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Monday, May 31, 2004
Pakistan's Polar princess - Asian News
"Almost a hundred years too late but Pakistan has finally made it to the North Pole! The surprise conquering hero is 24-year-old London based lawyer Anoushka Kachelo who hauled her sledge across 50 gruelling frozen territory to get the top of the world on 24 APRIL 2004 - 95 years after the first man there, American explorer Robert Peary. Karachi-born Anoushka also has the distinction of being the youngest woman in the world as well as the first Pakistani to walk the last degree to the North Pole. It took eight exhausting days for the young adventurer to plant the Pakistani flag at the famous spot and mark the end of her journey. Anoushka is now resting, gathering mental and physical strength for her next feat - a walk to the South Pole."
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Pakistan's religious faultline - Aljazeera
"The Sunni-Shia schism is almost as old as Islam itself centring on a dispute over who should lead the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Although the two largest sub-groups of Islam share much in common and for the most part have lived peacefully alongside each other, their differences have often boiled over into open confrontation. Nowhere has this been more true than in Pakistan where about 30 million Shias reside as a minority among the country's 120 million Sunnis."
Girls at London Saudi school are treated 'as inferiors' - Telegraph
"A London school funded by the Saudi Arabian government is facing complaints from parents that it is teaching British children 'fundamentalist' Islam while giving girls an inferior education. The King Fahd Academy in Acton, west London, named after the current Saudi ruler, devotes up to 50 per cent of lessons to religious education and teaches almost all classes in Arabic, with boys and girls following different curricula ... The school is segregated and younger boys and girls are now taught different courses, to comply with Saudi education policy, which states that a girl's education should 'enable her to be a successful housewife, an exemplary wife and a good mother' or prepare her for work which is 'suitable to her disposition as a woman'."
Indian movie Raqeeb to be shot in Pakistan - Times of India
"Bollywood producers are now eyeing hitherto in Pakistan for unexplored locales, with an Indian film Raqeeb to be shot in July in Lahore and Rawalpindi. 'With the thaw in Indo-Pak relations, it has now become possible to shoot in Pakistan . Unlike most places in India , the old world charm is still visible in Pakistan . The havelis and bazaars of Lahore are still untouched by modernism,' says Ram Ji Sandhu, producer of the film. 'We would be mainly concentrating on showing the traditional bazaars of Lahore , the old havelis , the customs and traditions there,' says Sandhu."
White slave trade in Asian women rife - Hi Pakistan
"Thousands of women and children from Bangladesh are trafficked to Pakistan every year and Afghan women are sold into prostitution in Pakistan, says a report of the Amnesty International. India is the source, transit and destination country, receiving women and children from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, while it also sends victims of human trafficking to Europe and the Middle East."
Sharia tribunals bear watching - Toronto Star
"Alia Hogben doesn't want to be waging a public battle with her fellow Muslims. But she and other women such as her are speaking out these days because they fear Muslim women's rights will be threatened by new civil tribunals due to open soon in Ontario. What is upsetting Hogben and many other Muslim women in the province is that the tribunals will arbitrate marriage, family and business disputes based on Sharia, a 1,300-year-old body of Islamic laws. There is nothing novel in such arbitration tribunals. Ontario has used them for years, as an alternative to the overcrowded courts handling such issues as divorce, child custody and inheritance cases."
Another one in Globe and Mail, Life under sharia, in Canada?
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Pakistan's inner battle for education reform - SF Chronicle
"Progressive forces in Pakistan, a country often derided in the international press as an impoverished backwater overrun with gun-toting wackos, are fighting hard for changes in the education curriculum here that have the potential to bring Pakistan more in line with Western secularized modern education systems and make it a role model for other Islamic countries struggling to progress in the 21st century. But the battle, which speaks directly to the base identity of Pakistanis, is fierce."
Prostitutes pray for peaceful poll - Jakarta Post
"No less than 500 sex workers operating in six red-light districts across the East Java capital of Surabaya gathered on Sunday for a mass prayer, to pray for a peaceful presidential election. The women, dressed in Muslim attire and head scarfs, many seen carrying the Koran, looked pensive when local cleric Ahmad Muhajit delivered his sermon. Some of the sex workers shed tears while chanting the verses."
Muslim cartoonist has a different slant - San Francisco Chronicle
"Scores of U.S. editorial cartoonists have examined the Abu Ghraib prison controversy, but none of them has matched the biting, almost risque commentary of Khalil Bendib. Bendib knows his humor is not for everyone. He thinks of himself as a social activist with a pen, and is the only prominent Arab and Muslim editorial cartoonist in the United States. Born in Paris and raised in Algeria and Morocco, Bendib, 46, has lived in California since 1977. He now lives in Berkeley. 'Eventually, I hope to see legions of Arab American smart alecks like myself,' says Bendib, whose work is distributed to 1,700 small- and medium- size papers around the United States."
Pakistan rejects Sino-India model on Kashmir - Hi Pakistan
"Pakistan Saturday rejected India’s proposal to resolve Kashmir issue along the lines of Sino-India talks and insisted the longstanding valley dispute 'cannot be swept under the carpet'. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry in a response to Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh’s suggestion not to prioritise Kashmir dispute in bilateral ties between the two countries, found logical fallacies to Congress-led government’s approach to settle the issue. Pakistan insists to follow January this year’s joint declaration that binds Islamabad and Delhi to simultaneously negotiate on all bilateral disputes, including that of territorial issue of Kashmir."
Pakistan on the march again - Asia Times
"Pakistan continues to develop policies that will both protect and further its strategic interests in the region - even if this means engaging in activities inconsistent with its new global image, particularly in relation to Afghanistan and Kashmir. Officials close to Pakistan's strategic circle have told Asia Times that recently Musharraf was given a detailed briefing of a new strategic road map for Indian-administered Kashmir in which Kashmiri freedom fighters will launch fresh assaults on key targets in the state. Over the past year, under intense US-led international pressure, Pakistan had scaled back its support for jihadis launching cross-border attacks from Pakistan-administered Kashmir into Indian territory."
Whose side is Mr Saleem Shahzad on anyway?
Validity of 5-rupees note expires on June 30, 2005 - PakTribune
"The validity of five-rupee note will expire on June 30, 2005 and it will cease to be legal tender with effect from July 1, 2005, said the State Bank of Pakistan release, which was issued here on Saturday . The SBP advised the general public to get Rs 5 notes exchanged with Rs 5 coins from all SBP banking services, corporations and branches of commercial banks operating in the country till June 30, 2005 ."
The 5 rupee bill goes out now ... This must mean boon for the Pakistani beggars. No one likes to carry coins, our wallets do not have pouches for them.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Car prices go high instead of reduction - PakTribune
"The car prices, which are expected to be reduced, go high instead of reduction before the announcement of federal budget 2004-05 due to combine strategy of local car assemblers ... Honda Atlas Car Company increased price of all its car models up to Rs 20000 two weeks back. The Suzuki and Indus Motors are also expected to increase car prices soon, the sources added."
If you didn't catch it, read the earlier post on buying a car in Pakistan.
Muslim board to check Arab-Indian marriages - Times of India
"The order came two days after a 73-year-old UAE national Mohammed Jaffer Yaqoob Al Jorani was arrested for deserting an Indian girl two days after marrying her. The incident has once again brought to light the plight of young Muslim girls being exploited through the so-called contract marriages. Due to historical, social and religious links with this capital city (Hyderabad), nationals from Arab countries visit the city in large numbers. Some of them come solely to prey on young girls from poor families arranged by the so-called marriage brokers. These girls are duped into marrying aged men after being promised a better future and money for their families. They, however, end up being sexually exploited and are often abandoned after a few days."
Pakistani firm buys iSky, keeps all 500 workers - BendBulletin
"The Resource Group of Lahore, Pakistan, has purchased iSky of Bend for an undisclosed price and is retaining all of its nearly 500 employees, the company said Tuesday. None of the company's calls will be handled in Pakistan because that doesn't suit the needs of new clients such as luxury carmaker Bentley Motors, Roden said. The Resource Group has another link to Bend. The Pakistani company bought 40 percent of Centratel, another call center in Bend, last year."
Cheeseburger in Palestine - Stanford Daily
"I am especially anxious to see how the Israeli-Palestinian drama ends. I mean, it has to end sometime, right? Imagine the day when they can look back on it all and chuckle: 'Remember when we hated each other? Haha. That was so stupid.' We can drive through Gaza City and tell our grandchildren: 'The brochure says that 15 people were killed by Israeli Defense Force machine-gun fire on that plot of land over there. Now it’s a Burger King. I anticipate a day when the only dilemma running through the minds of Israelestinians is the trade-off between low-cholesterol and the Atkins Diet."
Europe's big problem with a 3-letter word - IHT
"As the Europeans haggle over the final wording of their first constitution, they are bedeviled by a three-letter word: God. Mind-numbing arguments over budget rules and weighted voting have been more time consuming, but can be delegated to technocrats. The issue of whether the most ambitious document in European Union history should include a reference to the continent's Christian heritage is different, an emotional, theological wrangle over the meaning of culture, history and faith."
Charm offensive against Muslim extremists - Reuters
"The government has signalled its commitment to the Muslim community as a leaked document revealed a project to 'win the hearts and minds' of Islamic extremists and al Qaeda sympathisers. The government project codenamed 'Contest', which was leaked to the Sunday Times, suggested Britain might be harbouring as many as 10,000 al Qaeda sympathisers. 'We don't comment on leaks, but the government is taking its relationship with the Muslim community very seriously,' said a government spokeswoman. 'But that is only one part of the strategy against terrorism.' "
Friday, May 28, 2004
Pakistan To Extend US $ 10m Loan To Cambodia - Pak News
"Pakistan will provide a soft term loan of US $ 10 million to Cambodia for the development of small water reservoirs. Agreement to this effect was signed here at the Economic Affairs Division on Saturday night ... Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali during his visit to Cambodia in April this year pledged US $ 10 million concession loan for the country for its reconstruction and socio economic development. Dr. Waqar said the visit of Cambodian delegation was a follow up Visit to finalize the agreement. He said Cambodians are keen to develop their water projects for agriculture sector and want to utilize Pakistan's expertise in this area."
Since when did we join the league of money lenders? Tell me this means that Pakistani companies will get some lucrative Combodian contracts...?
I remember reading Mr. Shoukat Aziz a few days back when he informed the Pakistanis that the country's economy is thriving and we have loads of money in our treasury. When I look out on streets I do not see any thing better any where. People are still committing suicides, mothers are still killing their own children because they are unable to feed them. My father told me that we recived electricity bill of rs. 35000 this month for our small factory where we use only four celing fans. Where is all that money? and when people would become able to enjoy the fruits of Musharraf's dictatorship?
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From the Editors: The Times and Iraq - New York Times
"We have found a number of instances of coverage that was not as rigorous as it should have been. In some cases, information that was controversial then, and seems questionable now, was insufficiently qualified or allowed to stand unchallenged. Looking back, we wish we had been more aggressive in re-examining the claims as new evidence emerged - or failed to emerge. The problematic articles varied in authorship and subject matter, but many shared a common feature. They depended at least in part on information from a circle of Iraqi informants, defectors and exiles bent on 'regime change' in Iraq, people whose credibility has come under increasing public debate in recent weeks."
Terror suspect's kin raise worry, doubts - Boston Globe
"Yesterday, a spokesman for family members of Aafia Siddiqui, one of seven suspects being sought in connection with a possible terrorist attack planned for the summer, appealed to "anyone forcibly holding" her to come forward and suggested that domestic abuse -- not terrorism -- might be behind her disappearance. 'They are extremely distressed by Aafia's disappearance and are desperate to speak with Aafia, if she is still alive," read the statement from Elaine Whitfield Sharp, a lawyer in Marblehead, on behalf of Siddiqui's family in Pakistan. "The best information available to the Siddiqui family is that Aafia was last seen getting into a cab in Pakistan, with her three children, to stay with a family member. She did so at a time when she feared for the lives of herself and her children at the hands of her ex-husband.' "
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government claims to have handed Dr Aafia to US authorities: Dr Aafia was handed over to US last year: govt. For the backgrounder on the story, check out the earlier post.
Google's Gmail Hottest Tech Ticket In Town - Internet Week
"Gmail, the controversial free e-mail service that Google is currently testing, is such a hot item that users are willing to trade everything from a kidney to medical advice -- or pay more than $150 -- to get their hands on an account ... One woman promised to be an online girlfriend for a month -- "photos negotiable; real contact not included" -- and one writer who claimed he was Marc Marcuse, who was a contestant on NBC's reality show 'Average Joe,' begged for an account, saying that he deserved one because 'NBC never paid us a dime.' "
The Gmail Swap website mentioned in the article. Did I tell you can reach me at m....@gmail.com? [wink]
Pakistan fan's expensive dinner - BBC
"A cricket fan has been forced to remortgage his house after losing a £50,000 bet with his mate on the outcome of the Pakistan-India series. The man, a Pakistan supporter, is keeping his identity secret, but the winner of the wager - who knows nothing about cricket - has been only too keen to revel in his good fortune .... Caratella suggested the bet after getting fed up with his pal's boasts about how both competitions were going to finish."
Asian-origin postman gets compensation for racist abuse - The Hindu
"A Pakistan-origin postman who suffered eight years of racist abuse and threats from colleagues at a Royal Mail sorting office here, has won more than Rs 1.42 crores in compensation. Fiftynine-year-old Mahmood Siddiqui was branded a 'spear-chucking rag head' and had threats made against him and his wife and children, an employment tribunal was told. Siddiqui was yesterday awarded 178,542 pounds (over Rs 1.42 crores) compensation for racial discrimination from the Royal Mail. It included 104,142 pounds for loss of earnings, plus 20,000 pounds in interest and 8,000 pounds legal costs."
Cash Crunch, Sex Abuse Charges Hit U.N. Peacekeeping - OneWorld
"The five biggest debts are owed to Pakistan (53.2 million dollars), Bangladesh (47.8 million), India (32.3 million), Jordan (29.2 million) and Nigeria (28.3 million dollars). As of April, the 10 largest troop contributors to U.N. operations were developing nations: Pakistan (7,680 troops), Bangladesh (6,362), Nigeria (3,398), India (2,930), Ghana (2,790), Nepal (2,290), Uruguay (1,833), Kenya (1,826), Ethiopia (1,822) and Jordan (1,804)."
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Wife divorced for administering polio drops - Times of India
"A man who did not want his son to have polio drops has divorced his wife for disobeying him. The incident in West Bengal 's Paschim Mondalpara village in Murshidabad district has left health workers, who are trying to create awareness about the crippling disease that strikes children under five, distraught. Administrative officials and health workers have sought the help of the local Muslim cleric to persuade the man to revoke the divorce. Officials fear that if the situation wasn't rectified it would send out the wrong signals to others who have doubts about giving polio drops to their children."
For New York's Muslim cabbies, faith calls louder than fares - IHT
"With the age-old ingenuity of immigrants adapting to a new world, Muslim cabbies in New York - by one estimate, half of the city's 40,000 taxi drivers - have devised a jury-rigged system. The drivers congregate in South Asian restaurants that provide prayer space in basements or backrooms. They have an imprint of the city's mosques in their brains, at the ready wherever a fare may take them as prayer time closes in. Using a small carpet kept in the trunk, they pray in the back seat, or even on the side of the road."
Karachi papers shut for 'obscenity' - BBC
"The authorities in the Pakistani city of Karachi have shut down six newspapers and arrested 11 people, including some editors, on charges of obscenity and breaches of the press law. The move follows raids ordered by the home affairs department of the provincial government. The advisor for information, Salahuddin Haidar, said the newspapers had been publishing obscene pictures and had repeatedly been warned to stop spreading nudity and obscenity."
U.S. Muslims Begin PR Campaign Denouncing Terrorism - Washington Post
"Amid warnings of another al Qaeda attack on the United States, American Muslims have launched a public relations campaign stressing that they condemn terrorism and should not be blamed for violence committed in the name of Islam. The loosely coordinated campaign by Muslim organizations includes newspaper advertisements, a petition drive and public commitments to work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies, including a joint effort to begin today with FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III."
Has My World Turned Topsy-Turvy? - Arab News
"You see, I am a Latino and have lived in Saudi Arabia for 15 of my 30 years. I am a Muslim, speak Arabic, and have embraced Saudi culture in every way wishing to make it my own. My daughter was born here and I have chosen to live in Saudi Arabia in order to provide her with the best possible Muslim upbringing close to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Growing up for many years in Los Angeles, I have heard of children being pushed into prostitution, being abducted, raped and murdered and later found in a dumpster. To me, Saudi Arabia has always been the embodiment of safety; however, I am now worried, simply because I am white."
Troops 'tried to kill Musharraf' - BBC
"President Pervez Musharraf says junior army and air force personnel were involved in assassination attempts on him last December. General Musharraf said that several military servicemen had been arrested and would soon be tried. The president said that those involved held 'junior ranks.' "
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Air Force contract goes to Pakistan - Spoof
"In a stunning announcement today, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced today that the contract to provide Air Force services for the United States will go to Pakistan. 'With an ever increasing military expertise, and with the benefit of added saving to the taxpayers of America, Pakistan will do an excellent job of defending the air above our nation.' It had been a contentious decision-making process for months, as India, Russia and China all were vying for the lucrative outsourcing contract."
Female Desire And Islamic Trauma - Daniel Pipes
"The West and the Muslim world entertain vastly different assumptions about female sexuality. In the West, it was until recently assumed that males and females experience eros differently, with men actively undertaking the hunt, seduction, and penetration, and women passively enduring the experience. Only lately did the idea gain currency that women too have sexual desires. Considering the Muslim reputation for archaic customs, it is ironic to note that Islamic civilization not only portrays women as sexually desirous, but it sees them as more passionate than men. Indeed, this understanding has determined the place of women in traditional Muslim life."
Daniel Pipes, for those who don't know him, is a much despised figure among American muslims. Here's a little something on him from CAIR's website: Daniel Pipes says all muslims must be watched.
Award-winning Pakistan woman labeled Al-Qaeda suspect - Khaleej Times
"An angelic-looking Pakistani woman with a doctorate in neurological science is among seven “dangerous” Al Qaeda terror suspects identified Wednesday by FBI as planners of new attacks on the United States. Like the other suspects, Aafia Siddiqui, 32, once an award-winning Massachusetts Insititute of Technology (MIT) student, has the ability to “undertake planning, facilitation and attack against the United States whether it be within the United States itself or overseas,” FBI director Robert Mueller told a news conference."
Muslims, they Immigrate, but do they assimilate? - Washington Dispatch
"Islam is more than religion. It is also the politics or Muslims and the platform on which Muslims base their militancy. As this radical version of the faith has grown, it has destroyed the culture of a great people. Once leading the world in art, science and education, militant Islam has reduced every land where it flourishes to that of a Third World country. It has triggered more warfare than any faith. As a quick exercise try to think of two or three wars raging in the world that do not involve Islam."
A war-torn world? Not so much now - Straits Times
"The worst killing in the world this month was in Nigeria, which isn't officially at war. At least 600 Muslims were murdered in the central state of Plateau earlier this month, in a steep escalation of tit-for-tat killings between Fulani cattle-herders (Muslim) and Tarok farmers (Christian) over land and cattle. Revenge came a week later, although not against those guilty of the murders. Between 500 and 600 Christians were killed in the Muslim-majority city of Kano in northern Nigeria by gangs of Muslims youths armed with machetes and clubs. Many of the bodies were burned and mutilated, and as in the town of Yelwa in Plateau, even children were killed."
Pakistan names hardline cleric opposition leader - Reuters
"A pro-Taliban politician was named leader of the Pakistani opposition on Tuesday, a move secular opposition groups said would strengthen Islamic extremism. The appointment of Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, secretary-general of the Islamic Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal alliance, came after the military-backed government threw its weight behind him. His post as leader of the opposition in the lower house of parliament will bring with it a seat on the National Security Council, despite his declared opposition to Pakistan's frontline role in the U.S.-led 'war on terror'."
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Islamic Republic of India - PakTribune
"All the self-importance the Bharat has been making a show thereon, have been the Indian Muslims heritage. Right from their legendary drummer, namely Allah Rakha Khan to the Nuclear Scientist, Abdul Kalam Khan, including the overwhelming number of the most celebrated poets, writers, historians, geographers, architectures, sport stars, film stars, musicians, singers have been Muslims. Similarly all their world fame fascinating architectural monuments have been Indians Muslims made. So much so that Hindus do not have the name for their country of theirs and thus have swindled us of our name 'India' - which had been ours exclusively. "
Do you call this unbiased. Presenting a wrong picture to the people of pakistan.We in India treat muslims like our brothers.For us religion is a non-issue unlike you.I just happened to come upon this site as chance, and was horrified when i read about the crap which you people write. Yes we have famous muslim peronalities but remember for them India is more important.
I agree that there are segments of the Indian population that are indifferent to religion. I know of their existence from my personal experience. You most likely belong to this group. But that is not to say that there are no Hindu (or even Muslim) nationalists in India who divide the population along religious lines. I recently watched the documentary, Final Solution, by Rakesh Sharma. Mr Sharma has documented some of these alarming divisions. I wrote a few lines on the movie in an earlier post. Watch the documentary if you get a chance; it is very obvious that religion is a major issue in 'secular' India. As Rakesh argued in the Q&A session that followed the screening, it is time that educated Indians came out of their denial and accept that this is a problem that needs their attention.
Well more of "penis envy" from Pakistani Muslims. I agree that largely we Indian Muslims are treated well and certainly there are more opportunities/ stability in India to progress. Pakistani Muslims would do well to focus on essentials rather than trying to run down another religion/culture.
Imran
I agree there are communal riots in some parts of India. These riots are the results of illiteracy. India is struggling to be more civilized by educating its citizens in a prospective way. Among the educated lot in India, it is considered indecent to discuss community and religion in a work place or in a social gathering. In a secular state everybody knows that religion is for an individual and it is his own belief system. No invasion into the belief system is tolerated and at the same time it is indecent and impolite to compare belief systems. Everybody has equal right to practice his religion. We clearly understand there is no use in dwelling in the past where religion played major roles in day to day life. We do not want to refer achievements by referring religion. The evolution of secularism from my previous generation to my generation is very obvious. Our aim is to make our country more civilized. We do not want our country to be infested by gun totting fundamentalists like in your country. The program by Mr. Sharma is basically to educate the fundamentalist. We are proud of these kinds of programs in two ways. One way it educates its viewers and the other way it show how democratic our country is with its media freedom.
Don't be Indiacentric
I agree there are communal riots in some parts of India. These riots are the results of illiteracy. India is struggling to be more civilized by educating its citizens in a prospective way. Among the educated lot in India, it is considered indecent to discuss community and religion in a work place or in a social gathering. In a secular state everybody knows that religion is for an individual and it is his own belief system. No invasion into the belief system is tolerated and at the same time it is indecent and impolite to compare belief systems. Everybody has equal right to practice his religion. We clearly understand there is no use in dwelling in the past where religion played major roles in day to day life. We do not want to refer achievements by referring religion. We do not want our country to be infested by gun totting fundamentalists like in your country. The evolution of secularism from my previous generation to my generation is very obvious. Our aim is to make our country more civilized. In fact we are proud of Mr. Sharma’s kind of programs. They are aimed to educate the citizens and at the same time we proudly show the world how democratic we Indians are with media freedom.
India does not consider Pakistan as its competitor. It is way ahead of you guys. The fact is, its democracy and secularism paves way for all its success. India’s democracy is stable. Its institutions are compartmentalized and do not overlap. Indian Military is known for its discipline unlike our neighboring mischievous one. It does not interfere in civil affairs. There is no history of coup or even an attempt. There is no history of executing a former Prime Minister by a Military Dictator. There is no history of sending its leaders into exile. There is no history of Military General moving its nuclear heads to the border without the knowledge of Prime Minister. I always wonder why a country needs a Military dictator as a ruler. What kind of people are they to be governed by guns. Don’t they have the ability to govern themselves? If they don’t have the ability, why do they have the prefix ‘Republic’ with their country?
My advise is, don’t be ‘Indiacentric’, that is don’t be obsessed with India.
Madonna mixes messages with show - BBC
"Politically, the concert hit a number of raw nerves with the audience. Madonna's use of video images of war - bombs being dropped and injured children - distracted the eye from the singer's own performance. At times the political imagery prompted the audience to the raise the roof, but afterwards many expressed doubts and disappointment about the anti-war message. 'Nobody cares about her political views,' said Ms Namdar. 'Who is Madonna to be offering her political views - she's just an entertainer. It's like the Pope starting a rock band.' "
Poll: Americans Angry About Iraq - ABC News
"Anger is up, pride is down, worry continues, and hopefulness — while still present — is in shorter supply. Those are among the changes in Americans' emotional responses to the situation in Iraq, compared with the early days of the war in March 2003. A new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds the sharpest change is in anger. As the war began, 30 percent of Americans were angry about it; today, asked about the situation in Iraq, 57 percent are angry — almost twice as many. Anger is highest — 70 percent — among the roughly half of Americans who think that, given its costs versus its benefits, the war was not worth fighting."
Silicon Valley pause over India - Economic Times
"Ten thousand miles away, the overseas Indian network in the Silicon Valley bristles with caution-lined excitement over the change of guard at the Centre. The India Shining message of BJP was followed with avid interest by the Bay Area residents during the past one year. But, now, the sentiments have been hit by a temporary roadblock 'What's going to happen now?' ... there is also great respect here for the fact that both the President and prime minister are accomplished professionals and not just career politicians."
Pakistan hangs three brothers for $2.69 murders - Reuters
"Three brothers were hanged in Pakistan on Tuesday for murdering two brothers from another family after a dispute over less than three dollars, officials said. President Pervez Musharraf had rejected mercy appeals from the condemned men who were executed in Mianwali prison in central Punjab province. Prison superintendent Munir Ahmed Kahloon told Reuters a court convicted the brothers of stabbing the two men to death after a dispute erupted over a 155 rupee ($2.69) payment for a tape recorder."
"She ain't no model. She ain't no actress. She's a singer who makes you go Oi ! Meet Shamaila Khan. The Lahore born Pakistani pop singer is currently in India shooting a video for Soneye , a song in her new album. And she's all excited—about India , Oi, Soneye and all that ... But why did Shamaila think of coming to India , not Pakistan ? 'Coming to India is a dream come true. Hindustan is so huge . I am a British citizen and for me both India and Pakistan are the same,' she says."
Monday, May 24, 2004
SENEGAL: Kids beg for hours to fund Muslim teachers - OCHA IRIN
"Moussa is one of thousands of Senegalese boys, plucked from their rural roots and sent to moderate religious schools – daaras - in the cities to learn about Islam and memorise its holy book, the Koran. Yet the pupils, known as talibes or disciples, learn little, forced to spend 10 hours a day trudging the streets for coins so they can pay their marabout teachers and for scraps so they can feed themselves ... The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates there are up to 100,000 child beggars in Senegal – about one percent of the population – and 'talibe children are the vast majority'."
Pakistan foils US bid to recruit security men for Iraq - Hi Pakistan
"Pakistan has closed down two illegal recruitment facilities in Lahore and Rawalpindi allegedly being used by some US civil and military contractors to recruit Pakistani ex-servicemen for non-combatant security operations in Iraq, senior Pakistani officials told The News on condition of anonymity. In recent high-level contacts in Islamabad and Washington, the United States government had desired that Pakistan let the recruitment for Iraq continue, as it did not amount to Pakistani contribution to the coalition military operations in Iraq, the officials said."
An Arab American writer seeks her identity - San Francisco Chronicle
"All her life, novelist Diana Abu-Jaber has dealt with conflicting messages about her Arab identity. During her childhood in upstate New York, her father (who is from Jordan) told her she was "absolutely" Arab. Relatives on her father's side, though, looked at her pale skin and green eyes, and called her "the light one." Abu-Jaber's mother is Irish Catholic ... Abu-Jaber writes about Arab American life, and about characters who are from Iraq and Jordan, but the people in her novels are a lot like her (funny, quirky, hard to classify) -- and this frustrates some people, who let her know about it."
Wedding party video casts doubt on US version of attack - Guardian
"US military commanders came under new pressure yesterday to account for an attack on an Iraqi village that killed more than 40 people when a video emerged showing a wedding party at the scene hours before the raid ... The video footage, obtained by Associated Press Television News, showed several men and women arriving in pick-up trucks at the desert village and then dancing and singing inside carpeted tents. Several men were shown sitting in a row inside the tent, listening to music as children danced in front of them. Two men were standing and singing through a microphone."
Reject Islamic Extremism, Musharraf Tells Pakistan - Reuters
"President Pervez Musharraf appealed to Pakistan's young people Monday to shun the forces of conservative Islam, warning that extremism and militancy threaten the country's future. Musharraf, who critics say has not done enough to match his rhetoric against radical Islam since coming to power in a bloodless military coup in 1999, was hard-hitting in a speech broadcast live on state television."
Sex that makes the earth move - Mercury News
"Jenny Wade believes sex really is a religious experience. The Marin psychologist has examined scores of people who say they literally see the face of God on their way to orgasm. Wade, who says she, too, has had out-of-this-world sex, details her study in a new book, 'Transcendent Sex'. While no one reported spotting Jesus in the bedroom, some said the Holy Spirit showed up during foreplay."
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Pakistan moves against illegal bowling deliveries - GG2
"The Pakistan Cricket Board has launched a campaign to spot bowlers with illegal deliveries early in their careers to avoid embarrassment at international level, the PCB`s chairman announced yesterday. 'I am writing to seek your assistance in checking the increasing instances of illegal bowling action in Pakistan cricket at all level,' PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said in a letter to the country's leading umpires. Pakistan`s frontline pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed have come under the International Cricket Council`s (ICC) scrutiny for their bowling styles."
Muslim girl reflects on school year spent studying Christianity - York Daily
"For Eilina Al-Hakimi, home is Aden, a city on the southwest coast of Yemen, near where the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean connect. Since September, 17-year-old Eilina has lived in York. Over the past several months, she's learned to speak and understand English, learned about Christianity and intensely studied the Bible, all while attending her final year of high school at the Christian School of York. Along the way, she's questioned her own faith, searched for answers to her many questions about Christianity and read as much as she can get her hands on. Now, as she prepares to return to Yemen in early June, she has realized one thing. 'I'm so lucky to be a Muslim," she said. "Even if I am odd girl in the scarf.' "
Imran Khan to fight election with one-point agenda - Daily Times
"Imran Khan, MNA and head of the Tehrik-i-Insaf, said in an interview published here at the weekend that his party would take part in the next national election as part of a coalition with a one-point agenda, the removal of Gen Pervez Musharraf and the establishment of genuine as opposed to fake democracy ... In an interview to the New York-based weekly Urdu Times, Mr Khan, asked about the situation in Pakistan, replied, 'As in the past, politicians with criminal pasts are occupying high office and those who are still embroiled in legal cases involving corruption, graft and theft of national wealth are exercising political power.' "
Case Reveals Nuts and Bolts of Nuclear Network - LA Times
"As they race to dismantle a global black market in nuclear weapons components, U.S. authorities are focusing on an unusual case: an Orthodox Jew from Israel accused of trying to sell nuclear weapons parts to a business associate in Islamic Pakistan. Asher Karni, 50, currently a resident of South Africa, was arrested at Denver's international airport as he arrived with his wife and daughter for a New Year's ski vacation. Friends and family have been pressing for his release, describing him as a hard-working electronics salesman just trying to earn a living."
Understanding what drives young men to terrorism - Guardian
"Scotland Yard is to set up a special team to liaise with the Muslim community in an attempt to find out what drives some young people to become fanatical terrorists, Sir John Stevens revealed yesterday. The Metropolitan police commissioner said his officers and the other security agencies were engaged in massive covert intelligence to try to prevent an attack on London, which he recently warned was "inevitable". But he recognised that understanding and gaining the trust of Muslims, many of whom feel police have stereotyped them all as terrorists, is vital to reducing the threat."
Bollywood makes peace with Pakistan - Scotsman
"The path to a surefire Bollywood box office hit used to be simple - produce a film that demonised neighbouring Pakistan as a land of bloodthirsty terrorists or Islamic chauvinists. For more than a decade, Bombay’s film factory churned out titles that trawled the deep distrust between the two nations that has taken them to war three times in just 56 years of independence. But at last it appears the days of bloody caricature may be over. Filmmakers and movie stars from the two countries are co-operating as never before and, in the process, are helping to bolster a peace process initiated by India’s former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee last April."
Saturday, May 22, 2004
India Swears in 13th Prime Minister and First Sikh in Job - NY Times
"Mr. Singh's swearing-in was notable for another reason. For the first time, the leaders of India and Pakistan are children of Partition, the bloody dividing of the British empire in 1947 into two nations, one majority Hindu, one majority Muslim. Mr. Singh was born in the western Punjab, which is now part of Pakistan, while Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was born in New Delhi. It will now fall to those two men to try to find a solution to Partition's still-festering legacy: the dispute over the territory of Kashmir, which was divided between the nations."
Pakistan allowed back into the fold - Guardian
"Pakistan was readmitted to the Commonwealth yesterday, four and a half years after being suspended following the bloodless military coup that brought President Pervez Musharraf to power. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), meeting in London, decided that Pakistan had made enough progress on democratic reforms to return to the 53-member association of mostly former British colonies. The decision, however, is likely to spark anger among many African nations, which have accused the association of giving Pakistan, seen as a staunch ally in the 'war on terror', preferential treatment."
Husain’s Meenaxi uncut gets snapped up at Cannes - Telegraph India
"M.F. Husain’s controversial film Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities, which the artist pulled from cinemas in India after objections from Islamic 'fundamentalists' who took exception to some of the lyrics, was shown uncut in Cannes last night ... It was reported that among those who demanded a ban on the film was the All India Ulema Council, which was quoted as saying: “The song, picturised on Tabu (the female lead), contains words that are directly lifted from the Quran. In the Quran, these words are used to define the persona of the Prophet. But in Husain’s film, they are being used to depict the physical beauty of the heroine.' "
Spain Weighs Muslim Rights and Concerns About Safety - NY Times
"After the train bombings here on March 11, the new Spanish government is struggling to find ways to prevent Islamic militants from operating through the country's many tiny, makeshift mosques without violating Spain's religious freedom. Early this month, the new interior minister, José Antonio Alonso, ventured a possible solution: set up a mandatory registry of clergy members and places of worship for all religions, and monitor all sermons."
Mysterious Fingerprint - Newsweek
"I had nothing to do with the bombings in Madrid,' a visibly relieved Brandon Mayfield announced outside the Portland, Ore., courthouse last Thursday. Earlier this month, federal agents arrested Mayfield, a lawyer and Muslim convert, as a material witness in the investigation of the March 11 attacks in Madrid. Federal officials said Mayfield's fingerprint had mysteriously turned up on a plastic bag found in a van in Spain used by the bombers. Mayfield had steadfastly maintained his innocence. And Spanish law-enforcement agencies had publicly expressed doubts that the fingerprint was definitely Mayfield's. But U.S. officials had insisted the fingerprint was, in the words of one, an 'absolutely incontrovertible match.'"
Sky Harbor installs cleanup station for Muslim drivers - USA Today
"Sky Harbor International Airport has installed a cleanup station to help Muslim taxi and limo drivers meet their religious needs. Two faucets located two feet above the ground enable the drivers to conduct ritual cleansing, including washing of the feet, before they pray ... 'The cab drivers were asking for more washroom facilities as a group, and a majority of them wanted some place to wash before they pray,' said Deborah Ostreicher, public information officer for the airport. 'Sometimes there are as many as 400 drivers waiting, and they can be there for hours at a time. This is a way we thought we could reach out as a customer service.' "
Friday, May 21, 2004
Religious Sword Over Pakistan - Los Angeles Times
"This month in Karachi, Pakistan, at least 14 Shiites were killed and more than 100 were severely wounded while at prayer. Scores more were massacred by Sunni militants in Quetta earlier this year. In the last decade, more than 1,200 people have died in Shiite-Sunni violence. Today, sectarian dispute is Pakistan's Achilles' heel, challenging the officially sanctioned 'Islamic' state — and endangering the country's future."
Towards the end of the article, the author of the piece (Mahnaz Ispahani) encourages Musharraf to be as 'unflinching' in his deeds as his words. It puts the poll that I have created on the left in perspective. I have often heard this criticism about Musharraf, especially in the writings of the widely-read Dawn commentator A Cowasjee.
India's new government - Economist
"For five enthralling days, Sonia Gandhi was India's prime-minister-in-waiting. But the honeymoon was over even before the wedding. Although accepted as the prime ministerial candidate both by the Congress party and its allies, Mrs Gandhi decided not to put herself forward. At a chaotic party meeting on Tuesday May 18th, she said 'the post of prime minister has not been my aim', and that she must follow her 'inner voice', which was telling her that she 'must humbly decline this post'. Drowned out by howls of protest from her MPs, she said her responsibility was to 'provide India with a secular government that is strong and stable...I am not hungry for power.' "
While we in Pakistan are grateful for Mushi, I have been very impressed lately by the caliber of Indian politicians. First it was Vajpayee making a classic exit, and now Sonia relinquishing something that people die for. Not to mention the respect Manmohan Singh commands among his economist colleagues. Are we in Pakistan, UAE, Saudia Arabia, and UK watching?
Young Iranians seek out new role models - Straits Times
"A sense of isolation has spurred the restless to devour self-help books and follow success gurus, turning their back on traditional clerics ... Ms Maryam, a 22-year-old photographer who asked that her last name not be published, recently bought and devoured a Farsi translation of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's autobiography. 'She was a normal girl and I wanted to know how a normal girl like me could be successful, too,' she said. 'She was not rich. She was not beautiful. But she became the wife of the president and one of the most successful senators in the United States.' "
Pakistan bargains hard at tea party - Telegraph India
"Pakistan will import tea from India only if the prices are on a par with Kenyan tea. The Pakistan Tea Association (PTA) has put forward this rider to the 11-member delegation currently visiting Pakistan ... Pakistan pays Rs 75 per kg for CTC tea produced in Kenya. But the same quality of Indian tea would cost Rs 85 per kg. The Indian tea industry has decided to approach the new Congress-led government for some export subsidy on tea sent to Pakistan ... With a consumption of 1 kg of tea per head, Pakistan has earned the distinction of being the largest tea importing country of the world."
'I am a Muslim and a feminist,' Asma Gull Hasan - Rediff
"Young American Muslims have come up with creative solutions to dating -- they fall into roughly three categories. The first group is Strict Muslims who date halal (in an Islamically permissible style). The second group I call Eid Muslims, because many are not strict in practice and attend mosques only on holidays. While technically they date haram (unlawfully in Islam), without chaperones, they keep physical intimacy to a minimum and parental involvement at a maximum. The third group dates Sex and the City-style (definitely haram), openly and freely leading a non-Islamic lifestyle, having premarital sex sometimes in a series of monogamous relationships. Halal dating is a practice gaining much popularity in the American Muslim community among Strict Muslims and Eid Muslims."
Concordia to become a tourist resort - Daily Times
"The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) will develop Concordia as a tourist resort with all the related facilities to help the visiting climbers during the current mountaineering season, stated Secretary of Sports, Culture, Tourism, Minorities and Youth Affairs Syed Jalil Abbas while briefing more than 60 mountaineers belonging to different countries at ministry’s office on Friday. Concordia is a centre of activities and main camping area being the end point of Baltoro Glacier and base camp of four above 8,000-metre high peaks in the Karakoram Range including K-2, Gashebrum-I, Gasherbrum-II and Broad Peak."
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Green-Card Blues for America's Image - Washington Post
"People who apply for green cards do so because they support the values of the United States and want to participate more fully in U.S. society. With a green card, they can travel back to their home countries. There they talk about the freedom and opportunities they have in America. They spread the gospel of the American dream among relatives and friends. In the war of ideas that the administration is so fond of talking about, there are few better foot soldiers than green-card holders."
Shahryar, Ramiz to appear before Senate committee - Daily Times
"The Standing Committee of Senate on Sports, Culture, Tourism, Minorities and Youth Affairs has summoned Pakistan Cricket Board (PCD) Shahryar Muhammad Khan for May 28 to explain the causes of Pakistan’s 'historic defeat' at the hands of India in the recently concluded cricket series ... The committee expressed concerns over no say of the sports ministry in country’s premiere sports – cricket, hockey and squash. The chiefs of the hockey and squash federations will be called later on to brief the committee on their problems and the precise standing of Pakistan in these two games. Pakistan was once world champion in squash and hockey."
Thailand wins key Liverpool stake - CNN
"Thailand's billionaire prime minister said on Tuesday his country's bid for a stake in English soccer side Liverpool had been approved in principle by the club's board. Thailand's cabinet also backed a plan to fund the 4.6 billion baht ($112.7m) deal through a one-off state lottery ... Thailand, where football and Liverpool are immensely popular, will in return be able to market some of its products using the club's name."
I am intrigued by the move - wonder if its such a good idea for the government to partake in such adventures. Fat governments are back in vogue.
"I know now that there is not a chance in hell of America's becoming humane and reasonable. Because power corrupts us, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Human beings are chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power. By saying that our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees, am I in danger of wrecking the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East? Their morale, like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas."
Database Firm Listed 120,000 'Likely Terrorists - Reuters
"The company that runs the multistate MATRIX law enforcement database gave the U.S. government a list of 120,000 people who scored high on a computer profile it said was designed to identify likely terrorists, a civil liberties group said on Thursday. The Florida company that created the list, Seisint Inc., said in government documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union that the 'High Terrorism Factor' list had led to scores of arrests. Seisint created the list shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, apparently acting on its own, the ACLU said."
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Buying a Car in Pakistan - Tech Central Station
"Last week, the Pakistani government placed an order for a luxurious Mercedes Cardiac ambulance at a cost of more than 13 million rupees (about $225,000). The vehicle, first of its kind, will be used exclusively by a select group of VIP patients in the capital, Islamabad. No doubt the privileged few will include civil and military bureaucrats and so-called 'representatives of the people.' But, at the same time, a large number of taxpaying people eager to buy a car are being denied a fair deal. Over the past couple of years the local car industry, which suffered negative growth of 24 percent during 1999-2000 due to lax demand, has witnessed a steep rise in demand that it is unable to meet. Needless to say, local car manufacturers and vending industries are exploiting this gap between supply and demand to their maximum benefit, and to the detriment of the consumer."Such extravagance by our government machinery makes my blood boil. On a brighter note, the author of the article, Khalil Ahmad, runs a 'free-market think tank' in Lahore called Alternate Solutions Institute. In his own words, 'A. S. Institute aims at promoting the concept of a limited responsible government in Pakistan under the rule of law protecting life, liberty, and property of all of its individual citizens without any discrimination.' My thoughts exactly!
IT cooperation between Pak and India - Webindia123
"With the recent thaw in relations, India and Pakistan are coming closer on the IT platform ... 'I do not believe we will get any business from Indian companies, but software houses can benefit from cheaper training available in India as compared to the cost of sending our technician to the US and Europe,' Ghauri, the head of Netsol, said. He suggested that the local companies could form alliances with Indian companies to offer their facilities and sometime better infrastructure in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad."
Sikh Who Saved India's Economy Is Named Premier - NY Times
"Manmohan Singh, the gentlemanly Oxford-educated economist who saved India from economic collapse in 1991 and began the liberalization of its economy, has been appointed the country's next prime minister, ending a week of high political drama ... A Sikh who has made a powder-blue turban his trademark, Mr. Singh will be India's first non-Hindu prime minister. In a turn of events seemingly tailor-made to demonstrate India's diversity and capacity for coexistence, Mrs. Gandhi, raised a Roman Catholic, is making way for a Sikh prime minister who will be sworn in by a Muslim president, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam."
Newsweek on the turn of events that led to the above decision, 'Bullied and Pushed'. And finally, Times of India has a story on Pakistan's reaction to Sonia Gandhi's decision, Pakistan salutes Sonia's decision.
Are Extremists Penetrating Pakistan's Police Force? - OneWorld
"Revelations that at least two police officials were involved in different suicide bombings that killed scores of people in Pakistan this year, indicate the infiltration of guerrillas into the country's police force. The discoveries have baffled authorities and exposed chinks in the screening system for police recruitment."
Pakistan-India cricket series gets award - Pakistan Link
The recently concluded series between Pakistan and India was awarded a special prize during the 5th Laureus World Sports Award 2004 held in Lisbon, Portugal, last week. Pakistan ambassador Shireen Safdar received the award from Portugal Prime Minister Mr Durao Barroso after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq could not travel to Lisbon because of some administrative delays in issuance of visa to him by the Portuguese Embassy in Islamabad ... 'The award will be in India for the first six months and will then be transferred to Pakistan for the remaining six months,' the statement said."
The Taj Mahal Is a Glorious Survivor - New York Times
"The most famous narrative of the Taj Mahal, India's transcendent tourist attraction, is the love story that prompted its construction: the death of queen Mumtaz during the birth of her 14th child; the grief of her emperor-husband, Shah Jahan; and his vow to build the world's greatest monument to love. But after more than 350 years, there are other narratives worth exploring as well, including India's own complicated relationship with the monument, and with the Islamic emperors who built it and many of this country's architectural treasures."
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Muslim CEOs of U.S. firms fight terrorism, 'stop evil' - USA Today
"Those who go to sleep at night with the threat of terrorism on their minds might be surprised to learn that Muslim CEOs are running companies that watch over our safety. Fuad El-Hibri is CEO of BioPort, the only U.S. maker of anthrax vaccine; Houssam Salloum is CEO of Axiolog, a Detroit firm developing a high-tech system for tracking international cargo into vulnerable U.S. ports; Nafa Khalaf is CEO of Detroit Contracting; Ahmad Mesdaq, owner of businesses in San Diego including a coffee lounge and cigar factory, this summer will launch an auto registration system in his native Afghanistan that will help authorities stop widespread shipments of explosives and drugs by warlords. "
Bollywood Stars love to Visit Lahore - PakTribune
"Lahore is fast becoming the Mumbai crowd’s top holiday destination. From youngsters looking for a cheap vacation to film stars and writers, all are looking forward to crossing the Wagah border in the near future ... Columnist-actress Pooja Bedi visited Lahore during the recent Indo-Pak cricket series. “I loved coming to Pakistan and the cricket matches were just so much fun,” said Pooja, who is currently riding high on the success of her first book Time Pass. She especially remembers the warmth with which the Pakistani crowd cheered the Indian cricket team and describes her time in Lahore as both moving and unforgettable."
Indian hotels fill as biz travel booms - CNN
"India's hotels, having weathered nearly two years of a global tourism funk, are once again bursting at the seams. Analysts attribute the boom over the last 12 months to the confluence of several factors - from India's red-hot economic growth, to the flood of consultants and others outsourcing to cut high labor costs at home, to reduced tensions with nuclear rival Pakistan. Some even cite a spike in domestic travel."
Feel captivated with an enrapturing blend of ancient and medieval grandeur with modern finesse
on your tours to Delhi. The tourist attractions of Delhi offer you a glimpse into a contemporary yet very
traditional city. Tour modern Delhi and uncover its myriad charms that enchant you in their own special
style.You can also plan a tour to some other near by tourist places , that are the pillers of Indian
tourism.
Jodhpur,Udaipur,
Agra,Varanasi,
Lucknow,Kashmir,
Delhi India,New Delhi,
New Delhi India,New Delhi Tours,
Srinagar,Dalhousie,
Rajasthan,Punjab,
Amritsar,Khajuraho,
Jaipur,Uttaranchal,
Tourist Attraction,Kashmir.
US yet to pay $25m compensation - Hi Pakistan
"The US government has yet to compensate the loss of over $25 million caused to Pakistan due to suspension and curtailment of international commercial air traffic operations to and from Pakistan in the aftermath of 9/11. "A loss of revenue to the tune of $3 million per month was suffered by the Civil Aviation Authority due to the suspension and curtailment of commercial air traffic operations after the 9/11 incidents," the sources said. They said that a formal request for compensation documented with the break-up of losses in different heads was already with the US government. The total effect of revenue losses for the eight months came to around US$25 million."
Monday, May 17, 2004
Saudi Fruits - a Date a Gourmet Could Love - Reuters
"Few people outside the Middle East know that Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, is also the largest date producer with more than 400 varieties growing in the kingdom. Bateel, a firm that produces gourmet dates and date products, is determined to change that. "Our philosophy is to make dates to Saudi what chocolates are to Switzerland and cheese is to France," said Montasser Fadah, country manager for the wholly-Saudi owned company which has date boutiques all over the Middle East and Malaysia and plans for more in Japan, Indonesia and Europe."
Pakistan hunting woman trainer of suicide bombers - Reuters
"Pakistani authorities are hunting the widow of an Uzbek Islamic militant after an intelligence report suggested she was training women suicide bombers. The intelligence report indicated that Aziza, wife of Obaidullah, a member of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, would launch attacks in Pakistan in May ... Aziza set up a militant training camp in the mountainous tribal region bordering Afghanistan to avenge the killing of her husband in a Pakistani military operation in January."
India eyes Pakistan's leaner, meaner army - Asia Times
"The cutback in troop strength would have been widely welcomed in Pakistan (as well as in India) if it were as Musharraf presented it: an attempt at cost-cutting. However, the decision to downsize is more about improving combat efficiency than cost-cutting (if it was about cost-cutting, the best way to achieve that would be to economize on the luxurious lifestyles of Pakistan's military top brass). It is true the cutback in troop strength will save millions of dollars. However, as Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, a defense expert based in Islamabad points out, 'The money saved from these cuts will probably be spent on purchasing more weapons.' "
Bakery-Turned-Brothel Targeted - Yahoo News
"A small bomb exploded on Tuesday at a bakery that was moonlighting as a brothel in southern Turkey but no one was hurt, police said. Prostitution is legal only in Muslim Turkey's many state-controlled brothels. Thousands of foreign nationals, mainly from former Soviet states, work in an illicit skin trade in cities and resort areas. But religious tradition in conservative parts of the country has led to outrage, even mass street demonstrations, against women suspected of prostitution."
Legal prostitution is gotto be a first for a muslim-majority state.
Gloucestershire | High hopes for Pakistan pairing - BBC
"The last time a Pakistani pair joined forces for Gloucestershire, the supporters were rewarded with 28,000 runs, 140 wickets and two trophies. Zaheer Abbas and Sadiq Mohammad were together at Bristol for the best part of 10 years from 1972. The new pairing of Shabbir Ahmed and Shoaib Malik is not likely to span a decade but it could conspire to significantly swell the booty in Gloucestershire's trophy cabinet."
Shaping the Muslim Mind - MSNBC
"As some U.S. commentators would have it, all Arab media are stewing cauldrons of anti-Americana. The Bush administration may be unable to promote security (let alone democracy) in Iraq, some thinking goes, as long as people in the Arab and Islamic world are fed improbable tales of an international Zionist conspiracy and inundated with doctored images of U.S. soldiers slaughtering innocents in the Iraqi streets. The difficulty faced by U.S. forces in response to the Fallujah uprising, some say, is exacerbated by an anti-American Arab media intent on showing American troops at their bloodiest and worst."
Sunday, May 16, 2004
India's BPO workforce works hard, parties hard - Kerala News
"They party hard at five-stars, buy branded apparel, pick up the latest gizmos, go on long drives, hang around multiplexes... and pay for it all on their own. They are in their early 20s, but they work in world class environment and earn anything between Rs.8,000 and Rs.25,000. And never mind if the big bucks come at the cost of sleep! Meet the high-spending young workforce behind the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector that has made India famous the world over."
Inzi, Youhana mega bucks from Indian TV channels - Webindia123
"Youhana is said to have netted around 60 to 75,000 per day for giving his comments to Zee TV twice a day during the matches. And if one adds up the number of playing days (20) in the series, he would have made a pretty neat package for himself. And the best part is Inzi and Youhana were both seen and heard making comments on the state of the pitch, state of the match, performance of their players etc, in their paid interviews to the Indian channels. Apart from television Inzi, Moin Khan, Youhana, Javed Miandad and even Rameez were contributing regular columns to Indian websites and newspapers in which they criticized their own players and team's performances."
The onslaught on our cricketers continues...
Frank Rich: Saving Private England - New York Times
"In retrospect, much of what we saw during Operation Iraqi Freedom was as fictionalized as CentCom's version of 'Saving Private Jessica.' When we weren't staging the news, we were covering it up. 'A war with hundreds of coalition and tens of thousands of Iraqi casualties' was transformed 'into something closer to a defense contractor's training video: a lot of action, but no consequences, as if shells simply disappeared into the air and an invisible enemy magically ceased to exist.' "
A Hindu, a Muslim and a doomed love story - Mumbai Newsline
"In hushed whispers and dramatic undertones, the story of their 'affair' makes its way around the 2,000-odd shanties and its cosmopolitan population. He was 26 and married. She was just 19. Their families hated each other with the spite reserved for Bollywood enemies. And sadly—and most significantly—they knew their love was doomed. For he was Vinod Ingale, born a Hindu and in love with Gulshan Khan, daughter of a devout Muslim family. Late on Monday night, hours after the duo was discovered missing, agitated relatives broke into Vinod’s one-room shanty in Milind Nagar—his family stays in another shanty a couple of metres away—and caught them, inches away from each other and hanging from a ceiling-rod."
Moeen Qureshi reaches Pakistan to ‘guide’ government - Hi Pakistan
"Former prime minister Dr Moeen Qureshi arrived in Islamabad on Sunday morning and is prepared to provide guidance to the rulers without accepting any office. 'I am too old to take part in politics and assume any official assignment. It is the high time to attract foreign investment in Pakistan and I will go for it in big way; this is my mission,' he said while talking to this scribe, while travelling from London to Islamabad in wee hours of Sunday. Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar was also present, as he returned from the trip of three Scandinavian countries."
"If the Americans left Iraq today, their most obvious physical legacy, in the eyes of ordinary Iraqis, would be concrete blocks. The big slabs protecting administrators, soldiers and contractors from the 30-odd countries in the ruling coalition, which is due to be dissolved at the end of June in favour of an interim government run by Iraqis, jut into Baghdad's main roads and often reduce traffic in the capital to a standstill. Meanwhile, as the violence sputters on, the country's reconstruction—witness, for example, its communications system—is a shambles."
Saturday, May 15, 2004
India and Pakistan: So Close but So Different - New York Times
"India and Pakistan are neighboring countries that share much in history and culture. But the dramas of last week could not have been more different. The difference between the two does not appear to be in law. Both have constitutions that enshrine parliamentary democracy as the law of the land. It does not appear to be in people. Both have talented, thoughtful and deeply patriotic populations eager to see their nations thrive ... Such skepticism about democracy was on exhibit here last week, when a close aide to General Musharraf praised Mr. Vajpayee's grace in defeat, but said democracy was not right for Pakistan at this time. He said the only successful models of economic development in the developing world were countries that had long periods of stable, semi-authoritarian rule. He gave Malaysia and Indonesia as examples, ignoring democratic Japan and South Korea."
Cellular users climbed to 3.4m by Dec 2003 - Daily Times
"The number of mobile phone subscribers rose to 3.4 million by December 2003 from 0.2 million subscribers all across the country in 1999. The introduction of Calling Pay Party(CPP) regime and the entry of in the cellular market led to the increase said a Telecom Status Report 2002-03. The report said to meet high demand and increase tele-density in the mobile sector PTA has awarded two new licenses. Pakistan’s telecom sector would experience a wave of change this year when these new operators would start providing connections, the report added."
Imran to take custody of 'love child' - Rediff
"Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan will take custody of his 12-year-old 'love child' following the sudden death of her mother in the United States on Thursday. Imran flew to Los Angeles on Saturday night to bring home Tyrian after her multimillionaire mother Sita White collapsed, having apparently suffered a heart attack near her home in Beverly Hills, a report said in London on Sunday. For years, the 51-year-old cricketing legend refused to acknowledge Tyrian, born in 1992, as his child until Sita won a paternity suit in 1997. He finally met his child the following year."
The article says the Khans live in the UK. When did this happen?
Clash over cattle grazing kills 14 in Pakistan - Reuters
"A shootout between two rival groups triggered by a dispute over cattle grazing left 14 people killed and 15 wounded in a village in Punjab province ... Hassan said some buffalo belonging to one group strayed on to fields owned by another group a few days ago, raising tensions between the two. On Saturday a panchayat, or village council, meeting was held between the two groups and they agreed to end the dispute. But as one group was leaving, they were fired on, leading to the bloody shootout."
In Pakistan, Those Who Cry Rape Face Jail - Women's eNews
"As Pakistan's president stalls on repealing the country's controversial Hudood Ordinances, female rape victims here continue to face the risk of being legally treated as adulterers, punishable by stoning ... Promulgated through presidential decree by former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 as part of his Islamization program to deal with a spectrum of sins ranging from theft, to false accusations, to adultery, the Hudood Ordinances are a volatile mix of Islamic decrees and Pakistan's secular laws and are part of almost every court's legal arsenal."
Friday, May 14, 2004
Music dies in northwest Pakistan as puritans take action - Daily Star
"The music has finally died in Dabgari Bazaar - the hub of folk musicians in Pakistan's northwest frontier city Peshawar .... Posters have been tied in front of shops and electricity polls calling for a ban on musicians. Residents and traders alike heap scorn on the drummers, singers, sitarists, and fiddle players. 'These people are not artists. They are perverts, prostitutes,' Zahir Shah, the bearded president of a new residents' group calling itself the Movement for Removal of Obscenity, told AFP."
Turning Points - Washington Post
"Will the Modern Era Come Untethered in Iraq? ... That 500-year period, marked by the age of exploration, the creation of nations and the Enlightenment that unleashed ideologies designed to empower the individual, faces its last great challenge in the 50 disparate countries that constitute the Islamic world -- ruled by the last bloc of authoritarian monarchs, dictators and leaders-for-life. The Iraq war was supposed to produce a new model for democratic transformation, a catalyst after which the United States and its allies could launch an ambitious initiative for regional change. But now, whatever America's good intentions may have been , that historic moment may be lost for a long time to come."
A refreshing piece, places the deteriorating nature of present conflicts in the broader passage of time.
A democratic India is overtaking China - Boston Globe
"India is now in the middle of what many Chinese would give their right arm for -- a general election. Yet China is the power that gets all the attention ... To many, China's economic progress has been nothing less than spectacular. But inflationary pressures, bad bank loans, a fast increasing maldistribution of income, and crime all threaten its economic stability. India meanwhile has been gradually but with increasing speed loosening up its old Fabian socialist system. After a major economic crisis in 1991, finance minister Manmohan Singh introduced major promarket reforms and fiscal expansion, and India's economy has never looked back."
25 percent children abused in Sindh - Daily Times
"A leading paediatrics (Dr Aisha Mehnaz) expert has made the startling disclosure that 15-25 percent children in Sindh suffer abuse ... Citing newspaper reports, she pointed out that the incidence of rape and sodomy were alarming in Sindh. She said in the first six months of 2003, as many as 798 cases of rape/sodomy were reported, compared to 679 cases during the same period in 2002. She said there was a rise of 21.5 percent in the incidence of rape/sodomy in the first six months of 2003. 'An unspecified number of cases go unreported,' she added."
Can we blame this rise on the mass media, as contented by a leading Malaysian politician, Archaic philosophy on sex? It is no secret that our society has experienced a rapid growth in the percentage of population hooked onto cable television.
Musharraf steps up to the challenge, Pakistan ruler wants review of strict Islamic laws. I love Musharraf for his publicly muttered words; he says all the right things, has been doing it since 1999. But a great majority of his words never translate into actions. I get the feeling he has reached a pact with the mullahs to confine himself to words. For instance in the above case, while he gave the above speech, why could he not have sanctioned a committee of fair-minded people to look into the matter. Can we EXECUTE please!
Final Solution - Screening and Discussion with Rakesh Sharma
"Final Solution is a study of the politics of hate. Set in Gujarat, India between February 2002 and July 2003, the film examines the aftermath of the deadly violence that followed the burning of 58 Hindus on the Sabarmati Express train at Godhra on February 27 2002. In 'reaction' to that incident, some 2,500 Muslims were brutally murdered, hundreds of women raped, and more than 200,000 families driven from their homes. (2004, India, 145 min)."
The movie gets its name from the Final Solution of Nazi Germany. I saw a recent screening of the movie. Rakesh Sharma, the director of the documentary, compares the India of today to the Germany of the 1930s. He feels the politics of hate propogated by the Hindu nationalist alliance is causing social and economic isolation of Muslims in India, similar to what Jews suffered in Nazi Germany. He agreed with an opinion from the audience that the movie title is uncessarily provocative, saying that he wishes people to wake up to the grim reality and stop being indifferent to it. My favorite scene in the documentary was the Hindutva pledge, which contained a clause to the effect of breaking up Pakistan into 40 pieces.
The documentary has been banned in India, as reported by the Big News Network: India bans film on Hindu-Muslim riots
Mudassir,
Gujarat was a sad episode for Indian Muslims. But it was largely stage managed by extremist elements and does not represent the majority view of Hindus in India.
India is a "largely" a superbly integrated country in which Muslims have a genuine chance to progress... Personally, as an Indian Muslim from Delhi, I have not had any issues with Hindus and in fact most of my best friends are Hindus.
The idea that Indian Muslims need the help of their Pakistani brothers is an outdated one... particularly since India has progressed much more than Pakistan.
Indian Muslims increasingly see their identity within secular India and increasingly regard Pakistani Muslims as being jealous and being "outside" trouble makers.
Apologies for being so blunt, but I thought I should speak my mind.
Best wishes,
Imran
Imran,
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your candor.
India is a probably a fine nation. My Indian friends (both Hindus and Muslims) don't give me any reason to believe otherwise. I used to hear and read dreadful things about India in the Pakistani press, but then I stopped trusting those sources a long time ago. I am sure you hear the same about Pakistan from the Indian media.
In most of these cases, it's the nature of the media to blame. It is their business to report the 'irregular' and the 'marginalized'. How often do you read about flourishing religious minorities in Pakistan - Hindus and Parsis are surprisingly very strong financially, Christians are one of highest educated, and the list goes on. Instead, the media chooses to report on religious extremists and sex workers in Pakistan, even though their numbers are largely insignificant (search my blog for sex workers and you'll find that western media reports about this group in Pakistan with quite fondness and regularity).
The point is, the media is biased in reporting. They are not interested in reporting the 'largely' integrated India, or the 'largely' progressive Pakistan. Fortunately for India, the local media seems fairly strong and does a decent job at dispelling some of these myths. The Pakistani media is only now coming out of the trenches. We have suffered immensely at the hands of foreign media painting us as savage beasts out to destroy the west.
The result is, most people are pleasantly surprised when they visit Pakistan and see things for themselves. I am not sure if you have ever visited Pakistan, but I met some Indians who visited Pakistan for the first time last year for the cricket series. I was surprised at their level of ignorance about a neighboring country. I can't get myself to forgive such degrees of ignorance. They were amazed to see women out on the streets, driving cars, working professionally, and dressing in western clothes. More so, they were stunned at what they described as a superior infrastructure when compared to Indian cities.
Take this from a person who has seen the world and currently lives in Pakistan. The country alhamdulillah is doing very well. We have grown at an average of 5% in the last 5 years, 8+% this last year. There is little reason for us to be jealous of a country that is more or less at the same level as us. If Indians feel that Pakistanis are jealous of them, they need to ask themselves who is giving them such obnoxious notions. I am pretty sure it's the same media that tells them that all of India's problems are because of Pakistan's ISI and that Pakistan is a failed state clamoring to reunite. I must admit that I am very impressed with Indian media's ability to indoctrinate people.
I am glad to hear that you and other Muslims around you are doing well in India. Heck, the richest man is also a Muslim, so that leaves little to be said. However, just like there are some odd laws against minorities in Pakistan, I am sure there are places in India where Muslims are persecuted for their faith. The incidents of Ayodhya and Gujarat are worrisome. Their magnitude suggests there is a deeper current in motion, maybe in some isolated locations. The purpose of Final Solution, Reinventing the Taliban, and other documentaries like them is to warn people about these viruses and keep such events isolated. They, by no means imply that all Hindus in India or all Muslims in Pakistan are extremists.
Thanks again for your comments, and I hope to read a lot more from you in the future.
Mudassir
Mudassir,
Thanks for your detailed e-mail. Yes, there are many 'truths' in your e-mail...
Specifically on "I must admit that I am very impressed with Indian media's ability to indoctrinate people.".... I must say that while the media will remain committed to its job of selling its products, Muslims in India are not foolish and are increasingly influenced by the reality that a) this is our home and b) these are our people. We have real experiences with Hindus and at least mine living in Delhi, have fortunately all been pleasant. Its also true that depending on the social class, one has different experiences... many Indias for many people.
If you ask me whether we would like peace with Pakistan then the answer is sure but how? Kashmir is not an easily solvable problem. Its very much part of the Indian Hindu soul just as it is of the Pakistani Muslim.
Pakistan has built itself up into an Islamic state that from the posts of many Pakistani Muslims on different web-sites (read to believe...) is quite intolerant to other religions particularly to Hindus in India.
Pakistani Muslims make open overtures to us Indian Muslims while ignoring and expressing hatred to Hindus! Is peace possible with such a route that completely ignores the majority? Importantly, is this the face of Islam that we want to present in this century?
On infrastructure, I'm not sure what sort of Indians visited Pakistan, I can only say that the government is struggling to grow infrastructure in line with the super growth the country is experiencing. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore are reeling under the pressure. Its not a lack of infrastructure but inability to keep pace with growth... a slightly different problem.
Moving back to the Hindu-Muslim issue. By and large experiences of educated Muslims is very positive. From your photograph and profile, I can easily say that someone like you would fit in 100% and be accepted based completely on your merits. However, would Hindus more generally be comfortable with more conservative Muslims with the outward appearance of being a Muslim... maybe not.
Hence its really about integrating with the mainstream, looking like others, thinking like others... once this sets in, secularism and integration have succeeded on the whole.
There is a lot of "space" for the Muslim community in India to express itself and make real economic progress. As long as we can put our heads down and compete through the system and work with the mainstream.
I think the authors perspective (the advocate on the other post) that everything good culturally in India is Muslim is rubbish... even though I'm a Muslim myself. Fact is that the Tamilian Brahmins have made quite a mark in the US in software and other intellectual areas - you surely know this.
Lastly, we must not forget that leaving aside a few genuine foreigners (like my family hailing for Afghanistan...), most Muslims today are converts from Hindus (otherwise the combined Muslim population of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot be explained). This reality should sober down the authors pitch.
I'm trying to speak my mind frankly and fairly. Fact is that India has been good to a lot of Indian Muslims and we should speak out.
Best wishes,
Imran
PS: In some other web-sites, Pakistani Muslims reject my posts totally and tell me that I've been de-islamised by Bollywood!
Interesting posts ....Let me indulge myself here ;)
Imran - i am glad that you feel India is a great place to live and be successful. I am happy to read that inspite of Gujrat and VHP, india still offers a place for minorities, such as Muslims. That being said, i fear life for muslims will become more difficult over time, in places where they are minorities (such as India).
A indian muslim friend of mine mentioned to me that when he travels in indian trains, he speaks hindi rather than urdu (he's from lucknow). He does so almost unintentionally, for reasons of 'blending' in and to avoid making it obvious he is a Muslim.
Living in a Muslim country allows one to live a very different life style, where one does not have to be fearful of doing 'muslim' things. Minor example being things like saying Alhamdulilla aloud. Major example being not having to fear a backlash when a crime occurs (where the criminal happens to be a muslim).
As far as pakistani's general perception - my feel is that on average pakistanis consider indian muslims to be their distant brothers, while for the hindu's, we are a little brainwashed :) I would take that as a positive overture for indian muslims, and leave it to them to figure out how they want to play with it. For PR reason, i would agree that Pakistanis should avoid singling out indian muslims as brothers or so on public forums ..as that feeds into hindu fundamentalist designs/conspiracy theories.
Ali Syed,
I can understand that life in a fully Muslim country would be very different.
However, the point is this: we made a choice in 1947 to stay on in India ie, we chose secularism over a Pakistani Muslim identity. Having once done so, there is always an adjustment process to survive/ thrive in a secular India. There are always rules to a game to win!
Yes your Indian friend is correct and I have said this myself that the identity is a "merged one". Secularism implies that one take on a common merged identity.
I dont see this as uncomfortable for someone like me whose studied in a Catholic school and had Hindu friends from childhood. I am still an ardent Muslim, but my expression of religion does not take a public face.
This is critical: to survive/thrive in a secular country religion must become a personal thing. Admitedly, this is difficult for us Muslims as we have historically worn our identity on our cuffs. But frankly, I dont see this as bad for the community: In this century, Muslims have to become more tolerant and more integrated in a multi-racial multi-religious context. Gone are the days when converting everyone else to Islam was possible.
Frankly, I would not be very comfortable travelling in a Train with a Hindu Brahmin chanting away next to me... Hence secularism is about a common identity a common "personality" if you will...
Nothing wrong in this approach, its just different from what you're used to in Pakistan. Frankly, its also quite enrichening. I have learnt a lot from my Hindu friends including the virtue of being tolerant...I have cousins who dont think like me but then they have not managed to do much for themselves!
Yes Gujarat and the VHP/RSS are dangers... but fortunately the larger Hindu population is secular and threw out the BJP for its policies. Even Advani these days is trying to acquire a secular profile....!
My salaams to you Ali and Mudassir and keep sharing your ideas with me. May Allah bless you both.
Best wishes,
Imran
Imran, with all due respect, your description of India does not lend it the credibility of a 'tolerant' nation. Secular maybe, but not tolerant. The greatness of tolerant societies like the US lie in their ability to accept people for who they are, in all their diversity. Tolerant societies do not put a pre-requisite of conforming before doling out equal opportunity and respect.
In it's current state (as you describe it), India is no different than what Afghanistan was under the Taliban. They also required people to conform, but to a different ideal. Just like it was the strict Muslim ideal for them, it seems to be the secular ideal for India. Think for a moment and you'll realize that it is the same equation, only the variable has a different value.
So the Taliban may have been a little raw in their retributions, but hasn't India been somewhat unjust to your cousins too, who it seems refused to conform. The only differences are (1) The punishment is meted out by the Indian society as opposed to the state machinery in the case of the Talibans; and (2) The Indian society castigates non-conformists in a different, more sophisticated way. It doesn't beat them up, but makes them pay by taking away all opportunities from them to improve their lot.
Mudassir,
Kinda unfair to compare India with Afghanistan... my cousins are not denied opportunities, they simply dont have the academic credentials to compete effectively combined with a profile/ thought process that is behind the 'pace' of the rest of India. We cant live in our glorious cultural past of the Mughals... the time is NOW, the place is HERE, and there are RULES to win HERE AND NOW.
Basically, all I'm trying to say is that in many ways "urbanisation" is equivalent to "secularism" ie, urban personalities survive easily in secular India. With economic growth and development, increased urbanisation leads to wider perspectives all around.
Specifically on the US... you're totally wrong on this one. After Sept 11 there were a number of Indian Sikhs killed because their outward appearance was confused as that of Muslims! Americans feel very uncomfortable with traditional Muslims who wear their religion on their cuffs. You're not a good example as you're highly urbanised from your profile.
Indian Muslims have a good opportunity to compete and survive. There are rules of the game which extend beyond personality. In modern India, this system its dominated by the IIT/IIMs... Indian Muslims who can prove their worth survive and thrive, those who cannot (like my cousins (hope they never read my posts) frankly, often find excuses like religious bias to satisfy themselves.
Really religion is a very personal matter. I dont see Hindus trying to discuss religion openly or wear it on their cuffs, hence I dont see why we Muslims should do so, if nothing else then as a reciprocal gesture.
To put it pointedly, if Hindus were not tolerant, as a matter of historical fact extending over 800 years, Islam would have never spread the extent to which it did. This is a hard hard reality.
I detect a bit of 'hate India' in your last post. Please try and get beyond the biases that exist to see my point of view. I'm an Indian Muslim, born brought up in this system and have a lot of Hindu, Sikh friends. I'm well accepted, integrated and have never see a hint of intolerance to myself.
Best wishes,
Imran
Agreed, the comparison to Afghanistan was unfair - it was a theoretical exercise to make a comparison, and Afghanistan is a recent example where this conformity trend was most pronounced. I hope you understand that it was easier to make the point.
Don't rush to judgments about my feelings for India. You have no idea. If you read my posts on Pakistan in the blog, you'll probably reach the same conclusion about my feelings for Pakistan. It is allright to be critical of your country and your customs. That's almost always the first step towards improving things. Denying any wrongs never sets anything right.
As for the US, barring a few incidents here and there, I have found the US to be very tolerant - not just for me but also for friends who don't appear as 'urbanized', support beards, etc. 9/11 changed some of it, but things are still not even closely as bad as some of the press reports may suggest. The media, as we discussed, only picks the irregular.
Imran, you sound like a very practical guy ... let's admit things are not perfect in India, nor are they in Pakistan. Just like I know there are extremists in Pakistan, I am certain India has its fair share. There is a reason we are where we are in the league of nations. We need to stop bickering over our petty differences, be critical of ourselves, and start think for the larger interests of our population.
Mudassir,
Well... yes I do agree that things are not perfect in India. There is an undercurrent of Hindu nationalism which could go in the wrong direction. However, in many ways this has had a positive impact (strangely...) in a wider sense ie, irrespective of religion the overall feeling/respect that Indians have developed for India has been transformed ie, we are a much prouder country (of course economic progress has helped). Nonetheless, Hindu fundamentalism is something the Muslim community has to watch out for just as the reverse is also true.
More specifically, on India-Pak relationships, I believe there is hope for a relationship with the "secular" elements within Pakistani society ie, I frankly dont believe that a wider relationship is possible because of the volatility in Pakistan ie, sectarian violence, fundamentalism. These forces are divisive and if they spill over into India, they could lead to larger scale conflicts.
My belief is that a common market with free cross-border movement of carefully scrutinised persons should be allowed/encouraged. The biggest BLOCK in the last 60 years has been the fact that two sets of people who are really the same race (at least in North India) have been separated by this artificial border left imagining (and misconstruing) about the state of affairs/ the mindset on the other side! The internet is only just beginning to link up the people.
Importantly, Pakistani society has to become much more tolerant of other religions and Madrassa's are the key area to focus on.
From the Indian experience with our Madrassa's (see: http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/000236.html) this institution has perpetuated isolationism rather than belief in the tolerant side of Islam. The interview dot-linked highlights that Madrassa's teach very little about Muslim philosophy and literature and pay undue onus on the nitty-gritty of legal issues (Sufism for example, focuses on the Mystical/ philosophical aspects of Islam and is a very tolerant brand of Islam...why not spread this?). Madrassa's have an insufficient grounding in social sciences and to quote the interviewee "They seem to imagine that if you internalise the Qur’an and the teachings of your maslak all your personal and social problems will be automatically solved. And then, to make matters even more complicated, there is a certain trend among many ‘ulama to attribute all the problems of the Muslims to what they insist is a Zionist-Hindu-Christian conspiracy, without carefully analysing the real roots of the problems, and thereby absolving Muslims of any responsibility in the matter."
I believe that the institution of the Madrassa needs serious reform to bring it more in line with a 'tolerant' version of Islam which the state should carefully monitor... The latest London bombings in which a Pakistani boy was influenced by the teachings of Madrassa's is a clear case-in-point highlighting the need for serious reform.
Good stuff coming out from our talks, lets keep talking.
Cheers
Imran
Vatican Warns Catholics Against Marrying Muslims - Reuters
"The Vatican warned Catholic women on Friday to think hard before marrying a Muslim and urged Muslims to show more respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy. Calling women "the least protected member of the Muslim family," it spoke of the "bitter experience" western Catholics had with Muslim husbands, especially if they married outside the Islamic world and later moved to his country of origin."
NPR's commentary, http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1898136.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Victory and defeat are part of life: Vajpayee - Times of India
"PM Vajpayee's first task after handing in his resignation on Thursday evening was to extend 'our hand of cooperation' to the new government in all its endeavours 'that are in the interest of the nation. We have given up office, but not our responsibility to serve the nation. We have lost an election, but not our determination,' he said. Victory and defeat are a part of life, which are to be viewed with equanimity,' he said in a philosophical tone. 'The voters have given their verdict. I accept the verdict,' Vajpayee said, adding: 'My party and alliance may have lost, but India has won.' "
The man leaves with much grace. The article in the CS Monitor, Boom splits India's middle class, alludes to some of the reasons that are being attributed to BJP's loss. Can our politicians please learn something from their counterparts across the border!
Muslim Petition Decries Terror - Washington Post
"A national Muslim advocacy group announced yesterday that it is asking Muslims around the world to sign an online petition condemning terrorism as "un-Islamic" and a betrayal of their faith. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said that its petition, titled 'Not in the Name of Islam,' is 'designed to disassociate the faith of Islam from the violent acts of a few Muslims.' "
The petition, http://www.cair-net.org/memcamp.asp.
Jason Lewis’ Bollywood bride - Midday
"Sitting with his natural charisma and brooding good looks on the sets of Film City, Mumbai, Jason Lewis (of the hugely popular Sex and the City — he played Samantha’s younger lover) has followed his “Bollywood Bride” to Indian shores. This rising Hollywood star is currently playing the lead in Kashmera Shah and her husband Brad Listermann’s film, My Bollywood Bride."
Muslim groups infuriated by anti-terrorism poster - Guardian
"Muslim groups have demanded that police withdraw an anti-terrorism poster, saying it unfairly links Islam to acts of violence. The poster, distributed across England and Wales, urges people to ring a confidential hotline with information about terrorism. It depicts a pair of eyes surrounded by a black background, which British Islamic groups say looks like a Muslim woman with most of her face covered."
Mosques urged to help Malays find love - Straits Times
"The marriage rate among Malaysian Muslims has fallen sharply in the past few years, leading to calls from the religious authorities to study the trend and for Malays to turn to the mosque rather than the Internet for love. Utusan Malaysia reported a drop of about 10,000 marriages between 1998 and 2002 ... Officials have noted that Malays have become more urbanised in recent decades, with government programmes encouraging the community to become more business-oriented in an attempt to increase competitiveness and wealth."
Challenging the News Establishment - ClickZ
"Broadcasters and publishers can use inexpensive (even open source), off-the-shelf groupware, instant messaging, VOIP telephony, content management software, blogware, and collaborative publishing or broadcasting software. A team must no longer operate out of brick-and-mortar offices hardwired with expensive, proprietary front-end and typesetting hardware. Equipping a content team costs one-quarter to one-third less than what it did five years ago. Even the equipment costs of producing short runs of unbound print editions (for a weekly or small daily newspaper) have markedly declined in the past few years." (Credits: Corante)
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
The dangers of Asia's preference for sons - IHT
"When security scholars survey the most worrisome potential conflicts in Asia, they should keep in mind a variable to which they might not have given much thought: the sex ratios of the countries involved. The most populous nations in Asia, including China, India and Pakistan, have acted upon their deep cultural preference for sons by culling daughters from their populations through the use of ever more efficient sex selective technologies."
A Day of Horror in 1986 Is Relived - Washington Post
"The Pan Am flight began in Bombay and was headed for New York but was hijacked at the airport during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan. Four members of the Abu Nidal Organization, a radical Palestinian splinter group, had disguised themselves as Pakistani security guards and boarded the plane with the intention of blowing it up over Israel. Safarini and four fellow members of the Abu Nidal group were convicted in Pakistani courts of the hijacking and of killing 22 people, two of them Americans. Safarini's Pakistan sentence was commuted after he had served 14 years, and he was released. But FBI agents seized him in the fall of 2001 as part of the Justice Department's pledge to "hunt down all terrorists one by one" and prosecute them."
Is Europe Ready for Turkey? Muslim World Is Waiting - NY Times
"Where Europe ends, and with it presumably the European Union, has long been a vexed question. Just how vexed will be demonstrated over the next seven months as the EU grapples with a critical decision: whether to begin negotiations leading to Turkish membership ... Scrutiny of the EU's next move is intense in the United States, in the Islamic world and in Turkey itself. The American view is straightforward. Europe says it wants good relations with Muslims. That being the case, it cannot slam the door on Turkey. 'If the Muslim world is not an enemy, they have to go through with this,' said one American official."
Pakistan inks power deal - Times of India
"Pakistan signed an initial agreement on Tuesday for the private sector's biggest power project in seven years, a $1.2 billion hydropower dam planned by a US-based company. Amzo Corp, set up in Maryland in November 2002 by two Pakistanis, plans to build the 740-megawatt Munda Dam in North West Frontier Province."Check out the website of Amzo Group. The partners of the firm don't seem to have much experience in this industry; more so, it appears that the website and the company have been established for this very specific project. As the article in Hi Pakistan clarifies, they have partnered with Lehmeyer International of Germany for this project. Here's a brief data sheet on Lahmeyer AG.
Trust The Pak govt. to make deals like this... I wonder how much politicking is involved.
Caught in the Crossfire - New Yorker
"An entire subspecialty of forensic medicine in Iraq deals with virginity, Shaker said. In any criminal case involving a woman, it’s the most important piece of information. “It rules our life,” he added. The surprising thing about these details of his profession is their ordinariness. In the West, Iraqis developed a reputation for cosmopolitan modernity that is now decades out of date. In order to win the support of Iraq’s clerics, Saddam obliged people to adopt a harsh form of traditional Islam. In private matters of religion, family, and the treatment of women, the vast majority of Iraqis are far more conservative than most outsiders understand."
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Focus shifts to jail abuse of women - Guardian
"For Huda Shaker, the humiliation began at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Baghdad. The American soldiers demanded to search her handbag. When she refused one of the soldiers pointed his gun towards her chest. 'He pointed the laser sight directly in the middle of my chest,' said Professor Shaker, a political scientist at Baghdad University. 'Then he pointed to his penis. He told me, 'Come here, bitch, I'm going to fuck you.'' "
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Pakistan is 'open for business' - Financial Times
"Hotel lobbies are packed, occupancy rates are up and executives are struggling to find seats at short notice on internal flights. Pakistan might still have its fair share of bad news, such as last week's suicide bomb in a Karachi mosque that killed 15 worshippers, but improving economic fundamentals are confirming anecdotal evidence that investors are venturing back into south Asia's second-largest country."
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PCB top brass yet to submit tickets' accounts - That's Cricket
"Top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, including the chairman and chief executive, are yet to submit details of tickets worth Rs 18.6 million which they took during the recent series against India ... The report said quoting sources that the officials ranging from chairman Shaharyar Khan, chief executive Ramiz Raja and general manager - cricket operations Zakir Khan took the tickets by signing receipts which are with the consultant and his team who were entrusted with the task of ticket printing and sales."
An Exiled Pakistani Returns and in 90 Minutes Is Ousted - NY Times
"The opposition leader Mian Shahbaz Sharif was deported to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday almost immediately after he arrived here from more than three years of exile. Leaders of Mr. Sharif's party, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, said his forced departure followed the arrests of hundreds of party loyalists who had promised a rousing welcome for their exiled leader. Government officials said, however, that no more than 110 party workers were detained and that they would be released soon."
Across America, War Means Jobs - Washington Post
"Defense Spending Pumps New Life Into Small or Dying Towns ... Economists have long argued that war is an inefficient use of government revenue. A dollar spent on a highway not only employs workers but also creates a lasting, broadly shared benefit for the economy. A dollar spent on military equipment is soon lost to enemy attack or the rapid wear of war. If it bought a bomb or bullet, it simply explodes."
Syria's uneasy truce with Islam - BBC
"Syria, a country ruled by the secular Baath party, has long kept a tight lid on Islamists. In the early 1980s, the regime crushed a Muslim brotherhood rebellion killing more than 10,000 people. But in today's Arab world - where pictures of the occupation of Iraq and the violence in the Palestinian territories are beamed into people's homes every day - there is growing anger."
Monday, May 10, 2004
Rape survivor educates Pakistan - San Francisco Chronicle
"Almost two years after she was brutally gang-raped in her central Punjabi village of Mirwali on the orders of a local panchayat (council), Mukhtaran Mai continues to press for the completion of the legal case against her assailants while administering a school she funded with money the Pakistani government gave her after the rape. She also is trying to help others who fall victim to the problems of Pakistani society."
Pakistan's viewers tune into brave new televisual world - FT
"For south Asia's most conservative Islamic country, private channels broadcast in Urdu have created an unprecedented opportunity for viewers to watch television, free from official control. 'In the past, women in my family used to demand jewellery when there was a little bit of money to spend,' says Riaz Shaikh, a taxi driver in Karachi. 'Now, a television with a cable connection tops the list.' There are three main private television channels serving the Pakistani public - ARY TV, Geo TV and Indus Television. Geo is owned by the Jang newspaper group. The station boasts that it 'is the first to bring the concept of breaking news to Pakistan.'"
Dream of riches that ended in death - IHT
"Sitting in the compound of her mud house in this dusty farming village in eastern Pakistan, Bibi Bakhtan, 61, wiped dust from a framed photograph of her dead son and posed a universal question. "Can mothers forget their sons?" she sighed. Surrounded by grandchildren and a few ambling goats, her voice quavered with grief as she talked about her son, Muhammad Riaz."
Suicide Bombers a Post-Sept. 11 Phenomenon in Pakistan - Reuters
"Bomb blasts are nothing new in Pakistan, but suicide bombings like the one that killed 15 Shi'ite Muslims and the attacker last week are a relatively recent tactic learned from foreign Islamic militants ... Initially, suicide attacks targeted foreigners. The first was on May 8, 2002 in Karachi and killed 11 French naval technicians, while the second occurred on June 14, 2002 outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi and killed 12 Pakistanis. Friday's attack was the third suicide bombing in Karachi and the eighth large one in Pakistan since 2002."
As a Center for Outsourcing, India Could Be Losing Its Edge - NY Times
"For many U.S. companies, India’s allure as a center for IT outsourcing may be eroding, due largely to rising labor costs that are increasing at a rate of 15% a year. With more U.S. companies shifting their operations to locales like India, companies offering outsourcing services in India are facing "fierce" competition for skilled labor, leading to higher labor costs and increased difficulty in retaining top employees. One sign of the cutthroat competition for IT employees: the top BPO firms in India "reached an informal agreement not to poach employees from one another." (Credits: Corante)
New Undersea Cable Projects Face Some Old Problems - NY Times
"The projects - the Falcon cable financed privately by Flag Telecom and the Sea-Me-We 4 line built by a consortium of global telephone companies led by Singapore Telecommunications - are nothing if not ambitious. The cables, which were several years in the planning, will stretch more than 9,300 miles, touching some of the more underserved parts of the globe. Flag did not announce a price tag for its project, but the consortium said it would spend $500 million on its line."
Sunday, May 09, 2004
What Happened to Bush's Dream Team? - TIME
"Top Bush officials griped about what one called Rumsfeld's 'destructive arrogance.' Says the adviser: 'You have no idea what it's like to deal with the United States of Rumsfeld.' Colin Powell's closest aides, like chief of staff Larry Wilkerson, were quoted in GQ magazine, saying that Powell was weary of fighting ideological 'utopians' in the Administration and being forced to do 'damage control' and 'apologizing around the world.' Powell's foes, perhaps in retaliation, blamed him for being slow to decide to travel to the Middle East to help quell the furor over the abuse scandal."
Film about 1947 upheaval earns praise in United States - Daily Times
"A film by a Pakistani-born woman moviemaker that has already won a number of international awards is earning praise in America as well, though it has not had general release so far. 'Khamosh Pani', a Pakistani-French-German co-production took four prizes at the 56th Locarno International Film Festival last year, including those for best film and best actress."
Offering India's Voters a Unique Perspective - Los Angeles Times
"Sanju Mausi offers voters a real choice. She could be the best man, woman, or cross between the two to represent them in India's Parliament. It depends on their point of view. The candidate dresses like a woman and campaigns under a woman's name. The chief electoral officer insists the candidate is a man. Mausi hopes voters will support her for who she is: a eunuch."
For a 'New Imperialism' - Washington Post
"The images from Abu Ghraib make you recoil from the Iraq mission: You want to forget this awful chapter in our history, with all its tragic errors. But the really bad news about the Iraq war is that we're going to fight more wars rather like it. Technological, demographic and ideological trends make that just about inevitable. There can be no withdrawal from this broader struggle. The only real hope is to get better at it."
French deny Muslim visa over scarf rule - Houston Chronicle
"As a devout Muslim and international businesswoman, Nashida Subhi has worn her head scarf into corporate offices around the world. But now she has learned she will no longer be welcome in France unless she takes her scarf off for a photograph. The French Consulate in Houston recently denied Subhi's request for a visa to visit the country on business, she said. Subhi was told that French regulations require her to bare her head for an identifying photograph -- something she is not willing to do."
West's discarded cell phones endangering India - Kerala News
"With an increasing number of cell phones being discarded every year in the West, environmentalists fear more of these non-biodegradable wastes would be dumped in India, Pakistan and China. A survey conducted by an NGO, Toxics Link, revealed that more than 70 percent of electronic waste collected from recycling units in New Delhi have their source in the US and other developed countries."
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Indian army faked killings of Pakistani troops - FT
"Indian troops staged fake battles on the world's highest battleground and made false claims about killing Pakistani soldiers in a bid to win medals for gallantry, the Defence Ministry says. The admission on Friday came after the Hindustan Times reported that Indian soldiers had shot "hazy videos" of faked battles on the Siachen glacier last year, posing as dead enemy troops and even destroying one of their own bunkers."
Cleric seeks British soldier sex slaves - Reuters
A Muslim cleric in Basra is offering a reward of 100 pounds to any Iraqi who captures a British woman soldier and says she will be kept as a slave if handed over to religious leaders ... 'A 250,000 dinar reward will be given to whomever detains a female British soldier," Bahadli said. 'She should be handed to the office of Sadr, the martyr, and she will be treated as a concubine.' "
Terrorists 'seek Muslim converts' - CNN
"Al Qaeda-linked terrorists are recruiting Muslim converts in the Philippines through a network of charities, according to security officials and an intelligence report obtained by The Associated Press. Converts to Islam in the predominantly Roman Catholic country of the Philippines are valuable because they know the lay of the land and can tap into local information and have contacts and access, the authorities said."
Pakistan To Sell Shares In Airlines, Gas, Power Cos - Quicken
"The Pakistan govermment plans to sell more minority shares in its flagship airlines on the stock exchange and sell an oil exploration company through an initial public offering before June 30 to broaden the stock market. A government statement late Friday said the Cabinet Committee on Privatization headed by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has approved the sale of up to 10% shares in Pakistan International Airlines and an IPO to sell up to 15% shares in Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. PIA is already a listed company."
Friday, May 07, 2004
The secret world of Iranian youth - Independent
"In the ski resorts, life is more free than the socially restricted cities, drawing criticism from conservative parts of the establishment. Shemshak, the main resort town a 90-minute drive from Tehran, is known for illegal parties, where young men and women mix without supervision, drink alcohol and use drugs. Shemshak is as far from the traditional image of Iran as you can get. Girls wear hats and ski jackets instead of the regulation scarves and long manteaus. The resort appears a declared area of truce in the public morality battle being waged between the young and the conservative elements in Iran. Here,the talk is of foreign holidays, parties and expensive clothes. "
War and the law in Iraq - Economist
"Everyone knows that even the most civilised countries sometimes break the rules in the stress of battle. But few people, at least in the West, had suspected that things were this bad. All around the world, people have been reacting with horror to revelations of American, and possibly also British, troops subjecting Iraqi civilian detainees to such cruel and inhumane practices that some have died. In Arab countries, the outrage, and mistrust of America, have rarely been greater."
Welcome back, 'friends' - Asia Times
"Politically speaking, the US government is engaged in none-too-orderly about-turns in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and also indirectly in South Waziristan in Pakistan. Despairing of the competence of pro-US Iraqi and Afghan emigres to deliver and lead their countries' transition to the hoped-for democracy, US policymakers have opted for questionable shortcuts."
The weakness of Google - Economist
"But the IPO hype around Google and its likeable and soon-to-be fabulously rich founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, obscures a more subtle point. Not only is Google less strong than it looks, but an IPO might make it even weaker at a crucial moment, since Google is about to face simultaneous onslaughts from two fearsome rivals—Yahoo!, an internet portal that offers free e-mail and other services, and Microsoft, computing's software superpower, which runs an internet portal of its own."
Pakistan may face trade sanctions following USTR move - Daily Times
"The United States may slap trade sanctions against Islamabad following a recent decision by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to place Pakistan on the “priority watch list” on account of non-implementation of intellectual property rights, a senior government official told Daily Times. With this decision, the USTR now has the right to impose trade sanctions on Pakistan and withdraw trade incentives being extended under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the official said."
Akram says no to acting - Times of India
"An effort to have Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram sing and dance in a Bollywood film has fallen through after he declined to take up an offer from top director Mahesh Bhatt. Akram told a local TV channel Geo in Lahore on Friday that he has decided not to accept the offer to act in films as he was wary about it and preferred devoting his time to his job as commentator for ESPN-Star Sports."
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Village council 'approved rapes' - Guardian
"A village council in Pakistan permitted a landlord to rape the sister and sister-in-law of a man he accused of an illicit relationship with his daughter, police said yesterday. The alleged attacks took place on April 30 in the small village of Donga Naich in the central province of Punjab, after a ruling by a three-man local jury, or panchayat."
Pakistan textile industry prepares to compete with Asian rivals - FT
"Every morning some 400 employees turn up at Kohinoor Mills, one of Pakistan's most modern factories, outside Lahore, knowing that their jobs are secure in a year that will see a huge upheaval in the world's textile industries ... In a quota-free world where exporters would lose the protection of the quota system designed to help developing countries get a share of the two big markets, the US and the European Union, businessmen here say Pakistan is better prepared to compete against rivals such as India, China and Bangladesh."
Call to Prayer in Michigan Causes Tension - New York Times
"To hear people in this blue-collar city tell it, things were fine until the al-Islah Islamic Center petitioned to broadcast its call to prayer, or azan, over an outdoor loudspeaker. Masud Khan, the mosque's secretary, sat on the carpeted floor on Wednesday and reflected on what he had learned about some of his neighbors in the last few months. "How much they hate us," he said softly."
Pakistan scores low in freedom index survey - Daily Times
"Pakistan ended up with a poor score on account of its record on civil liberties, rule of law, corruption, transparency and accountability in the new report of the Heritage Foundation that quantifies every year how “free” various countries are. Scores are based on a scale of 0 to 7, with 0 representing the weakest and 7 the strongest performance. Pakistan scores 2.61 in civil liberties, followed by civil liberties (2.61), rule of law (2.03), anti-corruption and transparency (2.12) and accountability and public voice (1.89)."
Low-Tech or High, Jobs Are Scarce in India's Boom - New York Times
"India's economy is spawning a growing middle class, a host of world-class companies, a booming stock market and a new image for this nation of more than one billion people. But those very reforms and conditions are also reducing the prospects of some of its citizens. India may be 'shining,' in the description of a controversial and expensive government publicity campaign, but it is also struggling to generate jobs."
Indian films script peace ties with Pakistan - Reuters
"Just weeks ago, Indian and Pakistani political leaders were the only ones talking peace. But since an historic cricket series that ended in April helped reduce tensions between the South Asian nuclear rivals, the Indian film industry is trying hard to script a reconciliation between the two countries. After years of churning out anti-Pakistan films that showed Pakistanis as militants, Bollywood film-makers are rewriting story lines to show Pakistanis as good guys and not as enemies bent on destabilising India."
The Internet's Wilder Side - New York Times
"It was just another Wednesday on the sprawling Internet chat-room network known as I.R.C. In a room called Prime-Tyme-Movies, users offered free pirated downloads of "The Passion of the Christ'' and "Kill Bill Vol. 2.'' In the DDO-Matrix channel, illegal copies of Microsoft's Windows software and "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,'' an Xbox game, were ripe for downloading. In other chat rooms yesterday, whole albums of free MP3's were hawked with blaring capital letters. And in a far less obtrusive channel, a hacker may well have been checking his progress of hacking into the computers of unsuspecting Internet users."
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
India-Pakistan border: A saber-rattling spectacle - CNN
"Against the backdrop of the setting sun, a crowd of 5,000 gathers along a remote country road to witness an event part circus, part nationalistic ritual -- but all spectacle. Nowhere do flags symbolize the hopes and dreams of nations more than here, at the only border crossing between India and Pakistan, rivals in everything from cricket to nuclear arms."
Pakistani PM Hopes Bush Is Re-Elected - Guardian
"The prime minister of this deeply conservative Islamic nation waded into U.S. politics during an interview with the AP, saying he wishes President Bush well in his re-election bid this November. Zafarullah Khan Jamali's comment was a rare taking-of-sides by a world leader in another country's election, and one that is particularly unusual given the American president's low standing among Muslims angered over the war in Iraq, U.S. support for Israel and allegations that American servicemen abused Iraqi prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad."
Someone explain this idiot the principles of international politics. Blunder I tell ya!
Faith Sprouts in Arid Soil of China - New York Times
"Reliable religious data is hard to come by in China, but the country's estimated 20 million Muslims are often said to constitute the second-largest religious community, after Buddhists, who may number as many as 100 million. Christians of various denominations are also believed to number over 10 million, and adherents of all of these faiths are widely believed to be growing."
Framing Afghanistan - AlterNet
"Afghanistan's first post-Taliban feature film, a bleak yet lyrical story of a young girl forced to 'pass' as a boy in order to support her widowed mother, is provoking worldwide interest in the country's cinematic heritage and future. Siddiq Barmak is the director of Osama. He was born in Afghanistan in 1962 and attended film school in Moscow. He lived in exile in Pakistan from 1996-2002, and returned to head the Afghan Film Organisation and the Afghan Children's Education Movement. Osama is a very beautiful and poignant film, but also extremely sad."
Pakistan foils hijack plot, says prime minister - Guardian
"Zafarullah Khan Jamali said there was no indication when the attack was to have taken place, or whether it involved al-Qaida. "Probably there is a group of four to six persons who might try to hijack a plane, and in particular going toward UAE," he said. The prime minister said intelligence indicated the men wanted to "blow it up or do something". He would not speculate on whether the hijackers were Pakistanis or foreign elements. "Hijackers have no nationality," he said."
Picasso Oil Breaks $100 Million at Sotheby's - Reuters
"Picasso's "Boy With the Pipe" set a new world record for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction on Wednesday when it soared to $104,168,000 at Sotheby's. The price, which included the auction house's commission, easily eclipsed the old mark of $82.5 million set by van Gogh's "Portrait of Dr. Gachet," which had stood since 1990 when speculation took hold of the art market."
China's IPO boom stretches lawyers to limit - China Daily
"Preparing a mainland company for a Hong Kong, New York or London stock offering is a grueling task that can take two years of auditing and hundreds of attorney hours. With mainland companies preparing to launch up to US$23 billion in overseas IPOs, many firms are ramping up operations to win a bigger piece of the action." (Credits: Corante)
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Pakistan's Real Bulwark - Washington Post
"Amid the turmoil in Iraq and signs that Afghanistan still lacks a viable state, it's not surprising that doubts about the ability of the United States to support democratization are growing in the Middle East and even in the United States. This is all the more reason why the success of a homegrown democratic process anywhere in the Muslim world is so important -- especially in a strategically located nuclear state such as Pakistan. But is U.S. policy helping to achieve this end in Pakistan?"
Has Islam become the issue? - Asia Times
"Nothing shows up the shallowness of the American neo-conservatives better than the choice of a French Catholic, Professor Alain Besancon, to fire a first salvo against Islam in the May issue of their flagship journal, Commentary. His essay, 'What Kind of Religion is Islam', re-states the millennium-old Christian case against Muslim theology, while barely hinting at why theology has any bearing on the civilizational conflict now under way. Nonetheless, a Rubicon has been crossed, for Islam itself has become the issue, rather than terrorism, dictatorship, slavery in the Sudan or mistreatment of women."
Pakistan to rein in cybercafes - Straits Times
"Cybercafes are favourite hangouts for Pakistanis young and old to play games, chat, e-mail, surf the Web...or send terror e-mail messages and watch hard porn. But such days may soon be over. Concern about the seamier side of cafes has prompted the government to draft a law to regulate their activities ... It requires all Internet cafes to register with the PTA, bans under-15s unless they are accompanied by their parents, and bars under-18s from viewing porn websites and playing violent video games."
Foreign coaches snub Pakistan job - Cricket365
"The current state of Pakistan cricket was no better illustrated than by the fact that a number of prominent foreign coaches have reportedly rejected the offer of taking over from the beleaguered Javed Miandad. According to a report in The News, the likes of Dav Whatmore, Bob Woolmer and Michael Slater were approached, but all three turned down the offer."
Peacemaker? Sectarian divider? - San Francisco Chronicle
"India's prime minister is a puzzle: a poet and peacemaker who came to power brandishing Hindu nationalism in a country that professes nonsectarian values, and who set off a nuclear arms race with Pakistan. Yet after six years in office and running for another five-year term, 79-year-old Atal Bihari Vajpayee has already forged a breathtaking legacy."
Kashmiri politician in veil row - BBC
"India's Election Commission has asked police in Jammu and Kashmir to charge a leading local politician after she unveiled a Muslim woman during voting. Mehbooba Mufti, head of the state's ruling People's Democratic Party, removed the voter's veil inside a polling station last week in Srinagar."
Monday, May 03, 2004
"She's been called the world's only female Muslim stand-up comedian, which sounds like a joke in itself. But for Shazia Mirza, comedy is a serious business. In Britain, where she was born, Mirza has overcome the prejudices of both Muslims and non-Muslims to become a leading figure on the stand-up comedy circuit ... Born in Birmingham, England, to first generation Pakistani immigrants, Mirza says that from a young age she knew what she wanted to do with her life. But it wasn't a career choice that went down well in the community where she was raised."
American-Muslim comics poking fun in good faith - Alameda Times
"Like their Jewish, Irish and African-American predecessors, Muslim comics are embracing ethnic humor, not just to draw laughs but also to promote Muslim acceptance into mainstream American society ... Muslim stand-up comics are increasingly in demand by both Muslim and non-Muslim groups. Canadian filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz produces what she calls "terrodies," or comedies about terrorism, and has named her company FUNdamentalist Films."
Pakistan, China to Sign Nuclear Power Plant Deal - Reuters
"Pakistan and China will sign a deal Tuesday for the construction of a nuclear power plant, the second such plant to be built with the help of Beijing, officials said Monday. Energy experts have said the project would be worth about $600 million and take at least six years to complete."
British widows sue over India riot deaths - Reuters
"The widows of two British Muslims burned to death by a Hindu mob in India's Gujarat riots two years ago are suing the state's government for 2.8 million pounds, accusing it of genocide and torture ... Sakil Dawood and Saeed Dawood, both British, were visiting India when a Hindu mob turned on them and burned them to death in February, 2002, at the height of communal bloodshed triggered by the burning alive of 59 Hindu pilgrims by a suspected Muslim mob."
Spain seeks to control what imams preach - Guardian
"The Spanish government is considering censoring the sermons of Muslim imams in an attempt to control the spread of radical Islamic ideas - a move that has been criticised as a lurch towards authoritarianism. The interior minister, Josè Antonio Alonso, suggested the plan, which could also see a requirement that all preachers in mosques be registered."
Closer Kashmir-Pakistan ties sought - Boston Globe
For years, only separatists promised Kashmiris closer ties to Pakistan. But as India holds general elections in the current atmosphere of Indian-Pakistani detente, closer ties are suddenly a rallying cry for both of the mainstream parties in Jammu and Kashmir ... Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, a highly respected Kashmiri spiritual leader and head of one of the most important factions within the Hurriyat, a coalition of separatist groups, said, 'These political parties have changed so dramatically that perhaps they should team up with the Hurriyat.' "
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Bias Against Muslims Up 70% - Washington Post
"Muslims in the United States experienced more than 1,000 incidents of alleged harassment, violence and discriminatory treatment in 2003, a jump of 70 percent over the previous year, according to a report to be released today by a major Islamic advocacy group. The group said it received 1,019 complaints from Muslims last year concerning discriminatory or violent actions, up from 602 the year before. The biggest number of incidents had to do with employment and the refusal to accommodate religious practices."
Real Men Play At Night : Frieha Altaf - Outlook India
"On the night of March 24, after India won the ODI series, Yusuf’s son hosted a party at the haveli. I strolled in at 1.30 am to find Imran Khan—quite surprising considering he has become a hermit from the time he stepped into politics. The party was in full swing; most Indian cricketers were there but for Tendulkar and Ganguly. The ladies and even some men couldn’t take their eyes off Yuvraj Singh. Everyone wanted to dance closer to him; what a mover and shaker! He spent the evening dancing with friend Vidya who too displayed some groovy moves on the floor."
I wonder what article is the subject of the following editorial in Daily Times, 'Ungrateful Indian guests'.
U.S. Is Losing Its Dominance in the Sciences - New York Times
"The United States has started to lose its worldwide dominance in critical areas of science and innovation, according to federal and private experts who point to strong evidence like prizes awarded to Americans and the number of papers in major professional journals. Foreign advances in basic science now often rival or even exceed America's, apparently with little public awareness of the trend or its implications for jobs, industry, national security or the vigor of the nation's intellectual and cultural life."
All substandard campuses will be closed: Dr Atta - Daily Times
"All new universities and campuses that do not pull their weight in two-and-a-half years will be closed down according to the decision of the federal cabinet, said Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman on Wednesday. 'There will be no change in this decision,' he told reporters. Mr Rehman said a rating system would be introduced for public and private sector universities. 'The future funding of the universities will depend on their rating,' he said, adding the HEC would rate departments with criteria yet to be finalised."
'Laser vision' offers new insights - BBC
"A system that projects light beams directly into the eye could change the way we see the world. US firm Microvision has developed a system that projects lasers onto the retina, allowing users to view images on top of their normal field of vision. The system uses tiny lasers, which scan their light onto the retina to produce the entire range of human vision."
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Reebok honors memory of boy who fled slavery - Boston Globe
"Ten years after honoring an escaped child slave laborer with a human rights award, Reebok tomorrow will name its employee day-care center after Iqbal Masih. In 1995, the 12-year-old boy was gunned down on Easter Sunday in his native Pakistan. Students from Quincy's Broad Meadows Middle School, where Masih visited during his 1994 trip to the United States, are participating in tomorrow's event and will discuss their efforts over the past decade to end child labor and bring education to children in impoverished countries."
Muslims seek to worship in ancient mosque - BBC
"In southern Spain, once the centre of an Islamic civilisation in Europe, the Muslim community has appealed to the Vatican to be allowed to pray alongside Christians in what was once the Great Mosque of Cordoba. The Great Mosque was turned into a church when Cordoba fell to the Christians in 1236. Its arcades were filled in to become chapels and shrines, and an altar was erected in one of the mosque's central aisles."
Bollywood swaps war screenplay for peace - Times of India
"With relations between India and Pakistan improving by the day, Bollywood is either dropping films with anti-Pak themes or tempering their scripts. Always on the lookout for what trade analyst Taran Adarsh calls the 'winning formula', producers are busy working cross-border camaraderie into their scripts."
'Women safer in Karachi than in Delhi' - Sify
"Contrary to popular belief, women and girls are much safer on the streets of Karachi than in Delhi, according to a group of Sikh women from Pakistan, who were in India last week to participate in the fifth centenary celebrations of Guru Angad Dev. 'Unlike what most people think here, Pakistan is totally safe for women, be they Muslim or non-Muslim... probably much more than here,' says Nirmal Kaur, a 52-year old Sindhi Sikh, who was born and brought up in Pakistan."
Many Muslims feel prisoners' 'humiliation' - San Francisco Chronicle
"The actions of U.S. soldiers seen to be abusing Iraqi prisoners, many of them naked, are especially egregious to the Muslim community, which considers modesty one of its most sacred values. "The worst thing in Arab culture is for a man to be naked in front of another man," said Gulshen Beyatli, director of Arabs Without Borders in San Francisco. "I heard about the photos on the radio today, and I was horrified. This is going to have multiple effects on people.' "
'Terrorists' poisoned schoolgirls - BBC
"The Afghan president has blamed 'terrorist elements' for the poisoning of three schoolgirls in the eastern province of Khost. The official said the incident happened five or six days ago outside the city of Khost's only girls' school. 'A woman gave poisoned fruit powder to the girls and told them to mix it with water and drink it. After a couple of minutes, they were unconscious.' "
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