally while exiting or entering, the
vehicles go astray and fall from one surface to another because of variation in
level of surface between them. Thus, a kind of upward or downward jerk is
experienced which are certainly unpleasant and irritating and can cause
accidents. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">It appears
that not much of attention is given to the selection of the right and
professionally competent and experienced parties and firms to build or repair the
mauled highways and normal roads. I wonder that in the United States where
merit, competence and expertise is the touchstone in services, such a gross
negligence is being shown in providing good and well-maintained roads. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">As such, the
cost of repair goes higher because of the persistent daily erosion of the
surface of the tires by the ditches, holes and pointed corners of the eroded
places. As daily traveling on roads with rough and eroded surface not only
causes earlier wear and tear of the wheels but also causes mental shocks to the
drivers due to slow driving and persistent jumping and jerks. A few years back
such surface erosion and potholes were witnessed on the small street roads, but
now these can be seen on the highways, freeways, and intercity roads. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">During the
rains, the situation gets worse and more problematic. The rain water deposited
in the cleavages and holes gets splashed and falls on the vehicles’ bodies and
frames. The roads that are resurfaced, a new layer is placed on these <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>or a ditch is filled remain uneven and
therefore, cause jerks and jumping of the vehicles up and down and sideways. If
the respective City and County administrations and the departments take a
survey of the highways and city roads, they would find countless such faults
and uneven sections.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Some time
back I wrote another article after the completion of the Georg Bush Turnpike. I
had noticed that some sections and portions of that magnificent Turnpike didn’t
have smooth tracts at many places. Countless other commuters must have noticed
and suffered the jerks on the uneven sections by traveling on that highway
regularly or occasionally. Mercifully some of the sections were later
resurfaced and their level brought even with the even portions.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The counties
and the city administrations should survey and ensure that the filling or leveling
work was perfect and in accordance with the book and laid down regulations. Besides,
the edges and linings of the roads need to be straightened and smoothened. At
countless places the big and small roads need to have straight and leveled
sidelines. Rather such inspections and surveys should be done periodically to
ensure smoothness and proper level of the roads and to be without holes or
cavities. These groups should also identify and report defects of unevenness,
jagged surfaces and potholes. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">The City, and
the County administrations and the municipalities charge various kinds of taxes
and fees for a variety of services such as the civic and municipal comforts and
good roads. The taxes and duties can be increased if the level of facilities
like providing hassle-free roads for smooth traveling are improved.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">In this
regard dire and immediate attention should be given to the jumbled-up and
narrow roads in the so-called Down Towns where traveling and driving is nothing
short of a nightmare at day time. The citizens have to come to these Down Towns
for a variety of pressing chores, particularly those who have to attend the
court hearing and other offices for a variety of chores and unavoidable
tasks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The downtown of Dallas Texas and
that of Fort Worth are awful examples of the difficulties that the commuters have
to face every day. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px;">The writer is a senior journalist, former editor of Diplomatic Times
and a former diplomat.</span></i><span style="color: red; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-89951860002869183162018-09-11T21:02:00.000-05:002018-09-11T21:02:16.930-05:00LET US PRAY FOR IMRAN KHAN’S SUCCESS
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b>September 10,
2018</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b>By Saeed Qureshi</b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
It would be an unrealistic expectation that Imran Khan has a
magic wand which he would wave and things would start improving. Nevertheless,
under his leadership sooner than later, Pakistan would be embarking on the road
to an overall progress and prosperity. Hopefully, the state building institutions
would be washed of all or most of the dysfunctional aspects and sleazy contours
which have been there in the Pakistan society and state ever since its creation
in 1947.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Granted that Imran Khan is a leader of his mettle and is absolutely
sincere, a true patriot and embodiment of the commendable leadership qualities.
Yet the challenges and tasks that he is faced with are also unusual, tricky, stupendous
and extraordinary. As a matter of fact, he needs a prolonged space of time and
planning and absolutely honest and committed team to fulfil his dream and
mission of putting Pakistan in the comity of the developed and prosperous
nations. I reckon that to fulfil this gigantic task and accomplish massive undertaking,
he needs to win the next term and to remain at the helm for another five
years.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If he leaves half way, the
Himalayan goal which he is aiming at, cannot be accomplished in a single term
of five years. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Granted that he is blessed with unconditional and voluntary
support and unstinted cooperation from the armed forces as well as the superior
judiciary. Nevertheless, one has to also look at the ground conditions that would
prove to be hazardous and rather complex to be streamlined in a limited period
of five years. It is not to doubt or underestimate his integrity, ability and resolve
to catch the bull of misrule by horn. Still there might be unforeseen roadblocks
and unexpected challenges that might be difficult to overcome in a short period
of time.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
He would find himself between the proponents of a secular
state with religion confined to the personal level and those who may want the
revival of the State of Medina, in the present times. He has already made this
pledge and let us watch how he can turn Pakistan into a replica of the state of
Medina established by the Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad(pbuh) in 622 CE after
his migration from Mecca to Medina. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>…</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
As a matter of fact, what he meant by establishing the state
of Medina it is to revive and enforce the character and qualities of the
Muslims in those blessed eras. There cannot be any comparison between the
prophet of Islam and any head of an Islamic state. Yet what the Muslims have to
do is to follow as far possible the tradition, the sublime life of the prophet
and the tenets and beliefs on which he established the State of Medina. When
Imran Khan aims at taking a cue from the contours of the state of Medina, he
means by it the morality, integrity, truthfulness, honesty, spirit of sacrifice
and unity to be imbibed by the Muslims and leaders. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
The state of Medina also takes care of the minorities with
regard to their rights and obligations, grant of equal status, and their security
at the same time. But even if the real replica of state of Medina cannot be
established, and Imran Khan succeeds in attaining that pristine goal by a fraction,
Pakistan would move forward as a stable and righteous country among the comity
of nations and would be respected for clean society and efficient and honest administration.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
We all know what is the dream, plan, and manifesto of Imran
Khan. He has unfolded his far-reaching reforms and milestone agenda in his
August 19 inaugural victory speech. In that momentous maiden address, he
categorically spelled out his vision and momentous mandate to restructure
Pakistan and bring it in the comity of developed nations. He wants to attain
and earn international support, respect and dignity for Pakistan. It would be
fruitful for the people of Pakistan to go through his charter of reforms and
ponder how groundbreaking and revolutionary these are. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
His agenda for a new Pakistan consists mainly 27programs or
reforms that are essentially far-reaching and innovative. Even if a part
of this agenda is implemented, a new prosperous, truly democratic and stable
Pakistan is believed to emerge. That Pakistan may earn respect in the comity of
nations. Pakistan, with Imran Khan as the prime minister, may not only emerge as
a dignified state but hopefully, would have peaceful and friendly relations
with neighboring’ countries mainly India, Iran and Afghanistan without
bargaining Pakistan’s vital national interests.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
It should be taken for granted that Imran Khan is thoroughly
honest. He cannot be blackmailed or bribed. He is fearless, and undaunted. He
is truly a patriot who loves Pakistan and the nation from the core of his heart.
He is just an opposite of most of leaders who remained at the helm of power. The
essential and sublime tradition of accountability, has been for the first time
implemented, without any discrimination and fear or favor. If this ruthless and
across-the-board accountability culture continues unabated, Pakistan would be
ridden off the criminals and corrupt individuals and leaders. At the same time,
it would have a salutary and positive impact on the integrity and honest functioning
of the state building institutions. </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #005500; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5058387071370526197.post-12556176554428736992018-09-06T21:42:00.001-05:002018-09-06T21:42:23.029-05:00Rigging Allegations Must Be Investigated
<br />
<div style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b>September 2, 2018</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">By Saeed
Qureshi</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">After winning 2018 general elections, Imran
Khan the newly elected prime minister of Pakistan, in his inaugural address,
delivered on August 19 made a solemn and firm pledge to hold investigation to
probe the widely reported charges of corruption and votes rigging. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">The opposition parties in Pakistan are raising
hue and cry to demand the investigation to determine if the 2018 general
elections were rigged or not. Hopefully, the PTI government and prime minister
Imran Khan would stand by their commitment and probe as to whether the
opposition’s allegations were valid or not. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">Now vote rigging allegation is certainly a very
serious issue by itself. If proven it could put the legitimacy of the 2018
elections in doubt. PTI, the prime minister’ party bagged <span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">149 National Assembly seats leaving far behind the runner
up party PMNL which could grab only 82 seats out of a total of 272 National Assembly
seats. It should be remembered that the same kind of rigging allegations were
leveled against the </span>PMLN which won the three elections prior to the 2018
elections.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">It should be reckoned as to which authority
would be entitled and asked to conduct the inquiry and investigation into the
rigging rigmarole which is not an easy task. The record at the elections
centers could have been manipulated, wasted away or hidden by the interested
party which in this case is the PTI. However, primarily it should be the Election
Commission of Pakistan on which this onerous responsibility devolves. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;">If the case goes in case of the refusal of the
government and the Election Commission to conduct inquiry or recount the votes,
then possibly and credibly this thorny issue would be placed before the
judiciary which could be no less than the Supreme Court of Pakistan. If Supreme
Court orders an enquiry that might take quite a long period of time to finalize
the outcome and its findings. This task of election rigging is not the first of
its own kind in Pakistan. But keeping in view the rigid confrontation and
strong discord between the winning party and the runner up PMLN together with
other fringe political contenders such as Awami National Party,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Pakistan#Awami_Workers_Party_(AWP)"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"> Awami
Workers Party (AWP)</span></a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Pakistan#Jamaat-e-Islami_Pakistan"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan</span></a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Pakistan#Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam_(F)"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F)</span></a>., </span>the situation may not subside
till a verdict in clear and transparent terms is, handed out by the Supreme Court
of Pakistan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Even another
main political party “Pakistan People’s Party” may jump into fray.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
There is also a possibility which ought to be kept in view
that if the verdict of the Supreme Court is not accepted by the loser parties
and they persist in unrelenting agitations, a serious law and order situation could
emerge. Thus, there could be a leeway for the armed forces to step in to rein
in the cataclysm and worsening law and order situation. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
If that is the probable scenario then the country would be,
democratically, back to square one. That development would be as the
reminiscent of taking over power by General Zia against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in July
1978(as Chief Martial Administer) and later from prime minister Muhammad Khan
Junejo as the president from September 1978 to August 1988. Again, General Pervez
Musharraf took over power from the PMNL government headed by Nawaz Sharif in
October 1999 and ruled Pakistan first as the Chief Executive (October
1999-November 2002) and then as the 10<sup>th</sup> president until August
2008.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
If the inquiry is instituted by the sitting government in
Pakistan and the PTI government comes out with flying colors then it would be
functioning on firm footing for five years. The political opposition would have
no excuse to create fuss against the government headed by prime minister Imran
Khan. With Imran Khan, the people of Pakistan have nursed enormous hopes to
rebuild a strong and prosperous Pakistan. After clearing of the rigging stigma,
PTI and prime minister Imran Khan could, without hindrance, implement the PTI’s
voluminous agenda comprising of 27 ground breaking programs one of which is to
fashion Pakistan on the format of the State of Medina. The State of Medina was
established by Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) the last prophet of God after his
migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 A. D.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>By all reckoning, the State of Pakistan would be a combination of the
contours and foundations of a modern state as well as the “State of Medina”.</div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #005500; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Saeed Qureshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09316296150519739251noreply@blogger.com0