Wednesday, December 14, 2016
"Aleppo Atrocities": The Mainstream Media's Latest Psy-Op
The recent barrage of reports alleging that the Syrian Arab Army is committing "atrocities" against the liberated people of Aleppo stems from unsubstantiated Twitter accounts and melodramatic YouTube videos.
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| CELEBRATIONS IN ALEPO,SYRIA |
The glorious liberation of Aleppo by the victorious Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has finally arrived, yet the Mainstream Media is predictably doing its utmost to cast a dark pallor over this celebratory event.
Instead of rejoicing that the terrorists have been expelled and that the largest hostage crisis in history is now over, they've gone into overdrive alleging that the SAA is committing all sorts of "atrocities" against the city's inhabitants, using nothing more than the 140 characters of a Tweet or a brief YouTube monologue as "evidence" that this is occurring. Independent journalist Vanessa Beeley is on the ground in Aleppo documenting everything that's going on, including the large-scale humanitarian operation aimed at helping the tens of thousands of refugees that escaped terrorist rule in East Aleppo, yet her photographic evidence and personal accounts are completely ignored by the Mainstream Media in favor of shadowy figures such as Bilal Abdul Kareem.This man, like Ms. Beeley, is also in Aleppo, but the primary difference is that while she's an objective observer documenting the reality of what life was like for the thousands of hostages which barely survived the prolonged terrorist occupation, he's one of the perpetrators who facilitated this nightmare by actively spinning the Orwellian narrative that the "rebellious locals" are under "deadly oppression" by the SAA.It doesn't matter that many of the "rebels" such as Kareem himself aren't even Syrian or that they haven't produced any evidence to back up their claims, but he and many others like him are just the latest social media personalities attempting to pick up the smashed fragments of the "White Helmet's" discredited legacy and peddle them for personal and propagandistic gain.
Kareem, who is an American citizen by birth, presents himself as an "independent journalist", but his "independence" only goes as far as parroting the "moderate opposition's" totally unverified claims that retributive atrocities are taking place all over the city. The truth, however, is actually the reverse, since it was the terrorists — these "cute and cuddly" "moderate opposition" head choppers and cannibals whom Kareem glorifies — who wantonly killed civilians in their zone of control if they attempted to escape or spoke out against their occupiers. Nevertheless, the Mainstream Media has been all too happy to pick up on Kareem's lies by pretending that they're an "exclusive scoop" by an "Aleppo insider" and "independent journalist", thereby giving fifteen minutes of fame to this hitherto largely unknown social media personality and infamously contributing to the epidemic of fake news — which originally started with Mainstream Media and is still monopolized by it. On the other hand, the photographic evidence and interview accounts which characterize Ms. Beeley's reporting are ignored by the Mainstream Media, thereby demonstrating an undeniable editorial bias for legitimately fake news being passed off as the real thing.The echo chamber that they've expertly crafted over the decades works by concocting politically convenient narratives in advance and then selecting or outright fabricating "stories" and "evidence" which "confirm" this, all the while silencing and censoring those which oppose it.
Once the selected media item, tweet, or fake "White Helmets" video (sometimes all one in the same) is promoted by a Mainstream Media organization of popular repute (or better yet, advocated by a "think tank"), it takes on an entirely new life of its own with copy-cat publications citing and republishing it until it becomes ubiquitous and taken for granted as the "official" "politically correct" discourse.It's relevant to cite the popular adage that a lie becomes the truth if it's repeated enough times.In practice and using the example of Kareem, his sob story about fearing for his life amidst supposed widespread atrocities committed by the SAA was repackaged by the Mainstream Media not as a rambling and incoherent series of Tweets or a melodramatic YouTube video by a pro-terrorist hack, but as the objective reporting of a brave rebel soul who's risking his life to tell the world the truth about what's happening in Aleppo.
Conversely, the real brave soul risking her life to tell the world the truth, Ms. Beeley, is completely censored and all efforts are made to prevent her reporting from breaking through the Mainstream Media's firewall.The only way to describe such blatant double standards is by calling a spade a spade and exposing the Mainstream Media's willing complicity in waging an intense psy-op on the minds of their audience, one which as luck would have it also happens to perfectly align with the fake narratives being advanced by the same national governments and terrorist groups which have executed the War of Terror on Syria for approximately the past six years now.
Thankfully, what had once been Syria's largest pre-war city has finally been liberated, and the Mainstream Media can no longer endlessly recycle the debunked cliches about "the last" doctor, clown, "rebel", or whatever the else they think of focusing on in Aleppo in order to promote their narrative of "SAA atrocities", as a deal was just reached to send the last terrorists there on a bus to Idlib as part of the city's liberation. The terrorists' bus evacuation from Aleppo will thus go down in history to be as unforgettable of an image as the American helicopter evacuation from Saigon, and for the exact same reasons — evil has been expelled and freedom has finally returned to those occupied cities, but the Western audience might not even realize yet that this is what's happened in Syria so long as their Mainstream Media keeps feeding them fake news from Kareem and his "caliphate" buddies' tweets and YouTube videos.
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201612141048547481-aleppo-atrocities-media/
Pakistan: Electronic media downplay mob attack on Ahmadi centre
The only coverage of the incident by the electronic media was through the display of tickers.
Though the mob grew and became violent, occupying the Ahmadi place of worship, most of the channels claimed that they sensed the sensitivity of the matter and observed self-restraint.
“The electronic media is becoming mature enough to shift from popular journalism to responsible journalism,” said Iftikhar Sheerazi, the Islamabad’s bureau chief at DawnNews. “Primarily, it is our duty, not Pemra’s, to judge the sensitivity of the news.”
This is not the first time that all the TV channels irrespective of their policies or operational styles exercised restraint from covering a sensitive issue.
“Last time, a similar responsible attitude was witnessed after violence broke out in Rawalpindi during the Ashura procession in 2013,” said Aun Sahi, Islamabad’s bureau chief at Channel 24.
He said any news coverage that could trigger a spiral effect should be placed at the low priority.
Meanwhile, a senior official of another new channel requesting anonymity said religious sentiments were a serious issue and airing anything sensitive on Rabiul Awwal 12 (Monday) could have been catastrophic.
“There were rallies and other activities on the streets. The main procession in Rawalpindi passed through an Ahmadi community centre on Murree Road. Simple news about the Chakwal incident could have triggered random riots across the country,” said the official.
However, some channels displayed tickers stating there was a clash between two groups in the Chakwal area.
“First we filed tickers about skirmishes between the participants of 12 Rabiul Awwal procession and the followers of the Ahmadi community from their centre,” said the official. “But the head office directed us that the tickers should not be specific or sensational.”
This created suspicion that Pemra might have asked the head offices of news channels to censor the news of the attack.
However, Pemra spokesman Mohammad Tahir denied that the authority had directed any channel to exercise restraint over the coverage of the Chakwal incident.
“Though it was a public holiday and the Pemra office was closed, our monitoring continued. Like emergency plans in all the sectors, we have SOPs and if any channel overplayed or sensationalised any incident or news, we do intervene,” he added.
A senior official of Pemra told Dawn that one or two channels did play strong tickers but they were called immediately and the focus remained on the Eid Milad processions and activities.
Shakeel Anjum, the president of the National Press Club, said the restraint by the electronic media was a positive sign.
But he cautioned that such practice should not be adopted as a tradition to censor news.
“Any news is restricted if it is feared that its widespread coverage can create a law and order situation.”
However, he said in routine news about mob attacks on any place of worship or public installation should not be restricted.
http://timesofahmad.blogspot.com/2016/12/pakistan-electronic-media-downplay-mob.html
Pakistan - Militant violence: Schoolgirl killed in N Waziristan IED blast
A girl student died while three others sustained serious injuries in a blast that took place at the gate of the Girls Primary School in North Waziristan Tuesday morning.
According to locals, an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted next to the school gate in Abba Khel Village, Spinwam sub-division that went off when the gate was opened. As a result one student, namely Akhmara died while three of her class fellows were seriously injured.
The political administration has confirmed the death of a girl student and added that the explosives were placed next to the school gate and when the student pushed the gate, it went off. The injured students were shifted to the Mir Ali Headquarters hospital.
Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy Shakirullah was injured when he accidently stepped on a hidden landmine in Manzara Village in Tairza tehsil of the South Waziristan Agency.
While confirming the accident, an official of the Political Administration said the incident occurred about three days ago. The boy was taken to DI Khan District Headquarters and Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Political Agent South Waziristan Agency, Zafarul Islam Khattak had announced Rs20,000 cash for the injured and also offered to bear the expenses for his treatment.
The brother of the injured boy said: “It is good that Shakirullah will get free treatment, but we hope that this time they (the political administration) meant that and we got what we have been promised,” adding, “The compensation amount too needs to be enhanced as Rs20,000 is a meagre sum in today’s inflationary world.” (With additional input from Zulfiqar Ali in DI Khan)
Pakistan - KP’s houbara ban
It is that time of the year when the houbara bustards and their hunters — the Arab princes who like to spend their winters chasing these migratory birds — descend on Pakistan.
Cleared by a court ruling at the start of 2016, licensed houbara hunting is seen as a lucrative option for Pakistan — one that helps our ruling elite win favours from nations with considerable wealth. But strangely enough, it is considered so crucial that the state here is not at all shy of calling it a foreign policy requirement: according to the government’s submissions, allowing the hunting of the houbara is an actual need.
Indeed, it is senseless that foreign policy should be tied to a significant wildlife concern in the country. No matter what largesse our regional allies might bestow on us in return for hunting permits, it is not likely to make up for the dwindling numbers of a species that is practically being driven to extinction by hunters who have no qualms about exceeding the bag limit.
In these circumstances, it is satisfying to note that at least one province — KP — has refused a Gulf prince permission to hunt the bird in its jurisdiction.
There is an indication of some consistency in dealing with the issue. Sometime ago, there had been reports that the PTI set-up in the province had dared to fine a royal for hunting without a licence.
There have been suggestions in concerned circles that the same kind of zero tolerance towards houbara hunting has to be extended to all parts of the country where the bird finds a home during the winter months.
Some experts have called for the sustainable hunting of the houbara, where bag limits are firmly adhered to and locals are involved in the conservation of the bird. Unfortunately, there has been little effort towards this aim.
The government must consider a total ban on houbara hunting unless the number of birds goes up to sustainable levels through careful conservation measures.
Video - Pakistan - Khursheed Shah address in parliament
قومی اسمبلی میں قائد حزب اختلاف سید خورشید شاہ نےکہا ہے کہ وزیر اعظم کا پارلیمنٹ میں اپنے خطاب کوجھوٹ کہنا زیادتی اور افسوس ناک ہے،انہوں نے اسمبلی میں پاناما لیکس پر بات کرنے کی کوشش تو اسپیکر ایاز صادق نے انہیں روکتے ہو ئے کہا کہ معاملہ عدالت میں زیر سماعت ہے اس پر بات نہ کریں۔
خورشید شاہ نے اس پر جواب دیا کہ یہ ایوان عدالت سے زیادہ مقدس ہے ،وزیراعظم کا پارلیمنٹ میں اپنی تقریر کو سیاسی قراردینا افسوسناک ہے،وزیراعظم نے عدالت میں یہ بھی کہا کہ سیاسی لوگ پارلیمنٹ میں سیاسی تقریریں کرتے ہیں ،خورشید شاہ نے وزیراعظم کی تقریر کے حصے پڑھ کر سنائے ۔
جھوٹ لعنت ہے، چاہے میں بولوں یا کوئی اور، آج حکمران ایک قطری شہزادے کے خط کے پیچھے چھپتے ہیں، دال میں کالا ہوگا جبھی ڈوگر کی بات کی جارہی ہے، جھوٹ بولنے کے بجائے ایک بار کہیں کہ غلطی ہوگئی، معافی مانگیں لوگ معاف کردیں گے۔
قومی اسمبلی میں پاناما معاملے پر گفتگو کرتے ہوئے پی پی رہنماء اور قائد حزب اختلاف خورشید شاہ نے کہا کہ ملک کے سربراہ نے پارلیمنٹ میں جھوٹ بولا، تحریک انصاف کے الزامات کا کبھی جواب نہیں دیا، ایوان عدلیہ سے زیادہ مقدس ہے، جمہوری نظام میں پارلیمنٹ کا رتبہ سب سے زیادہ ہے، یہ ایوان بڑی مشکلوں اور قربانیوں کے بعد قائم ہوا، الحمد للہ ہم نے اس ایوان کو بچایا ہے، وزیراعظم کا بیان سیاسی تھا عدالتی نہیں، سیاسی باتوں کو عدلیہ کے ریکارڈ کا حصہ نہیں بننا، سیاست کسی جھوٹ کا نام نہیں ہے، سیاست خدمت اور عبادت ہے۔
وہ بولے کہ سیاست میں حرف آخر نہیں ہوتا، نواز شریف نے پیپلزپارٹی رہنماؤں کو جیل میں ڈالا، پیپلزپارٹی نے جمہوریت کی خاطر نواز شریف کا ساتھ دیا، جمہوری نظام کو کتنی مرتبہ ڈی ریل کیا گیا، یہ بات کوئی آمر کہتا تو ہمیں دکھ نہیں ہوتا، لیڈر آف ہاؤس کو ایسی بات نہیں کرنی چاہئے تھی، دولت کام نہیں آتی، انسان 4 کندھوں کا محتاج ہوتا ہے، قومیں بم سے تباہ نہیں ہوتیں، جھوٹ لعنت ہے، اس سے قومیں تباہ ہوتی ہیں۔
خورشید شاہ کا کہنا ہے کہ آج کہا جارہا ہے کہ ہمارا چیف جسٹس آنیوالا ہے، معاملات کو متنازع بنانے کی مذمت کرنی چاہئے، پاکستان ہم سب کا ہے، خواجہ صاحب کیوں میرے جسٹس کو متنازع بناتے ہو، اس کا مطلب ہے دال میں کالا ہوگا، وزیراعظم چھوٹی ریاست کے شہزادے کے خط کے پیچھے چھپتے ہیں، جھوٹ بولنے کے بجائے ایک بار کہیں کہ غلطی ہوگئی، معافی مانگیں لوگ معاف کردیں گے۔
پی پی پی رہنماء نے مزید کہا کہ سچائی کو عوام میں مقدس رکھنا ہمارا کام ہے، فیصلہ عوام کو کرنا ہے، ہمیں نہیں، پارلیمنٹ کو ریت کا ڈھیلہ نہ بنائیں، ہم تو جمہوریت کیلئے دشمنیاں بھلا دیتے ہیں، ہمیں جیلوں میں ڈالا گیا مگر آمریت کا ساتھ نہیں دیا۔ نواز شریف میاں شریف کے فرزند ارجمند ہونگے لیکن وزیراعظم نواز شریف اس پارلیمنٹ کی پیداوار هے _ اس ایوان نے انہیں وزیر اعظم بنایا هے وہ وزیراعظم پاکستان اس ایوان کی بابت هیں .
یہ بیس کروڑ عوام کی نمائندہ ایوان هے یہ مقدس ایوان هے تمام اداروں میں سپریم ادارہ هے. وزیراعظم کا سپریم کورٹ میں موقف آیا هے کہ جو پارلیمنٹ میں وزیراعظم کا بیان تها اسے سچ نہ مانا جائے وہ تو سیاسی بیان تها. جناب سپیکر کیا سیاست جهوٹ کا نام هے ؟ کیا پارلیمنٹ جهوٹ کا اڈا سمجها جائے __ یہ تو ڈکٹیٹر کی سوچ هے یہ تو غاصب کی سوچ هے .
پارلیمنٹ پر حملہ پارلیمنٹ کے اندر سے ہوا هے جناب سپیکر. قومیں ایٹم بم سے تباہ نہیں ہوتی _ جاپان پر ایٹم بم مارا گیا وہ پهر سے آباد هے یاد رکهئے قومیں بارود سے نہیں جهوٹ سے تباہ ہوتی هیں ____ ایک وقت تها عرب پاکستان کے پیچهے چلتا تها آج هم ایک عربی کے خط کے پیچهے چهپتے هیں ؟
جناب سپیکر!! وزیراعظم نواز شریف نے پارلیمنٹ کا استحقاق مجروح کیا هے __ قوم سے جهوٹ بولا هے.
خورشید شاہ کے بیان پر ایوان میں شیم شیم کے نعرے بھی لگائے گئے ایک اہم منظر یہ بهی تها کہ جب شاہ صاحب خطاب کر رہے تهے اور ممبران پی ٹی آئی انکے لئے تالیاں بجاتے نظر آ رہے تھے
Pakistan - Zardari expected to arrive on Dec 22
Former president Asif Ali Zardari would return to Pakistan from Dubai on December 22, sources told Daily Times on Tuesday.
They added that Zardari would attend the death anniversary of slain Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairwoman Benazir Bhutto. Sources said that the former president would stay in Pakistan until December 29 and then will go back to Dubai. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his sisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa played a pivotal role in convincing the former president in coming back to Pakistan and attend the death anniversary of their mother, sources said further. The former president left Pakistan around two years back after an anti-army tirade during a ceremony at Zardari House, Islamabad. Sources said close confidants advised Zardari to leave the country in the wake of the speech.
The former president is likely to stay in Naudero where he would also preside over the meetings, sources said. Zardari would also address a public gathering on December 27 on the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, they said, adding that it is likely that he would announce his agitation plan against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/14-Dec-16/zardari-expected-to-arrive-on-dec-22
Pakistan's Ahmadi Muslim's Prosecution : ''The Violent Majority''
One week after the Prime Minister decreed that Quaid-e-Azam University’s physics department be named after the Ahmedi scientist, Dr Abdus Salam, a mob of over a thousand people attacked an Ahmedi place of worship, built in 1860, which lead to the death of one worshiper, injuries to several people and widespread destruction of property – showing that the real problem cannot be solved by renaming a few scholarships.
The real test for the government’s commitment to minority protection begins now; how well can it protect the mosque in the future, how promptly it will arrest the perpetrators, and how seriously will it charge the people responsible.Fortunately, the attack was not as deadly as it could have been and contingents of army and police personnel arrived to disperse the crowd, well after they had ransacked the mosque and barricaded themselves inside, however. This does not mean the incident is any less significant. The crowd gathered through a consistent campaign of hate speech and incitement, used automatic rifles to open fire on the structure – which lead to several injuries – and was prepared to take over the mosque by all manner of violence and bloodshed.
Fortunately for the police, the identity of the perpetrators is not a mystery. One week before the attack, a petition filed to the police by one Haji Malik Rashid Ahmad, and signed by over 500 people, warned the police of “dire consequences” if the mosque was not “liberated from the infidels” and handed over to them – this was the same group following up on that threat.
The police now need to hold up that petition and arrest all those on it. There is also extensive video footage of the attack in progress, which shows individuals like Sunni Ittehad leader Ashraf Asif Jalali on the scene inciting violence against the Ahmedis. This is concrete evidence, which identifies attackers as well as instigators – the police has no excuse now not to do its sworn duty.
It must at least do that seeing how it failed to protect the mosque in the first place. The Ahmedi community of Chakwal sent a written request to the local police for extra security on this very day against this very same group of people who had been busy inciting hatred, yet their request was ignored and the consequence could be seen; the police milling about in the background as the mob continued destroying the historic mosque.
In any other country, in any other scenario, these police officials would be stripped of their uniform and tried for criminal negligence and dereliction of duty – the chances of that happening here are slim. The police can make amends though, it can arrest and convict all those who spread violence and hate on the commemoration of the Prophet’s (PBUH) life and his peaceful message.
Bilawal Bhutto cautioned Nawaz Sharif of dire consequences
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has cautioned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of dire consequences if the later fails to meet his four demands by December 27.
Bilawal’s demands include formation of a parliamentary committee on national security, adopting PPP-drafted bill on Panama Papers leaks probe, implementing the decision of the all-parties conference chaired by Asif Zardari on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and appointing a full-time foreign minister.
Addressing to media representatives at Bilawal House here on Tuesday, after December 27, the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and its federal council will hold their first joint meeting since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and decide on the party’s future strategy. Bilawal said if the prime minister failed to respond to the PPP’s demand for a bill to probe the Panama Papers leaks by December 27, then that they (Nawaz Government) would face dire consequences. “On the off chance that he is not willing to respond to our demand for a bill to probe Panama Papers leaks, if he conceding that he is not the country’s democratically elected Prime Minister but rather an Amirul Momineen who is not answerable to nobody, and then after December 27, we will teach him how to be an opposition government and will demand answers from him,” Bilawal said.
Bilawal further said “the premier had jeopardised his children’s political future by buying properties overseas in their name.” Commenting on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Bilawal said the CPEC was the brainchild of former President Asif Ali Zardari and when it was getting to be distinctly disputable, the then government called an All Parties Conference (APC) to disperse qualms and develop consensus. “It is our straightforward demand to implement the decision taken in the APC on CPEC,” the PPP chairman said.
پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کی وہی رائے ہے جو چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی رائے ہے
پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے رہنما سینیٹرسعید غنی نے کہا ہے کہ پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کی وہی رائے ہے جو چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی رائے ہے۔ شاہ محمود قریشی کو یوسف رضا گیلانی کی فکر کرنے کی بجائے اپنی پارٹی کی وضاحت کرے کہ کس کی رائے تھی کہ پارلیمنٹ کا بائیکاٹ کیا جائے اور کسی کی رائے سے بائیکاٹ کا فیصلہ واپس لیا۔ سینیٹر سعید غنی نے کہا کہ پوری پی ٹی آئی کی سیاست تضادات کا شاہکار ہے۔ کبھی کوئی پردہ نشین امپائر کاذکر سننے میں ملتا ہے تو کبھی کوئی اور ڈرامہ رچایا جاتا ہے۔ ایسا لگتا ہے کہ شاہ محمود قریشی کی روح میں رانا ثنا اللہ اور طلال چوہدری تحلیل ہوگئے ہیں۔ سینیٹر سعید غنی نے کہا کہ صاف نظر آرہا ہے کہ مسلم لیگ(ن) اور پی ٹی آئی ملک اور عوام کے اصل معاملات اور مسائل سے توجہ ہٹانے کے لئے ڈرامہ بازی کر رہی ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی صرف ایک آواز ہے کہ وزیراعظم نواز شریف بلاتاخیر چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کے مطالبات تسلیم کرے کیونکہ چیئرمی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کے مطالبات پارلیمنٹ کی بالادستی، جمہوریت کی بقائ، دہشتگردی کے خاتمے اور راہداری پر قومی اتفاق رائے پیدا کرے گی۔
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/%D9%BE%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%BE%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%B9%DB%8C-%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D9%88%DB%81%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%92-%DB%81%DB%92-%D8%AC%D9%88/