Friday, March 24, 2017
Pakistan - ALL EXTREMISTS ARE MOLANA TARIQ JAMEEL’S STUDENTS: ZAID HAMID
Defense analyst Zaid Hamid has blamed Molana Tariq Jameel and other Mullahs of Deobandi school of thought to be responsible for promoting the extremist ideology and has criticized them for their silence on killing of 80 thousand Pakistanis including both Shias and Sunnis, prosecution of Ahmadi community.
Zaid Hamid’s opinion can be contested but the way he has been revealing terrorism going on in Pakistan under Saudi support is appreciable. Zaid Hamid views Molana Tariq Jameel’s silence as a crime and has thus raised voice against it.
http://www.shiitenews.org/index.php/pakistan/item/20859-all-extremists-are-molana-tariq-jameel-s-students-zaid-hamid/20859-all-extremists-are-molana-tariq-jameel-s-students-zaid-hamid#at_pco=smlwn-1.0&at_si=58d53f96826f1d9c&at_ab=per-2&at_pos=0&at_tot=1
Pakistan’s minorities: second class citizens
Zeeshan Salahuddin
This institutional racism has crept into every crevice, every pore, and every corner of the Pakistani society.
A newspaper advertisement in Bannu, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) recently called for applications for the khakroab position. This is the official term for a sweeper, a member of the janitorial staff. Historically, because of institutional racism and religious persecution, this role has been almost exclusively reserved for Hindus, and especially Christians. The advertisement, in the column labeled “religion”, listed Hindu, Balmiki (a sect of Hinduism), Christian and Shia.
The ensuing rage on Twitter and other social media platforms was immediate. The resulting apology was swift, and predictably spun to feign sincerity and innocence. But even then, they only apologised for using the word “Shia”. Congratulations Shias, you have been upgraded to first class citizens.
There are so many thing wrong with this picture, that it is difficult to determine a starting point.
First, how did this advertisement ever get past the approval process? Second, how did the newspaper itself not object to such open discrimination, not just against Hindus and Christians, but also the fact that it tacitly labels Shias as non-Muslims? Third, and perhaps most importantly, why was there even a need to drag religion into a job posting? The answer to all three is simple. We have come to accept that such positions will only be applied for (and subsequently granted to) Christians and Hindus, as it is beneath our collective, imagined station. And this was no accident; it was deliberate, because it is considered common practice.
This is the state of affairs in contemporary Pakistan. A provincial government that touts itself on inclusion and tolerance, and wants to set the new standard for both politics and governance in Pakistan, allows this to fly under its nose. Even when the apology is issued, it completely ignores Christians and Hindus, because honestly, who cares, right?
During the coverage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) recently, a comedian on television said the following verbatim to showcase his patriotism: ‘I am ready to do anything for Pakistan, I will even become a choora’. A choora is a derogatory term for a Christian khakroab, and this statement elicited thundering applause from the studio audience. What a great man, he is willing to sink all the way to the level of a choora to save Pakistan! No one questioned the logical inconsistency. No one questioned the deep-seated racism and hatred for minorities. No one questioned the comedian on this exceptionally insolent and crass claim.
The racism continued in various forms on the program. A short while later, the comedian asked a former cricketer, a question about Chris Gayle. He asked whether Gayle feels disgusted when he looks at his own black hands. Surely it must cause nausea when he is eating. Tactfully, the guest stayed quiet on the issue, and the show moved on as if nothing had happened. The comedian, however, looks quite pleased with himself, for he had cleverly snuck in both religious discrimination and racism into the affair, and no one had been the wiser.
All of this is normal, but it should not be. All of this is accepted, but it should not be. Within our so-called liberal bubbles, we feel secure that we clamoured over social media. But the dirty secret of social media is that most of what is said on social media is not seen by most people. It is not sufficient to just tweet a picture of the newspaper. As citizens, we need to hold our leaders more accountable. Make calls to their office, write letters to their secretaries, send emails with demands for a better apology, and a promise to refrain from tinting a job posting in religious racism ever again.
Discrimination against minorities seems to be the true national sport of Pakistan. In our textbooks, in our daily social upbringing, we are lead to believe that non-Muslims are lesser beings, second-class citizens meant for janitorial jobs, indifferent attitudes, and universal disdain. This institutional racism has crept into every crevice, every pore, and every corner of the Pakistani society. It is our responsibility, as conscientious citizens to keep to in check, to challenge it, and to demand a better environment for everyone as equal citizens, as afforded by Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Report: Pakistan Terror Groups Get Rich From Crime, Money Laundering
Waves of crime in Pakistan — including extortion, smuggling and kidnapping for ransom — are major sources of terrorist financing for extremist groups in the country, according to a new government report obtained by Pakistani media.
The report by the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) in Pakistan, titled "National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing 2017," reportedly details how terror groups generate funds through criminal activities, a Pakistani newspaper reported Thursday.
"Main sources of income of terrorists in Pakistan include foreign funding, drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, extortion from business, vehicle snatching," according to the 45-page confidential report by FMU, which is an intelligence service department within the Ministry of Finance.
The report, which has not been released publicly, says over 200 local and international terrorist organizations generate billions of Pakistani rupees to fund their activities.
"Annual operational budget of terrorist organizations is from 5 million rupees [about $48,000] to 25 million rupees [about $240,000]," the report said, according to The News website, which published excerpts.
Hawala system
According to the report, terrorist groups also receive money through the hawala system, an alternative or parallel system that operates outside traditional banking and financial channels. The system largely has been used in money laundering.
Hawala system
According to the report, terrorist groups also receive money through the hawala system, an alternative or parallel system that operates outside traditional banking and financial channels. The system largely has been used in money laundering.
The income sources include "hawala/hundi,' cash couriers, [and] dealings in foreign exchange," the report said. "A part of foreign exchange collected abroad may include funds for terrorist financing, and the rupee counterpart disbursed in Pakistan may help terrorist financing."
Some terrorist groups get rich off selling military equipment looted from NATO supplies that pass through Pakistani land before arriving in neighboring Afghanistan, according to the report.
The so-called southern route, which runs through Pakistan, is the most direct and cost-effective way to send supplies to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, but it is vulnerable to attacks by militants.
Islamabad has frequently been blamed for achieving little progress in combating the financing of terrorist groups in the country.
A U.S. Treasury Department report on terrorist financing last year said many militant groups in Pakistan, including those that "continue to pose a direct threat to the U.S. interests and allies in the region," fund their activities through proceeds from illegal businesses and charitable organizations.
The Treasury report said the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba group, which was blamed by law enforcement for attacks in 2008 in Mumbai that killed more than 150 people, including six Americans, receives millions of dollars through funding from several humanitarian organizations within Pakistan and private donations.
Government focus
Government focus
Analysts say the Pakistani government has shown little interest in curbing militants' financing in the country.
"The issue has been neglected within the framework of the war on terror in Pakistan," said Fida Hussain, a finance expert in Islamabad. "Combating terror financing and money laundering should have been a priority for the authorities but they don't seem serious in combating it."
Pakistani authorities say the government is trying hard to deal with the issue.
"The first thing our government did in the parliament was to come up with a law and measures to prevent money laundering," Tallal Chaudhry, a member of the standing committee on finance and revenue in Pakistan's national assembly, told VOA's Urdu service. "We've also worked to stop the flow of illegal funds coming from foreign countries and the money that was being illegally generated in the name of charity in Pakistan."
Pakistan's Central Bank last year ordered the country's commercial banks to freeze the accounts of about 4,000 individuals and businesses linked to terrorism.
Analysts say the government is well aware of the income sources for terrorist groups, though it does not go far enough to curb them.
"The government has the ability to combat the terrorist financing, but it lacks a strong a will to do so," veteran Pashtun politician Afrasiab Khattak told VOA. "It enacts laws, including anti-terrorism laws, but fails to implement them."
He added that the people are not aware that some of their donations end up strengthening militant groups.
Said Amir Rana, a security analyst: "The Federal Investigative Agency and other agencies have the responsibility to look into the matter and see why they've not been able to come up with a plan to curb the illegal economic activities of the terrorists in the country."
PPP leader rejects CM’s offer to join PTI
“I can quit politics, but never Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP),” said Syed Zahir Ali Shah of the PPP while rejecting the invitation of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday.
Khattak visited his residence and invited him to join PTI party.
The former provincial health minister said that he would never quit the party of Zulfkar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto.
“I have pledged my allegiance to Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he told media persons after the gathering. He said that when he had met with the chief minister, he had told him that he would consult with his family and party workers before taking any decision.
“This did not mean that I had, in any way, agreed to join PTI.”
PPP workers and leaders also passed unanimous resolutions, rejecting Pervez Khattak’s invitation. Instead, they advised him to join PPP.
Addressing political activists, Zahir Ali Shah said that PTI’s leadership would not be in a position to win any seat in the province in the upcoming general elections.
“Its leadership lacks political acumen and its government has failed to deliver … They are simply fishing for electable candidates,” said Shah.
Pointing out that there were rumours that other PPP leaders were engaging in talks for switching political loyalties, he said that they should stay away from other political parties as switching parties would destroy their political prospects.
He said that Amir Muqam of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and chief of Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Sirajul Haq had also asked him to join their parties but he had also rejected their invitations.
Referring to the much-delayed party re-organization, he said that the party’s provincial leadership was working to elect eligible leaders at district and town levels in accordance with the wishes of party workers.
He said that political situation was not static and there could be adjustments. “We cannot rule out the possibility of political alliances with other political parties.”
Dispelling rumours about bickering within party ranks, he said that differences exist in all parties and “this is the real democracy”.
“I will never leave PPP even if I do not get party ticket to contest (general) elections,” said Zahir Shah.
Bilawal Bhutto pays rich tributes to Begum Nusrat Bhutto on her 88th birthday
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has paid rich tributes to Begum Nusrat Bhutto on her 88th birthday celebrated today and described her as a great icon of democratic struggle against the ruthless dictatorship.
In his message on the occasion, the PPP Chairman said that late Begum Nusrat Bhutto fought valiantly against the dictatorial rule of General Zia and was regarded and revered as mother of democracy by all the Jiyalas and democratic workers of the country.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Begum Nusrat Bhutto lost her almost entire family in the fight against dictatorship for the rights of the people of Pakistan and braved torture, prisons and solitary confinements but stood firmly with the masses.
He said that such iconic and tall figures are rarely found in the history who sacrificed everything for her people and Pakistanis, especially the PPP leaders and workers never forget her and continue to cherish her memories every time.
From daughter-in-law of a Prime Minister to wife and mother of martyred Prime Ministers and martyred sons, Begum Nusrat Bhutto remained a brave lady and fought with full force against cruel dictatorial forces for her entire life. “This is the day to remember her in our hearts and minds and pray for her departed soul,” he added.
جب بھی ملک بچانے کی بات ہوئی ہم نے پاکستان کھپے کا نعرہ لگایا، آصف زرداری
88TH BIRTHDAY OF BEGUM NUSRAT BHUTTO OBSERVED AT BILAWAL HOUSE LAHORE
Former President and PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Ch. Manzoor, Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, Bashir Riaz, Senator Lateef Khosa, Sadiq Umrani and others are cutting cake on 88th birthday of Begum Nusrat Bhutto at Bilawal House, Lahore.